Health
Health, medicine, wellness, and the science of living well.
Coffee may help the body fight stress and aging through a hidden cellular switch
Scientists may have uncovered one reason coffee is repeatedly associated with healthier aging and lower disease risk. Compounds in coffee appear to activate NR4A1, a receptor that helps protect cells
Common antidepressant may ease long COVID’s crushing fatigue
A low-cost antidepressant may offer new hope for people struggling with long COVID fatigue. In a randomized clinical trial involving 399 adults, fluvoxamine significantly reduced fatigue and improved
How to make the complex world of skincare easy
NPR's Life Kit breaks down what you really need to know about skincare.
Popular sugar substitutes linked to faster brain aging
Several popular sugar substitutes may not be as harmless as they seem. Adults who consumed the most artificial sweeteners showed substantially faster declines in memory and thinking, especially if the
Intermittent fasting helped people keep weight off for a year
A 12-week intermittent fasting program produced weight-loss benefits that were still visible a year later. Participants who ate within an eight-hour window maintained more weight loss than those who f
Mediterranean diet may activate tiny proteins that protect the heart and brain
The Mediterranean diet may influence aging through tiny proteins produced inside the cell’s mitochondria. Older adults who followed the diet most closely had higher levels of humanin and SHMOOSE, whic
Cyclospora outbreak: FDA says do not eat shredded lettuce from Taco Bell in 5 states
Shredded lettuce served at Taco Bell in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and Indiana is linked to cyclospora outbreak. Investigation continues
Is smoke in your home? Here's how to make an air purifier using a box fan
Smoke from wildfires in Canada and Minnesota is sending air quality indexes to record levels, posing a hazard for millions of people. Here are tips for how to breathe easier in your home.
Tiny plastics in drinking water may be making dangerous bacteria stronger
Tiny plastic particles in drinking water may be doing more than contaminating the environment. New research suggests nanoplastics can actually help harmful bacteria survive by strengthening the slimy
Trump's team says 'no children' died from USAID cuts. Consider these 3 cases
Both Marco Rubio and Elon Musk, who led the effort to sunset the foreign aid agency, have said that no deaths have been linked to the cutting of its funding. These parents tell a different story.
Scientists tested 39 sweeteners and found unexpected gut effects
A large laboratory study found that many commonly used sweeteners can directly change the growth of gut bacteria. Researchers identified more than 100 cases in which sweeteners behaved differently whe
FDA approves new cholesterol-lowering drug
The Food and Drug Administration has approved a powerful new kind of cholesterol-lowering drug.
New Alzheimer's drug repairs DNA damage and reduces brain inflammation
A drug originally developed for spinal cord injury may offer a fresh approach to treating Alzheimer’s disease. In mouse studies, KCL-286 repaired dangerous DNA damage, reduced inflammation, and target
This sugar-coated therapy boosted survival against deadly brain cancer by 50% in mice
A new experimental treatment may have found a way to outsmart glioblastoma’s toughest defense: the blood-brain barrier. Researchers used sugar-coated nanoparticles to ferry genetic instructions that r
Testing service members' testosterone levels is a tricky proposition
NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Dr. Adriane Fugh-Berman of Georgetown University about the Defense Department's plan to screen service members' testosterone levels and offer supplementation.
What are the symptoms of meningitis and how is it spread?
Some people can carry bacteria in their nose or throat without getting sick, but can spread it to others.
This drug could help millions keep their kidneys working longer
An international study found that finerenone slows kidney function decline and reduces the risk of serious kidney and cardiovascular complications in people with chronic kidney disease who do not have
CDC director nominee Erica Schwartz faced questions in Senate hearing
Dr. Erica Schwartz answered questions from a Senate committee Wednesday, as she sought confirmation to become the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.