Improved understanding of social determinants of health 

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EULAR – The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology – acknowledges the impact of socioeconomic factors on the persistence of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD), and the society’s manifesto includes tackling lifestyle determinants, promoting active ageing, and developing RMD education and communication programmes.¹ Health literacy has also been flagged as central to the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases – including RMD – by the World Health Organization.² 

According to a new study, presented at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Care of the Athletic Heart 2025 conference, sleep apnea may be more prevalent in younger female athletes than previously believed, especially among female athletes with higher levels of training. While obstructive sleep apnea has been observed in younger male athletes, the prevalence in female athletes and the association with cardiovascular risk is largely unknown.

While the U.S. has recently seen a welcome downturn in drug overdose deaths, a new study from Northwestern Medicine is the first to pinpoint when the tide began to turn — identifying August 2023 as the national inflection point in the crisis.

By creating a cohesive AI-enabled and physics-based molecular modeling and drug discovery pipeline built around film industry animation software, researchers at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University identified the orally available, FDA-approved drug bemcentinib, as a potential antiviral agent. They then used this chemical compound as a launch pad for developing a more specific and effective antiviral drug with efficacy against a broad range of coronaviruses, which has great potential for fighting future respiratory pandemics. 

About The Study: In this cross-sectional study, U.S. drug overdose death rates entered a new wave of sustained deceleration in 2023 after 2 decades of increase. This shift may reflect changes in drug markets, treatment access, harm reduction efforts, and population-level risk. Although the decline is encouraging, persistent disparities highlight the need for targeted interventions and improved understanding of the underlying drivers. 

About The Study: This study found that initiating fecal immunochemical test screening at age 40 to 49 was associated with further reduction in colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality and incidence compared with starting screening at age 50. These results provide strong empirical support for lowering the CRC screening age, with substantial public health implications.