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Maternal Blood Test Allows Comprehensive Genetic Fetal Screening
Non-invasive fetal sequencing (NIFS), a test developed by scientists at Harvard University, allows comprehensive genetic screening of a fetus using only a blood test from the expectant mother. The post Maternal Blood Test Allows…
Breaking Barriers in Student Mental Health Care With AI-Enhanced Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Pilot Feasibility Study
Background: University students experience elevated psychological distress, with limited access to mental health services. While cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) demonstrates efficacy for anxiety and depression, treatment gaps persist due to access barriers and insufficient…
Using a Virtual Reality CAVE–Based Mindfulness Intervention to Promote Mental Well-Being in Adolescents With Anxiety Symptoms: Pre-Post Mixed Methods Pilot Study
Background: Adolescent anxiety is a growing public health concern associated with significant social and emotional impairment. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have shown promise in reducing anxiety and improving well-being; however, engagement remains challenging. Virtual reality…
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Assessing the net climate benefits of improved grazing intensity in global rangelands
Science, Volume 392, Issue 6803, Page 1161-1166, June 2026.
Microglia at a key inflection point in Alzheimer’s disease
Nature Medicine, Published online: 11 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04409-3We analyzed brains from octogenarians and cognitively resilient centenarians to understand why some individuals with substantial Alzheimer’s disease pathology develop dementia whereas others remain cognitively intact. Spatial transcriptomics revealed gene expression changes in…
Major Depressive Disorder from a Brain-Body Perspective: Reproducible Central Cardiac Interoception Deficits and Peripheral Autonomic Dysfunctions Dissociate
Brain-heart interaction (BHI) offers a systems-level framework for understanding major depressive disorder (MDD), yet reproducible cross-system markers remain unclear. We aimed to identify reproducible BHI impairments in MDD and clarify their physiological and clinical correlates.
Focused ultrasound ablation for psychiatric disorders
Modern circuit-based neurosurgical interventions address a critical unmet need for patients with treatment-resistant psychiatric illness. Magnetic resonance–guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) enables incisionless, millimeter-precision thermoablation via staged sonications with real-time monitoring, reshaping the risk–benefit profile of traditional neurosurgical interventions for…
Advancing Clinical Translational Research for Profound Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has emerged as a key battleground in the federal assault on science. US government leaders have systematically ignored expert advice, reanimated baseless claims about the causal role of vaccines, forwarded thinly supported hypotheses blaming ASD on…
Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation for Substance Use Disorder
Given the prevalence of substance use disorder (SUD), elevated overdose death rates, and limited approved pharmacotherapies for SUD, new treatment approaches are necessary. Neuromodulation is a potential adjunctive treatment for SUD to reduce substance use and risk factors associated with…
Targeting Mu opioid receptor neurons of the habenula to limit naloxone aversion
Opioid use disorder is a chronic, relapsing condition that continues to rise worldwide. Naloxone (Narcan®), an opioid antagonist, reverses overdose but triggers strong negative affect. The neuronal circuits underlying these aversive effects remain unclear. We previously identified mu opioid receptor–expressing…
An obesity drug deep-dive, and peptides move mainstream
Can any of the new obesity medications in development stand out from the pack? Which company just broke records with its IPO? And will the Food and Drug Administration allow…
Digital Health Monitoring and Intervention Suite for Stress in Frontline Nurses: Prospective Cohort Trial
Background: Stress among health care workers (HCWs) contributes to burnout, workforce attrition, and adverse patient outcomes. Although virtual reality (VR), psychoeducation, ecological momentary assessments (EMAs), and wearables have independently shown promise in stress research, no integrated digital suite has combined…
RFK Jr. claims his calendar is publicly available. We’ve been trying to get it for a year
None of STAT's requests for Kennedy's schedule have been completed, and some haven't even been acknowledged.
Drinking during pregnancy rose after 2020, new CDC data suggest
A new CDC report underscores that drinking during pregnancy, while generally thought of as a thing of the past, is still a matter of concern.
STAT+: AMA and lawmakers push back on AI care denials
In this edition of STAT Health Tech: HHS watchdog on denials by health insurers, lawmakers target AI denials, and Talkspace's new chatbot offering.
Examining the Social and Mental Health Benefits of Virtual and In-Person Physical Activity Intervention Among Postsecondary Students: Quasi-Experimental Study
Background: Physical activity (PA) is a promising prevention approach for supporting mental health and enhancing social inclusion among postsecondary students. However, it is unclear whether similar outcomes are realized when PA programming is delivered in-person versus virtually. Objective: Using data…
Nonprofit buys experimental cancer drug to maintain patient access
In a rare move, nonprofit organization Blood Cancer United is buying the remaining supplies of a discontinued investigational cancer drug.
Higher Vitamin C Levels in Blood Linked to Healthier Aging Brains
Older adults with higher blood levels of vitamin C have a higher volume of gray matter in their brains and higher connectivity across brain regions involved in memory and attention. The post Higher Vitamin C Levels in Blood Linked to…
Potential Cocaine Addiction Targets Identified Through Genetic Mapping in Rats
A GWAS carried out in a genetically diverse population of rats identified genetic markers associated with compulsive cocaine use, and uncovered a potential new therapeutic target in the liver. The post Potential Cocaine Addiction Targets Identified Through Genetic Mapping in…
App-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Individuals With Depression (MoodMover): Single-Arm, Pre-Post Proof-of-Concept and Feasibility Study
Background: Depression is a prevalent mental disorder, and it remains one of the leading causes of disability in Canada and globally. Mobile app–based physical activity interventions may offer an effective and accessible treatment option for individuals with depression who cannot…
A Self-Guided Web-Based Transdiagnostic Mental Health Program for People With Intellectual Disability: Single-Arm Trial
Background: People with intellectual disability experience rates of mental illness up to 3 times higher than the general population, yet face significant barriers to care, including limited clinician expertise, diagnostic overshadowing, and exclusion from key mental health services. Electronic mental…
Between Help and Harm: An Evaluation Study of Mental Health Crisis Handling by Large Language Models
Background: The use of large language models (LLMs)–powered chatbots has reshaped how people seek information and advice, including for emotional and mental health support. While LLMs can offer scalable support, their ability to safely detect and respond to acute mental…