PAIN
Every Extra 10 Pounds Raises Your Odds Of Low Back Pain: In a large study from Boston University’s Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, researchers analyzed medical records from more than 110,000 adult patients and found a clear pattern. As body weight increased, so did the likelihood of reporting low back pain. For every additional unit of body mass index, roughly equivalent to 10 pounds above ideal weight, the prevalence of low back pain rose by 7 percent. Pain Medicine: 10.1093/pm/pnaf178
Researchers identify novel therapeutic target to improve recovery after nerve injury: Researchers have discovered that targeting a specific immune process could help improve recovery after nerve injury and reduce chronic pain. The study, led by Peter Grace, Ph.D., associate professor of Symptom Research, reveals that peripheral neuropathy, which can be caused by nerve injury, reduces the ability of macrophage immune cells to clear dead or dying cells – a process called efferocytosis – and leads to chronic pain. Targeting or stimulating efferocytosis could be a viable treatment option. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)
Suppressing postoperative inflammation may prolong pain: Taking anti-inflammatory drugs after surgery is fairly standard protocol. But a new study from researchers at Michigan State University suggests this approach may be backfiring and that blocking inflammation during this critical time may, in fact, delay recovery and prolong pain rather than relieve it. In the new study, published recently in the Journal of Pain Research, the researchers report that letting inflammation run its course led to a quicker cessation of pain and an overall quicker recovery after a surgery or injury.
Restoring mitochondria shows promise for treating chronic nerve pain: For millions living with nerve pain, even a light touch can feel unbearable. Scientists have long suspected that damaged nerve cells falter because their energy factories known as mitochondria don’t function properly. Now research published in Nature suggests a way forward: supplying healthy mitochondria to struggling nerve cells. Using human tissue and mouse models, researchers at Duke University School of Medicine found that replenishing mitochondria significantly reduced pain tied to diabetic neuropathy and chemotherapy-induced nerve damage. In some cases, the relief lasted up to 48 hours.
Gene therapy ‘switch’ may offer non-addictive pain relief: A preclinical study uncovered a new gene therapy that targets pain centers in the brain while eliminating the risk of addiction from narcotics treatments, a breakthrough which could provide hope for the more than 50 million Americans living with chronic pain. The potential new gene therapy is akin to a volume knob that only turns down the pain station and leaves everything else untouched, according to research from teams at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and School of Nursing, along with collaborators at Carnegie Mellon University and Stanford University, published today in Nature.
Back pain linked to worse sleep years later in men over 65, according to study: In the study, published in Innovation and Aging, the researchers analyzed data from the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study, a study of 1,055 older men who completed two clinical sleep visits six or more years apart and answered questionnaire by mail about back pain — measured by severity and frequency — every four months between the two sleep study visits. Sleep problems were defined by irregular sleep, limited amounts of sleep and self-reports of daytime sleepiness and sleep satisfaction. Back pain predicted a 12% to 25% increase in an individual’s sleep problems six years later, the researchers said, but sleep problems did not predict future back pain. They specifically found that men with back pain fell asleep either too early or too late and were dissatisfied with their sleep quality.
Understanding pain heterogeneity in osteoarthritis patients: A narrative review: . Recent evidence reveals that osteoarthritis pain emerges from complex interactions between local joint pathology, neuroimmune dysregulation, and psychosocial factors, creating distinct pain phenotypes that respond differently to conventional analgesics. Understanding these diverse mechanisms has become crucial for developing personalized pain management strategies that move beyond the traditional one-size-fits-all approach. Frontiers of Medicine
Cannabis products with more THC slightly reduce pain but cause more side effects: A new systematic evidence review finds that cannabis products that carry relatively high levels of the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC, may provide short-term improvements in pain and function. However, the review found THC-based products led to an increased risk of common adverse symptoms like dizziness, sedation and nausea. At the same time, the review found that recent randomized controlled trials involving products mainly or only containing cannabidiol, or CBD, which does not have psychoactive properties, demonstrated almost no improvement in managing pain. Annals of Internal Medicine
New Brain Health research reveals tradeoffs on sleep with cannabis use for chronic pain: “Interactions Between Cannabis Use and Chronic Pain on Sleep Architecture: Findings from In-Home EEG Recordings” was recently published in Neurotherapeutics A total of 339 nights of in-home sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were collected from 60 adults. One-third (32%) of the participants self-reported chronic pain and 47% self-reported cannabis use. Results revealed that cannabis use by those experiencing chronic pain may promote SWS, which is deep, physically restorative sleep critical for physical restoration and immune function that can indirectly provide pain relief. However, the research suggests a tradeoff between SWS and REM sleep, where the increased SWS comes at the cost of less REM sleep – the kind of sleep that is critical for emotional regulation and memory integration. Additionally, while cannabis may initially enhance SWS, benefits diminish with chronic use.
