Welcome to In the Spotlight, where each month we shine a light on something exciting, timely, or simply fascinating from the world of science.
This month, we’re focusing on infectious diseases, a topic that affects lives and communities around the world. Here, you’ll find the latest research news, insights, and discoveries shaping how infectious diseases are being studied, prevented, and treated globally.
Latest News Releases
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 12-Jan-2026 05:16 ET (12-Jan-2026 10:16 GMT/UTC)
Tiny cell messengers in obese individuals accelerate Alzheimer’s-linked plaque buildup in the brain
Houston MethodistPeer-Reviewed Publication
- Journal
- Alzheimer s & Dementia
- Funder
- NIH/National Institutes of Health, Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, T.T. and W.F. Chao Foundation, John S. Dunn Research Foundation, Houston Methodist Cornerstone Award, Paul Richard Jeanneret Research Fund, University of Texas
Groundbreaking study finds variations in the donor human milk critical for many preterm infants worldwide
University of North Carolina at GreensboroPeer-Reviewed Publication
- Journal
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Funder
- NIH/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Frontiers Forum Deep Dive series: Mix insect, plant, and cultivated proteins for healthier, greener, tastier food, say experts
FrontiersMeeting Announcement
Home-delivered nutrition services for older adults under the Older Americans Act
JAMA NetworkPeer-Reviewed Publication
About The Study: The findings of this qualitative study of home-delivered nutrition services for older adults suggest that home-delivered meals programs achieved their intended outcomes and yielded meaningful benefits beyond their stated purpose that remain to be quantified. The findings also support funding the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program.
- Journal
- JAMA Network Open
Certain processed foods and beverages linked to declines in brain health
Virginia Tech- Journal
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Pediatric investigation study links dietary preferences to childhood asthma in Shanghai
Pediatric InvestigationPeer-Reviewed Publication
A large cross-sectional study of 8,412 first-grade children in Shanghai, led by Southeast University researchers, found that dietary preferences may influence asthma risk. Children who favored pickled and smoked foods were nearly twice as likely to develop asthma, and girls preferring fried foods showed a particularly strong association. Conversely, seafood preference in normal-weight children was linked to reduced asthma risk. The findings highlight diet as a potential target for childhood asthma prevention strategies.
- Journal
- Pediatric Investigation