Medical Research News

RSS

Scientists explain why we obey rules even when no one benefits

New research reveals many people follow costly, arbitrary rules even without external pressure or benefit to others. This conformity stems largely from intrinsic respect for rules and social expectations, more so than just incentives or direct social benefits.

27 May 2025

Rural and segregated areas in Virginia face primary care gaps

This study aimed to identify geographic disparities of the primary care workforce in Virginia and factors associated with primary care physician (PCP) access.

27 May 2025

Patients and staff share views on using AI in primary care evisits

While remote or electronic visits (eVisits) can increase access to health care for certain groups of patients, their use can increase staff workload and patient demand. Artificial intelligence (AI) may mitigate these outcomes.

27 May 2025

More family doctors choose focused practice over comprehensive care

This study examined long‑term shifts toward focused practice among family physicians in Ontario, Canada, as well as changes in the number of comprehensive family physicians relative to population growth.

27 May 2025

Study explores older adults' perspectives on proactive deprescribing

This study explored older adults' perspectives on proactive deprescribing, identified barriers and enablers, and developed a typology of patient attitudes to inform patient-centered deprescribing interventions.

27 May 2025

Genomic analysis reveals how bird flu jumped from wild birds to poultry and people

Researchers identified a novel genotype (D1.1) of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 spreading among wild birds, poultry, and a human in British Columbia, Canada, during fall 2024. Genomic analysis reveals the virus arose from reassortment between Eurasian and North American strains, with implications for surveillance and control.

27 May 2025

Pediatric mental health emergency visits often result in long waits for care

Approximately one in three pediatric mental health Emergency Department (ED) visits resulting in admission or transfer exceeded 12 hours, and over one in eight exceeded 24 hours, according to estimates based on nationally representative data from 2018 to 2022.

27 May 2025

Prior COVID-19 vaccination provides strong protection against emerging variants

Prior COVID-19 vaccination did not stop the immune system from mounting a protective response to the Delta and Omicron strains, though new mutation-specific antibody production dipped slightly, according to a study led by researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences and published in Nature Immunology.

27 May 2025

Perfumes and lotions interfere with the body’s pollution defense

Fragrances and lotions don't just change the way people smell, they actively alter the indoor air chemistry around the wearer, disrupting a critical natural process the body uses to protect itself from pollution, according to an international research team that includes scientists from Penn State.

27 May 2025

Astrocytes may contribute to memory storage in the brain

The human brain contains about 86 billion neurons. These cells fire electrical signals that help the brain store memories and send information and commands throughout the brain and the nervous system.

27 May 2025

Traditional South Asian medicinal plants show promise in addressing memory disorders

The growing global population of elderly individuals has led to a dramatic rise in chronic diseases, including neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

27 May 2025

Rethinking the mitochondrial theory of aging

The human genome is broadly classified into the genome residing in the cell nucleus (nuclear DNA) and the genome residing in the mitochondria (mitochondrial DNA: mtDNA). Mitochondria are cell organelles that produce energy essential for life activities through oxidative phosphorylation (mitochondrial respiration), and mtDNA encodes a set of genes required for mitochondrial respiration.

27 May 2025

Alzheimer’s blood biomarkers predict faster muscle strength loss in older adults

A large Swedish cohort study found that elevated blood biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease—including p-tau217, p-tau181, neurofilament light chain, and GFAP—predict accelerated muscle strength decline over 12 years in dementia-free older adults. These findings suggest that early identification of Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers could help clinicians intervene sooner to prevent sarcopenia and related adverse outcomes in aging populations.

27 May 2025

Understanding cow’s milk allergy in breastfed infants

Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) affects up to 2.2% of infants, with a complex interplay of immunological mechanisms, allergen transfer via breast milk, and variable responses to maternal elimination diets. Current evidence challenges the routine use of maternal dietary restrictions, highlighting the need for precise diagnosis and further research.

27 May 2025

Firmicutes bacteria can help maintain bone mass, study suggests

A recent study involving 684 Chinese adults has uncovered a significant connection between gut microbiota, aging, and bone health, particularly in relation to osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones and increases the risk of fractures.

27 May 2025

Scientists make major progress toward an effective HIV vaccine

In the long battle to create an effective HIV vaccine, scientists have made a major leap forward. A new study shows that a series of vaccines can coax the immune system to produce powerful antibodies capable of blocking a wide range of HIV strains-including those that are typically the hardest to stop.

27 May 2025