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Rytvela lowers inflammation and improves newborn survival in preclinical study

New research shows that Rytvela, an anti-inflammatory drug candidate, decreased premature birth and infant mortality when administered after the onset of preterm labor in a preclinical mouse model.

23 Feb 2026

Moments of awe show measurable links to reduced loneliness in daily life

Daily diary data from healthcare workers and community adults during COVID lockdowns showed that people reported less loneliness on days when they experienced greater awe. This association was partly explained by increased feelings of connectedness to nature, although the observational design prevents causal conclusions.

23 Feb 2026

Higher ultra-processed food intake aligns with greater binge eating risk in obesity study

Higher intake of ultra-processed foods in adults with obesity was associated with disordered eating symptoms, poorer diet quality, and lower protein intake. The cross-sectional findings suggest dietary processing level may influence eating behaviour patterns relevant to obesity management, though causality cannot be inferred.

23 Feb 2026

Combining gene and biomarker screening for newborn health

For more than six decades, biomarker-based newborn screening has played a pivotal role in reducing infant mortality and long-term disability by enabling early detection of metabolic and endocrine disorders.

23 Feb 2026

Growing up bilingual does not disrupt parent–child brain bonding

New findings reveal bilingual mother-child interactions enhance neural synchrony, highlighting the role of play over language in early cognitive development.

23 Feb 2026

New Orleans brings back the house call, sending nurses to visit newborns and moms

When Lisa Bonfield gave birth to daughter Adele in late November, she was thrust into the new world of parenting, and faced an onslaught of challenges and skills to learn: breastfeeding, diapering, sleep routines, colic, crying, and all the little warning signs that something could be wrong with the baby.

23 Feb 2026

Cannabis use in adolescence associated with higher rates of psychiatric disorders

Adolescents who use cannabis could face a significantly higher risk of developing serious psychiatric disorders by young adulthood, according to a large new study published today in JAMA Health Forum.

20 Feb 2026

Early hydrocortisone treatment improves survival for extremely premature babies

Early hydrocortisone treatment of extremely premature babies increases their chances of survival without lung disease, according to a study led by Linköping University. The study also shows that the treatment is safe to give.

19 Feb 2026

Sensory traits in infancy tied to poorer sleep quality

Babies with an increased likelihood of autism may struggle to settle into deep, restorative sleep, according to a new study from the University of East Anglia.

19 Feb 2026

Prenatal infection increases risk of alcohol misuse in adulthood

Exposure to infection and other immune stress in the womb increases the likelihood of alcohol misuse in adulthood, a risk that may be reduced through prenatal antioxidant treatment, a new Washington State University study shows.

19 Feb 2026

Prenatal lead exposure linked to lower cognition six decades later

Exposure to lead before birth is associated with lower performance 60 years later on tests of thinking and memory skills in female participants, according to a study published on February 18, 2026, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

18 Feb 2026

Parental concern outperforms digital tools in identifying child’s severe illness

A parent’s intuition about their child’s condition is a significant medical indicator. A new study from the University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital shows that even comprehensive digital symptom questionnaires may not improve assessment if the parent’s underlying concern is overlooked.

18 Feb 2026

Bilingual mothers stay neurally synchronized with children across languages

Interbrain synchrony is the simultaneous activity of neural networks across the brains of people who are socially interacting –- for example talking, learning, singing, or working together.

18 Feb 2026

Study reveals widespread prenatal exposure of babies to forever chemicals

Babies born between 2003 and 2006 were exposed to many more "forever chemicals" before birth than scientists previously understood, according to new research published in Environmental Science & Technology.

18 Feb 2026

Short-duration psychedelic therapy shows promise for major depression treatment

A phase IIa randomized trial found that intravenous dimethyltryptamine (DMT) with structured psychological support produced rapid reductions in depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder. Improvements were statistically significant versus placebo at two weeks, with mostly mild-to-moderate adverse events and the need for larger confirmatory studies emphasized.

17 Feb 2026

Reducing maternal smoking during pregnancy could lower hypertension rates in children

Maternal smoking during pregnancy may be associated with higher blood pressure and increased risk of hypertension in children, according to a new ECHO Cohort study led by Lyndsey Shorey-Kendrick, PhD, of Oregon Health & Science University and Christine Ladd-Acosta, PhD, of Johns Hopkins University.

17 Feb 2026