Inflammation Linked To Brain Damage, Memory Problems Among Football Players

THURSDAY, Feb. 26, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Inflammation caused by repetitive head impacts might help explain why some former football players develop brain problems later in life, a new study says.

Higher levels of inflammation are associated with damage in the brain’s white matter, according to a study of former college and pr...

Disasters Can Affect Mental Health A Decade Later, Review Finds

THURSDAY, Feb. 26, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Disasters and violent events echo in the minds of people for years afterward, contributing to mental illness that can surface as much as a decade later, a new evidence review has found.

More than 1 in 5 survivors (22%) will develop a mental health problem after living through their ordeal, r...

Early Birds, Active Folks Less Likely To Develop ALS

THURSDAY, Feb. 26, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Early birds and active folks are less likely to develop the degenerative brain disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a new study says.

People who are early birds had a 20% lower risk of ALS — also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease — compared to night owls, accordi...

Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi Shares Cervical Cancer Diagnosis, Urges Women To Get Pap Tests

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 25, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Reality TV star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi said an early pap smear may have saved her life.

In a video shared on TikTok, the 38-year-old said she was diagnosed with stage one cervical cancer after doctors found adenocarcinoma during a routine pap test.

"Obviously not the news that I was ...

Novo Nordisk Cuts Prices of Ozempic and Wegovy Starting January 2027

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 25, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Some of the most popular diabetes and weight-loss drugs in the U.S. will soon cost a lot less.

Novo Nordisk announced Tuesday that it will cut U.S. list prices of Ozempic and Wegovy by up to 50% starting next year.

The lower prices will take effect Jan. 1, 2027, the same time that red...

Lindsey Vonn Says Olympic Crash Nearly Cost Her a Leg

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 25, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Olympic ski star Lindsey Vonn says a serious crash at the Milan Cortina Olympics nearly cost her a left leg.

In an Instagram post shared Monday, the 41-year-old skier revealed that her injuries were far worse than first reported after she crashed during the women’s downhill event on F...

Nearly 6 In 10 Women Expected To Develop Heart Disease

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 25, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Nearly 6 out of 10 U.S. women will have some type of heart disease during the next 25 years, a trend driven by rising rates of high blood pressure, a new American Heart Association report says.

Almost 60% of women could have high blood pressure by 2050, up from about 50% in 2020, according ...

Scientists' Push For a Universal Vaccine Takes a Key Step Forward

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 25, 2026 (HealthDay News) — If you avoid getting vaccinated because you dread one needle stick after another, there’s hopeful news from scientists at five major U.S. universities.

They’ve taken a major step toward developing a nasal spray that could one day protect against everything from influenza and COV...

Doomscrolling Affecting Many Americans' Sleep, Poll Finds

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 25, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Doomscrolling is taking a toll on many Americans’ rest, a new survey says.

More than a third of U.S. adults (38%) say using their phone or tablet to read the news before bed is making their sleep slightly or significantly worse, according to the new poll from the American Academy of S...

Clean Indoor Air Key To Preventing Asthma Attacks

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 25, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Clean, well-circulated indoor air can reduce asthma attacks among adults, a new study says.

Fans and air purifiers are essential for reducing the risk of flare-ups at home, researchers recently reported in the journal Atmosphere.

In particular, good ventilation and exhaust sy...

Hospice Use Rising for Seniors Following ICU Stays

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 25, 2026 (HealthDay News) — For many older Americans, the intensive care unit (ICU) is a place of aggressive, life-saving intervention.

However, a new national study reveals that more seniors are choosing a different path — transitioning from the high-tech world of the ICU to the comfort-focused environment of h...

Pets Give Older Adults Purpose, but Financial Strain is Growing

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 25, 2026 (HealthDay News) — For many older adults, a wagging tail or a soft purr is more than just company — it is a reason to get out of bed.

But a new national poll suggests that while the emotional bond between seniors and their pets is stronger than ever, the cost of companionship is becoming a heavy burden....

Eating Healthy In Middle Age Can Lower Risk of Brain Decline, Study Finds

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 25, 2026 (HealthDay News) — What’s on your plate today can affect your brain aging as a senior, a new study says.

Middle-aged people who eat healthy have a lower risk of brain decline in old age, researchers reported Feb. 23 in JAMA Neurology.

The heart-healthy Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertens...

Turns Out Horses Don’t Just Whinny — They Whistle

TUESDAY, Feb. 24, 2026 (HealthDay News) — The sound of a horse whinnying is one most people recognize instantly, but scientists are only now learning how it’s made.

A new study revealed that when a horse whinnies, it is making two sounds at the same time: One sound comes from vibrating vocal cords, like when people sing. The ot...

New FDA Proposal Aims To Help Patients With Hard-To-Treat Diseases

TUESDAY, Feb. 24, 2026 (HealthDay News) — U.S. health officials are proposing a new way to develop and approve custom-made treatments for people with rare and hard-to-treat conditions.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just released a draft of guidelines that would create a special pathway for therapies designed for just a ...

Study Suggests Cutting Sugar Before Age 2 Could Lower Heart Disease Risk

TUESDAY, Feb. 24, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Cookies, cupcakes, fruit snacks, juice boxes, oh my! These sweet treats are often part of childhood. 

But when it comes to babies and toddlers, new research suggests less sugar may be better for the heart later on.

Researchers found that people whose sugar intake was restricted bef...

CDC's Deputy Secretary General Steps Down Just 2.5 Months Into the Job

TUESDAY, Feb. 24, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Leadership uncertainty at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) deepened this week after the agency’s second-in-command suddenly resigned.

On Monday, the CDC announced that Ralph Abraham, its deputy secretary general, stepped down effective immediately.

Abraham...

Gap In Preventable Deaths Widening Between Those With, Without A College Degree

TUESDAY, Feb. 24, 2026 (HealthDay News) — A gap in preventable deaths is growing between people with and without a college degree, a new study says.

A steadily increasing number of people with a high school diploma or less are dying from illnesses that could have been prevented by health care, researchers reported in the American...