Category: 8. Health

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were nearly 148,000 new cases of colorectal cancers reported in the U.S. in 2022. More than 50,000 people in the U.S. died from colorectal cancer in 2023. Black Americans have the highest rates of colorectal cancer in the U.S., and they are more likely to die from it than other ethnicities and racial groups in America.

We know that diet plays a role in cancer risk. For example, there is evidence that people who follow plant-based diets have lower cancer risk than those who eat meat. Eating certain foods, such as broccoli, walnuts, and legumes, has been linked to a lower risk of colorectal cancer. And we know that eating more fiber can also help lower your risk of colorectal cancer.

Researchers from Boston University were curious about fish, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and CRC. Could eating more fish and PUFA-rich foods lower your risk? They published their findings in The Journal of Nutrition. Let’s break down what they found.

How Was This Study Conducted?

For this study, researchers were especially interested in Black American women and their risk of colorectal cancer, since Black Americans have the highest rate of colorectal cancer in the U.S. They drew their data from the Black Women’s Health Study (BWHS), a long-term study that ran from 1995 to 2021. From the BWHS, 52,690 women, ages 21 to 69, met the criteria researchers were looking for. Out of this population, 687 women developed colorectal cancer over the average follow-up time of 24 years. 

Researchers also had typical demographics that would be adjusted for during the statistical analyses. These included age, total energy intake (kcal/day), type 2 diabetes, BMI, smoking status, alcohol intake, red and processed meats (servings/day), fruits and vegetables (servings/day), education level, family history of colorectal cancer, aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) use, walking as exercise, vigorous physical activity, menopausal status and menopausal hormone use.

In addition, participants had completed two food frequency questionnaires: one in 1995, which included 68 food items, and a second one in 2001 that included 85 food items. From these questionnaires, researchers compiled information about participants’ intake of foods suspected to reduce colorectal cancer risk, and those believed to increase it, like processed meats. 

Based on participants’ responses, researchers divided them into four quartiles based on grams of fish eaten per 1,000 calories, with quartile one being the lowest intake of fish and quartile four the highest. And because colorectal cancer can be located in different parts of the colon and rectum, researchers also considered the type of colorectal cancer and its location in the gut. 

What Did This Study Find?

After running several statistical analyses, including adjusting for demographics and health and family history, researchers found that a high intake of baked fish—those who fell into quartile 4—was associated with a 26% decrease in colorectal cancer risk. The key here is that the fish was baked; interestingly, they did not find an association with total fish intake and a reduced colorectal cancer risk, probably because total fish intake includes all types of fish, including those low in PUFAs, and all types of cooking methods, including frying.

When looking at site-specific colorectal cancer, high baked fish intake was associated with a 44% decrease in proximal colon cancer. The proximal colon is the first part of the large intestine. It sits in the right upper abdomen. 

Researchers also found that higher intake of omega-3s in general, and having a healthy omega-3-to-omega-6 ratio, were associated with a 39% to 53% lower proximal colon cancer risk. 

There are several limitations to this study. First, anytime food frequency questionnaires are used, there is always a chance of recall bias; in other words, participants are essentially estimating how much of each food they eat and how often. Also, while researchers feel these results are generalizable to most Black American women, they can’t say if they apply to other populations. Lastly, there’s always a chance of error in statistical analysis and factors not taken into consideration skewing the results.

How Does This Apply to Real Life?

The American Institute for Cancer Research provides several diet-related recommendations for preventing cancer in general. They include:

• Eating a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits and legumes
• Limiting consumption of “fast foods” and other processed foods that are high in fat, starches or sugars
• Limiting consumption of red and processed meats
• Limiting consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks
• Limiting or avoiding alcohol

The AICR also recommends being physically active and trying to maintain a healthy weight. 

Omega-3s are a type of PUFA that most of us don’t get enough of. Including fish and seafood a couple of times a week is a good way to get this essential fatty acid. And it doesn’t have to be difficult or fussy. Crack open a can of tuna or salmon and toss it onto your salad, or make a tuna salad sandwich with it. We’ve even got a recipe for the best tuna salad if you’ve grown tired of your version. And if you’re looking to switch your tuna salad sandwich to salmon, we’ve got a recipe for that, too.

