PAIN
Immersive Virtual Reality-Biofeedback Shows Promise for Fibromyalgia Care in Pilot Study: Immersive virtual reality combined with multisensor biofeedback (IVR-BF) demonstrated significant potential for alleviating chronic pain and improving quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia after five treatment sessions. published online ACR Open Rheumatology.
Why paracetamol works: New discovery ends longstanding mystery: A new study from Hebrew University reveals that paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen, Tylenol®, or Panadol® doesn’t just work in the brain—it also blocks pain at its source by acting on nerve endings in the body. The researchers found that its active metabolite, AM404, shuts down specific sodium channels in pain-sensing neurons, stopping pain signals before they reach the brain. This discovery not only reshapes our understanding of how one of the world’s most common painkillers works, but also opens the door to developing safer, more targeted pain treatments. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Being in nature can help people with chronic back pain manage their condition: The researchers found that people able to get out in nature said it enabled them to connect with others on a social level whereas they might otherwise spend the majority of their time indoors and isolated. It provided them with a degree of distraction from their pain and a sense of escapism from their daily lives, and they enjoyed the opportunity to exercise in pleasant surroundings, preferring it to gyms or similar settings. In addition, natural features such as fresh air and the sound and visual presence of water, the interviewees said, helped give them a feeling of tranquillity that relieved the stresses and anxieties created by their pain levels. Journal of Pain
Brain training game offers new hope for drug-free pain management: A trial of an interactive game that trains people to alter their brain waves has shown promise as a treatment for nerve pain – offering hope for a new generation of drug-free treatments.
The PainWaive technology, developed by UNSW Sydney researchers, teaches users how to regulate abnormal brain activity linked to chronic nerve pain, offering a potential in-home, non-invasive alternative to opioids. Journal of Pain.
Knee arthritis made worse with steroid injections: Researchers comparing two injections commonly used to relieve knee pain from osteoarthritis—corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid—found that corticosteroid injections were associated with higher progression of the disease. The research was published today in Radiology, Hyaluronic acid was associated with decreased progression on MRI up to two years post-injection.
Good news for people with migraine who take drugs before or during pregnancy: For people with migraine who take common drugs before or during pregnancy—a new study found no increase in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and ADHD in their children. The study, which looked at drugs used for migraine attacks called triptans, is published on May 21, 2025, online in Neurology®
Depression linked to physical pain years later: Middle-aged and older adults who experience pain are more likely to have had worsening symptoms of depression up to eight years before the pain began, according to a new study by UCL (University College London) researchers. The study, published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, suggests that among this age group, treatment for depression might help to prevent or reduce later aches and pains. The researchers compared survey data from 3,668 adults aged over 50 who often experienced moderate to severe pain with a matched group of the same number who did not. In the pain group, they found that depressive symptoms got rapidly worse in the eight years prior to pain, peaked at the onset of pain, and remained high in the years after, whereas in the non-pain group depressive symptoms were less severe, less prevalent, and relatively constant. The researchers found a similar trend for loneliness, which increased both in the years before and years after the onset of pain but stayed low and relatively constant for those in the non-pain group.
Aquatic therapy can heal the muscles and minds of people with chronic low back pain: A new Concordia study suggests that aquatic therapy for individuals with chronic low back pain can do more than strengthen the muscles around the spine. It can also have a beneficial impact on the negative psychological factors that are often associated with the disabling disease. The study used a randomized controlled trial involving two groups of chronic low back pain patients. It found that participants who took part in aquatic therapy reported improvements in pain-related fear and sleep disturbance compared to those who followed standard care programs. Scientific Reports.
Knee OA Pain? Yoga, Strengthening Exercises May Help Equally: Yoga and strengthening exercises both reduced knee pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) over 12 weeks, with no significant difference between them. Over 24 weeks, yoga led to modest improvements in function and quality of life. published online on April 8, 2025, in JAMA Network Open.
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Chronic Cannabis Use, Including Edibles, Linked to Endothelial Dysfunction: A new study published on May 28 in JAMA CardiologyTrusted Source suggests that both modes of cannabis consumption — smoking and ingesting — are associated with endothelial dysfunction, comparable to tobacco smoke in healthy adults. Endothelial dysfunction is a form of heart disease that impairs blood vessels from dilating. Endothelial cells are a thin membrane that lines the inner surface of blood vessels and helps regulate blood flow.
