All articles tagged with #epidemiology
A 2026 review of decades of research links alcohol to a broad spectrum of diseases, injuries, cancers, infections, and neurological problems, concluding that its harms outweigh any potential benefits. The authors, led by Sinclair Carr of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, emphasize a cautious but clear message that alcohol is a major health risk, supported by Mendelian randomization studies and NIH/NIAAA funding.
An international study analyzing data from 4,050 population studies (232 million participants) finds global obesity continues to rise overall but rates are plateauing or falling in several high‑income countries (e.g., US 40–43% and UK 27–30% in 2024), with trends varying by country and age. The results highlight the role of country‑specific social, economic, and policy factors and suggest wider use of weight‑loss medicines could influence future trajectories.
A large population-based study found no definitive link between maternal antidepressant use during pregnancy and autism in offspring after adjusting for maternal mental health, genetics, and other factors, suggesting antidepressants in pregnancy are not clearly associated with autism risk, though further research is warranted.
A Nature News & Views piece summarizes 1980–2024 obesity trajectories across 200 countries, showing obesity has risen in every country but at different paces: growth, plateau, or decline patterns vary by income level, with developed nations more likely to plateau and poorer countries experiencing faster increases, underscoring a widening global health inequity highlighted by the NCD-RisC analysis.
A long-term observational study of 40,000 Adventist Health Study-2 participants linked with Medicare data found that eating eggs at least five days a week is associated with up to a 27% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in people 65 and older, with even smaller amounts linked to reduced risk. The study notes eggs’ nutrients—choline, lutein/zeaxanthin, omega-3s, and yolk phospholipids—may support brain health, and emphasizes eggs as part of a balanced diet; results are associative, not causal, and funding included the American Egg Board.
Utah health officials have begun an early data review to determine whether there are higher-than-expected Parkinson's disease rates in a West Valley City neighborhood near 3500 South and 4800 West; officials emphasize this is surveillance, not an investigation, and no environmental link has yet been found, with a clearer picture expected in coming weeks.
A large U.S. study of more than 100 million people across 12 states (2015–2022) found cancer rates were about 68% higher among never-married men and 83% higher among never-married women, suggesting marriage is linked to lower cancer risk—potentially due to social and financial support, healthier habits, and better treatment adherence—though the relationship is not universal, with notably higher HPV-related cancers among the unmarried.
A new global model using machine learning and satellite data maps epidemic-prone diseases across nearly every country, finding about 6.3% of land in the high-risk category and 3% in very high risk (9.3% total), with roughly 20% of people in medium risk. Hotspots cluster in Latin America and Oceania, and population density emerges as the strongest driver of outbreak risk. The study also assesses readiness, showing some regions face high risk but limited health infrastructure, while many high-income countries have stronger capacity. The map is intended to guide surveillance, preparedness, and rapid response for threats including Disease X, and the research was published in Science Advances.
USC Keck researchers surveyed 187 young lung cancer patients (mostly non-smokers) and found they consumed more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains than the general population. The study notes an association, not causation, and raises the possibility of an environmental factor such as pesticide exposure in produce, calling for further research and consideration of related health policy.
A Lund University study followed more than 600,000 people from age 17 to 60 and found that obesity onset in early adulthood (17–29) was linked to about 70% higher all-cause mortality during follow-up, driven largely by cardiovascular disease. The findings suggest the duration of obesity, rather than late-life weight gain, may drive risk, potentially via long-term insulin resistance and inflammation. Exercise and diet data weren’t analyzed, and there are sex-related nuances; the takeaway is to aim to prevent obesity early in life.
A nationwide analysis of 6.14 million births found that prenatal exposure to sterol biosynthesis–inhibiting medications (SBIMs) is linked to a higher autism risk: 1.47× with at least one SBIM, and a 1.33× increase for each additional SBIM, reaching 2.33× when four or more are used. SBIM exposure rose from 4.3% of pregnancies in 2014 to 16.8% in 2023. The authors emphasize caution in prescribing during pregnancy and the need for safer alternatives, while noting these drugs remain essential for many adults.
A propensity-matched retrospective study of nearly 65,000 adults with type 2 diabetes found that those treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists had a higher long-term risk of durable cognitive impairment over 10 years (2.6% vs 1.3%), with a hazard ratio of 2.74. The study shows an association, not causation, and further research is needed to determine whether GLP-1 therapy contributes to cognitive decline or reflects underlying risk factors.
A 187-person, retrospective study of early-onset lung cancer (mostly non-smokers) found many patients reported high fruit/veg intake and speculated pesticides could be involved; however, this small study cannot prove causation and sits at odds with decades of large, prospective research that shows higher fruit/vegetable consumption is linked to lower or unchanged lung-cancer risk. Pesticide concerns exist, especially for farm workers, but there’s no evidence that normal dietary pesticide levels cause lung cancer in the general population. Read headlines with caution and rely on long-term evidence. Practical tips to reduce residues include washing produce and, when affordable, choosing organic for high-residue items. Overall, a plant-rich diet remains associated with better health outcomes, including lung health.
A large U.S. study of more than 4 million cancer cases across 12 states (2015–2022) finds adults who have never been married carry significantly higher cancer risk than those who are or have been married, across nearly all major cancers and especially those linked to infections, smoking, and reproductive factors. Never-married men are about five times more likely to develop anal cancer and never-married women about three times more likely to get cervical cancer, with overall cancer risk about 70% higher for men and 85% higher for women in the never-married group. The study emphasizes social factors as cancer risk markers, not that marriage protects against cancer, and suggests tailored risk awareness and screening, though lifestyle confounding and the exclusion of long-term unmarried partners are limitations.
A University of Miami analysis of over 4 million cancer cases across 12 US states (2015–2022) found never-married adults have higher cancer incidence than those who are married or formerly married—about 68% higher in men and 85% higher in women—though researchers caution this does not prove causation or that marriage protects against cancer. Larger differences appear for HPV-related cancers (anal cancer in men, cervical cancer in women) and are smaller for cancers with widespread screening. The study treats cohabiting partners as unmarried and is cross-sectional, so it signals associations rather than causal effects. Implications point to using marital status as a marker to target cancer risk awareness and screenings, while contexting limitations and other health factors.