Disability News and Research

RSS

PM2.5 pollution linked to lung cancer shows sharp declines in the U.S. but not in China

The study highlights the need for stronger air quality measures as global lung cancer deaths linked to pollution are projected to rise, especially in China.

16 Sep 2025

Barriers in NHS services leave autistic people without suicide support

Life-saving opportunities to prevent suicide among autistic people are being missed because systemic barriers make it difficult for them to access NHS support during times of mental health crisis, according to new research.

15 Sep 2025

Parents fear losing disability protections as Trump slashes civil rights office

Devon Price, a 15-year-old boy with autism, has attended the largest school district in North Carolina for 10 years, but he cannot read or write. His twin sister, Danielle, who is also autistic, was bullied by classmates and became suicidal.

15 Sep 2025

Acupuncture improves pain and function in older adults with chronic low back pain

According to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), older Americans with chronic low back pain who received acupuncture had greater improvement in physical function and reduced pain than those who received usual medical care only, generally prescribed medications or physical therapy.

13 Sep 2025

Diabetes cases nearly double in children and teens worldwide

A dramatic increase in childhood diabetes cases highlights a global health crisis. While mortality declines, the rising incidence demands urgent attention.

12 Sep 2025

Healthier diets and diverse oral microbiomes lower frailty risk

This study links diet and oral microbiome diversity to frailty risk, emphasizing their potential in strategies for healthier aging and improved health outcomes.

10 Sep 2025

Researchers reveal why no level of air pollution is safe for respiratory health

A review in the Journal of Clinical Investigation shows how particulate matter damages the lungs through oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune disruption. It links air pollution to asthma, COPD, lung cancer, infections, and millions of premature deaths, with no safe exposure threshold.

9 Sep 2025

Daily walking reduces the chances of chronic low back pain

A study reveals that increased walking volume lowers the risk of chronic low back pain, highlighting the importance of daily physical activity for prevention.

9 Sep 2025

EEG ‘Fastball’ shows promise for spotting early memory loss in Alzheimer’s

This study introduces Fastball, an EEG method that accurately measures recognition memory in MCI, enhancing early dementia diagnosis and cognitive assessment.

8 Sep 2025

New study explores how childhood social determinants impact young adult cardiovascular health

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death and disability for adults in the U.S. Recent projections from the American Heart Association suggest that by 2050, more than 45 million American adults will have clinical CVD and more than 184 million will have hypertension.

4 Sep 2025

Study links hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy to higher stroke risk

Given the seriousness and increased frequency of strokes, many studies have been conducted to assess the relationship between hysterectomy and/or bilateral oophorectomy and the risk of stroke with varying results.

3 Sep 2025

Faster progression to severe diabetes observed in people with learning disabilities

People with learning disabilities progress faster to severe type 2 diabetes and are at greater risk of dying from their condition than people without these disabilities, suggests research published in the open access journal BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Control.

2 Sep 2025

Global mental health crisis demands urgent investment and action

More than 1 billion people are living with mental health disorders, according to new data released by the World Health Organization (WHO), with conditions such as anxiety and depression inflicting immense human and economic tolls.

2 Sep 2025

People live longer worldwide but not necessarily healthier, study finds

Researchers mapped the global healthspan-lifespan gap across 183 countries, showing people live longer but not healthier, with Africa experiencing the fastest widening gap. Distinct disease-burden clusters explain regional differences and highlight the need for region-specific health strategies.

2 Sep 2025

Social Security praises its new chatbot. Ex-officials say it was tested but shelved under Biden.

John McGing couldn't reach a human. That might be business-as-usual in this economy, but it wasn't business; he had called the Social Security Administration, where the questions often aren't generic and the callers tend to be older, disabled, or otherwise vulnerable Americans.

2 Sep 2025

Why metformin could protect the brain by rewiring mitochondria

Metformin boosts human oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination across stem-cell, organoid, and chimera models. The study links these effects to mitochondrial metabolic shifts, supporting its potential as a therapy for multiple sclerosis.

1 Sep 2025

Gait retraining reduces pain and slows knee damage in osteoarthritis

Nearly a quarter of people over the age of 40 experience painful osteoarthritis, making it a leading cause of disability in adults.

1 Sep 2025

Phase II trial finds zilebesiran lowers systolic blood pressure in patients with uncontrolled hypertension

Among individuals with cardiovascular disease or high cardiovascular risk and uncontrolled hypertension on multiple anti-hypertensive agents, a single subcutaneous dose of zilebesiran 300 mg led to a 5-mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure at Month 3 compared with placebo, a difference that did not reach statistical significance.

1 Sep 2025

Older adults reveal what makes or breaks a shift to plant-based protein

Older Dutch adults identified health and taste as the key tipping points for shifting toward protein-rich plant-based diets. Knowledge, social context, and practical tools shaped adoption, while skepticism and habits limited change.

28 Aug 2025

Research sheds new light on depression’s biological roots

Researchers at McGill University and the Douglas Institute have identified two specific types of brain cells that are altered in people with depression.

28 Aug 2025