One thing we know about cancer and other diseases is that there is a connection to chronic inflammation. So eating more foods believed to be anti-inflammatory—like plants and baked fish—and avoiding or limiting those that are known to increase inflammation—like sugar, processed meats and alcohol—may help. If you’re ready to dive in, try our 30-Day No-Sugar Anti-Inflammatory Meal Plan. 

It’s also important to pay attention to which cooking method is most frequently used with your seafood. While having it fried now and then is fine, eating it baked or broiled appears to have more health benefits. According to these study authors, this is partly due to how baking better retains seafood’s omega-3s compared to frying or grilling. Researchers also note that frying fish in cooking oil can oxidize or degrade omega-3s in the seafood, and it can even add high amounts of fat and omega-6s, which most of us already get enough of. 

Our Expert Take

Colorectal cancer rates are highest among Black Americans. This study suggests that Black American women with the highest intake of baked fish may have the lower rates of colon cancer. It’s important to know the symptoms of colon cancer, including abdominal pain, fatigue and bloody stool, and get the recommended screenings for colorectal cancer. The current recommendation is that anyone with an average risk for colorectal cancer and no symptoms get a baseline screening at age 45. This may include an at-home test that involves sending in a stool sample for examination or a colonoscopy. 

Preventing cancer includes eating a diet high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, lean proteins, fish and seafood, and limiting or avoiding sugar, processed meats, highly processed foods and alcohol. Move your body more often and try to get to and maintain a healthy weight. Managing your stressors, getting plenty of quality sleep and spending time with loved ones round out a whole-health approach to disease prevention and quality of life. 

A Johns Hopkins University robot has made history by performing the first realistic laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) on a lifelike human model without human intervention. 

Named Hierarchical Surgical Robot Transformer (SRT-H), the machine executed 17 intricate surgical tasks with 100% accuracy. It adapts dynamically to its environment, responds to voice cues from a surgical team, and makes independent decisions in real time.

Gallstone Disease in the U.S.

According to a 2024 report, gallbladder disease has led to 2.2 million ambulatory care and 1.2 million emergency department visits, 625,000 hospital discharges, and around 2,000 deaths between 2006 and 2019.

Moreover, during the assessed period, U.S. hospitals performed around 605,000 ambulatory laparoscopic, 280,000 inpatient laparoscopic, and 49,000 inpatient open gallbladder surgeries. 

Think Like a Surgeon

With laparoscopic cholecystectomies becoming the norm, medical roboticist and SRT-H’s creator, Axel Krieger, believes SRT-H could bring us closer to clinically viable autonomous surgery and improve patient outcomes.

SRT-H, which has a ChatGPT-inspired machine learning brain, studied the university’s “pig cadaver” cholecystectomy videos. These videos were paired with plain-language captions such as “clip the cystic artery” or “expose Calot’s triangle,” allowing the robot to build its own surgical “playbook” that maps objectives to physical movements.

So far, SRT-H has adapted flawlessly to variations in anatomy, identifying arteries, applying clips, and even cutting tissue based on real-time camera input and verbal commands from observing surgeons without committing a single error.

The Road Ahead

SRT-H will have to undergo rigorous safety testing on cadavers and live animals, especially under emergency room-like conditions — think fogged cameras, suction delays, and electrocautery sparks — before it can be tested on live human patients. 

To this end, the university’s engineers are developing a “watchdog” module that could instantly pause an SRT-H procedure and alert a human surgeon if it detects errors or sensor drifts.

Image credit: Juo-Tung Chen/Johns Hopkins University

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Greater lean mass and higher fitness were linked with fewer anxiety and depression symptoms in preadolescent children, as higher visceral adipose tissue was found to be related to increased mental health issues, according to results published in JAMA Network. The study authors noted that the findings highlight the importance of looking at physical health markers early on to support a child’s mental health and development.^1,2

Mental Health Challenges and Weight Management

Nearly 20% of children and adolescents experience mental health issues, with anxiety and depression being the most common, increasing by nearly 30% between 2016 and 2020. Additionally, about 40% of adolescents report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, according to data provided in the study. Mental health challenges at a young age can impact a child’s development, as depression can hinder academic performance, and chronic anxiety and depression can lead to long-term health issues like heart disease.¹

Previous studies have linked both body composition and fitness with childhood mental health. Higher fitness levels have been associated with improved overall health and fewer depressive symptoms in children and adolescents; however, most children do not meet physical activity guidelines. Additionally, childhood obesity rates have increased, placing children at an increased risk for depression and anxiety due to negative body image and various social factors.^1,3

How Do Depression and Anxiety Relate to Obesity in Children?

