Health

Reggie Dunbar II has lived with HIV for more than 40 years and now leads an advocacy group for veterans, and the Department of Defense has paused shipping HIV-positive recruits after a court upheld the enlistment ban.

The article reports Taco Bell offers several menu items with measurable fiber, citing a beef Nachos Bell Grande at about 13 grams and a cantina chicken bowl at 10 grams.

A large umbrella review found daily collagen supplementation was linked to modest improvements in skin elasticity and hydration but did not show convincing reductions in wrinkles; the analysis pooled 16 systematic reviews and more than 100 randomized trials.

Novartis reached an undisclosed settlement with the estate of Henrietta Lacks in federal court, resolving a 2024 lawsuit that alleged cells taken without Lacks' knowledge in 1951 were commercialized.

Active Minds and student peer groups have expanded across hundreds of campuses as rates of mental illness remain highest for 18–25 year-olds, and the organization recently announced funding increases for suicide-prevention programs.

On March 8, 2026 most U.S. states (except Arizona and Hawaii) will move clocks forward one hour for Daylight Saving Time, causing a one-hour overnight loss of sleep; experts say this shift can lead to short-term sleep deprivation, reduced REM sleep, and circadian disruption. The article reports that specialists reference a '7:1' sleep rule—aiming for at least seven hours nightly within a one-hour window—and mention morning light and gradual bedtime adjustments as strategies discussed to ease the transition.

Putnam County deputies found Andrew Giddens, missing since Feb. 14, stuck in mud at a Vulcan Materials site; he was freed after a multi-hour rescue and flown to a trauma center in critical condition. Authorities said they will not pursue trespassing charges because of his mental health.

The article cites the Cleveland Clinic saying some researchers found rosemary oil comparable to Rogaine for encouraging hair growth, and that biotin could help with hair fullness; consumer reviews describe an all‑type rosemary oil that users report improved scalp condition and reduced shedding over weeks to months.

A Nebraska committee voted 5-2 to advance a bill that would bar civil, criminal, or licensing penalties for practitioners who recommend medical cannabis; the committee added language that providers could still face discipline for failing to properly assess patients.

Guidance recommends getting 10%–35% of daily calories from protein, which for a 2,000-calorie diet equals about 50–175 grams. Common healthy sources noted include seafood, lean meats, and dairy.

An American Heart Association study projects higher prevalence of multiple cardiovascular risk factors and diseases among U.S. adult women by 2050, including increases in hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that cardiovascular conditions accounted for about 1 in 5 female deaths in 2023, roughly 304,000 deaths.

Stanford researchers led by Professor Bali Pulendran tested a pathogen-agnostic nasal vaccine in mice that produced tertiary lymphoid structures after SARS-CoV-2 exposure, and they say human safety and efficacy trials are planned in about three to five years.

A pooled analysis of more than 1.8 million people published in the British Journal of Cancer found vegetarians had lower risk of several cancers, while vegans showed a higher incidence of colon cancer in this dataset.

Miranda McKeon said she continues to drink alcohol while acknowledging evidence linking alcohol to cancer, and she has been cancer-free since 2022.

The federal government announced over $41.5 million from six organizations to fund 19 research teams over five years for cancer prevention, risk reduction and early detection.

Alignment Healthcare reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $11 million while health plan membership rose 25% year-over-year to 236,300 and fourth-quarter revenue increased about 44% to just over $1 billion.

SuperPretzel is introducing plant-based protein soft pretzels nationwide starting March 1, offered in full-size Bavarian-style and bite-sized minis with 7–10 grams of protein per serving.

Researchers report that people labeled super-agers (age 80+) had about twice as many immature neurons in the hippocampus compared with typical older adults, based on analysis of 38 post-mortem brains published in Nature; the authors note a small sample and variability among human samples.

A 2026 Journal of Neuroscience study compared 29 expert birdwatchers and 29 novices and found structural differences in brain regions tied to attention and perception; the paper says these changes are consistent with neuroplasticity, but it does not prove birdwatching prevents cognitive decline.

Emergency rules issued by the Florida Department of Health reduce ADAP eligibility from 400% to 130% of the federal poverty level and restrict coverage of the HIV drug Biktarvy; advocates say about 16,000 Floridians could be affected.

A no-cost three-day clinic offering dental, medical and vision services will run Feb. 27–March 1 at the Empire Polo Club grounds in Indio, hosted by Morales & Galindo Marketing Group with services provided by California CareForce.

Actor Eric Dane’s death from ALS has renewed attention to the disease and its costs; a palliative care physician and a research lead describe care needs, hospice timing, financial strain, and ongoing scientific efforts focused on TDP-43.

UCLA researchers engineered T cells to import and process cellobiose, a sugar tumors cannot use; in lab and mouse studies the modified cells remained active, produced cytokines and improved tumor control.

A study published in Nature reports that people aged 80 and older classified as SuperAgers produce at least twice as many new neurons in the hippocampus compared with typical older adults, based on post-mortem analysis of nearly 356,000 individual cell nuclei.

A cohort study of more than 98,000 adults with type 2 diabetes found that use of GLP-1 receptor agonists combined with adherence to multiple healthy lifestyle habits was associated with reduced risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. The study, led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and published Feb. 25, 2026 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, also reported independent benefits from healthy habits and from GLP-1 RA use alone.

Kenya has begun rolling out lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention option, with 21,000 starter doses targeted to 15 high-burden counties.

TrumpRx is a government-hosted website listing cash-only discounts for primarily name-brand prescription drugs; at launch it included 43 drugs from five manufacturers and showed discounts ranging about 33%–93%.

Matt Kaeberlein, a longevity researcher, began testosterone replacement in his early 50s after tests showed primary hypogonadism; he tried supplements and an oral medication before settling on weekly injections and reports improved energy and body composition.

PFAS, often called "forever chemicals," are persistent compounds found in many consumer products and the environment, and exposure has been linked to health problems including cancer and organ disease. The article's headline says one simple trick can immediately reduce exposure, and a recent study is reported to find PFAS in the drinking water of more than 200 million Americans.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo modified Clostridium sporogenes to tolerate oxygen and paired that change with a quorum-sensing switch so the trait activates only after bacteria accumulate inside a tumor; they plan pre-clinical tests to combine both features.