PAINCould just 1 course of radiotherapy help treat osteoarthritis pain? Data from a randomized controlled clinical trial conducted in South Korea now show that individuals with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis were more likely to experience improvement in pain and mobility at 4 months after receiving a single course of low-dose radiation therapy than their counterparts who received sham treatment. The study’s results were recently shared at the American Society for Radiation Oncology conference in San Francisco.
Food insecurity, loneliness can increase the risk of developing chronic pain after surgery: People who experience food insecurity or loneliness are much more likely to develop chronic pain after surgery, according to new research presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025 annual meeting. Chronic pain — lasting three months or longer — after surgery is common, especially after major procedures such as hip or knee replacement, and affects up to 30%-50% of surgical patients. Social factors such as food insecurity and social isolation can significantly raise this risk, the authors found.
Researchers find potential link between chronic pain, immune condition: A small study of medical records unexpectedly found that 12% of chronic pain patients who were treated with spinal cord stimulation or an implanted pain medicine pump had a white blood cell condition called eosinophilia. The condition is often a result of something gone awry with the immune system and is typically seen in less than 1% of the general population. While patients with eosinophilia didn’t appear to fare any worse in their treatment, he findings suggest a possible link between chronic pain and the immune system. The paper was published in Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface.
Pain and antidepressant drug combo linked to increased seizure risk in older adults: When older adults living in nursing homes are prescribed the pain medicine tramadol alongside certain antidepressants, their risk of seizures may go up, according to a study published October 8, 2025, in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. While this study found a link between using the medications together and an increased risk of seizures, it does not prove one causes the other.
Open-label placebos as adjunct for the preventive treatment of migraine: In this randomized clinical trial, open-label placebo treatment did not reduce headache frequency but was associated with improvements in quality of life and pain-related disability. Future research should clarify the mechanisms underlying these effects and determine their potentiall supportive role in migraine care for selected patients. JAMA Network Open
Two in three people with chronic pain turn to comfort eating: More than two-thirds of people living with chronic pain reach for chocolate or other comfort foods to cope, with new research showing that eating offers pleasure, distraction and relief from negative emotions during pain flare-ups. One in five people worldwide lives with chronic pain (pain lasting three months or more), making it a major public health issue. Comfort eating is a common response to pain, but this can lead to weight gain, which in turn can worsen pain and increase the risk of further health problems. Eating to Feel Better: The Role of Comfort Eating in Chronic Pain
Widely prescribed opioid painkiller tramadol not that effective for easing chronic pain: The strong opioid painkiller, tramadol, is not that effective at easing chronic pain for which it’s widely prescribed, finds a pooled data analysis of the available research, published online in BMJ Evidence Based Medicine. And it likely increases the risk of serious side effects, including heart disease, the findings indicate, prompting the researchers to conclude that the potential harms of tramadol probably outweigh its benefits, and that its use should be minimized.
New study shows chiropractic care associated with reduction in opioid use disorder in patients with low back pain: A new multi-institutional study, led by University Hospitals Connor Whole Health, found that adults with newly diagnosed low back pain with or without sciatica who initially received spinal manipulative therapy administered by a chiropractor were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with opioid use disorder over a two-year follow-up compared to those prescribed ibuprofen. The study suggests an association between spinal manipulative therapy and a lower risk of opioid use disorder in this population, highlighting its potential value as a first-line non-pharmacological option for low back pain amid the ongoing opioid crisis. Published in Health Science Reports, this retrospective cohort study analyzed data from the United States’ TriNetX Research Network, including more than 49,000 matched patients from 2015 to 2025.
Topical cream calms chemotherapy side effects on the skin: An international clinical trial shows that a topical formulation, already available as a neurocosmetic, reduces chemotherapy-induced neuropathy in cancer patients by acting directly on neurosensory pain receptors. The study, published in the scientific journal Clinical and Translational Oncology, was conducted in nine hospitals across Spain and Belgium, involving 142 patients with cancer. The trial compared a conventional moisturizing cream with a nociceutical formulation developed at UMH and marketed by the spin-off company Prospera Biotech.
How much does it hurt? New research puts a price on pain to improve measurement: Published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, the study indicates that people’s theoretical willingness to accept money in exchange for enduring pain offers a more reliable way to measure discomfort than conventional ‘self-reported’ measures of pain levels such as number scales or visual charts.