Cannabis Use May Double Risk of Death From Cardiovascular Disease, Study Finds: A new scientific analysis indicates that cannabis use may increase the risk of cardiovascular health issues, including stroke. In an accompanying editorial, two health experts say these risks are serious enough to warrant the regulation of cannabis in the same manner as tobacco. Previous research has reported on the health benefits of cannabis for people with chronic pain and other ailments, but experts say the potential effects of cannabis should be discussed with your doctor. Heart,
Cannabis legalization and opioid use disorder in Veterans Health Administration patients: The results of this cohort study suggest that medical cannabis laws and recreational cannabis laws enactment was associated with greater opioid use disorder (OUD) prevalence in Veterans Health Administration patients over time, with the greatest increases among middle-aged and older patients and those with chronic pain. The findings did not support state cannabis legalization as a means of reducing the burden of OUD during the ongoing opioid epidemic. JAMA
Single psilocybin trip delivers two years of depression relief for cancer patients: Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, might just revolutionize how depression and anxiety are treated in cancer patients. In a groundbreaking trial, a single dose combined with therapy significantly reduced emotional suffering, and these effects often lasted over two years. As follow-up studies expand the research to multiple doses and larger samples, scientists are eyeing a possible new standard of care that merges psychedelics with psychological support. CANCER
Too busy to focus on your happiness? Try daily micro-acts of joy: Researchers, led by UC San Francisco, tested the effectiveness of a weeklong, web-based wellbeing intervention, known as the Big Joy Project. This consisted of daily micro-acts, which included asking someone to share a fun, inspiring, or proud moment, making a gratitude list, and performing a kind act to brighten someone’s day. Approximately 17,600 people from around the world participated: most were from the United States, Canada and Great Britain (71%), female (84%), white (74%), with at least some college education (94%). After the seven-day intervention, participants reported higher levels of wellbeing and positive emotions, and a stronger belief that one’s own behavior can promote happiness. They also reported decreased stress, and improved health and sleep quality. Younger, Black and Hispanic, and socially disadvantaged participants benefited the most. Journal of Medical Internet Research
Mindfulness and brain stimulation could reduce bladder leaks: Arriving home after a long day may be a relief, but for some people, seeing their front door or inserting a key into the lock triggers a powerful urge to pee. Known as "latchkey incontinence," this phenomenon is the subject of a new study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh who found that mindfulness training and/or non-invasive brain stimulation could reduce bladder leaks and feelings of urgency evoked by these cues. Continence
Sound Waves Turn Immune System Into Cancer Fighter: Since early 2024, University of Michigan Health has been using histotripsy to treat liver tumors following FDA approval in late 2023. The technology works by focusing ultrasound waves to create cavitation bubbles that mechanically destroy tumor tissue without the harsh side effects of chemotherapy or radiation. But Dr. Anutosh Ganguly and his research team discovered something unexpected happening after treatment. The ultrasound waves weren’t just destroying tumors—they were creating conditions that awakened the patient’s immune system to fight cancer more effectively. The research, published in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, focused on melanoma models but has implications for other cancer types including pancreatic cancer. What makes this discovery particularly exciting is that the immune activation affects not just the treated tumor, but cancer cells throughout the body.
FDA ACTION
• Approved Widaplik, a triple-drug combination, for the treatment of hypertension in adults.
