Researchers are increasingly using EEG (electroencephalography) to investigate how caffeine affects the brain during sleep — and findings suggest the issue goes beyond simply “falling asleep.” According to Prof. Donata Kurpas of Wroclaw Medical University, caffeine may reduce slow-wave activity, a key marker of deep, restorative sleep, even when sleep duration appears normal. EEG analyses reveal that the brain can remain in a more “wakeful” state overnight, potentially impairing recovery despite the subjective feeling of good sleep. Scientists also emphasize strong individual differences in caffeine sensitivity linked to genetics, metabolism, age, stress, and fatigue. The findings suggest that caffeine’s stimulating effects may contribute to a cycle of daytime fatigue and poorer nighttime recovery, highlighting the importance of sleep quality — not only sleep length — in understanding caffeine’s impact on health.

A new viewpoint article published in JMIR Mental Health argues that AI systems should evaluate the reliability of human training and feedback data to improve safety in mental health applications.

According to researchers at Semmelweis University, not only inflammation, but also sleep disorders, depression, obesity, and smoking may sustain persistent rheumatic symptoms. In their publications in the journals Nature Reviews Rheumatology and The Lancet Rheumatology, they also proposed a model that can help identify and treat the true causes of symptoms in time.

With colorectal cancer a growing concern among younger people, the American Cancer Society has endorsed two new types of stool tests to encourage people to get screened while also recommending a limited role for new blood tests many patients find appealing.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) today released updated guidelines for colorectal cancer screening. The new recommendations reaffirm that average-risk adults should begin colorectal cancer screening at age 45 and continue through age 75 for those with a life expectancy greater than 10 years. However, ACS is now adding guidelines for a blood-based screening test taken in a doctor’s office, as well as one updated and one new at-home screening option that looks for hidden blood and molecular markers in stool samples. The move reflects advances in disease detection and a critical shift in public health strategy to expand screening options and lower barriers to access. The update is published in a report in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, the flagship journal of ACS.