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UK food labels fail to flag most ultra-processed products

The study, published in BMJ Medicine, found that among the official public health definitions used to identify and regulate food and drink products in the UK, each varied widely in what proportion of processed and ultra-processed products was classed as unhealthy, while systems such as traffic light labels failed to identify more than half of these unhealthy packaged foods.

11 Nov 2026

Weekly park visits boost children's mental health and social skills

Children who visit parks and playgrounds at least once a week may have better mental health and social development as they grow up.

11 Nov 2026

Childhood cancer survival reaches nearly 90%, yet disparities remain

Nearly nine in 10 young people with cancer were alive five years after diagnosis by 2017 – up from six in 10 in 1975, according to first comprehensive update of U.S. childhood cancer survival statistics in over a decade published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

11 Nov 2026

Environmental experiences trigger widespread changes in brain cell connections

Experiences and changes in environment cause widespread alterations in connections between brain cells, influencing brain activity, research suggests.

11 Nov 2026

BNP hormone may actively promote blood clot formation, study finds

A hormone found in the blood and long viewed as a biological "check engine light" may do more than signal cardiovascular distress, according to researchers with the Texas A&M University Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy at Texas A&M Health.

11 Nov 2026

Skipping antihypertensive medication reduces surgical hypotension in older adults

Pausing a patient's usual dose of blood pressure medication on the day of surgery reduces the rate of very low blood pressure requiring treatment during the operation compared with taking their medication as normal, finds a trial of older adults, published by The BMJ today.

11 Nov 2026

Declining thermogenic fat activity may explain age-related cold sensitivity

Researchers from City of Hope®, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the country, have uncovered the biological reason for why we become more sensitive to cold as we get older.

11 Nov 2026

New molecular approach shows promise against treatment-resistant prostate cancer

Many modern cancer drugs typically target a specific protein or signaling pathway to treat tumors.

11 Nov 2026

Rare genetic mutation may protect against Parkinson's and Lewy body dementia

A rare genetic mutation may protect against developing Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia, a new study from researchers at Oregon Health & Science University suggests.

11 Nov 2026

$7.2 million NIH funding supports research into long-lived plasma cells

Central to many immune responses are antibodies, which identify foreign substances and help remove them from the body. The immune cells that produce them are called plasma cells, and they can mature into long-lived plasma cells that persist and provide protection for years or even decades.

11 Nov 2026

Vaping frequency linked to declining lung function in young adults

Long term vaping in young people may induce persistent changes in lung function, suggest preliminary findings published online in the journal Tobacco Control.

11 Nov 2026

Proton therapy radiation patterns may increase breast implant complications

Radiation therapy is sometimes needed after mastectomy and breast reconstruction for breast cancer.

11 Nov 2026

Chronic stress promotes oral cancer through a brain–immune pathway

Chronic psychological stress is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for cancer, but how the brain communicates with the immune system to promote tumors has remained unclear.

11 Nov 2026

Gut microbial metabolites may reshape fat tissue through Wnt pathways

Fat tissue grows in two ways: existing fat cells swell, or progenitor cells spawn new fat cells. When new-cell formation falls behind long-term energy surplus, lipids pile up inside aging fat cells-bringing inflammation, insulin resistance, and fat deposits in the liver and muscle.

11 Nov 2026

Yogurt and cheese are rich in protein, but do they help aging muscles?

In a cross-sectional analysis of 6,790 adults aged 50 and older across two Irish cohorts, researchers found no consistent association between fermented dairy consumption and muscle strength, physical function, or frailty after accounting for lifestyle and socioeconomic factors. Although one analysis linked higher fermented dairy intake to greater odds of low grip strength, other findings did not support this association, and the researchers emphasized the need for further studies to establish whether fermented dairy influences healthy muscle aging.

11 Nov 2026

‘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