Puberty News and Research

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Puberty is the maturation stage a person goes through when they develop secondary sexual characteristics. Usually, puberty occurs between the ages of 8 and 12 years in girls and between 9 and 14 years in boys.

Steroid hormones, BMI and stress influence puberty timing in girls

Higher levels of key steroid hormones-combined with elevated stress and body mass index (BMI)-are associated with earlier onset of puberty in girls, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

13 Apr 2026

Prenatal smoking linked to broader mental health issues in children

Children exposed to maternal smoking before birth are more likely to experience behavioral and mental health challenges, according to a large study funded by the National Institutes of Health's Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.

6 Apr 2026

Early testosterone surge triggers rare muscle disease

Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (SBMA) is a rare inherited disease that causes progressive muscle weakness and wasting in men.

27 Mar 2026

Thymus health in adults linked to longer life and disease risk

Two new studies from investigators at Mass General Brigham challenge a decades-old assumption that the thymus, an organ best known for its role in establishing immune function in childhood, becomes irrelevant in adulthood.

18 Mar 2026

Study identifies immune cells and RANK protein as fertility regulators

The kick off signal for puberty begins in the brain. Specifically, in the hypothalamus, where specific neurons release a hormone that activates the hypophysis, at the base of the skull, which then releases other hormones to start gonad –ovaries or testicles –maturation.

12 Mar 2026

Puberty reshapes DNA to worsen or reverse insulin resistance

This study uncovers epigenetic changes during puberty that correlate with insulin resistance, offering insights into childhood obesity and metabolic risk.

3 Mar 2026

New meta-analysis challenges claims of athletic advantage for transgender women

A meta-analysis of 52 studies reveals insights into body composition and fitness in transgender athletes, challenging assumptions about competitive advantage.

6 Feb 2026

One-third of adolescents report aggression toward parents

Physical aggression by young people toward their parents occurs quite frequently – yet the subject remains taboo.

2 Feb 2026

Teen girls who play organized sports show lower breast cancer risk biomarkers

This cross-sectional study of 191 adolescent girls found that ≥2 hours of organized recreational physical activity in the past week was associated with lower breast percent water content and reduced oxidative stress. These biomarkers are linked to breast cancer risk, although causality and long-term outcomes cannot be inferred.

19 Jan 2026

New review examines the growing global use of melatonin among pediatric populations

Sleep problems are increasingly common among children and adolescents, affecting emotional regulation, cognitive development, and healthy conditions.

16 Jan 2026

Forever chemicals linked to higher liver disease risk in adolescents

A new study co-led by the Southern California Superfund Research and Training Program for PFAS Assessment, Remediation and Prevention (ShARP) Center and the University of Hawai'i has linked certain common "forever chemicals" to a higher risk of liver disease in adolescents.

6 Jan 2026

Prediabetes prevalence doubles over two decades in Finnish children with obesity

The prevalence of prediabetes has increased significantly in recent years among Finnish children living with overweight or obesity, a recent study by Tampere University and the University of Eastern Finland shows.

30 Dec 2025

Cutting carbs, not fat, may better control appetite in women

Research indicates low-carb diets may enhance appetite regulation and reduce food cues in women with lipedema, offering a dietary intervention advantage.

19 Dec 2025

Researchers identify partner protein that supports appetite regulating-protein

A protein essential to the human body for managing energy and regulating appetite relies on a partner protein, according to new research, and the findings could help researchers better understand genetic obesity.

16 Dec 2025

Early reversal of unhealthy weight can protect the heart from higher childhood BMI

Overweight as a child is not necessarily a risk factor for heart attack later in life. If weight is normalized before adulthood, the heart seems unaffected by the higher childhood BMI, according to a study conducted at the University of Gothenburg.

5 Dec 2025

Overweight boys hit puberty earlier than peers

Childhood obesity accelerates puberty in boys, with heavier children showing earlier testicular enlargement and pubic hair development, study finds.

1 Dec 2025

Neuroscientists detect five broad phases of brain structure in the average human life

Neuroscientists at the University of Cambridge have identified five "major epochs" of brain structure over the course of a human life, as our brains rewire to support different ways of thinking while we grow, mature, and ultimately decline.

25 Nov 2025

Scientists uncover genetic components linked to bone density in young people

Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) revealed important genetic components that affect bone density in children and adolescents.

19 Nov 2025

New method brings hope for personalized treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease often have to wait a long time to find the right medicine. But the methods of a large interdisciplinary research team offer hope.

5 Nov 2025

Gaps in sex education can have lasting impacts throughout adulthood, study finds

A new Kinsey Institute study has found gaps in sex education can have lasting impacts throughout adulthood, including relationship struggles, lack of confidence, and reduced quality of life.

10 Oct 2025