Dental Research / 18.02.2026

[caption id="attachment_72479" align="aligncenter" width="500"]taste-chewing-dentures.jpg p[/caption]   Taste isn't just about your tongue. The full experience of eating involves a complex orchestra of sensations, and your ability to bite, chew, and apply pressure plays a surprisingly significant role in how much you enjoy your food. When you can't chew properly, you're not just missing out on texture. You're actually experiencing flavors differently than someone with a full, functional set of teeth.

What Happens When Chewing Power Declines

When people lose teeth or struggle with poorly fitting dentures, their maximum bite force can drop by as much as 75 percent compared to someone with natural teeth. Research shows the complete denture wearer demonstrates chewing efficiency that is 5-6 times lower than dentate controls. That's not a minor reduction. It's the difference between easily biting through a carrot and struggling to break apart soft bread. This loss of chewing power forces people to adapt their eating habits in ways that diminish their enjoyment of food. They might cut food into smaller pieces before eating, which means less mechanical breakdown happening in their mouth. They might avoid foods that require significant chewing force altogether, eliminating crunchy vegetables, nuts, and certain meats from their diet. Some people unconsciously start swallowing larger particles of partially chewed food. The eating experience becomes less satisfying. Food moves through their mouth more quickly, giving them less time to savor flavors.
Author Interviews, Blood Pressure - Hypertension, JACC / 15.02.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72419" align="alignleft" width="200"]Professor Moo-Yong Rhee MD, PhD.Cardiology, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital College of Medicine, Dongguk University Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea Prof. Moo-Yong Rhee[/caption] Professor Moo-Yong Rhee MD, PhD. Cardiology, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital College of Medicine, Dongguk University Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Hypertension remains one of the leading causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. Major challenges in its initial treatment include therapeutic inertia, reliance on stepwise dose escalation of single agents, and reduced adherence due to dose-related adverse effects. These limitations often delay optimal blood pressure control. To address these issues, the concept of low-dose combination therapy was proposed, based on the rationale that combining multiple agents at lower doses may enhance efficacy while minimizing side effects. Although several studies have supported this concept, systematic translational research and confirmatory clinical trials were needed before widespread clinical implementation. The recently completed APOLLO-301 and APOLLO-302 trials were confirmatory, randomized, phase 3 studies designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a single-pill ultra-low-dose triple combination therapy, conducted in accordance with regulatory standards. This formulation combined three antihypertensive agents (amlodipine (1.67 mg), losartan (16.67 mg), and chlorthalidone (4.17 mg)) each at approximately one-third of its standard dose. The triple combination was directly compared with standard-dose monotherapy (amlodipine 5 mg or losartan 50 mg). After 8 weeks of treatment, the ultra-low-dose triple combination achieved blood pressure reductions comparable to those of amlodipine 5 mg and significantly greater than those of losartan 50 mg, while maintaining good tolerability. These findings support the potential role of ultra-low-dose triple therapy as an effective initial treatment strategy for patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension.
Author Interviews, Infections, Pediatrics, Vaccine Studies / 12.02.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_72376" align="alignleft" width="190"]MedicalResearch.com Interview with: William Schaffner, MD Professor of Preventive Medicine, Department of Health Policy Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville, TN 37203 Dr. Schaffner discusses the recent increase in the incidence of measles infections. MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: The fundamental reason leading to the increase in measles cases in the US is that some parents are withholding their children from routine measles vaccination: Failure to vaccinate. As a result, there are neighborhoods, schools, and communities that now have vaccination rates substantially below the 92% to 95% needed to prevent outbreaks of infection. Measles is the most contagious virus we know, so it takes very high vaccination rates to prevent transmission and to avert outbreaks. Vaccine hesitancy has many causes: Lack of knowledge of the severity of measles, concern over vaccine side-effects, low trust in public health, a desire to do things more “naturally” and it can also have political overtones, among others. The measles vaccine is extraordinarily effective; the routine two-dose series confers 97% to 98% protection for life. The rare “breakthrough” infections that occur in vaccinated persons are generally milder, with fewer complications than in persons who are unvaccinated. The US was certified as having eliminated measles in 2000 because of high vaccination rates across the country. Sadly, the US is likely to lose that designation because of sustained measles transmission, reverting us back to the bad old days. It is particularly sad for any of our children to have to endure measles and its consequences. All these cases could have been prevented by vaccination. MedicalResearch.com: What roles do a decrease in US immunization rates and/or increased immigration from under-vaccinated area play in this increase? Response: The substantial majority of unimmunized children in the US were born and raised in this country. They usually are members of middle- or upper-income families. The most frequent importers of measles into the US are our own unimmunized children who travel abroad, encounter measles virus and bring it back to their homes where the virus then spreads among the child’s schoolmates and playmates, creating an outbreak. MedicalResearch.com: Since many, especially younger, health care providers have never seen a case of measles, are there characteristic features clinicians should be aware of? Response: Measles vaccination has been so successful that many young and middle-aged