Despite what is already known about mental health and childhood obesity, research on the relationship between fitness and anxiety and depression is limited for children under 10. To further this research, investigators created a cross-sectional study that evaluated the relationship between body composition, fitness, and symptoms of anxiety and depression in a large sample of preadolescent children aged 8 to 11 years, without prior health diagnosis. The study used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to assess body composition and a VO₂ peak test to evaluate fitness.¹

A total of 207 children were included in the study, with depression and anxiety measured using self-report tools. The study authors noted that depression was assessed with the 12-item short form of the Child Depression Inventory (CDI), with higher scores indicating increased symptom severity. Anxiety was evaluated using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC-T), where higher scores indicated severe anxiety.¹

The results demonstrated that certain body compositions and fitness measures were linked to anxiety and depression symptoms. Specifically, a higher body fat percentage and increased visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were associated with more severe anxiety symptoms, as higher lean mass and higher cardiorespiratory fitness were linked with fewer anxiety symptoms. For depression, a higher body fat percentage was not associated with depressive symptoms, but a higher VAT was linked to more severe depression. However, both greater lean mass and a higher level of cardiorespiratory fitness were related to fewer depressive symptoms.¹

The findings suggest higher VAT increased depressive and anxiety symptoms, as high body fat percentage was only connected with greater anxiety. Children who had greater lean mass and more fitness and physical activity had fewer mental health symptoms.^1,2

“These distinctions, detectable even in preadolescence, could support early identification of children at greater risk for mental health symptoms. Integrating modifiable factors like fitness and body composition into routine pediatric assessments may help guide preventative care and early intervention to improve children’s mental health outcomes,” the authors said in the study.¹

REFERENCES

1. Braun B, Khan NA, Hillman CH, Raine LB. Body Composition, Fitness, and Mental Health in Preadolescent Children. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(8):e2528868. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.28868

2. Body composition, fitness, and mental health in preadolescent children. EurekAlert! News release. August 26, 2025. Accessed September 3, 2025. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1095724

3. Lasting Impact: The Long-Term Effects of Childhood Obesity. Cleveland Clinic. News release. June 3, 2024. Accessed September 3, 2025. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/long-term-effects-of-childhood-obesity

Alzheimer’s disease remains one of the most feared conditions of our time. For decades, researchers have searched for ways to detect its early signs before memory loss becomes irreversible.

A team from the University of Bath, working with the University of Bristol, has now shown that a simple brain-wave test could transform this challenge.

The findings reveal that the Fastball EEG test can identify memory impairment linked to Alzheimer’s years before a clinical diagnosis is possible. Unlike traditional tools, it works passively and can even be used in people’s homes.

Fastball memory test

Fastball is a three-minute EEG test that tracks brain activity while participants view a stream of images. It does not require them to follow instructions or recall details, making it more objective than memory tests used today.

The research team demonstrated that Fastball detects memory issues in people with mild cognitive impairment, a condition that often progresses to Alzheimer’s.

Earlier studies in 2021 already suggested Fastball’s sensitivity, but this new work highlights its potential in real-world settings.

Catching Alzheimer’s early

New Alzheimer’s treatments such as donanemab and lecanemab work best in the early stages. Yet in England, one in three people living with dementia lack a formal diagnosis.

This delay prevents timely treatment, reduces access to support, and limits opportunities for clinical research.

Dr. George Stothart from the University of Bath, who led the study, stressed the importance of earlier detection.

“We’re missing the first 10 to 20 years of Alzheimer’s with current diagnostic tools. Fastball offers a way to change that – detecting memory decline far earlier and more objectively, using a quick and passive test,” he said.

Mild impairment, higher risk

Alzheimer’s disease often begins with silent changes in the brain decades before symptoms. mild cognitive impairment, especially the amnestic form, is considered a key transition stage.

Patients with this condition show pronounced memory problems and face a higher risk of developing dementia compared to those with other types of impairment.

Fastball zeroes in on recognition memory. Unlike attention tests or verbal recall, it captures the brain’s unconscious response to familiar images.

The study confirmed that the tool predicts recognition memory performance but not unrelated functions like sustained attention.

From labs to living rooms

The study marks the first time Fastball has been successfully used in homes rather than in clinical labs. This shift could enable wider screening and regular monitoring through low-cost equipment.

