May 20, 2026
Women may be especially sensitive to the effects of common dementia risk factors, according to a new UC San Diego study of over 17,000 adults. Researchers say tailoring prevention strategies specifically for women could be key to reducing Alzheimer’s risk.
Scientists discover why Alzheimer’s risk hits women so much harder
May 19, 2026
Low vitamin D levels could be quietly making breast cancer surgery recovery far more painful. In a new study, patients deficient in vitamin D were three times more likely to experience moderate to severe pain after mastectomy surgery and ended up using significantly more opioid medication to cope. Researchers say vitamin D may help regulate how the body processes pain through its effects on inflammation and the immune system.
April 18, 2026
New research reveals that obesity affects men and women in surprisingly different ways. Men are more likely to develop harmful abdominal fat and signs of liver stress, while women show higher inflammation and cholesterol levels. These differences could help explain why health risks vary between sexes. Scientists say this could lead to more tailored treatments for obesity.
Men and women with obesity face very different hidden health risks
April 6, 2026
Laura Murray-Kolb has been selected to receive the 2025 Lu Ann Aday Award, a recognition given annually to a Purdue University faculty member who has made a major impact in their field within the humanities and social sciences.
April 6, 2026
Laura Murray-Kolb has been selected to receive the 2025 Lu Ann Aday Award, a recognition given annually to a Purdue University faculty member who has made a major impact in their field within the humanities and social sciences. Murray-Kolb, professor and head of the Department of Nutrition Science in the College of Health and Human Sciences, studies the neurophysiological and neuropsychological consequences of iron deficiency with the aim of informing the development of policies designed to improve maternal and child health worldwide.
April 3, 2026
A routine blood marker tied to inflammation may reveal Alzheimer’s risk years in advance. Scientists found that higher neutrophil levels—part of the body’s first immune response—were linked to a greater chance of developing dementia. The discovery suggests this common lab value could help flag at-risk individuals before symptoms appear. It also raises the possibility that immune cells themselves may be fueling the disease.
A simple blood test could reveal Alzheimer’s risk years early
March 24, 2026
Alcohol and drug addiction can cause many harms. This Research in Context feature looks at research into the causes of addiction and new ways to treat it.
Treating addiction:Research leads to more effective medications and psychotherapies
March 24, 2026
A new study suggests depression may soon be detectable through a simple blood test—by tracking how certain immune cells age. Researchers found that accelerated aging in monocytes, a type of white blood cell, is closely tied to the emotional and cognitive symptoms of depression, like hopelessness and loss of pleasure, rather than physical symptoms such as fatigue.
March 17, 2026
A shingles vaccine might double as a powerful heart protector. In people already at high risk, it cut major cardiac events by 46% and deaths by an impressive 66% within a year. Scientists think preventing shingles may also stop clot-related complications that can lead to heart attacks and strokes. The effect is so strong, it rivals the benefits of quitting smoking.
This common vaccine cuts heart risk nearly in half in new study
March 16, 2026
A Yale study found that lowering parent stress can help protect young children from obesity. When parents practiced mindfulness and stress-management skills, their kids showed healthier eating patterns and avoided the weight gain seen in families that only focused on diet and exercise.
Parents’ stress may be quietly driving childhood obesity, Yale study finds
