Health

Two recent studies report that small daily habit changes were associated with longer life; a Lancet analysis linked an extra five minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity per day with up to a 10% lower risk of death, and a University of Sydney analysis estimated a combined small increase in sleep, activity and vegetables could add about one year for people with the poorest starting habits.

The article lists eight physical changes people often notice during a month without alcohol, including easier hydration and early signs of liver recovery; many changes appear within days to weeks.

Rio Foster, a 22-year-old Angels prospect injured in a September car crash, remains in rehabilitation with serious head injuries and inconsistent communication; his family is seeking clarity about whether the team will continue his insurance and support.

Wolverhampton City Council has launched a public consultation on a School Accessibility Strategy for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and the consultation runs until 22 February.

New federal guidelines released Jan. 7 advise Americans to eat fewer highly processed foods; experts note there is no single U.S. definition and the FDA has pledged research with the USDA.

A 550-pound bear removed from a crawlspace under an Altadena home was later seen at two other residences and left the last home Sunday night; its current whereabouts are unknown.

The Supreme Court heard cases from West Virginia and Idaho challenging state laws that bar people designated male at birth from competing on girls' sports teams; the court has not yet issued a decision.

A University of Sydney analysis of more than 59,000 older adults in the UK Biobank found that modest, combined increases in sleep, diet quality and daily exercise were associated with longer lifespan and longer disease-free years; related research linked less sitting and small increases in activity to lower death rates.

A population study reported that universal nirsevimab given to most infants was associated with about an 86% reduction in RSV-related hospitalizations in 2023–24 and a 55% reduction in 2024–25, with additional declines in clinic visits.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider a motion to bar ICE from civil immigration enforcement, including staging and processing, on county property. If advanced at the meeting, the motion would be returned in 30 days for possible consideration as an ordinance.

Experts say recent US funding cuts to PEPFAR and USAID have reduced HIV treatment, prevention, and research support in sub‑Saharan Africa, risking interruptions to antiretroviral supplies and the halting of some clinical trials.

The World Health Organization now describes cervical cancer as an eliminable disease, and experts point to advances in vaccination, screening and at-home HPV testing; in the U.S. most diagnoses occur between ages 35 and 44, with an average age near 50.

The FDA asked manufacturers to remove label warnings about suicidal thoughts from GLP-1 weight-loss drugs after a review found no evidence of increased risk; the review covered 91 trials with about 107,910 participants.

CNN Underscored consulted seven stylists and colorists about hair dyes and maintenance products for gray hair, and the experts note that gray strands can be coarser and more resistant to absorbing pigment.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Jan. 13 appointed Dr. Kimberly Biss of Florida and Dr. Adam Urato of Massachusetts to the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; the move followed changes to the CDC childhood vaccine schedule made about a week earlier.

The 2026–2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines raise protein recommendations to about 1.2–1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight, and the article illustrates portion examples for seven common protein foods and how those servings typically contribute roughly 20–40 grams per meal.

A study reported that a blood test measuring immune responses to the bacterial protein flagellin was elevated in some people years before they were diagnosed with Crohn's disease, based on samples from relatives in the GEM Project.

Many patients report that hair loss from chemotherapy is one of the most distressing side effects, and studies cite that 58% of patients view it as the worst chemo effect; scalp‑cooling caps, which received FDA approval, can reduce hair loss by roughly half for some people but can be uncomfortable and do not always prevent shedding.

A Tasting Table article compiles seven store‑bought gluten‑free sweets that Reddit users have recommended, naming items from Trader Joe’s, Katz, Tate’s Bake Shop, Delizza, Goodie Girl, and Publix.

Equilibrium Baltimore offers aerial yoga classes that blend strength, stretching and mindfulness using fabric silks, and the studio owner says the practice helped her reclaim mental health after a violent carjacking and foster community.

The article reports that NAD+ is a cellular coenzyme linked to aging and that the supplement market ranges from expensive monthly products to lower‑priced options; it mentions a liposomal NAD+ product listed near $22 for a 45‑day supply.

South Carolina reported 124 new measles cases, bringing the outbreak total to 434, and more than 400 people are in quarantine.

Some families and activists say the Autism Spectrum Disorder label is too broad and want a separate 'profound' high‑needs category, while disability advocates warn such a label could lead to more segregated services; CDC data shows about one in 31 eight‑year‑olds has been diagnosed.

Mattel added a Barbie designed to represent autism spectrum disorder to its Fashionistas collection, with flexible joints, sensory-friendly fabric and accessories such as noise-canceling headphones and a tablet showing symbol-based AAC apps. The doll was developed with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and joins other inclusive Fashionistas dolls representing Down syndrome, blindness, Type 1 diabetes and limb differences.

The American Cancer Society reports that 70% of U.S. patients diagnosed from 2015–2021 survived at least five years, up from about 50% in the 1970s and 63% in the mid-1990s.

A Cochrane review of 73 randomized trials involving nearly 5,000 adults found that exercise reduced depressive symptoms and showed little to no difference compared with psychological therapy or antidepressants for many participants; light-to-moderate activity and mixed programs including resistance training were most associated with benefit, while long-term effects remain uncertain.

An American Cancer Society report says 70% of people now survive at least five years after a cancer diagnosis, and the society warns that federal research funding cuts could threaten future advances.

Experts and research cited here note that dietary approaches, including the Mediterranean diet and structured behavioral programs, are associated with reduced progression to type 2 diabetes, and that shorter or poorer-quality sleep is linked to higher prediabetes risk.

Oprah Winfrey told TODAY she experienced constipation while taking a GLP‑1 weight‑loss drug and said increased water intake and magnesium helped manage it.

Metropolitan Police staff have paused planned strike action while members are invited to vote on a revised pay offer, after talks between the force and unions were described as producing an improved proposal.