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Medicine & Health

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 21-Oct-2026 06:16 ET (21-Oct-2026 10:16 GMT/UTC)

Online sports betting legalization linked to increased use of depression and anxiety treatment

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Peer-Reviewed Publication

States in the U.S. that legalized online sports betting saw increases in the use of depression and anxiety medications as well as outpatient diagnoses for depression and anxiety, according to a study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Journal: JAMA Psychiatry

Most patients won't endorse AI medical responses without a clinician's review, Columbia Nursing study in JAMA Network Open finds

Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In a Columbia University School of Nursing study surveying 1,185 U.S.-based adults about AI use in secure medical portals, 63% of patients said they would not endorse AI-generated medical responses without a clinician's review. The study, “Public Perceptions of Timeliness for AI Use and Human Oversight,” was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open on October 14, 2026.

Journal: JAMA Network Open

Microplastics are chemically active, and could cause biological harm

Columbia University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study found that when microplastics contact water, their surfaces can become chemically reactive; it could be how they get us sick.

Journal: Nature

Researchers discover a commonly prescribed blood-pressure drug may stimulate “healthy” brown fat

Rockefeller University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A large retrospective study suggests the tissue, previously associated with better cardiovascular health, could also impact mental health.

Journal: Nature

ISSCR 2027 Annual Meeting opens registration and abstract submissions

International Society for Stem Cell Research
Meeting Announcement

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) has opened registration and abstract submissions for the ISSCR 2027 Annual Meeting, taking place 15-18 June 2027 at Moscone West in San Francisco, California, USA. Marking the 25th anniversary of the ISSCR Annual Meeting, this hallmark event will bring together the global stem cell community to share groundbreaking discoveries, explore transformative technologies, and advance the future of stem cell science and regenerative medicine.

Meeting: ISSCR 2027

Reversing age by reprogramming gene expression networks

Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Every organ and tissue progressively loses function as it ages, but aging tissues retain a latent capacity for rejuvenation. A new study, led by Wyss Institute Core Faculty member George Church, used gene expression data and machine learning to develop a novel “transcriptomic age predictor,” which pinpoints the “transcriptional age” of cells. Using this predictor as a readout in an over-expression screen, the team identified the RNA processing factor SRSF1and demonstrated that it can rejuvenate several “hallmarks of aging,” and significantly increase the healthspan and lifespan of aged mice.

Journal: Nature Aging

Dr. Katie Matt examines fraud prevention in federal relief programs

SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

SUNY Polytechnic Institute Assistant Professor of Accounting Dr. Katie Matt, collaborating with Daniel Hebert of Syracuse University, has published new research examining fraud in the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a key COVID-19 relief initiative for small businesses. Using publicly prosecuted fraud cases, the researchers found that limited oversight and verification procedures enabled widespread abuse, including the use of falsified financial records, fictitious businesses, and weak application screening processes. The research underscores the challenge of balancing the rapid distribution of emergency aid with accountability safeguards that protect taxpayer resources and ensure assistance reaches intended recipients. Their findings offer practical recommendations for policymakers designing future disaster and economic relief programs.

Journal: Journal of Accounting Ethics & Public Policy

Comprehensive maternity support for families often depends on the initiative of the mother herself or a single specialist

Estonian Research Council
Reports and Proceedings

During pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period, families may require a range of healthcare, counselling and support services, but in Estonia these do not always form a coherent whole. Silja Mets-Oja, who defended her PhD at Tallinn University, charted the bottlenecks so that, in the future, access to support would not depend on a woman’s place of residence, her ability to navigate a complex system, or the initiative of a single specialist.

Funder: Tallinn Health University of Applied Sciences

Hebrew SeniorLife’s Right Care, Right Place, Right Time is now Health Allies

Hebrew SeniorLife Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research
Business Announcement

Hebrew SeniorLife’s Right Care, Right Place, Right Time (R3) has a new name — Health Allies.

Health Allies brings healthy aging teams into affordable senior housing communities to help older adults navigate the health care system, optimize their health and well-being, remain independent longer, and enjoy their best possible lives. It is currently in place at 18 affordable housing communities across Greater Boston.

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