News for Healthier Living

Pets Can Help Older Adults' Health & Well-Being, but May Strain Budgets Too

Having a dog, cat or other pet can help older adults stay active and maintain a sense of purpose, but pet-related costs may increasingly strain their budgets, a new poll suggests.

February 23, 2026

February 24 2026

• Metformin and ursodeoxycholic acid both fail to improve long COVID recovery in new clinical trial
• What's Happening With the Potomac River Sewage Spill?
• Studies Identify Lipids Necessary for Immune Molecule Activation
• Nanoparticle System Shows Promise for Delivering mRNA to Prevent Type 1 Diabetes
• Medicaid Disenrollment Spikes at Age 19, Study Finds
• Insights on Sarcomas, Gastroesophageal Cancers, Peritoneal Tumors Anchor Roswell Park Presentations at SSO 2026
• Turns Out Horses Don’t Just Whinny — They Whistle
• New FDA Proposal Aims to Help Patients With Hard-to-Treat Diseases
• Study Suggests Cutting Sugar Before Age 2 Could Lower Heart Disease Risk
• CDC's Deputy Secretary General Steps Down Just 2.5 Months Into the Job
• Gap In Preventable Deaths Widening Between Those With, Without A College Degree
• Dry Powder Inhalers: A Double Win for COPD and Environment
• Living Near Nuclear Plants Linked to Higher Cancer Death Risk
• Cervical Cancer Rates Plummet Among States With High HPV Vaccination Rates
• Hurricanes Linked to Rise in Drug, Alcohol Deaths Post-Storm
• Women's Heart Health at Greater Risk from Lower Levels of Artery Plaque, Study Shows
• Solving Cancer Immunotherapy's Fuel Shortage
• Practice Turnover Among Radiologists Increased 61% Over a Decade and is Linked to Clinical Workload
• New Research Finds Heart Health Benefits in Combining Mango and Avocado Daily
• Research Identifies Blind Spots in AI Medical Triage
• Why Some Teens Feel Less Happy: Sleep and Mindfulness May Hold the Key
• knownwell Demonstrates Improved Obesity Outcomes and Long-Term Durability in First Clinical Outcomes Report

February 23 2026

• The postpartum experience: Recognizing complications
• Histotripsy Can Safely Target the Pancreas in Laboratory Study
• A Depression Treatment That Once Took Eight Weeks May Work Just as Well in One
• Study Examines Wearable Tech and Exercise for Pediatric and Young Adult Sarcoma Care
• Fetoscopic ablation shown to reduce prematurity risks in vasa previa
• Hearing Loss Contributes to Cognitive Decline After Childhood Cancer Treatment
• A New Johns Hopkins Medicine Study Finds Sex and Menopause-Based Differences in Presentation of Early Lyme Disease
• How Urinary Tract Infections Can Trigger Delirium and Worsen Dementia
• Brain May Reinforce Seizures During Sleep, Mayo Clinic Study Suggests
• Trump Order Backing Popular Weedkiller Sparks Backlash From MAHA
• Trader Joe’s Recalls Chicken Fried Rice Over Possible Glass Pieces
• Final Group of Striking Nurses Returns to Work in New York
• Cancer Blood Test Fails to Catch Disease Earlier in Major Study
• $80 Million Supports Research Into Exceptional Longevity
• Results Outweigh Side Effects Among Ozempic/Wegovy Users, Study Says
• Strength Linked To Longevity Among Senior Women
• Teens Using Weed Have Doubled Risk For Psychosis, Bipolar Disorder
• Same-Day Discharge Safe For Some Heart Valve Replacement Patients
• Pregnancy Physically Alters A Woman's Brain – And A Second Pregnancy Even Moreso, Researchers Report
• Seniors More Likely To Browse Bad Medical Info On The Web
• Dry Powder Inhalers Show Promise for COPD and the Environment
• When Influencers Raise a Glass, Young Viewers Want to Join Them
• Moffitt Researchers Help Demonstrate New Strategy to Overcome Treatment Resistance in Prostate Cancer
• Americans are 'Doomscrolling' at Bedtime, Prioritizing Screen Time Over Sleep
• New Imaging Technique Could Transform Precision of Vocal Fold Injection Procedures
• Pets Can Help Older Adults' Health & Well-Being, but May Strain Budgets Too
• Genes Meet Biomarkers: A New Roadmap for Newborn Screening
• Wonder Sciences Launches WonderMate: An AI Therapist and Clinical Co-Pilot Built Around Longitudinal Cognitive Modeling and Human-Led Safety

