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A microbial risk score could help identify people at greater riskKey Takeaways Oral bacteria and fungi may help reshape the pancreatic microbiome and promote carcinogenesis. Earlier research has connected periodontal disease and clinical candidiasis with greater pancreatic cancer risk. Altogether, the study identified a more than threefold increase in cancer risk for every one standard deviation rise in a microbial risk score comprised of 27 bacteria and fungi. More than two dozen bacteria and fungi in the mouth may be linked to pancreatic cancer risk, according to an analysis of two large cohorts. Analysis of oral-wash samples from over 120,000...

Up to 10% of pediatric hematologic malignancies attributed to imaging-related radiation exposureKey Takeaways: One in 10 childhood blood cancers may result from medical imaging-associated radiation exposure. Cancer risk increased with cumulative radiation dose, ranging from 1.41 times higher to 3.59 times higher. Children exposed to at least 30 mGy had 25.6 excess blood cancers per 10,000 by age 21. One of every 10 blood cancers in children may result from radiation exposure associated with medical imaging, according to a large retrospective analysis. The risk of hematologic malignancy increased with cumulative radiation exposure versus none, ranging from 1.41 times higher for...

Risk of new lesions reduced by 54% in veterans who started drug after first skin cancerKey Takeaways Nicotinamide reduced skin cancer risk by 14% overall in patients with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer. The risk reduction increased to 54% when nicotinamide was started after a first skin cancer diagnosis. More prospective studies are needed to confirm findings and identify patients most likely to benefit. Patients with a history of using nicotinamide had a significantly lower risk of developing nonmelanoma skin cancer, particularly when starting treatment after a first skin cancer, a large retrospective cohort study showed. Overall, nicotinamide use...

2-Year U.S. Study Shows Daily Cocoa Flavonol Supplement May Lower Inflammation In Older Adults In A Nutshell * A 2-year U.S. trial found cocoa extract lowered hsCRP, a key inflammation marker in aging. * Participants taking cocoa flavanols saw an 8.4% yearly reduction vs placebo. * Benefits were strongest in people with higher baseline inflammation. * Supplements, not ordinary chocolate, provided the tested flavanol levels. ==================================================================================== BOSTON — A daily cocoa extract supplement rich in flavanols lowered a key marker of chronic inflammation in older adults, according to a major U.S. clinical trial. The study offers rare long-term evidence that...

A daily dose of vitamin D could help combat ageing, according to a recent study.It found that taking vitamin D supplements for four years managed to prevent three years’ worth of ageing. Previous studies have hinted that vitamin D supplements can help combat some of the biggest signs of ageing, which are linked to many age-related diseases such as cancer, heart disease and dementia. To put this theory to the test, researchers from Mass General Brigham and the Medical College of Georgia studied the results of a previous trial. That experiment enlisted thousands of women over 55 and men over...

Researchers from the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at Brighton and Sussex Medical School investigated how fast, deep breathing performed rhythmically to music can affect both subjective experiences and brain physiology. The Study The study included 42 participants across three categories: 15 who practiced breathwork remotely, 8 in a laboratory setting, and 19 inside an MRI scanner. Each participant completed a 20- to 30-minute session of cyclic breathing with no pauses while listening to music. Afterward, they completed questionnaires about their emotional and psychological state. Results showed that HVB consistently induced ASCs, often described as “oceanic boundlessness” (OBN)—a term referring to...

MSU researchers discovered that microbes begin shaping the brain while still in the womb, influencing neurons in a region critical for stress and social behavior. Their findings suggest modern birth practices that alter the microbiome may have hidden impacts on brain development.

Proof-of-concept trial shows significant effect on obstructive sleep apnea symptomsKey Takeaways: *Blowing a conch shell improved moderate obstructive sleep apnea symptoms in a small randomized trial. *Sleep quality and apnea-hypopnea index also improved with conch blowing. *A larger, more diverse trial is needed to confirm the benefits observed. The forceful breathing involved in the traditional Hindu practice of blowing a conch shell, or shankh, improved moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) symptoms, a small randomized trial showed. Regular practice of the yogic breathing exercise over 6 months cut daytime sleepiness by 34% compared with baseline, as measured by the Epworth Sleepiness...

A groundbreaking study published in PNAS has identified two gut bacteria as triggers for Multiple Sclerosis (“MS”).The study involved 81 pairs of identical twins, where only one sibling had MS, and found that these bacteria were consistently linked to MS.The researchers transplanted gut microbes from MS-affected twins into germ-free mice, which developed MS-like symptoms, establishing a causal link between the bacteria and the disease.A New Multiple Sclerosis Study Is Actually Ground-BreakingBy Dr. Jessica Rose, 29 July 2025A study was published on 21 April 2025 in PNAS entitled ‘Multiple sclerosis and gut microbiota: Lachnospiraceae from the ileum of MS twins trigger...

Lab-dish study using brain cells from elderly mice yields promising results for a potential anti-aging recipe, but more research is necessary. In A Nutshell * Aging brain cells in mice restored youthful energy balance (GTP levels) within 16 hours using vitamin B3 and green tea extract * The treatment cleared toxic protein buildup and improved survival by 22% in Alzheimer’s-model neurons * It also restored waste-clearing vesicle function by reducing the buildup of Rab7- and Arl8b-tagged vesicles * Findings are based on in vitro studies and will require confirmation in living animals and humans ================================================================================= IRVINE, Calif. — Can brain...

