https://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. In 2022, about 149 million children younger than 5 worldwide suffered from childhood stunting. A critical marker of chronic undernutrition, stunting is more than a metric of physical height. It represents a lifelong constraint on human potential, carrying a heightened risk of mortality, chronic disease, impaired cognitive development and reduced economic opportunity. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-human-linked-childhood-stunting-africa.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:00:05 EDT news700322401 Governments put up railings and barriers and regulate supplies of certain drugs to prevent people from dying by suicide. But other products associated with fatal self-harm, such as firearms, pesticides and alcohol, remain widely available and publicly promoted. The difference in approach to regulation must be addressed to make progress in preventing suicide, according to an analysis published in PLOS Global Public Health by May van Schalkwyk of the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom and colleagues. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-suicide-overlooks-products-widely-sold.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:00:07 EDT news700242121 Access to health care and insurance coverage strongly influence whether women take recommended amounts of folic acid to help prevent serious birth defects, according to University of California, Irvine researchers using the National Institutes of Health's All of Us Research Program data. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-folic-acid-access-gaps-birth.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:00:07 EDT news700142702 The "Enhanced Games," which took place in Las Vegas from May 21–24, 2026, allow the use of performance-enhancing substances and technological equipment that are normally banned. They have been unanimously condemned by anti-doping authorities and have been the subject of fierce criticism, particularly in the media. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-games-issue.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:20:03 EDT news700140001 Over the past few decades, researchers have developed effective treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a psychiatric disorder some people develop after experiencing trauma. These treatments often involve talking through the trauma and understanding what happened with a therapist. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-wrong-people-nonwestern-backgrounds-recover.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:20:05 EDT news699784681 In high-performance sport, success is often measured in medals, rankings and results, but far less attention is paid to the human cost of achieving them. For Wayne Aquila, Master of Commerce graduate, this tension became the driving force behind his research project, which saw him investigate the influence of power on well-being in high-performance sport environments. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-price-high-sport.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:40:01 EDT news699613121 Online information about artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on cancer research and treatment for both the patient and general-public audiences is limited, and the available webpages and videos are largely of low quality, difficult to read, and frequently omit risks of AI use, according to new research presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and led by researchers from the Abramson Cancer Center (ACC) of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn's Perelman School of Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-highlights-major-gaps-online-info.html Sun, 31 May 2026 10:50:01 EDT news699277261 A large multisite study of older people with cognitive impairment finds that Black and Hispanic people, while known to be far more apt to have dementia, are significantly less apt than other racial and ethnic groups to show Alzheimer's pathology on brain scans. The study, reported in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, was led by researchers at Vanderbilt Health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-brain-imaging-highlights-ethnoracial-differences.html Thu, 28 May 2026 07:00:02 EDT news699163621 For too many women, the journey to motherhood ends in death. Maternal mortality—the death of a woman during pregnancy or within 42 days of giving birth—is not a rare tragedy. Globally, the maternal mortality rate is unacceptably high—about 260,000 women died during and following pregnancy and childbirth in 2023. In the U.S., it is also an ongoing crisis. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-maternal-deaths-pennsylvania-weeks-birth.html Wed, 27 May 2026 12:40:05 EDT news699103502 Punishing regimens of facial exercises. Intentional starvation. Reshaping the jawline or cheekbones by smashing them with a hammer or chisel. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-looksmaxxing-isnt-tiktok-trend-severe.html Mon, 25 May 2026 10:40:02 EDT news698919962 Scientists at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI), in collaboration with ZEISS and MetaCell, have developed a powerful new imaging pipeline called Neuroplex. As described in a paper published in eLife, the technique allows simultaneous monitoring of the activity of up to nine distinct neuronal populations in freely moving mice, dramatically accelerating the pace of scientific exploration into how the brain controls behavior. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-imaging-approach-captures-brain-cell.html Tue, 19 May 2026 17:20:08 EDT news698426461 Scientists in South Korea have developed experimental contact lenses designed to send electrical signals through the retina and into brain regions linked to mood. In mice, the technology appeared to improve depression-like behavior. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-depressed-mice-successfully-smart-contact.html Thu, 14 May 2026 13:44:17 EDT news697984922 Materials scientists have designed brain-stimulating contact lenses that are as effective as Prozac at treating depression in mice. The soft, transparent contact lenses have in-built electrodes that deliver mild electrical signals to the brain via the retina to stimulate specific brain regions associated with depression. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-contact-lenses-depression-mice-effectively.html Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:06 EDT news697885681 Thinking about autism has evolved. Just three decades ago, autism was a relatively rare and clearly defined condition, diagnosed in people with limited verbal language and highly repetitive behavior. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-definition-autism-sight-greatest.html Thu, 14 May 2026 09:31:13 EDT news697969802 As a teenager, Rei Scott spent several weeks living out of a car with four family members and their dog. Each day, Scott worried about where they would spend the following night. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-wages-plates-heavy-toll-rethinking.html Wed, 13 May 2026 22:20:04 EDT news697875880 Exposure to one of the most toxic forms of mercury (methylmercury) may also disrupt the body's metabolic health, according to the findings of a new international study. The research, involving University of Bristol scientists and published in Chemical Research in Toxicology, found the element may have wider health effects than previously known. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-mercury-pollution-affect-brains-clues.html Thu, 07 May 2026 16:40:06 EDT news697378078 Stereotypes of autistic men in films and TV programs may contribute to delayed diagnosis of autistic women and non-binary people, a new University of Stirling study has found. Research conducted by a group of autistic and non-autistic researchers, led by Sarah Dantas of the University's Faculty of Natural Sciences, has found that women and non-binary people may experience delayed diagnosis because dominant images of autism in the media don't match their own experiences. