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Shining new light on vitamin D and cancer

Higher vitamin D intake linked to 50% lower risk of young-onset colorectal cancer Consuming higher amounts of vitamin D — primarily through dietary sources — may significantly reduce the risk of developing young-onset colorectal cancer or precancerous colon polyps, according to a new study. The research, published in Gastroenterology, is the first to show an…

When pollinator populations are in peril

Declining pollination linked to major global health and economic losses As wild pollinator populations slowly decline, researchers warn that the effects extend far beyond ecosystems — reaching human health and global food systems. Based on 2020 crop yields, scientists estimate that the world produces 3 to 5 percent less fruit, vegetables, and nuts than it…

Low-carb diet can help manage progression of Type 2 diabetes

Plant-based low-carbohydrate diet linked to 24% lower mortality in people with Type 2 diabetes A new study led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health suggests that eating a low-carbohydrate diet centered on plant-based foods may significantly reduce the risk of premature death in people with Type 2 diabetes. The findings show…

Faster, fitter?

When you go for a walk, speed isn’t the main factor — focus on this instead Not really, says a Spaulding Rehabilitation expert. When it comes to walking for health, speed is less important than how your body is responding to the effort. In a Q&A series featuring Harvard experts, Greg Righter, a physical therapist…

Mediterranean diet offsets genetic risk for dementia, study finds

Mediterranean diet may help offset genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease New research suggests that following a Mediterranean-style diet may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, even in people with a high genetic predisposition for the condition. The study, published in Nature Medicine and led by investigators from Mass General Brigham, Harvard T.H. Chan School…

Smart patch reduces cravings for alcohol and drugs

Wearable biofeedback device may help reduce relapse risk in addiction recovery A new study by investigators from Mass General Brigham and Harvard suggests that a non-drug wearable device may help people with substance use disorders manage stress, reduce cravings, and lower their risk of relapse in real time. The findings were published in JAMA Psychiatry.…

How a toxin from the gut microbiome may help spark colorectal cancer

Researchers uncover how bacterial toxin may trigger colorectal cancer For years, scientists suspected that a bacterial toxin produced by microbes in the human gut played a role in the development of colorectal cancer. Now, researchers have directly observed how the toxin damages DNA, providing new insight into how it may contribute to the disease. The…

Federal drug price reforms are working, study says

Medicare drug pricing reforms linked to improved medication adherence More than one in four American adults struggle to afford their prescription medications, often forcing difficult choices such as skipping doses, splitting pills, or abandoning treatments altogether. New research from the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Center for Outcomes Research at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess…

Eating citrus may lower depression risk

New findings add another dimension to “gut feelings” Eating an orange a day may lower a person’s risk of depression by 20 percent, according to a study led by Raaj Mehta, an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School and a physician at Massachusetts General Hospital. Researchers believe the effect may stem from citrus fruits…

Vitamin D supplements may slow biological aging

Trial shows protection against telomere shortening, which heightens disease risk Results from a randomized controlled trial reveal that vitamin D supplementation helps maintain telomeres, protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that shorten during aging and are linked to the development of certain diseases. The new report, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,…

6 keys to a long, healthy life

Illustration by Liz Zonarich/Harvard Staff Health 6 keys to a long, healthy life (ice cream included) Also, why reading Ben Franklin beats climbing Mount Everest Liz Mineo Harvard Staff Writer February 23, 2026 6 min read Leading a healthy life is simple, said Ezekiel J. Emanuel, M.D. ’88, Ph.D. ’89, professor at the University of…

Yoga can help cut severe, initial opioid-withdrawal period in half, study finds

Health Yoga can help cut severe, initial opioid-withdrawal period in half, study finds Researchers say results could dramatically increase chances of recovery Alvin Powell Harvard Staff Writer February 24, 2026 4 min read Just 10 sessions of yoga can cut the length of the initial, most severe period of opioid withdrawal nearly in half, dramatically…

Tracking mysteries of loss of Y chromosome, cancer

Esther Rheinbay and Luis Antonio Corchete Sánchez. Veasey Conway/Harvard Staff Photographer Health Tracking mysteries of loss of Y chromosome, cancer Research suggests it may explain higher incidence, severity of some disease in men  Sy Boles Harvard Staff Writer February 26, 2026 4 min read The Y chromosome is among the smallest in the human body…

American heart health worsening

Rishi Wadhera. File photo by Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer Health American heart health worsening New statistical snapshot finds disappointing trend despite advances in treatment, ways to prevent nation’s leading cause of death Jacob Sweet Harvard Staff Writer February 26, 2026 4 min read Treatments for cardiovascular conditions have never been better. Knowledge about how to…

‘I think I know how to fix this.’

Health ‘I think I know how to fix this.’ Andrew Kruse. Niles Singer/Harvard Staff Photographer Harvard Office of Technology Development March 2, 2026 6 min read How a discovery in a Harvard lab is offering hope for patients with hard-to-treat heart disease Some 1 million patients in the U.S. live with a type of heart…

Which is worse, a soda or a beer?

Walter Willett (from left), Eric Rimm, and Timothy Rebbeck. Anna Grummon of Stanford joined the conversation via Zoom. Photos by Veasey Conway/Harvard Staff Photographer Health Which is worse, a soda or a beer? Experts seek to clarify the health effects of alcohol and sugary drinks Alvin Powell Harvard Staff Writer March 2, 2026 5 min…