In A Nutshell * Two FDA-approved cancer drugs — letrozole and irinotecan — significantly improved memory and reduced brain damage in mice with Alzheimer’s. * The combination therapy targets multiple brain cell types by reversing gene disruptions in neurons and glia. *Real-world medical records of 1.4 million patients show lower Alzheimer’s rates in people treated with these drugs for cancer. * The findings offer a new multi-target strategy that may outperform existing single-drug treatments, but human trials are still needed. SAN FRANCISCO — Two cancer medications already on pharmacy shelves might hold the key to treating Alzheimer’s disease, and early...

A study published in July 2024 investigated how often 1,425 people went number two, and compared those stats to their demographic, genetic, and health data. Pooping too often or too rarely were both associated with different underlying health issues, while the healthiest participants reported pooping once or twice a day – a 'Goldilocks zone' of bowel movement frequency. The study, led by a team from the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB), investigated the bathroom habits of people who were "generally healthy" – that is, with no history of kidney or gut issues like kidney disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or Crohn's...

Studies indicate that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) tend to have lower levels of vitamin D compared to their peers — the so-called “sunshine vitamin” is crucial for fetal brain development. Unfortunately, research exploring the effects of traditional vitamin D supplementation on autism symptoms has produced mixed results. Now, a new study out of Egypt suggests that a form of vitamin D3 known as nanoemulsion shows promise in improving symptoms. “The vitamin D3-loaded nanoemulsion provided an effective and true influence on the adaptive behavior and language abilities of children with ASD, not only on the rise of vitamin D3...

A study found that a diet rich in turmeric, garlic, green tea, and similar foods reduced biological age by an average of two years, with some losing up to nine. The eight-week plan included exercise, sleep, and meditation, and excluded alcohol, grains, legumes, and dairy to support gut health and methylation. Researchers believe the diet works by enhancing DNA methylation, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, and possibly preserving telomeres. New research suggests that certain foods not only have the power to help you live healthier years, but they could also help turn back your body's internal clock. In April, researchers...

Caffeine sparks an ancient enzyme that helps cells survive stress and repair damage, revealing a new link between your coffee and long-term health. Credit: Shutterstock Scientists have discovered that caffeine doesn’t just perk up your brain—it energizes your cells in a way that could slow aging. By flipping on an ancient fuel-sensing enzyme called AMPK, caffeine indirectly taps into a powerful longevity pathway that helps cells manage stress, repair damage, and live longer. Caffeine’s Cellular Anti-Aging Mystery Uncovered A new study from the Cellular Ageing and Senescence laboratory at Queen Mary University of London’s Center for Molecular Cell Biology reveals...

In a study conducted at São Paulo State University involving 80 women over the age of 45, low-dose vitamin D supplementation nearly doubled the rate of treatment response. A study conducted at the Botucatu School of Medicine at São Paulo State University (FMB-UNESP) in Brazil found that low-dose vitamin D supplementation can improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy in women with breast cancer. The findings suggest that vitamin D may serve as an alternative to other drugs designed to boost chemotherapy response, especially those that are difficult to access. The research, supported by FAPESP, included 80 women over the age of...

This bluegill collected during the study contained 16,973 H. pumilio and 8 C. formosanus infectious trematode parasite larval stages. (CREDIT: Emma Palmer) ========================================================================= In a nutshell Researchers found human-infecting parasitic worms in 93% of freshwater fish sampled from popular fishing spots in southern California, including bluegill and largemouth bass. A review of 125 YouTube videos revealed widespread raw consumption of freshwater fish across the U.S., often without proper freezing or cooking, ideal conditions for parasite transmission. These parasites are likely more widespread than reported, and public health experts warn that eating raw, unfrozen freshwater fish could pose an emerging health...

Maybe coffee doesn't need to be the very first step in our morning routines. While it's often associated with wakefulness, experts claim there may be benefits to holding off on that cup of joe for a different time of day. Cortisol, a stress hormone, is highest in our body right as we wake up, according to Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian with the Cleveland Clinic Center for Human Nutrition. From there, she said, it begins to decline naturally throughout the day. Caffeine is a stimulant, so if it's consumed (by drinking coffee, for example) when cortisol is high, that can...

Vitamin D supplements may help prevent the loss of telomeres, DNA sequences that shrink with aging, a large study shows. But the health effects aren’t yet clear Vitamin D supplements might slow cellular aging by preventing the loss of telomeres, DNA sequences at the ends of chromosomes that shorten in old age, a new study suggests. The health effects of these findings aren’t yet clear. Vitamin D had been touted as a panacea for a number of health conditions, from cardiovascular disease to bone loss. In 2020 a large randomized controlled trial of supplementation instead found benefits only in a...

In a nutshell * Dark chocolate, tea, apples, and grapes can significantly lower blood pressure, especially in people with hypertension, with effects comparable in size to standard medications. * These flavan-3-ol-rich foods also improve blood vessel function, offering heart health benefits beyond just blood pressure reduction. * Whole foods work better than supplements, and they come with minimal side effects, making them a safe, affordable addition to a heart-healthy lifestyle. ================================================================ GUILDFORD, England — Instead of buying the next trendy expensive supplement or exotic superfood, a morning cup of tea could do more for your blood pressure than you realize....