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Plant-focused diets may decelerate epigenetic aging processes

A new research paper was published in Volume 18 of Aging-US on March 20, 2026, titled "Plant-based dietary patterns are associated with slower epigenetic aging."

31 Mar 2026

Unhealthy air exposure expected to rise sharply in coming decades

New modeling shows almost one in three Americans will routinely breathe air considered unhealthy for sensitive people by the year 2100 due to climate change, a sevenfold increase compared to the turn of the century.

31 Mar 2026

Antibiotic resistance genes found in both diseased and healthy lungs

The researchers examined patients with COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and sarcoidosis, and compared them with healthy individuals.

31 Mar 2026

Restoring tissue stiffness may reduce inflammation in gum disease

Periodontitis is a serious chronic inflammatory form of gum disease that affects millions worldwide. It can lead to tooth loss and the destruction of supporting bone.

31 Mar 2026

Gut-derived metabolites regulate immune cells in complex ways

Published on March 23, 2026, in Volume 2, article number 18 of the journal Immunity & Inflammation, the review begins by systematically outlining the sources and synthetic pathways of immune-relevant microbial metabolites, including bile acids, short-chain fatty acids, amino acid derivatives, vitamins, trimethylamine/trimethylamine N-oxide, and odd-chain fatty acids.

31 Mar 2026

Novel MRI technique reveals sleep-driven brain cleansing mechanisms

Sleep helps the brain to cleanse itself – and now this process can be measured in humans entirely non-invasively.

31 Mar 2026

Mirror image proteins offer new way to disable Alzheimer's disease

Understanding how proteins interact with their own mirror images enabled a Kobe University research team to design a small mirror protein that disables a causal factor of Alzheimer's disease, amyloid-beta.

31 Mar 2026

Excessive RNA editing enzyme alters brain circuit formation in Down syndrome

A collaborative research study co-led by scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Liber Institute for Brain Development has for the first time identified a biological process that may help explain how the brain develops differently in people with Down syndrome.

31 Mar 2026

Why vaginal microbiota transplants aren’t working yet

Vaginal microbiota transplantation without antibiotics fails to restore microbiome balance, yet engraftment suggests avenues for enhancing treatment efficacy.

31 Mar 2026

New genetic ‘roadmap’ advances precision therapy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

The 1,341-gene signature for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma offers a framework for precise diagnosis and tailored therapies, addressing tumor heterogeneity.

From BGI Genomics 31 Mar 2026

Vaping beats traditional tools for quitting smoking

The review indicates nicotine e-cigarettes could surpass traditional quit aids in effectiveness, but lingering safety uncertainties warrant further research.

31 Mar 2026

Dropped surgical implants are contaminated instantly and alcohol does not fix it

A study evaluates disinfectants for decontaminating dropped implants in surgery, highlighting risks and the efficacy of CHG and PI in reducing bacterial load.

31 Mar 2026

Mapping the physical forces that propel proteins forward

Scientists at Oregon Health & Science University have uncovered a previously unknown system of internal "trade winds" that help cells rapidly move essential proteins to the front of the cell, reshaping how researchers understand cell migration, cancer spread and wound healing.

31 Mar 2026

DNASE1L2 identified as a dynamic biomarker for TB progression

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the world's most serious public health threats, with approximately one-quarter of the global population infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While most infections remain latent (LTBI), individuals with LTBI are at risk of progressing to active TB and potentially becoming new sources of transmission.

31 Mar 2026

Uncovering the hidden retinal risks of modern dentistry

Dentists are exposed to intense lighting for long hours, but its long-term impact on eye health is often overlooked. This study evaluates whether chronic exposure to dental lighting, especially blue and white LEDs, can damage the retina and disrupt its normal function. By combining human data with advanced imaging and animal models, the research uncovers hidden occupational risks and highlights the need for safer lighting practices to help protect dentists' vision.

31 Mar 2026

Using machine learning to scan post-cancer health risks

Artificial intelligence (AI) could help physicians determine if survivors of childhood cancer need extra support - and the more information included in AI prompting, the better its performance. This finding, published today in Communications Medicine by scientists from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, may guide future integration of AI into clinical workflows.

31 Mar 2026

How video gaming may shape sleep, diet, and activity across the lifespan

This narrative review found that video gaming can have both benefits and risks for health across the lifespan. It may provide short-term stress relief and social connection, but frequent or prolonged gaming is also associated with sedentary behaviour, poorer sleep, disrupted eating patterns, and lower diet quality, with effects shaped by age, sex, timing, content, and motivation.

31 Mar 2026

Children’s screen use surged significantly during and after pandemic

First systematic review to track long-term trends across pre- and post-pandemic periods finds dramatic rise in screen use among children and adolescents.

30 Mar 2026

How gut imbalance may drive obesity, diabetes, and heart disease

A new review argues that gut dysbiosis is closely linked to metabolic dysfunction through intertwined effects on inflammation, oxidative stress, gut barrier integrity, microbial metabolites, and epigenetic regulation. It also highlights microbiome-targeted strategies such as high-fiber diets, probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, exercise, and fecal microbiota transplantation as promising ways to support metabolic health.

30 Mar 2026

Study proposes genetic basis for autism’s strong sex bias

Autism has a significant and enduring sex bias, with roughly four boys diagnosed for every girl. For many years, experts have believed this disparity arises primarily from diagnostic inequities because much of autism research - and the screening tools that grew out of it - has historically focused on boys, effectively setting a male standard for what autism "looks like."

30 Mar 2026