doctors have never seen a case. Beginning 7-21 days after exposure, the onset of illness is characterized by high fever and malaise. Shortly thereafter the classic “three Cs” occur: Coryza, conjunctivitis and cough. Inside both cheeks white papules (Koplik spots) appear. The characteristic rash soon follows – it is erythematous, blanching, starting on the face and moving down the body, becoming darker over time. The rash may be quite subtle in dark-skinned persons. The common complications of measles include diarrhea, otitis media as well as viral and bacterial pneumonia. More serious complications include encephalitis which occurs approximately once per thousand infections. MedicalResearch.com: Are there areas, i.e. airports, sporting venues etc. where measles transmission is more likely? Response: Measles is readily transmitted among susceptible persons indoors. As most of the cases are in children, daycare, schools, religious services, birthday parties, and such are common venues for transmission although other sites such as airports and sporting events occasionally have been implicated. MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians do if they have a suspected case of measles? Response: All cases of suspected measles should be reported immediately to the local health department. Disclosures: I have no relevant disclosures. The information on MedicalResearch.com is provided for educational purposes only, and is in no way intended to diagnose, cure, or treat any medical or other condition. Some links may be sponsored. Products, services and providers are not warranted or endorsed. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health and ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. In addition to all other limitations and disclaimers in this agreement, service provider and its third party providers disclaim any liability or loss in connection with the content provided on this website. Dr. Schaffner[/caption] William Schaffner, MD Professor of Preventive Medicine, Department of Health Policy Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville, TN 37203 Dr. Schaffner discusses the recent increase in the incidence of measles infections. MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response:  The fundamental reason leading to the increase in measles cases in the US is that some parents are withholding their children from routine measles vaccination: Failure to vaccinate.  As a result, there are neighborhoods, schools, and communities that now have vaccination rates substantially below the 92% to 95% needed to prevent outbreaks of infection.  Measles is the most contagious virus we know, so it takes very high vaccination rates to prevent transmission and to avert outbreaks.  Vaccine hesitancy has many causes:  Lack of knowledge of the severity of measles, concern over vaccine side-effects, low trust in public health, a desire to do things more “naturally” and it can also have political overtones, among others. The measles vaccine is extraordinarily effective; the routine two-dose series confers 97% to 98% protection for life.  The rare “breakthrough” infections that occur in vaccinated persons are generally milder, with fewer complications than in persons who are unvaccinated.  The US was certified as having eliminated measles in 2000 because of high vaccination rates across the country.  Sadly, the US is likely to lose that designation because of sustained measles transmission, reverting us back to the bad old days.  It is particularly sad for any of our children to have to endure measles and its consequences.  All these cases could have been prevented by vaccination. CDC Image MedicalResearch.com: What roles do a decrease in US immunization rates and/or increased immigration from under-vaccinated area play in this increase?   Response:  The substantial majority of unimmunized children in the US were born and raised in this country.  They usually are members of middle- or upper-income families.  The most frequent importers of measles into the US are our own unimmunized children who travel abroad, encounter measles virus and bring it back to their homes where the virus then spreads among the child’s schoolmates and playmates, creating an outbreak.
Author Interviews, Global Health, Infections / 09.02.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72322" align="alignleft" width="180"]David O. Freedman, M.D.Professor Emeritus of Infectious Diseases Editor of the Textbook of Travel Medicine World Health Organization—Member,  Emergency Committee on Zika Virus                 University of Alabama, Birmingham USA Dr. Freedman M.D.[/caption] David O. Freedman, M.D. Professor Emeritus of Infectious Diseases Editor of the Textbook of Travel Medicine World Health Organization—Member,  Emergency Committee on Zika Virus University of Alabama, Birmingham USA MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this outbreak? Response: India has reported 2 confirmed (PCR and ELISA) Nipah virus (NiV) cases in West Bengal State where the Kolkata megalopolis is located; the state borders Bangladesh. Symptom onset in both cases was late December 2025 in 2 health care workers. One patient has improved while the other remains in the ICU. All samples from 200 contact persons tested negative for NiV.  No further confirmed cases have been detected in West Bengal Bangladesh has reported 1 confirmed NiV case in Rajshahi Division which neighbors India. Symptom onset was January 21, 2026, and the patient expired on January 28. The patient reported no travel history but reported repeated consumption of raw date palm sap between 5 and 20 January.  All 35 contact-persons are being monitored and have tested negative for NiV and no further cases have been detected to date.
#epidemiology, Author Interviews, UCSD / 06.02.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72295" align="alignleft" width="150"]Raphael Cuomo Dr. Cuomo[/caption] Raphael E. Cuomo, PhD Professor of Medicine Associate Adjunct Professor, Anesthesiology University of California, San Diego MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Epidemiology has mostly been built to explain who gets sick, but many of the decisions that matter most happen after diagnosis. Across multiple diseases, relationships that look consistent in prevention studies often do not hold once people already have the disease, and sometimes they even flip. Diagnosis can change patient biology, treatment context, and biases in the data, so we need clearer methods and language for postdiagnosis questions.