Researchers envision the test being applied in GP surgeries, memory clinics, and private households. Its simplicity and portability make it attractive for large-scale adoption.

“There’s an urgent need for accurate, practical tools to diagnose Alzheimer’s at scale. Fastball is cheap, portable, and works in real-world settings,” added Dr. Stothart.

Fastball test is very reliable

Traditional memory tests often face cultural, linguistic, and educational biases. They also require effort and communication, which can be stressful for patients.

Fastball avoids these hurdles by passively recording brain activity. It uses steady-state visual stimulation, a method that produces reliable signals in a short time.

In this study, the test showed good reliability over a year when repeated with healthy older adults.

Importantly, patients who later developed dementia displayed weaker responses at baseline – hinting at its predictive potential.

The Academy of Medical Sciences funded the study, while dementia research charity BRACE provided vital backing. BRACE has long championed the project and sees promise in its next stages.

“Fastball is an incredible tool that could offer anyone who, for whatever reason, cannot access a dementia diagnosis in a clinical setting,” said Chris Williams, CEO of BRACE Dementia Research.

“BRACE has been supporting the development of Fastball for several years, and we are excited to see what Dr. Stothart’s team will achieve over the next few years with ongoing support from the charity.”

Hope for families facing Alzheimer’s

The potential of Fastball lies not only in its science but in its reach. By providing accurate results in minutes without demanding effort from patients, it could reshape the way memory disorders are tracked and treated.

With ongoing support and refinement, this test might open the door to earlier interventions and new hope for families facing Alzheimer’s, while also offering healthcare systems an affordable, scalable approach to improve diagnosis, monitoring, and timely access to emerging treatments.

The study is published in the journal Brain Communications.

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The results of randomized clinical trial show that a single shot of the antibiotic benzathine penicillin G (BPG) is as effective in treating early syphilis as the three-injection regimen used in many patients, researchers reported today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The findings come at a time when the United States and other countries around the world have been experiencing shortages of BPG, which has been the standard treatment for early syphilis since the early 1950s. Syphilis, caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, with an estimated 209,000 US infections in 2023. Though US syphilis incidence slowed in 2023, cases have risen by 61% since 2019, and shortages of BPG have hampered treatment.

The authors of the study, which was led by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), say the findings could boost syphilis control, aid antibiotic stewardship efforts, and simplify treatment for syphilis patients.

“Benzathine penicillin G is highly effective against syphilis, but the three-dose regimen can be burdensome and deter people from attending follow-up visits with their healthcare providers,” Carolyn Deal, PhD, chief of the enteric and sexually transmitted infections branch of NIAID, said in an NIH press release. “The new findings offer welcome evidence for potentially simplifying treatment with an equally effective one-dose regimen, particularly while syphilis rates remain alarmingly high.”

‘No observable benefit’ to multiple doses

For the multicenter trial, investigators enrolled and assigned participants with early syphilis (which includes the primary, secondary, and early latent stages of the disease), with or without HIV, to receive an intramuscular injection of BPG in a one-time dose of 2.4 million units or a series of three 2.4-million-unit injections at weekly intervals. The primary end point was serologic response at 6 months, with a noninferiority margin of 10 percentage points.

The authors note that although a single dose of BPG has been the accepted regimen for early syphilis since it was introduced, there has long been concern that one dose may not be enough for people with HIV who have early syphilis.

“Despite recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] for single-dose benzathine penicillin G therapy, many clinicians treat persons who have HIV infection with multiple doses,” they wrote.

A total of 249 participants (97% men, 62% Black, 61% living with HIV) were enrolled in the trial from October 31, 2018, through March 2, 2022, with 124 in the single-dose group and 125 in the three-dose group. Of the participants, 19% had primary syphilis, 47% had secondary syphilis, and 33% had early latent syphilis. Fifty participants were excluded from the final analysis.

The new findings offer welcome evidence for potentially simplifying treatment with an equally effective one-dose regimen, particularly while syphilis rates remain alarmingly high.

The percentage of participants with serologic response at 6 months was 76% (95% confidence interval [CI], 68% to 82%) in the single-dose group and 70% (95% CI, 61% to 77%) in the three-dose group, for a between-group difference of –6 percentage points (90% CI, -15 to 3), indicating noninferiority. When the treatment groups were further stratified according to HIV infection, the results were similar, with serologic response observed in 76% of participants with HIV infection in the one-dose group and 71% of participants with HIV in the three-dose group.

