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Scientists discover how the immune system signals the brain to avoid germs

Researchers from the University of Bonn and University Hospital Bonn uncover vital mechanism for survival

16 Apr 2026

Smoking shrinks key brain regions while cannabis shows weaker effects

The study highlights brain changes from tobacco use and calls for more research on cannabis, as its effects on brain structure remain inadequately understood.

7 Apr 2026

How gut microbes may shape heart attack damage and recovery

This review argues that gut microbes and the metabolites they produce, especially SCFAs and TMAO, may shape how the heart responds to myocardial infarction through epigenetic pathways such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs. It also outlines potential intervention routes, including diet, probiotics, postbiotics, and metabolite-targeted therapies, while noting that much of the evidence remains translational and not yet clinically definitive.

6 Apr 2026

Shisha smoking overlooked despite growing public health concerns in the UK

Shisha smoking continues to be overlooked as a public health issue in the UK, argue experts in The BMJ today.

1 Apr 2026

Molecular switch in neurons found to limit the regrowth of damaged axonal fibers

Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have discovered a molecular switch in neurons that limits the regrowth of damaged axonal fibers.

1 Apr 2026

New drug sotatercept shows benefit in CpcPH-HFpEF patients

Patients who have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension) experienced significant improvements in blood pressure and vascular health after taking the drug sotatercept, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26).

29 Mar 2026

New AI tool assesses the potential threat posed by new bacteria

Researchers have developed an AI tool that can help determine whether unfamiliar bacteria carry genetic features linked to disease.

27 Mar 2026

Scotland marks twenty years of landmark smoke-free legislation

Second-hand smoke exposure in Scotland is down 96% since the country's landmark smoke-free legislation came into force on March 26, 2006, new research by the University of Stirling and Public Health Scotland has shown.

26 Mar 2026

Chronic inflammation leaves epigenetic scars that increase future cancer risk

Chronic inflammation can raise a person's risk of cancer, and a new study reveals key details about how that might happen in the gut and points to better ways to identify and reduce risk.

25 Mar 2026

Can collagen supplements really improve your skin?

Investigating collagen peptides, this review explores their role in skin aging, assessing clinical evidence and the mechanisms behind their potential benefits.

25 Mar 2026

Study reveals genetic impact of Agent Orange on bone marrow cancers

More than 50 years after Agent Orange was used in Vietnam, a new national study published online ahead of print in Blood Advances highlights the genetic changes that link exposure to Agent Orange to myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a group of bone marrow cancers that can progress to acute leukemia.

23 Mar 2026

Nature-inspired sensor detects molecules in blood with high sensitivity

A team led by La Trobe University has drawn inspiration from nature to develop a breakthrough sensor that can rapidly track tiny molecular changes in blood, paving the way to real-time, personalized medicine.

18 Mar 2026

Study focuses on pica prevalence and risks in many South Carolinians during pregnancy

Health promotion, education, and behavior assistant professor Leila Larson conducts her nutrition-focused maternal and child health research all over the world, and South Carolinians will soon benefit from her expertise.

17 Mar 2026

Photoreceptor cells can recover from early stages of cell death

Photoreceptors are specialized cells in the eye that convert light energy into neural signals.

11 Mar 2026

New catalog identifies dozens of plasma membrane repair proteins

In the evolutionary history of life, the ability of a cell to separate its inner world from the external environment was an important turning point.

10 Mar 2026

How social and environmental exposures across life influence mental health risk

Researchers outline how the exposome framework, which captures the totality of environmental exposures across the lifespan, can help explain how non-genetic factors shape mental health risk and resilience. The perspective highlights how integrating environmental, biological, and social data could improve prevention strategies, research models, and personalized mental health care.

10 Mar 2026

How somatic mutations shape disease and reveal new drug targets

Researchers reviewed how somatic mutations accumulate in normal and diseased tissues, showing that natural selection can expand clones that influence disease risk, tissue adaptation, or cellular resilience. The study proposes somatic genomics as a powerful strategy to uncover disease mechanisms and identify new therapeutic targets across multiple conditions.

8 Mar 2026

Researchers propose that Parkinson’s disease may start in the gut, not the brain

A perspective in The Journal of Clinical Investigation argues that environmental exposures may interact with the gut microbiome and intestinal barrier to trigger biological processes linked to Parkinson’s disease. The authors propose that cumulative environmental stressors can erode host resilience, promoting α-synuclein pathology, immune activation, and neurodegeneration.

5 Mar 2026

Tufts researchers identify new vulnerabilities to combat persistent C. diff infections

Affecting roughly half a million Americans each year, bacterial infections caused by Clostridioides difficile—commonly known as C. diff—are a serious and persistent problem for patients and hospitals alike.

5 Mar 2026

New strategy targets Porphyromonas gingivalis without harming healthy microbes

For years, treating gum disease has meant scraping away plaque, cutting out damaged tissue or turning to antibiotics that kill bacteria indiscriminately.

3 Mar 2026