Public Health News and Research

RSS

Industrial processing of food poses health risks beyond poor nutrition

Concerns about the health effects of ultra-processed foods are growing, as studies increasingly link them to conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and even early death.

4 Jun 2026

Vaping devices and flavors affect genes differently

Vaping exposure affects gene activity in the mouth, with variations linked to device type and flavor, suggesting unique molecular responses compared to smoking.

4 Jun 2026

Dietary exposure to toxic metals causes over one million annual deaths

Children aged less than five years face almost three times the risk of illness from unsafe food than older children and adults, according to new estimates released today by the World Health Organization (WHO).

4 Jun 2026

Real-world study exposes suboptimal adherence to treat-to-target rheumatic strategies

EULAR - The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology - acknowledges the role of diverse real-world data to complement knowledge from randomized controlled trials.

4 Jun 2026

New data confirms dengue vaccine safety for older and chronic-risk travelers

Data from 1,028 people vaccinated with TAK-003 in Catalonia suggests that the dengue vaccine has a good tolerability profile in routine clinical practice among travelers from regions where dengue is not endemic.

4 Jun 2026

Study links rural living to worse epilepsy health outcomes

For people with epilepsy, living in counties that are more rural was associated with poorer health outcomes than for people living in more urban counties, according to a study published June 3, 2026, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

3 Jun 2026

New index identifies HIV prevention gaps across the Southern United States

The University of Mississippi-led study, published in Frontiers in Public Health, offers health care and government leaders a new tool for targeting HIV-related support where the need is highest.

3 Jun 2026

Long-term exposure to air pollution associated with lower semantic memory

A new study by researchers at UC Davis Health and Kaiser Permanente found that higher exposure to very small air pollution particles (PM2.5) over a 17-year span was associated with lower semantic memory.

3 Jun 2026

Clean drinking water shortages threaten food security across nations

A new global study has found that people without access to clean drinking water are significantly more likely to experience food insecurity and food safety threats, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated global action to address these issues together.

3 Jun 2026

Americans view ultraprocessed foods as addictive and harmful

Across partisan lines, Americans broadly believe ultraprocessed foods are addictive and harmful – expressing attitudes strikingly like those that spurred regulation of the tobacco industry, new Cornell University-led research finds.

3 Jun 2026

American Heart Association launches national heart transplant research network

Nearly 60 years after the first successful heart transplant, the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, is launching a bold new initiative to fundamentally transform how heart transplant care is delivered across the United States - addressing long-standing gaps in innovation, equity and patient outcomes.

3 Jun 2026

New predictive model helps track dangerous animal viruses

A new predictive model developed at Washington State University could help scientists more efficiently identify the reservoirs of emerging zoonotic viruses and dangerous pathogens like Ebola that can spill over from animals into humans.

3 Jun 2026

The best foods for brain health may change as you age

Investigating brain foods, this review highlights dietary influences on cognition and neurodevelopment, while addressing significant gaps in current research.

3 Jun 2026

TikTok promotes a thriving illicit vaping culture among young people

TikTok videos glamorizing illicit vaping highlight challenges in public health communication, as youth engage more with social media than educational resources.

3 Jun 2026

ELRIG unveils keynote speakers for Drug Discovery 2026

ELRIG, a not-for-profit, volunteer-led organization dedicated to the global drug discovery community, today announced the keynote speaker program for Drug Discovery 2026.

From ELRIG (UK) Ltd. 3 Jun 2026

Scientists introduce a precise framework to study screen-saturated childhoods

Children are growing up inside screens. A new peer-reviewed Thought Leaders Invited Review in Brain Health argues that neuroscience has been missing the word for what those screens are touching.

3 Jun 2026

Study highlights urgent need to grow the addiction medicine workforce

Australia is facing a growing addiction crisis with one in 30 people meeting the criteria for a substance use disorder, yet addiction medicine remains one of the least visible specialities with only around 300 doctors currently specializing in addiction medicine.

2 Jun 2026

New US dietary guidelines may raise the climate cost of protein

Removing ultra-processed foods from the Mean American Diet could reduce environmental impacts, but the benefits are largely offset when the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are modeled with higher protein intake. The study found that higher-protein, animal-heavy diets increased greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and nitrogen fertilizer use compared with current diets, while plant-based protein scenarios produced substantially lower impacts.

2 Jun 2026

GLP-1 therapy linked to slower biological aging processes

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist medications have gained widespread attention for effectively treating obesity, lowering blood sugar and decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

2 Jun 2026

Is any level of alcohol safe? Major review reveals where drinking risks rise

This Burden of Proof review found that alcohol consumption is associated with higher risks for several cancers, liver disease, pancreatitis, lower respiratory infections, tuberculosis, and atrial fibrillation. Although low-to-moderate drinking showed modest observational links with lower risks of type 2 diabetes, dementia, and some cardiovascular outcomes, the evidence was weaker and potentially biased.

2 Jun 2026