The most common adverse events were local injection-site pain and tenderness, observed in 76% of participants in the single-dose group and 85% in the three-dose group. The authors note that the cumulative discomfort from three shots may have been a factor in why 21 participants in the three-dose group did not receive all three treatments, though participants’ reasons for not receiving all treatments weren’t consistently recorded.

“With no observable benefit to multiple treatments, a single treatment at a dose of 2.4 million units should be, in our opinion, the preferred treatment for early syphilis,” they wrote.

Findings should provide reassurance

“We hope these promising results will be complemented by scientific advances in syphilis prevention and diagnosis,” lead investigator Edward Hook, MD, an emeritus professor of medicine and epidemiology at UAB, said in the release.

In an editorial on the study in the same journal, CDC scientists Lindley Barbee, MD, MPH, and Laura Bachmann, MD, MPH, wrote, “The findings from this trial should provide reassurance to clinicians, particularly those caring for patients with HIV infection, that a single dose of benzathine penicillin G is sufficient to treat early syphilis.”

“The question remains whether persons with late latent syphilis or syphilis of unknown duration should receive the CDC-recommended regimen of three 2.4-million–unit doses of benzathine penicillin G. The data supporting the CDC recommendation are theoretical.”

We know exercise is good for the body and mind. This may be especially true for people with early-stage Parkinson’s disease (PD). According to recent research by UCLA scientists, exercise may help fend off PD symptoms like worsening tremors, stiffness and balance issues.

Chronic inflammation happens when the immune system becomes overactive in the brain and nervous system. This can bring on PD symptoms.

“Prior research has found that a decrease in inflammation can play a crucial role in preventing or delaying the progression of PD,” says Yang Chen Hu, PhD, lead study author.

There is still much to learn about long-term inflammation, says Dr. Hu. However, the study findings suggest that exercise can help people with PD feel better for longer.

Dr. Hu is an epidemiology student in the laboratory of Beate Ritz, MD, PhD, a professor of epidemiology at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health with a co-appointment in the department of neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Dr. Ritz was one of the study’s senior authors, as was Cynthia Kusters, MD, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.

“Our work takes a novel approach to studying inflammation, helping us understand how behavior and environmental exposures influence biological processes,” says Dr. Kusters.

“This offers promising opportunities for studying how lifestyle factors and exposures relate to disease risk and progression.”

Conducting the study

The researchers gathered data on demographics, lifestyle and physical activity from 555 people with PD in the Parkinson’s Environment and Gene (PEG) Studies.

This long-term research project was a joint effort of the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and the UCLA Neurology Department. Its goal was to learn more about what causes the factors that contribute to PD.

Using this data, Dr. Hu and colleagues calculated DNA-based measures that acted as stand-ins for immune system signals known as cytokines.

Next, they compared data from physically active study participants to data from less active participants.

This made it possible to see whether physical activity is linked to immune-related DNA markers – which is exactly what they found, according to Dr. Hu.

The findings suggest that physical activity lowers chronic inflammation, which may slow disease progression.

What this means for patients 

People with PD should consider doing higher-intensity activities, such as fast walking, seated dancing or chair aerobics, if possible.

“We found that having a higher day-to-day activity level is associated with both lower levels of pro-inflammatory signals and higher levels of anti-inflammatory signals,” Dr. Hu says.

Some of these signals have been linked to the progression of PD, he says. This points to regular physical activity being helpful in managing the condition.

Overall, says Dr. Hu, patients should know that “staying physically active could be a simple yet powerful way to improve long-term health outcomes in PD.”

Another of the study’s coauthors – Jeff Bronstein, MD, PhD – agrees about the importance of exercise for people with PD.

Dr. Bronstein is the director of movement disorders at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine.

“We have yet to find a medication that can slow the progression of the disease,” he says. “However, we have several therapies that can improve symptoms and help maintain a high quality of life,”

Physical activity is the one treatment that slows disease progression, but we simply do not understand how it works, he notes.

“This study found that physical activity is associated with changes in our DNA that alters inflammation,” he continues.

“Inflammation may contribute to the cause of PD – and therefore, these changes in DNA might give us insight into how physical activity slows disease progression. It might also be important in other diseases as well.”