University Hospitals is the first health system in the world to successfully treat patients with the OneRF® trigeminal nerve ablation system: University Hospitals is the first health system in the world to offer a new type of minimally-invasive treatment with the OneRF® Trigeminal Nerve Ablation System. The two initial patients, successfully treated this month, reported pain relief from the procedure without complications. During the procedure, a needle is inserted through the cheek, guided by X-ray, to the trigeminal (Gasserian) ganglion. Radiofrequency energy creates heat to lesion, or partially ablates, the specific nerve fibers that transmit pain. Patients are sedated during the procedure and woken up to confirm the areas of treatment.
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Cannabis Reclassification Means Some Coverage For Medicare Recipients: A White House directive is ordering federal authorities to speed up the reclassification of a form of cannabis as a less dangerous drug. The action may also establish a pilot program that allows Medicare recipients to be reimbursed for some cannabis-related products. Experts say the reclassification should also improve scientific research on the cannabis plant.
Natural Light Sharpens Blood Sugar Control In Diabetes Patients: People with type 2 diabetes who work near windows show steadier blood glucose levels than those under artificial lighting, according to research that tracked volunteers through identical daily routines under different light sources. The findings suggest something as mundane as office design could influence how well the body manages sugar. Cell Metabolism: 10.1016/j.cmet.2025.11.006
Yoga for opioid withdrawal and autonomic regulation: In this randomized clinical trial, yoga significantly accelerated opioid withdrawal recovery and improved autonomic regulation, anxiety, sleep, and pain. These findings support integrating yoga into withdrawal protocols as a neurobiologically informed intervention addressing core regulatory processes beyond symptom management. JAMA Psychiatry
How Much Cannabis Is Too Much? Scientists Finally Have A Number: Researchers at the University of Bath have proposed the first evidence-based weekly limit for cannabis, built around a simple concept borrowed from alcohol guidelines: the standard unit. One THC unit equals 5 milligrams of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the compound responsible for the high. Keep your weekly total below eight units, roughly 40 milligrams, and your chances of developing cannabis use disorder drop sharply. Go above that line, and the risk starts to climb. Addiction: 10.1111/add.70263
FDA
ยช Approved the Zycubo (copper histidinate) injection as the first treatment for Menkes disease in pediatric patients.