Alzheimer's - Dementia, Author Interviews, Cannabis / 06.02.2026

Editor's note: Do Not Use these products alone or in combination without the specific guidance of your health are provider, due to risks of untoward side effects. THC/CBD and other cannabis products should not be used if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or nursing. Children should not be exposed to cannabis in any form. MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72277" align="alignleft" width="200"]Chu Chen, PhDProfessor and Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Chair in Neural Physiology Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology Center for Biomedical Neuroscience Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center San Antonio, TX 78229 Prof. Chu Chen[/caption] Chu Chen, PhD Professor and Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Chair in Neural Physiology Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology Center for Biomedical Neuroscience Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center San Antonio, TX 78229 MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly, yet no effective therapies currently exist to prevent, treat, or halt its progression. Cannabis has been used for thousands of years for both recreational and medicinal purposes; however, its therapeutic application has been limited by undesirable neurocognitive side effects, particularly impairments in learning and memory. Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the primary psychoactive component of cannabis, has been shown to reduce amyloid-β (Aβ) pathology in animal models of AD, but at high doses (>5.0 mg/kg) it also disrupts synaptic function and impairs cognition. Research from our laboratory and others has demonstrated that Δ9-THC-induced deficits in long-term synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory are associated with the induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an inducible enzyme that converts arachidonic acid into pro-inflammatory prostaglandins. Notably, pharmacological inhibition or genetic deletion of COX-2 attenuates Δ9-THC-induced synaptic and cognitive impairments. Based on these findings, we proposed a combination (“cocktail”) therapy consisting of low-dose Δ9-THC and the anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, as a potential therapeutic strategy for AD. This approach is designed to preserve the beneficial effects of Δ9-THC while minimizing its adverse neurocognitive effects and COX-2-mediated inflammatory responses.
Author Interviews, Autism, BMJ, Parkinson's / 05.02.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72249" align="alignleft" width="150"]Dr. Caroline Fyfe PhDPostdoctoral Research Associate Life Long Health and Wellbeing Theme University of Edinburgh Dr. Fyfe[/caption] Dr. Caroline Fyfe PhD Postdoctoral Research Associate Life Long Health and Wellbeing Theme University of Edinburgh MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Autism (ASD) has traditionally been seen as a condition that disproportionately affects males. This study quantifies the sex bias across birth cohorts, ages, and calendar time,  using the Swedish national population registers to follow ~ 2.7 million individual born between 1985 and 2020 throughout their lives. Among children under ten years old the male-to-female diagnosis ratio remained relatively stable at about 3:1. In contrast, a rapid increase in diagnoses of ASD among females during adolescence, produced a “female catch-up effect” that resulted in near parity of ASD prevalence between males and females by adulthood.
Addiction, Author Interviews, Cannabis / 02.02.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72231" align="alignleft" width="200"]Saji George PhDAssociate Professor & Chair, Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Nanotechnology for Food and Agriculture Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University Quebec, Canada Dr. Saji George[/caption] Saji George PhD Associate Professor & Chair, Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Nanotechnology for Food and Agriculture Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University Quebec, Canada MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Cannabis plants are highly susceptible to microbial contamination, particularly by fungi producing harmful mycotoxins. Infection of plants by fungal pathogens could result in the contamination of cannabis products with mycotoxins that pose serious health risks, especially for immunocompromised patients who use cannabis for medical purposes. Currently industry employ decontamination methods such as gamma irradiation to clean up cannabis products likely to harbor fungi and their metabolites. However, their effectiveness in fully eliminating toxigenic fungi and associated mycotoxins remains unclear. Our studies aimed to evaluate the persistence of fungi and mycotoxins in dried cannabis buds following gamma irradiation, using a combination of culture-based, molecular, and immunological techniques. These studies revealed that complete sterilization of cannabis buds once contaminated with mycotoxin is extremely difficult and highlighted the importance of early interventions in preventing toxigenic fungi during cultivation.
Author Interviews, Cancer Research / 31.01.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72207" align="alignleft" width="400"]Prof. Yeoh Khay Guan & Prof Patrick Tan Prof. Yeoh Khay Guan & Prof Patrick Tan[/caption] Professor Patrick Tan, MD PhD Dean, Duke-NUS Medical School; Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Signature Research Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School; and Professor Yeoh Khay Guan, MBBS Chief Executive, National University Health System; Senior Consultant Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology National University Hospital.   MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Gastric intestinal metaplasia (IM) is a precancerous condition that can arise in the stomach after long-term infection with Helicobacter pylori (a common stomach bacterium). Clinically, IM is recognised as a risk state for gastric cancer (GC), as individuals with IM have 6-fold higher risk of eventually developing GC. However, not all IM patients will develop GC, and we lack an understanding of the biological processes operating within IM to transition to GC. Also, we don’t know if these processes are commonly found across the world, particularly since different countries have different rates of GC incidence. In this study, we looked at DNA mutations and mutational signatures in IM samples collected from six countries with varying GC incidence (including accompanying blood-derived genetic variants). We wanted to understand potential risk factors for GC and how this information can be harnessed to improve the clinical management of IM patients and to reduce their GC risk.
