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Morning coffee helps women stay sharp and strong as they age

Findings from a new study of almost 50,000 women followed for 30 years suggest that a morning cup of coffee might do more than boost energy; it could also help women stay sharp, strong and mentally well as they age.

2 Jun 2025

Tobacco-funded research continues to appear in leading medical journals

Tobacco-funded research is still appearing in highly-cited medical journals - despite attempts by some to cut ties altogether, finds an investigation by The Investigative Desk and The BMJ today.

1 Jun 2025

What drives insulin resistance? Proteomics reveals key pathways in human skeletal muscle

Identifying proteomic signatures of insulin resistance in fasting muscle offers insights for personalized type 2 diabetes therapies based on molecular profiles.

30 May 2025

Higher BMI, not menopause age, increases hypothyroidism risk

Researchers analyzed over 15,000 postmenopausal Canadian women to investigate whether age at natural menopause influences the risk of developing overt hypothyroidism. The study found no association, but higher BMI was linked to increased hypothyroidism risk.

29 May 2025

Self-employed women show fewer heart disease risk factors

New research finds that self-employed women have fewer risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to non-self-employed women, suggesting that the work environment may play a role in the development of risk factors that can lead to heart attacks.

29 May 2025

Study finds high rates of functional difficulty among US smokers

Around 1 in 7 of US adults who currently smoke may have some degree of disability, suggests the first study of its kind published online in the journal Tobacco Control.

29 May 2025

Study expands smoking cessation and lung cancer screening to North Queensland

Cairns and Townsville residents who want to give up smoking can access free nicotine replacement therapies and potentially life-saving lung cancer screening by participating in a research study.

29 May 2025

Choosing better carbs in low-carb diets boosts health outcomes

A long-term study of the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort found that low-carbohydrate diets emphasizing high-quality carbs, like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, were linked to reduced inflammation and oxidative stress. Diets low in carbohydrate quality offered no such benefits.

29 May 2025

Gender blind spots undermine tobacco control research

Ahead of World No Tobacco Day on May 31, York University researchers with Global Strategy Lab (GSL) have published a paper that finds a lack of gender analysis in tobacco control research.

28 May 2025

Coronary inflammation marker helps identify hidden heart risk in young adults

Researchers found that peri-coronary adipose tissue attenuation (PCAT), a marker of coronary inflammation, is independently associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) in young adults. Adding PCAT to standard risk models improved detection of early atherosclerosis, even in patients with a zero calcium score.

28 May 2025

How dietary zinc affects your chances of having a stroke

Moderate zinc intake is associated with a significantly lower prevalence of stroke among U.S. adults. Higher intake beyond this range offers no added benefit, suggesting a threshold effect.

28 May 2025

Global study shows air pollution could triple heart disease cases by 2045

The study highlights air pollution's role in escalating heart disease, showing increased mortality and disability rates, especially among women and older adults.

28 May 2025

Chronic cannabis use linked to significant cardiovascular risks

A new study led by UC San Francisco researchers finds that chronic cannabis use - whether it's smoked or consumed in edible form - is associated with significant cardiovascular risks.

28 May 2025

Oral 8-aminoguanine protects aging eyes and preserves vision in preclinical study

Oral 8-aminoguanine (8-AG) treatment preserved retinal structure and rod function in aged Fischer 344 rats, significantly reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. These findings highlight the promise of 8-AG as a non-invasive intervention to slow age-related retinal degeneration.

27 May 2025

Alzheimer’s blood biomarkers predict faster muscle strength loss in older adults

A large Swedish cohort study found that elevated blood biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease—including p-tau217, p-tau181, neurofilament light chain, and GFAP—predict accelerated muscle strength decline over 12 years in dementia-free older adults. These findings suggest that early identification of Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers could help clinicians intervene sooner to prevent sarcopenia and related adverse outcomes in aging populations.

27 May 2025

A ministroke can have major consequences

Kristin Kramer woke up early on a Tuesday morning 10 years ago because one of her dogs needed to go out. Then, a couple of odd things happened.

27 May 2025

Heavy smoking triggers systemic inflammation and vascular damage in new biomarker study

Heavy smoking in adult males significantly increases oxidative stress, inflammation, and vascular dysfunction, as shown by comprehensive blood and tissue biomarker analysis. The findings highlight measurable biological damage and reinforce the urgent need for targeted public health interventions.

26 May 2025

Large global study links higher alcohol intake to increased pancreatic cancer risk

A pooled analysis of over 2.4 million adults across four continents shows a modest but significant increase in pancreatic cancer risk with higher alcohol consumption. The risk is especially pronounced for beer and liquor, and at higher intake levels in men and women.

25 May 2025

Muscle quality linked to cognitive health in middle age

Over the past decade, much research has focused on the connection between skeletal muscle health and cognitive disorders.

23 May 2025

FOXP4 gene variants reveal new genetic link to long COVID risk

Researchers have identified genetic variants in the FOXP4 gene that significantly increase the risk of developing long COVID, independently of COVID-19 severity. The study also reveals that ancestry, smoking, and other factors contribute to the complex genetics of long COVID.

23 May 2025