Health

Research published in JAMA using American Cancer Society data reports that colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related death among U.S. adults aged 50 and younger, even as overall cancer deaths in that age group fell about 44% since 1990.

Researchers report that volunteering is associated with better mood and lower stress in older adults.

A beauty editor describes a single Fraxel laser session, reporting a week of visible downtime with 'MENDS' flakes around days 4–5 and clear improvement in skin tone and texture by three to eight weeks after treatment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs will deposit February 2026 disability payments on Friday, Feb. 27; about 6.5 million veterans received tax-free VA disability compensation as of 2024.

Starting in 2026, Medicare Part B premiums increase to $202.90 per month; a six-state prior-authorization pilot called WISeR began on Jan. 1; and Medicare narrowed telehealth coverage with a Jan. 31 rule requiring many virtual visits to occur from a rural medical facility.

Police in Lawrenceville found four adults dead in a home and discovered three unharmed children hiding in a closet; a suspect was arrested nearby and authorities said the case appears domestic-related.

The US Poison Center Network — 53 regional centers serving every state and territory — handles millions of exposures and, according to a RAND report, saves about $3.1 billion a year; recent budget pressures and years without inflation-adjusted federal funding threaten their capacity.

Meal-replacement bars can be nutritious when they are high in protein, fiber, and essential nutrients; some bars contain added sugars, extra calories, and artificial ingredients and should not replace all meals.

Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel tells TODAY.com he prioritizes dietary fiber for healthy aging, and reports show most U.S. adults consume about 14 grams daily versus the 25–38 grams recommended.

Malawi began a cholera vaccination campaign this week targeting vulnerable areas after unusually heavy rains and flooding raised the risk of outbreaks; health officials reported at least 17 cases and one death in Blantyre.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for Storm Ingrid, which will bring heavy rain and gusty winds to parts of southwest England and south Wales; the warning runs until 9am on Saturday.

The article presents four soups—spiced lentil and carrot, butternut squash and sweet potato, chicken and bean, and minestrone—as batch-cooking options and highlights ingredients linked to heart health such as leafy greens, beans, and potassium-rich vegetables.

India has confirmed five Nipah virus cases in West Bengal, including healthcare workers, and nearly 100 people have been asked to quarantine while patients are treated in hospitals around Kolkata; there is no approved vaccine or specific cure.

The House passed legislation to extend Medicare telehealth reimbursements through Dec. 31, 2027, and the bill is now headed to the Senate where passage is expected.

An 18-week randomized, controlled feeding trial of 36 adults aged 65+ found that sharply reducing ultra-processed food intake and shifting to whole, minimally processed meals was associated with weight loss, lower body fat, improved cholesterol, and better insulin sensitivity across two different protein-focused diets.

The article reports that decades of research, including a large meta-analysis of over six million adults, link higher red and processed meat intake to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and that reducing red meat in favor of plant, seafood or lean protein options can lower costs and address health inequities.

A Bucks County family is publicizing Moebius syndrome after their four-year-old son, Jackson Roberts, was born with facial paralysis; the family asked the community to light buildings purple around Jan. 24 for Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day.

The U.S. has finalized its withdrawal from the World Health Organization one year after the announcement, and WHO says the United States still owes more than $130 million; U.S. officials say unresolved issues remain, including access to international disease data.

A genetic analysis of more than 268,000 people linked thiamine (vitamin B1) metabolism to self-reported bowel movement frequency, and data from nearly 100,000 UK Biobank participants showed higher dietary B1 was associated with more frequent bowel movements, with the effect differing by genetic profile.

Researchers report a stem-cell derived "pain sponge" (SN101) that absorbed inflammatory pain signals and reduced cartilage loss in mice with osteoarthritis, according to a December 2025 preprint; the work is preclinical and has not been peer-reviewed.

A JAMA study using National Center for Health Statistics data found U.S. cancer death rates for people under 50 fell about 44% from 1990 to 2023, while deaths from colorectal cancer increased and became the leading cause of cancer death in 2023.

Stanford-led researchers analyzed two natural experiments in Canada using a 2016 Ontario shingles vaccine rollout and records for 232,124 older adults, and found an absolute 2.0 percentage-point lower incidence of new dementia diagnoses over 5.5 years among vaccine-eligible groups.

Prosecutors say a New Jersey landlord allegedly used chloroform to drug tenants and sexually assaulted them; he has been indicted on multiple charges and pleaded not guilty at arraignment.

The United States officially withdrew from the World Health Organization on Jan. 22, 2026; WHO officials say questions about unpaid dues and the formal status of the withdrawal will be discussed by the executive board in February and by member states at the World Health Assembly in May.

Authorities say a 43-year-old man in Idaho called 911 to report he had shot his wife and identified himself; deputies spoke with him by phone as they arrived but he later died by an apparent self-inflicted gunshot and both adults were found dead. Officials reported no one else was at the scene.

CDC reviewed CureTB referrals from 2016–2023 and found 6,944 referral requests, including 2,404 for confirmed TB, and reported that 1,379 of 1,741 referred patients (79%) completed treatment within 12 months.

A JAMA study found that colorectal cancer became the leading cause of cancer death for U.S. adults under 50 by 2023, with deaths from colon and rectal cancers rising about 1.1% per year since 2005 while mortality from other major cancers declined.

Singer LeAnn Rimes underwent therapeutic plasma exchange at a Nashville clinic that Next Health says costs $10,000 per session; she described the treatment as removing 'mold and microplastics' and likened it to an 'oil change for your body'.

The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans present a much shorter report and an upside-down food pyramid that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, higher protein, and healthy fats; dietitians praised the focus on produce and gut health but raised concerns that the pyramid’s imagery may conflict with written advice on red meat, fiber, sodium, and alcohol.

Experts say dark chocolate contains sleep-supporting nutrients like magnesium and tryptophan but also contains stimulants such as caffeine and theobromine, which can interfere with sleep when eaten in the evening.