People who spend more time looking at a screen in bed are more likely to report insomnia and sleep loss, a study has found.

The research is based on a Norwegian survey of more than 45,000 students.

It indicates that each additional hour of screen time was linked to a 63% increase in insomnia risk, and 24 minutes less sleep.

However, the researchers said they had only established a correlation between screen use and lower sleep quality and had not demonstrated that the former caused the latter.

Experts say putting down your phone before bed, doing something relaxing and establishing a routine may help improve sleep.

A new blood test could revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s. Beyond confirming the presence of the disease, the test also helps determine the stage of its progression. This may fundamentally change how physicians manage Alzheimer’s care.

The test was developed by experts at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Lund University in Sweden. Their studies indicate that a particular blood protein, MTBR-tau243, can be used to monitor the extent of dangerous tau accumulation in the brain.

The tangles of tau protein are some of the hallmark characteristics of Alzheimer’s and are directly proportional to the intensity of the symptoms.

This new technique is considerably more convenient than brain scans since it is non-invasive, and does not require expensive procedures that are difficult to access.

Tracking Alzheimer’s with a blood test

Right now, doctors can use several blood tests to help detect Alzheimer’s. Some of the tests that are already in use are based on earlier discoveries at Washington University.

These tests look for early warning signs but don’t reveal how much the disease has progressed. That’s a crucial gap. Alzheimer’s treatments are most helpful in the early stages, before too much damage has been done.

Having a way to tell whether someone is in an early or late phase of the disease would help doctors decide which treatment would work best. It could also clarify whether a person’s memory or thinking issues are actually caused by Alzheimer’s or something else.

“This blood test clearly identifies Alzheimer’s tau tangles, which is our best biomarker measure of Alzheimer’s symptoms and dementia,” said co-senior author Dr. Randall J. Bateman.

Researchers have developed a blood test for patients with thinking and memory problems to check if they have Alzheimer’s and to see how far it has progressed.

The team behind the work say the test could help medics decide which drugs would be most suitable for patients. For example, new drugs such as donanemab and lecanemab can help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s, but only in people in the early stages of the disease.

Prof Oskar Hansson from Lund University, a co-author of the work, said: “There is an urgent need for accurate and cost-effective Alzheimer diagnostics considering that many countries have recently approved the clinical use of amyloid-targeted therapies [such as donanemab and lecanemab].”

Plaques of a protein called amyloid beta and the formation of tangles of another protein called tau in the brain are considered hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.

Writing in the journal Nature Medicine, Hansson and colleagues reported how they found fragments of tau, called eMTBR-tau243, could be detected in blood and correlated with a build-up of tau tangles in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s, but not other diseases.

The team’s analyses, which involved 902 participants, found levels of this tau fragment were elevated in people with Alzheimer’s symptoms who had mild cognitive impairment, and higher again in those with dementia. Levels were not raised in people with cognitive impairments due to other conditions.

“Scientifically, these results are very promising and important as this marker performed better than existing tests and the new marker could help track performance of new drugs in trials,” said Prof Tara Spires-Jones, a neurodegeneration expert at the University of Edinburgh who was not involved in the work.

But, she said, it was not a foolproof blood test for Alzheimer’s.

“This is also not a simple test, rather requiring complex scientific methods only available in specialist laboratories, so this will not be routinely available without further validation and development of cheaper, easier detection,” she said.

Dr Sheona Scales, the head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said eMTBR-tau243 was one of a number of different biomarkers being studied for use in blood tests for Alzheimer’s.

“What’s interesting is that the blood levels of eMTBR-tau243 seem to be linked to a person’s memory and thinking abilities,” she said. “At present, it is not always possible to make a connection between the level of tangles observed with imaging and level of cognitive impairment, but having blood tests that do this will help to monitor diseases like Alzheimer’s in the brain as they progress, and help inform prognosis in future.”

Another piece of research, also published in Nature Medicine, has revealed the ratio of two proteins in brain fluid is associated with the degree of cognitive impairment experienced by people with Alzheimer’s, independent of levels of amyloid beta plaques and tau tangles in their brains.