February 22 2026

• Even in Antarctica, Plastic Pollution From Afar Poses Threat

February 21 2026

• Skipping a Late-Night Snack Pays Big Benefits For Your Heart
• Researchers Discover How Tuberculosis Bacteria Use a "Stealth" Mechanism to Evade the Immune System
• Sometimes Less Is More: Scientists Rethink How to Pack Medicine into Tiny Delivery Capsules
• Scientists Show How Your Body Senses Cold--And Why Menthol Feels Cool
• Scientists Discover Why We Know When to Stop Scratching an Itch
• A Hidden Reason Inner Ear Cells Die - And What It Means for Preventing Hearing Loss

February 20 2026

• Extra Copies of Chromosome 1q May Drive Early Development of Pancreatic Cancer
• Stunning New Maps of Myelin-Making Mouse Brain Cells Advance Understanding of Nervous System Disorders
• Many Americans Misunderstand Medical Aid in Dying Laws
• Clinical Trial Now Enrolling Dogs with Liver Tumors
• Neurology on the Hill: Neurologists to Ask Lawmakers to Support Lifesaving Research
• FDA Moves Toward Faster Drug Approvals
• Bhattacharya to Do Double Duty at Helms of CDC and NIH
• Study Links Advanced CTE From Head Trauma as Distinct Cause of Dementia
• 'Operation Stork Speed' Prepares to Overhaul Baby Formula Guidelines
• Dental Guidelines Call For More Judicious Use Of X-Rays
• Parents' 'Gut Feelings' Best Help Doctors Detect And Treat Serious Illness Among Children
• One In Five U.S. Children Are Obese, Study Says
• Blood Test Estimates When Alzheimer’s Symptoms Will Start
• COVID-19 Boosters Tied to Lower Preeclampsia Risk in Pregnant Women
• Most Transgender People Have Been Victims Of Violence, Study Says

February 19 2026

• UNC Researchers Reveal Mechanism Driving Alpha-Gal Syndrome Allergic Reactions
• Professor's Pathology Slides Will Teach Residents, Fellows for Generations
• Houston Methodist Research Reveals How the Eyes May Be a Window Into Early Alzheimer's Detection
• New Review Points to Faster, Safer Vaccine Development
• Mayo Clinic Study Identifies Mechanism Behind Immunotherapy Resistance in Lung Cancer
• Emerging Scientist to Explore New Nanoparticle Therapy for Brain Cancer
• Emotional Memory Region of Aged Brain Is Sensitive to Processed Foods
• Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month: A Friendship that Began in Therapy
• Mount Sinai Study May Help Cancer Patients Keep Their Bladder
• A Manifesto For Nursing Leadership
• Improving Feeding Difficulties in Children With Aerodigestive Disorders
• Gene Variants Help Explain Why Food Allergies Run in Families
• New Oral Vaccine Strategy Could Help Combat Colorectal Cancer
• Unmasking the Real Sugar Threat to Our Kids During Heart Month
• UNC Research Shows Natural Compound Could Benefit Patients with Specific Blood Cancers
• Redesigned Hepatitis C Drug Becomes a Powerful New Treatment for COVID-19
• Moderna's mRNA Flu Vaccine Back Under FDA Review
• BJ’s Wholesale Club Issues Salmon Recall Across Seven East Coast States
• Sweetened Drinks Linked to Higher Anxiety in Teens
• Drug-Resistant Salmonella Linked to Moringa Supplement
• It's Never Too Late For Cancer Patients To Become Active, Study Finds
• Ultra-Marathon Running Depletes Athletes' Red Blood Cells, Study Finds
• Rates Of Hearing Loss, Tinnitus More Than Doubled Among Musicians
• Ancient Chinese Practice Lowers Blood Pressure As Well As Medications, Walking Program, Clinical Trial Shows
• U.S. Parents Report Gaps in Accessing Mental Health Care for Their Child
• Robotic Pets Help Dementia Patients Recover and Return Home
• Noteworthy Studies to Be Presented at the 2026 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium
• Advancing Pediatric Diabetes Care Through Psychosocial Research
• Researchers Test Nutrition-Based Approach to Protect Brain Health in Older Adults at High Risk for Alzheimer's
• Blood Test "Clocks" Predict When Alzheimer's Symptoms Will Start

