Hormone News and Research

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A hormone is a chemical released by one or more cells that affects cells in other parts of the organism. Only a small amount of hormone is required to alter cell metabolism. It is essentially a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one cell to another.

Bariatric surgery restores menstrual cycles and reduces polycystic ovaries in obese women

Metabolic bariatric surgery improves menstrual cycle frequency and symptoms of polycystic ovaries in women living with obesity, a new study from the University of Surrey reports.

7 Sep 2026

New study uncovers bacterial route to testosterone production

Many prostate cancers depend on androgen hormones, including testosterone, to grow. That is why treatments for advanced disease often try to reduce testosterone production or block its effects.

4 Sep 2026

Ovulation drives women to use conspicuous luxury to attract men

Hormonal fluctuations associated with fertility are associated with a greater tendency for women to use conspicuous luxury symbols, potentially to be noticed by men, according to a study published September 2, 2026, in the open access journal PLOS One by Aekyoung Kim of Jeonbuk National University of the Republic of Korea, and colleagues.

4 Sep 2026

Semaglutide extended lifespan in older female mice, but that was not the only finding

Late-life semaglutide treatment slowed age-related physiological decline, attenuated multiple molecular hallmarks of aging, and extended median lifespan from 742 to 834 days in aged female mice. The drug reproduced many effects of calorie restriction while providing additional benefits in exploratory behavior, spatial memory, and glucose control, suggesting that some effects extend beyond reduced calorie intake alone.

3 Sep 2026

Too little or too much testosterone may matter for heart rhythm

A review of clinical trials, observational studies, genetic analyses, and mechanistic research suggests that atrial fibrillation risk may follow a U-shaped relationship with testosterone, increasing at both low and high levels. Evidence on testosterone replacement therapy remains mixed, with researchers calling for prospective studies to determine whether mid-physiological testosterone targets and treatment formulation influence AF risk.

2 Sep 2026

Bright light therapy boosts activity and sleep in older adults

Bright light therapy lamps can improve sleep, activity levels and circadian rhythms of older adults in urban areas who have diminished exposure to natural light, a new study from the University of Surrey reports.

2 Sep 2026

Progesterone levels linked to brain patterns underlying mood changes

The influence of the hormone progesterone on mood is well known. Now researchers from the University of Barcelona have shown how higher levels of progesterone during the menstrual cycle are linked to less distinct patterns of activity in areas of the brain involved in controlling emotions.

2 Sep 2026

Shared biological pathways may explain chronic fatigue across diseases

A shared biological secret that helps explain chronic exhaustion in conditions including long Covid and PTSD has been discovered by researchers at the University of East Anglia and Oxford BioDynamics.

2 Sep 2026

Why addiction researchers are paying closer attention to GLP-1 drugs

A Journal of Clinical Investigation Viewpoint highlights growing evidence that GLP-1 receptor agonists, particularly semaglutide, may reduce alcohol consumption and some other substance-related outcomes by acting on brain systems involved in reward, motivation, stress, and emotion. However, the authors caution that efficacy for substance use disorders is not yet firmly established and call for further research into optimal dosing, treatment duration, patient selection, mechanisms, and effects across different addictions.

2 Sep 2026

Estrogen hormone combination may help relieve menopausal brain fog

Many women going through menopause report struggling with memory lapses, trouble concentrating and slower thinking, a set of symptoms often described as "brain fog."

1 Sep 2026

Routine referral of prostate cancer patients to a cardiovascular specialist fails to cut cardiac events

Men with prostate cancer have a high risk of heart disease, especially when treated with hormone therapy.

31 Aug 2026

The scale told a similar story across three diets. The liver told a different one

In a randomized controlled trial of people with metabolically unhealthy obesity, approximately 10% weight loss improved insulin sensitivity and several cardiometabolic measures across ketogenic, Mediterranean, and very-low-fat plant-forward diets. However, the very-low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet produced larger improvements in hepatic insulin sensitivity and greater reductions in liver fat and several glucose and insulin measures than the higher-carbohydrate diets.

31 Aug 2026

Oral relaxin agonist AZD5462 improves cardiac function in heart failure patients

The oral relaxin agonist, AZD5462, improved cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure, according to results presented in a Hot Line session today at ESC Congress 2026 and published simultaneously in Circulation.

30 Aug 2026

Breast cancer survivors could avoid lifelong heart medication, research suggests

Many breast cancer survivors whose treatment caused them to develop problems with their heart function can safely stop their medication after their heart recovers and most won't need to continue treatment long-term, according to a study funded by the British Heart Foundation and presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Munich.

30 Aug 2026

Study identifies role for peroxisomes in protecting insulin and maintaining beta cell health

Researchers at LSU's Pennington Biomedical Research Center have identified a previously underappreciated role for tiny structures inside cells called peroxisomes in protecting insulin and maintaining the health and maturity of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells.

28 Aug 2026

HRT linked to lower dementia risk, but timing and menopause type matter

In a UK Biobank study of 183,450 postmenopausal women followed for an average of 13.3 years, hormone replacement therapy use was associated with a modestly lower risk of dementia, with stronger associations in women who had surgical menopause or shorter natural estrogen exposure. The relationship also varied by age at HRT initiation, while the observational design means the findings cannot establish that HRT prevents dementia.

27 Aug 2026

Ketogenic diet provides greatest health benefits for treating obesity

A diet that severely limits carbohydrates but is high in fat has the greatest health benefits for people with obesity compared to a Mediterranean diet or a low-fat diet, according to a clinical trial publishing August 27 in the Cell Press journal Cell Metabolism.

27 Aug 2026

Women with shorter reproductive lifespan face higher risk of developing bronchiectasis

Women with a shorter reproductive lifespan are at greater risk of developing bronchiectasis, according to a new study in the July 2026 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, a peer-reviewed, open access journal.

27 Aug 2026

Study challenges traditional breast cancer classification methods

Breast cancer is often classified as either estrogen receptor-positive (hormone-sensitive) or not. However, a new study from Karolinska Institutet suggests that this simplified classification may overlook important biological differences between patients that could affect treatment decisions.

27 Aug 2026

Wearable device detects hidden hormone patterns behind high blood pressure

A common but often overlooked cause of high blood pressure may be hiding in plain sight – and data from a pioneering wearable device could hold the key to its earlier diagnosis, according to new research.

26 Aug 2026

Hormone News and Research

Further Reading

Bariatric surgery restores menstrual cycles and reduces polycystic ovaries in obese women

New study uncovers bacterial route to testosterone production

Ovulation drives women to use conspicuous luxury to attract men

Semaglutide extended lifespan in older female mice, but that was not the only finding

Too little or too much testosterone may matter for heart rhythm

Bright light therapy boosts activity and sleep in older adults

Progesterone levels linked to brain patterns underlying mood changes

Shared biological pathways may explain chronic fatigue across diseases

Why addiction researchers are paying closer attention to GLP-1 drugs

Estrogen hormone combination may help relieve menopausal brain fog

Routine referral of prostate cancer patients to a cardiovascular specialist fails to cut cardiac events

The scale told a similar story across three diets. The liver told a different one

Oral relaxin agonist AZD5462 improves cardiac function in heart failure patients

Breast cancer survivors could avoid lifelong heart medication, research suggests

Study identifies role for peroxisomes in protecting insulin and maintaining beta cell health

HRT linked to lower dementia risk, but timing and menopause type matter

Ketogenic diet provides greatest health benefits for treating obesity

Women with shorter reproductive lifespan face higher risk of developing bronchiectasis

Study challenges traditional breast cancer classification methods

Wearable device detects hidden hormone patterns behind high blood pressure

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