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‘Forever chemicals’ linked to slightly lower muscle mass in middle-aged women

A study of 551 middle-aged women found that higher blood concentrations of certain PFAS chemicals were associated with slightly lower muscle mass, particularly when researchers examined multiple chemicals together. However, these associations did not correspond to poorer muscle function, and the largely cross-sectional findings could not establish whether PFAS exposure contributes to muscle loss.

11 Nov 2026

Exercise benefits mental health, so why is the genetic evidence so mixed?

A systematic review of 61 Mendelian randomization studies found limited and inconsistent genetic evidence that general physical activity causally improves mental health or cognitive outcomes; 30 studies reported only null or directionally opposite findings. More consistent evidence emerged for aerobic exercise and reduced depression risk, and for physical fitness traits, particularly muscle strength and muscle mass, in relation to better mental and cognitive health, although methodological limitations prevent definitive causal conclusions.

11 Nov 2026

The way food feels in your mouth could change how much you eat

A scientific review examines how food texture and mouthfeel interact with oral sensory receptors, saliva, and brain pathways to influence food preferences, eating speed, appetite, and fullness. The authors suggest that understanding these mechanisms could help develop healthier, more satisfying foods, although their long-term effects on metabolic health require further investigation.

11 Nov 2026

Exercise benefits people with chronic disease, but does the type matter?

A meta-analysis of 48 studies found that physical activity improved several chronic disease-related health indicators, particularly blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiorespiratory fitness, with significant benefits among people with hypertension and diabetes. Aerobic exercise had the strongest statistical evidence in the primary analysis, but no exercise type proved superior, and substantial variation between studies limited the certainty of the findings.

11 Nov 2026

Ice massage, massage guns or rest? Runners tried three ways to recover

In a randomized trial of 80 recreational runners, repeated ice massage, percussive massage, and combined treatment improved reactive strength, reduced muscle soreness, and produced greater reductions in calf and Achilles tendon stiffness over 72 hours than passive rest. Combined treatment produced the largest improvement in reactive strength, although its advantage over individual treatments was based on exploratory comparisons, and none of the interventions showed a sustained benefit for the biochemical marker LDH.

11 Nov 2026

Researchers identify previously unknown cause of fatal newborn brain disorder

Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC) identify a previously unknown cause of a fatal newborn brain disorder, giving long-awaited answers to families whose children were affected by the disease.

11 Nov 2026

Replacement PFAS chemical still harms developing zebrafish embryos

Publishing in the Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, researchers from Kyushu University used zebrafish embryos to study the health effects of the PFAS called PFBS (Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid), a substitute PFAS thought to be safer than traditional compounds.

11 Nov 2026

Experimental cell therapy helps ordinary skin mimic tough palm tissue

In a phase I clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say they have partially transformed ordinary human skin cells into volar skin - the durable skin found exclusively on the palms and soles that resists friction and pressure.

11 Nov 2026

Case report highlights urgent communication gaps for deaf NHS patients

Deaf patients get a raw deal in NHS hospitals, suggests an illustrative case history of a deaf person's experience as an inpatient, published in the online journal BMJ Case Reports.

11 Nov 2026

Long travel distances linked to higher pediatric surgery complication risks

Nearly one in eight children undergoing a common inpatient surgical procedure lived more than 60 miles from the hospital where they received care.

11 Nov 2026

Prenatal cannabis use disorder linked to higher postpartum psychiatric emergency visits

Women diagnosed with cannabis use disorder during pregnancy were more likely to end up in an emergency room for a psychiatric problem in the year after giving birth, according to a study of more than 2 million California deliveries.

11 Nov 2026

Blocking serotonin receptors makes eye cancer cells sensitive to drugs

By studying G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling in a range of uveal melanoma cell lines, Jenna Aumiller and colleagues have discovered a way to make these cells more sensitive to compounds that inhibit cancer-linked (or oncogenic) signaling pathways.

11 Nov 2026