https://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. Baycrest researchers and clinicians have contributed to newly published research advancing understanding of paratonia, a common but often underrecognized condition affecting people living with advanced dementia. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-hidden-muscle-resistance-advanced-dementia.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:40:06 EDT news700316461 A man in his 30s arrived at the Royal London Major Trauma Centre after what sounded like a relatively minor cycling accident. He had been riding a shared ebike when he lost control and fell. By the time I met him, scans had revealed a complex fracture around his ankle where his shinbone (tibia) had pierced his skin. He would need multiple surgeries to fix his broken bone and grafts for his skin and muscles, followed by many months of rehabilitation and a prolonged period away from work. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-lime-bike-leg-doctors-ebike.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:00:03 EDT news700306713 Drivers involved in serious accidents in rural areas have a higher prevalence of drunk driving, detectable cannabis and polysubstance use than urban drivers, according to a Canada-wide study published in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-rural-drivers-greater-impaired.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 11:20:01 EDT news700306664 People with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are at higher risk of developing dementia. Indeed, many of them experience a gradual decline in cognitive performance over time. Smartphone- or tablet-based memory tests can capture this subtle decline more quickly than conventional testing. These findings come from a study by DZNE in collaboration with university hospitals in Germany, the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the United States, and the startup neotiv. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-smartphone-cognitive-decline-faster-standard.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 10:40:04 EDT news700306638 An international research team has identified dozens of new genetic risk factors linked to lumbar spinal stenosis, a common degenerative condition of the lower spine. The study, led by researchers at the University of Oulu, provides new insight into the biological mechanisms behind one of the most frequent causes of mobility problems in older adults. The work was published in the journal Nature Communications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-nerve-pain-genetic-clues-reshape.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 19:00:01 EDT news700243022 People who are resilient to psychological stress are similar to each other—not in terms of appearance, but in the brain's response to stressful stimuli. Psychological resilience—the ability to cope effectively with adversity—plays a crucial role in how we feel about ourselves. So why are some people better able to cope with stress and mental strain over time than others? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-brains-similar-stress-fmri-results.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 18:00:05 EDT news700215810 Just 4 minutes of daily strengthening exercise dramatically increases key factors in quality of life for older adults, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State College of Medicine. Results published in PLOS One show that strength—which affects fall risk, longevity, independent living and more—significantly improved for adults 65 and older in as little as 12 weeks. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-minutes-daily-resistance-quadruple-older.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:40:04 EDT news700234064 New historical research has found that early stagecoach passengers were as concerned with motion sickness as they were with the risk of being robbed by highwaymen. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-motion-sickness-modern-phenomenon-reveals.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:20:07 EDT news700227362 Muscle spasticity is a common and often debilitating consequence of spinal cord injury that can significantly affect mobility and quality of life. Spasticity is a condition in which muscles become abnormally stiff or tight because of disrupted nerve signaling, often causing exaggerated reflexes, involuntary muscle spasms, and difficulty with movement. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-gene-therapy-approach-muscle-spasticity.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 08:40:01 EDT news700203961 Reasons why our walking becomes slower and more tiring with age have been uncovered by new Australian research—with findings showing the body increasingly sacrifices efficiency to stay upright. The findings are published in the journal Gait & Posture. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-stability-aging.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 08:20:01 EDT news700201921 The ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda has now killed 61 people, with 359 confirmed cases. The Bundibugyo strain of the virus has a fatality rate of between 30% and 50%, and there is currently no vaccine approved for it. Two scientists at the University of Oxford, Teresa Lambe and Rebecca Makinson, are part of the group who are working to develop one. In early June, Oxford was one of three organizations to receive funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations for this work. They spoke to The Conversation Weekly podcast about what it takes to make an Ebola vaccine. This is an edited version of that conversation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-ebola-vaccine-scientists.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:40:06 EDT news700144802 When it comes to losing weight, the fear of "ruining your metabolism" is widespread. Indeed, many people who have lost weight and then put it back on feel that every failed attempt leaves them worse off than before, with more fat, less muscle, greater hunger, lower energy, and an ever-diminishing ability to lose weight again. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-regaining-weight-wont-permanently-metabolism.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:00:03 EDT news700144382 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 Flatulence, or farting, is something people often joke about or find embarrassing when it happens unexpectedly. It is, however, an essential bodily function that allows the digestive system to keep pressure within the intestinal tract low and prevents painful stretching of the stomach and intestines. Even though it is normal to fart, it remains unclear what counts as a healthy number. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-people-gas-app.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:00:05 EDT news700130400 Inside the brain is a dense network of neurons that receive, process, and relay information. The synapse, where neurons meet, is the epicenter of this communication. Neurons that send information, called presynaptic neurons, hold tiny packages of neurotransmitters—waiting for a chemical signal from the brain to be released. How this system is regulated by the brain during periods of learning has, until now, been out of reach. