Low Lipoprotein(a) Levels Linked to Higher Diabetes Risk

An analysis from the FOURIER trial found that among patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, lower lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentrations were associated with a higher prevalence of diabetes at baseline and a greater risk of developing diabetes during follow-up, while showing no increased risk of most other major adverse safety outcomes. […]

Even “Moderate” Drinking Raises Lifetime Health Risks

Even alcohol consumption commonly considered “moderate” was associated with increased lifetime risks of death and disease, with no evidence of a net protective health effect at low levels of drinking. Researchers estimated alcohol-attributable mortality and morbidity risks in the US by integrating data from national health surveys, U.S. Census population […]

Higher Ultraprocessed Food Intake Linked to Increased Dementia Risk

A nationally representative study of 5,370 older US adults found that higher consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) was associated with significantly increased risks of dementia, cognitive impairment without dementia (CIND), and the combined outcome of CIND or dementia. Researchers analyzed data from the Health and Retirement Study between 2013 and […]

Visceral Fat Loss Linked to Lasting Cardiometabolic Benefits Despite Weight Regain

Long-term follow-up of two randomized lifestyle intervention trials found that reducing visceral fat—not simply losing weight—was strongly associated with sustained cardiometabolic health benefits, and every 10% reduction in visceral fat lowered the future risk of type 2 diabetes by 28%. Researchers followed 366 participants from the 18-month CENTRAL and DIRECT-PLUS […]

A Coordinated Sleep Rhythm May Reduce Dementia Risk

Recently identified brain rhythm during sleep may play a crucial role in clearing neurotoxic waste and protecting against dementia. Unlike wakefulness, when major neuromodulators such as norepinephrine, acetylcholine, serotonin, and dopamine act relatively independently, sleep synchronizes their activity into coordinated oscillations occurring approximately every 50 seconds. These rhythmic fluctuations are […]

Alzheimer’s Blood Biomarkers in Midlife

A US community-based study found that middle-aged adults with blood biomarkers indicating Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology already showed worse cognition and faster cognitive decline years before dementia diagnosis. Researchers analyzed 1,350 participants from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study who underwent plasma biomarker testing at year 35 […]

Single-Dose Psilocybin Effective in Major Depression

A randomized clinical trial found that a single 25 mg dose of psilocybin produced rapid antidepressant effects in patients with moderate to severe recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD), with benefits emerging by day 2 and persisting for more than 3 months on several secondary measures. Conducted at the Northern Stockholm […]

ACS Updated Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidance

The American Cancer Society (ACS) reaffirmed that average-risk adults should begin colorectal cancer (CRC) screening at age 45 and continue through age 75 if life expectancy exceeds 10 years, while emphasizing that stool-based screening tests remain the preferred noncolonoscopy options over newer blood-based tests. CRC remains a leading cause of […]

Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements Provide Little Overall Protection Against Fractures and Falls

A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis involving 69 randomized controlled trials and 153,902 adults found that calcium supplements, vitamin D supplements, or their combination offer little to no clinically meaningful benefit in preventing fractures or falls in adults not taking osteoporosis medications. Most participants were community-dwelling individuals (87%) and were […]

Pulsed Field Ablation Proven Superior to Sham Procedure for Symptomatic AF

A sham-controlled randomized trial demonstrated that pulsed field ablation (PFA) markedly reduced atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence and burden while significantly improving quality of life and psychological distress compared with a sham procedure in highly symptomatic AF patients. In this single-blind study, 60 patients with severe AF-related quality-of-life impairment were randomized […]