Health & Medicine

1. This protective enzyme could help stop fatty liver disease from getting worse

   Scientists have identified an enzyme that may act as a natural defense against the worsening of fatty liver disease, which affects an estimated 100 million Americans. The enzyme, called UBE2N, helps liver cells clear away damaged mitochondria and break down fat, potentially preventing the inflammation, scarring, and cell damage associated with the more dangerous condition MASH.

2. Leucine does more than build muscle. It powers up your cells

   The essential amino acid leucine can boost cellular energy production by protecting key proteins on mitochondria from being destroyed. The discovery reveals a new connection between nutrition and metabolism that could eventually lead to new approaches for metabolic disorders and cancer.

3. This diet may slow brain aging by 2.5 years

   People who followed the MIND diet more closely showed slower brain shrinkage and less grey matter loss over time, with the strongest differences equivalent to about 2.5 years of delayed brain aging. Berries and poultry were linked with healthier brain changes, while sweets and fried fast foods were associated with greater tissue loss.

4. Your gut may be making a molecule that raises Alzheimer’s risk

   Scientists have linked a gut bacterial compound called ImP to greater Alzheimer’s risk, harmful brain protein buildup, and faster cognitive decline. The finding raises the possibility that reducing ImP in the blood could one day help slow or prevent dementia.

5. Vitamin C linked to fewer deaths in blood disorder trial

   Vitamin C may do more than support the immune system. In a phase 2 trial of people with precancerous or low risk blood cancers, daily vitamin C did not slow abnormal cell growth, but it was linked to favorable changes in inflammation and fewer serious complications. An exploratory follow up also found fewer deaths among participants taking vitamin C than among those receiving placebo.

6. Alzheimer’s risk gene APOE4 may have a reversible weakness

   The Alzheimer’s risk gene APOE4 may actively damage brain blood vessels and sabotage the cellular systems that remove harmful proteins. Researchers were able to reverse some of these effects in experiments, revealing promising new targets for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases.

7. Could quitting ultra-processed food boost your mental health?

   People with depression who dramatically cut ultra-processed foods experienced notable improvements in their symptoms in a small preliminary study. Researchers suspect healthier eating may benefit the brain partly by reducing gut damage and chronic inflammation.

8. Nearly 6 in 10 people with high blood pressure don’t know they have it

   Nearly 6 in 10 people with high blood pressure in a large England study had never been diagnosed or treated, and half of those already taking medication still had elevated readings. Researchers say a more proactive approach to finding and controlling hypertension could prevent thousands of heart attacks and strokes.

9. Weak sunlight can still damage your DNA, scientists warn

   Weak sunlight can still damage skin DNA if you spend enough time outdoors, according to a landmark Australian study. Even UV doses too low to cause visible redness triggered cellular damage that could accumulate over time and contribute to skin cancer risk.

10. Cancer stem cells have an “energy addiction” scientists may be able to exploit

    High-risk MDS stem cells appear to have an unexpected “energy addiction,” relying far more heavily than healthy blood-forming cells on a molecule called NAD. Disrupting this energy pathway selectively weakened the cancer-driving cells, revealing a potential new target for treatment.

11. Even one strength training session a week could make a difference

    Strength training may be one of the most powerful tools for staying independent as you age. Age related muscle loss, known as sarcopenia, can make everyday tasks harder while increasing the risk of falls, fractures, and loss of mobility. Research shows that resistance exercises such as squats, weights, resistance bands, and even body weight movements can preserve or rebuild strength, and surprisingly, even one session a week can produce meaningful benefits.

12. Cannabis users were twice as likely to commit violence, review finds

    A review of more than 265,000 people found that cannabis use was associated with higher rates of both committing violence and becoming a victim of it. The researchers say the link is significant but does not prove cannabis itself is the cause.

13. Scientists may have found a “unifying theory” of chronic fatigue

    Scientists found that five seemingly unrelated conditions, including long Covid, ME/CFS, and PTSD, may disrupt many of the same biological networks involved in immunity, metabolism, and cellular energy. The findings could help explain their shared symptoms and may open the door to new blood tests and treatments.

14. 1 in 13 adults under 30 already had hidden artery plaque

    More than half of 16,000 apparently healthy adults had signs of atherosclerosis, with arterial plaques already detectable in about 1 in 13 people ages 18 to 29. Researchers say directly imaging the arteries could reveal hidden cardiovascular disease years or even decades before symptoms appear.

15. This common mistake can add nearly 7 points to your blood pressure reading

    A common mistake during blood pressure checks could make readings appear substantially higher than they really are. Johns Hopkins researchers found that leaving the arm unsupported can raise systolic readings by about 6.5 mmHg, potentially affecting a hypertension diagnosis.