A new policy paper highlights key areas for advancing data-driven policymaking to curb the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), setting the stage for a more effective and equitable healthcare in Europe. This work has been jointly developed by Joint Action on Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes (JACARDI), Joint Action Prevent Non-Communicable Diseases (JA PreventNCD), and the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe). 

New research delivers a timely reminder this holiday season: even moderate drinking can raise your risk for several cancers. A review of 62 studies of up to 100 million adults, found that both how often and how much you drink matter – especially for breast, colorectal, liver and digestive cancers. What you drink also matters – beer and white wine were linked to higher risks in some cases. Added dangers rose for certain racial and socioeconomic groups and from smoking, low activity, infections and poor diet. 

Urban shrinkage is a natural phase in the life cycle of industrialized cities that occurs due to population decline. Most studies, however, overlook urban shrinkage in medium-sized cities. To address this gap, researchers analyzed the spatial distribution and the factors affecting urban shrinkage of medium-sized cities at the county level in China. Based on the findings, the researchers also proposed crucial policy changes to mitigate urban shrinkage.

Colorectal cancer is considered a disease of old age, but young adults are increasingly affected. The research network “PerMiCCion”, led by Prof. Gianni Panagiotou at the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI) and the University of Jena, is investigating why this is the case and what role the microbes in the gut play. The consortium, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), is entering a second four-year funding phase. The project will receive a total of more than four million euros over eight years.