• Approved Andembry to prevent attacks of hereditary angioedema
• Approved Ibrtozi to treat locally advanced or metastatic ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer
• Approved Enflonsia to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract disease in neonates and infants who are born during or entering their first RSV season
• Approved Tryptyr to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease
PREVENTION
Exercise
Colorectal Cancer: 3-Year Exercise Program Improves Survival Rates: Researchers report that a three-year exercise program helped improve survival rates for people who have been treated for colon cancer. Experts say the findings could be helpful when doctors are recommending exercise as part of a post-cancer regimen. They note that the research may be particularly useful in patients who are under 50 years old, an age group that has seen a rise in colon cancer incidences. New England Journal of Medicine
‘Japanese Walking’: Try This Low-Impact Fitness Hack for Better Heart Health: Interval walking training (IWT), a science-backed exercise protocol, is a simple way to safely ramp up intensity and reap significant health benefits. Also known as “Japanese walking,” IWT was developed by Japanese researchers to improve the cardiometabolic health of older adults. Unlike high intensity interval training (HIIT), IWT is a form of interval training that’s accessible for people of all ages and fitness levels. According to original research on Japanese walking published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings in 2009, the standard IWT protocol consists of alternating intervals of: 3 minutes of fast walking (roughly 70% of peak aerobic capacity) and 3 minutes of slow walking (40% of peak aerobic capacity) The minimum recommended five sets of intervals amount to 30 minutes of walking five days per week. A 2024 review of IWT concluded that its health benefits were “well established both in middle- and older-aged but otherwise healthy individuals and in individuals with metabolic diseases.” Heathline
Volume and intensity of walking and risk of chronic low back pain: Daily walking volume and walking intensity were inversely associated with the risk of chronic low back pain. The findings suggest that walking volume may have a more pronounced benefit than walking intensity. JAMA Open
Your brain health may benefit more from cycling than walking, study finds: Now, a new study recently published in the journal JAMA Network OpenTrusted Source has found that those who use bicycling as their main mode of transportation may also be lowering their risk for dementia.
Sleep
Climate change linked to dangerous sleep apnea: A new study, published in leading journal, Nature Communications, found that rising temperatures increase the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and that under the most likely climate change scenarios, the societal burden of OSA is expected to double in most countries over the next 75 years.
Eating more fruits and veggies could help you sleep better: It turns out that an important tool for improving sleep quality may have been hiding in plain sight…in the produce aisle. A new study led by researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine and Columbia University found that eating more fruits and vegetables during the day was associated with sleeping more soundly later that same night.
Napping Patterns in Older Adults Tied to All-Cause Mortality: Timing, duration, and variability of daytime napping are associated with an increased risk for mortality in middle- to older-aged adults, new research showed. An analysis of UK Biobank data, which included more than 86,000 non-shift workers, showed that longer naps, greater variability in daytime napping duration, and higher percentages of naps around noon and in the early afternoon are associated with an increased risk for all-cause mortality. “However, it’s important to emphasize that these are associations. Because the design of this study is observational, we cannot determine whether napping patterns cause higher mortality risk or simply reflect underlying health conditions,” SLEEP 2025
Daytime Sleepiness Tied to Higher All-Cause Mortality Risk in Middle-Aged Women: Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) was associated with a significantly increased risk for all-cause mortality in women, results of a large observational study showed. After adjusting for health and demographic factors, women aged 50 and 65 years with high scores on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) were 16% more likely to die from any cause than their counterparts who had normal levels of sleepiness on this tool. This association was not found in younger women or in those over age 65 years. SLEEP 2025.
Diet
Anti-Inflammatory Diet May Improve Colorectal Cancer Survival Rates: Research presented this week at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago found that diet and physical activity could be important interventions for improving outcomes in people with stage 3 colon cancer.
Food Quality May Lower Heart Disease Risk More Than Cutting Carbs, Fat: A new study suggests that rather than focusing solely on macronutrient counts, emphasizing whole, minimally processed, and plant-based foods while limiting refined grains, added sugars, and animal products can significantly reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. NUTRITION 2025,
High Quality Carbohydrates Linked to Healthy Aging, Longevity in Women: A new study builds on evidence supporting the effects of complex carbohydrate consumption on long-term health and longevity. The findings show that women who reported higher intakes of complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber had up to a 37% greater chance of living longer, healthier lives. Other factors for long-term health should be considered aside from diet, such as getting enough exercise and quality sleep. JAMA Network OpenTrusted Source.
Diet Drinks, Saccharin Tied to Increased Diabetes Risk: Consuming higher amounts of diet drinks and/or saccharin was associated with an elevated risk of developing diabetes, while total artificial sweetener intake, sucralose, and aspartame showed no significant association, according to an analysis of data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. The current analysis, presented at NUTRITION 2025, included 4654 adults (54.4% women, 50.1% White individuals) enrolled in the CARDIA study, with a mean age of 24.9 years at baseline in 1985-86.
