Medical Xpress news

Medical Xpress / Exposure to wildfire smoke late in pregnancy may raise autism risk in children

Exposure to wildfire smoke during the final months of pregnancy may raise the risk that a child is later diagnosed with autism, according to a new study led by Tulane University researchers.

Jan 20, 2026 in Autism spectrum disorders
Medical Xpress / Blood test can identify cancer in patients with non-specific symptoms

A simple blood test can help detect cancer in patients with non-specific symptoms such as fatigue, pain or weight loss. This is according to a Swedish study from Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital and others, published ...

Jan 20, 2026 in Oncology & Cancer
Medical Xpress / Preventing 'spermageddon'—discovery of an immune-like mechanism that protects fertility

New insights into a sophisticated process that protects sperm cells has revealed a mechanism, similar to an immune system, thwarts genetic chaos during the earliest stages of their development.

Jan 20, 2026 in Medical research
Medical Xpress / Qatari genetic map reveals over 150,000 structural variants

Research co-led by King's College London and Sidra Medicine, Qatar, has produced the most detailed map to date of large-scale genetic differences in the Qatari population, providing a clearer picture of the genetic diversity ...

Jan 20, 2026 in Genetics
Medical Xpress / Memory justifications remain surprisingly stable even as memories fade over time, study shows

While memories may fade with time, the explanations people give for why they remember an event remain surprisingly stable and reliable, according to a new study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

Jan 20, 2026 in Psychology & Psychiatry
Medical Xpress / Air pollution may increase the risk of the neurodegenerative disease ALS

Prolonged exposure to air pollution can be linked to an elevated risk for serious neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and seems to speed up the pathological process, report researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. ...

Jan 20, 2026 in Neuroscience
Medical Xpress / Noninvasive brain scanning could send signals to paralyzed limbs

People with spinal cord injuries often lose some or all their limb function. In most patients, the nerves in their limbs work fine, and the neurons in their brain are still operational, but the damage to their spinal cords ...

Jan 20, 2026 in Neuroscience
Medical Xpress / Unusual KRAS mutation in pancreatic cancer may explain less aggressive tumors

A study led by Aaron Hobbs, Ph.D., and Rachel Burge, Ph.D., at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, reveals why a specific gene mutation behaves differently from other variants.

Jan 20, 2026 in Oncology & Cancer
Medical Xpress / Hidden mpox exposure detected in healthy Nigerian adults, revealing under-recognized transmission

The mpox virus appears to be circulating silently in parts of Nigeria, in many cases without the symptoms typically associated with the disease, according to new research led by scientists from the University of Cambridge ...

Medical Xpress / Young people may temporarily withdraw from social media use on the day they self-harm

New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King's College London, in partnership with YoungMinds, has examined the image-posting habits on social media of young people who self-harm. The study ...

Jan 20, 2026 in Psychology & Psychiatry
Medical Xpress / Vitamin B12 clues on cellular metabolism offer hope for new therapies

Vitamin B12 is long understood as a vital nutrient required for red blood cell formation and nerve function, but a new Cornell study suggests its role in human biology is far more intricate, with implications for aging, metabolism ...

Jan 20, 2026 in Endocrinology & Metabolism
Medical Xpress / Shingles vaccine linked to slower biological aging in older adults

Shingles vaccination not only protects against the disease but may also contribute to slower biological aging in older adults, according to a new USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology study.

Jan 20, 2026 in Gerontology & Geriatrics