February 18 2026

• Yale Study Identifies a New Class of Drug Targets for Aggressive Leukemia
• Using AI to Guide AI
• Tumors Protect Themselves from Immune Attack by Talking to the Brain
• App Helps Cedars-Sinai Continuously Improve Parkinson's Care
• 'Something So Impactful': Social Worker's Food Pantry Idea Supports Cancer Patients in the South Suburbs
• The Role of Single-Stage Repair in Pulmonary Atresia With MAPCAs
• Families, Peers Biggest Predictors of Early Substance Use in Children with Pain, Mental Health Symptoms
• The Medical Minute: Heart, Mind - a Profound Connection
• COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy May Help Prevent Preeclampsia
• Booster Jabs Reduce the Risks of COVID-19 Deaths, Study Finds
• Prenatal Lead Exposure Related to Worse Cognitive Function in Adults
• Bananas From a Decade-Old Mining Spill Area in Brazil May Be Unsafe, Research Says
• Mandy Moore Shares Why RSV Protection Became a Priority for Her Family
• NIH Institute Told To Drop ‘Biodefense’ and 'Pandemic Preparedness' Language From Website
• Peanut Butter Sold in 40 States Recalled Over Possible Plastic Contamination
• Want To Preserve Brain Health? Engage In A Lifetime Pursuit Of Knowledge, Study Says
• 'Smart Clothing' The Next Frontier In Fitness Tracking, Study Says
• Pain Drives Postpartum Depression, Review Finds
• Shame, Embarrassment Regarding Walking Problems Can Isolate MS Patients
• Heavy Wildfire Smoke During Pregnancy May Be Linked to Increased Autism Risk
• School Stress at Age 15 May Leave Long-Term Mental Health Scars
• Mapping Protein Production in Brain Cells Yields New Insights for Brain Disease
• Understanding the Rising Suicide Risk Among Black Youth
• UH Seidman Cancer Center Researchers Find Real World Data Can Inform Care for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
• Sleep Disorders as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease
• Caring for Patients at Every Stage of Life
• How 3D is Transforming Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery
• Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction: When Symptoms Persist, Answers Matter
• 3 Things to Know About Cancer and Your Heart: Mayo Clinic Expert Shares Tips to Reduce Risk
• AI-Powered ECG Could Help Guide Lifelong Heart Monitoring for Patients With Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot
• Natural Selection Operates on Multiple Levels, Comprehensive Review of Scientific Studies Shows
• Babies Are Exposed to More "Forever Chemicals" Before Birth Than Previously Known, New Study Finds
• Tiny Bubbles, Big Breakthrough: Cracking Cancer's "Fortress"
• New Biomarker Predicts Chemotherapy Response in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
• Immunotherapy Plus Chemotherapy Before Surgery Shows Promise for Pancreatic Cancer
• SciComm Webinar on the Challenges in Peer Review, Preprints, and Predatory Publishing - Registration Open Now

February 17 2026

• Over 40% of Musicians Experience Tinnitus; Hearing Loss and Hyperacusis Also Significantly Elevated
• Researchers Find Intermittent Fasting Is No Better, or Worse, Than Conventional Dieting
• Type of KRAS Mutation May Guide More Effective Cancer Treatments
• OncoPro: Transforming Cancer Care Through Real-Time Symptom Monitoring
• Back in the Pulpit: How Robotic Heart Surgery Saved a Pastor's Life
• Tiny RNA Molecules in Sperm, Big Impact on Baby Health
• Couples Who Do This One Thing Feel More Satisfied And Secure Together
• Weight-Loss Wonder Pills Prompt Scrutiny of Key Ingredient
• FDA Expands Tater Tot Recall Tied to Possible Plastic Contamination
• A Florida College Has Reported More Than 40 Measles Cases
• Baby Food Recalled Nationwide Over Mold Toxin Concern
• JMIR Publications' JMIR Bioinformatics and Biotechnology invites submissions on Bridging Data, AI, and Innovation to Transform Health
• Abortion Restrictions Increase Deaths Among Expecting And New Moms, Researchers Report
• Most Skip Physical Therapy Homework, Slowing Their Recovery
• Smartphone App Successfully Supports First-Time Moms
• Vegetarian Upbringing Not More Likely To Stunt Toddlers' Growth, Study Finds
• Brain Implant Can Read Movement Of Parkinson's Patients, Opening Door To More Effective Treatment
• Teen Sexting Has Surged In U.S.
• Scientists Develop First-of-Its-Kind Antibody to Block Epstein Barr Virus
• Research Highlights From the First Multidisciplinary Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Symposium
• One Hope United Partners with University of Illinois Chicago to Build National Evidence-Based Model of Its Hope House Program
• Study Finds Early Imaging After Pediatric UTIs May Do More Harm Than Good
• Expanded Affordable Care Act Subsidies--Now Expired--Drove Major Increases in Marketplace Health Insurance Enrollment Across Key Groups
• The Good Side of a Side Effect: New Houston Methodist Study Finds Brain Swelling During Alzheimer's Treatment May Signal Strong Response
• Innovative Trial Using Robotic Pets Enhances Dementia Care, Patient Outcomes at Sarasota Memorial Hospital

