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Study identifies populations at risk for high-dose opioid prescriptions

Researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine have shed light on what populations are more likely to be prescribed a high dose of opioid medication. This increases their risk of developing opioid use disorder.

21 May 2025

Vitamin D supplements help preserve telomere length in aging adults

Results from the VITAL randomized controlled trial reveal that vitamin D supplementation helps maintain telomeres, protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that shorten during aging and are linked to the development of certain diseases.

21 May 2025

Depression and loneliness predict future chronic pain in older adults

Researchers tracked more than 7,000 older adults in England and found that loneliness and depression increased years before the onset of chronic pain, and remained elevated long after pain began. Social isolation also rose with age, but differences between those with and without pain were minimal.

21 May 2025

Eating garlic, berries, and tea may support younger, healthier cells

Higher intake of methyl adaptogen foods, such as turmeric, green tea, and berries, was associated with reduced epigenetic age in middle-aged men, according to a secondary analysis of the MDLS trial. These findings support the potential role of specific dietary polyphenols in modulating biological aging, though further research in larger and more diverse populations is needed.

21 May 2025

Herpes virus infection linked to higher Alzheimer’s risk, study shows antiherpetic drugs may help

A large US case-control study found that people diagnosed with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) had a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Use of antiherpetic medications was associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s in those with HSV-1.

21 May 2025

Oxygen deficiency in the colon cancer microenvironment can promote tumor growth

To effectively battle cancer, scientists must study the battlefield. Now, in a recent study published in Nature Communications, a multi-institutional research team including The University of Osaka has discovered some crucial intel: localized oxygen deficiency in the colon cancer microenvironment can promote tumor growth.

21 May 2025

Blood filtration may offer new hope for removing microplastics from the body

Researchers report the first evidence that therapeutic apheresis, a blood-filtration technique, can remove microplastic- and nanoplastic-like particles from humans with ME/CFS. While promising, further studies are needed to quantify removal and assess clinical benefits.

21 May 2025

BMI changes in adolescence mediate the effect of air pollution on metabolic health

Changes in Body Mass Index (BMI) during adolescence play an important role in the association between air pollution exposure and insulin resistance, according to a new study led by investigators from the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

20 May 2025

Exploring the link between microbial balance and aging mechanisms

Aging is a multifaceted process driven by interconnected biological mechanisms, among which genomic instability and telomere attrition stand as primary hallmarks.

20 May 2025

UArizona researchers uncover new way to ease postoperative pain in women

University of Arizona Health Sciences researchers identified a potential way to reduce female post-operative pain by inhibiting pituitary prolactin generated by pre-operative stress.

20 May 2025

Gut bacteria and genes jointly shape obesity risk, review reveals hidden links

Researchers examined the heritability of body mass index (BMI), highlighting that genetics and the gut microbiome both play major roles in obesity risk. The review emphasizes that maternal microbiome transmission and family environment may help explain “missing heritability” beyond known genetic factors.

20 May 2025

Study finds higher rates of pulmonary embolism in pediatric patients

Pulmonary embolism in children has been acknowledged to be an issue in clinical care but was thought to be rare.

20 May 2025

NIH researchers develop poly-metabolite score to measure ultra-processed food intake

For the first time, researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) identified patterns of metabolites in blood and urine that can be used as an objective measure of an individual's consumption of energy from ultra-processed foods.

20 May 2025

Air pollution exposure in pregnancy may increase asthma risk for the next generation

A mother's exposure to air pollution during pregnancy can increase asthma risk in her adult offspring, according to a new mouse study published at the ATS 2025 International Conference.

20 May 2025

New discovery may help explain why some people infected with CHIKV develop severe joint pain

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen that has been identified in more than 110 countries around the world. The virus typically causes flu-like symptoms, but it can also trigger chronic, severe joint pain in some people.

20 May 2025

New AI model assesses eczema severity using smartphone images

A team of researchers from Keio University School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, and Teikyo University, in collaboration with Atopiyo LLC, has developed a novel artificial intelligence (AI) model that can objectively assess eczema severity using smartphone images uploaded by patients.

20 May 2025

Residual inflammation can linger in psoriasis patients despite skin treatment

New research shows that in patients with psoriasis, even though their skin responds well to treatment with biologics, inflammation can linger, leading to broader health implications such as obesity and cardiovascular and fatty liver disease.

20 May 2025

How the Trump administration aims to slash health care spending

Health care has proved a vulnerable target for the firehose of cuts and policy changes President Donald Trump ordered in the name of reducing waste and improving efficiency.

20 May 2025

This news might ruin your appetite — and summer

It's a marvel of food technology: ice cream that resists melting.

20 May 2025

Inhaled microplastics suppress pulmonary macrophages critical to the immune system

Microplastics are ubiquitous in the environment, and we all routinely inhale these tiny pollutants. Now new research published at the ATS 2025 International Conference has found that inhaled microplastics suppress pulmonary macrophages, a type of white blood cell found in the lungs that are critical to the immune system.

19 May 2025