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Polysubstance-involved opioid overdoses found to be prevalent among youth

Most research suggests that opioid overdoses involving multiple substances in the United States typically occur among people ages 25-54.

26 Aug 2025

New NIH Baby Toolbox offers breakthrough in early childhood development screening

Developmental scientists and medical social science experts at Northwestern University have spearheaded the creation of the most recent NIH Toolbox, providing the newest nationally standardized assessment of cognitive, language, motor and social-emotional skill development in infants aged 16 days to 42 months.

26 Aug 2025

Probiotics limit the spread of drug-resistant genes in preemies

Study reveals probiotics help preterm infants develop healthier gut microbiomes, reducing multidrug-resistant bacteria and enhancing neonatal care outcomes.

26 Aug 2025

HIIT increases aerobic capacity even when BMI stays the same

HIIT effectively improves health outcomes in obese teens, enhancing fitness and metabolic health while reducing body fat and improving cholesterol profiles.

26 Aug 2025

Autism study shows vitamin D and iron deficiencies affect up to 40% of children

Researchers in Singapore found that 30–40% of children with autism spectrum disorder have vitamin D or iron deficiencies, regardless of eating habits. Age and ethnicity increased vitamin D risk, while picky eating was not a reliable predictor.

25 Aug 2025

Antibiotics in pregnancy and infancy do not raise autoimmune disease risk in children

A nationwide Korean cohort study found that antibiotic use during pregnancy or early infancy did not increase overall risk of childhood autoimmune diseases. Subgroup signals for Crohn’s disease and autoimmune thyroiditis warrant cautious follow-up.

25 Aug 2025

Children in low-opportunity neighborhoods face much higher risk of gun injuries

Children residing in "very low-opportunity" neighborhoods are up to 20 times more likely to be hospitalized for gun injuries than those living in the most advantaged areas, reports a new multi-state study published in Pediatrics.

25 Aug 2025

Why a common pesticide may alter brain growth in school-age children

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25 Aug 2025

Where is childhood obesity growing fastest in England?

The study identifies distinct childhood obesity trends in England, emphasizing the role of local policies and socioeconomic factors in shaping health outcomes.

25 Aug 2025

Most Americans drink less juice than guidelines allow, study finds

A new study of NHANES 2017–2023 data shows that most Americans drink far less 100% fruit juice than the Dietary Guidelines allow. Juice consumption was linked to better diet quality, higher nutrient intake, and did not displace whole fruit.

24 Aug 2025

Inconsistent state laws undermine sexual education across the United States

While the majority of states require public school students to take at least one sexual education course, a patchwork of state-level provisions that mandate inaccurate, outdated, or politically motivated curricula may inhibit students from receiving essential information for their sexual health and well-being.

22 Aug 2025

Skin color may influence phototherapy effectiveness in newborns with jaundice

Jaundice is one of the most common medical issues in newborns, affecting nearly 80 percent of full-term infants in their first days of life.

22 Aug 2025

Urban heat and pollution linked to behavioral changes in children

Individuals living in urban cities are experiencing the combined effect of increasing temperatures and poor air quality, often referred to as the urban heat dome.

22 Aug 2025

Seattle’s Fresh Bucks program boosts food security and diet but benefits fade when funding ends

A lottery-based cohort study of Seattle’s Fresh Bucks program found that providing a $40 monthly fruit and vegetable benefit improved food security by 5.5 percentage points and increased daily produce consumption by 7.5 percentage points, while disenrollment reversed these gains. These findings highlight the potential of healthy food benefit programs to reduce nutrition-related disparities in low-income populations.

21 Aug 2025

Gut bacteria in mothers and newborns may shape infants’ risk of early respiratory infections

Finnish researchers found that differences in maternal and infant gut microbiota during the first weeks of life were linked to the risk of respiratory tract infections in the first six months. Specific bacteria, including butyrate producers and opportunistic pathogens, may shape early infection susceptibility.

21 Aug 2025

How early maltreatment impacts social and cognitive development

Research shows that early childhood maltreatment is associated with significant delays in social and cognitive development. Unfortunately, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, children under age one face the highest risk of maltreatment, particularly neglect. The Child Protective Services (CPS) system is responsible for responding to maltreatment and preventing its recurrence.

21 Aug 2025

Investigation raises concerns over tooth stem cell banking claims

Parents are spending thousands of pounds to bank stem cells from their children's milk teeth – but the recipient companies' claims about their future medical value are unproven and potentially misleading, reveals an investigation by The BMJ, published today.

21 Aug 2025

Scientists rank the healthiest grains using new nutrition scores

Two new scoring systems reveal that Americans who eat more nutrient-dense grains, whether whole or fortified, have better diets, lower obesity rates, and improved metabolic health. The cross-sectional analysis of NHANES data shows that these “healthy grains” are also affordable and widely available.

20 Aug 2025

Less than half of adolescents with major depression receive mental health care

Fewer than half of all adolescents with major depressive episode (MDE) received mental health care in the US in 2022, with the odds of specialist treatment being even lower among marginalized groups, according to a new study published this week in the open-access journal PLOS Mental Health by Su Chen Tan and colleagues at University of Tennessee, USA.

20 Aug 2025