FDA Moves Toward Faster Drug Approvals

In a major shift that could fundamentally change how new medicine reaches the pharmacy, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is relaxing a long-standing drug approval requirement for common diseases.

Drugmakers must often complete two separate, large-scale studies to prove a new medication is effective.

Going forward, the FDA&...

Bhattacharya to Do Double Duty at Helms of CDC and NIH

An outspoken critic of the nation’s top public health agency has been tapped to lead it for the foreseeable future.

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya will serve temporarily as acting director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in addition to filling his role as director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

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Study Links Advanced CTE From Head Trauma as Distinct Cause of Dementia

For years, families of athletes and military veterans have watched loved ones slip into memory loss, suspecting the culprit was a lifetime of blows to the head.

Now, a major study from the Boston University CTE Center provides the data to back those suspicions: Advanced chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), or stage IV CTE, quadrupled a ...

'Operation Stork Speed' Prepares to Overhaul Baby Formula Guidelines

During their first six months of life, many infants get some or all of their calories from formula, but federal rules governing what goes into those bottles haven't been updated in decades.

That may soon change under a federal initiative dubbed Operation Stork Speed that was launched last March to bring U.S. infant formula standards into t...

Dental Guidelines Call For More Judicious Use Of X-Rays

FRIDAY, Jan. 20, 2026 (HealthDay News) —  Everyone who’s had regular dental care knows the heavy lead apron that’s draped across your body before taking X-rays of your teeth.

But what has been an annual ritual of donning the apron and undergoing oral X-rays might look very different the next time you visit the dentis...

Parents' 'Gut Feelings' Best Help Doctors Detect And Treat Serious Illness Among Children

Doctors would do well to heed any gut feelings parents might have about their child’s health, a new study says.

Nine times out of 10, children were seriously ill if their parents had a clear or strong concern about their health, researchers reported Feb. 17 in JAMA Network Open.

In fact, asking whether a parent is worr...

One In Five U.S. Children Are Obese, Study Says

Obesity affects 1 in every 5 U.S. children, a new study says.

About 20% of American children between the ages of 2 and 19 have obesity, researchers report Feb. 10 in JAMA Network Open.

“In 2024, excess youth overweight and obesity remained highly prevalent among youths in the U.S.,” wrote the research team led by...

Blood Test Estimates When Alzheimer’s Symptoms Will Start

Imagine knowing exactly when your brain might start to fail. 

It sounds like a plot from a futuristic movie, but a new "biological clock" developed by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis may make it a reality.

By analyzing a blood sample, scientists were able to estimate when a person’s Alz...

COVID-19 Boosters Tied to Lower Preeclampsia Risk in Pregnant Women

Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 might offer protection against one of the most dangerous complications of pregnancy.

A large international study published online Feb. 18 in eClinicalMedicine followed more than 6,500 pregnant women across 18 countries. 

The findings linked COVID vaccination — especially with a ...

Most Transgender People Have Been Victims Of Violence, Study Says

Most transgender and gender-diverse people have been victims of physical or sexual violence, a new evidence review says.

Overall, nearly two-thirds (64%) of transgender and gender-diverse people worldwide experienced physical or sexual violence during their lifetimes, researchers reported recently in JAMA Network Open.

Furth...