AI and HealthCare, Author Interviews, Brain Cancer - Brain Tumors, Lancet, Mammograms / 30.01.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72182" align="alignleft" width="200"]Kristina Lång MD PhDAssociate professor, Diagnostic Radiology Translational Medicine, Lund University Senior consultant, Unilabs Mammography Unit Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden Dr. Lång[/caption] Kristina Lång MD PhD Associate professor, Diagnostic Radiology Translational Medicine, Lund University Senior consultant, Unilabs Mammography Unit Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response:  Prior to the start of the trial, several retrospective studies had shown that AI could discriminate between screening mammograms at low and high risk of cancer, with performance comparable to that of average breast radiologists. These findings suggested a potential to improve both the efficiency and sensitivity of mammography screening. This motivated us to design and evaluate an AI-supported screening procedure in a randomised controlled trial. The MASAI trial was among the first prospective studies in this field and, to date, remains the only randomised trial with reported results on the use of AI in breast cancer screening. In European breast cancer screening programmes, every mammogram is usually read by two radiologists, so called double reading, to ensure a high sensitivity. In the MASAI trial we compared AI-supported mammography screening to standard double reading without AI. I n the AI-supported approach, mammograms identified as low-risk by the AI were read by a single radiologist, while high-risk mammograms underwent double reading, with AI providing additional detection support.
Annals Internal Medicine, Author Interviews, Kidney Disease / 28.01.2026

[caption id="attachment_72168" align="alignleft" width="150"]Dustin Mark, MDEmergency Medicine/Critical Care Medicine, East Bay Adjunct Researcher, KPNC Division of Research, CREST Network Dr. Mark[/caption] MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dustin Mark, MD Emergency Medicine/Critical Care Medicine, East Bay Adjunct Researcher, KPNC Division of Research, CREST Network MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: We examined medical records from 13,988 adults hospitalized with severe hyponatremia between 2008 and 2023 across 21 community hospitals in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California health system. Patients were grouped based on how quickly their sodium levels were corrected within a 24-hour period (< 8 meq/L, 8-12 meq/L, > 12 meq/L) and were followed for up to 90 days. The primary outcome was death or serious delayed neurologic events, such as brain damage, seizures, paralysis, or altered consciousness. The results suggest that there is likely a true independent association between slow sodium correction and adverse outcomes, and that current guidelines promoting slow correction of sodium levels should be re-evaluated accordingly.
Author Interviews / 28.01.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72153" align="alignleft" width="200"]Kymora B. Scotland MD, PhDAssistant Professor Department of Urology UCLA Gerard Wong PhD, Professor Bioengineering Dept., Chemistry & Biochemistry Dept., Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics Dept. California NanoSystems Institute UCLA Los Angeles, CA  Dr. Scotland[/caption] Kymora B. Scotland MD, PhD Assistant Professor Department of Urology UCLA Gerard Wong PhD, Professor Bioengineering Dept., Chemistry & Biochemistry Dept., Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics Dept. California NanoSystems Institute UCLA Los Angeles, CA MedicalResearch.com: What is thebackground for this study? Response: Because of Dr. Scotland’s clinical work taking care of patients with kidney stones, we noticed that sometimes patients with no history of urinary tract injections would develop UTIs or even sepsis after stone surgery. Similarly, when we cultured the stones obtained from surgical procedures - again in patients without a history of UTIs- we would often identify bacteria. This led us to hypothesize that bacteria actually play a role in stone formation and were not just bystanders occasionally found in the kidney.
Alcohol, Author Interviews, Cannabis / 26.01.2026

Editors' note: Cannabis and THCA/HEMP CBD products should have an active ingredient list on the container and have a Certificate of Analysis (COA). Discuss your use of THC, Cannabis or CBD products with your health care provider.  Dosing of CBD is variable, especially since it is not FDA regulated. Cannabis/CBD may interfere with other medications and should not be used in individuals with certain health conditions, including liver issues.  Do not use Cannabis products including edibles, drinks or CBD if you are pregnant, nursing or may become pregnant. Do not use cannabis products if driving or operating difficult or dangerous machinery. Children should not be exposed to cannabis or CBD products. It is unknown whether the effects of alcohol plus cannabis are cumulative and users ingesting both products should be especially cautious to avoid driving or other activities requiring alertness and judgement. MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72135" align="alignleft" width="100"]Dr. Kruger Ph.D. Dr. Kruger .[/caption] Daniel J. Kruger, PhD Population Studies Center, Institute for Social Research University of Michigan [caption id="attachment_72136" align="alignleft" width="100"]Dr. Jessica Kruger Ph.D. Dr. Kruger[/caption] MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? [caption id="attachment_72137" align="alignleft" width="100"]Dr. Nicholas Felicione Dr. Felicione[/caption] Response: Alcohol consumption, especially heavy alcohol consumption, is associated with many health risks and nearly 200 different health conditions and diseases. Reducing alcohol consumption reduces the risks and harms from alcohol. Previous research has demonstrated that people have reduced their alcohol consumption when they have access to cannabis. Cannabis beverages have emerged in States where cannabis is legal for adult or medical use.
