A study suggests changes in gut microbiome may help identify Parkinson’s risk years before symptoms, with stronger signatures in people with genetic susceptibility and in diagnosed patients. Researchers analyzing data from over 1,000 participants across multiple countries found distinct microbial patterns affecting hundreds of species, not explained by medication. The findings, published in N…

As wearable devices become increasingly common, they present new opportunities—and challenges—for public health. Millions of Americans are tracking metrics like sleep, heart rate, and temperature, but experts emphasize that data without context has limited value. When patients and providers work together to interpret patterns, wearable data can support earlier detection of conditions such as…

A recent study from the Peterson Health Technology Institute suggests that administrative AI may be intensifying, rather than easing, longstanding inefficiencies in the U.S. health care system. Evidence from prior authorization and medical coding processes indicates that AI-driven tools are contributing to increased back-and-forth between insurers and providers, sometimes accelerating “bot wars”…

CDC analysis published in MMWR reports a marked rise in extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Shigella infections in the United States. Among 16,788 isolates collected from 2011–2023, 3% were XDR, increasing from 0% in 2011–2015 to 8.5% in 2023. Most cases occurred in adult men, with limited travel history, suggesting domestic transmission. XDR strains are resistant to five key antibiotics, and no…

The CDC reports that the U.S. general fertility rate declined 1% in 2025 to 53.1 births per 1,000 females ages 15–44, marking another record low and a continued long-term downward trend since 2007. Teen birth rates fell sharply, including a 7% decline among ages 15–19. The total fertility rate remains below replacement level, and increasing proportions of adults report delaying or forgoing pa…

A new study published in Neurology suggests that influenza vaccination, particularly the high-dose formulation given to adults 65 and older, may be associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Analysis of health records from approximately 200,000 older adults found a 55% lower Alzheimer’s risk among high-dose vaccine recipients compared with about 40% among standard-dose recipients. R…

A delayed CDC study highlights ongoing tensions around scientific processes and communication in public health. The report, intended for the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), found the 2025–26 COVID-19 vaccine reduced severe illness risk by 50% in adults. Its postponement, tied to methodological concerns about a commonly used evaluation approach, has raised questions among current…

The White House’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposal includes significant reductions to the WIC program’s fruit and vegetable benefits, lowering monthly allowances from $52 to $13 for breastfeeding mothers and from $27 to $10 for families with young children. Public health and nutrition experts emphasize that WIC is strongly associated with improved child diet quality and health outcomes, large…

Respiratory viruses are persisting later than typical this season, with the CDC reporting a delayed onset of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) across much of the United States. The CDC notes RSV activity may extend into April, with emergency department visits and hospitalizations highest among infants and children under four years. An atypical influenza season included an early flu A peak follo…