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New blood biomarker may detect Alzheimer’s pathology more accurately

Researchers compared total plasma pTau217 with a brain-derived pTau217 assay to determine which better identifies Alzheimer’s disease–related amyloid and tau pathology. Brain-derived pTau217 showed strong diagnostic performance and appeared less affected by kidney dysfunction, supporting its potential as a more specific blood biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease.

3 Mar 2026

How are GLP-1 drugs reshaping treatment for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease?

A comprehensive Lancet review synthesizes evidence from major clinical trials showing that GLP-1 receptor agonists and next-generation incretin therapies deliver substantial weight loss while reducing cardiovascular and kidney risks. Emerging dual, triple, and oral agents may further expand treatment options and improve outcomes across obesity, type 2 diabetes, and related metabolic diseases.

3 Mar 2026

Weight-loss drugs may reduce heart damage after heart attack

Weight-loss (GLP-1 mimicking) drugs may help prevent further tissue damage following a heart attack, significantly reducing the risk of further life-threatening complications that affect up to half of all patients, according to a new study led by the University of Bristol and University College London.

2 Mar 2026

High-dose curcumin fails to produce lasting gut-microbiome changes in IBD patients

In an open-label study of 29 men, including patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease in remission, 6 g per day of curcumin for eight weeks led to modest, transient shifts in gut microbiota composition without sustained restructuring. Despite achieving high fecal concentrations and minimal systemic bioavailability, curcumin did not produce durable microbiome changes, and disease activity scores remained stable.

2 Mar 2026

COVID-19 ARDS survivors face lasting disability and high late mortality, researchers report

In this single-center ambispective cohort of 283 Polish patients with COVID-19–related ARDS requiring invasive mechanical ventilation, cumulative mortality reached 44.5% at four years after ICU admission. Among survivors, substantial proportions reported persistent functional limitations, insomnia, fatigue, and reduced quality-adjusted life years.

2 Mar 2026

MERLIN algorithm unlocks immune cell location memory in organs

A new AI-based method reconstructs spatial information about where immune cells were originally located in an organ, even after these cells have been removed from the tissue and analyzed individually.

2 Mar 2026

New review explains how circular RNAs could unlock fat browning therapies

A Cell Death & Disease review synthesizes preclinical evidence that circular RNAs regulate adipose browning and metabolic pathways through microRNA interactions, protein binding, and organelle-linked stress mechanisms. It highlights their biomarker and therapeutic potential in obesity and type 2 diabetes while underscoring key translational challenges, including delivery specificity and human validation.

26 Feb 2026

Heart attack deaths increase in young adults, especially women

A new study found that heart attack deaths were up among younger adults with women more likely than men to die after a first heart attack.

26 Feb 2026

Assessing the value of modern US healthcare gains

Over two decades, medical care improvements increased health spans in the U.S. by 1.3 years and medical spending by $234,000 per person over their lifetime – or about $182,000 per additional healthy year of life gained – when measured from birth. These are among the key findings in a new in-depth national study published today in Value in Health.

26 Feb 2026

New daily tablet simplifies long-term HIV care

A new, daily oral tablet that combines two current HIV treatment medications, bictegravir and lenacapavir (BIC/LEN), may be able to effectively replace more complicated HIV treatment regimens used by people living with HIV who are long-term survivors, according to the results of a new phase 3 clinical trial published in The Lancet.

26 Feb 2026

New single pill regimen simplifies treatment for resistant HIV

A phase 3 clinical trial, led by Professor Chloe Orkin of Queen Mary University of London, has shown that a new, daily oral tablet that combines two current HIV treatment medications – bictegravir and lenacapavir (BIC/LEN) – may simplify treatment significantly for people with HIV who currently take very complex treatments.

25 Feb 2026

Prior COVID infection increases kidney disease risk

Approximately one in seven adults in the United States has kidney disease, where the organs responsible for filtering waste and excess water from the blood are damaged, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

25 Feb 2026

High-fat ketogenic diet improves exercise response in diabetic mice

To be healthy, conventional wisdom tells us to exercise and limit fatty foods. Exercise helps us lose weight and build muscle.

25 Feb 2026

Ion channel TRPV4 found to regulate relief after scratching an itch

When you scratch an itch, something tells your brain when to stop. That moment of relief, when scratching feels "enough," is not accidental.

22 Feb 2026

Undiagnosed diabetes and kidney disease raise heart risk

Diabetes and kidney disease are major risk factors for heart disease, yet many cases are undiagnosed. In addition, a consumer survey done last fall suggests that most people don't realize that their heart, kidney and metabolic health (how the body creates, uses and stores energy) are connected.

18 Feb 2026

Obesity drives shared genetic risk behind many chronic disease combinations

The study uncovers obesity's genetic links to chronic diseases, offering insights into multimorbidity and the potential for targeted health interventions.

9 Feb 2026

Novel neuroprotective drug improves recovery after acute ischemic stroke

Stroke patients treated intravenously with loberamisal, a novel neuroprotective medication, daily for 10 days and starting within 48 hours of stroke symptoms, had better recovery than patients who received a placebo, according to a preliminary late-breaking science presentation at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2026.

7 Feb 2026

Optical tissue monitoring predicts dialysis-related fluid instability

For the millions of people living with end‑stage kidney disease, hemodialysis is more than a medical procedure, it is a thrice‑weekly lifeline that keeps the body's chemistry in balance.

7 Feb 2026

Bioprinting personalized kidney tissues to combat transplant shortages

Rice University bioengineer Antonios Mikos is part of a team of researchers led by the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine awarded up to $24.8 million over five years to help address the nation's growing organ donor shortage by bioprinting on-demand kidney tissues.

7 Feb 2026

Research shows the effect of losing weight in preventing multiple diseases

Researchers have quantified the role of obesity in common long-term conditions, showing for the first time the effect of losing weight in preventing multiple diseases.

4 Feb 2026