PREVENTION
Exercise
Exercise May Work As Well As Therapy For Depression: A comprehensive review of 73 trials suggests that physical activity deserves serious consideration alongside traditional treatments, performing about as well as psychological therapy in reducing symptoms. Researchers at the University of Lancashire examined nearly 5,000 adults with depression across dozens of randomized trials. People assigned to exercise programs showed moderate symptom reduction compared with those receiving no treatment. More surprisingly, when exercise was pitted directly against psychological therapy in ten trials, the outcomes were nearly identical. The comparison with antidepressant medication also suggested similar effectiveness, though fewer studies have tested this matchup and the evidence remains less certain. The review identified patterns in which exercise approaches seemed most beneficial. Light to moderate intensity activity outperformed vigorous workouts, and completing between 13 to 36 sessions correlated with greater improvements. Mixed exercise programs and resistance training appeared more effective than aerobic exercise alone, though no single type emerged as clearly superior. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: 10.1002/14651858.CD004366.pub7
Swearing Unlocks Physical Strength You Already Have: Researchers at Keele University and the University of Alabama in Huntsville ran participants through a brutal chair push-up task, supporting full body weight on their hands for as long as possible. While holding the position, they repeated either a self-selected swear word or a neutral word every two seconds. The swearers lasted significantly longer. That sharp urge to curse when effort peaks isn’t just frustration breaking through. According to research published in American Psychologist, it’s a psychological mechanism that measurably boosts physical performance by helping people stop holding themselves back. DOI: 10.1037/amp0001650
Protecting older male athletes’ heart health: Veteran male athletes who have spent years training at high intensity may be at greater risk of serious heart problems while exercising, new University of Leeds research shows. The study shows that male endurance athletes aged over 50 may be more likely to experience abnormal heart rhythms during training if they already have scarring in their heart. Nine in 10 sudden cardiac deaths during sport occur in older male athletes. The researchers’ aim was to establish whether doing more exercise could cause a potentially fatal abnormal heart rhythm called ventricular tachycardia in this group of athletes. They found that the athletes who experienced these rhythms were not exercising more or at greater intensity – but three quarters of them had heart scarring. European Journal of Preventative Cardiology.
Movement matters: Light activity led to better survival in diabetes, heart, kidney disease: Light intensity activities, like walking or household chores, were linked to a lower risk of death for people with cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Nearly 90% of U.S. adults have at least one component of CKM syndrome, which includes high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol and lipids, high blood glucose (sugar), excess weight and reduced kidney function. When combined, these factors increase the risk for heart attack, stroke and heart failure more than any one of them alone.
Just 10 minutes of exercise can trigger powerful anti-cancer effects: A brief, intense workout may do more than boost fitness—it could help fight cancer. Researchers found that just 10 minutes of hard exercise releases molecules into the bloodstream that switch on DNA repair and shut down cancer growth signals. When these molecules were applied to bowel cancer cells, hundreds of cancer-related genes changed activity. The discovery helps explain how exercise lowers cancer risk and hints at future therapies inspired by movement. International Journal of Cancer
Sleep
How Your Sleep Position Can Impact Heart Health, Metabolism, and More: Certain sleeping positions, like side sleeping, may be better for your health. Sleeping on your stomach or sleeping on your back may affect your health in various ways, according to experts. There are some ways you can help retrain your body to sleep differently. Healthline
Sleep Apnea Linked To 40% Higher Depression Risk: Research published in JAMA Network Open found that middle-aged and older adults at high risk for sleep apnea face roughly 40% higher odds of experiencing depression, anxiety, or psychological distress. That’s not just correlation. Among people who started the study mentally healthy, those at high risk for sleep apnea were 20% more likely to develop mental health problems over time. “The study highlights the urgent need for integrated screening and support for both sleep and mental health,” the researchers wrote, though they stopped short of declaring definitive cause and effect. JAMA Network Open: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen
Improving sleep isn’t enough: researchers highlight daytime function as key to assessing insomnia treatments: A new study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine has found using real-time smartphone-based assessments can help to determine the effectiveness of sleep medications by detecting improvements in daytime insomnia symptoms including thinking, fatigue, and mood. Following a two-week course of treatment, this smartphone-based assessment approach detected treatment effects more powerfully than did traditional methods like recall questionnaires. Results were published in JAMA Network Open.
Cooler bedroom temperatures help the heart recover during sleep: Maintaining a bedroom temperature of 24°C at night while sleeping reduces stress responses in older adults, according to new Griffith University research. BMC Medicine.