Adapting Diet to Chronotype Boosts Weight Loss, Gut Health: Among patients with overweight/obesity, a diet adapted to an individual’s chronotype was more effective in promoting weight loss and improving cardiometabolic health and gut microbiota (GM) than a conventional low-calorie diet. “Emerging evidence suggests that aligning dietary patterns with an individual’s circadian rhythm, or chronotype, may optimize metabolic processes and gut microbiota (GM) composition and function,” the study authors wrote. “Given the burden of obesity, a chronotype-adapted diet — aligning meal timing with biological rhythms — could be an innovative approach to weight management.” The study, presented at NUTRITION 2025 , showed that, overall, fat percentages decreased significantly in the intervention group, while the control group showed no significant change.
Walnuts Up Insulin Response, Cut Gut Permeability in Obesity: Walnut consumption modified the fecal microbiota and metabolome, improved insulin response and reduced gut permeability in adults with obesity, a small study showed. “Less than 10% of adults are meeting their fiber needs each day, and walnuts are a source of dietary fiber, which helps nourish the gut microbiota.” The current study was presented at NUTRITION 2025
A type of flavonoid found in tea and chocolate may help lower blood pressure: The flavan-3-ols in cocoa, tea, and some popular foods are so effective at improving endothelial function that they are worth considering in the management of high blood pressure, according to a new meta-study. In some of the 145 randomized controlled studies included in the meta-study’s analysis, improvements in endothelial function were comparable to those achieved with hypertension medications. Flavan-3-ols are found in coffee, tea, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, apples, and grapes. Participants in the studies consumed cocoa, tea, apples, or grape extracts. The study is published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
Eating more berries each day could boost healthy aging, study finds: A new study found that consuming more foods and beverages rich in flavonoids may help lower a person’s risk of certain aspects of unhealthy aging, such as frailty and poor mental health. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Plant compound in nuts, veggies, and fruit may lower diabetes, heart disease risk: Type 2 diabetes increases the risk of developing heart disease. The risk of both conditions is affected by diet and lifestyle, and a healthy diet rich in plant-based foods is known to help prevent or delay both. Now, a large-scale study has found that these beneficial effects could be due to phytosterols, plant compounds that help inhibit the absorption of cholesterol from the diet. People who ate a diet high in phytosterols were 9% less likely to develop heart disease and 8% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who did not. NUTRITION 2025
MIND diet could lower dementia risk no matter when in life you start it: A new study says that following the MIND diet may help lower a person’s risk for developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, even if they don’t start following the diet until later in life. These benefits were especially seen in participants who identified as African-American, Latino, or white. The MIND diet includes berries, leafy greens, nuts, beans, non-starchy vegetables (e.g. onions, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, beets,), whole grains, cold water fatty fish and olive oil. NUTRITION 2025
Western Diet During Pregnancy Raises ADHD Risk By 66%: The study, published in Nature Metabolism, found that consuming a Western dietary pattern—characterized by processed meats, refined grains, and sugary foods—during pregnancy increased ADHD risk by 66% and autism risk by 122%. The findings represent one of the largest investigations to date examining how maternal nutrition during pregnancy affects children’s neurodevelopment. Researchers used both dietary surveys and advanced blood metabolomics to validate their results across multiple international cohorts, providing compelling evidence for the diet-brain connection.