This research, led by scientists in the US, involved samples from 3,397 people across the US, Sweden and Finland, and looked at levels of two proteins – YWHAG and NPTX2 – that are normally found at the junctions, or synapses, between neurons in the brain.

The team found the ratio of YWHAG:NPTX2 was better able to indicate that people were experiencing cognitive problems than their levels of amyloid beta and tau, and could be used to predict their future cognitive decline and dementia onset.

Prof Tony Wyss-Coray, a co-author of the study from Stanford University, said the results could help identify the best medications for individuals and help design better clinical trials by selecting appropriate participants.

Need another reason to prioritize your sleep? Not spending enough time in the two deep stages of sleep — slow-wave and rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep — may hasten the deterioration of parts of the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease, a new study found.

Deficits in slow-wave and REM sleep appear to shrink parts of the brain known to be early indicators of cognitive deterioration and Alzheimer’s disease, said lead study author Gawon Cho, a postdoctoral associate in internal medicine at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut.

“We found the volume of a part of the brain called the inferior parietal region shrunk in people with inadequate slow and REM sleep,” Cho said. “That part of the brain synthesizes sensory information, including visuospatial information, so it makes sense that it shows neurodegeneration early in the disease.”

Preventive neurologist Dr. Richard Issacson, who established one of the first Alzheimer’s prevention clinics in the United States, said in an email that his clinical experience treating adults at risk for Alzheimer’s supports the study’s findings.

“We also found sleep metrics on deeper sleep predicted cognitive function, so between that plus brain volumes, it’s real,” said Issacson, who is director of research at the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Florida. He was not involved in the study.

What happens in the brain during deep sleep

During deep sleep, the brain sweeps out toxins and dead cells while also repairing and restoring the body for the next day. While we dream during REM sleep, the brain is busy processing emotions, consolidating memories and absorbing new information. It makes sense that getting quality deep and REM sleep is key to our ability to function.

Experts say most adults should spend between 20% and 25% of their night in deep sleep, and the same goes for REM sleep. Older adults require less, while babies need much more — in fact, infants can spend about 50% of their sleep in REM.

To make matters worse, deeper stages of sleep decrease as you age, Cho said.

Can you get more deep sleep?

Deep sleep tends to come soon after we fall asleep, while REM sleep appears later in the night, toward morning. Therefore, if you go to bed late and get up early, you are cutting your chances of spending enough time in one or both stages.

“The more time you are in bed, the more a person sleeps, and generally speaking, the longer a person sleeps, the more REM and deep sleep they will get,” Isaacson said.

However, you have to do more than just lay in bed longer — you also need have to have an uninterrupted, restful sleep on a regular basis, experts say. If you do that, there’s an additional payoff — a February 2023 study found good sleep habits added nearly five years to a man’s life expectancy and almost 2.5 years to a woman’s life.

To accomplish this, however, you can’t wake up during the night or have trouble falling asleep more than two times a week, the study found. You also have to feel well rested at least five days a week when you wake up. And finally, you can’t be using sleep medications to achieve your good slumber.

But don’t lose hope. The good news is that you can easily train your brain to better sleep by following what is called “sleep hygiene.” It’s important to go to bed at the same time on most nights and get up at the same time most mornings — even on weekends and holidays.

Make sure your sleeping environment is optimal — cooler and darker is better — and block noise or try a sound machine. Avoid booze before bed — it may seem like you’re falling asleep more easily, but when your liver finishes metabolizing the alcohol at 3 a.m., your body will wake up, experts say.

Set up a sleep routine, with no blue lights or distractions at least an hour before bedtime. Try meditation, yoga, tai chi, warm baths — anything that relaxes you is great.

“How do you make your sleep better? I think people really have to do their part to improve their own sleep,” Cho said. “There’s no one medicine that improves overall sleep.”

In recent years, cold plunges have become a fixture on wellness feeds and gym schedules. People swear by them – claiming everything from mental clarity to faster recovery. But what does science say when you strip away the hype?

A team of researchers at the University of Ottawa has taken a closer look. Their work didn’t just explore how our bodies handle cold on the outside. It examined what happens on a much deeper level: inside your cells.

The results of the study could shape how we think about cold exposure and its place in everyday health.

