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Study: Nicotine pouch use nearly doubles among U.S. high school students

The use of nicotine pouches - small, easily concealed sachets of nicotine and additives that are placed between the gum and lip - nearly doubled among U.S. high school students between 2023 and 2024, according to a new USC study.

30 Apr 2025

Higher cigarette taxes could save thousands of children's lives

A higher tax on cigarettes in low and middle-income countries can help to reduce child mortality, especially amongst the poorest children, a new study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and published in The Lancet Public Health suggests.

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

How blood iron levels shape the pace of biological aging

Researchers examine the role of blood iron levels in DNA methylation-based measurements of biological aging.

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 blood test can improve heart disease risk prediction

For almost 60 years, measuring cholesterol levels in the blood has been the best way to identify individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

28 Apr 2025

Historic decline in smoking across the United States largely driven by young adults

Researchers at University of California San Diego found that cigarette smoking continues to decline across the United States, largely driven by young adults.

25 Apr 2025

Researchers discover brain pathway to ease nicotine withdrawal

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 22% of the global population smokes, with more than 9 million smoking-related deaths reported annually.

25 Apr 2025

Smoking, drinking and inactivity associated with declines in health in people as young as 36

Bad habits such as smoking, heavy drinking and lack of exercise must be tackled as early as possible to boost the odds of a happy and healthy old age.

24 Apr 2025

Metabolic syndrome in midlife linked to higher dementia risk

Having a larger waistline, high blood pressure and other risk factors that make up metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of young-onset dementia, according to a study published on April 23, 2025, online in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

23 Apr 2025

Bacterial toxin may contribute to rise in early-onset colorectal cancer

In an effort to explain a modern medical mystery, an international team of researchers led by the University of California San Diego has identified a potential microbial culprit behind the alarming rise in early-onset colorectal cancer: a bacterial toxin called colibactin.

23 Apr 2025

Varenicline found to help teens and young adults quit vaping

A new study by investigators from Mass General Brigham showed that teens and young adults who took varenicline-an FDA-approved, twice-daily smoking cessation pill for adults-are more than three times as likely to successfully quit vaping compared to those who received only behavioral counseling. Results are published in JAMA.

23 Apr 2025

DASH diet and salt reduction work together to reduce cardiovascular risk

Reducing dietary sodium and following the DASH diet each lower 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with the greatest benefit when combined. This effect is especially strong for women, Black adults, and those with stage 2 hypertension.

23 Apr 2025

AI tool helps GPs spot lung cancer risk months earlier

GPs may soon be able to identify patients with an increased risk of lung cancer up to 4 months earlier than is currently the case.

22 Apr 2025

Can a plant-based diet help prevent breast cancer?

A case-control study in Iranian women found that higher adherence to a healthy plant-based diet significantly reduces breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women and those with a BMI under 25. In contrast, high intake of unhealthy plant-based foods raised risk in premenopausal women.

22 Apr 2025

New RNA-based blood test offers insight into cancer and tissue damage

Stanford Medicine researchers have developed a blood test capable of detecting cancers, the ways cancer resists treatments and tissue injury caused by non-cancerous conditions.

21 Apr 2025

Only 13% of French adults have optimal heart health, study finds

Researchers assessed the Life’s Essential 8 cardiovascular health (CVH) scores in over 190,000 French adults, revealing that only 13% had optimal CVH. Higher scores were associated with being younger, female, well-educated, and having healthier lifestyle factors.

21 Apr 2025

Vaping trends shift as UK ban drives switch from disposable to reusable devices

After the U.K.’s 2024 announcement to ban disposable vapes, new research reveals a sharp decline in disposable vape use and a rise in reusable alternatives.

21 Apr 2025