Working together to help people with PD

A study like this would not be possible without high-quality data, notes Dr. Hu.

All the data was collected from the PEG study, which enrolled residents from Fresno, Tulare and Kern counties in Central California.

The PEG study brought researchers and community members together to learn more about PD. Trained professionals gathered a wide range of information, according to Dr. Hu.

Detailed neurological examinations for PD patients were performed by UCLA movement disorder specialists at the UCLA Department of Neurology at the initial visit and at follow-up visits.

Their expertise was crucial in confirming that participants had PD symptoms.

“Their in-depth knowledge of PD diagnosis, treatment and pathology was instrumental in interpreting some of the study’s results,” Dr. Hu says.

“Drs. Ritz and Bronstein have contributed a strong clinical perspective to the conversation, connecting the observed changes in cytokine levels to potential and meaningful differences in the progression of PD.”

Discussions with experts were key to understanding the study results, he adds, especially around the changes to immune cells like B-cells and T-cells.

“These are vital pathological alterations observed in PD patients.”

Women treated with beta-blockers (β-blockers) for post-myocardial infarction (MI) without reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) have a 45% increased risk of MI, heart failure hospitalization, or death compared with men, according to new study findings. The results, published in the European Heart Journal, suggest a need to re-evaluate β-blocker use in post-MI women without reduced LVEF, with a view toward more sex-specific prescribing strategies.¹

“Despite the underlying reasons not being fully understood, it is well established that women and men do not receive equal management—including pharmacological therapies—following an ACS [acute coronary syndrome],” the authors discussed. “Moreover, although findings vary across studies, several reports suggest that women may experience worse long-term outcomes than men after ACS.”¹

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) affects nearly 60 million women in the United States alone, and only 44% see it as a significant health threat for women. This is largely in response to the prioritization of male enrollment in CVD clinical trials due to dissimilarities in women’s and men’s hormones, platelet reactivity, P2Y12 inhibitors, and the likelihood of developing comorbidities, which greatly impact responses to treatment. Continued evidence shows that women with cardiovascular conditions have increased adverse responses to cardiovascular drugs compared with men, with a risk that is 1.5 to 1.7 times higher. This underscores the critical need for inclusion of women in cardiovascular trials, as well as sex-based treatment guidelines.²

The authors assessed a pre-specified sex-specific subgroup analysis of REBOOT (NCT03596385), the largest randomized trial evaluating the effect of beta-blockers after acute MI with LVEF less than 40%. The assessment included a total of 8438 patients, of whom 1627 were older, had more comorbidities, and received fewer guideline-based therapies than men.^1,3

Over nearly 4 years of follow-up, women who had a heart attack were more likely than men to experience serious health problems such as death, another heart attack, or hospitalization for heart failure. Among women, these events happened more often in those who were taking beta-blockers compared with those who were not (about 30 vs 21 cases per 1,000 patients each year). This means women on beta-blockers had about a 45% higher risk of adverse events.¹

For men, there was no meaningful difference between taking beta-blockers or not. The higher risk seen in women was mostly due to increased deaths, and it was especially noticeable in women who had normal heart pumping function and in those who received higher doses of beta-blockers.¹

“Despite women and men differing with respect to baseline risk, causes, and prognosis of MI, current guidelines do not differentiate between the use of beta-blockers in women and men,” wrote the authors. “… our study provides robust evidence of an interaction between sex and beta-blocker therapy and suggests an increased risk of the composite endpoint of all-cause death, MI, or HF hospitalization, mainly in women with preserved LVEF receiving higher doses of beta-blockers.”¹

REFERENCES

1. Rossello X, Dominguez-Rodriguez A, Latini R, et al. Beta-blockers after myocardial infarction: effects according to sex in the REBOOT trial. European Heart Journal. August 30, 2025. Doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf673

2. Gerlach A. Closing the gap: Addressing underrepresentation of women in cardiovascular clinical trials. Pharmacy Times. May 24, 2024. Accessed September 3, 2025. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/closing-the-gap-addressing-underrepresentation-of-women-in-cardiovascular-clinical-trials

3. TREatment With beta-blockers After myOcardial Infarction withOut Reduced Ejection fraction. Updated June 6, 2025. Accessed September 3, 2025. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03596385

New evidence suggests that adults may not need routine tetanus and diphtheria booster shots after all, potentially saving the U.S. around $1 billion annually.

