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Medicine & Health

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 15-Jun-2026 20:16 ET (16-Jun-2026 00:16 GMT/UTC)

Support from a trusted adult in childhood can mitigate the long-term impact of abuse

University of Toronto
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A consistent, caring adult during childhood can make a profound difference for child survivors of physical or sexual abuse. That is the key finding of a new peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, which examined health outcomes among more than 2,100 American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults in the United States.

Journal: Journal of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma

New research reveals mechanisms behind coffee’s positive effects on the gut-brain axis

Cavendish Consulting
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New research from APC Microbiome Ireland, a world leading research centre at University College Cork, has comprehensively explored the mechanisms behind coffee’s positive effects on the gut-brain axis for the first time¹.

Journal: Nature Communications

From classroom to Mars: European students return from six-day analog space mission

International Science Council Committee on Space Research
Business Announcement

Nine high school students from Austria, Greece, and Portugal have emerged from a specially designed habitat near Monsaraz, Portugal, marking the successful completion of EXPLORE-2—a six-day simulated Mars mission that placed young Europeans in the shoes of analog astronauts.

Funder: Erasmus+

International Osteoporosis Foundation CNS Medal awarded to Professor Radmila Matijevic

International Osteoporosis Foundation
Grant and Award Announcement

On April 17, 2026, during the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases in Prague, Czech Republic, the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) awarded the Committee of National Societies (CNS) Medal to Prof. Dr Radmila Matijević, MD, PhD, Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Serbia. The CNS Medal is awarded annually to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to bone health advocacy, alongside significant contributions to the IOF Committee of National Societies through active participation and by strengthening IOF’s outreach at the national level.

Meeting: World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis & Musculoskeletal Diseases (WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2026 Prague)

Covid snacking habits and their consequences

Kyoto University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Kyoto, Japan -- The Covid-19 lockdowns were difficult for everyone. Many people were stuck at home all day every day dealing with their uncertainty for the future, and some found it hard to avoid frequent eating and snacking habits during lockdown. For many, the effects of this were marginal, but the risks in such a situation are higher for people with glucose intolerance, a group of metabolic conditions that includes diabetes.

Previous studies examining glycemic control in individuals with glucose intolerance during the Covid-19 pandemic have reported mixed results: some showed worsening control while others found no significant changes. In one specific study on individuals in Japan, a team of researchers at Kyoto University found that the state of emergency led to increases in body weight, fat mass, and snacking frequency, all of which were associated with deteriorating glycemic control.

However, the researchers recognized that the longterm metabolic effects of this after the full relaxation of behavioral restrictions has remained unclear. This gap in knowledge motivated the team to explore the post‑restriction period in greater depth.

Journal: Journal of Diabetes Investigation
Funder: Japan Association for Diabetes Education and Care

New health data-based models help identify heart disease risk earlier

Estonian Research Council
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Heart failure presents a growing public health problem both in Estonia and across Europe. At the same time, its timely detection is often challenging. Together with international colleagues, Laura Lõo, Junior Research Fellow of Public Health at the University of Tartu, has developed new models that help identify disease risk even before symptoms appear.

Journal: European Heart Journal

Toddlers’ pretend play ability linked to better mental health

University of Sydney
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Stronger pretend play ability at ages two to three linked to fewer mental health difficulties in early primary school

Links remained after accounting for family income, mother’s mental health, language ability and parent-child attachment

Mental health difficulties affect about 14 percent of Australian children, yet prevention efforts focus on later childhood or adolescence.

Journal: Early Childhood Education Journal
Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council, Serpentine Foundation

Study shows links between Alzheimer’s and gut health can lead to prevention

University of Technology Sydney
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study has found that diet, gut health, cardiovascular conditions and surgical history are some of the strongest predictors of Alzheimer’s risk, which could lead to better screening through an AI framework and prevention through simple lifestyle changes.

Journal: Alzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring

AI can use a photo of the eye to estimate retinal age, flag risk for major diseases

Tohoku University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A picture (of the eye) is worth a thousand words to this AI system that predicts the risk for major diseases like diabetes, based on the gap between the patient’s real age and the estimated retinal age.

Journal: Communications Medicine