28 May 2025 • A large-scale study reveals a strong and early link between sleep disorders and neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and various dementias.

Sleep disorders—particularly insomnia and sleep apnea were associated with significantly increased risks (HRs ranging from 1.15 to 5.11). Recurrent sleep disorders further amplified risk, especially for vascular dementia (HR up to 3.25).

These findings highlight the critical need to address treatable sleep issues as a potentially modifiable pathway to reduce long-term neurodegenerative risk, even in genetically low-risk individuals.

Source: Nature | Read Full Story

28 May 2025 • A study of axial spondyloarthritis (AS) patients reveals that reducing the dose of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs not only preserves disease control but also slashes treatment costs.

93.2% of the dose-reduction group achieved inactive disease at 12 months, versus just 33.3% of the full-dose group. Machine learning identified key predictors of disease control, including reduced dosing, baseline inflammation, and treatment duration, with a robust AUC of 0.845.

These findings support a clinically effective and economically sustainable path forward in AS care, especially relevant for healthcare systems under budgetary constraints.

Source: BMC Rheumatology | Read Full Story

28 May 2025 • Steatotic liver disease (SLD) in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been linked to a higher risk of developing diabetic microvascular complications.

Key Findings:

• Those with SLD had a 15% increased risk of total microvascular complications (HR 1.15), including higher risks for diabetic nephropathy (HR 1.20) and neuropathy (HR 1.46), but not retinopathy (HR 1.05).
• Poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥7%) accounted for 22.5% of the increased risk, highlighting it as a partial but significant pathway.

These findings underscore the need to monitor liver health as part of comprehensive diabetes care.

Source: Frontiers | Read Full Story

27 May 2025 • A major analysis involving 17,513 low-birthweight infants confirms that hospital-initiated kangaroo care (skin-to-skin contact) offers substantial protection against neonatal mortality and severe infections.

Key Findings:

• Compared with conventional neonatal care, kangaroo care reduced all-cause mortality by 23% (OR 0.77), sepsis by 45% (OR 0.55), and invasive infections like meningitis and pneumonia by 51% (OR 0.49).
• It also significantly cut sepsis-related or infection-related deaths (OR 0.63), hypothermia (OR 0.28), and apnea (OR 0.46).

These findings strongly support scaling up kangaroo care as a core component of neonatal infection prevention worldwide, especially in resource-limited settings where the impact could be lifesaving.

Source: The Lancet | Read Full Story

27 May 2025 • A large study of 10,889 adults with diabetes or prediabetes reveals a striking U-shaped relationship between the Glycated Hemoglobin Index (HGI) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.

Key Findings:

• Researchers found that both low and high HGI values were associated with elevated risks of CVD, heart attack, and congestive heart failure (CHF).
• Each unit rise in HGI was linked to significantly higher odds of CVD (OR: 1.34), heart attack (OR: 1.34), and CHF (OR: 1.39).

These findings position HGI as a promising early marker for cardiovascular risk stratification in dysglycemic populations.

Source: BMC | Read Full Story

27 May 2025 • Adults infected with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) face nearly twice the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis compared to those without HCV.

The study, encompassing 5,825 participants, including 485 with RA, found a significantly higher prevalence of HCV infection among RA patients. HCV was associated with a 93% increased risk of RA (OR = 1.93).

The findings spotlight the clinical value of routine HCV screening in RA patients to aid early detection and comprehensive disease management.

Source: BMC Rheumatology | Read Full Story

26 May 2025 • In a nationwide study of 4.4 million adults, steatotic liver disease (SLD) was significantly linked to increased risk of systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Key Findings:

• Individuals with metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease (MASLD) had a 61% higher risk (aHR: 1.612), while alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) carried over a threefold risk (aHR: 3.063) of SSc.
• Metabolic dysfunction ALD also showed elevated risk (aHR: 1.575).

Findings highlight the need for integrated monitoring of liver and autoimmune health, especially through alcohol reduction strategies.

Source: Oxford Academic | Read Full Story

26 May 2025 • A new analysis of COPD patients shows that elevated blood eosinophil counts (BEC ≥ 300 cells/µL) are linked to a higher prevalence of extrapulmonary comorbidities (85.4% vs. 71.5%).

High BEC was associated with doubled odds of any non-pulmonary condition (OR = 2.03), including congestive heart failure (OR = 1.69) and renal dysfunction (OR = 1.95), but showed no significant link to pulmonary comorbidities.

The findings underscore the value of BEC as a marker for systemic risk in COPD management.

Source: BMC Pulmonary Medicine | Read Full Story

26 May 2025 • India has reported its first case of COVID-19 subvariant NB.1.8.1 in Tamil Nadu and four cases of LF.7 in Gujarat, per INSACOG. Both are WHO-designated Variants Under Monitoring, linked to rising cases in Asia.

NB.1.8.1 carries mutations indicating higher transmissibility, though its global risk is considered low. JN.1 remains the dominant strain in India (53%), followed by BA.2 (26%).

As of May 19, active cases stood at 257, with Kerala alone logging 273 cases in May. Local spikes in Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Bengaluru have prompted official review.

Source: The Hindu | Read Full Story

23 May 2025 • A massive study involving over 2.5 million adults aged 50–89 explored the connection between psychiatric disorders and retinal health. While schizophrenia was associated with a lower risk, both bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) showed a strong connection to increased retinal disease and vision impairment.

Key Findings:

- Retinal disease risk rose with age in BD patients —adjusted RR 1.04 (60–69 years), 1.15 (70–79 and 80–89 years)—while MDD showed strong association across all age groups, with aRR ranging from 1.62 (80–89 years) to 1.84 (50–59 years).

• Individuals with schizophrenia (aRR 1.35), BD (RR 1.33), and MDD (RR 1.51) alongside retinal disease had a higher risk of visual impairment compared to those with retinal disease alone.
• Schizophrenia and BD patients had elevated risk of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (RR 1.94 and 1.56, respectively.)
• MDD patients showed increased risk of diabetic retinopathy (RR 1.55). 

These findings underscore the need for proactive retinal screening in individuals with psychiatric disorders to prevent vision loss.

Source: Science Reports | Read Full Story