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Children exposed to cannabis and tobacco before birth scored lower on thinking tests

In an exploratory analysis of 8,706 U.S. children aged 9 to 11, prenatal exposure to both cannabis and tobacco was associated with modestly lower fluid cognition scores compared with cannabis-only exposure or neither substance. Differences from tobacco-only exposure were not statistically significant, nor were differences in crystallized cognition, and the observational findings could not establish causation.

4 Nov 2026

Modern lifestyles may be changing our gut bacteria in unexpected ways

A global study of 1,015 adults across 12 countries found that industrialized lifestyles were associated with lower gut bacterial diversity, reduced microbial community stability, and increased markers of intestinal stress and immune activity. The researchers also found that a microbiome-based health index developed using industrialized populations performed poorly in less-industrialized communities, raising concerns about its applicability across diverse populations.

4 Nov 2026

Maternal brain activity reflects emotional bond with baby before birth

Pregnancy and motherhood are associated with neural adaptations that help prepare women for caregiving.

4 Nov 2026

Supervised food challenges clear many infants of suspected peanut allergy

A world-first national program has discovered more than a third of babies thought to have a peanut allergy could safely have the diagnosis removed. And the findings are changing how Australia's healthcare system approaches infant food allergies.

4 Nov 2026

Online communication patterns impact adolescent mental health differently

In a study in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, researchers found that online communication with friends was associated with adolescents' mental well-being, but patterns varied by both frequency of communication and the type of friendship.

4 Nov 2026

Flint newborn deaths fall 50% after launch of cash support program

A new peer-reviewed study published in JAMA Pediatrics has found that neonatal mortality-the death of an infant within the first 28 days of life- fell by 50% following the launch of Rx Kids, while early neonatal mortality-the death of an infant within the first 7 days of life-fell by 74%.

3 Nov 2026

Study reveals how breast milk sugar may help protect infants against jaundice

A new study by researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine sheds light on the role of breast milk in supporting intestinal development and preventing hyperbilirubinemia, a condition in which bilirubin, a waste product from broken-down red blood cells, builds up in the blood and causes yellowing of the skin and eyes known as jaundice.

3 Nov 2026

DHA improves autism-like behaviors in a preclinical rat study

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition marked by social and communication difficulties and repetitive behaviors.

3 Nov 2026

Combination of congenital anomalies, socioeconomic deprivation impacts children's school success

Major new Welsh research has revealed how the combination of congenital anomalies, socioeconomic deprivation and other aspects of children's health and educational circumstances influences their attainment.

3 Nov 2026

Spaceflight research opens new avenues for studying rare pediatric diseases

Earth-based hiPSC models have transformed disease research but remain limited by cellular immaturity, a strong reliance on glycolysis rather than oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), and incomplete tissue architecture.

3 Nov 2026

Vitamin C supplements during pregnancy may support infant emotional health

New research from Oregon Health & Science University shows that additional vitamin C intake during pregnancy can be an effective, low-cost and accessible intervention to promote infant emotional well-being.

2 Nov 2026

Global pediatric stroke burden remains high despite declining mortality

Pediatric stroke has been less recognized than adult stroke, and its risk factors, epidemiology and outcomes remain insufficiently understood.

2 Nov 2026

More screen time, less sleep: What researchers observed in children with obesity

A cross-sectional study of 70 children in Spain found that those with obesity reported more daily recreational screen time, shorter sleep duration, and more frequent chronic sleep disturbances than their normal-weight peers. Higher screen-time scores were significantly associated with greater odds of obesity, while the association with sleep disturbances did not reach statistical significance.

2 Nov 2026

Younger adults in America's famous Blue Zone are eating differently

A cross-sectional study of 615 adults in the Loma Linda Blue Zone area and surrounding communities found that vegetarian diets were more common among older adults and Seventh-day Adventists, with vegetarians also reporting significantly lower BMI than non-vegetarians. The findings raise concerns about whether younger generations are maintaining the region's traditional dietary practices, although further research is needed to establish whether vegetarian adherence is declining over time.

2 Nov 2026

A hotter world could have cleaner air, but deadlier heatwaves

Using the extreme heat conditions of 2018–2019, researchers modelled how global warming of 2°C and 2.75°C could affect heatwaves, air pollution and associated mortality across six world regions. The simulations showed increased heatwave-related deaths in every region, particularly South America, while ozone and fine particulate pollution declined in many areas under the higher warming scenario, highlighting contrasting health risks under fixed present-day conditions.

2 Nov 2026

New pediatric consensus standardizes surgical management of Wilms tumor

WT outcomes have improved substantially through progress in molecular diagnosis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. Yet surgical management remains inconsistent, especially for large tumors, adjacent-organ invasion, intravascular extension, nephron-sparing surgery (NSS), and lymph node biopsy.

2 Nov 2026

New age-specific prediction models improve incomplete Kawasaki disease diagnosis

Incomplete Kawasaki disease (IKD) remains hard to recognize because it often lacks the classic signs of complete Kawasaki disease (CKD), yet delayed diagnosis can lead to coronary artery damage.

2 Nov 2026

Tracking loneliness, depression, and social behaviors in children from disaster-affected community

A research team led by Associate Professor Yasuo Murayama of Kanazawa University has identified important longitudinal associations among loneliness, depressive symptoms, and social behaviors in children affected by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake.

2 Nov 2026

Stanford study reveals rapid rise in youth e-bike injuries

Rates of electric bike and electric scooter injuries are rising in children and teens across the country, a new Stanford Medicine-led study has found.

2 Nov 2026

New consensus offers guidance for management of neonatal lactose intolerance

Lactose is a major carbohydrate in human milk, but breaking it down requires lactase, an intestinal enzyme that can be insufficient in babies born prematurely.

2 Nov 2026