Cold plunges change cells in one week

​The Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit conducted a tightly controlled experiment with ten healthy young men.​

Over seven days, each participant immersed himself in 14°C (57.2°F) water for one hour per day. Blood samples were drawn before and after the cold-water sessions on days 1, 4, and 7.

The aim wasn’t to measure surface-level outcomes like muscle soreness. Instead, the team analyzed peripheral blood mononuclear cells to examine cellular stress, recovery, and resilience.

They focused on autophagy (the body’s way of cleaning out damaged components) and apoptosis (programmed cell death).

“Our findings indicate that repeated cold exposure significantly improves autophagic function, a critical cellular protective mechanism,” said Professor Kenny.

“This enhancement allows cells to better manage stress and could have important implications for health and longevity.”

Early cold plunges caused stress

On the first day, the researchers found clear signs of stress. Cells showed an increase in proteins like p62, which typically accumulate when autophagy is disrupted.

LC3-II, a marker of autophagic activity, did not increase. Apoptotic signaling also rose, with a marked spike in cleaved caspase-3, a protein that signals a cell is on its way to self-destruction.

This meant that initially, the cold exposure was overwhelming the cells. The natural repair systems weren’t strong enough to counteract the damage. But that would begin to change by day four.

Signals of cellular recovery

By the fourth day of immersion, early signs of adaptation emerged. LC3-II levels began to climb slightly, and p62 dropped – although still above baseline.

However, caspase-3 remained high, indicating the cells were still battling stress. The balance had not yet tipped in favor of full recovery.

“By the end of the acclimation, we noted a marked improvement in the participants’ cellular cold tolerance. This suggests that cold acclimation may help the body effectively cope with extreme environmental conditions,” explained King, the study’s first author.

Day seven marked a significant change. LC3-II rose substantially, showing robust autophagic activity. p62 dropped below baseline.

Caspase-3 levels returned to near normal. The cells had started to regulate themselves more efficiently, showing they had adapted.

A new antibiotic to treat stubborn urinary tract infection (UTI) and a blood-clot-dissolving intravenous treatment for acute ischemic stroke have been granted approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It’s been nearly three decades since adjacent treatments have entered the market to treat their respective conditions.

This comes as it was announced last week that a further 3,500 jobs at the FDA would be cut, with some existing review staff now with double the workload due to previous personnel losses. But for now, it’s good news in some health fields with these two drugs getting a green light.

GSK’s Blujepa (gepotidacin) becomes the first in a new class of oral antibiotics to treat uncomplicated UTIs (also known as uUTIs) in almost 30 years, taking aim at infection-causing bacteria Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter freundii complex, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Enterococcus faecalis.

More than half of all women will contract this kind of UTI in their lifetime, and almost a third will battle recurring episodes. Blujepa, for females aged 12 and over, is expected to be available commercially in the US in the second quarter of 2025 – so, very soon.

“The approval of Blujepa is a crucial milestone with uUTIs among the most common infections in women,” said Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer at GSK. “We are proud to have developed Blujepa, the first in a new class of oral antibiotics for uUTIs in nearly three decades, and to bring another option to patients given recurrent infections and rising rates of resistance to existing treatments.”

Blujepa is a bactericidal, first-in-class triazaacenaphthylene antibiotic with a novel mechanism that inhibits bacterial DNA replication. And because it has high efficacy in disabling a broad range of pathogens, it also comes with low risk of bacteria developing resistance to it.

“For many, uUTIs can be a burden that severely impacts daily life,” said Thomas Hooton, MD, Professor of Clinical Medicine, University of Miami School of Medicine. “With an increasing number of patients experiencing recurrent infections, there remains a clear need for continued research of antimicrobials to help address ongoing patient challenges and the strain on healthcare systems.”

Meanwhile, the FDA also approved Genetech’s TNKase to treat adults who suffer acute ischemic stroke. THNKase (tenecteplace) is a single-dose intravenous bolus that is faster and easier to administer than the only other existing drug on the market, Activase (alteplase) – and it comes nearly 30 years after that particular treatment was approved.

