PAIN
Sustained benefits from mind and body treatment for back pain in RESTORE trial three-year follow-up:In the RESTORE trial, conducted at centres in Sydney and Perth, a seven-session program of cognitive functional therapy (CFT) delivered by specially trained physiotherapists significantly reduced people’s back pain and improved their function, compared with usual care. Data just published in medical journal The Lancet Rheumatology show these improvements were largely maintained over three years of follow-up.
Expectations about pain influence the experience in different ways: In their JNeurosci paper, the researchers present their findings from 40 healthy volunteers who rated how hurt they were following painful heat stimulation during neuroimaging scans. Participants learned external cues for pain, which varied from trial to trial. For some trials, participants also received placebo “treatment” lotion. External cues alleviated pain for all participants, but only half the participants reported hurting less with the introduction of the placebo treatment. The researchers also found that predictive cues were less impactful when patients were also given placebo treatment. The combined effects of cues and treatment were linked to activity in several distinct brain regions. There were separate neural associations with the effects of external cues alone or placebo lotion alone; only external cues affected a brain biomarker for pain, and treatment expectations influenced evaluative brain areas. Thus, expectations shaped by external cues or information about treatments may have different mechanisms for influencing pain.
VR nature scenes reduce sensitivity to pain – especially for those who feel present during the experience: A new study led by the University of Exeter, published in the journal Pain, tested the impact of immersive 360-degree nature films delivered using VR (virtual reality) compared with 2D video images in reducing experience of pain, finding VR almost twice as effective. Long-term (chronic) pain typically lasts more than three months and is particularly difficult to treat. The researchers simulated this type of pain in healthy participants, finding that nature VR had an effect similar to that of painkillers, which endured for at least five minutes after the VR experience had ended.
Injured once, triggered forever? How the brain rewrites stress responses: A new study in Current Biologyfinds that past injuries can quietly prime the body to overreact and be more sensitive to stress, pain and fear long after the damage is gone. These findings may help explain how early injuries or trauma can set the stage for chronic pain conditions, where the nervous system remains hypersensitive long after the initial damage has healed. can set the stage for chronic pain conditions, where the nervous system remains hypersensitive long after the initial damage has healed.
Telehealth and online cognitive behavioral therapy–based treatments for high-impact chronic pain: Remote, scalable cognitive behavioral therapy-based chronic pain treatments (delivered either via telehealth or self-completed modules online) resulted in modest improvements in pain and related functional/quality-of-life outcomes compared with usual care among individuals with high-impact chronic pain. These lower-resource cognitive behavioral therapy-based chronic pain treatments could improve availability of evidence-based nonpharmacologic pain treatments within health care systems. JAMA
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
The Cannabis Risk Few Want To Talk About: Cannabis today is not the cannabis of two decades ago.According to a new peer-reviewed review in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in most legal dried cannabis has surged from about 4% in the early 2000s to more than 20% in 2023.
FDA ACTION
• Approved delgocitinib cream as a topical treatment for moderate-to-severe chronic hand eczema (CHE) in adults
• Approved Papzimeos (zopapogene imadenovec-drba), a first-of-its-kind non-replicating adenoviral vector-based immunotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP).
PREVENTION
Exercise
7,000 Steps A Day Might Be Enough To Save Your Life: Walking just 7,000 steps a day—well short of the often-cited 10,000-step goal—can significantly reduce your risk of dying early, developing heart disease, dementia, diabetes, and even depression, according to a sweeping new global study published in The Lancet Public Health. The research analyzed data from more than 160,000 adults and suggests that even modest increases in daily step counts could deliver powerful protection against many chronic diseases.
Brisk Walking May Help You Live Longer, Lower Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Walking briskly for just 15 minutes a day is linked to a significantly lower risk of death than walking slowly, even for a much longer time. A new study, published on July 29 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, indicates that a faster walking pace, not just duration, may yield notable health benefits.