Sleeping in on weekends may help boost teens’ mental health: Regular sleep is best, but catching up on weekends can lower risk of depression symptoms, UO research finds. Journal of Affective Disorders
Diet
How the 'Portfolio Diet' May Help Lower Cholesterol, Heart Disease Risk: Portfolio Diet, a pair of recent studies shows that the benefits of the plant-based regimen may go beyond lowering the risk or delaying the onsetTrusted Source of cardiovascular disease: it could potentially lower the risk of mortality, too. The diet’s success comes from combining four specific cholesterol-lowering food categories for a powerful “additive effect.” Starting the portfolio diet at an earlier age could delay the onset of cardiovascular events by as much as 13 years. Experts say consistent, small additions (like nuts or beans) offer great results, even with moderate adherence. The plant-based eating pattern gets its name because it calls for substituting foods already in someone’s diet with those from a “portfolio” of cholesterol-lowering ingredients that fall into four categories: Soy/plant proteins that displace saturated fat; Plant sterols that block cholesterol absorption; Tree nuts that provide heart-healthy, unsaturated fats; Soluble fiber that binds and removes bile/cholesterol It’s through this combination of ingredients, which creates an “additive” effect in lowering cholesterol, that Wellstar cardiovascular dietitian Erin Sheehan has said sets the portfolio diet apart from others.
Eating Nuts May Help Reduce Food Cravings, Promote Weight Management: A new study suggests that swapping high carb snacks for nuts can help curb sweet cravings. Participants at risk for metabolic syndrome who made the switch also tended to increase their protein intake. Nuts are high in satiating nutrients like healthy fats, protein, and fiber. If you’re allergic to tree nuts, seeds can make a good substitute. Nutrients.
Common food preservatives linked to higher risk of type 2 diabetes: Foods that rely heavily on preservatives may be doing more than extending shelf life. In a large study spanning more than a decade, people with the highest intake of preservative additives were far more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. The increased risk appeared across many commonly used additives found in everyday processed foods. Researchers say the findings support advice to limit highly processed products when possible. Among the 17 preservatives examined individually, higher intake of 12 was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. These included widely used non-antioxidant preservatives (potassium sorbate (E202), potassium metabisulphite (E224), sodium nitrite (E250), acetic acid (E260), sodium acetates (E262) and calcium propionate (E282)) as well as antioxidant additives (sodium ascorbate (E301), alpha-tocopherol (E307), sodium erythorbate (E316), citric acid (E330), phosphoric acid (E338) and rosemary extracts (E392)). INSERM
Low-Calorie, Fasting-Mimicking Diet May Benefit Those With Crohn's Disease: A short term, calorie-restricted diet may provide significant improvement to physical symptoms for people with Crohn’s disease. Researchers from Stanford found that following a fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) also improved biological indicators of the disease. The results were published on January 13 in Nature MedicineTrusted Source. Research suggests that a calorie deficit for five consecutive days out of every month for three consecutive months could improve symptoms and biological indicators of the disease. Experts say some people with Crohn’s disease would not benefit from such an approach due to risks like malnutrition, weight loss, and dehydration.
Why Experts Are Divided Over RFK Jr.'s Inverted Food Pyramid: Federal officials have released their 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which emphasize the importance of protein, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. New federal dietary guidelines recommend increasing protein and full-fat dairy intake while reducing consumption of ultra-processed foods, added sugars, and alcohol. Some experts argue that the protein recommendations place too much emphasis on meat and not enough on nuts, beans, and legumes. Other experts say that dairy products offer some health benefits, but caution that daily intake of these foods should be moderate.
