Public Health News and Research

RSS

Insurance denials for brand-name drugs surge over past six years

A new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the American Enterprise Institute found that insurance denials of first attempts to fill prescriptions for brand-name prescription drugs with no generic competitors increased more than two-thirds between 2018 and 2024.

11 Jul 2026

New grant funds Penn State street medicine program for homeless populations

Delivering healthcare services directly to people experiencing homelessness and training the next generation of physicians in street medicine is the goal of a new five-year, $2.5 million grant from the Human Resources and Services Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to Penn State College of Medicine.

11 Jul 2026

Global hotspots where breast cancer and atrial fibrillation overlap

Investigating breast cancer and atrial fibrillation overlap, this study highlights key risk factors, underscoring the need for integrated prevention approaches.

10 Jul 2026

Pediatric mental health treatment surged after the pandemic

When schools closed in the spring of 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of children and adolescents receiving mental health treatment in the United States fell by more than half.

9 Jul 2026

Global cancer cases projected to reach nearly 35 million by 2050

Millions of people are facing physical, emotional and financial toll of cancer, a disease that claims more than 26 000 lives every day, according to a report released today by the World Health Organization (WHO).

9 Jul 2026

Stem cell study uncovers molecular pathway for enamel regeneration

Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, yet once damaged, it cannot regenerate naturally.

9 Jul 2026

Review highlights traditional Chinese medicine for Chikungunya fever management

Chikungunya fever, caused by Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), has re‑emerged as a major global health threat. The 2025 outbreak in Guangdong, China – the largest local epidemic ever recorded – marks a critical epidemiological turning point.

9 Jul 2026

Yeast food supplement helps immune cells fight cancer more effectively

Researchers from Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and University College Dublin (UCD) have shown for the first time that a food supplement made from yeast helps the body to make stronger immune cells that can fight cancer.

9 Jul 2026

Lung tumors hack the nervous system to cause severe cachexia

Cachexia is a condition in which patients affected by cancer or other chronic diseases become sick and lose weight.

9 Jul 2026

Routine midwife debriefing provides critical mental health support for mothers

A new study from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has found that a structured, midwife‑led birth debrief can significantly strengthen women's emotional wellbeing after childbirth and can be built into routine maternity care.

9 Jul 2026

Misuse of ADHD stimulant medications declines sharply among young adults

Misuse of stimulant medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has declined sharply.

9 Jul 2026

New global Alzheimer’s disease country insights tool reveals major inequalities in diagnosis, treatment access and preparedness across countries

Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) has launched the Alzheimer’s Disease Atlas (AD Atlas), a first of its kind platform highlighting how countries diagnose, treat and support people living with dementia.

9 Jul 2026

Long-term exposure to air pollution linked to increased risk of Parkinson’s disease

Air pollution is a major public health issue, with long-term exposure to fine particulate matter linked with an increased risk of various diseases, including stroke and dementia.

9 Jul 2026

New Italian data show extreme longevity is spreading beyond the blue zones

A nationwide ecological analysis of Italian regions found that aging and extreme longevity indicators rose steadily from 1982 to 2025, with northern and central regions generally leading. Regional patterns linked higher longevity indices to lower diabetes and cerebrovascular mortality and healthier contemporary nutrition profiles, while Cilento emerged as a notable southern hotspot.

9 Jul 2026

Global groundwater maps reveal hidden manganese risk for 220 million people

Machine learning maps suggest that about 180 to 220 million people may rely on untreated groundwater with manganese above the WHO’s updated 80 µg/L guideline. The study places manganese exposure on a similar global scale to arsenic and fluoride, yet shows it remains far less visible in groundwater monitoring.

8 Jul 2026

Sexual and gender minority populations are less likely to receive cancer screening

A study reveals significant disparities in cancer screening rates among sexual and gender minorities, highlighting the need for equitable healthcare access.

8 Jul 2026

Yogurt, prebiotics, and probiotics link to lower colorectal cancer odds in U.S. adults

A national NHANES analysis of 9,405 U.S. adults aged 50 and older found that any yogurt, prebiotic, or probiotic consumption was associated with about 50% lower odds of self-reported colorectal cancer. Because the study was cross-sectional, it cannot prove causation but supports further research into microbiota-targeted dietary strategies.

8 Jul 2026

Hospital admissions for miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy rise in England

Hospital admissions for miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy have increased in England in recent years, according to research presented today at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).

7 Jul 2026

Early menopause remains common among women in low and middle income countries

Early menopause affects 1 in 14 women aged 30 to 49 living in low and middle income countries, finds a pooled data analysis of its prevalence in 44 nations published in the open access journal BMJ Global Health.

7 Jul 2026

New review shows why antidepressants often fail in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s depression

A Molecular Psychiatry review shows that depression in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease may reflect disease-specific molecular, neurotransmitter, inflammatory, and circuit-level disruptions rather than standard depression biology alone. It argues that broad antidepressants often show limited efficacy in these patients and that future trials should use biomarkers, neuroimaging, and symptom profiling to guide targeted treatments.

7 Jul 2026