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-brain-cellular-3d-reveal-synapses.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:00:01 EDT news699880261 Cerebral palsy is the most common disability that starts in childhood, affecting about 50 million people worldwide. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-exoskeletons-people-cerebral-palsy-reality.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:20:06 EDT news699797523 University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers report the final outcomes of a pioneering pilot clinical trial using electrical stimulation of the spinal cord to improve arm and hand mobility in people with chronic stroke in Nature Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-years-spinal-cord-arm-function.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 05:00:01 EDT news699698402 A recent University of Mississippi study has identified hundreds of counties in the South where HIV prevention and health care may not be keeping pace with the local needs, leaving communities without resources to address the persistent problem. The research, published in Frontiers in Public Health, offers health care and government leaders a new tool for targeting HIV-related support where the need is highest. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-deep-south-hiv-gaps-patients.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 20:20:03 EDT news699722702 The study by leading baby sleep experts at Durham University, UK, calls for a UK-wide campaign to ensure parents are directed to trusted sources of guidance and specialist advice, before or at the point of purchase. The research is published in BMJ Paediatrics Open. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-parents-guidance-baby-carriers-safely.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:00:01 EDT news699687640 New findings from the landmark FLOW trial, presented at the 63rd ERA Congress, show that once-weekly semaglutide significantly improved health-related quality of life in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, equivalent to around eight additional days in full health per year. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-semaglutide-linked-quality-life-diabetes.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:10:01 EDT news699697921 Major health events increase the risk of housing instability and homelessness among Medicaid enrollees, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. These findings shed new light on the complex, bidirectional relationship between health and housing. The research examined housing outcomes following serious health events by tracking reported address changes over four years before and after a sudden hospitalization. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-evidence-role-health-crises-housing.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:40:06 EDT news699704041 A smartphone app can help individuals with advanced cancer deal with symptoms and maintain their quality of life, according to new research. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-smartphone-app-advanced-cancer-quality.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 23:40:01 EDT news699624208 Millions of Americans are currently taking GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic or Wegovy for weight loss. But along with the fat, many are quietly losing something else: muscle. Unlike fat, muscle doesn't return quickly, and muscle loss can have deleterious effects on strength, mobility, and overall health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-drug-muscle-glp-weight-loss.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 18:20:04 EDT news699634921 Two existing types of drugs synergize to improve the clearing of mucus from the lungs of animals with cystic fibrosis, a Stanford Medicine research team has found. The findings are published in the June 2026 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation. If replicated in humans, the discovery may provide a way to reduce chronic lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-drug-duo-synergy-cystic-fibrosis.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:20:05 EDT news699620827 Early, specialized care for pediatric hip dysplasia can mean the difference between a child who grows up active and pain-free—and one who faces surgery, limited mobility, or even early hip replacement. Yet many patients are still diagnosed much later than they should be. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-trends-reshaping-pediatric-hip-dysplasia.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 07:20:02 EDT news699600542 Teenagers who frequently use social media are about three times more likely to try cannabis than those who use it occasionally, new research from the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) has found. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-teens-glued-social-media-cannabis.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 22:40:03 EDT news699552002 The first shipment of Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable that prevents HIV with two shots a year, arrived in South Africa from the United States in early April 2026. Clinical trials showed close to 100% efficacy. The rollout, expected to begin in June 2026, prioritizes adolescent girls and young women, pregnant and breastfeeding women, transgender people, sex workers, men who have sex with men, and people who inject drugs. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-hiv-south-africa-shot-critical.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 15:00:06 EDT news699529082 Millions of people in the UK suffer from joint pain and arthritis. But with long wait times for scans, specialist appointments, physiotherapy, and joint replacement surgery, many people turn to over-the-counter medicines, such as ibuprofen, to manage their joint pain, stay active, and continue working. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-ibuprofen-joint-pain.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 13:40:01 EDT news699528662 People who undergo bariatric surgery and see substantial weight loss are better able to cope with household tasks such as cleaning, laundry, and grocery shopping. The improvements are also sustained over a long time, according to a study at the University of Gothenburg. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-weight-loss-surgery-boosts-household.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:00:05 EDT news699529465 Going through surgery can take a significant toll on a patient's physical health and capabilities, especially if they are elderly. A recent study found that the effects extend far beyond mobility and pain management, as the operation may also lead to a significant loss of overall cognitive sharpness. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-major-surgery-memory-loss-older.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 11:20:07 EDT news699529058