3,000 steps a day at a faster pace may lower cardiovascular risks by 17%: Increasing daily step counts and walking faster may reduce risk of cardiovascular events in people with hypertension, a recent study has found. Walking more than 3,000 steps each day reduced risk of major adverse cardiovascular events by 17%. The benefits of walking also reduced risk of cardiovascular events in people without hypertension. Research published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that taking extra steps every day as well as walking faster reduced risk of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke.
Cycling may help restore neural connections damaged by Parkinson's: A new study has found that cycling helps restore neural connections damaged by Parkinson’s disease.
This benefit was seen in as little as 12 cycling sessions over a four-week period. Clinical Neurophysiology
A Few Extra Stand-Ups A Day Could Help Your Heart: Researchers at the University of California San Diego found that increasing the number of daily sit-to-stand transitions led to measurable improvements in blood pressure among women with overweight or obesity. Unlike intense exercise, these micro-movements required no special gear or workouts, just more frequent rises from a chair throughout the day. Circulation Circulation
Study links exercise with decreased mortality and cardiovascular events in people recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes but no previous cardiovascular disease: New research to be presented at this year’s Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna, Austria (15-19 September) shows, among people recently diagnosed with type with type 2 diabetes and no previous cardiovascular disease, a clear association exists between a person’s self-reported physical activity and their risk of all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACE), that include heart attacks and strokes.
In-exercise caffeine improves performance in the heat: Findings indicate that consuming caffeine during exercise may be an effective strategy for improving exercise performance during prolonged exercise in the heat. Moreover, this approach does not worsen physiological strain at corresponding time points compared with a no-caffeine condition. However, caffeine intake resulted in greater cardiorespiratory and temperature strain at the end of exercise because of the improved exercise performance. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
How Exercise May Turn Back The Body’s Biological Clock: The review, published July 8 in Aging-US, finds that regular exercise and reduced sedentary behavior may help slow or even reverse epigenetic aging, the molecular changes in DNA that more accurately reflect biological age than the years on a calendar. The findings point to structured, goal-oriented exercise as a potential tool for extending healthspan and protecting organs from age-related decline.
Does Getting Fit Guard Against Colorectal Cancer?: Evidence continues to mount that building cardiovascular fitness can help lower an individual’s risk for colorectal cancer (CRC). The latest study — a sweeping analysis of 643,583 individuals, with more than 8000 cases of CRC and 10 years follow-up — found a consistent, inverse, and graded association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and the risk for the development of CRC — a benefit similar for men and women and across races. CRC risk was 9% lower for each 1-metabolic equivalent (MET) task increase in CRF, objectively measured by an exercise treadmill test. The study was published online on July 28 in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Sleep
Objective Sleep Data Tied To 172 Diseases In Major Study: Regular sleep may matter more than how long you sleep. That’s the takeaway from a sweeping new study that linked six different sleep traits, including bedtime consistency and circadian rhythm stability, to 172 diseases across nearly every major body system. Using actigraphy data from more than 88,000 UK adults followed over 6.8 years, researchers found that poor sleep behaviors accounted for over 20% of the risk in nearly half of the conditions studied. The work, published in Health Data Science, offers the most comprehensive look to date at how objective sleep patterns shape long-term health. Among the most striking findings: poor sleep rhythm was often more predictive of disease than sleep duration. People with the lowest relative amplitude—a measure of circadian rhythm strength—had a 3.36-fold higher risk of age-related physical debility. Similarly, those with the most irregular sleep schedules had a 2.61-fold higher risk of gangrene and a 2.57-fold greater risk of liver cirrhosis if they regularly went to bed after 12:30 a.m. The study also casts doubt on previous links between long sleep duration (≥9 hours) and cardiovascular disease. When using objective sleep tracking, only one disease showed increased risk among long sleepers. A likely explanation: nearly 22% of self-reported long sleepers were actually getting less than 6 hours of real sleep, suggesting they confused time in bed with actual sleep. Health Data Science