Large study finds certain music therapy interventions may be more beneficial for pain: A new study from University Hospitals Connor Whole Health found that music therapy interventions involving singing, active instrument play, and relaxation/imagery may be more effective for reducing pain intensity than receptive interventions only involving live or recorded music listening among hospitalized patients with moderate-to-severe pain. The findings from this study were recently published in The Journal of Pain.
Acupuncture Eases Chronic Low Back Pain, Boosts Physical Function: Older adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP) had less pain and improved physical function using acupuncture compared to standard treatments, a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded clinical trial showed. The study was published online September 12 in JAMA Network Open.
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINEDead Drivers Tell A Troubling Story About Cannabis Use: The numbers from the morgue paint a stark picture that recreational cannabis laws apparently can’t change: More than 40% of drivers killed in car crashes in a major Ohio county had active THC coursing through their bloodstreams when they died, and the state’s 2023 move to legalize recreational marijuana didn’t budge that figure even slightly. What makes the findings particularly concerning isn’t just the prevalence, but the potency. The average blood THC level among positive cases measured 30.7 nanograms per milliliter, a concentration that dwarfs the 2 to 5 ng/mL thresholds most states use to define impairment. At those levels, drivers weren’t dealing with residual traces from yesterday’s joint. Journal of the American College of Surgeons
Popular type of yoga linked to higher rates of falls among older Australians, study shows: A major study from the University of Sydney has shown that a popular style of yoga increased falls in older people by a third, in a result that has surprised researchers. The research, published in the Lancet Healthy Longevity, looked at the effect of an Iyengar yoga-based exercise program as part of a randomised control trial involving 700 participants aged 60 and over. “We suspect that one of the reasons for the higher incidence of falls could be that the people who were in the Iyengar yoga group gained more confidence and so pushed themselves to do activities outside of the class that they normally wouldn’t do. “It is also possible that Iyengar yoga’s practice of holding fixed positions, rather than moving between different poses, may be less helpful in improving balance and not specific enough to improving the ability to do everyday activities and hence prevent falls.
Yoga isn’t as heart-healthy as you think, new study reveals: A comprehensive review shows that yoga doesn’t match up to traditional exercise for improving vascular health. Activities like Pilates, Tai Chi, and interval training prove more effective in keeping arteries resilient, especially in sedentary adults. While yoga remains valuable for accessibility and cultural significance, experts say it should be supplemented with more vigorous activity to fully protect heart health. Advances in Integrative Medicine
After cancer: study explores caring-healing modalities for survivors: Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing have completed the first scoping review focused on caring-healing modalities (CHMs) designed to boost resilience and reduce emotional distress such as depression and anxiety in people with cancer. Results, published in the journal Nursing Reports, help to shift attention from treatment to healing by exploring how CHMs such as mindfulness, peer support and expressive therapies can reduce emotional distress and build resilience in people with cancer. Notably, the majority of the included studies in this review focused on breast cancer survivors, highlighting the pressing need to address their emotional and spiritual well-being long after treatment ends.
Just knowing help is there makes all the difference: People who feel supported by family, friends and colleagues tend to have better mental health, perform more effectively at work and experience positive outcomes in other areas such as physical health, education and risk-taking behaviors, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. “This study underscores the importance of considering the associations between multiple types and sources of perceived social support and multiple domains of human thriving,” said lead author GeckHong Yeo, PhD, of the National University of Singapore. “Our findings also suggest that adolescents, in particular, can benefit from perceived social support – especially from parents – for improving physical health and reducing risk-taking behavior.” Psychological Bulletin. How Does Perceived Social Support Relate to Human Thriving? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analyses
Scientists reveal how breathwork unlocks psychedelic bliss in the brain: High-ventilation breathwork with music can evoke psychedelic-like states, shifting blood flow in the brain and reducing negative emotions. Participants experienced unity and bliss, pointing to a natural therapeutic tool with powerful potential. Plos one
PREVENTION
ExerciseJust 2 short bursts of exercise a day could boost heart and lung fitness: A review study has shown that, for physically inactive adults, short bursts of physical activity, known as “exercise snacks,” may be effective in enhancing heart and lung function. The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, suggests that exercise snacks could be an easy way to get some exercise every day, particularly if you are otherwise physically inactive. The researchers analyzed data from 11 studies, from Canada, Australia, China and the United Kingdom. The 414 participants (approximately one-third men and two-thirds women), ranged in age from 18-75 years. Types of exercise included stair climbing, leg-focused strength exercises and tai chiTrusted Source — a low-impact ancient Chinese martial art designed to improve balance, strength and flexibility.
