Physiology News and Research

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Human physiology is the science of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of humans in good health, their organs, and the cells of which they are composed. The principal level of focus of physiology is at the level of organs and systems. Most aspects of human physiology are closely homologous to corresponding aspects of animal physiology, and animal experimentation has provided much of the foundation of physiological knowledge. Anatomy and physiology are closely related fields of study: anatomy, the study of form, and physiology, the study of function, are intrinsically tied and are studied in tandem as part of a medical curriculum.

Study reveals coffee triggers distinct cytokine responses compared with pure caffeine

A randomized crossover pilot study in healthy adults found that coffee and isolated caffeine produce distinct short-term immune responses despite equivalent caffeine doses. The results suggest non-caffeine coffee compounds may influence cytokine activity and caffeine metabolism, although findings remain preliminary due to the small sample size.

19 Feb 2026

Researchers identify a genetic brake for the formation of blood vessels in muscles

In an international study, researchers at Lund University in Sweden have identified a gene variant that controls the body's capability to form new blood vessels in muscles – a mechanism that affects physical performance, health and recovery.

18 Feb 2026

Myopia may be driven by prolonged close-up focus in low-light environments

For years, rising rates of myopia - or nearsightedness - have been widely attributed to increased screen time, especially among children and young adults.

17 Feb 2026

Sleep loss triggers brain fluid pulses that impair attention, study finds

Sleep deprivation causes attentional lapses that coincide with coordinated changes in brain activity, pupil diameter, blood flow, and cerebrospinal fluid dynamics. These findings suggest attention failures reflect a transient brain–body state linked to sleep pressure rather than isolated neural errors.

16 Feb 2026

Senescent astrocytes identified as key drivers of Alzheimer's progression

Researchers from the NeuroAD group (Neuropathology of Alzheimer's Disease) within the Department of Cell Biology, Genetics and Physiology at the University of Málaga, also affiliated with IBIMA-BIONAND Platform and CIBERNED, have made a pioneering breakthrough in the fight against this disease by identifying astrocytes as a promising cellular target for the development of future therapies.

16 Feb 2026

AI predicts walking recovery after hip replacement surgery

Artificial intelligence can help to predict how well patients with hip osteoarthritis will be able to walk again after an operation.

12 Feb 2026

Can hot baths lower high blood pressure?

A review highlights hot water immersion's potential in lowering blood pressure, emphasizing it as an adjunct therapy alongside traditional treatments.

12 Feb 2026

New roadmap integrates aging into Parkinson disease models

Even though aging is the largest risk factor for Parkinson's disease, the majority of research aimed at taming the able neurodegenerativeincur motor disease has largely left aging out of the mix.

11 Feb 2026

Polygenic analysis provides new insight into hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome

Hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (hEDS) is one of the most common heritable connective tissue disorders.

10 Feb 2026

Study identifies neural mechanism underlying chills during infection

When running a fever during infection, we often feel chills, which prompt us to take action to warm ourselves, such as turning on a heater or adding layers of clothing.

10 Feb 2026

Beta arrestin 1 emerges as key driver of pulmonary hypertension

Researchers have uncovered the pivotal role of a previously overlooked protein in the development of the serious illness.

10 Feb 2026

Defective fat cells drive metabolic disease in lipodystrophy

Many people may have a dim view of their fat tissue, yet scientists have come to recognize adipose as a necessary and metabolically active organ, carrying out many vital functions within the body.

9 Feb 2026

AI-powered tool automatically segments human brainstem white matter bundles

Small and dense but filled with vitally important neural fibers, the brainstem has been hard for brain imaging technologies to dissect.

9 Feb 2026

Optical tissue monitoring predicts dialysis-related fluid instability

For the millions of people living with end‑stage kidney disease, hemodialysis is more than a medical procedure, it is a thrice‑weekly lifeline that keeps the body's chemistry in balance.

7 Feb 2026

Cholesterol transporter ABCA1 boosts macrophage-driven cancer immunity

In recent years, cancer researchers have made major breakthroughs by using the body's immune system to fight cancer. One of the most promising approaches, known as immune checkpoint blockade, works by releasing molecular "brakes" on T cells.

7 Feb 2026

Brain connectivity fingerprints differ in major depressive disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating condition that affects more than 246 million people worldwide, yet scientists have struggled to identify consistent brain markers that could improve diagnosis and treatment.

5 Feb 2026

Too many antioxidants may negatively affect future offspring

Antioxidants have been marketed as miracle supplements, touted for preventing chronic diseases and cancers; treating COPD and dementia; and slowing aging.

4 Feb 2026

Researchers uncover a new cellular process linked to healthy aging

Improvements in public health have allowed humankind to survive to older ages than ever before, but, for many people, these added golden years are not spent in good health.

2 Feb 2026

Daily physical activities provide greater benefits for osteoarthritis patients than handgrip strength

Daily physical activities play a far greater role in the well-being of patients with osteoarthritis than handgrip strength or isolated motor tasks, according to new research from the University of Sharjah.

2 Feb 2026

New model predicts redo surgery risk in adult congenital heart disease

Heart specialists at Mayo Clinic today presented new research at the 2026 Society of Thoracic Surgeons Annual Meeting that redo surgery for adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) remains high-risk, and a clinically applicable national risk assessment model is needed to help patients and care teams make decisions about procedures.

31 Jan 2026