Treatment for sleep apnoea is good for the heart in some patients but bad for others: A study of 3,549 people with obstructive sleep apnoea OSA and cardiovascular disease, with around half using CPAP machines and half not using CPAP. Patients were followed up for an average of three years and any heart attacks, stokes or deaths from cardiovascular disease were recorded. In the new study, the researchers’ analysis revealed that, in patients with high-risk OSA, CPAP lowered the risk of heart attack, stroke and death from cardiovascular disease by around 17%. This was 31% better than the effect of treatment in those without high-risk OSA’, for whom CPAP may even increase the risk of serious cardiovascular events by around 22%. When researchers looked more closely just the at patients who did not feel sleepy during the daytime, these findings were even stronger. For these patients, CPAP lowered cardiovascular risk by 24% in high-risk OSA but increased cardiovascular risks in the other patients by 30%. European Heart Journal,
Weekend Lifestyle Habits Linked To Rise In ‘Social Apnea’ Cases: Late nights, extra drinks, and smoking on weekends may be quietly worsening a hidden health problem: a weekend spike in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity. Researchers at Flinders University’s FHMRI Sleep Health have dubbed the pattern “social apnea.” Their study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, analyzed sleep data from more than 70,000 people worldwide and found that OSA symptoms peak on weekends—especially Saturdays—compared to midweek. The main drivers, they say, are irregular sleep schedules, more evening alcohol and smoking, and less consistent use of OSA therapies.
Diet
French Fries Linked to Higher Diabetes Risk, but Potatoes Are Still Healthy: Researchers followed over 150,000 participants over several decades and found that those who ate fried potatoes frequently were more likely to develop T2D compared to those who ate them less often. The study, published on August 6 in The BMJTrusted Source, showed that consuming three or more servings of French fries per week is associated with a 20% increased risk. Experts say the findings highlight well-established concerns over ultra-processed food consumption and the role these foods play in blood sugar regulation and long-term health.
Popular artificial sweetener may negatively affect cancer immunotherapy: The research, which is published in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association of Cancer Research, found that sucralose changed the gut microbiota so bacteria degraded an amino acid, arginine, that immune cells need to be able to destroy cancer cells.
Mediterranean, DASH, or AHEI: Which diet lowers diabetes risk the most?: According to a new meta-analysis, or study of studies, following any of three healthy diets can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. People whose food consumption closely adhered to the eating patterns established in the Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet, and the AHEI diet had lower chances of developing diabetes. The greatest reduction of diabetes risk, 23%, came for those closely following the DASH diet, followed by the AHEI diet, 21%, and the Mediterranean diet, 17%. The results of the meta-analysis will be presented in September 2025 at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)
Nighttime Coffee May Make You More Impulsive: A new study from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) reveals that caffeine consumed during nighttime hours impairs inhibitory control, leading to increased impulsivity. The findings, based on experiments with fruit flies, provide important insights, especially for night shift workers and those needing clear decision-making at night, such as healthcare workers and military personnel. Interestingly, the study also uncovered distinct gender differences, with females being more sensitive to caffeine’s impulsivity-inducing effects.
Beetroot Juice Alters Oral Microbiome, Lowers Blood Pressure: Drinking beetroot juice twice daily for two weeks can significantly lower blood pressure in older adults, and researchers now think the secret lies in the mouth. A new study from the University of Exeter reveals that the blood pressure-lowering effects of dietary nitrate may work by reshaping the oral microbiome, particularly by reducing specific bacteria linked to inflammation and impaired nitric oxide production. Free Radical Biology and Medicine
Drinking The Same, But The Damage Is Worse: Americans who drink heavily are now more than twice as likely to develop serious liver disease than they were two decades ago, according to a Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology study from Keck Medicine of USC. The study tracked a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults from 1999 to 2020 and found a striking rise in liver scarring — known as fibrosis — among those consuming high levels of alcohol, even though their drinking levels have not changed.
