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AI mental health chatbots feel empathetic, but safety evidence still lags

Immune dysregulation may contribute to depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and anxiety through chronic inflammation, altered neuroimmune signaling, genetic susceptibility, and stress-related epigenetic changes. Evidence also suggests that biologically defined patient subgroups may benefit from more precise, immune-informed approaches to diagnosis and treatment.

27 Jul 2026

YouTube’s health content rewards attention-grabbing videos over reliable medical information

Researchers analyzed 3,958 Korean-language medical YouTube videos and found that clickbait-heavy content attracted more views, likes, and comments. Higher-quality videos from medical professionals and public institutions often received less attention, highlighting a visibility gap in online health information.

27 Jul 2026

Study links inherited genetics to cancer susceptibility and progression

Scientists have found the first direct evidence of the powerful role our genetic makeup plays in influencing our risk of cancer, with inherited genes interacting with acquired genetic mutations to shape how tumors evolve.

26 Jul 2026

Study identifies simvastatin as promising adjuvant for periodontitis treatment

Porphyromonas gingivalis can evade antibiotics by invading host cells, contributing to recurrent periodontitis and persistent tissue damage.

26 Jul 2026

Wild bird surveillance reveals how H5Nx flu keeps returning to China

Long-term wild bird surveillance across China revealed shifting H5Nx avian influenza patterns, with H5N1, H5N8, and clade 2.3.4.4b viruses changing over time and across migratory flyways. Genomic analyses suggest recent H5Nx detections in China largely reflect repeated reintroductions through migratory birds rather than sustained local circulation.

26 Jul 2026

Study finds widespread nutrition concerns in packaged toddler foods

An audit of toddler foods sold at 21 grocery stores in Texas revealed that 4 out of 5 products were ultra-processed and 49% of all products failed to meet at least one nutrient standard established by the World Health Organization (WHO) Nutrition and Promotion Profile Model (NPPM) for commercial foods intended for children aged 6-36 months.

26 Jul 2026

Time-restricted eating may help lower dementia risk in older women

Results from a small clinical trial suggest it may be possible to reduce your risk of dementia by eating during fewer hours of the day.

26 Jul 2026

Unsweetened sparkling water may be safer for teeth than soda

Findings from a new study comparing the effects of different beverages on mouth acidity suggest that unsweetened sparkling water may be better for your teeth than sugar-sweetened soda.

26 Jul 2026

Longer lives now come with more years spent in poor health worldwide

Global life expectancy rose from 64.6 to 73.8 years between 1990 and 2023, but healthy life expectancy did not keep pace. The widening morbidity gap means most populations now spend a decade or more in poor health.

26 Jul 2026

Prebiotic sodas may contain less fiber and more sugar

Prebiotic sodas have become more popular in recent years, with a wave of new products promising gut health benefits and low-calorie enjoyment.

25 Jul 2026

Planetary Health Diet lowers cardiovascular risk in older women

A 20-year study of more than 65,000 postmenopausal women found that higher adherence to the Planetary Health Diet was associated with a lower risk of overall cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure.

25 Jul 2026

Engineered probiotic bacteria boost immune attack against pancreatic cancer

Cancer immunotherapies have transformed treatment for many cancers, but pancreatic cancer remains especially difficult to treat. One major reason is that pancreatic tumors often create a "cold" tumor microenvironment, where the tumor prevents immune cells from mounting a strong attack.

24 Jul 2026

Better bait may help stop New World screwworm infestations

Jessica Metcalf's work stinks. Literally. But the Colorado State University professor's research may be key to protecting livestock and wildlife from a flesh-eating parasite.

24 Jul 2026

Study links household drinking water to long-term lithium exposure

Lithium in drinking water is a widespread and persistent source of human exposure across Tribal communities in the Western United States, according to a new study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

24 Jul 2026

Iowa State study identifies potential new target for leukemia treatment

In leukemia's most aggressive forms, the blood cell factories in our bone marrow falter. Instead of dividing and multiplying at their usual prolific pace, generating hundreds of billions of new cells daily, some precursor cells stall out at an immature stage.

24 Jul 2026

MATILDA database reveals wide variation in dietary environmental impacts

Improving diets is one of the world's biggest public health and environmental challenges. More than 2.5 billion adults are now overweight or obese, 88% of countries with available data face a serious burden of two or more forms of malnutrition, and food systems account for between a quarter and a third of global greenhouse gas emissions.

24 Jul 2026

Inherited genetics can influence safety and success of CAR-T cell therapy

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy, which reprograms an individual's immune cells to seek out and destroy certain cancer cells, has revolutionized treatment for blood cancers such as lymphoma.

24 Jul 2026

Study discovers new therapeutic targets for severe preeclampsia

Unusual behavior in the cells of mothers and babies with preeclampsia may provide new therapeutic targets for the condition, finds a new UCL-led study.

24 Jul 2026

Taiwan Biobank data reveals ongoing natural selection in living humans

For more than a century, scientists have sought to reconstruct human evolution using diverse lines of evidence, including fossils, genetic variation across populations, and ancient DNA.

24 Jul 2026

Cleveland Clinic study links gut microbe byproduct to heart arrhythmia

A Cleveland Clinic-led study shows a connection between elevated blood levels of TMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide) - a byproduct of gut bacteria digestion of nutrients found in red meat and other animal products - and a higher risk of atrial fibrillation.

24 Jul 2026