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Medicine & Health

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 1-Jun-2026 06:15 ET (1-Jun-2026 10:15 GMT/UTC)

Wild blueberries: New review explores benefits for heart, metabolism and the microbiome

Wild Blueberry Association of North America
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new scientific review summarizes the growing body of research on wild blueberries and cardiometabolic health, which includes factors like blood vessel function, blood pressure, blood lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) and blood sugar (glucose).

Journal: Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition

Hidden fat in your body type may put you at greater brain risk

Radiological Society of North America
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The effect of obesity on brain health may depend not only on how much fat is in the body, but also on the areas of the body where fat is stored, according to a new study.

Journal: Radiology

Researchers grow specialized nerve cells that degenerate in ALS/motor neuron disease and are damaged in spinal cord injury

eLife
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers have developed a way to grow a highly specialised subset of brain nerve cells that are involved in motor neuron disease and damaged in spinal injuries. The findings set the stage for further research into whether these molecularly directed neurons can form functional connections in the body, and to explore their potential use in human diseases where corticospinal neurons are compromised.

Journal: eLife
Funder: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Emily and Robert Pearlstein Fund for Nervous System Repair, Max and Anne Wien Professor of Life Sciences Fund, Suna and Inan Kirac Foundation, International Brain Research Organization, McKnight Brain Research Institute (Regeneration Project Fellowship)

The statin gap: Survey reveals many Americans are unaware of life-saving cholesterol alternatives

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Reports and Proceedings

An Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center survey shows 61% of Americans don’t know there are other medicines besides statins to help lower cholesterol.

Other survey results show many haven’t heard about an inherited cholesterol called lipoprotein(a) or a test called coronary artery calcium score, which can show early signs of heart disease.

It’s important to get your cholesterol and heart numbers checked, even if you feel fine, because you could be at risk for heart problems without knowing it.

Antibiotic therapy: is shorter just as effective?

Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care
Reports and Proceedings

Antibiotic therapy: is shorter just as effective? Shorter-duration antibiotic therapy shows comparable success to longer-duration treatment in children with community-acquired pneumonia. However, a general conclusion about a shortened treatment duration is not possible.

University of Virginia launches collaboratory on data, AI, and health

University of Virginia School of Data Science
Business Announcement

The University of Virginia has launched the Collaboratory on Data, AI, and Health, a new cross-Grounds initiative that brings together expertise from across the University to advance health and health care through data and artificial intelligence. The Collaboratory is jointly supported by the School of Data Science, UVA Health, the School of Medicine, the Darden School of Business, the School of Education and Human Development, and the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

A rich social environment is associated with better cognitive health outcomes for older adults, study finds

McGill University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Research by an interdisciplinary team from McGill University and Université Laval provides new insights into the links between social factors and cognitive health among aging adults. While previous research had found positive correlations between specific measures of social connectedness and a variety of health outcomes, this study appears to have been the first to create profiles aggregating multiple social factors and to see how those correlated with cognitive health in older adults, the researchers said.

Journal: Aging & Mental Health
Funder: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

UVA research co-leads $4.7 million initiative to advance automated diabetes care

University of Virginia School of Data Science
Grant and Award Announcement

UVA's Heman Shakeri co-leads a $4.7 million grant to advance automated insulin delivery. The Forlenza-Shakeri project uses AI to personalize Type 1 Diabetes care.

Funder: Breakthrough T1D, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust

Training the next generation of translational virologists: Reflections from the 2025 Global Virus Network Short Course

Global Virus Network
Meeting Announcement

The Global Virus Network’s (GVN) 2025 Short Course in Translational Virology brought together a remarkable international cohort in December 2025 for eight days of scientific immersion, mentorship, and hands-on learning at the intersection of virology, medicine, and global health.