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Intermittent fasting edges daily calorie cuts for blood pressure and long-term cardiovascular risk estimates

In a real-world registry study of adults with overweight or obesity, 5:2 intermittent fasting and daily calorie restriction both improved blood pressure over 12 weeks. Intermittent fasting produced modestly greater reductions in systolic and pulse pressure and a larger drop in BMI-based 30-year cardiovascular risk scores, without superior lipid or glycaemic effects.

17 Dec 2025

Plant-based omega-3s work better than expected in a year-long diet study

A year-long, diet-controlled intervention shows that flaxseed oil–derived alpha-linolenic acid significantly increases erythrocyte EPA, DPA, and DHA across omnivorous, vegetarian, and vegan diets. The magnitude of improvement is driven mainly by baseline omega-3 status, while absolute EPA and DHA levels in vegans remain lower than in omnivores.

17 Dec 2025

Brain structural changes linked to chronic PTSD in World Trade Center responders

New research among World Trade Center (WTC) responders with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has uncovered measurable physical changes in their brain structure, consistent with changes in the balance of myelinated to unmyelinated neurons (fast- and slow-conducting nerve cells) across both hemispheres of the brain.

17 Dec 2025

SARS-CoV-2 manipulates host cell's RNA to weaken the immune response

Researchers at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) in Brazil have discovered that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, uses a sophisticated tactic to evade the human body's defense system.

17 Dec 2025

Nicotine pouch use rises sharply among young men in Great Britain

Use of nicotine pouches has risen substantially in Great Britain over the last five years, particularly among young men, with one in 13 (7.5%) men aged 16 to 24 now using them, according to a new study led by researchers at UCL (University College London).

17 Dec 2025

Mucus-inspired hydrogel resists stomach acid and promotes gastrointestinal healing

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed an acid-resistant "ultra-stable mucus-inspired hydrogel" (UMIH), marking a breakthrough in the field of gastrointestinal medicine.

17 Dec 2025

Early embryos and the uterus engage in active communication during implantation

A new study shows that the embryo and the uterine lining conduct an active "conversation" from the very earliest stages of implantation. They engage in a back and forth of tiny packages called extracellular vesicles and lipid droplets, which carry metabolites and signals.

17 Dec 2025

Rethinking dopamine’s role in movement and Parkinson’s disease

A McGill-led study is challenging a popular theory about how dopamine drives movement, a discovery that could shift how scientists think about Parkinson's disease treatments.

17 Dec 2025

New clinical trial offers hope for patients with advanced “dry” age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss and blindness for Americans 65 and older, is a progressive disease affecting central vision.

17 Dec 2025

Slower cognitive reaction time associated with higher levels of frailty

Frailty is a syndrome resulting from age-related decline across multiple organ systems. A new study, conducted at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, shows that slower reaction time and lower response accuracy in cognitive tasks are associated with higher levels of frailty.

17 Dec 2025

Parasports offer multiple benefits for individuals with cerebral palsy

A review in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology summarizes the multiple benefits of sport participation for people with cerebral palsy.

17 Dec 2025

Severe weather exposure increases long-term mortality risk in older adults

Severe weather events have long-term health consequences for vulnerable older adults, according to a study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society based on data following Hurricane Harvey.

17 Dec 2025

Early exposure to child care tax credits has mixed long-term health effects on children

The US Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC), which helps offset a portion of child or dependent care expenses, requires that both parents in married households, or the primary caregiver in single-parent and divorced households, participate in paid employment.

17 Dec 2025

Lysophosphatidylcholines show gene-dependent effects in early Alzheimer’s disease

A new study presents robust evidence on the role of lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) in the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers discovered that LPCs-compounds that transport a variety of healthy fatty acids to the brain-either promote Alzheimer's or protect against it, depending on a person's genetics.

17 Dec 2025

Stress may help explain why patients with depression are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease

Patients with depression are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, and a new study suggests that stress may help explain why.

17 Dec 2025

Hyperphosphorylated tau may help protect the brain from infection

One of the main proteins that contributes to Alzheimer's disease is called phospho-tau (p-tau). When p-tau gets too many phosphate groups attached to it (a process called hyperphosphorylation), it starts to stick together and form clumps called "tangles" inside of brain nerve cells.

17 Dec 2025