Coffee Pushes Sleeping Brains Into Critical State: A new study reveals that caffeine doesn’t just keep you awake – it fundamentally alters how your brain operates during sleep, pushing neural activity into a hyperactive “critical state” that may interfere with the restorative processes essential for memory and cognitive recovery. Communications Biology,
3 Cups A Day May Boost Brain And Body Health Into Your 70s, New Study Finds: A new study tracking nearly 50,000 women for three decades found that those who drank caffeinated coffee in midlife were more likely to age successfully, maintaining both physical strength and mental sharpness into their 70s and beyond. The research, which followed participants from the renowned Nurses’ Health Study since 1984, offers fresh insights into how simple daily habits might influence long-term wellbeing. The study’s findings are remarkably specific. Women who achieved “healthy aging”—defined as living to age 70 or older while remaining free from major chronic diseases and maintaining good physical and mental function—consumed an average of 315 mg of caffeine daily during midlife. That’s roughly equivalent to three small cups of coffee or about one and a half large cups by today’s coffee shop standards. Harvard University
New study from landmark trial suggests avocados may play a role in sleep, a key factor in cardiovascular health: A new study suggests that eating one avocado a day may positively impact sleep. Science now confirms sleep is as important for good health as nutrition and exercise. In a secondary analysis of the largest randomized controlled trial on avocados to date, researchers found adults who consumed one avocado daily for six months reported better sleep compared to those who ate fewer than two avocados per month. Journal of the American Heart Association
Low Calorie Diets Linked to Depression: The findings, published on June 2 in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, found that both calorie- and nutrient-restrictive diets are associated with a higher incidence of depression in individuals with overweight. Calorie-restricted diets are associated with increased cognitive-affective symptoms in these individuals, while nutrition-restricted diets are linked to somatic symptoms.
'Unhealthy' plant-based diets may significantly raise heart disease risk: A new study confirms that healthy plant-based foods can be beneficial for the heart. However, not all plant-based foods qualify as healthy, and the study finds that those foods can be just as damaging to the heart as their non-plant-based counterparts. The study, conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, analyzed data from 7,708 participants in the 1999–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)Trusted Source. Participants were ages 20 years or older and had no history of heart disease.
Daily Cup Of Beans Cuts Cholesterol, Study Shows: The 12-week study found that chickpeas specifically lowered total cholesterol by nearly 15 points, while black beans significantly reduced inflammatory markers linked to heart disease and diabetes. With chronic diseases affecting millions of Americans, these findings suggest an affordable, accessible dietary intervention that could make a meaningful difference in public health outcomes for those at highest risk. While beans grab headlines for heart health, separate research from UC Davis reveals another surprising superfood: mangoes. A study of 24 postmenopausal women found that eating about 1.5 cups of mango daily for two weeks produced rapid cardiovascular improvements. Participants experienced significant reductions in blood pressure within just two hours of eating mangoes, with systolic pressure dropping by about 6 points. After two weeks of daily mango consumption, total cholesterol fell by nearly 13 points and LDL “bad” cholesterol decreased by about 13 points. American Society for Nutrition
Intermittent Fasting May Be as Effective as Calorie Restriction for Weight Loss: New research suggests that intermittent fasting is as effective as calorie-restricted diets for weight loss and cardiometabolic risk factors. A systematic review of nearly 100 randomized clinical trials involving intermittent fasting (IF) and traditional calorie restriction (CR) found that both approaches yielded similar health benefits. The study, published on June 18 in The BMJTrusted Source, found that IF and CR were equally effective. IF involves designated periods of eating and fasting and places less emphasis on what you eat than when you eat. By contrast, CR targets a specific daily calorie goal and allows any eating schedule. The analysis included several of the most common IF protocols, including: Alternate day fasting (ADF) alternates standard eating days with fasting days or very low calorie days. Time-restricted eating (TRE) restricts food intake to a daily window, typically 8 or 12 hours. Whole day fasting, also known as the 5:2 diet, involves two or three weekly fasting days. All forms of IF and traditional CR produced weight loss compared with no intervention at all — known as an ad libitum, or unrestricted, diet. Of the three primary IF methods, only alternate day fasting resulted in greater weight loss than CR. However, the authors note that longer trials are needed to substantiate their findings.
Vitamins/Supplements
Vitamin D May Slow Biological Aging and Help You Live Longer: A new study reports that vitamin D supplementation may help slow some of the mechanisms of biological aging. The research, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggests that vitamin Dmay help maintain the stability of telomeres, the protective caps at the end of chromosomes that tend to shorten as people get older. That shortening is a natural part of aging, but it has been linked to certain age-related diseases. Among those diseases are cancer of the bladder, lungs, kidneys, and gastrointestinal systems. “Our findings suggest that targeted vitamin D supplementation may be a promising strategy to counter a biological aging process, although further research is warranted.”
