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Alpha-1 antitrypsin identified as potential target for preventing spontaneous preterm birth

Researchers at the University of Oulu have identified alpha-1 antitrypsin as a potential target for preventing spontaneous preterm birth.

3 Sep 2026

Cerebral palsy may be a trait rather than a disease

Historically, cerebral palsy (CP) was linked largely to events at birth, including prematurity or temporary loss of oxygen to the brain, but research over the past decade has suggested that genetic factors contribute to CP in many children.

3 Sep 2026

New tool amplifies and visualizes tiny protein changes

Imagine a brain teaser where the challenge is to spot the difference between two nearly identical sandcastles.

1 Sep 2026

Plyo-HIIT program targets healthier body composition in children

Traditional weight-loss strategies for children, from calorie restriction to general aerobic exercise, often carry an unwanted side effect: they cut fat, but they also erode muscle mass.

28 Aug 2026

Updated consensus offers new roadmap for childhood bedwetting care

Nocturnal enuresis (NE) in school-age children is more than a nighttime inconvenience: when persistent, it can affect self-esteem, sleep, family life and social functioning.

28 Aug 2026

Exposure to drought during pregnancy associated with higher risk of preterm birth

Climate change is making droughts more frequent, prolonged, and intense in many regions of the world, increasing the need to understand their effects on health.

25 Aug 2026

PCOS prevalence rises among pregnant women in China

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects approximately 6% to 20% of women of reproductive age globally and remains undiagnosed and poorly managed, especially during pregnancy, leading to significant healthcare costs.

21 Aug 2026

Prenatal exposure to higher water fluoride levels associated with lower child cognition

Pregnant mothers who lived in neighborhoods where public drinking water fluoride levels were near or above the current U.S. recommended levels tended to have children who scored lower on tests of fluid reasoning as fluoride levels increased, according to a new study supported by the National Institutes of Health's Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.

18 Aug 2026

Improved indoor lighting may prevent nearsightedness in children

Research has already shown that the more time children spend playing with screens indoors instead of playing outdoors, the more likely they are to develop myopia.

18 Aug 2026

Tufts study links pet relationships to teen coping styles

About one in 10 teenagers experience social anxiety-persistent and disruptive worries about being judged by their classmates and other peers.

17 Aug 2026

Poverty linked to higher childhood deaths from congenital anomalies

Swansea University researchers have led major European study investigating how socio-economic circumstances influence survival among children born with major congenital anomalies.

14 Aug 2026

Subtle brain differences detected in children at risk for schizophrenia

A study examined the brains of children at increased risk of developing schizophrenia to determine whether signs of vulnerability can be detected during childhood.

13 Aug 2026

Astrocytes found to directly regulate memory consolidation during sleep

Research has shown that a good night's sleep has many benefits, including memory consolidation. How sleep enables the brain to strengthen memories is still not completely understood, but a new study published in Neuron reveals how astrocytes, brain cells known for supporting neurons and their functions, can directly regulate brain circuits involved in memory consolidation.

13 Aug 2026

Pediatric leucovorin use spiked after federal officials touted its benefits for autism

Leucovorin prescriptions for children spiked after federal officials claimed the drug was an effective treatment for autism during a September 2025 press conference, according to a new Michigan Medicine-led study published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

12 Aug 2026

New machine learning model improves accuracy of prenatal genetic testing

Advances in genome sequencing are giving more families access to prenatal genetic testing and new information about an unborn baby's health, including whether genetic changes may link to a neurodevelopmental condition.

11 Aug 2026

New computational tool identifies hidden genes driving asthma

Researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, in collaboration with investigators at the University of Chicago, have developed a new computational framework that helps scientists identify genes that play central roles in diseases such as asthma but are often overlooked by existing genetic analysis methods.

11 Aug 2026

Phthalates may contribute to high blood pressure in pregnant women

Phthalates, which are chemicals found in plastics, personal care products and hundreds of other consumer goods, may contribute to high blood pressure in pregnant women, according to a study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.

10 Aug 2026

New combination therapy could permanently clear HIV in newborns

Every year, more than 120,000 newborns worldwide contract HIV, a global health burden that requires lifelong treatment for millions of people - assuming they have access and can afford it.

10 Aug 2026

Telemedicine expands access to pediatric primary care for endocrine or behavioral health issues

A multi-institutional study led by researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) found that telemedicine is becoming increasingly common for problem-based primary care, particularly for children with endocrine or behavioral health issues where chronic needs are significant.

5 Aug 2026

Study finds no link between newborn circumcision and autism risk

In a cohort of nearly 3,000 boys followed from birth into childhood, young boys who were circumcised just after birth did not have a higher risk of autism, according to a study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

4 Aug 2026