Essentially, TNKase goes to work immediately to dissolve blood clots and is just one dose, as opposed to the preceding Activase that requires two, 60 minutes apart.

“Today’s approval is a significant step forward and underscores our commitment to advancing stroke treatment options for patients,” said Levi Garraway, MD, Chief Medical Officer and head of Global Product Development at Genentech. “TNKase provides a faster and simpler administration, which can be critical for anyone who is dealing with an acute stroke.”

The rapid administration of TNKase is important here, where time is critical in relieving damage to the brain and halting the progression of nerve and tissue deterioration following a stroke. The drug will be administered in just five seconds, within three hours of the first sign of stroke symptoms.

A new study released this week by researchers reveals that eating a diet rich in plant-based foods with a low to moderate intake of meat can help stave off chronic diseases.

The study was conducted by the T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the University of Copenhagen, and the University of Montreal. It tracked 105,000 people ages 39-69 for up to 30 years.

Participants were asked to provide regular surveys of their diet, assessing whether they adhered to eight healthy dietary patterns as well as their intake of ultra-processed foods that are high in sodium and saturated fats.

The study found that 9.3% of participants aged healthily, being able to avoid chronic diseases by the time they reached their 70s.

Those who scored in the top 20% were 86% more likely to avoid chronic diseases than the rest of the population.

“Since staying active and independent is a priority for both individuals and public health, research on healthy aging is essential,” said co-corresponding author Marta Guasch-Ferré. “Our findings suggest that dietary patterns rich in plant-based foods, with moderate inclusion of healthy animal-based foods, may promote overall healthy aging and help shape future dietary guidelines.”

One limitation of the study was that it involved medical professionals, and researchers said that additional research involving participants from more diverse socioeconomic backgrounds would be helpful.

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer related deaths in men and women under age 50.

According to the American Cancer Society almost 153,000 individuals in the U.S. were diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer in 2024 and more than 53,000 died from the disease.

March is Colon Cancer Awareness month and Intermountain Health is working to raise awareness about the disease and the importance of prevention and early detection.

Awareness is crucial because many cases of colon and rectal cancer can be prevented. In fact, colon cancer has a 90% survival rate when detected early.

Understanding your risks

Colon cancer can affect anyone, but certain factors can increase your risk:

• Age: Most cases occur in individuals aged 50 and older.
• Family history: A family history of colon cancer or polyps can increase your risk.
• Personal history: Previous polyps or inflammatory bowel disease heighten your risk.
• Lifestyle factors: Diets high in red and processed meats, smoking, heavy alcohol use and lack of physical activity can contribute to an increased risk.

It’s not just older adults who need to be vigilant. Colorectal cancer incidence has been steadily increasing in younger Americans for the last several decades, with the sharpest rise seen in the incidence of rectal cancer.

In 2020, 11% of all colon cancer and 15% of all rectal cancer diagnoses were estimated to occur in individuals under age 50.

“Waiting for symptoms is too late,” said Christine Hachem, M.D., interim medical director of gastroenterology and digestive health for Intermountain Health. “Screening occurs when you have no symptoms and feel well. Early detection is critical to catching colorectal cancer and saving lives.”

This rise is alarming because younger patients often have more advanced cases by the time they’re diagnosed.

Factors contributing to this trend may include environmental exposures, dietary habits, and sporadic genetic mutations, Hachem said.

“Younger individuals face unique barriers when it comes to colon cancer screenings, such as a lack of awareness about the need for screening, fear or discomfort associated with the procedure and challenges in navigating the healthcare system,” said Priyanka Patel, M.D., gastroenterologist for Intermountain Health. “It’s crucial for everyone, regardless of age, to understand their personal risk factors and discuss them with their healthcare provider to determine the best screening plan.”

Updated national guidelines make it possible for more people to be screened with a colonoscopy and stool-based testing starting at age 45.

Colonoscopies are considered the gold standard for colon cancer detection. It not only detects abnormalities, but removes precancerous lesions. Intermountain Health makes it easier to schedule a colonoscopy with an online system, ensuring you have access to this vital screening option.

For most patients a colonoscopy is then only needed once every 10 years, or once every five years if your doctor determines you have an increased risk of colon cancer.