Vitamin D Especially Important for Brain Health in Women, but Not in Men? Vitamin D is important for brain health, but this might be particularly true for women but doesn’t appear to have this beneficial effect in men, early research suggested. The large study showed an association between greater plasma vitamin D levels in females and better memory and larger subcortical brain structures. “We found that vitamin D for women was correlated with better cognitive outcomes, but we need to do more research to find out what role vitamin D actually plays at a mechanistic level.” American Psychiatric Association (APA) 2025 Annual Meeting.
Supplements Show Potential for Kidney Stone Prevention: Certain dietary supplements inhibit the formation, growth, and aggregation of calcium oxalate kidney stones and may ultimately aid in prevention. The new findings, presented at NUTRITION 2025, represent the team’s efforts to investigate whether dietary supplements could modulate these oxidative modifications, potentially preventing stones from forming. Supplements had diverse effects: Caffeine inhibited crystal formation, EGCG inhibited crystal formation and growth, NAC inhibited crystal aggregation, resveratrol inhibited crystal growth, and trigonelline inhibited crystal growth and aggregation.
Other
Novel Lyme Disease Vaccine Effective Across All Ages: An investigational vaccine for Lyme borreliosis, VLA15, was safe, well-tolerated, and immunogenic in people aged between 5 and 65 years, with children and adolescents showing notably stronger responses than adults. published online on April 25, 2025, in The Lancet Infectious Diseases
TREATMENT
GLP-1 Drugs Linked to Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Study Finds: The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto, found that people with type 2 diabetes who were prescribed GLP-1s were more than twice as likely to develop wet AMD as those who weren’t. The study also found that the longer subjects were treated with these medications, the greater their risk of developing wet AMD. The findings, published on June 5 in JAMA OphthalmologyTrusted Source, suggest that doctors and patients should be aware of the potential risks, even though the chance of developing the condition remains relatively low.
First-Generation GLP-1 Drugs May Help Lower Risk of Obesity-Related Cancers: First-generation GLP-1 weight-loss drugs could help reduce the risk of obesity-related cancers, new research shows. These medications have been around longer than the newer, better-known GLP-1 drugs, such as Ozempic, but they work in similar ways. Experts say a healthy lifestyle that includes a well-balanced diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep is an important component of any weight-loss strategy. eClinicalMedicineTrusted Source.
GLP-1 Less Frequent Dosing May Maintain Weight Loss: Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) administered at off-label reduced dosing maintained weight-loss benefits, with patients retaining the effects even with 2-4 weeks between doses. published online in Obesity.
‘Ozempic Teeth’ May Cause Tooth Decay, Other Dental Health Effects: People using GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic are reporting what they call “Ozempic teeth.” The unusual side effect refers to the dental health impacts of GLP-1 drugs, including tooth decay, sensitivity, and tooth loss. Dentists say that dry mouth, vomiting, and low appetite are likely causes of these side effects. Proper oral care is a must for people using GLP-1 medications. Healthline
Real-World GLP-1 Weight-Loss Results Differ From Trials: In the real world, the use of semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Zepbound) produce far less weight loss than in the randomized clinical trials, largely because people discontinue using them early or use lower maintenance doses, new research found. Data from electronic health records of patients seen during 2021-2023 at the Cleveland Clinic’s Ohio and Florida centers also yielded some surprises: A large majority, over 80% of patients, were using low maintenance doses of the medications (ie, the treatment dose used for the longest period of time). And even after early discontinuation (within 3 months), there wasn’t the rapid weight regain seen in some of the trials. Improvements in A1c were also seen among those with prediabetes even after discontinuation.The findings, published on June 10, 2025 in Obesity, are the latest from a team that has previously reported on the high prevalence of discontinuation of weight-loss medications.
Zepbound More Effective for Weight Loss Than Wegovy, Eli Lilly Trial Shows: Zepbound outperformed Wegovy for weight loss in a clinical trial sponsored by Eli Lilly.
Participants who received tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound, also had greater reductions in waist size and more significant improvements in metabolic risk factors. Tirzepatide’s dual effects on GLP-1 and GIP may explain its superior performance over semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy. Lack of insurance coverage and high costs remain a barrier to obtaining tirzepatide. The New England Journal of Medicine.
