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Shatavari may affect more than hormones, and the gut could help explain why

A review in Nutrients examined how bioactive compounds in Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari) may influence cognitive health through the microbiota-gut-brain axis, estrogen-related signaling, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neurotransmitter regulation. Evidence from computational, cellular, animal, and limited human studies suggests several plausible biological pathways, but key questions remain about bioavailability, brain exposure, dosing, and clinical efficacy.

16 Sep 2026

Hedgehog coronaviruses reveal potential pathways for cross-species transmission

Washington State University researchers have discovered how a group of coronaviruses circulating in hedgehogs invades host cells, a key to understanding their potential to jump between species and their risk of causing a pandemic in humans.

16 Sep 2026

RES-AGE project explores cost-effective ways to strengthen older adults' wellbeing

How can we develop evidence‑based and cost‑effective ways to strengthen older adults' resilience and mental wellbeing? With just over 1 million euros from the Strategic Research Council, Åbo Akademi University will, over an initial period of three years, examine social, health‑related, psychological and biological factors that promote resilience, with a particular focus on loneliness, stress and health.

16 Sep 2026

Machine learning improves cancer cell detection through light scattering

Cytological tests are a common method of screening cancer cells from stained cell samples. Using a microscope, pathologists examine cells collected from bodily fluids, looking for tell-tale signs of malignancy like enlarged nuclei or abnormal cell shapes.

16 Sep 2026

Study finds widespread physical and sexual violence exposure in the U.S.

A new national study reveals the widespread reach of violence across the United States, finding that more than half of U.S. adults have experienced physical violence and nearly half have experienced sexual violence in their lifetimes.

16 Sep 2026

Fermented dairy was linked to lower mortality, but the pattern shifted at higher intakes

Analysis of 37,366 US adults found that fermented dairy consumption was associated with lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, with consumers showing adjusted hazards 18% and 20% lower, respectively, than non-consumers. Dose-response analyses indicated that the inverse association was concentrated at intakes below about 150 grams per day, while the observational study could not establish causality.

16 Sep 2026

Cold plunges may boost your mood, but the evidence is still on thin ice

A Molecular Psychiatry review examined evidence linking cold exposure with mood and mental health outcomes, alongside proposed roles for catecholamines, the HPA axis, and immune-inflammatory pathways. Early studies report short-term mood improvements and physiological changes, but clinical evidence remains limited, and the proposed mechanisms have not been established as drivers of lasting psychiatric benefits.

16 Sep 2026

Scientists tested how much whole grain makes a difference. The answer was not simply “more”

A meta-analysis of 87 randomized trials found that increasing whole-grain intake was associated with improvements in several cardiometabolic risk factors, although many individual changes were small or clinically unimportant. Dose-response analyses suggested that the magnitude of the effects varied by outcome and intake level, with limited evidence at very high intakes.

16 Sep 2026

The music in psychedelic therapy may be more than background sound

A narrative review examines how music interacts with psychedelics, psychological support, and treatment context in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, arguing that its role cannot be understood as an isolated component. The authors highlight limited evidence on music-specific effects and propose studying PAP as a complex intervention, with music described according to its therapeutic function rather than fixed playlists or genres.

16 Sep 2026

Study defines early-onset cirrhosis caused by fatty liver disease

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have published the first study to define early-onset cirrhosis caused by metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a condition known as fatty liver disease.

16 Sep 2026

Morning speech therapy benefits young people with childhood apraxia

For young people with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), a disorder that affects the brain's ability to plan and coordinate the movements needed for speech, speech difficulties can persist well beyond childhood.

16 Sep 2026

Targeted antibody therapy provides long-lasting relief from neuropathic pain

Pain is a natural protective mechanism that alerts the body to actual or potential injury. But when nerves themselves are damaged, they can generate abnormal pain signals even in the absence of a new injury.

16 Sep 2026

Study links missing brain protein to ADHD-like behaviors

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can affect attention, activity levels, and impulse control, with symptoms often beginning in childhood and sometimes continuing into adulthood.

16 Sep 2026

Simple fecal test could help detect colorectal and pancreatic cancers

Gastrointestinal and pancreatobiliary cancers can be difficult to detect early, creating a need for practical, noninvasive approaches for early detection and risk assessment.

16 Sep 2026

UCSF researchers urge more convincing placebos in psychedelic trials

UC San Francisco researchers are weighing in on one of the biggest challenges in psychedelic science, arguing that clinical trials need more convincing placebo treatments to better measure the drugs' true effects.

16 Sep 2026

New patient-specific AI model improves precision in minimally invasive surgeries

Researchers created a new technique that accurately and rapidly matches X-rays captured during surgery with a patient's preoperative 3D medical scan.

16 Sep 2026

Study confirms continued effectiveness of antibodies and vaccines used to prevent RSV infections

An analysis of more than 60,000 respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) sequences from around the world found that viral variants associated with resistance to current RSV prevention tools remain rare, according to a study published Sept. 16 in Nature.

16 Sep 2026

New prime assembly method enables long and precise DNA insertions

Genomic editing holds great potential yet continues to have its limitations. Most current methods either rely on untargeted gene delivery or short DNA edits that need to be individualized to each patient.

16 Sep 2026

Study establishes foundational landscape of tumor evolution in bladder cancer

A new study published in Nature has established the foundational landscape of tumor evolution in bladder cancer and differences in the cancer subtypes, which could point toward better diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

16 Sep 2026

Campus dining halls fail to provide appealing protein choices for college students

A new University of Maine study has identified what researchers describe as a campus protein challenge. Although students generally consumed adequate amounts of protein, many reported that campus dining halls failed to provide protein choices they considered flavorful, appealing or prepared in ways they viewed as healthful.

16 Sep 2026