Walking, cycling and swimming likely best exercise for knee osteoarthritis: For patients with knee osteoarthritis, aerobic activities such as walking, cycling, or swimming are likely to be the best exercise for improving pain, function, gait performance, and quality of life, finds a study published by The BMJ today. While other exercises may offer complementary benefits to patients, they should not replace aerobic exercise as the main strategy, say the researchers.
Researchers at The Neuro show a brain exercise yields benefits With implications for aging and dementia, a study finds game-like online exercises offset signs of aging in key brain systems for learning and memory – the first of any intervention shown to do so. The study found 10 weeks’ use of the game-like app BrainHQ by older adults enhanced cholinergic function, a chemical system in the brain that typically declines with age and influences attention, memory and decision-making. JMIR Serious Games.
Just half an hour of less sitting each day can improve energy metabolism: New study shows that just 30 minutes of less sitting each day can improve the body's ability to utilise fats and carbohydrates for energy production. Reducing sedentary behaviour can be particularly beneficial for people who are physically inactive and have an increased risk of heart diseases and type 2 diabetes. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports
Running with a stroller lowers impact, potential injury risk, researchers find: A new study led by researchers from Penn State Berks found that runners experience less impact per step, reducing their overall risk for injury. The study, which was published in the journal PLOS One, also revealed a potential trade-off. While the impact per step is lower when running with a stroller, the torsion or twisting forces of the foot pushing off the ground increased. This motion, however, is not as consistently associated with injuries as step impact, the researchers said.
Adherence to UK Physical Activity Guidelines benefits heart and builds muscles of older adults: After 4-week interventional session adhering to UK Physical Activity Guidelines, cardiorespiratory fitness of independent community-dwelling older adults is significantly improved, a key feature of intrinsic capacity. Importantly, the magnitude of cardiorespiratory fitness improvement is beyond that previously reported to be the minimum clinically important difference. In addition, an increase in muscle thickness and whole-body muscle strength is observed across the intervention period, illustrating the potential of uptake and short-term adherence to physical activity guidelines for improving the health and functional well-being of older adults. Translational Exercise Biomedicine
Physical exercise can ‘train’ the immune system: In addition to strengthening the muscles, lungs, and heart, regular physical exercise also strengthens the immune system. This finding came from a study of older adults with a history of endurance training, which involves prolonged physical activity such as long-distance running, cycling, swimming, rowing, and walking. An international team of researchers analyzed the defense cells of these individuals and found that “natural killer” cells, which patrol the body against viruses and diseased cells, were more adaptable, less inflammatory, and metabolically more efficient. The research, which was supported by FAPESP and published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Exercise can help to restore the immune system of people with post-COVID syndrome: Exercise can help to restore a more normal, well-regulated immune system in people with post-COVID syndrome, according to a gold-standard randomised-controlled trial presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The trial included a group of 31 patients diagnosed with post-COVID syndrome who had been treated for COVID in hospital. Some of the patients were randomly assigned to take part in an eight-week exercise-based rehabilitation programme which included treadmill walking, cycling and strength training, while other patients were given standard care. The researchers found that people who completed the exercise programme had significant improvements in their naïve immune cells compared to the control group. Naïve immune cells are important for recognising and responding to new infections. European Respiratory Society
Exercise lowers risk of depression and sleep problems in older smokers: Getting enough weekly exercise may help smokers over 40 reduce depression and sleep issues to levels seen in non-smokers, according to a study from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health. The study showed that smokers had higher rates of moderate to severe depressive symptoms and sleep disorders than non-smokers. Notably, smokers aged 40 to 59 who did not meet physical activity guidelines were especially likely to report moderate to severe depressive symptoms and sleep disorders.
