Adolescents News and Research

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Economic instability linked to higher risk of long COVID in children

New research led by Mass General Brigham investigators suggests that long COVID is more prevalent in school-aged children and adolescents who experience economic instability and adverse social conditions.

5 Jan 2026

Marijuana use associated with worse school performance and emotional distress for teens

Using marijuana just once or twice a month was associated with worse school performance and emotional distress for teens, according to a large national study of adolescents led by Ryan Sultán, an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

23 Dec 2025

Mpox clade Ib transmitted in a healthcare setting outside Africa

Mpox is a viral disease usually transmitted from animals to humans and symptoms include fever and skin rashes. In 2023, a new variant of monkeypox virus (MPXV), called clade Ib, emerged in Kamituga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

19 Dec 2025

Raising the drinking age cuts teen drinking and boosts test scores

Stricter minimum legal drinking age laws in Spain are linked to reduced adolescent alcohol use and better academic outcomes, benefiting student well-being.

19 Dec 2025

Whooping cough cases rise sharply across the United States

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a vaccination-preventable illness that has been on the rise in the United States. Following a several-year lull during the pandemic, cases of whooping cough rose sixfold in 2024 and remain high.

18 Dec 2025

Advances in hemophilia gene therapy bring hope for pediatric patients

In the past three years, gene therapy has reshaped what's possible in hemophilia treatment for patients 18 and older. But a key question remains: How soon will these advances reach children?

18 Dec 2025

ADHD linked to higher risk of criminal convictions within families

People with ADHD are at a higher risk of offending than those without an ADHD diagnosis. The same pattern appears among their relatives, according to a new study from örebro University.

18 Dec 2025

Social isolation emerges as a key, independent risk factor for cognitive decline

Using longitudinal data from the US Health and Retirement Study, this study applied causal inference modeling to disentangle the independent and joint effects of social isolation and loneliness on later-life cognitive function. It shows that reducing social isolation is associated with modest but meaningful protection against cognitive decline, with loneliness mediating only a small proportion of this effect.

17 Dec 2025

Early exposure to child care tax credits has mixed long-term health effects on children

The US Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC), which helps offset a portion of child or dependent care expenses, requires that both parents in married households, or the primary caregiver in single-parent and divorced households, participate in paid employment.

17 Dec 2025

One in four children misses care at a pediatric trauma center

Access to pediatric trauma centers in Canada is crucial for improving outcomes; however, significant provincial disparities remain, affecting care quality.

17 Dec 2025

Positive parenting reduces the risk of adolescent self-harm

Self-harm refers to intentionally injuring one's own body as a coping mechanism to emotional distress. It manifests in many forms and has serious consequences not only on physical health but also on mental health. Self-harm among adolescents is becoming a significant public issue.

16 Dec 2025

Bifunctional biomaterials for postoperative management of osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is the most prevalent primary malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents. The current standard treatment involves a combination of chemotherapy and radical surgical resection.

16 Dec 2025

New research highlights the importance of social engagement for cognitive health

New research from the University of St Andrews has discovered a direct causal effect between social isolation and a faster decline in later- life cognitive function. Pathological cognitive decline is most often driven by Alzheimer's and related dementias.

16 Dec 2025

ADHD linked to higher risk of criminal convictions and family patterns

A largescale, comprehensive study has found that individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at increased risk of being convicted of crimes compared to those without ADHD, and that this association extends to their relatives, suggesting shared familial factors such as genetics and environmental conditions.

15 Dec 2025

Unnecessary gluten-free diets may put children at risk

Understanding gluten-related disorders is crucial for pediatric nutrition, as gluten-free diets can pose health risks without appropriate medical supervision.

15 Dec 2025

Varenicline helps young people quit nicotine vaping regardless of cannabis use

Adolescent and young adult nicotine vaping has become an urgent public health concern, as 2024 marked the first year that nicotine vaping was the most initiated drug.

12 Dec 2025

Plant-based diets support healthy growth when properly planned for children

Vegetarian and vegan diets can support healthy growth when carefully planned with appropriate supplementation, finds a major new meta-analysis – the most comprehensive study to-date of plant-based diets in children.

12 Dec 2025

Internet gaming disorder affects one in ten boys

Do your kids play a lot of computer games? Some may end up gaming a little too obsessively. Researchers have identified the most important warning signs.

11 Dec 2025

How much omega-3 do you need daily? New global review reveals DHA and EPA requirements

Global and national guidelines for long-chain omega-3 intake vary widely across life stages, with many countries lacking clear recommendations. Most authorities advise at least 250 mg/day of EPA and DHA, yet population intakes remain far below optimal levels.

10 Dec 2025

Family history of cardiometabolic disease linked to early heart damage in adolescents

A new study among more than 1,500 British adolescents is the first in the world to assess the association between familial cardiometabolic diseases and the offspring's risk of premature heart damage by early adulthood.

10 Dec 2025