Health

Dr. Katherine Freeman outlines a seven-day plan focused on anti-inflammatory foods, hydration, prebiotics and probiotics, fiber and daily movement to support digestion and immune function. She recommends checking with a primary care physician, gastroenterologist or nutritionist before starting.

Danny Casper is competing as the U.S. curling skip at the Cortina Olympics while living with Guillain-Barré syndrome; he was diagnosed after months of tests and has returned to play while managing ongoing symptoms.

Bruno Peek is auctioning six items used by Queen Elizabeth II at Bonhams to raise money for Cancer Research UK; he says the sale has become more poignant after a recent diagnosis of incurable blood cancer.

A writer describes how a daily morning tea ritual coincided with clearer skin, and Dr. Lamees Hamdan notes that regular and herbal teas are rich in polyphenols and antioxidants that may help calm inflammation and support gut and liver health.

Canadian police said at least nine people, including the suspected shooter, were found dead after shootings in Tumbler Ridge that involved Tumbler Ridge Secondary School; authorities say the active-shooter alert was cancelled and they do not believe any suspects remain at large.

Nearly two dozen Buddhist monks finished a 2,300-mile Walk for Peace in Washington, D.C., after walking across nine states through winter storms and bitter cold; organizers said some participants were injured in a vehicle crash during the trek.

Senators John Boozman and Michael Bennett supported the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act, which was signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 and extends federal funding for preterm birth research and related programs through 2030. Officials said the law allows the CDC and HRSA to continue researching premature births, collect data, and provide grants for risk-factor research and support services for pregnant people.

The article notes a growing “friendship famine” with fewer close ties and describes ways women, especially in midlife, are finding and strengthening friendships. It presents practical meeting places and the ADORE method (Appreciation, Desire, Openness, Reliability, Experiences) to help new connections deepen.

British Columbia will invest $475 million over three years to create a new disability benefit and an income-tested supplement, expanding funding eligibility from about 30,000 to about 48,000 children; first supplement payments are scheduled for July 2027.

The American Medical Association announced a new evidence-based review process for vaccine safety and effectiveness for the next respiratory viral season, conducted with CIDRAP's Vaccine Integrity Project and focused on flu, COVID-19 and RSV. The move follows changes to the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices after HHS replaced its members.

Alejandra Lavalley kept a healthy lifestyle yet was diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia in her early 30s, and cardiologists note cholesterol checks should begin at age 18.

A pooled analysis of about 130,000 participants found that higher intake of caffeinated coffee (about two to three cups daily) or caffeinated tea (about one to two cups daily) was associated with a modestly lower risk of dementia; decaffeinated drinks did not show the same link.

Harvard researchers reported a set of molecular signals that converted cortical NG2 progenitor cells in vitro into corticospinal neurons, producing a lab model of the cells affected in ALS and spinal cord injury.

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust advertised a neonatal nurse role to work with families in close-relative marriages and to promote genetic testing and awareness; the posting has since closed. The job description said the nurse would support local delivery of a national strategy and hold sensitive conversations about recessive genetic disorders.

An observational study of about 2,000 people with diabetes found that those over 55 taking metformin were 37% less likely to develop intermediate age-related macular degeneration over five years; researchers say the result shows an association but does not prove causation and call for clinical trials.

CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz urged Americans to receive the measles vaccine as the CDC reports 733 confirmed cases this year and several states are experiencing outbreaks.

The Whole Health for Veterans Act would limit co-payments for VA whole-health well-being services and includes a reported $30 monthly cap for some co-pays; the bill was introduced Dec. 18 and referred to the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and the Subcommittee on Health.

A Johns Hopkins analysis of roughly 3,000 adults over 65 reported that speed-focused brain-training exercises were associated with about a 25% lower dementia risk and benefits that may last up to 20 years. Some neuroscientists cautioned that evidence is still limited.

The Vedders' EB Research Partnership has raised more than $80 million and supported research that helped lead to recent FDA approvals and dozens of clinical trials, a story chronicled in the new documentary Matter of Time.

A Los Angeles volunteer took a shelter dog named Rain out for a final 'sleepover.' After the volunteer's TikTok video drew wide attention, Rain was adopted.

An op‑ed reports that HPV vaccination has led to large reductions in cervical cancer and precancer in multiple countries, and that a newly formed ACIP working group plans a multi‑year comprehensive review of the vaccine’s efficacy, safety, and dosing, including questions about single‑dose protection and adjuvant concerns.

An NIH-funded 20-year follow-up of adults 65 and older found that adaptive visual speed training — delivered in short courses with later boosters — was associated with a 25% lower rate of Medicare-claimed dementia diagnoses, while memory and reasoning training did not show the same association.

UNICEF says more than half of children in parts of North Darfur are acutely malnourished, and UN-backed IPC data describes catastrophic malnutrition in three localities.

A small clinical trial found that adults with Crohn's disease who limited eating to an eight-hour daily window experienced a 40% drop in bowel movement frequency and about a 50% reduction in abdominal pain after 12 weeks.

A JAMA Pediatrics review pooling 190 studies with 2.8 million participants found genetics do not fully explain childhood food allergies and identified factors such as antibiotic exposure and delayed introduction of allergenic foods as linked to higher risk.

Protein helps build and preserve muscle and can modestly increase fullness, but experts say visible benefits usually require pairing higher protein with regular strength training; current guidance cited ranges about 1.2–1.6 grams per kilogram daily.

A bipartisan bill introduced in the House would permanently authorize telehealth and telescreening mammography through the VA to expand access for women veterans, especially in rural areas. The measure was referred to the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and has a Senate companion.

A foster carer posted a TikTok of an orange kitten rescued from a busy street 48 hours earlier; the clip has more than 866,400 views and 234,800 likes.

Two hikers found a solo hiker with a serious head injury at Bridal Veil Falls and followed a trail that led them to her; she was flown to Utah Valley Hospital and is being monitored for brain swelling.

Teddi Mellencamp marked the one-year anniversary of doctors finding 'plum-sized' stage 4 tumors on her brain, saying she felt both anxiety and gratitude; she reported she is undergoing immunotherapy and said she currently has 'no trace of cancer'.