‘Good’ vs. ‘Bad’ Ultra-Processed Foods: How to Spot the Difference: A new scientific advisory from the American Heart Association (AHA) has challenged the idea that all ultra-processed foods are unhealthy. While many ultra-processed foods have been linked to adverse health outcomes, the advisory, published on August 8 in CirculationTrusted Source, offered a more nuanced perspective. For instance, AHA scientists argue that some UPFs appear to have better nutritional profiles and can fit into an overall healthy diet. Some examples of healthier ultra-processed foods include: whole grain breads; high-fiber breakfast cereals; certain dairy products; fortified plant-based milk." In contrast, ‘less healthy’ UPFs are typically low in nutritional value and high in added saturated fat, sugars, and salt, or multiple additives (which can encourage the passive overconsumption of calories).”
Less processed diet may be more beneficial for weight loss: When given nutritionally matched diets, participants lost twice as much weight eating minimally processed foods compared to ultra-processed foods, suggesting that cutting down on processing could help to sustain a healthy weight long term, finds a new clinical trial led by researchers at UCL and UCLH. The study, published in Nature Medicine, is the first interventional study comparing ultra-processed food (UPF) and minimally processed food (MPF) diets in ‘real world’ conditions, as well as being the longest experimental study of a UPF diet to date1.
Dietary and lifestyle strategies for endometrial cancer prevention: Emerging evidence and unanswered questions: This review synthesizes emerging evidence on modifiable risk factors for endometrial cancer (EC)—the sixth most common female malignancy globally—with rising incidence despite diagnostic advances. Obesity drives ~60% of preventable cases, positioning diet and lifestyle as critical prevention targets. This work evaluates current evidence, unresolved controversies, and pathways toward personalized prevention frameworks. Oncology Advances.
Low FODMAP diet improves leaky gut in study: In a study, patients with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea, or IBS-D, who went on a low FODMAP diet saw an improvement of colonic barrier dysfunction, commonly known as “leaky gut.” The results, published in Gastroenterology, represent the first evidence of low FODMAP’s potential ability to improve intestinal permeability and mast cell activation in patients with IBS.
Alcohol and Pancreatic Cancer: New Evidence About Risk: A global study of more than two million people is firming up the case that a link exists. The study, which pooled data from 30 prospective cohorts, found that daily alcohol intake was associated with a “modest” increased risk for pancreatic cancer in both women and men, regardless of smoking status. However, the extent of the risk depended somewhat on how the researchers modeled alcohol intake. One model, which mapped continuous increases in alcohol consumption, suggested there is no safe dose of alcohol — any amount can increase the risk for pancreatic cancer, though only by 3% for every additional 10 g of alcohol per day or about two thirds of a standard drink.
Vitamins/Supplements
Science tested 64 natural remedies for depression—only a few actually work: Researchers analyzed over 200 clinical trials of OTC depression remedies and found solid evidence for a few (St John’s Wort, probiotics, vitamin C and saffron), mixed results for many (like magnesium), and virtually none for dozens. Out of the 18 products with emerging evidence, folic acid, lavender, zinc, tryptophan, rhodiola, and lemon balm were the most promising. Bitter orange, Persian lavender, and chamomile tea also showed positive effects in two trials each. Some products that are gaining in popularity, such as melatonin, magnesium, and curcumin, showed mixed effects upon depression across multiple clinical trials. Mixed results were also found for cinnamon, echium, vitamin C, and a combination of vitamin D plus calcium. Prebiotics, which support the good bacteria in our gut, and a supplement called SAMe did not seem to be better than placebo. 41 products had only a single trial available. This is helpful as a starting point, but does not give us conclusive evidence. Few showed safety issues, but more rigorous research is needed. Frontiers in Pharmacology
Other
Walking and Diet Boost Cognition in At-Risk Adults: Preliminary findings from a new study show that while men and women APOE ε4 carriers experienced steeper declines in cognition over a 10-year period, regular walking appeared to mitigate these effects by preserving global cognition and executive function. Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2025.