Aging, Exercise - Fitness / 25.01.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72117" align="alignleft" width="150"]Yang Hu, Research scientistDepartment of Nutrition Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Yang Hu[/caption] Yang Hu, Research scientist Department of Nutrition Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Previous studies have established that increasing total activity level is beneficial to prevent premature death but data on the health benefits of individual type of activity is still limited. Whether engaging in more types of activities at the same level total activity would offer additional health benefits towards longevity remains unknown.
Mental Health Research, Nursing / 20.01.2026

[caption id="attachment_72045" align="aligncenter" width="500"]nursing-specialized-mental-care.jpg Image Source[/caption] Specialized mental health care continues to gain attention as more people seek support for complex emotional and psychological needs. Nurses hold a vital place in this landscape because they understand how mental health affects every aspect of a person’s life. Their work involves careful assessment, compassionate communication, and steady guidance through moments that often feel overwhelming for patients. Their presence helps create stability, structure, and safety at times when individuals may feel disconnected or uncertain about the future. Their involvement strengthens the entire care process since they provide consistent support throughout every stage of treatment.

Evolution of Nursing Responsibilities in Mental Health Care

A long history of shifting expectations shaped modern mental health nursing. Early roles focused on basic care and supervision, which limited the scope of practice. Growing awareness surrounding mental health eventually encouraged a broader approach. Nurses became active participants in assessment, planning, and treatment. More structured training and research introduced evidence-based methods that strengthened clinical decision-making. Nurses gradually gained responsibilities involving therapeutic communication, medication support, and participation in structured interventions.
Alzheimer's - Dementia, Author Interviews, Lipids, Vanderbilt / 18.01.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72035" align="alignleft" width="200"]Leslie S. Gaynor, PhDClinical Neuropsychologist & Assistant Professor of Medicine Division of Geriatric Medicine Department of Medicine Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville, TN 37203 Dr. Gaynor[/caption] Leslie S. Gaynor, PhD Clinical Neuropsychologist & Assistant Professor of Medicine Division of Geriatric Medicine Department of Medicine Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville, TN 37203 MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: The US population is rapidly aging, and the oldest members of our population are also the most vulnerable to developing clinical dementia. We are interested in studying older adults ages 80+ who display cognitive resilience despite this increased risk of dementia and actually display exceptional memory performance compared to their same-aged, typically performing peers. These “SuperAgers,”—i.e., 80+-year-old adults with memory performance that is comparable to or surpasses that of adults 20 to 30 years their junior—may hold the key to uncovering genetic factors that predict exceptionally healthy longevity.
Author Interviews, Autism, Nature / 16.01.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72018" align="alignleft" width="200"]Andrey Vyshedskiy, Ph.D.Neuroscientist from Boston University Dr. Vyshedskiy[/caption] Andrey Vyshedskiy, Ph.D. Neuroscientist from Boston University MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Certain conditions, such as autism and Down syndrome, can limit a child’s ability to develop full language comprehension. In these cases, children often become “stuck” at a specific, quantized level of understanding:
  • Command Phenotype: Individuals at this level understand single words and simple commands but have difficulty combining nouns with adjectives or interpreting more complex instructions.
  • Modifier Phenotype: Individuals at this level can comprehend combinations of nouns and adjectives—for example, they can identify a small yellow pencil among pencils, straws, and Lego pieces of varying sizes and colors. However, they struggle with more complex language structures, such as sentences containing spatial prepositions, possessive pronouns, verb tenses, and narratives like fairy tales.
  • Syntactic Phenotype: Most children naturally progress to this most-advanced level of comprehension, characterized by the ability to understand full syntactic structures and more sophisticated language forms.
While the Command and Syntactic Phenotypes were anticipated by linguistics and developmental psychology, the distinct Modifier Phenotype was unexpected. Across several studies involving nearly 100,000 participants, these three phenotypes consistently emerged. Together with a recent longitudinal study of language development in over 15,000 participants, these findings highlight the critical importance of early engagement in syntactic conversations for the acquisition of the Syntactic Phenotype.