The protection from childhood vaccinations appears to last for decades, matching findings from the U.K., where boosters haven’t been given since the 1950s, yet disease rates remain extremely low.

Potential Billion-Dollar Savings

A new review led by scientists at Oregon Health & Science University suggests the United States could safely eliminate routine tetanus and diphtheria booster shots for adults and save roughly $1 billion every year.

The researchers stressed that these savings and safety depend on keeping childhood vaccination rates consistently high.

“By maintaining high childhood vaccination coverage, we not only protect kids, but we may actually be able to reduce adult booster vaccinations,” said lead author Mark Slifka, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and immunology in the OHSU School of Medicine and the Oregon National Primate Research Center. “That would save $1 billion a year in the U.S. while maintaining the safety and protection of the general population.”

Slifka added that ending the 10-year booster schedule would bring U.S. practices more in line with recommendations from the World Health Organization.

Decades of Immunity Confirmed

The review builds on earlier OHSU studies published in 2016 and 2020, which found that the combined tetanus and diphtheria vaccine provides immunity lasting at least 30 years. That protection far exceeds the current guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which advises adults to receive a booster every 10 years. The vaccine is most often administered as the combination shot for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, known as DTaP.

In the United States, children are scheduled to receive six doses of this vaccine between infancy and age 12.

According to the review, eliminating routine adult boosters would be safe as long as childhood vaccination coverage remains strong. Boosters could still be given in specific situations, such as after serious injuries like workplace accidents or car crashes, where tetanus exposure is a concern.

Natural Experiment in Europe

Published recently in the journal Clinical Microbiology Reviews, the review highlights a comparison between two industrialized countries just 21 miles across the English Channel: France and the United Kingdom. Both countries have excellent childhood vaccination coverage, similar to the U.S.

“This represents sort of an experiment of nature,” Slifka said. “We have one country with over 60 million people that for decades has continued to vaccinate adults throughout their lifetime and another nearby country that also has over 60 million people, but over the past 50 years, they have never recommended adult booster vaccinations.

“The question we asked is, ‘What happens if we don’t vaccinate the adults? Are there more cases of disease or are these people protected after completing their childhood vaccination series?’”

France vs. United Kingdom Outcomes

Similar to the United States, France has a recommended booster vaccination schedule for adults. In contrast, except during pregnancy or for wound management, the United Kingdom hasn’t recommended boosters for tetanus and diphtheria beyond age 14 since the 1950s.

Yet, despite decades of adult booster vaccination, the review found that France had virtually no advantage over the U.K. in the rates of tetanus or diphtheria. In fact, the review found that the UK had a slightly lower rate overall.

Herd Immunity Holds Strong

In addition, “herd immunity” held strong even in 2022 when the U.K. reported an outbreak of 73 imported diphtheria cases among immigrants seeking asylum. This spike in cases was almost equal to the total number of diphtheria cases reported in the entire country over the previous 20 years combined.

“Remarkably, despite this proportionally large influx of imported diphtheria cases, there was no evidence of transmission reported among other asylum seekers who arrived by other routes or among staff or health care workers,” the authors write.

The U.K. Health Security Agency concluded that the country’s current childhood-focused vaccination program is sufficient for preventing the spread of diphtheria and that the risk to the general UK population remains low.

Vaccines’ Life-Saving Impact

The findings highlight the remarkable durability of protection following childhood vaccination against a pair of diseases that were once all but a death sentence.

In 1948, the U.S. mortality rate for tetanus was 91%. Before the introduction of antibiotics and vaccines, the mortality rate for diphtheria was roughly 50%. To this day, diphtheria kills roughly one out of 10 people who aren’t vaccinated against it.

Childhood Vaccinations Keep Us Safe

Today, the public health threat is diminished thanks to childhood vaccinations as well as booster shots recommended in pregnancy.

“Thanks to childhood vaccinations, these diseases are incredibly rare,” Slifka said. “In fact, you’re 10 to 1,000 times more likely to be struck by lightning than to be diagnosed with tetanus and diphtheria in the United States.”

Reference: “Lessons learned from successful implementation of tetanus and diphtheria vaccination programs” by Mark K. Slifka, Archana Thomas, Lina Gao, Ian J. Amanna and Walter A. Orenstein, 15 July 2025, Clinical Microbiology Reviews.
DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00031-25

In addition to Slifka, co-authors include Archana Thomas and Lina Gao, Ph.D., of OHSU; Ian J. Amanna, Ph.D., of Najít Technologies, and Walter A. Orenstein, M.D., of the Emory Vaccine Center at Emory University.

