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Canadian study links ultra processed foods to poor health outcomes

A landmark study exploring Canadians' consumption of chips, frozen pizzas, breakfast cereals and other ultra-processed foods typically loaded with fat, sugar and additives has confirmed these foods are directly and significantly linked to poor health outcomes.

7 May 2025

Low testosterone linked to higher kidney stone risk in men, study finds

A large cross-sectional study in South Korea found that men with low testosterone levels (below 3.33 ng/mL) were significantly more likely to have kidney stones. This association held even after adjusting for age and metabolic risk factors, suggesting testosterone may play a protective role.

6 May 2025

Varicose veins increase your risk of dementia, study finds

A nationwide Korean study finds a surprising link between varicose veins and dementia, and suggests that treating the veins could help prevent vascular brain damage.

6 May 2025

Norwegian study shows teens who move more cut their depression risk

Norwegian researchers found that increasing physical activity in adolescence reduces future depression risk, especially from ages 14 to 18. Within-person analysis showed that higher activity protected against depressive symptoms, while sedentary time had no such effect.

6 May 2025

Adolescents with mental health conditions show different social media habits

Young people with a diagnosable mental health condition report differences in their experiences of social media compared to those without a condition, including greater dissatisfaction with online friend counts and more time spent on social media sites.

6 May 2025

Where and why men die younger: global data breaks it down

A global study published in PLOS Medicine examined sex-disaggregated data on hypertension, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS across 204 countries. It revealed significant but context-dependent differences in disease burden, care access, and outcomes between males and females.

4 May 2025

Ultra-processed foods linked to higher psoriasis risk

A large UK Biobank study found that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is associated with an increased risk of developing psoriasis. Each 10% increase in UPF intake raised psoriasis risk by 6%, with obesity and inflammation partially mediating this effect.

4 May 2025

Getting active in midlife may boost brain resilience to Alzheimer’s

In cognitively healthy middle-aged adults at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, becoming physically active, especially in line with WHO guidelines, was linked to lower brain amyloid burden. Remaining sedentary was associated with reduced cortical thickness in brain regions vulnerable to AD.

1 May 2025

Researchers tie childhood vitamin D shortfalls to adult heart disease

Low childhood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were linked to a significantly higher risk of early adult-onset atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The association remained even after accounting for conventional childhood risk factors and persisted across multiple analyses.

30 Apr 2025

Midlife exercise may help lower Alzheimer's risk

An increase in physical activity between the ages of 45 and 65 could help prevent Alzheimer's disease, while inactivity may be detrimental to brain health.

30 Apr 2025

Extreme temperatures drive people toward high-fat diets, study finds

Short-term exposure to extreme temperatures alters dietary patterns by increasing fat intake, even when total calorie consumption remains stable. This shift, driven by physiological appetite regulation, raises the risk of high-fat diets and diet-related diseases, especially among vulnerable groups.

30 Apr 2025

Better sleep, BMI, and glucose control lower female infertility odds

A new study using NHANES data found that higher Life’s Crucial 9 (LC9) scores, reflecting better cardiovascular and mental health, were linked to lower odds of female infertility. However, adding depression to the LE8 framework did not significantly improve its predictive value.

29 Apr 2025

Even small workouts can help protect the aging brain

Good fitness can reduce the risk of dementia and promote healthy brain aging. This recognition should be included in updated health recommendations, say researchers behind the new review.

29 Apr 2025

Micro workouts deliver big health benefits in small time frame

Micro workouts are all the talk right now: researchers have found that effective physical activity in small doses provides great health benefits – both for the individual and society as a whole.

29 Apr 2025

Study connects low birth weight to reduced adult physical activity

Poorer gross motor skills, such as the ability to walk quickly, run, or jump, may explain some of the correlation between being born prematurely and the tendency to engage less in physical activity.

29 Apr 2025

Disrupted body clocks raise risk of early death, study finds

A large cohort study from China and the U.S. shows that Circadian Syndrome (CircS)—a cluster of metabolic and behavioral disruptions—is linked to higher all-cause and cause-specific mortality. The risk increases with the number of CircS components, especially among adults aged 40–60.

29 Apr 2025

Gut bacteria and metabolites reveal depression-linked patterns in older adults

A cross-sectional study of 400 older adults with metabolic syndrome reveals that individuals with depression have distinct gut microbiota and metabolite profiles. Eight bacterial genera and 15 fecal metabolites were significantly associated with depression, suggesting a gut-brain axis link.

29 Apr 2025

Genetic predisposition to muscle strength linked to lower cardiovascular mortality

A study conducted by the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, found that men with a genetic predisposition supporting higher muscle strength had a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases, regardless of their leisure-time physical activity levels or other lifestyle-related factors.

29 Apr 2025

Largest study to date reveals high blood sugar accelerates heart damage in healthy youth

In the present study, 1,595 adolescents drawn from the University of Bristol's Children of the 90s cohort were followed up from age 17 until 24 years. To assess the prevalence of prediabetes, which refers to high fasting blood glucose levels, two alternative cutpoints were used, a stricter cutpoint of ≥5.6 mmol/L recommended by the American Diabetes Association, and ≥6.1 mmol/L , which is the present recommendation in many countries.

29 Apr 2025

New program connects breast cancer patients to exercise and rehab services

A recent randomized controlled trial reveals the potential of a program designed to connect patients who have breast cancer to needed exercise and rehabilitation services starting at diagnosis and throughout care.

28 Apr 2025