Aging, Author Interviews, Exercise - Fitness / 15.01.2026

[caption id="attachment_72010" align="alignleft" width="500"]DUK_NUS-Labteam members.jpg Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Duke-NUS Medical School Lab Team Members[/caption] MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Hung-Wen Tang, PhD Assistant Professor Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Duke-NUS Medical School Singapore MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: As we age, we naturally lose muscle strength and function — a condition known as sarcopenia. This makes everyday activities harder and increases the risk of falls, frailty, and loss of independence. Scientists have long known that a growth pathway in muscle cells called mTORC1 becomes overactive with age and contributes to muscle decline. However, the underlying cause of this overactivation remained unclear.
Aging, Author Interviews, Exercise - Fitness, Lancet / 14.01.2026

[caption id="attachment_71987" align="alignleft" width="200"]Ulf Ekelund Ph.D.Department of Sport Medicine, NSSS Oslo, Norway and Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo Prof. Ekelund[/caption] MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Ulf Ekelund Ph.D. Department of Sport Medicine, NSSS Oslo, Norway and Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response:  Previous research including our own (Dose-response associations between accelerometry measured physical activity and sedentary time and all cause mortality: systematic review and harmonised meta-analysis | The BMJ) have shown that physical activity of any intensity reduces the risk for all-cause mortality. However, it is unclear how many deaths can potentially be averted by small and realistic increases in physical activity. We estimated that 6% and 10% of all deaths might be preventable is all individuals in two hypothetical intervention scenarios increased their time in moderate to vigorous intensity activity by 5 min per day. The two scenarios were a “high-risk” comprising the least active 20% of the population and a “population based” approach comprising all but the most active 20% of the population (i.e. 80%). We also estimated that reducing sedentary time by 30 min/day might prevent 3·0% of all deaths in the high-risk approach and 7·3% in the population-based approach.  Our results should be interpreted as if all individuals increased their levels of physical activity by 5 min per day, 6% and 10% of all deaths might be preventable in the two risk scenarios, respectively. This does not mean that the individual risk is reduced by these percentages from small increases in physical activity, since individuals respond differently to increasing their activity levels.
Author Interviews, CMAJ, End of Life Care / 12.01.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_71968" align="alignleft" width="200"]Sally Thorne RN, PhD, FAAN, FCAHS, FCAN, CMProfessor Emeritus, School of Nursing Dr. Thorne[/caption] Sally Thorne RN, PhD, FAAN, FCAHS, FCAN, CM Professor Emeritus, School of Nursing Co-Principal Investigator with : [caption id="attachment_71969" align="alignleft" width="133"]Dr. Barbara Pesut PhD, RNProfessor in the School of Nursing  Principal Research Chair in Palliative and End of Life Care Dr. Pesut[/caption] Dr. Barbara Pesut PhD, RN Professor in the School of Nursing Principal Research Chair in Palliative and End of Life Care University of British Columbia       MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) was legalized in Canada in June of 2016 for Canadians who were facing a reasonably foreseeable natural death and met an explicit set of eligibility criteria as determined by qualified health care providers (physicians or nurse practitioners). In 2021, the legislation was extended to include the possibility of MAiD for persons who were suffering from a ‘grievous and irremediable’ medical condition but for whom natural death was not immediately foreseeable. As assisted dying represented a significant change in available options for Canadians with terminal or chronic conditions, requiring significant practice adaptations and including numerous legal, social, ethical, moral implications, the health research community has been working in consultation with clinicians, service providers and governments to generate knowledge that ensures safe, ethical and equitable practice in this regard.
Author Interviews, Heart Disease, Lipids / 08.01.2026

[caption id="attachment_71964" align="alignleft" width="256"]Ask T. Nordestgaard, MD PhDPostdoctoral research fellow Division of Preventive Medicine Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston, MA 02215 Dr. Nordestgaard[/caption] MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Ask T. Nordestgaard, MD PhD Postdoctoral research fellow Division of Preventive Medicine Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston, MA 02215   MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Elevated Lp(a) is associated with high risk of CVD in multiple cohorts. We have recently shown that Lp(a) in the highest quintile is associated with 30-year risk of CVD; however, among healthy individuals, these results may be driven only by those with very extreme Lp(a) levels (e.g., above the 99th percentile). Therefore, in this follow-up study, we examined associations between various clinical thresholds of Lp(a) and CVD across 30 years of follow-up among apparently healthy women.
Author Interviews, Environmental Risks / 02.01.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_71921" align="alignleft" width="150"]Wenhui Qiu, PhDAssociate Professor School of Environmental Science and Engineering Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen, China Dr. Wenhui Qiu[/caption] Wenhui Qiu, PhD Associate Professor School of Environmental Science and Engineering Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen, China [caption id="attachment_71922" align="alignleft" width="121"] Dr. Chunmiao Zheng[/caption] Chunmiao Zheng, PhD AGU Fellow, Chair Professor Hydrologic Science Eastern Institute of Technology Ningbo, China       MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of artificially synthesized chemicals widely used in industrial production and consumer goods manufacturing. These substances are persistent in the environment, can accumulate through the food chain, and enter the human body and build up over time, posing a potential threat to health. As an important component of the global diet, marine fish may serve as a major source of PFAS intake for humans. However, the contribution of marine fish as a source of PFAS exposure and the associated health risks still lack systematic assessment on a global scale.