Research reported in this publication was supported by the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health, award number P51OD011092. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

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SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Myriad Genetics, Inc., (NASDAQ: MYGN), a leader in molecular diagnostic testing and precision medicine, today announced the publication of a new meta-analysis of six prospective controlled studies¹ that included 3,532 adults with major depressive disorder (MDD). The meta-analysis showed that when GeneSight^® Psychotropic test results were available to treating clinicians, there were significant improvements in response and remission rates for patients with MDD, compared to treatment as usual (TAU).

Specifically, compared to TAU, patients in the GeneSight arm were:

• 41% more likely to achieve remission.
• 30% more likely to achieve response.

“This meta-analysis summarizes the clinical evidence of the GeneSight test, demonstrating superiority over treatment as usual—which often involves repeated medication trials,” said Sagar V. Parikh, M.D., FRCPC, study author, professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan, associate director of the University of Michigan Depression Center. “This study found that the GeneSight test can be a powerful tool to augment a clinician’s knowledge, experience and passion for their patients’ recovery.”

The large-scale data analysis—merging data over many independent studies—provides evidence of the clinical utility of the GeneSight Psychotropic test for patients with MDD who have experienced at least one treatment failure.

“Depression is not just a mental health issue—it’s a public health priority. If we want to improve overall outcomes and enhance quality of life, we must treat depression with the same urgency and resources as any other chronic condition,” said Dale Muzzey, PhD, chief scientific officer, Myriad Genetics. “This meta-analysis adds to our confidence in the clinical validity and utility of the GeneSight test.”

Myriad Genetics plans to submit this data to payers as part of ongoing efforts to increase patient access to the GeneSight test and help patients achieve remission from depression.

About the Meta-Analysis
The study analyzed six prospective, controlled trials to assess the impact of the GeneSight Psychotropic test on clinical outcomes in a total of 3,532 unique adults with MDD who had at least one prior treatment failure. The trials included in the meta-analysis incorporated the widely used depression questionnaires, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D17) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), to assess severity of depression symptoms. Response was defined as a 50% or greater improvement in depression scores from baseline to endpoint. Remission was defined as a score of seven or less on the HAM-D17 or a score of five or less on the PHQ-9.

^{1 Pine Rest (Winner et al., 2013), Hamm (Hall-Flavin et al., 2012), La Crosse (Hall-Flavin et al., 2013), GUIDED (Greden et al., 2019), PRIME Care (Oslin et al., 2022), GAPP-MDD (Tiwari et al., 2022)}

About the GeneSight^® Test
The GeneSight Psychotropic test from Myriad Genetics is the category-leading pharmacogenomic test for 64 medications commonly prescribed for depression, anxiety, ADHD, and other psychiatric conditions. The GeneSight test can help inform clinicians about how a patient’s genes may impact how they metabolize and/or respond to certain psychiatric medications. It is designed to provide information that may help reduce the trial-and-error process that often takes place when patients are prescribed certain mental health medications. Learn more at www.genesight.com.

About Myriad Genetics 
Myriad Genetics is a leading molecular diagnostic testing and precision medicine company dedicated to advancing health and well-being for all. Myriad Genetics develops and offers molecular tests that help assess the risk of developing disease or disease progression and guide treatment decisions across medical specialties where molecular insights can significantly improve patient care and lower healthcare costs. For more information, visit www.myriad.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements related to the meta-analysis and how it adds to the company’s confidence in the clinical validity and utility of the GeneSight test, as well as the company’s plans to submit data from the meta-analysis to payors as part of ongoing efforts to increase patient access to the GeneSight test and help patients achieve remission from depression. These “forward-looking statements” are management’s expectations of future events as of the date hereof and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, conditions, and events to differ materially and adversely from those anticipated. Such factors include those risks described in the company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2025, as well as any updates to those risk factors filed from time to time in the company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. Myriad is not under any obligation, and it expressly disclaims any obligation, to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by law. 

Investor Contact 
Matt Scalo 
(801) 584-3532 
IR@myriad.com 

Media Contact 
Kate Schraml
(224) 875-4493
PR@myriad.com