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New findings explain why eccentric training prevents common sprinting injuries

Rss Feed - Thu, 04/16/2026 - 08:14
Hamstring injuries are among the most common injuries in sports, particularly in activities involving sprinting and rapid acceleration. They account for roughly 10 % of injuries in field-based sports and often result in significant time away from competition. Despite their frequency, the mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of certain training programs in preventing these injuries remain poorly understood.

Researchers discover how stress signals weaken the aging immune system

Rss Feed - Thu, 04/16/2026 - 08:01
As we age, our ability to maintain healthy blood and a strong immune system gradually declines, largely because hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), the cells responsible for producing all blood cell types, begin to lose their effectiveness. Normally, HSCs can both self-renew and generate a balanced mix of blood cells, but over time they produce fewer new cells, favor certain cells such as myeloid cells over lymphoid cells, and struggle to support a robust immune response.

Higher stress and BMI tied to earlier puberty in girls

Rss Feed - Thu, 04/16/2026 - 05:06
New research links stress, BMI, and hormone patterns to pubertal timing, revealing implications for long-term health and early intervention strategies.

Study links ultra-processed food intake to poorer thigh muscle quality

Rss Feed - Wed, 04/15/2026 - 21:13
A Radiology study of 615 adults at risk for knee osteoarthritis found that higher ultra-processed food intake was associated with greater fat infiltration in thigh muscles on MRI, a marker of poorer muscle quality. The association remained after adjustment for BMI, was stronger in models using abdominal circumference, and did not differ significantly by sex.

Can processed meats fit into a healthy diet?

Rss Feed - Wed, 04/15/2026 - 20:41
This perspective-style review argues that processed meats remain valuable sources of high-quality protein, essential amino acids, and bioavailable micronutrients despite concerns about sodium, fat, and chronic disease links. It also contends that much of the evidence tying processed meat to adverse health outcomes is observational and potentially confounded, while emphasizing the role of processing in safety, shelf life, and food security.

Are healthy foods really healthy? Nutrition researchers say context matters

Rss Feed - Wed, 04/15/2026 - 19:50
This Clinical Nutrition opinion paper argues that nutrition research should stop asking whether a food is simply “healthy” and instead ask what it is being compared with. Because diets are compositional, the health effects of foods depend on the specific substitution, and the authors argue that causal inference and network meta-analysis can improve how evidence is interpreted.

Lower-protein toddler formula does not reduce BMI at age 2, trial finds

Rss Feed - Wed, 04/15/2026 - 19:23
A large randomized trial in Germany and Spain found that lowering milk protein intake during the second year of life did not reduce BMI z-score at 24 months, though it did produce a temporary BMI reduction at 18 months. Lower protein intake also led to more stable weight and length trajectories, while higher protein intake pushed growth upward relative to WHO standards.

Older adults show high willingness for Alzheimer’s blood tests

Rss Feed - Wed, 04/15/2026 - 18:44
Northwestern University psychologist Andrea Russell sees older adults with early cognitive impairment riddled with anxiety. Some worry a missed word or forgotten appointment could signal Alzheimer's disease.

Migraine genes linked to worse headaches after concussion in children

Rss Feed - Wed, 04/15/2026 - 18:36
A University of Calgary-led study has found evidence that children with genes predisposing to migraine might have an increased risk of having more headaches after a concussion, which are known to be linked to prolonged symptoms up to six-months after the injury.

New flu vaccine approach targets multiple virus strains

Rss Feed - Wed, 04/15/2026 - 18:34
Doctors recommend getting your flu shot annually, since the specific influenza strain it targets varies from year to year. But what if the shot could be more effective while protecting against more strains?

Ultra-processed foods linked to higher obesity risk in adolescents

Rss Feed - Wed, 04/15/2026 - 18:28
Adolescents who consume more ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have significantly higher odds of being overweight or obese, according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis published in the open-access journal PLOS One by Mekuriaw Nibret Aweke of the University of Gondar, Ethiopia, and colleagues.

Gut-liver changes drive foodborne infection severity in fatty liver disease

Rss Feed - Wed, 04/15/2026 - 18:18
A research team led by the University of California, Irvine's Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health has uncovered a critical biological link explaining why individuals with metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), or fatty liver disease, face significantly worse outcomes from certain foodborne infections.

Middle-aged Americans face rising loneliness and mental health challenges

Rss Feed - Wed, 04/15/2026 - 18:09
Frank Infurna first started thinking about the plight of middle-aged adults 10 years ago. He conducted a monthly survey, asking about their health, well-being, relationships, and life events.

Mitochondrial activity keeps dendritic cells ready to fight disease

Rss Feed - Wed, 04/15/2026 - 17:58
Researchers at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC) show that active mitochondria maintain dendritic cells, the immune system's sentinels, in a "ready-to-respond" state, linking cellular metabolism to gene regulation and T-cell activation.

Aston University bioscientist receives £125,000 to investigate genetic reasons for neurodegeneration

Rss Feed - Wed, 04/15/2026 - 17:37
Aston University bioscientist Dr John Reynolds has won a £125,000 Springboard grant from the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) for research into neurodegeneration caused by a rare genetic disease.

Matching exercise timing to body clock chronotype improves heart health

Rss Feed - Wed, 04/15/2026 - 17:33
Timing exercise to match body clock chronotype-the natural predisposition to morning or evening alertness-may lower cardiovascular disease risk among those who are already vulnerable, suggests research published in the open access journal Open Heart.

Semaglutide improves liver function independently of weight loss

Rss Feed - Wed, 04/15/2026 - 17:26
Researchers at Toronto's Sinai Health have found that semaglutide – the active ingredient in popular weight loss drugs that mimic the gut hormone GLP-1 – acts directly on a subset of liver cells to improve organ function and does so independently of weight loss.

Left bundle branch area pacing improves cardiac resynchronization outcomes

Rss Feed - Wed, 04/15/2026 - 17:06
Left bundle branch area pacing was found to be an effective and practical strategy for cardiac resynchronization, according to a Late-Breaking Science presentation at EHRA 2026, the annual congress of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA), a branch of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

Liver cancer burden rising globally amid shift to metabolic risks

Rss Feed - Wed, 04/15/2026 - 16:57
Primary liver cancer continues to pose a major global health challenge, ranking as the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.

Parents' genes shape children's mental health beyond inherited DNA

Rss Feed - Wed, 04/15/2026 - 16:54
What if some of the risk of anxiety and depression in children is not only about the genes they inherit, but also about their parents' genetic dispositions and how these influence the home environment?

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