Newly Approved Mepolizumab Mitigates COPD Exacerbations: Adding mepolizumab to inhaled triple therapy significantly improved exacerbation outcomes compared with placebo in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), based on data from the MATINEE study presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2025 International Conference
Tezepelumab Curbs Oral Corticosteroid Use in Severe Asthma: The addition of tezepelumab to standard treatment allowed half the adults with severe asthma to discontinue their use of oral corticosteroids (OCS) after 1 year, according to new data from nearly 300 individuals. American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2025 International Conference.
Cataract Surgery May Be Safe Beyond A1c Cutoffs: Cataract surgery was not associated with an increased risk for postoperative endophthalmitis or serious systemic adverse events in patients with diabetes, even when preoperative A1c levels were poorly controlled and exceeded 11.3%. Published online American Journal of Ophthalmology.
Dropless Cataract Surgery Slashes Drug Costs With Comparable Effectiveness: A regimen that spares patients recovering from cataract surgery the burden of using antibacterial and anti-inflammatory eye drops several times a day for weeks and instead uses an injection to administer those drugs immediately after the procedure is nearly as effective at preventing complications as the traditional drop regimen at a fraction of the cost, a study of both approaches found. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2025 Annual Meeting
At-Home LED Devices Reduce Acne Lesions in Meta-Analysis: At-home light-emitting diode (LED) devices using red and/or blue light significantly reduced acne lesions and showed a favorable safety profile in patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris. published online on March 5 in JAMA Dermatology
Chronic Lyme Infection-Associated Illness in Urgent Need of Symptom-Targeted Treatments: Lyme infection-associated chronic illness (IACI) is real, often debilitating and long-lasting, and in urgent need of research that prioritizes treatments to improve symptoms affecting patients’ function and quality of life — rather than waiting for certainty about cause, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) concluded in a new report on Lyme IACI.
Combination Therapy Offers CONFIDENCE to CKD+T2D Patients: Combining the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin with finerenone, a nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (nsMRA), markedly and durably reduced albuminuria in patients with both chronic kidney disease (CKD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), the CONFIDENCE trial showed in findings that offer hope of a long-term improvement in outcomes. In the trial, 70% of patients on both therapies achieved the American Diabetes Association recommended urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) reduction target of > 30%. 62nd European Renal Association (ERA) Congress 2025 and simultaneously published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
New Guidelines Shift Diabetes Care Toward Behavior: The guidelines, released on June 10 by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM), largely mirror lifestyle guidelines by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) but add specifics about how clinicians can help patients achieve their goals. A panel of practitioners working in lifestyle medicine, including primary care physicians, cardiologists, endocrinologists, sleep experts, dietitians, and exercise medicine specialists, laid out six areas clinicians should help patients manage. These include sleep and stress, nutrition, physical activity, tobacco and alcohol, and social connection.
Bariatric Surgery Beats GLP-1 RAs for Sustained Weight Loss: Patients who underwent bariatric surgery experienced an approximately five times greater weight loss over 3 years than those who used weekly injections of GLP-1 receptor agonists (RAs) such as semaglutide and tirzepatide. American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting
OTHER
CDC, FDA Limit Access to COVID Shots for Healthy Adults, Kids, and Pregnant People: In a post on X, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will no longer recommend updated COVID-19 shots for healthy pregnant people and healthy children. The change in the CDC recommendation comes after officials at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated in a New England Journal of Medicine paper that the agency planned to reserve COVID-19 vaccines for older adults and for children and adults with underlying medical conditions.
Males Two Times as Likely to Die From ‘Broken Heart Syndrome,’ Study Finds: “Broken heart syndrome” carries a significant risk of death and serious complications, according to new research. Although the condition appears to be much more common in females, males may be significantly more likely to die from it.“Broken heart syndrome” is commonly associated with other major complications, including heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, and cardiogenic shock. Journal of the American Heart AssociationTrusted Source
Can ADHD Raise Your Risk of Irritable Bowel Syndrome? In a new meta-analysis, scientists say they have established a “significant positive association” between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a higher risk of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The researchers said an altered gut microbiome may be the “potential link that bridges the gap between ADHD and intestinal disorder.” Their findings were published recently in the journal Scientific ReportsTrusted Source.