Structured lifestyle intervention delays cognitive decline: This randomized clinical trial found that among older adults at risk of cognitive decline and dementia, a structured, higher-intensity intervention of regular moderate-to-high-intensity physical exercise, adherence to the MIND diet, cognitive challenge and social engagement, and cardiovascular health monitoring had a statistically significant greater benefit on global cognition compared with an unstructured, self-guided intervention. JAMA
Home Air Purifiers Cut Heart Risks From Traffic Pollution: A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) found that placing high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters in homes near major highways significantly lowered systolic blood pressure (SBP), a critical risk factor for heart disease, among adults with elevated readings. This was true even in areas with relatively low overall air pollution levels, showing that air filtration might offer meaningful cardiovascular protection where many people think they are already safe.
NUS and Harvard study: Lifestyle changes can cut cardiovascular disease risk by nearly 90% in women with gestational diabetes history: The new study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA), tracked over 4,300 women from the long-running Nurses’ Health Study II cohort, all of whom had a history of GDM but were free of heart disease and diabetes at the outset. The research found that women who adopted a long-term commitment to a combination of five healthy lifestyle behaviours—maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, regular physical activity, eating a high-quality diet, and moderate alcohol intake—reduced their risk of developing CVD by up to 86% compared to those who did not adopt any these habits. Remarkably, among women who consistently followed all five optimal lifestyle factors, no cardiovascular events were observed over nearly 28 years of follow-up.
TREATMENT
Common Painkiller Tied to Heart Failure Risk in Older Adults: The antiseizure medication pregabalin, which is commonly prescribed for chronic pain, has been linked to an increased risk for heart failure (HF), particularly in those with a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), new data suggested. In a cohort of more than 240,000 Medicare beneficiaries with noncancer chronic pain, initiation of pregabalin was associated with a 48% higher risk for new-onset HF overall and an 85% higher risk in those with a history of CVD than initiation of gabapentin. The study was published online on August 1 in JAMA Network Open.
New Study Uncovers Optimal Timing for Blood Pressure Medication Administration: “In this randomized clinical trial of antihypertensive chronotherapy, bedtime dosing provided better control of nocturnal blood pressure and improved the circadian rhythm, without reducing the efficacy on mean daytime or 24-hour blood pressure, or increasing the risk of nocturnal hypotension. These findings support the potential advantages of bedtime administration and offer new evidence to guide future research on antihypertensive chronotherapy,” the researchers reported. JAMA Network Open.
Self-Management Asthma App Boosts Symptom Control in Adults: In adults with asthma, a digital asthma self-management (DASM) program improved symptom control compared with usual care, although its effectiveness varied by race, with weaker results observed among African American participants. published online on July 17, 2025, in JAMA Network Open.
Ancient Conch Shell Blowing Eases Sleep Apnea Symptoms: Regularly blowing into a conch shell, an ancient Indian practice known as shankh blowing, could help ease symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a new randomized controlled trial published in ERJ Open Research. The study found that patients who practiced the technique for six months reported better sleep, felt more alert during the day, and experienced fewer breathing interruptions at night. Researchers say the low-cost exercise could offer a non-invasive alternative for people unable or unwilling to use standard treatments like CPAP machines.
Acne Drug Accutane Sparks Sperm Growth In Infertile Men: A new study published in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics offers an answer that might surprise many: isotretinoin, a derivative of vitamin A, helped 37 percent of severely infertile men in the trial produce motile sperm through ejaculation, making in vitro fertilization possible without surgery.
Exercise rehab lessens severity, frequency + recurrence of irregular heart rhythm (AF): Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation lessens the severity, frequency, and recurrence of the most common form of irregular heart rhythm, atrial fibrillation, or AF for short, finds a pooled data analysis of the available research, published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. It also improves general exercise capacity and mental health, without incurring any serious side effects, the findings show.
