Lab-Grown Mini Brains Could Predict Which Alzheimer's Treatments Will Work
Johns Hopkins used brain organoids from patient cells to reveal why Alzheimer's drug responses vary.
Latest articles in Health
Johns Hopkins used brain organoids from patient cells to reveal why Alzheimer's drug responses vary.
The CDC reports the largest multistate cyclospora outbreak in US history has expanded to nine states, with nearly 2,000 confirmed infections linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell.
The CDC reported 2,318 measles cases in 2026 — the highest annual total in 35 years — as childhood vaccination rates continue a decades-long decline across the United States.
The American Cancer Society's 2026 report reveals colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in Americans under 50, with 158,850 new cases and 55,230 deaths expected this year. Incidence in adults 20-49 is rising 3% annually, driven by distal colon and rectal tumors.
Colorectal cancer has become the leading cause of cancer death among people under 50, with cases in younger adults continuing to rise, according to new research published this week. Scientists are urgently investigating why rates are climbing in younger populations, with diet, gut microbiome changes, and environmental factors all under scrutiny. Warning signs include persistent bowel changes, rectal bleeding, dark or narrow stools, and unexplained weight loss. The American Cancer Society now recommends screening begin at age 45 for average-risk adults, but many younger patients are diagnosed at later stages when treatment is less effective.
Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death among people under 50, and cases in younger adults continue to rise, according to new research. Warning signs include persistent bowel changes, recurring rectal bleeding, dark or narrow stools, and unexplained weight loss. Meanwhile, scientists discovered a protein called SORLA that protects the brain from Alzheimer's damage, and an AI-powered blood test can predict heart disease 15 years early.
Colorectal cancer has become the leading cause of cancer death in adults under 50 in the United States, according to a JAMA study and ACS annual report. Death rates from colorectal cancer in this age group have been rising by 1.1% annually since 2005, while deaths from other major cancers have declined. In a separate development, researchers at Umeå University developed a fully human antibody that halted aggressive prostate cancer growth and spread in preclinical models.
A low-cost antidepressant called fluvoxamine significantly reduced fatigue and improved quality of life in a randomized clinical trial of 399 adults with long COVID. The study, published in a peer-reviewed journal, offers hope for millions suffering from persistent fatigue after coronavirus infection. Researchers found that participants taking the drug reported measurable improvements compared to the placebo group, with effects sustained over the trial period.
A global clinical trial co-led by McMaster University has found that fluvoxamine, a widely available and low-cost antidepressant, significantly reduces fatigue and improves quality of life in adults with long COVID. The randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 399 adults demonstrated a 99% probability that the drug outperformed placebo. It is one of the first medications shown to provide meaningful benefit for long COVID fatigue, a condition affecting an estimated 65 million people worldwide with few proven treatment options.
A drug originally developed for spinal cord injury, KCL-286, has shown promise in treating Alzheimer's disease in mouse studies by repairing dangerous DNA damage, reducing brain inflammation, and targeting multiple disease pathways simultaneously. Separately, researchers found that many commonly used sweeteners can directly change the growth of gut bacteria, with over 100 cases where sweeteners behaved differently when combined with medications. A sugar-coated nanoparticle therapy also boosted survival against glioblastoma by 50% in mice.