How serious is your brain injury? New criteria will reveal more: Trauma centers nationwide will begin to test a new approach for assessing traumatic brain injury (TBI) that is expected to lead to more accurate diagnoses and more appropriate treatment and follow-up for patients. The new framework, which was developed by a coalition of experts and patients from 14 countries and spearheaded by the National Institutes of Health, expands the assessment beyond immediate clinical symptoms. Added criteria would include biomarkers, CT and MRI scans, and factors, such as other medical conditions and how the trauma occurred. The framework appears in the May 20 issue of Lancet Neurology.
America’s $10 Billion Dental Disaster: What Happens If We Stop Fluoridating Water? Eliminating fluoride from America’s public water systems would trigger a dental health crisis costing nearly $10 billion over five years, according to new research that models the economic consequences of proposed policy changes. The study, published in JAMA Health Forum, projects that tooth decay would surge by 7.5 percentage points among children if fluoridation programs ended nationwide.
Trust Creates A Cycle Of Happiness That Spans Lifetimes: Scientists have uncovered compelling evidence that trust and happiness form a self-reinforcing loop that can shape our well-being throughout our entire lives. The largest study of its kind, analyzing data from over 2.5 million people across six continents, reveals that trusting others doesn’t just make us happier—happiness also makes us more trusting, creating a powerful cycle that benefits individuals and societies alike. The research, published in Psychological Bulletin, represents the most comprehensive examination ever conducted of how trust relates to subjective well-being across different ages, cultures, and circumstances.
Out-Of-Body Experiences May Be Trauma Response, Not Mental Illness: A groundbreaking study of more than 500 people suggests that floating outside your own body might be your mind’s way of protecting you from overwhelming pain—not a sign that something’s wrong with you. The research challenges decades of assumptions about out-of-body experiences, potentially reshaping how mental health professionals approach these mysterious events. The study, published in Personality and Individual Differences, analyzed data from 256 people who had experienced OBEs compared to 289 who had not. The findings reveal a complex relationship. While OBE experiencers did score higher on measures of psychiatric symptoms and childhood trauma, the researchers argue this doesn’t tell the whole story. Instead of viewing OBEs as symptoms of pathology, they propose these experiences might function as sophisticated psychological escape routes.
MRI can replace painful spinal tap to diagnose MS more quickly, according to a new study: Experts have demonstrated that multiple sclerosis (MS) can successfully be diagnosed using an MRI scan, meaning patients no longer need to undergo a painful lumbar puncture. Experts found that by using a new MRI scan, they could successfully diagnose MS in 8 minutes. Neurology® Open Access
New COVID Variant Nimbus May Cause Painful ‘Razor Blade Throat’ Symptom: People contracting a COVID-19 infection are reporting an unusually intense sore throat, described as feeling like swallowing razor blades. Some think this symptom, dubbed “razor blade throat,” may set this variant apart from earlier ones. However, experts aren’t so sure. Sore throat has long been recognized as a COVID-19 symptom. Early data suggest Nimbus may not cause more severe illness overall, but reports of severe sore throats are raising questions about how this variant might differ from its predecessors. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nimbus, also known as NB.1.8.1, is a subvariant of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. “It is more transmissible than the current circulating variants because of several mutations in the spike protein that make it distinct from the others.” Healthline
Living Near Toxic Algae Blooms Cuts ALS Survival By Year: The study reveals that proximity to these toxic blue-green algae outbreaks—increasingly common across American waterways—may represent a preventable risk factor for one of medicine’s most devastating diseases. People with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis who live near harmful algae blooms face significantly shorter survival times, losing nearly a year of life according to new research from the University of Michigan. People who relied on private wells for drinking water showed particularly severe effects when living near contaminated areas. This makes biological sense—while municipal water systems have filtration and monitoring, private wells may draw directly from contaminated groundwater sources. Even more dramatically affected were patients who reported swimming or fishing activities. These individuals faced survival reductions of up to 0.89 years when exposed to nearby algae blooms, likely due to direct contact with contaminated water and inhalation of toxic aerosols.
Autism Linked to Fourfold Increased Risk of Parkinson's: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is linked to a fourfold increased risk for early-onset Parkinson’s disease (PD), results from the largest, population-based cohort study of its kind to date showed. May 27 in JAMA Neurology.
