For more than two decades, scientists have uncovered remarkable links between the trillions of microbes living in our gut and the health of our brains. This research has transformed our understanding of stress, depression, anxiety and neurodevelopment, opening new possibilities for preventing and treating mental illness. What if much of this science is based on studying only a narrow slice of global diversity? 

Published today in Nature Mental Health, a new international perspective led by researchers at APC Microbiome Ireland in University College Cork (UCC) argues that one of the biggest obstacles facing microbiome and mental health research is not a lack of technology or data, but a lack of global diversity in the people being studied. The authors contend that the field has become overwhelmingly concentrated in wealthy, industrialised nations, limiting scientific discovery. 

A new position statement from the International Osteoporosis Foundation's (IOF) Committee of Scientific Advisors Fracture Working Group urges orthopaedic surgeons and bone health specialists to work together to assess and treat osteoporosis before and after joint replacement and spinal fusion surgery. The position paper presents a framework linking poor bone quality to complications across both types of procedures and provides evidence-informed recommendations to improve outcomes for the millions of patients undergoing these surgeries worldwide. It introduces the concept of implant fixation failure as a common endpoint, describing the progressive mechanical failure of bone–implant constructs resulting from compromised bone quality specifically that due to osteoporosis.

Patients with chronic illnesses are often praised for taking charge of their own healthcare, researching treatments, joining online communities, and becoming informed partners in medical decision-making. But a new study from Bar-Ilan University argues that this growing "patient empowerment" often comes at a hidden cost.

Drawing on in-depth interviews with people living with Parkinson's disease, researchers found that many patients do not actively choose to become experts in their illness. Instead, they feel compelled to do so because healthcare systems leave them with little alternative.

The latest research supports the conclusion that for most adults, consuming up to 400 mg of caffeine/day (or up to 5, 8-ounce cups of caffeinated coffee per day) is safe and appears to be linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease for some individuals. However, higher doses of caffeine, such as levels found in energy drinks including energy shots, may cause cardiovascular harm, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement, “Caffeine and Cardiovascular Disease,” published today in the American Heart Association’s flagship peer-reviewed scientific journal Circulation.

Tyre particles and potentially toxic tyre chemical additives have been found in dust collected from Brisbane residential balconies.

University of Queensland researchers examined balcony dust from homes across inner-city, suburban, and near-road settings, to see how traffic-related pollution travelled from streets to residential environments.