EurekAlert! News by Subject: Medicine & Health - News by Subject: Medicine & Health

Medicine & Health

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 3-May-2025 11:09 ET (3-May-2025 15:09 GMT/UTC)

Study finds intensive blood pressure control reduces risk of cognitive impairment

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study from researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine shows that only 3½ years of intensive blood pressure control continues to significantly reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia long after stopping this treatment in adults with hypertension and high cardiovascular risk.

Journal: Neurology
Funder: Alzheimer's Association, NIH/National Institute on Aging, NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, NIH/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Treatment for children with obesity has lasting effect

Karolinska Institutet
Peer-Reviewed Publication

When children with obesity undergo weight-loss treatment, the effects have repercussions later in life and the risk of serious health problems and premature death is lower as they reach young adulthood. However, this is not the case for depression and anxiety, a study from Karolinska Institutet published in JAMA Pediatrics reports.

Journal: JAMA Pediatrics

Brain immune cells may also be from Mars and Venus

University of Rochester Medical Center
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers find that microglia function differently in males versus females, potentially having broad implications for how neurological diseases are studied.

Journal: Cell Reports

Effect of pediatric obesity treatment on long-term health

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

About The Study: This cohort study demonstrated that good response to pediatric obesity treatment was associated with reduced long-term morbidity, such as type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Additionally, a link between pediatric obesity treatment effectiveness and lower incidences of mortality in young adulthood was observed; however, effective pediatric obesity treatment was not associated with adult depression or anxiety, highlighting their distinct nature despite frequent coexistence.

Journal: JAMA Pediatrics

Factors associated with semaglutide initiation among adults with obesity

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

About The Study: This cohort study found that key sociodemographic, health care, and clinical factors are associated with receipt of semaglutide, a novel glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist medication, in those without diabetes. These findings suggest that insurance plan type and structure may be a crucial intervention point for improving equity in obesity treatment access.

Journal: JAMA Network Open

Jeremy L. Davis, MD, named UMGCCC Surgical Oncology Lead and Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology at UMSOM

University of Maryland School of Medicine
Business Announcement

University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC) Executive Director, Taofeek K. Owonikoko, MD, PhD, and University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Department of Surgery Chair, Christine Lau, MD, MBA, have announced that Jeremy L. Davis, MD, has been appointed the new Surgical Oncology Lead for UMGCCC and Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology in the Department of Surgery at UMSOM. Dr. Davis is a nationally recognized surgical oncologist and leader in gastric cancer research. He started in his new roles at the end of last month.

Telephone therapy reduces fatigue interference with activities, mood and cognition for metastatic breast cancer survivors

Regenstrief Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A clinical trial demonstrates the effectiveness of telephone-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in reducing fatigue’s interference with functioning and improving the quality of life for survivors of metastatic breast cancer. The ACT intervention helped study participants to fall asleep with greater ease. Fatigue remains a significant challenge for these survivors, affecting up to 63 percent of patients and severely impacting daily functioning.

Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology
Funder: NIH/National Cancer Institute