Category Health/Medical

Singapore has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, yet many individuals spend almost a decade in poor health toward the end of life. Scientists from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) are working to understand how aging itself can be modified to prevent age-related diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.

A new study led by Professor Brian K Kennedy, Department of Biochemistry, Chair of the Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program (TRP), NUS Medicine, has discovered that calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (CaAKG), a safe, naturally occurring metabolite commonly studied for healthy aging, can restore key memory...

Over 70 million Americans wear digital activity trackers (DATs) to record their sleep, steps and heart rate. A new study from Scripps Research found that these devices could also provide insight into even more, including individual health risks like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and high blood pressure.

The findings, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research on December 3, 2025, used DATs to identify an association between sleep variability—the night-to-night fluctuation of when an individual falls asleep and wakes—and their risk of developing sleep apnea and hypertension. This research joins a growing body of evidence that DATs could become more useful clinical tools to assess health risks in the near future.

“Data from digital activity trackers provides a uniqu...

A humble Brazilian coastal plant used in folk medicine is now backed by science as a potential natural fighter against inflammation and arthritis.

A research team in Brazil has found strong evidence that the Joseph’s Coat plant (Alternanthera littoralis) is both safe and effective at reducing inflammation, easing pain, and protecting against arthritis. The study was carried out by scientists from the Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD), the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), and São Paulo State University (UNESP).

Joseph’s Coat grows naturally along Brazil’s coastline and has long been used in tradi...

Researchers have developed experimental drugs that encourage the mitochondria in our cells to work a little harder and burn more calories. The findings could open the door to new treatments for obesity and improve metabolic health.

Obesity is a global epidemic and a risk factor for many diseases, including diabetes and cancer. Current obesity drugs require injections and can cause side effects, so a safe way to boost weight loss could deliver significant public health benefits.

The study, led by Associate Professor Tristan Rawling from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), has just been published in Chemical Science, where it was highlighted as “pick of the week.”

How mitochondrial uncouplers work
The research team, from UTS and ...