This multi-cohort observational study examined whether eating late at night amplifies the damage that chronic physiological stress causes to digestive health.

Adopted children who have grown up in more favourable family environments than their siblings are at lower risk of mental health issues, criminality and social problems – benefits that, in some cases, extend to the next generation. These are the findings of a new study of Swedish siblings published in The BMJ.

A large Swedish study published in The BMJ today suggests that an improved early home environment can have lasting positive effects across generations. Children of parents with psychiatric or behavioural issues who were adopted before age 10 into families with better home environments, showed improved adult psychosocial outcomes, including fewer criminal convictions and higher educational achievements, than their unadopted siblings. 

As the oldest person elected president of the United States, Donald Trump has long faced questions about his health. But is it appropriate for doctors to comment publicly on a president’s mental health? In an opinion article published by The BMJ today, David Nicholl and Trisha Greenhalgh examine the ethical tensions involved. While heads of state are entitled to medical confidentiality, their decisions can have far-reaching consequences, raising the question of whether professional norms against public commentary should ever be set aside.