Various Health
Diverse health research and cross-disciplinary studies. General health insights and scientific curiosities.
Everyday Advice
People do not die of old age: aging weakens the body and disease causes death
A common phrase says someone “died of old age.” Medicine says otherwise. Doctors do not certify “old age” as a…
videoMedCircle: mental health interviews with psychiatrists & psychologists
Mental health interviews with world-class psychiatrists & psychologists, providing mental health advice packed with actionable takeaways and clear explanations of…
You should wear sunscreen every day
Wearing sunscreen daily is essential for protecting your skin from harmful UV rays, which can cause premature aging, skin damage,…
Study Findings
A new cholesterol pill cut bad cholesterol by about 60% in a large trial
CORALreef Lipids is now peer-reviewed in the NEJM (4 February 2026): once-daily oral enlicitide decanoate on top of statins in most participants cut LDL cholesterol by about 56 percentage points versus placebo at 24 weeks, with similar short-term adverse-event rates in the trial. Cardiovascular outcome benefit for this oral drug is still unproven until CORALreef Outcomes reports.
Bedroom night light ties to higher heart and stroke risk
In 88,905 adults followed with wrist light sensors, brighter nights were tied to higher future risks of coronary disease, heart attack, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke under the paper's primary model 3 (demographics, socioeconomic factors, physical activity, smoking, alcohol, diet, and urbanicity). That pattern is association, not proof that your bedroom lamp causes disease. A lab study in healthy young adults found one night of moderate room light during sleep caused a higher nighttime heart rate and lower heart-rate variability and showed higher HOMA-IR, higher 30-minute insulin area under the curve, and a lower Matsuda index the next morning versus very dim light. For everyday sleep space habits, the CDC recommends a cool, dark, quiet bedroom and limiting bright artificial light before bed.
HSL helps maintain fat tissue from inside the nucleus
A Cell Metabolism study (first published online 23 October 2025) reports that hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) is active on fat droplets and in fat-cell nuclei, where it helps maintain adipose tissue. In the mouse models and rare human HSL-deficiency cases described in the paper, the phenotype is lipodystrophy (abnormal loss or redistribution of fat tissue), not obesity. The work reframes how too much and too little functional fat tissue can both strain metabolism. It does not replace medical or lifestyle advice or prove any new treatment.
Walking over 100 minutes a day tied to 23% less chronic back pain
A Norwegian study of 11,194 adults found that those who walked more than 100 minutes a day were 23% less likely to develop chronic low back pain over about four years than those who walked under 78 minutes. Walking time mattered more than pace.
The positive impact of cats on mental and physical health
Cats can offer significant mental and physical health benefits. Research shows that interactions with cats can reduce stress, alleviate anxiety,…
People in southern California breathe high levels of plastic chemicals every day
Scientists from the University of California, Riverside and Duke University used simple silicone wristbands to track what people breathe in…
Lab Research
How to spot fake scientific journals that publish anything for money
Beall’s List is a resource that helps researchers identify potentially predatory journals and publishers. It categorizes publishers and journals that…
Red light boosts color vision after 40 but can harm kids’ retinas
A small UCL trial found that deep red LED light improved color vision in adults over 40, while laser red light devices used to slow myopia in children exceed retinal safety limits.
New method to improve eyesight using red light therapy
The study demonstrates that exposure to 670-nm red light can improve mitochondrial function in the retina, enhancing vision, particularly for…
videoNo solid proof backs mewing, and Mike Mew was struck off
Mewing, holding the tongue against the roof of the mouth, has no solid evidence that it reshapes the jaw or face. In 2024 the UK dental regulator struck off Mike Mew, its best-known promoter, over unsupported treatment claims.
Unexpected health benefits of recreational cannabis use in adults over 45
Recent research using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) suggests that non-medical cannabis use in adults aged…
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7 launched without a blood sugar sensor
Samsung's Galaxy Watch 7 launched in July 2024 without the blood sugar sensor a spring report had predicted. The FDA warns that no smartwatch is authorized to measure blood glucose on its own.