Decades of progress in medicine and public health are driving rapid global aging, straining healthcare systems and national budgets worldwide. In a recent study, researchers from Japan present an improved method for calculating the monetary value of a ‘quality-adjusted life year,’ addressing the limitations of the conventional way of computing this metric. Their analysis using data from Japan shows how considering various age and quality of life patterns can help determine more cost-effective policy decisions.

Cholera, a severe bacterial infection that causes diarrhea and kills if untreated, can be defeated with a diet high in protein, according to a new study from UC Riverside.

An interesting human trial by researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark compared dental plaques grown on customized dentures on both sides of the same participant’s mouth. The team exposed both sides to sugar but treated only one with arginine to assess its benefits. Their findings showed higher pH, altered biofilm structure, and reduced harmful bacteria, highlighting arginine’s potential in preventing dental caries.

MIT engineers designed a pill that can report when it has been swallowed, an advance that could aid in medication adherence.