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Young adults with complex conditions face Medicaid coverage disruptions at age 19

In most states, Medicaid eligibility rules shift at age 19, when individuals transition from child to adult classification.

18 Feb 2026

Undiagnosed diabetes and kidney disease raise heart risk

Diabetes and kidney disease are major risk factors for heart disease, yet many cases are undiagnosed. In addition, a consumer survey done last fall suggests that most people don't realize that their heart, kidney and metabolic health (how the body creates, uses and stores energy) are connected.

18 Feb 2026

Stroke care varies across Medicare coverage types

A first-of-its-kind analysis has revealed significant differences in stroke outcomes and stroke care for patients on government-run traditional Medicare plans versus those on Medicare Advantage, offered by private insurers.

18 Feb 2026

Frailty impacts heart attack survival differently by sex

Pioneering research from the University of Leicester and NIHR challenges the 'one-size-fits-all' approach to heart attack care, adding critical nuance to the debate on sex disparities.

18 Feb 2026

Can GLP-1 drugs slow neurodegeneration? New review finds promising signals but limited clinical proof

This review examines how GLP-1 receptor agonists may influence neurodegenerative disease biology through metabolic, inflammatory, mitochondrial, and proteostasis pathways. Evidence from mechanistic, preclinical, and early clinical studies suggests potential neuroprotective effects, but definitive disease-modifying benefit remains unproven.

17 Feb 2026

Short-duration psychedelic therapy shows promise for major depression treatment

A phase IIa randomized trial found that intravenous dimethyltryptamine (DMT) with structured psychological support produced rapid reductions in depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder. Improvements were statistically significant versus placebo at two weeks, with mostly mild-to-moderate adverse events and the need for larger confirmatory studies emphasized.

17 Feb 2026

Post-exercise milk helps protect bone density in adults over 60

The study highlights the role of milk and resistance training in improving bone health and physical performance among older adults through nutrition education.

17 Feb 2026

AI tool could help identify life-threatening transplant complications

A powerful artificial intelligence (AI) tool could give clinicians a head start in identifying life-threatening complications after stem cell and bone marrow transplants, according to new research from MUSC Hollings Cancer Center.

16 Feb 2026

Study quantifies the economic implications of living with HIV

A recent study, published in Nature Communications, shows that in the Netherlands, people who are diagnosed with HIV are less likely to be employed, work fewer hours, earn less income, and are more likely to receive disability benefits up to seven years after diagnosis.

16 Feb 2026

Global study reveals disparities in early-onset gastric cancer

Gastric cancer remains the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Although its overall incidence has declined, early-onset cases—diagnosed before age 50—display unique biological and clinical patterns.

16 Feb 2026

Air pollution increases physical disability progression in older adults

Long-term air pollution exposure is associated with faster progression of disability in older adults, highlighting critical public health implications.

16 Feb 2026

Traumatic brain injury linked to long-term work disability

Having a traumatic brain injury, no matter how serious, is associated with a greater likelihood of qualifying for work disability up to five years later, according to a study published February 11, 2026, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

11 Feb 2026

Economic disadvantage linked to tobacco addiction and lower motivation to stop smoking

A new paper in Nicotine and Tobacco Research, published by Oxford University Press, finds that people experiencing more economic disadvantages are more likely to smoke cigarettes, have higher levels of tobacco addiction, and find it harder to quit than those who are most advantaged.

11 Feb 2026

New Medicaid work rules likely to hit middle-aged adults hard

Lori Kelley's deteriorating vision has made it hard for her to find steady work.

11 Feb 2026

Addiction consults improve care for drug-related eye infections

Eric Gaier, MD, PhD, and Dean Eliott, MD, of the Department of Ophthalmology at Mass Eye and Ear, a member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, are co-authors of a paper published in Ophthalmology Retina, "Substance Use Disorder Interventions and Ophthalmic Outcomes for Injection Drug Use-Associated Endogenous Endophthalmitis."

10 Feb 2026

Defective ASTN1 gene linked to developmental delay and neurological disorders

Nearly 30 years ago, researchers began studying the gene Astn1, which encodes the cell adhesion protein astrotactin 1 in mice, and its role in brain development.

10 Feb 2026

Fall prevention programs in emergency departments improve safety for seniors after discharge

Falls are one of the most common reasons older adults are treated in the emergency department, and many patients are discharged home the same day.

10 Feb 2026

Early bone molecular changes signal osteoarthritis progression

Osteoarthritis often goes undetected until cartilage damage is advanced, limiting treatment options. A new study shows that molecular changes in subchondral bone occur earlier and can signal disease progression before cartilage loss.

10 Feb 2026

Brain differences reveal hidden causes of math learning disability

On a simple math task - indicating which of two amounts is greater - kids with math learning disability get the right answer as often as their good-at-math peers, but behind the scenes, their brains are working differently, a new Stanford Medicine study has found.

9 Feb 2026