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Medicine & Health

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 16-Jun-2026 10:15 ET (16-Jun-2026 14:15 GMT/UTC)

Study finds payments to Medicare Advantage brokers potentially reached $10 billion annually

Brown University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The analysis conducted by the research team at Brown’s Center for Advancing Health Policy through Research offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at this market, drawing on data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. The study found that broker involvement is both common and growing. In 2014, 36% of first-time Medicare Advantage enrollees used a broker, a figure that rose to 44% by 2022.

Journal: JAMA Internal Medicine
Funder: Arnold Ventures

Alzheimer’s drug analysis may lead to misinterpretations of drug's effects, study finds

Brown University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A statistical approach being used to support a new class of Alzheimer’s drugs may lead to overstated claims about how the drugs work, according to a new study led by researchers at the Brown University School of Public Health.

Journal: JAMA Neurology

New drug target identified for Fragile X syndrome

University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences
Peer-Reviewed Publication

UCLA Health researchers have identified a potential drug target for treating Fragile X syndrome, the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability and autism that affects roughly 1 in 2,000 boys.UCLA Health researchers have identified a potential drug target for treating Fragile X syndrome, the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability and autism that affects roughly 1 in 2,000 boys.

Journal: Neuron

Amateur soccer heading and acute elevations in blood-based p-Tau217 and S100B

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

About The Study: The findings of this case-control study show that soccer heading was associated with acute increases in blood biomarkers of neural damage, including dose-response relationships. These findings suggest that amateur-level heading may acutely affect neural integrity.

Journal: JAMA Neurology

Dual immunization against RSV with RSVpreF and nirsevimab

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

About The Study: This cohort study describes respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-associated lower respiratory tract infection hospitalizations among infants in France who received both maternal RSVpreF vaccination and nirsevimab during the 2024-2025 RSV season.

Journal: JAMA Pediatrics

An AI–enabled cardiopulmonary resuscitation instructor

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

About The Study: The findings of this study suggest that AI-enabled cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instruction shows promise for supporting bystanders. Further validation in diverse, general population settings is warranted to define the role of AI-based CPR instruction as a scalable public health intervention for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.

Journal: JAMA Internal Medicine

New study finds sharp rise in children’s mental health needs seen in primary care

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study led by researchers at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston University, Boston Medical Center, UMass Chan Medical School, and Brown University finds that children’s mental health concerns are appearing more often during routine visits with primary care doctors. Published in JAMA Network Open, the study shows a steady rise over the past decade, with especially large increases in visits related to anxiety.

Journal: JAMA Network Open

Creatine improves physical performance but does not necessarily reduce inflammation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Despite its popularity, researchers at São Paulo State University found no significant effects on inflammatory markers in the body after reviewing studies on the supplement.

Journal: Frontiers in Immunology
Funder: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

augmented: life and death as a cyborg

The MIT Press
Book Announcement

Candi Cann’s book brings together three very important and often neglected intersecting topics: death, disability, and technology.