This sweet fruit is packed with hidden health compounds: Scientists are taking a closer look at monk fruit and discovering it’s more than just a sugar substitute. New research shows its peel and pulp contain a rich mix of antioxidants and bioactive compounds that may support health. Different varieties offer different chemical profiles, hinting at unique benefits. The work could shape how monk fruit is used in future foods and supplements. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture,
Vitamins/Supplements
A daily fish oil supplement slashed serious heart risks in dialysis patients: A new international trial has delivered striking results for people on dialysis, showing that daily fish oil supplements can sharply reduce serious heart-related events. Patients taking fish oil had far fewer heart attacks, strokes, and cardiac deaths than those on placebo. Researchers say this is especially important because dialysis patients face extreme cardiovascular risk and few proven treatment options. The findings mark a rare breakthrough in kidney care. NEJM
Eating more vitamin C can physically change your skin: Vitamin C doesn’t just belong in skincare products—it works even better when you eat it. Scientists discovered that vitamin C from food travels through the bloodstream into every layer of the skin, boosting collagen and skin renewal. People who ate two vitamin C–packed kiwifruit daily showed thicker, healthier skin. The findings suggest glowing skin really does start from within. Journal of Investigative Dermatology
Other
A room full of flu patients and no one got sick: A bold flu experiment shows that good airflow, fewer coughs, and the right protection can stop the virus cold—even indoors. In a striking real-world experiment, flu patients spent days indoors with healthy volunteers, but the virus never spread. Researchers found that limited coughing and well-mixed indoor air kept virus levels low, even with close contact. Age may have helped too, since middle-aged adults are less likely to catch the flu than younger people. The results highlight ventilation, air movement, and masks as key defenses against infection. PLOS Pathogens
Study reveals how many hours of video games per week might be too many
Playing for more than 10 hours a week could have a significant impact on young people’s diet, sleep and body weight, according to a new Curtin University-led study. Nutrition.
TREATMENT
Hot flash treatment can slow breast cancer growth, trial finds: Around three-quarters of breast cancers are ER-positive, meaning that the tumors have many estrogen receptors. Treatment for these cancers includes anti-estrogen medication, the side effects of which, such as hot flashes, can be combated using artificial progesterones. Now, research has found that these artificial progesterones, even at a low dose, also slow the growth of breast tumors. The research, published in Nature CancerTrusted Source, found that when megestrol was given in addition to the estrogen-inhibitor letrozole, cell proliferation in the tumors was slowed, even at low doses of megestrol.
MD Anderson Latest Cancer Research: Immunotherapy before and after surgery improved outcomes in lung cancer patients with lymph node metastases Nature Cancer. • Dual-antigen targeting of large B-cell lymphoma shows promise in reducing relapse Nature Cancer.
• Higher bacteria levels inside tumors can promote immunotherapy resistance in head and neck cancer Nature Cancer.
• Immunotherapy combination does not improve outcomes for patients with advanced anal cancer Journal of Clinical Oncology.
• Mutation predicts chemotherapy resistance and better responses to immunotherapy in advanced bladder cancer Nature Communications.
• A novel tumor suppressor, BATF2, can be silenced by factors in the tumor microenvironment, leading to a reduced immune response in five preclinical models of head and neck cancer. Nature Communications
• Researchers identify Rb1 as a predictive biomarker for a new therapeutic strategy in some breast cancers Science Translational Medicine. Novel targeted therapy regimens show promise in aggressive Acute Myeloid Leukemia subtype Leukemia.
• A new trial has demonstrated that combining the immunotherapy atezolizumab with standard chemotherapy (mFOLFOX6) plus the targeted therapy bevacizumab significantly improved outcomes for patients with advanced colorectal cancer compared to immunotherapy alone. The combination therapy achieved an overall response rate of 80.6%, compared with 46% in the immunotherapy-alone cohort. American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers (ASCO GI) Symposium.
Stress among older adults linked to worse surgery recovery: The study, published in Anesthesiology, found that adults who carried more worries into the operating room faced higher risks of delirium, reported more uncontrolled pain, and spent additional days in the hospital — even if they did not view themselves as highly stressed. The study showed that more than 40% of older adults preparing for major surgery, but not heart or brain surgery, reported moderate to high distress — levels similar to those seen in patients with advanced cancer. Surprisingly, it wasn’t how intense the stress felt, but the number of stressors. Stress count was strongly correlated with pain levels and hospital stays. The odds of experiencing delirium went up by 19% for each additional stressor.
A simple drug pair may succeed where liver fibrosis treatments failed: Scientists have found that combining silybin with carvedilol works far better against liver fibrosis than either drug alone. The duo targets the root drivers of liver scarring, sharply reducing collagen buildup and liver damage in experimental models. Importantly, both drugs are already approved and commonly prescribed. That makes this discovery especially promising for rapid clinical translation. Targetome
Stopping GLP-1s May Lead to Weight Regain In Less Than 2 Years, Review Finds: A recent review published in The BMJTrusted Source, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs can help patients lose between 15% and 20% of their body weight. However, their findings indicate that despite the success of these medications, people who stop them tend to regain quickly, returning to their original weight within an average of 1.7 years.
