HEALTH

Louisiana's surgeon general Dr. Ralph Abraham, who has praised Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s tenure as health secretary and called COVID vaccines "dangerous," will become the second-highest ranking official at the CDC.

Scientists discovered that more muscle and less hidden abdominal fat are linked to a younger biological brain age. Deep visceral fat appeared to accelerate brain aging, while muscle mass offered a protective effect.

Personalized algorithms may quietly sabotage how people learn, nudging them into narrow tunnels of information even when they start with zero prior knowledge. In the study, participants using algorithm-curated clues explored less, absorbed a distorted version of the truth, and became oddly confident in their wrong conclusions. The research suggests that this kind of digital steering doesn’t just shape opinions—it can reshape the very foundation of what someone believes they understand.

Instead of struggling with weekly injections, patients may soon be able to swallow a daily pill to lose weight. Both the makers of Wegovy and Mounjaro are seeking FDA approval for tablets.

Under new Trump administration rules, students won't be able to borrow as much for medical or nursing school or some other health professions.

A new study shows that cutting social media use for just one week can reduce mental health symptoms, like anxiety and depression, in young adults.

Ribosomes don’t just make proteins—they can sense when something’s wrong. When they collide, they send out stress signals that activate a molecule called ZAK. Researchers uncovered how ZAK recognizes these collisions and turns them into protective responses. The discovery shows how cells quickly spot trouble.

Scientists found that high-flavanol foods can prevent the decline in blood vessel function that occurs after prolonged sitting. Even physically fit men weren’t protected unless they had consumed flavanols beforehand. A cocoa drink rich in these compounds kept arteries functioning normally. Everyday foods like berries, apples, tea, and certain cocoa products could offer a simple way to protect long-term vascular health.

NPR's Juana Summers talks with Jennifer Levin, author of Generation Care, about the roughly 10 million millennials working as family caregivers, often before they've fully formed their own lives.

Participants lost more weight on a low-fat vegan diet than on the Mediterranean diet, largely due to eliminating animal foods and reducing oils and nuts. Increased intake of plant foods, even “unhealthy” ones, was strongly associated with greater weight loss.