Statins may help almost everyone with type 2 diabetes live longer

New research suggests statins may protect adults with type 2 diabetes regardless of how low their predicted heart risk appears. In a large UK study, statin use was linked to fewer deaths and major cardiac events across all risk levels. Even those labeled “low risk” benefited, challenging long-held assumptions about who should receive preventive therapy. Side effects were rare and generally mild.

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Northwestern Medicine’s new antibody wakes the immune system against pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer uses a sugar-coated disguise to evade the immune system, helping explain why it’s so hard to treat. Northwestern scientists discovered this hidden mechanism and created an antibody that strips away the tumor’s protective signal. In animal tests, immune cells sprang back into action and tumors grew much more slowly. The team is now refining the therapy for future human trials.

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Massive brain study reveals why memory loss can suddenly speed up with age

A massive international brain study has revealed that memory decline with age isn’t driven by a single brain region or gene, but by widespread structural changes across the brain that build up over time. Analyzing thousands of MRI scans and memory tests from healthy adults, researchers found that memory loss accelerates as brain tissue shrinkage increases, especially later in life. While the hippocampus plays a key role, many other brain regions also contribute, forming a broad vulnerability rather than isolated damage.

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Millions with dementia still prescribed drugs linked to falls and confusion

Despite longstanding guidelines, many dementia patients are still prescribed brain-altering medications that can raise the risk of falls and confusion. A new study shows that while prescribing has decreased overall, people with cognitive impairment remain more likely to receive these drugs. In many cases, there was no documented medical justification. The results suggest that medication safety remains a serious concern in dementia care.

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This common dinner rule makes meals more awkward

Waiting to eat when your food arrives first feels polite—but it may be mostly for your own peace of mind. Researchers found people feel far more uncomfortable breaking the “wait until everyone is served” rule than they expect others would feel watching it happen. Even being told to go ahead doesn’t fully ease the discomfort. Serving everyone at once could reduce awkwardness and make meals more enjoyable.

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Why music brings no joy to some people

A small group of people experience no pleasure from music despite normal hearing and intact emotions. Brain imaging reveals that their auditory and reward systems fail to properly communicate, leaving music emotionally flat. Researchers developed a questionnaire to measure how rewarding music feels across emotions, mood, movement, and social connection. The findings suggest pleasure isn’t all-or-nothing and may depend on how specific brain networks connect.

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A little-known health syndrome may affect nearly everyone

Most U.S. adults have risk factors tied to a little-known condition called CKM syndrome, which connects heart disease, kidney problems, diabetes, and obesity into one powerful health threat. When these issues overlap, the danger rises far more than when they occur alone. Despite low awareness, people are eager to learn how CKM is diagnosed and treated. Experts say understanding how these systems work together could prevent serious, life-threatening events.

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A daily fish oil supplement slashed serious heart risks in dialysis patients

A new international trial has delivered striking results for people on dialysis, showing that daily fish oil supplements can sharply reduce serious heart-related events. Patients taking fish oil had far fewer heart attacks, strokes, and cardiac deaths than those on placebo. Researchers say this is especially important because dialysis patients face extreme cardiovascular risk and few proven treatment options. The findings mark a rare breakthrough in kidney care.

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Injection turns sleeping tumor immune cells into cancer fighters

KAIST researchers have developed a way to reprogram immune cells already inside tumors into cancer-killing machines. A drug injected directly into the tumor is absorbed by macrophages, prompting them to recognize and attack cancer cells while activating nearby immune defenses. This eliminates the need for lab-based cell extraction and modification. In animal models, the strategy significantly slowed tumor growth and sparked strong anticancer immune responses.

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A room full of flu patients and no one got sick

In a striking real-world experiment, flu patients spent days indoors with healthy volunteers, but the virus never spread. Researchers found that limited coughing and well-mixed indoor air kept virus levels low, even with close contact. Age may have helped too, since middle-aged adults are less likely to catch the flu than younger people. The results highlight ventilation, air movement, and masks as key defenses against infection.

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