Statins may help almost everyone with type 2 diabetes live longer: New research suggests statins may protect adults with type 2 diabetes regardless of how low their predicted heart risk appears. In a large UK study, statin use was linked to fewer deaths and major cardiac events across all risk levels. Even those labeled “low risk” benefited, challenging long-held assumptions about who should receive preventive therapy. Side effects were rare and generally mild. Annals of Internal Medicine
Type 2 Diabetes Drugs Cut Dementia Risk: People taking a little-known class of diabetes drugs are developing dementia at notably lower rates than those on older medications. The finding, from a study tracking over 450,000 patients with Type 2 diabetes, suggests that DPP-4 inhibitors – pills most people have never heard of – might be doing something unexpected: protecting the brain whilst managing blood sugar. The effect isn’t subtle. Among roughly 275,000 patients, those taking DPP-4 inhibitors developed dementia 23 per cent less often than people taking sulfonylureas, an older drug class. And the protection seemed to strengthen with longer use and higher doses. Drug Safety
For The Hardest Cases Of Depression, A Steady Pulse Of Hope: For a small group of people with depression that just won’t respond to treatment, there might be an answer: a device about the size of a stopwatch, implanted under the skin near your chest. It sends regular electrical pulses to your vagus nerve—that thick bundle of nerve fibers running from your brainstem down to your gut. The treatment is called vagus nerve stimulation, and while it’s been around for a while, doctors have wondered whether its benefits actually stick around. That uncertainty has kept it from becoming a mainstream option. Now, new findings from the RECOVER trial, just published in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, provide the clearest picture yet: for many patients, the improvement doesn’t just fade away. It lasts.
Brain stimulation device cleared for ADHD in the US is overall safe but ineffective: A large multicentre clinical trial led by King’s College London with 150 children and adolescents has shown that a device cleared by the US FDA to treat ADHD- trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS) - is not effective in reducing symptoms. Nature Medicine
OTHER
Drugmakers Raise Prices on 350 Medications Amid Pressure to Cut Costs: U.S. drug manufacturers are expected to raise prices on at least 350 medications in 2026.
The increase coincides with pressure from the Trump administration to lower consumer costs. The detailed analysis, conducted by Reuters, was based on data from the healthcare research firm 3 Axis Advisors, which found a median increase of approximately 4%, in line with the previous year. They additionally note that important drugs such as vaccines for COVID-19, RSV, and shingles, as well as the cancer treatment Ibrance, will be among those with higher price tags. Experts say this seeming contradiction arises from the fact that pharmaceutical companies must balance inflationary pressures with government negotiations.
How Happy Do You Need to Be to Lower the Risk of Chronic Disease? Research suggests that being happier may help you avoid developing common chronic diseases.
However, the benefits only seem to kick in above a certain level on the “Life Ladder.”
Experts say “meaningful happiness” is about a sense of safety and social connection.
