This common vitamin could help fight one of the deadliest brain cancers

Edward (Ed) Waldner knew something was wrong, even though he could not explain exactly what was happening. At age 55, he was constantly exhausted, regardless of how demanding his day had been. At first, he wondered whether sleep apnea might be responsible.

Diet drinks work as well as water for weight loss, major trial finds

Researchers at the University of Liverpool have completed what they describe as the longest and most comprehensive randomized controlled trial to date examining non-nutritive sweetened (NNS) soft drinks.

Non-nutritive sweeteners are low-calorie or calorie-free sugar substitutes commonly used in foods and beverages. The 104-week study found that NNS beverages, including diet soft drinks, performed similarly to water when it came to long-term weight management.

Atrial fibrillation patients saw 69% lower risk with common blood thinners

A large randomized trial suggests that newer blood thinners can significantly reduce serious cardiovascular events in people with atrial fibrillation who face an intermediate risk of stroke.

The findings come from the SINGLE-AF trial, presented during a Hot Line session at ESC Congress 2026 and published at the same time in the New England Journal of Medicine. Compared with receiving no anticoagulant therapy, treatment with oral anticoagulants was associated with fewer adverse clinical events.

One CRISPR treatment cut “bad” cholesterol in half for a full year

A first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial from Cleveland Clinic found that a single infusion of a CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing therapy produced lasting reductions in LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglycerides in people with lipid disorders that had not responded adequately to medications.

CRISPR could help doctors attack blood cancer without destroying healthy cells

For some of the most aggressive blood cancers, a stem cell transplant may be the only treatment with the potential to cure the disease. Even so, cancers can return after transplantation, leaving doctors with limited options.

Scientists reversed biological age in older adults in just 4 weeks

Older adults may be able to shift important markers of aging in a surprisingly short amount of time simply by changing what they eat.

New research from the University of Sydney found that Australians aged 65 to 75 who reduced either dietary fat or animal-based protein showed signs of a lower biological age after just four weeks. Biological age is an estimate of how old the body appears based on its health and physiological condition, rather than the number of years a person has been alive.

AI uncovers hidden Ozempic side effects across 400,000 Reddit posts

Artificial intelligence is giving researchers a new way to listen to what patients are saying about popular GLP-1 drugs. After analyzing more than 400,000 Reddit posts, a University of Pennsylvania team identified several symptoms reported by people using semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound) that may not be fully represented in clinical trials or official regulatory information.

Caffeine may flip an ancient cellular switch linked to slower aging

Your morning coffee may be doing more than helping you wake up.

Research from Queen Mary University of London suggests that caffeine can activate an ancient cellular energy system involved in growth, stress resistance, and DNA repair. Those processes are closely tied to aging, which could help explain why caffeine has been linked to potential health benefits in earlier studies.

Your personality may be more genetic than scientists realized

An international team of scientists has identified more than 1,200 genetic variants associated with the Big Five personality traits. The findings also suggest that many of the same genetic patterns connected to personality are related to a wide range of life outcomes, including health, longevity, education, careers, and income.

Early statin use linked to 15% lower dementia risk

Starting statin treatment soon after a type 2 diabetes diagnosis was associated with a reduced risk of developing dementia, according to research presented at ESC Congress 2026 and published in The Lancet Regional Health - Europe.