SleepSleep trap: Many young adults use cannabis to fall asleep: More than 1 in 5 young adults reported using cannabis or alcohol to help them fall asleep. According to new findings from the University of Michigan's annual Monitoring the Future Panel Study, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 22% of U.S. young adults aged 19 to 30 reported using one or both of these substances to sleep. Cannabis was far more common than alcohol for this purpose: 18% said they used cannabis to sleep, compared to 7% who used alcohol to sleep.
Excessive daytime sleepiness may raise risk of cognitive problems after surgery: People 60 and older who are excessively sleepy during the day may have more problems with memory and thinking after surgery, suggests a study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025 annual meeting. Daytime sleepiness is a symptom of sleep deficiency that affects up to 20% of adults and may increase the risk of perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PNDs), researchers found.
DietBoth diet and regular sodas are linked to liver disease, new study finds: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)Trusted Source involves a buildup of fat in the liver that did not result from drinking alcohol. People with this condition have a possible risk for more significant liver problems or other conditions like cardiovascular disease. A recent study focused on how sugar-sweetened and low or non-sugar-sweetened beverages related to liver health. Based on analysis of over 103,000 participants, higher consumption of both beverage types was linked to a higher risk for MASLD. Additionally, low or non-sugar-sweetened beverages were linked to a greater risk for liver-related mortality. While the study hasn’t been published yet, the findings shed light on the potential risks of these beverages, particularly low or non-sugar-sweetened beverages. The study results were presented at UEG Week 2025, the annual congress of United European Gastroenterology. They are yet to appear in a peer-reviewed journal.
Vegan diet helps people with type 1 diabetes cut insulin costs by 27%: A low-fat vegan diet that doesn’t limit calories or carbohydrates could help people with type 1 diabetes reduce insulin use and insulin costs, according to new research by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine published in BMC Nutrition.
Time-restricted eating can boost athletes' health and performance: "Effect of time-restricted feeding on aging and performance of athletes (systematic review)"
Vitamins/Supplements
Vitamin B3 May Help With Skin Cancer Prevention: A new study published on September 17 in JAMA DermatologyTrusted Source examined more than 33,000 U.S. veterans and found that people who took nicotinamide (a derivative of vitamin B3) had fewer cases of non-melanoma skin cancers than those who didn’t. The researchers reported a 14% overall reduction in future skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Meanwhile, the biggest benefit was seen in people who started taking nicotinamide after their first skin cancer diagnosis. Their risk of developing another dropped by more than half.
Daily calcium supplements not linked to dementia, study suggests: Do calcium supplements increase risk for dementia? A recent post-hoc analysisTrusted Source examined how supplementation with calcium carbonate affected dementia risk among 1,460 Western Australian white women who were all aged 70 years and older. The researchers found that calcium supplementation did not increase participants’ risk for dementia events, which included deaths or hospitalizations related to dementia or both. The results suggest that calcium supplementation is safe in this area of health for the study demographic but more research is needed in other groups.
Cocoa supplements show surprising anti-aging potential: Daily cocoa extract supplements reduced key inflammation markers in older adults, pointing to a role in protecting the heart. The findings reinforce the value of flavanol-rich, plant-based foods for healthier aging. In a new study from the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS), investigators from Mass General Brigham and their colleagues looked at changes in five age-related markers of inflammation among participants who received daily cocoa supplements over several years. They found that hsCRP -- an inflammatory marker that can signal increased risk of cardiovascular disease -- decreased in participants taking the cocoa extract supplement, suggesting its anti-inflammatory potential may help explain its heart-protective effects. Age and Ageing
OtherRectal Bleeding in Adults Under 50 Linked to 8.5 Times Higher Risk of Colorectal Cancer: The scientists reached their conclusions after analyzing 443 patients under 50 who underwent a colonoscopy at the University of Louisville Health System, KY, between 2021 and 2023. 70% of the cancer patients had no family history of the disease. In addition, people who had smoked in the past were more than two times as likely to develop early onset colorectal cancer as people who hadn’t smoked. The researchers’ study was presented this week at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2025 in Chicago.
Young Adults Who Stay Heart Healthy Have Lower Cardiovascular Disease Risk: In a 40-year study of more than 4,200 young adults, those with better heart health early on maintained it — while others saw a steady decline. The findings suggest early prevention is key, but even later lifestyle changes can still help protect against heart attack and stroke. In a study published on October 6 in JAMA Network OpenTrusted Source, researchers followed more than 4,200 participants between the ages of 18 and 30 for nearly 40 years to track long-term trends. They found that participants tended to follow distinct heart health trajectories. And those patterns began early: By age 25, most had already settled into consistent habits that supported heart health — or didn’t.
