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Foreign-born Black adults show lower stroke risk than Americans

For Black individuals in the United States, being born in another country was associated with a lower risk of stroke, according to a study published July 15, 2026, in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

15 Jul 2026

Framing loneliness as a medical issue hinders societal responsibility

While loneliness has been shown to harm one's health, framing it as a health issue shifts responsibility from society to healthcare, even though healthcare alone cannot rebuild social ties, a new University of Michigan study warns.

15 Jul 2026

Low-nicotine cigarettes do not cause increased compensatory smoking

People who switch to cigarettes with dramatically reduced nicotine levels are unlikely to smoke more cigarettes or inhale more smoke to compensate for the lower nicotine content, according to a new study led by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and published in JAMA Network Open.

15 Jul 2026

Why dementia prevention should be tailored by country

An international study reveals common clusters of dementia risk factors, highlighting the need for tailored prevention strategies across diverse populations.

15 Jul 2026

Micro and nanoplastics in the blood linked to increased heart attack risk factors

People who have suffered a serious heart attack had higher levels of micro and nanoplastics in their blood, compared to patients diagnosed with chronic ischemic heart disease and those who have normal blood vessels supplying the heart, according to a study published in the European Heart Journal today (Wednesday).

14 Jul 2026

Study tracks school readiness and academic performance in preterm children

More than half of children (57 per cent) born before 32 weeks were not ready for school at five years of age, including in areas such as communication and language, and physical and emotional development.

14 Jul 2026

Vaping or smoking found to reduce fitness in young people by 15%

Young people who vape or smoke cigarettes have reduced blood vessel functionality, breathing efficiency and exercise capacity compared to those who have never smoked or vaped, according to a study published today in ERJ Open Research.

14 Jul 2026

Vaping reduces fitness and blood vessel function in young adults

13 Jul 2026

Study reveals substantial rise in Latin American dementia rates

A new study led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Newcastle University in the U.K. finds that the share of adults living with dementia rose substantially across several Latin American and Caribbean sites over the past two decades.

13 Jul 2026

Distinct gut microbiome signatures identify frailty in older women

Research reveals gut microbiome signatures linked to frailty in older women, highlighting microbial changes associated with mortality and physical decline.

13 Jul 2026

Global study reveals country-specific patterns in dementia risk factors

A major, USC-led study of more than 214,000 older adults across 14 countries and regions finds that the most common controllable risk factors for dementia - such as low education, high blood pressure and smoking - vary widely from country to country, meaning a one-size-fits-all approach to prevention won't work everywhere.

12 Jul 2026

Global hotspots where breast cancer and atrial fibrillation overlap

Investigating breast cancer and atrial fibrillation overlap, this study highlights key risk factors, underscoring the need for integrated prevention approaches.

10 Jul 2026

Gut-friendly diet linked to lower mortality risk in coronary heart disease

Using NHANES 2005-2018 data, researchers found that adults with coronary heart disease who had higher Dietary Index for Gut Microbiota scores had lower all-cause mortality risk. The association was nonlinear, strongest when scores reached 5 or higher, and remained observational rather than causal.

9 Jul 2026

Smoking shows no major impact on the eye microbiome in small study

A small study found no evidence that smoking causes large or consistent shifts in the ocular surface microbiome or tear proteome. The authors caution that subtle smoking-related effects cannot be ruled out, given the small cohort and the ocular surface's low-biomass, contamination-sensitive microbial niche.

8 Jul 2026

NFL players have higher rates of neurodegenerative disease-caused mortality

Mass General Brigham, Boston University, and the Concussion & CTE Foundation cohort study of nearly 20,000 NFL players reveals that players are dying of dementia and Parkinson's disease at much higher rates than the general population.

8 Jul 2026

New study identifies shared risk factors for breast cancer and atrial fibrillation

Alcohol use and smoking were linked to breast cancer and atrial fibrillation/flutter in women ages 55 years and older in multiple regions of the world, according to new, independent research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

8 Jul 2026

Sexual and gender minority populations are less likely to receive cancer screening

A study reveals significant disparities in cancer screening rates among sexual and gender minorities, highlighting the need for equitable healthcare access.

8 Jul 2026

Yogurt, prebiotics, and probiotics link to lower colorectal cancer odds in U.S. adults

A national NHANES analysis of 9,405 U.S. adults aged 50 and older found that any yogurt, prebiotic, or probiotic consumption was associated with about 50% lower odds of self-reported colorectal cancer. Because the study was cross-sectional, it cannot prove causation but supports further research into microbiota-targeted dietary strategies.

8 Jul 2026

Persistent high cortisol levels increase hypertension risk in patients with adrenal tumors

A major new study, published today in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology has shown that cortisol levels in patients with adrenal tumours are far less stable than previously assumed.

7 Jul 2026

Early menopause remains common among women in low and middle income countries

Early menopause affects 1 in 14 women aged 30 to 49 living in low and middle income countries, finds a pooled data analysis of its prevalence in 44 nations published in the open access journal BMJ Global Health.

7 Jul 2026