Max-dose statins save lives—here’s why doctors are starting strong: Potent statins are the best-proven weapon against heart disease, especially when paired with lifestyle changes. Most people aren’t active enough—and many are underdiagnosed—so starting treatment strong is key. Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine
Large Study Finds No Increased Risk Of Most Eye Disorders With Semaglutide, But Rare Vision Condition Signals Caution: A new analysis of nearly 74,000 patients suggests that the diabetes and weight-loss drug semaglutide does not raise the risk of diabetic retinopathy or other general eye disorders. However, the study identified a potential link to a rare condition called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), highlighting a need for closer monitoring and further research. The new systematic review and meta-analysis examined 78 randomized controlled trials involving 73,640 participants.
Hypothyroidism Linked to Gut Microbiome Disturbances: People with hypothyroidism show significantly higher levels of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and key bacterial distinctions than those without the thyroid condition, according to results of a study. “[The research] supports the idea that improving gut health could have far-reaching effects beyond digestion, possibly even helping to prevent autoimmune diseases, such as Hashimoto thyroiditis,” said senior author Ruchi Mathur, MD, director of the Diabetes Outpatient Treatment and Education Center and director of Clinical Operations of Medically Associated Science and Technology, at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, in a press statement for the study, which was presented at ENDO 2025: The Endocrine Society Annual Meeting.
OTHER
Breathing Dirty Air May Be Quietly Harming Your Brain: A sweeping new analysis of nearly 30 million people has confirmed a troubling link: long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution raises the risk of developing dementia. The findings, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, highlight how pollutants from traffic exhaust, industry, and burning fuel may trigger processes in the brain that contribute to memory loss and cognitive decline. Scientists say reducing pollution could ease the global burden of dementia, a disease already affecting over 57 million people worldwide.
Living Near The Ocean Might Help You Live Longer: If you’re looking for a longer life, your best bet might be to head for the coast. A sweeping new study from The Ohio State University finds that Americans who live near the ocean tend to outlive their inland counterparts, but the same longevity boost doesn’t hold true for people living near rivers and lakes, especially in urban areas. Coastal Air And Cooler Temps May Help Extend Life The study, published in the journal Environmental Research, analyzed life expectancy and environmental data from over 66,000 census tracts across the contiguous United States. People living within 50 kilometers (about 30 miles) of the coast lived, on average, more than a year longer than the national average of 79 years. Meanwhile, those in cities near large inland waterways often had shorter lifespans, dipping closer to 78 years. “Overall, the coastal residents were expected to live a year or more longer than the 79-year average,” said lead author Jianyong “Jamie” Wu, assistant professor of environmental health sciences at Ohio State. “We found a clear difference — in coastal areas, people are living longer.”
Forget materialism, a simple life is happier: research: After setting out to understand the relationship between consumption and wellbeing, the researchers found people are happier and more satisfied when adopting sustainable lifestyles and resisting the temptations of consumerism. They analysed data from a representative sample of more than 1000 New Zealanders, made up of 51 per cent men and 49 per cent women, with a median age of 45 and a median annual household income of $50,000. They found the commitment to simple living, or ‘voluntary simplicity’ as it is formally known, leads to wellbeing through providing more opportunities for personal interaction and social connection than conventional contexts of exchange, such as community gardens, sharing resources, and peer-to-peer lending platforms. Women are more likely to adopt a simple life than men, although more research is needed to understand why. Journal of Macromarketing
6 Ways Trump’s 'Big Beautiful Bill’ Could Limit Healthcare Access: The so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed by President Donald Trump in early July, will impact virtually every health-related program in the United States. The bill, officially known as House Resolution 1, is expected to reduce federal spending on health-related programs by $1 trillion between now and 2034. It’s estimated that those cuts will cause at least 10 million people to lose health insurance coverage during the next nine years. It calls for a reduction in funding for food assistance programs and rural hospitals, as well as reduced funding for Planned Parenthood services, which have been temporarily blocked by a federal judge. Some of these impacts will take years to be felt. Other provisions, however, could directly affect people’s lives in the next year or two. Healthline https://www.healthline.com/health-news/big-beautiful-bill-public-health-impacts