Cardiovascular Disease: At Least One Risk Factor Present in 99% of Cases: A large study from researchers in Korea and the United States has found that virtually everyone who experiences a heart attack, stroke, or other major cardiovascular event had at least one key risk factor beforehand, even if it wasn’t bad enough to trigger a formal medical diagnosis. The findings, published on September 29 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, challenge claims that heart disease often strikes without warning in people with no traditional risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, or smoking history.
Study Finds COVID Shots Cut Infection Risk By 58% In Pregnancy: An analysis of over 1.2 million pregnant individuals reveals that COVID-19 vaccination slashes infection risk by 58% while simultaneously reducing some of pregnancy’s most feared complications. The findings, presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics conference in Denver, represent the most comprehensive look yet at vaccine safety and efficacy during pregnancy.
Cancer Patients Who Quit Smoking Live Longer: A new study tracking more than 13,000 cancer patients at Washington University’s Siteman Cancer Center found that those who continued smoking after diagnosis faced nearly double the risk of death compared to patients who quit within six months. The survival gap was stark: two years after their initial clinic visit, 85% of patients who quit smoking were still alive, compared to just 75% of those who continued. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network:
Healthy habits can make your brain age more slowly, study finds: Your chronological age may say 65, but your brain could be acting a decade younger — or older — depending on your life experiences. That’s the message from a new study by University of Florida researchers, who found that optimism, good sleep, social support and other positive factors were strongly linked with healthier brains. The findings suggest that how people live and cope with stress can measurably influence the pace of brain aging, even in those living with chronic pain.
New clinical study shows masturbation can relieve menopause symptoms: Ahead of Menopause Awareness Month, the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University and sexual wellness brand Womanizer released headline results from a groundbreaking clinical study examining how masturbation can affect menopause symptoms. The new study is the first controlled investigation of its kind to examine how self-pleasure can influence menopausal health and wellbeing, building on a peer-reviewed paper on masturbation across the menopause transition and 2024 survey of 1,500 American women, which found that 36% experienced menopause symptom relief from masturbation and 1 in 10 used it as their primary relief strategy.
Living with purpose may protect your brain from dementia: Living with a sense of purpose may not just enrich life, it could also guard against dementia. A UC Davis study tracking over 13,000 adults for up to 15 years found that people with higher purpose were about 28% less likely to develop cognitive impairment. Purpose was linked to resilience across ethnicities, even in those with genetic risks for Alzheimer’s, and activities like relationships, volunteering, spirituality, and personal goals can help nurture it. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
TREATMENTGeneric Abortion Pill As Effective As Mifepristone: In a significant development for reproductive healthcare access, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new generic version of mifepristone, a medication used in combination with misoprostol for the medical termination of pregnancy up to 70 days of gestation. The approval, granted to Evita Solutions, LLC under Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) 216616, confirms that the generic mifepristone tablets (200 milligrams) are bioequivalent and therapeutically equivalent to the brand-name product Mifeprex, manufactured by Danco Laboratories, LLC. This decision, effective immediately, means that healthcare providers and patients will soon have access to a lower cost alternative to the branded medication, potentially expanding availability and affordability. This approval marks a notable shift toward increasing reproductive healthcare access while maintaining comprehensive safety measures.
Common Hair Loss Drug Linked to Suicide Risk, Other Mental Health Harms: A new report warns that males who take the drug finasteride for hair loss face a higher risk of depression as well as suicide. The author of the review, recently published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, states that officials at Merck, the original manufacturer of finasteride, and federal regulators at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) haven’t done enough to investigate the drug’s safety or warn the public of its risks.
Higher Doses of Semaglutide More Effective for Weight Loss: A significantly higher dose of weight-loss drugs containing the active ingredient semaglutide can be more effective in helping people lose weight. That’s according to two new studies published on September 14 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal. In both clinical trials, participants who received a triple dose of semaglutide medication achieved slightly more weight loss than people taking a standard dose. The weight loss was more significant when compared to study participants who were given a placebo. In both trials, participants were advised on lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise. Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of semaglutide medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, funded both trials. The first studyTrusted Source involved 1,407 people with obesity who did not have type 2 diabetes. About 73% of the participants were female. They had a mean age of 47 and a mean body mass index (BMI) of almost 40. he second studyTrusted Source involved 512 people diagnosed with obesity and type 2 diabetes. About 52% of these participants were female.
