Health News

NFL players 4 times more likely to die of brain disease, study finds

Health NFL players 4 times more likely to die of brain disease, study finds Despite living longer overall, neurodegenerative mortality risk dramatically elevated Mass General Brigham Communications July 8, 2026 5 min read A new study found that National Football League players are four times likelier to die due to neurodegenerative disease than the general…

Think ‘Shark Tank,’ without the teeth

Health Think ‘Shark Tank,’ without the teeth Jeffrey Smith. Veasey Conway/Harvard Staff Photographer Jacob Sweet Harvard Staff Writer July 7, 2026 5 min read Dermatologist gets advice from investors at Harvard’s ‘Guppy Tank’ on new antibody that could help most sun-sensitive patients Jeffrey Smith has an idea for a drug, but he could use some…

Sunlight is not your enemy

Rowan Jacobsen. Photo by Chris Hartlove Health Sunlight is not your enemy Health benefits outweigh the risks for most of us, according to new book Samantha Laine Perfas Harvard Staff Writer July 6, 2026 5 min read Public health messaging about the sun tends to emphasize skin cancer risk, urging everybody to cover up and…

Plant-based diets may help lower the risk of chronic constipation

Mediterranean and plant-based diets linked to lower risk of chronic constipation A study published online in Gastroenterology on July 2, 2025, suggests that long-term dietary patterns may play a significant role in the risk of developing chronic constipation in middle-aged and older adults. Researchers followed nearly 96,000 participants over several years to examine how different…

It’s good to break a sweat, but don’t sweat the details

Health It’s good to break a sweat, but don’t sweat the details ‘What’s important is the total amount of human movement.’ Alvin Powell Harvard Staff Writer June 23, 2026 3 min read Your body doesn’t care how you move, as long as you move. That was the message delivered Thursday by panelists at the Chan…

Finding ways to ‘drug the undruggable’ diseases

Greg Verdine. Health Finding ways to ‘drug the undruggable’ diseases Greg Verdine, a force behind pancreatic cancer progress, learned from a devastating family accident the value of improvisational thinking Sy Boles Harvard Staff Writer June 22, 2026 6 min read Part of the Profiles of Progress series Chemical biologist Greg Verdine was driving from his…

A clearer picture of drinking and disease

Health A clearer picture of drinking and disease New study attempts to reconcile conflicting findings on benefits vs. risks Samantha Laine Perfas Harvard Staff Writer June 17, 2026 7 min read Studies of alcohol’s effects on health have offered contradictory findings, with some suggesting a glass of red wine a day is beneficial and others…

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…

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…

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…