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A common diabetes drug may prevent long COVID when taken early

Research supports metformin's efficacy in reducing long COVID symptoms, suggesting its use in acute COVID-19 cases could alleviate long-term health impacts.

3 Feb 2026

Clinical trial launched to test experimental intranasal spray against respiratory viruses

Last year, at least one million people in the U.S. were hospitalized for respiratory virus illnesses like the flu or COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

2 Feb 2026

Oxybutynin shows promise in managing hot flashes for prostate cancer patients

A national clinical trial led by the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology has found that oxybutynin, a drug often used to treat overactive bladder symptoms, reduces hot flashes compared to the placebo in men receiving hormone therapy for prostate cancer.

2 Feb 2026

Why the carnivore diet’s claimed benefits don’t outweigh its health risks

Researchers determine the nutritional adequacy and health effects of the carnivore diet.

2 Feb 2026

Importance of clear numerical communication in medicine

Similar - yet not the same: Many studies show that patients often struggle to interpret numerical information in medical contexts, especially probabilities related to recovery and side effects.

31 Jan 2026

Cannabis shows anti-migraine benefits

In a recent study, published in Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine demonstrate for the first time in a placebo-controlled clinical trial that cannabis is effective to treat acute migraine.

30 Jan 2026

Research reveals dual impact of brain stimulation on people with depression and anxiety

Research investigating the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on individuals with depression and comorbid anxiety reveals a dual impact of this noninvasive form of brain stimulation.

29 Jan 2026

Electromagnetic therapy that stimulates the brain reduces overall disability in stroke survivors

A type of therapy that stimulates specific brain pathways with electromagnetic pulses combined with physical therapy significantly reduced overall disability in stroke survivors compared to survivors who received sham (inactive) electromagnetic stimulation combined with physical therapy, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2026.

29 Jan 2026

Wake-promoting drug improves alertness in early morning shift workers

Many more people work very early morning shifts than overnight ones, and a large proportion struggle with excessive sleepiness from shift work disorder, leading to problems with focus, performance and safety.

29 Jan 2026

Why exercise is essential for restoring fitness after GLP-1-based weight loss

This randomized controlled trial shows that structured moderate-to-vigorous exercise, alone or combined with liraglutide, improves physical function and cardiorespiratory fitness after diet-induced weight loss in adults with obesity. In contrast, liraglutide alone sustains weight loss but does not significantly improve measured physical fitness outcomes.

26 Jan 2026

Short-term oatmeal diet improves cholesterol and metabolic health markers

A short-term oat-based diet appears to be surprisingly effective at reducing the cholesterol level. This is indicated by a trial by the University of Bonn, which has now been published in the journal Nature Communications.

23 Jan 2026

Genetic study establishes causal link between obesity and cognitive decline

People with obesity and high blood pressure may face a higher risk of dementia, according to a new study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

23 Jan 2026

Red light therapy may protect athletes' brains from repetitive impacts

Punch-drunk syndrome, boxer's madness, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The name has changed over the years, but the cause is clear: repeated impacts can affect long-term brain health, with symptoms ranging from confusion to memory loss and potentially dementia.

21 Jan 2026

GLP-1 weight-loss drugs show early promise for treating addiction

This systematic review evaluates preclinical and clinical evidence on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists as potential treatments for substance use disorders. Findings show consistent reductions in drug- and alcohol-seeking behaviors in animal models, while human evidence remains limited, heterogeneous, and preliminary.

21 Jan 2026

Early treatment delays rheumatoid arthritis onset in high-risk individuals

Treating people who are at high risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can delay the onset of the disease for several years, with benefits also continuing well after treatment has stopped.

20 Jan 2026

Ashwagandha aids recovery without blunting training stress in athletes

Six weeks of Ashwagandha root extract supplementation in semi-professional team-sport athletes was associated with sex-specific effects during pre-season training. Females showed improved perceived recovery with stable cortisol, while males demonstrated gains in lower-body power with stable cortisone levels.

18 Jan 2026