Medical Xpress news

Medical Xpress / Long-term opioid prescribing has fallen, but millions still receive extended opioid therapy

Long-term opioid prescribing has fallen in the United States over the last decade, but millions of patients still received opioids for 90 days or longer in 2023, according to a new research letter in JAMA led by University ...

Apr 8, 2026
Medical Xpress / Physical activity and appropriate sleep linked to subsequent lower dementia risk

An estimated 55 million people live with dementia worldwide, and both its prevalence and cost are expected to increase, with global costs projected to reach $2 trillion dollars by 2030. Current treatments for preventing or ...

Apr 8, 2026
Medical Xpress / Loss of microbiota alters the profile of cells that protect the intestinal wall, experiments reveal

A research team led by scientists from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in São Paulo, Brazil, has made significant progress in understanding the relationship between gut microbiota and intestinal cells. The study, ...

Apr 8, 2026
Medical Xpress / MRI technique enables long-term tracking of transplanted stem cell-derived heart cells

Researchers at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto have demonstrated a new way to monitor transplanted stem-cell-derived heart cells using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The method allows ...

Apr 8, 2026
Medical Xpress / Blocking RNA 'cleanup' may expose hidden cancer antigens, boosting immunotherapy

A new method of making cancer cells more visible to the immune system could improve how well immunotherapy works against a range of different tumors, potentially leading to more effective treatment for patients, according ...

Apr 8, 2026
Medical Xpress / Can gluten pass through a kiss? New data are reassuring

For people living with celiac disease, the fear of gluten exposure can extend beyond food—sometimes even into moments of intimacy. A new study published in Gastroenterology offers reassuring news: while gluten can be transferred ...

Apr 8, 2026
Medical Xpress / Virus from seafood is linked to a persistent eye disease in humans

A virus that typically infects marine animals, such as shrimp and fish, has jumped to humans and is causing chronic eye disease in some people, according to a study published in the journal Nature Microbiology. In recent ...

Apr 7, 2026
Medical Xpress / CBD found to reverse brain damage in mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes. The deficits linked to AD are known to result from the abnormal accumulation of ...

Apr 7, 2026
Medical Xpress / Body-focused mind-wandering associated with better mental health outcomes, finds new study

Most of us have experienced that when our body is still and resting, the mind doesn't stop. Instead, it takes off on its own journey of generating thoughts about our past, our plans, and the people around us, a process known ...

Apr 7, 2026
Medical Xpress / New study finds eye focuses using color signals, not just sharpness

The human eye functions like an exceptionally precise, high-end camera, one with a resolution of around 576 megapixels. What makes it intriguing is that although our eyes can focus on light at only one wavelength at a time, ...

Apr 7, 2026
Medical Xpress / Making the case for over-the-counter abortion pills: Study finds most people can accurately self-screen

Currently, in U.S. states where abortion remains legal, women have to visit specialized clinics to access in-person medication abortion, as drugs like mifepristone and misoprostol are not available over-the-counter (OTC). ...

Apr 7, 2026
Medical Xpress / New study challenges widespread belief about fish oil's effects on brain

A first-of-its-kind study led by the Medical University of South Carolina raises questions about the value of fish oil supplements for people with repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries. In work published in Cell Reports, ...

Apr 7, 2026