A routine blood test taken by millions in the U.S. each year to measure “bad” cholesterol is not the best measure to guide treatment and prevent heart attacks and strokes, suggests a new Northwestern Medicine study that published today (April 8) in JAMA.

About The Study: In this cohort study, earlier age at attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis was associated with better school performance, more academic education, and lower school dropout rates than diagnoses closer to age 16. The findings suggest that individuals who are diagnosed closer to age 16 could benefit from targeted support to prevent school dropout. 

About The Study: From 2015 to 2023, the number of U.S. patients who were prescribed long-term opioid therapy declined, potentially owing to national opioid stewardship efforts and growing awareness of the risks. However, approximately 4 million to 5 million patients were prescribed long-term opioid therapy in 2023, depending on the definition used. Moreover, there were demographic shifts in the patients prescribed long-term opioid therapy over this period in that patients were older and the largest proportion now had opioid therapy covered by Medicare. Because older adults are at higher risk of adverse events from polypharmacy, the increased rates of coprescribing, particularly with gabapentinoids, raises additional safety concerns.

Scientists have demonstrated, for the first time, that several psychedelic drugs – including psilocybin, LSD, mescaline, DMT and ayahuasca – produce a common pattern of brain activity despite their distinct chemistries.

An international consortium led by a McGill University researcher pooled brain imaging data from labs across five countries, creating the largest study of its kind to date.

(WASHINGTON, Apr. 8, 2026) — The American Society of Hematology (ASH) and the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) released comprehensive clinical practice guidelines on anticoagulant prophylaxis in non-cardiac pediatric patients at risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The guidelines were developed by an expert panel following a rigorous review process and published in ASH’s peer-reviewed journal, Blood Advances.