Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Early electronic advance directives reduce burdensome end-of-life care

Advance directives document patient preferences for future care, including end-of-life. An analysis in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that older patients with an advance directive that had been uploaded into the electronic health record at least six months before death were 25% less likely to experience potentially burdensome end-of-life care (19.9% versus 26.8%) and 31% less likely to have died in the hospital (23.2% versus 32.1%).

20 May 2026

Bedfont® Scientific targets international growth at EAACI Congress 2026

Bedfont® Scientific Ltd., an innovative leader in the medical breath analysis industry with almost 50 years of experience, is pleased to join thousands of healthcare experts at this year’s European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Congress 2026 at stand I03 to showcase its NObreath® and Gastrolyzer® range of non-invasive breath analysis devices.

From NObreath 20 May 2026

Researchers uncover new genetic links influencing blood lipid composition

DZNE researchers have generated new insights into how the human genome shapes the chemical composition and concentration of blood lipids.

20 May 2026

Digital pens and tablets could offer non-invasive tools for routine dementia screening

Handwriting requires a combination of fine motor control and a complex set of mental skills, such as selecting, organizing, and interpreting sensory information, making it a cognitively challenging task. Because of its high demand on the brain, it is a potential marker of cognitive decline, especially as we age. Then, our handwriting often becomes slower or choppier.

20 May 2026

Study finds critical gaps in prenatal syphilis screening in Ontario

Congenital syphilis is entirely preventable-yet new research shows critical gaps in prenatal screening that are leaving some infants at risk.

19 May 2026

Private equity hospital acquisitions linked to worse pulmonary patient outcomes

A large new study presented at the 2026 ATS International Conference shows that patients treated for COPD or pneumonia experience worse outcomes across several important measures when they are treated at hospitals that have been acquired by private equity firms.

19 May 2026

Neighborhood demographics heavily influence how Americans choose their pharmacies

An estimated 15.8 million people in the United States live in pharmacy deserts. With limited access to healthcare services, like hospitals and pharmacies, these individuals are at risk of elevated mortality risk and higher rates of preventable disease progression.

19 May 2026

Psychologist debunks myth that sexual desire disappears with age

Sexuality is an important part of life - even when we grow old. The idea that desire disappears with age is a myth that needs to be debunked, argues a psychologist who has researched older adults' sex lives.

19 May 2026

New TriPcide compounds show promise against antibiotic-resistant bacteria

In a new study, researchers show how so‑called TriPcides can target the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, including antibiotic‑resistant strains such as MRSA.

19 May 2026

Young cancer survivors frequently report long-term sexual problems

Many young adults who have been treated for cancer experience sexual problems. This is shown in a doctoral dissertation at Karolinska Institutet, which also highlights gaps in information provided by the healthcare system.

19 May 2026

ChatCPR system shows promise for improving emergency cardiac arrest response

A new study from scientists at the University of California San Diego in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, and other institutions, demonstrates that an artificial intelligence-powered CPR coaching agent can outperform 911 dispatchers in guiding bystanders through cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

19 May 2026

Mental disorders affect one in three pregnant women, and violence may be a key driver

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 18 studies involving 17,380 pregnant women found that common mental disorders affected about one-third of participants across studies from Africa, Asia, and South America. The analysis found strong regional variation and identified intimate partner violence as the only statistically significant risk factor, with affected women having about 2.6-fold higher odds of CMDs.

18 May 2026

Bundibugyo virus outbreak triggers international public health emergency declaration

Pursuant to paragraph 2 of Article 12 - Determination of a public health emergency of international concern, including a pandemic emergency of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR), the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), after having consulted the States Parties where the event is known to be currently occurring, is hereby determining that the Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), but does not meet the criteria of pandemic emergency, as defined in the IHR.

18 May 2026

AI avatar doctor reduces stress for cancer patients before consultations

Cancer patients who interact with an artificial intelligence (AI) avatar doctor before they meet their real-life consultant feel more knowledgeable and less stressed, according to research presented at the Congress of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO 2026)

18 May 2026

Global consortium renames polycystic ovary syndrome to reflect science

First, it was named after two men. Then, it was named for a false premise. Now, after more than a century, one of the most common hormone disorders affecting women worldwide has a name that reflects the science.

18 May 2026

Gut microbiome metabolite butyrate relieves chronic jaw joint pain

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain is associated with disrupted gut microbiome metabolites. Researchers reveal that butyrate, administered as tributyrin, alleviates pain by restoring histone acetylation and reversing gene regulatory changes in the brain.

18 May 2026

Blood metabolite patterns could reveal dementia risk in midlife

Research shows that blood metabolite profiles can indicate dementia risk, offering a potential tool for early detection and prevention of cognitive decline.

18 May 2026

International trial proves AI can design gold-standard cancer treatment plans

An AI technology is effective at planning the delivery of life-saving radiotherapy for cervical cancer and prostate cancer, according to results from a large international trial led by researchers at University College London (UCL) and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

18 May 2026

AI beats primary care doctors in simulated diagnosis study using images and ECGs

Multi-modal AMIE used state-aware reasoning to interpret patient history alongside skin photos, ECGs, and clinical documents during simulated telehealth consultations. In a blinded exploratory OSCE-style study, AMIE outperformed primary care physicians across most diagnostic, communication, empathy, and multimodal reasoning measures, but still requires real-world clinical validation.

17 May 2026

Vaginal birth after cesarean more common at Black-serving hospitals

Low-risk patients at predominantly Black-serving hospitals (BSH) who previously gave birth through Cesareans are likelier to attempt and successfully deliver vaginally in a subsequent pregnancy than they are at hospitals treating few Black patients, new UCLA-led research finds.

17 May 2026