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Review uses evolutionary lens to examine modern human aging rates

A review article now published in "Nature Reviews Genetics" brings together evolutionary theory, comparative genomics and large-scale human genetics to explain why we age and why aging rates differ among individuals and species.

11 Jun 2026

Genetic study links liver enzyme to compulsive cocaine addiction

Researchers at the University of California San Diego have completed a massive genetic study that identifies key biological drivers of cocaine addiction, uncovering a potential new target for treatment that resides in the liver rather than the brain.

11 Jun 2026

USC hospitals earn top score for LGBTQ+ healthcare inclusion

Keck Medicine of USC hospitals and USC Student Health, part of Keck Medicine, received the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader designation in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2026 Healthcare Equality Index (HEI).

11 Jun 2026

Circadian clock protein BMAL1 enhances inflammatory responses in immune cells

Daily life is shaped by the solar day, influencing when we wake up, eat, work, and sleep. Inside the body, a similar internal timing system -present in nearly every cell- known as the circadian clock, synchronizes many biological functions such as sleep, metabolism, hormone release, and even the immune system's activity.

11 Jun 2026

Experts propose unified framework to advance the future of high-altitude medicine

As increasing numbers of people live, work, and travel at high altitudes, experts are calling for a major shift in how altitude-related health conditions are understood, diagnosed, and treated.

11 Jun 2026

Gut bacterial molecule reduces intestinal inflammation by slowing cell energy

Enterobactin, a molecule produced by gut bacteria, may hold a surprising key to reducing intestinal inflammation. Not by attacking the immune system directly, but by temporarily slowing down the cell's own energy production.

11 Jun 2026

Running a marathon triggers measurable heart changes

Acute cardiac responses to marathon running include biomarker spikes and structural changes, though their long-term impact on heart health needs further study.

11 Jun 2026

New treatment platform delivers full-length mRNA for Duchenne muscular dystrophy

A new treatment platform developed by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center was able to deliver messenger RNA (mRNA) of the full-length DMD gene into preclinical models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, successfully restoring the production of an important muscle protein, dystrophin, and dramatically improving muscle strength, endurance and function in vivo.

11 Jun 2026

Teenage risk-taking linked to lower baseline dopamine levels

Teenage risk-taking, such as experimentation with alcohol, cannabis, nicotine and other substances, may reflect a compensatory response to lower baseline dopamine, the brain chemical for reward activity, suggests a new University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study, published today in Nature Communications.

11 Jun 2026

Chronic pancreatitis care must expand beyond simple pain management

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) diminishes quality-of-life (QoL) across mobility, self-care, daily activities, mental health, and pain-not just abdominal discomfort-according to a new Mayo Clinic study available online on August 27, 2025, and published in Volume 9, Issue 1 of the Journal of Pancreatology on March 30, 2026.

11 Jun 2026

Digital simulations struggle to teach "tacit learning" in medicine

A new correspondence highlights a critical gap in modern medical education, arguing that digital simulations and virtual reality fail to transmit the hands-on "tacit learning" essential for clinical practice.

11 Jun 2026

First-in-the-world gene therapy delivers missing gene directly to infant’s brain, marking historic milestone in precision medicine

An eight-month-old baby from Israel has become the first human ever to receive an experimental gene therapy designed to replace a missing gene responsible for a devastating neurological disease that until now offered no hope of survival.

11 Jun 2026

Viral DNA blood test accurately gauges post-surgery cancer recovery success

A new study by investigators from Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute found that an ultrasensitive blood test called HPV-DeepSeek could help identify which people with HPV-associated head and neck cancer still had cancer cells in their bodies after surgery and may benefit the most from additional treatments. Their results are published in Science Translational Medicine.

11 Jun 2026

New low-cost artificial mitral valve mimics human tissue to study disease

Researchers at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences have developed an artificial model of the mitral heart valve that faithfully mimics the valve's complex mechanical behavior in the human heart.

11 Jun 2026

Novel report uses two-eyed seeing to bridge Indigenous health knowledge

A novel study among Indigenous communities in Canada utilizing sharing circles as the primary method of qualitative data collection shows that heart health is shaped by emotional, spiritual, social, and systemic factors, with trauma strongly influencing how care is accessed and trusted.

11 Jun 2026

Low-methionine diet shows promise against aggressive brain tumors

An unexpected lab observation led a team of scientists to discover how diet can influence survival in animal models of glioma, one of the most aggressive and deadly forms of brain cancer.

10 Jun 2026

Researchers identify genetic cause of severe childhood lung disease

A new report in the American Journal of Human Genetics describes a novel disorder caused by biallelic loss-of-function variants in the TMEM63B gene, which results in severe lung disease.

10 Jun 2026

Researchers uncover immune loop driving Sjögren's disease progression

Sjögren's disease is a widespread chronic autoimmune disorder that attacks the body's own glands, yet its underlying disease mechanisms remain poorly understood.

10 Jun 2026

Study identifies an important driver of inflammatory bowel disease

Researchers at the Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, together with Newcastle University's Translational and Clinical Research Institute and the Department of Immunology at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, have identified an important driver of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

10 Jun 2026

More movement and less sitting benefit pregnant women

Women who engage in light physical activity and lessen their sedentary time may significantly reduce the risk of key health problems during pregnancy, according to a new University of Iowa-led study.

10 Jun 2026