Personal choices as well as public policy decisions may encourage greater happiness. Frontiers in Medicine
A Decade Later, Breastfeeding Still Shows Up In Mothers’ Mental Health: Breastfeeding protecting against postnatal depression? We knew that. Hormones, oxytocin, skin contact. The question was whether anything stuck around once the fog lifted and babies started sleeping. Looks like it might. Thirty-seven percent of these women had nursed for at least a year total across thier kids. Those struggling with mental health at year ten were consistently the ones who’d breastfed less. Or not at all. Women who breastfed were less likely to report depression or anxiety at the decade mark. Each week of exclusive nursing cut the odds by about 2 percent. Small, sure. But that’s per week. Six months across two children and you’re looking at a meaningful difference. BMJ Open
The World’s Oldest People Are Real, And Scientists Can Prove It: A new study in The Gerontologist systematically dismantles skepticism claiming the world’s famous longevity hotspots were built on fraud and sloppy paperwork. Steven Austad from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Giovanni Pes from the University of Sassari argue that the so-called Blue Zones (regions where people routinely live past 90 with startling health) have been validated using stricter standards than almost any other demographic data. The ages aren’t self-reported guesses. They’re the result of painstaking archival work that treats every centenarian claim like a cold case investigation. The Gerontologist: 10.1093/geront/gnaf246
Deaths Of Despair Were Rising Before The First OxyContin Prescription: A new study from economists at Ohio State University, Wellesley College, and the University of Notre Dame reveals that states with the steepest declines in religious participation between 1985 and 2000 experienced the sharpest subsequent increases in deaths from suicide, drug overdoses, and alcoholic liver disease. The pattern held across gender and geography, appearing in both rural counties and urban centers. The findings, published in the Journal of the European Economic Association, challenge the conventional narrative that deaths of despair began with the introduction of OxyContin in the late 1990s. Instead, the data suggests the crisis was already building as religious participation collapsed, particularly among less educated white Americans. Journal of the European Economic Association: 10.1093/jeea/jvaf048
Health issues linked to cosmetic jab complications: Patients with chronic illnesses face a significantly higher risk of complications from cosmetic botulinum toxin injections, commonly known as Botox, according to a major UK study. Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) surveyed 919 adults who had received botulinum toxin treatments for aesthetic reasons. The study, published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal, is the largest of its kind to have been carried out in the UK. Researchers found that underlying conditions such as type 1 diabetes, thyroid disorders, chronic migraine and skin disease dramatically increase the likelihood of adverse effects. According to the study, people with type 1 diabetes were 92 times more likely to experience nausea after treatment compared to those without the condition. Those with thyroid disorders and chronic migraine sufferers had an approximately 10-fold increase in the risk of nausea. Other complications associated with pre-existing conditions included headaches, bruising, muscle weakness and persistent eyelid droop (ptosis). Patients with cataracts were 30 times more likely to report headaches, and those with prior injuries had a 21-fold increased risk of losing facial expression. Aesthetic Surgery Journal
Orgasm-related laughing, crying, nosebleeds and more are normal, albeit rare: When some women orgasm, they experience unusual physical and emotional responses such as laughing, crying, headaches, tingling, foot pain, nosebleeds and more. Known as peri-orgasmic phenomena, the responses are not related to the normal physiology of an orgasm. A new survey-based Northwestern University study is the first to break down how frequently and consistently women experience these responses, and when they’re more likely to occur (i.e. with a partner or during masturbation). While the study found these responses are rare — only 2.3% of the sample — the findings are necessary to raise awareness and help reassure women these responses are within the realm of a normal sexual response, said lead study author Dr. Lauren Streicher The findings were published Dec. 29 in the Journal of Women’s Health.
Hobbies don’t just improve personal lives, they can boost workplace creativity too: The study by researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Erasmus University Rotterdam explored how ‘leisure crafting’ - intentionally shaping your free time through goal setting, learning and connection - does not just boost well-being outside the office but can spill over into creativity, engagement, and meaning at work, especially for older employees. Published in the journal Human Relations, the findings show that giving people simple, doable advice about how to grow through their hobbies can make a real difference in their daily lives.
No Link Between Menopause Hormone Therapy and Dementia, Review Says: A new analysis is easing long-standing fears about menopause hormone therapy and dementia. Reviewing data from more than a million women, researchers found MHT neither raises nor lowers dementia risk. Experts say that decisions about hormone therapy should focus on symptom relief and quality of life, not fear of cognitive decline. The Lancet Healthy LongevityTrusted Source.
U.S. Cancer Survival Rates Reach Historic High of 70%: People are living longer after a cancer diagnosis than ever before. According to a new reportTrusted Source from the American Cancer Society (ACS), 70% of those who receive a cancer diagnosis survive for five or more years compared to 49% in the mid-1970s. People diagnosed with historically deadly cancers are also now living much longer than they would have in the mid-1990s. Three key factors are driving this progress: Research-driven innovations, expanded screening efforts, and decades of declining tobacco use.