New ulcerative colitis drug Omvoh linked to sustained remission after 4 years: Within the results of the study, which were recently presented at United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week, researchers found that many study participants who achieved clinical remission after 1 one year of treatment not only continued their remission after 4 years, but also experienced other improvements such as in bowel urgency.
GLP-1 Drugs May Lower Risk of Heart Disease, Stroke in People With Diabetes: The research, published on October 15 in JAMA Network OpenTrusted Source, concluded that GLP-1RA drugs were significantly more effective in lowering cardiovascular risks than three other types of glucose-lowering medications.
Biologic drug reduces symptoms, hospitalization for severe pulmonary hypertension after diagnosis: Prescribing the biologic drug sotatercept alongside standard treatment for the most severe form of pulmonary hypertension significantly reduces the likelihood of worsening disease when added within the first year after diagnosis, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. '
Diabetes Pill Plus Allergy Med Shows Promise For MS Repair: A diabetes drug, metformin, you can pick up at any pharmacy, combined with an over-the-counter antihistamine, clemastine, might help rebuild the protective coating around nerves damaged by multiple sclerosis. It sounds almost too simple, but early trial results presented at Europe’s largest MS research conference suggest the combination actually works. Participants did not actually feel better on the drugs. The benefit is not immediate symptom relief but long-term nerve protection.
Consensus: Bisphosphonates for Aromatase Inhibitor Bone Loss: An updated position statement on the management of aromatase inhibitor-associated bone loss (AIBL) in women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer provides the latest evidence-based guidance, with an emphasis on the clear benefits of bisphosphonates, not only in preventing the bone loss but also in providing potential anticancer effects.
OTHER
Tylenol Doesn’t Cause Autism, Experts Say: In response to President Trump’s announcement, Tylenol issued a statement on its website asserting that over a decade of rigorous research confirms “there is no credible evidence linking acetaminophen to autism.” The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has also released a statement reaffirming the safety of acetaminophen use during pregnancy. “Suggestions that acetaminophen use in pregnancy causes autism are not only highly concerning to clinicians but also irresponsible when considering the harmful and confusing message they send to pregnant patients, including those who may need to rely on this beneficial medicine during pregnancy,” said ACOG president Steven J. Fleischman, MD, MBA, FACOG, in the organization’s statement.
Kids Face Double The Long COVID Risk After Second Infection: Parents who thought their children were in the clear after recovering from COVID-19 may need to reconsider. A massive study tracking more than 460,000 young people across the United States has found that getting infected with COVID a second time doubles the risk of developing long COVID compared to a single infection. The findings, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, challenge two widespread assumptions: that COVID in children is invariably mild, and that repeat infections carry less risk than the initial bout. The Lancet Infectious Diseases
Traumatic Brain Injury in Late Life Tied to Elevated Dementia Risk: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in late life is associated with a significant increase in the risk for new-onset dementia. The risk is especially elevated (by as much as 69%) within the first 5 years following the injury, according to newly published study findings. The data were published on October 6 in CMAJ.
Forever Chemicals Tied to Higher Diabetes Risk: Exposure to synthetic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), colloquially known as “forever chemicals,” has been shown to significantly increase the risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D) in a nested case-control study recently published in eBioMedicine. Individuals in the study were approximately 31% more likely to develop diabetes, with the risk escalating at an equal pace as exposure levels climbed, and within the mixtures of PFAS studied, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) had the highest contributions to this association.
Exposure to Commonly Used Chemical Tied to Parkinson’s Disease Risk: Long-term exposure to high levels of the industrial degreasing chemical trichloroethylene (TCE) was associated with an increased risk for Parkinson’s disease (PD), a new study showed. Using data from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Air Toxics Assessment, researchers found that individuals exposed to higher TCE concentrations in outside air were 10% more likely to be diagnosed with PD than those exposed to the lowest TCE levels. The results were published online on October 1 in the journal Neurology.