Alzheimer's - Dementia, Author Interviews, Case Western / 25.12.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_71888" align="alignleft" width="150"]Andrew A. Pieper M.D., Ph.D.Professor, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine Professor, Department of Neurosciences Professor, Department of Pathology Investigator, University Hospitals Harrington Discovery Institute, Harrington Discovery Institute Associate Director, Medical Scientist Training Program, School of Medicine Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, and at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center Dr. Pieper[/caption] Andrew A. Pieper M.D., Ph.D. Professor, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine Professor, Department of Neurosciences Professor, Department of Pathology Investigator, University Hospitals Harrington Discovery Institute, Harrington Discovery Institute Associate Director, Medical Scientist Training Program, School of Medicine Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, and at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center   MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: NAD+, a central cellular energy and signaling molecule, declines with age throughout the body, including the brain. When NAD+ falls below necessary levels, cells lose their ability to carry out essential maintenance and survival functions. We found that the NAD+ decline is more severe in brains from people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and in mouse models of AD, whereas brains of people with AD pathology but preserved cognition show gene-expression patterns consistent with maintained NAD+ homeostasis.
Author Interviews, Cognitive Issues, Karolinski Institute, Pediatrics / 18.12.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Samson Nivins PhD Postdoctoral Researcher, specializing in Perinatal and Pediatric NeurologySamson Nivins PhD Postdoctoral Researcher, specializing in Perinatal and Pediatric Neurology [caption id="attachment_71834" align="alignleft" width="92"]Torkel Klingberg, M.D., Ph.D.Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the Stockholm Brain Institute Dr. Klingberg[/caption] Torkel Klingberg, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the Stockholm Brain Institute Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Sweden   MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: In the modern era, children’s use of digital media such as watching videos, playing video games, and using social media has increased substantially, often coinciding with a decline in outdoor activities. As many school-aged children now own personal devices, particularly smartphones, it has become easier for them to spend more time on screens than intended. For example, a German survey cited in an EU briefing reported that in 2020, 27% of 8-9-year-olds and 54% of 10-11-year-olds owned a smartphone. In the U.S., ~30% of children own a smartphone by age eight, with many receiving their first device between ages 10 and 11. With growing concerns about screen time, numerous studies have examined its potential consequences and have reported associations between higher screen use and increased ADHD symptoms. However, most of this research has been cross-sectional and has tended to combine different types of digital media such as television, video games, and social media into a single composite measure. This approach may obscure important differences, as various forms of digital media may have distinct effects on ADHD symptoms. To date, relatively few studies have examined the impact of specific types of digital media use on ADHD in a longitudinal framework, and even fewer have accounted for the heritable nature of ADHD. To address these gaps, this U.S. longitudinal study followed children from ages 9-10 to 13-14 years. The study collected repeated measures of daily time spent on specific digital activities, including television and videos, video games, and social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. ADHD symptoms specifically inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity were assessed using parent reports, and analyses adjusted for genetic factors and socioeconomic status.
Author Interviews, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Kidney Disease / 18.12.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_71837" align="alignleft" width="150"]dr_kramer_headshot Dr. Holly Kramer[/caption] Dr. Holly Kramer MD, MPH Professor of Public Health Sciences and Medicine Division of Nephrology and Hypertension Loyola University Chicago MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this survey? How is UACR measured? Would you explain the significance of albumin in the urine and what creatinine represents? Response: Approximately 36 million people live with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the U.S. today, with cardiovascular disease (CVD) being the number one cause of death for this patient population. About 1 in 3 adults with T2D has UACR >30 mg/g with prevalence approaching 40% in older patients. Compared to patients with T2D alone, those with elevated UACR face:
    • 5-times higher risk of hospitalization for heart failure
    • 4-times higher risk of CV mortality
    • 3-times higher risk of myocardial infarction
Interestingly, once thought of as a traditional renal biomarker, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) >30 is also a critical biomarker and urgent signal of cardiovascular (CV) risk. When checking UACR, we look at two things: the amount of albumin leaking into the urine and the creatinine level. Albumin shouldn’t be getting through the kidneys’ filters at all, so when we see a UACR >30 mg/g, it’s a sign of systemic vascular endothelial dysfunction. So, if albumin is leaking through the blood vessels inside the kidneys, there’s also damage in the vessels across other organs, like the heart. UACR is such an important early indicator of CV risk in T2D because even small increases follow a clear ‘rule of three’s’. Healthy kidneys secrete 3 mg/g of albumin to creatinine per day, but when it rises to 30 mg/g, a tenfold increase that signals vascular dysfunction and increasing CV risk. At 300 mg/g, another tenfold increase, the damage is more advanced, and CV risk accelerates. Patients with eGFR >60 BUT UACR >30 mg/g can have up to 3.6 times increased risk of CV mortality. As a nephrologist, I’ve been vocal about the potential for this common urine test that we regularly perform, a UACR test, in helping detect CV risk, not just kidney damage, in more patients.