February 16 2026

• Calls for Global Guidelines for Safer AI Use in Medicine
• Advanced Knee Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Leads to Faster Recovery
• How Bacteria May Promote Breast Cancer
• Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Threatened Tefy's Life--Then CHLA Heart Doctors Offered a Rare Medical-Surgical Solution
• Developmental 'Switch' in Brain May Shape Lifelong Obesity Risk
• Alzheimer's Gene Boosts Seizures, but Pathway Can Be Targeted, Study Finds
• New Treatment Works to Improve Hot Flash Symptoms in Prostate Cancer Therapy
• 1 in 6 Medicare Beneficiaries Depend on Telehealth for Key Medical Care
• Love Sweet Iced Coffee? Thailand Wants You To Drink It With Less Sugar
• Scientists Find Compound That May Speed Jet Lag Recovery
• Two Natural Compounds, One Powerful Synergy: A New Path to Spinal Cord Repair
• CRF Announces the Launch of Complex Coronary Summit Debuting in 2027
• From Early Escape to Immune Evasion: Mapping Drug Resistance in Advanced Gastric Cancer
• Young Adults Still Face Rising Gastric Cancer Disparities Amid Overall Decline
• National Poll Finds Gaps in Community Preparedness for Teen Cardiac Emergencies

February 15 2026

• Beyond the Bedside: Medical Students Bring Art and Music to Pediatric Healing
• Why Chemo Causes Unwanted Side Effects And How To Treat Them

February 14 2026

• How to Nurture A Healthy Relationship 365 Days a Year

February 13 2026

• El Paso Researchers Pursue New Treatments for Cancer, Heart Disease Affecting Local Families
• Public Awareness of Emergency Intubation Study
• From the Lab to the Living Room: Decoding Parkinson's Patients' Movements in the Real World
• VR Exam Checks Eye Health and Screens for Early Signs of Alzheimer's Disease
• Sylvester Cancer Tip Sheet for Feb. 2026
• Online Exposure to Medical Misinformation Concentrated Among Older Adults
• Telehealth Improves Access to Genetic Services for Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancers
• Top HHS Officials Out as White House Shores up Midterm Election Strategy
• Thousands of NYC Nurses Return to Work, but One Major Strike Goes On
• States Sue to Block $600 Million Cut to Public Health Funds
• Trump Scuttles Key Climate Finding Used to Control Greenhouse Gases
• Swap TV For Activity To Ward Off Depression, Study Suggests
• One Simple Step Can Reduce Risk Of Preeclampsia, Study Says
• Tween Screen Addiction Linked To Mental Health Problems, Substance Use
• Physical Inactivity Drives Diabetes Complications, Study Finds
• Traveling To The Big City For Cancer Care? That Might Not Be Necessary For All Rural Patients, Study Says
• Food Choice Matters More Than 'Low-Carb' or 'Low-Fat' Labels
• Toxic Chemicals Found in Popular Hair Extensions
• Living in the Gap Between Neurology and Cardiology: Rebecca's Story
• Life-Destroying Addiction Can Start at a Corner Store

