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Tau biology expands beyond microtubules to neurodegeneration, metabolism and mental illness

An Thought Leaders Invited Review published today in Genomic Psychiatry by Dr. Peng Lei and colleagues presents a sweeping synthesis of tau protein research that fundamentally reframes our understanding of this molecule's dual identity.

16 Dec 2025

What Americans eat is driving global nutrition research

WWEIA data, a cornerstone of national dietary surveillance, drives nutrition research and policy, enhancing understanding of dietary trends and health outcomes.

16 Dec 2025

Mediterranean diet and healthy habits improve cancer survival rates

Being more physically active, following a balanced diet, not smoking, and keeping body weight and blood pressure under control: the same habits that protect the heart also prove decisive after a cancer diagnosis.

16 Dec 2025

New research highlights the importance of social engagement for cognitive health

New research from the University of St Andrews has discovered a direct causal effect between social isolation and a faster decline in later- life cognitive function. Pathological cognitive decline is most often driven by Alzheimer's and related dementias.

16 Dec 2025

Indoor tanning loads normal skin with mutations linked to melanoma

Indoor tanning is associated with markedly higher mutation burdens and cancer-driving genetic changes in melanocytes taken from normal-appearing skin, including areas usually protected from sunlight. These molecular alterations provide a biological explanation for the higher odds of melanoma and multiple primary tumors seen in heavy tanning bed users.

15 Dec 2025

GDF3 protein sustains harmful inflammation in aging immune cells

As people age, their bodies develop a dysfunctional immune system, which can leave older adults more susceptible to conditions like sepsis.

15 Dec 2025

Researchers uncover how Bartonella causes deadly Oroya fever

The so-called "Oroya fever" is an extremely severe infectious disease, yet it is classified among the so-called neglected tropical diseases.

15 Dec 2025

COVID 19 vaccination protects pregnant people and their babies

Pregnant people who received a COVID-19 vaccine were far less likely to experience severe illness or deliver their babies prematurely, according to a major new UBC-led study published in JAMA.

15 Dec 2025

Metagenomics reveals overlooked viral risks in treated water

Viruses are everywhere in wastewater treatment plants, quietly interacting with bacteria as sewage is cleaned and reused.

15 Dec 2025

Climate shocks creating new pathways for disease across Africa

Climate shocks are reshaping ecosystems, creating new pathways for disease across Africa, writes Albert Ansah.

15 Dec 2025

A new trial investigates whether the MIND diet can be scaled for obesity management

This study protocol outlines a 12-week randomized trial testing whether a MIND diet intervention is feasible, acceptable, and sustainable for adults with obesity in Sweden. It will generate preliminary evidence on adherence, mental well-being, and gut microbiota changes to inform larger efficacy trials.

14 Dec 2025

E-cigarette use is linked to higher heart attack risk, especially in former smokers

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined whether electronic cigarette use is associated with myocardial infarction and stroke, synthesizing evidence from 12 observational studies. The analysis found higher odds of myocardial infarction among e-cigarette users, particularly former smokers, while no significant associations were observed among exclusive never-smokers.

14 Dec 2025

Metabolic syndrome affects nearly four in ten US adults as rates climb in older and Black populations

A large NHANES analysis found that nearly four in ten US adults met criteria for metabolic syndrome between 2013 and 2023, with no statistically significant change in overall prevalence. However, prevalence rose significantly among adults aged 60 years and older and among non-Hispanic Black individuals, alongside a significant non-linear increase in hypertriglyceridemia.

14 Dec 2025

Genetic differences in surfactant proteins influence retinopathy of prematurity risk

A new study from the University of Oklahoma suggests that small genetic differences in two proteins – previously known for their role in premature infants' lungs – may also influence how their eyes develop, potentially affecting the risk of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

12 Dec 2025

Indiana University physician joins FDA panel on male hormone therapy

Helen Bernie, DO, MPH, assistant professor of urology at Indiana University School of Medicine, will participate in an expert panel on testosterone replacement therapy and men's health to be held Wednesday, Dec. 10, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Bernie's role on the panel is that of a clinical expert on men's reproductive health, which is the focus of both her practice and academic research.

12 Dec 2025

Varenicline helps young people quit nicotine vaping regardless of cannabis use

Adolescent and young adult nicotine vaping has become an urgent public health concern, as 2024 marked the first year that nicotine vaping was the most initiated drug.

12 Dec 2025

Menopausal hormone therapy shows no added breast cancer risk for BRCA carriers

Using menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) was not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in women with inherited mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, according to the results of a matched prospective analysis presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), held December 9-12, 2025.

12 Dec 2025

What happens to your body when you eat takeaway food too often?

This study of 8,556 US adults shows that frequent takeaway food consumption is associated with a higher energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index and adverse cardiometabolic markers. The findings suggest that reducing takeaway intake and lowering dietary inflammatory potential may improve long-term cardiometabolic health.

11 Dec 2025

Smoke from Canadian wildfires linked to worse asthma symptoms in children

New research from the University of Vermont reveals exposure to smoke from Canadian wildfires in the summer of 2023 led to worsening asthma symptoms in children in Vermont and upstate New York.

11 Dec 2025

Breast arterial calcification on mammograms predicts future heart risk

Routine mammograms are a critical tool for breast cancer screening. However, they may also hold crucial, potentially untapped information about a person's risk for cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death among adults.

11 Dec 2025