Earlier screening may be recommended for anyone with a personal history of polyps or family history of colon cancer.

If you have inflammatory bowel disease (with Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis) or other chronic conditions that affect the gastrointestinal tract, talk with your doctor or a gastrointestinal specialist to determine when and how often you should be screened.

“Don’t delay your screenings,” Hachem said. “It could save your life.”

Other easy and convenient screening options

Intermountain Health offers home-based tests that are both effective and convenient, allowing you to get what you need, when you need it, without leaving your home.

Individuals who are 45 to 75 years old with average risk may qualify for Intermountain’s on-demand colon cancer screening kits. This is an option that allows you to get a test kit in the mail and send it back to the lab for testing without the need for an appointment.

Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT):

This simple, non-invasive test detects hidden blood in the stool, an early sign of colon cancer. You can complete it at home, and if the results are positive or abnormal, a follow-up colonoscopy may be necessary.

Cologuard:

Combining the FIT with a DNA test, Cologuard detects abnormal DNA markers in stool samples. It’s also non-invasive and can be done at home. A positive or abnormal result will require a follow-up colonoscopy.

Why choose home-based tests?

Home-based tests like FIT and Cologuard offer several advantages:

• Convenience: Complete the test at home without a doctor’s visit.
• Non-Invasive: No preparation or sedation required.
• Accessibility: Ideal for those who may have difficulty scheduling or accessing colonoscopy appointments.

Act today

Understanding your risks and exploring your screening options are vital steps in preventing colon cancer.

If you are 45 or older, you can order an at-home colon cancer screening kit to have a test kit mailed to you without needing a doctor’s visit. If you have risk factors, like a family or personal history of colon cancer or polyps, talk to your healthcare provider about getting screened.

It may not just be tooth decay you need to worry about when it comes to sugary drinks: new research suggests that these sweetened beverages might also be raising the risk of oral cancer.

Researchers from the University of Washington crunched the numbers from a public health database, looking at records covering the dietary habits of 162,602 women, 124 of whom developed oral cancer over a 30-year period.

Compared with women who drank less than one sugary drink per month, those who indulged in one or more sugary drinks daily were 4.87 times more likely to develop oral cancer.

Those who didn’t drink alcohol or smoke much or at all, but consumed one or more sugary drinks daily, were at 5.46 times higher risk of oral cancer than women who drank less than one sugary drink each month.

“The incidence of oral cavity cancer (OCC) is increasing among non-smokers and young individuals without traditional risk factors worldwide,” write the researchers in their published paper.

“In this study, high sugar-sweetened beverage intake was associated with a significantly increased risk of OCC in women, regardless of smoking or drinking habits, yet with low baseline risk.”

The structure of this study means it does not show direct cause and effect, because other factors may be involved that the researchers haven’t accounted for. However, the association is strong enough to suggest there is some relationship here.

Traditionally, oral cancer is linked to risk factors such as smoking or chewing tobacco, drinking heavily, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. It’s a real concern that oral cancer cases are quickly rising outside of these risk factors.

One reason that’s been put forward for this is our changing dietary habits. The unhealthy foods many of us are now consuming on a regular basis could be triggering long-term inflammatory responses from the body’s immune system.

“A Western dietary pattern has increasingly been recognized as a risk factor for gastrointestinal tract cancers and is characterized by high consumption of saturated fats, processed foods, and added sugars,” write the researchers.

“Our hypothesis is that diets with higher added sugar may contribute to chronic inflammation, which may, in turn, contribute to the risk of OCC.”

There are some limitations here – the study only looked at data for women, and covers a relatively low number of cancer cases – and the researchers are keen for more data to be collected and assessed on this potential link.

However, it’s another compelling reason for us to watch what we drink as well as what we eat. The health dangers associated with sugary drinks aren’t new, but we’re now realizing just how harmful they can be.

“The methodology and quality of the study are excellent and the data has been analysed in great detail,” says epidemiologist Raúl Zamora Ros, from the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) in Spain, who wasn’t involved in the research.

“More studies are needed to confirm these associations and also to assess whether soft drinks with artificial sweeteners would be just as harmful, as many people substitute one for the other.”