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Low-sugar diet in early life reduces risk of chronic diseases in adulthood

A low-sugar diet in utero and in the first two years of life can meaningfully reduce the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood, a new study has found, providing compelling new evidence of the lifelong health effects of early-life sugar consumption.

1 Nov 2024

1950’s sugar rationing policies reduced risks of hypertension and diabetes

The study links early-life sugar exposure to chronic disease risk, suggesting that sugar restriction could enhance health and reduce diabetes and hypertension.

31 Oct 2024

Elucidating the mechanisms behind kidney development

To Alex Hughes, Assistant Professor in Bioengineering within Penn Engineering and in Cell and Developmental Biology within Penn Medicine, the kidney is a work of art. "I find the development of the kidney to be a really beautiful process," says Hughes.

28 Oct 2024

Researchers create first single cell atlas of prenatal human skin

For the first time, researchers have created a single cell atlas of prenatal human skin to understand how skin forms, and what goes wrong in disease.

18 Oct 2024

A deeper look at COVID-19 transmission and fetal health

A new Cleveland Clinic-led study published in The EMBO Journal shows that mild and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections can trigger immune responses in a pregnant individual that may cause serious inflammatory responses in the developing fetus.

17 Oct 2024

Study shows no developmental delays in toddlers post-COVID-19 infection

Study explored the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection in children under two years old and cognitive development, finding no evidence of increased developmental delays post-infection. Differences in socioeconomic status were noted between COVID-19 positive and negative groups.

15 Oct 2024

Houston Methodist researchers join national consortium to develop herpesvirus vaccine

Houston Methodist researchers will be part of a national consortium funded by an up to $49 million award from the U.S. Government's Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to develop a vaccine against two of the most common and destructive strains of herpesviruses that latently infect a majority of Americans and can lead to acute infections, multiple forms of cancer, autoimmune disease and birth defects.

3 Oct 2024

Childhood obesity: How the first 2,000 days hold the key to lifelong health

Researchers reveal that early life factors, especially within the first 2,000 days, play a critical role in shaping future obesity risk. Addressing these factors with integrated interventions could combat the global childhood obesity crisis.

26 Sep 2024

Study shows no increased autism risk for pandemic-era children

Children born during the first year of the pandemic, including those exposed to COVID in utero, were no more likely to screen positive for autism than unexposed or pre-pandemic children, found researchers from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

23 Sep 2024

Immune proteins in tooth enamel provide clues about ancient human health

A new way of looking at tooth enamel could give scientists a path to deeper understanding of the health of human populations, from the ancient to the modern.

19 Sep 2024

Collaborative study offers hope for syphilis vaccine development

Syphilis cases have surged worldwide, leaving public health officials scrounging for ways to stop the spread. Now, a large, collaborative study of syphilis genetics from four continents has found hints of a possible target for a vaccine.

19 Sep 2024

Study reveals slight increase in ADHD risk from prenatal cannabis exposure

A new study reveals nuanced findings on the neuropsychiatric risks of prenatal cannabis exposure. The research found a slight increase in the risk of ADHD and a heightened vulnerability to cannabis use in offspring.

3 Sep 2024

Smoking during pregnancy affects children’s academic achievement

Smoking harms almost every part of your body. But if you smoke when pregnant, the toxic chemicals in tobacco will also harm your unborn baby, with new research showing that it could lead to reduced academic outcomes at school.

30 Aug 2024

Study reveals how bacteria pass on traits without DNA changes

Bacterial cells can "remember" brief, temporary changes to their bodies and immediate surroundings, a new Northwestern University and University of Texas-Southwestern study has found.

28 Aug 2024

Maternal prenatal smoking linked to poor academic outcomes in children

27 Aug 2024

Prenatal BPA exposure tied to autism risk in boys

Study reveals that prenatal exposure to BPA disrupts aromatase activity in male brains, potentially leading to autism-like symptoms. Treatment with 10-HDA shows promise in reversing these effects.

11 Aug 2024

Increased skin-to-skin time linked to better neurodevelopment

Skin-to-skin cuddling with a parent has lasting cognitive benefits for premature babies, according to a new Stanford Medicine study. Preemies who received more skin-to-skin contact, also known as kangaroo care, while hospitalized as newborns were less likely to be developmentally delayed at 1 year of age, the study found.

8 Aug 2024