February 12 2026

• Researchers Identify Promising Alzheimer's Disease Drug Target
• FAMU-FSU Engineering joins Mayo Clinic to research Alzheimer's disease treatments
• Ketamine May Fight Chronic Fatigue, Study Suggests
• Distinct Frontal Brain Signal Tied to Compulsive Behaviors in People with OCD
• High-Risk Pregnancy Specialists Present Research on AI Models That Could Predict Pregnancy Complications
• Lung Cancer Drug Offers a Surprising New Treatment Against Ovarian Cancer
• Exposure to Intense Wildfire Smoke During Pregnancy May Be Linked to Increased Likelihood of Autism
• MD Anderson Shares Latest Research Breakthroughs
• Child Poisonings Spur Oregon to Weigh New Limits for Cannabis Edibles
• Measles Cases Rise in North Carolina as Public Exposures Are Reported
• Why Bedroom Temperature Matters More for Sleep as We Age
• Your Cat’s Purr May Say More Than Its Meow, Study Finds
• Mental Health Risk Doubled For Women Who Quit Antidepressants During Pregnancy
• COVID Vaccines During Pregnancy Not Linked To Autism
• FDA Declines to Review Moderna’s mRNA Flu Vaccine Application
• Smartwatches May Soon Predict a Depression Relapse
• Tinnitus Harms 1 in 5 Careers, Survey Finds
• Most U.S. Baby Food Is Ultra-processed, Study Finds
• Mount Sinai Study Strengthens Landmark Evidence Supporting Lung-Sparing Surgery, Offering Hope for Mesothelioma Patients
• Mayo Clinic Scientist Uses AI, Wearables and Implants to Decode Brain Rhythms and Forecast Seizures
• From Sweat to Signal: A Wearable Optical System for Glucose Detection
• How Might GLP-1 Medications Improve Management for Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes?
• Gut Microbiome May Be the Link to Gluten Sensitivity Without Celiac Disease
• Unraveling the Mystery of Why Some Cancer Treatments Stop Working
• A Wearable Textile Sensor Sets New Standard for Continuous Heart and Vessel Monitoring

February 11 2026

• Research Sheds Light On Potential Causes of Infertility
• New Clinical Trial Will Assess Brain Tumor Changes After Blood-Brain Barrier Opening
• Major Depressive Disorder Shares Immune Abnormalities and Potential Therapeutic Targets With Inflammatory Skin Diseases, According to New Study
• Study Pairs Key Air Pollutants with Home Addresses to Track Progression of Lost Mobility Through Disability
• Neuromodulation Clinical Trial Launched to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis
• MRI Marker Shows Reduced Placental Function in Congenital Heart Disease
• Antibody-Drug Conjugate Achieves High Response Rates as Frontline Treatment in Aggressive, Rare Blood Cancer
• New Study Shows How to Protect the Brain to Prevent Depression and Cognitive Impairment Caused by Whole Brain Radiotherapy
• Genetic Study Links Ancestry to IBD Severity in Hispanics
• Immunity Against Common Virus Leveraged Against Pancreatic Cancer
• Breast Cancer 2026 Progress Outlook: New Research Discoveries and Opportunities
• International Research Team Solves Mystery Behind Rare Clotting After Adenoviral Vaccines or Natural Adenovirus Infection
• AMA Launches Independent Vaccine Review After CDC Criticism
• Trump Pulls $600M in Public Health Funds From Four States
• TBI of Any Severity Associated with Greater Chance of Work Disability
• Keeping Your Mind Active Throughout Life Associated with Lower Alzheimer's Risk
• FDA Reviews Safety of Food Preservative BHA Over Cancer Concerns
• Chips Ahoy! Baked Bites Brookie Recalled Over Possible Choking Risk
• Study Finds Gaps in Concussion Reporting Across Texas High Schools
• Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy and Risk of IBD Flare in the February Issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology
• Brain Stimulation Can Prompt People To Behave Less Selfishly, Experiment Shows
• Worried About Getting Older? You Could Be Contributing To Your Own Accelerated Aging, Study Says
• Minimally Invasive Surgery Restores Active Dad's Mobility
• Obesity Linked To 1 In 4 Infectious Disease Deaths In U.S.
• Brief, Intense Exercise Beats Relaxation for Panic Relief
• Pregnancy, Breastfeeding May Shield A Woman's Aging Brain
• Vanderbilt Health to Lead Expanded Multisite Study of Immunomodulation in Long COVID
• Study Suggests Migraine May Be Overlooked in Women with Enlarged Breast Tissue
• New Findings Highlight Two Decades of Evidence Supporting Pecans in Heart-Healthy Diets
• Rural Cancer Patients Do Just as Well When Having Surgery Close to Home
• FAU Study: Tiny Worm Offers Clues to Combat Chemotherapy Neurotoxicity
• When Standing Meets Vision: Posture-Driven Retinal Signals Predict Diabetic Retinopathy Progression
• Osimertinib plus or minus Savolitinib in MET-EGFR NSCLC Trial
• From Images to Insight: AI Builds the First Pediatric Reference Map for Meibomian Glands
• From Blood to Lens: Telomere Length Signals Cataract Development
• Biomarkers Predict Patients with Glioblastoma Who Will Survive Longer After Treatment with Cancer-Targeting Virus
• Two Years, One Insight: How Lens Design Changes Shape Myopia Control