Author Interviews, Lymphoma / 17.12.2025

[caption id="attachment_71819" align="alignleft" width="150"]Marco Davila Dr. Davila[/caption] MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Marco Davila, MD, PhD Hematologist/Oncologist, Senior Vice President and Associate Director for Translational Research at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (Buffalo, NY) - study senior author [caption id="attachment_71820" align="alignleft" width="150"]Co-author Meredith Stone, PhDAssistant Director for Cell Therapy Translation in Dr. Davila’s lab at Roswell Park - presenting author Dr. Stone[/caption] Co-author Meredith Stone, PhD Assistant Director for Cell Therapy Translation in Dr. Davila’s lab at Roswell Park - presenting author       MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: While CD19-targeted CAR T cell therapy has garnered clinical success and FDA approval for the treatment of large B cell lymphoma, approximately half of patients suffer from primary resistance or relapse. Increasing evidence suggests that resistance mechanisms are supported by the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cytokines secreted by CAR T cells can remodel the TME, determining the phenotype and function of other immune cells.
Author Interviews, Cancer Research / 17.12.2025

[caption id="attachment_71812" align="alignleft" width="200"]Dr. Magdalena Zak PhD in Molecular BioscienceResearch Associate , Research Associate Instructor of Medicine, The Ear Institute University College London Dr. Zak[/caption] MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Magdalena M. Żak, PhD Zangi Lab Instructor | Cardiovascular Research Institute Instructor | Genetics & Genomic Sciences Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hess Center for Science and Medicine New York, NY 10029 MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: mRNA has proven to be a groundbreaking technology through COVID-19 vaccines, and most mRNA-based therapeutics in development today are still focused on vaccines. However, in principle, mRNA could be used for many diseases in which expression of a therapeutic protein would be beneficial. A major reason mRNA is less commonly used outside of vaccines is the lack of robust targeting: for vaccination, broad expression can be acceptable because the goal is antigen production for immune recognition, but for other applications - especially cancer - targeted delivery and minimized off-target expression are critical to reduce side effects.  Current targeting strategies largely rely on lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), which act as lipid “carriers” for systemic delivery. Although LNPs can be designed to show some tissue tropism, this is often limited to organs such as the liver, spleen, and lungs.
ADHD, Author Interviews, Neurology, Pediatrics / 15.12.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_71800" align="alignleft" width="200"]Dr. Ornella Dakwar-KawarHebrew University with Prof. Mor Nahum and Prof. Itai Berger Hebrew University  Dr. Dakwar-Kawar, PhD[/caption] Dr. Ornella Dakwar-Kawar Hebrew University with Prof. Mor Nahum and Prof. Itai Berger Hebrew University  in collaboration with Prof. Jyoti Mishra from the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Prof. Roi Cohen Kadosh from the University of Surre, Dr. Pragathi Priyadharsini and Ashwin Amal from ITT Karpur, India and InnoSphere Ltd MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Children with ADHD often exhibit aberrant neural activity, specifically imbalances in excitation and inhibition levels alongside dysfunction in brain networks like the frontoparietal network. While our previous research showed that Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation or tRNS improves clinical symptoms, the specific neural modulation effects during cognitive tasks remained unclear. This study investigated these mechanisms by analyzing the aperiodic exponent, a marker of excitation inhibition balance, during an inhibitory control task to compare children with ADHD to healthy controls and assess changes following tRNS combined with cognitive training. 
Author Interviews, Heart Disease / 12.12.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_71774" align="alignleft" width="150"] Prof. Fairbairn[/caption] Prof. Timothy Fairbairn MBChB, PhD FRCP  and [caption id="attachment_71775" align="alignleft" width="150"] Dr. Bell[/caption] Dr.  Jack Bell Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital Liverpool, UK   MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a non-invasive heart scan used in the first-line investigation of patients with suspected stable coronary artery disease (CAD). While CCTA clearly shows blockages in coronary arteries, it is limited in its ability to estimate reduced blood flow, which is necessary to diagnose angina. An artificial intelligence-based tool (Heartflow) has been developed that analyses CCTA images and provides an estimate of blood flow: CT-derived fractional flow reserve (FFR-CT). The real-world, retrospective English FISH&CHIPS study demonstrated that including FFR-CT as a decision-making tool in the diagnosis of stable CAD reduces the number of subsequent invasive and non-invasive tests performed. Whether FFR-CT could also be used prognostically, to predict future major cardiovascular events, was not fully understood. Previous studies have had small patient numbers, short follow-up and investigated combined cardiovascular outcomes. We performed an analysis on the national FISH&CHIPS population, which was large enough to determine if FFR-CT adds incremental value to traditional cardiovascular risk factors in predicting cardiovascular outcomes and death.