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New trial aims to test whether a blood test can detect breast cancer earlier than mammograms

Researchers at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of Keck Medicine of USC, have launched a clinical trial to evaluate whether a blood test can help detect breast cancer earlier than mammograms alone.

15 Oct 2026

New scientific statement urges doctors to prescribe exercise for heart health

Exercise should be prescribed as a foundational component of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and treatment, according to a new American College of Cardiology Scientific Statement published today in JACC, its flagship journal.

15 Oct 2026

Coffee drinkers had fewer repeat blood clots in a Norwegian study

A Norwegian study involving 2,071 patients found that those who reported drinking 1 to 2 cups of coffee daily before their first venous thromboembolism had a 51% lower estimated risk of recurrence than non-drinkers. The association was strongest among patients whose initial blood clot was provoked, although the observational study could not establish that coffee consumption prevents recurrence.

14 Oct 2026

New imaging technique detects subtle skin changes in scleroderma patients

Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) is a rare, chronic, autoimmune disease that causes the body to produce too much collagen, leading to the hardening and thickening of the skin and internal organs.

14 Oct 2026

Precise brain circuit targeting may improve depression treatment outcomes

Stimulation of specific brain connections was associated with sustained improvement in people receiving deep brain stimulation (DBS) for treatment-resistant depression, Mount Sinai researchers reported.

14 Oct 2026

Scientists reviewed studies covering 1.17 million children and found a major research gap

Researchers identified 104 pregnancy and birth cohorts representing more than 1.17 million children across 41 countries, documenting the availability of data on early-life nutrition and neurodevelopment. Approximately 99% of participants in the income-stratified analysis came from high- or upper-middle-income countries, while differences in data collection and assessment methods complicate future international comparisons.

14 Oct 2026

Good ear for sound details accelerates foreign language pronunciation

People who are better at noticing fine details in sound – known as auditory precision – can master the pronunciation of new languages faster and more accurately than other learners, a new study finds.

14 Oct 2026

Common blood pressure drug boosts brown adipose tissue activity and metabolism

Scientists have discovered that the drug losartan, commonly prescribed for high blood pressure, boosts brown adipose tissue activity in mice, enhancing their metabolism.

14 Oct 2026

UC San Diego study achieves mind control by stimulating neurons

When learning how to perform new movements, our brains etch the details in our minds as we master the new task.

14 Oct 2026

Local DNA motion remains nearly constant during cell interphase

Human genomic DNA is wrapped around core histone proteins to form nucleosomes, the fundamental units of chromatin.

14 Oct 2026

Upcoming forum will share patient perspectives on non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis care

The Bronchiectasis and NTM Association today announced plans for an Externally-Led Patient-Focused Drug Development (EL-PFDD) meeting for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB). This

14 Oct 2026

Vocal tract anatomy differences drive the evolution of global languages

The anatomical differences in our vocal tracts could be one of the sources of our Tower of Babel-the vast difference in languages spoken around the world, according to a study published October 13th in the open access journal PLOS Biology by Steven Moran and Tiena Danner from the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland, and colleagues.

14 Oct 2026

Chemists develop blueprint for designing powerful fluorescent materials for better disease detection

Chemists at the University of Bath have discovered how tiny molecular changes can transform the color and brightness of fluorescent probes based on the blue molecule azulene, paving the way for more powerful imaging tools for detecting diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson’s and cancer.

14 Oct 2026

Pancreatic cancer cells continuously reshape DNA to evade treatment

A new analysis of nearly half a million cells from dozens of pancreatic tumors, led by researchers at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center and New York University (NYU), reveals how pancreatic cancer cells continuously reshape their genetic makeup over time, enabling them to evade treatment.

13 Oct 2026

Charity funds Aston University research into childhood cancer MRI

Aston University's Dr Jan Novak has accepted funding of £45,000 from cancer charity Help Harry Help Others (HHHO) to support a PhD student to research new ways of using MRI scans of children with cancer to better inform their doctors and improve treatment.

13 Oct 2026

Gene therapy and special goggles help some blind adults detect objects again

In a phase 1 study of 10 adults with advanced retinitis pigmentosa, researchers found that optogenetic gene therapy combined with light-stimulating goggles was generally well tolerated, although one participant experienced a severe but transient ocular adverse event. Seven participants showed improved light sensitivity, while four of eight who completed behavioral testing demonstrated modest gains in visual function, providing preliminary evidence of partial vision restoration that requires confirmation in larger controlled trials.

12 Oct 2026

Long-term anabolic steroid use linked to lasting heart damage

Long-term use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) has serious consequences for the heart, according to a new study that has been following weightlifters for nearly 10 years.

12 Oct 2026

Year-long trial finds NAD-boosting supplement fails to improve early Parkinson's symptoms

In a phase 3 randomized clinical trial involving 410 people with early Parkinson disease, 52 weeks of nicotinamide riboside supplementation increased blood NAD levels but failed to improve clinical outcomes compared with placebo. Participants receiving the supplement had modestly worse overall disease scores, although the difference was below the threshold generally considered clinically meaningful.

12 Oct 2026

Your favorite song might make a needle prick hurt less

A study of 204 patients undergoing intravenous cannulation before MRI found that those listening to their favorite music reported significantly lower pain scores than patients hearing no music at 30 seconds and two minutes after puncture. Mozart was also associated with lower pain scores among patients with pre-existing pain, while relaxation music showed no significant benefit, although the non-randomized findings require confirmation.

12 Oct 2026

Buck Institute and Georgetown lead effort mapping harmful protein changes before disease begins

A research "super team" co-led by theBuck Institute for Research on Aging and Georgetown University has received an award of up to $51.7 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to predict how disease-causing proteins misfold before irreversible damage occurs and use those predictions to develop novel diagnostics and treatments.

12 Oct 2026