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-stereotypes-autism-tv-linked-delayed.html Wed, 06 May 2026 21:20:01 EDT news697299483 "I should stop." Have you ever said those words to yourself as you scrolled through one disheartening online post after another? This phenomenon is popularly known as doomscrolling. You may wonder: Why is it so difficult to stop doomscrolling once you start? More importantly, what can you do to break free from the negative spiral? Craig Sawchuk, Ph.D., a psychologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, offers insights. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-doomscrolling-scroll-mental-health.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:20:04 EDT news696776881 A deadly form of leukemia may be stopped before it ever develops by introducing targeted maternal screening in the United States, according to new research. The national study, led by physician-scientists at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, found that a virus passed from mother to child—often decades before cancer appears—drives sharply higher disease rates in certain populations, pointing to a practical opportunity to prevent cases entirely. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-maternal-screening-rare-deadly-leukemia.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:00:03 EDT news696762962 In two new studies, researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute have clarified how a long-banned group of chemicals, called polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), affect genetic activity. The research helps explain how biological systems respond to these exposures, including key differences between males and females. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-chemical-lingers-strangest-effect-sex.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:50:04 EDT news696615542 How can ADHD be both a source of daily struggle for millions and a common trait among highly accomplished artists and innovators like Justin Timberlake and Simone Biles? The science behind this paradox is the focus of new research from Constructor University neuroscientist Dr. Radwa Khalil published in iScience, which explores the shared neurological mechanisms that connect creativity and attention. The study demonstrates how certain cognitive processes associated with ADHD—such as defocused attention—can also be potent sources of creative thinking when properly harnessed. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-creative-therapy-rewire-adhd-brain.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 15:00:02 EDT news696251705 Researchers at City of Hope, a cancer research and treatment organization, and the University of California, Berkeley, have created a novel microfluidic platform that can assess women's breast cancer risk at the cellular level. The first-of-its-kind platform squeezes individual breast epithelial cells, creating a taxing environment to measure how they deform, recover, and behave under stress, according to a new study published in eBioMedicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-ai-individual-breast-cells-cancer.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:30:01 EDT news696167581 Childhood trauma may leave a biological and psychological imprint that lasts decades. A new study by researchers at the University of Toronto and the University Health Network suggests that childhood sexual abuse may be linked to a significantly higher likelihood of cancer later in life. In work appearing in PLOS One, researchers have explored whether different types of childhood adversity, including childhood sexual abuse, childhood physical abuse, and exposure to parental domestic violence, were associated with cancer diagnoses in older adulthood. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-shadow-childhood-sexual-abuse-linked.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:00:10 EDT news696010621 A new commentary in Reproductive Health calls for fetal condition care to be reframed through a reproductive justice (RJ) lens, arguing that systemic inequities, not just medical factors, shape the options available to families. A team of researchers, led by Penn Nursing and SisterSong the Women of Color Reproductive Justice Network, authored the editorial, which highlights how structural power—rather than just medical necessity—shapes the experiences of families navigating complex fetal diagnoses. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-reproductive-justice-framework-essential-inequities.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:00:06 EDT news695572657 Researchers have developed a compact camera that captures ultraviolet, near-infrared, and visible images using a single chip. Inspired by the multiwavelength vision capability of the mantis shrimp, the camera could help surgeons identify lymph nodes connected to a tumor and assess whether cancer has spread to them, making cancer surgery safer and less invasive. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-shrimp-camera-hidden-cancer-surgeons.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:00:04 EDT news695547541 The human body is often described as a marvel of "perfect design": elegant, efficient and finely tuned for its purpose. Yet, when we look closer, a rather different picture emerges. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-human-body-isnt-masterpiece-patchwork.html Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:30:01 EDT news694958813 If you've been thinking about ditching your glasses or contacts, you might be wondering: Is now a good time for LASIK surgery? Is there a "best age?" Should you wait until your prescription stops changing? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-lasik-age-eligibility-recovery.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:40:01 EDT news694947541 A new study from the University of Toronto shows that where a mother lives in an Indian city—in a slum or a non-slum neighborhood—is linked to how she breastfeeds her baby. Breastfeeding within one hour of birth helps newborns fight infection and lowers the risk of death, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Giving babies only breastmilk (no water or other foods) for about the first six months protects them from diarrhea, pneumonia, and poor growth and supports their brain development. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-breastfeeding-patterns-differ-india-slums.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:00:06 EDT news694863121 Dr. Yangzhi Zhu from the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation has published a research paper titled "Real-time intraocular pressure monitoring and responsive drug delivery in preclinical models by an all-polymer smart contact lens" in Science Translational Medicine. The study introduces an innovative smart contact lens that integrates AI-enabled real-time intraocular pressure monitoring with closed-loop treatment delivery. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-smart-contact-lens-ai-track.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:00:04 EDT news694867198 The human eye functions like an exceptionally precise, high-end camera, one with a resolution of around 576 megapixels. What makes it intriguing is that although our eyes can focus on light at only one wavelength at a time, the result isn't fragmented or blurry. What we see feels seamlessly sharp and rich in details. This raises the question of which color it chooses to focus on when the scene we are looking at has multiple colors. A recent study published in Science Advances presents a mechanism that guides the choice. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-eye-focuses-sharpness.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:50:01 EDT news694752973