Drop in NIH Funding Delays Thousands of Studies

THURSDAY, April 23, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Many scientists are waiting much longer than usual for research funding and some projects are now on hold.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), the nation’s largest funder of medical research, has fallen about $1 billion behind its typical timeline for awarding new grants this yea...

Gene Cure For Inherited Deafness Effective, Long Lasting, Clinical Trial Finds

THURSDAY, April 23, 2026 (HealthDay News) — A new gene therapy to treat inherited deafness produces a lasting cure, a new international study has found.

The treatment, which targets the OTOF gene, restored hearing in 90% of participants, researchers reported April 22 in the journal Nature.

These results have lasted up ...

Most Americans Worried About Brain Health, But Few Know How To Protect It

THURSDAY, April 23, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Nearly all Americans are worried about their brain health as they age, ranking as important or more so than their physical health, a new Alzheimer’s Association report says.

However, they don’t know what steps they can take to maintain brain health and ward off dementia, accordi...

ER Study Finds Major Gaps in Measles Immunity

THURSDAY, April 23, 2026 (HealthDay News) — As measles cases in California hit a seven-year high, new research suggests many adults are walking around without the protection they need.

A nationwide study reveals that emergency departments are seeing a high volume of patients who are under-vaccinated, uninformed or hesitant about the ...

IVF 'Add On' Procedure Doesn't Work, Evidence Review Concludes

THURSDAY, April 23, 2026 (HealthDay News) — A hormone therapy commonly offered to IVF patients to improve chances of pregnancy is really a waste of time, a new evidence review says.

Injecting the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) into a woman’s uterus before embryo transfer does not increase rates of either pregnancy o...

Website Helps Dementia Patients And Caregivers Bond, Reminisce

THURSDAY, April 23, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Seniors with dementia can easily lose touch with the loved ones caring for them, straining even once-close relationships as memories fade.

But a new web-based tool is offering hope to both people with dementia and their caregivers, by helping them reminisce about the past and restore their ...

New Treatment Improves Survival for Aggressive Breast Cancer

THURSDAY, April 23, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has long been considered one of the most difficult types to fight. 

It is aggressive, often strikes women under age 40 and often resists standard treatments.

Now, a global clinical trial has shown promising results in extending survival for pa...

CDC Report on COVID Vaccine Blocked From Publication

WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2026 (HealthDay News) — A federal report pointing out the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines may never be released, according to multiple people familiar with the decision.

The study found that the vaccine reduced emergency room visits and hospitalizations among healthy adults by about 50% during the past winter.

Moderna Starts Large Bird Flu Study Despite Earlier HHS Funding Loss

WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2026 (HealthDay News) — A new effort to prepare for future bird flu outbreaks is moving forward, despite a major funding setback.

The American pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Moderna has initiated a large clinical trial around a vaccine designed to protect people against bird flu, enrolling participants ...

RFK Jr. Won’t Commit to CDC Nominee’s Vaccine Decisions

WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2026 (HealthDay News) — During a tense congressional hearing Tuesday, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declined to say whether he would follow vaccine recommendations from the latest nominee to lead the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Asked if he would support vaccine guidance Dr. Eri...

Pentagon Drops Flu Vaccine Requirement For U.S. Military

WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Flu shots will no longer be required for every U.S. service member.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that troops can now choose whether to get the flu vaccine, rather than being required to receive it each year, The Associated Press reported.

In a video poste...

Male Infertility Linked To Cancer Risk

WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Male infertility could be a warning sign for certain types of cancer, a new study says.

Men with severely reduced fertility are more likely to develop colon cancer or thyroid cancer, researchers reported in the European Journal of Epidemiology.

“They were found to have...

Video Game Training Sharpens ER Doctors’ Split-Second Decisions

WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Imagine if "The Pitt" – a high-intensity HBO Max drama about life and death in a Pittsburgh ER – was turned into a video game.

It’s already happened, in a way, and that game is helping ER doctors hone their ability to make quick life-saving judgments, a new study says.

Bullying, Politics Harm Mental Health Of Gender-Diverse Teens

WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Gender-diverse teenagers who are bullied are more likely to suffer escalating psychological distress than other teens, particularly if they live in a state with repressive gender identity laws, a new study says.

These teens are more likely to experience psychotic-like episodes – feel...

Napping Linked To Higher Risk Of Death Among Seniors, Study Finds

WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Grandpa snoozing on a recliner is an indelible memory for many families — but there could be a dark side to those daytime naps, a new study says.

Too much napping is linked to a higher risk of dying among older folks, researchers reported April 20 in JAMA Network Open.

Mind-Controlled Bionic Suit Lets Paralyzed Patients Feel Every Step

WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2026 (HealthDay News) — For people living with paralysis, the dream of walking again often feels like an impossible one. 

Now, a research team has successfully tested the feasibility of a two-way brain interface that allows a person to control a bionic suit with their thoughts and also feel the motion of wal...

Hidden Belly Fat Linked to Bladder Control in Women

WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2026 (HealthDay News) — For many women, a sudden sneeze or a hearty laugh bring an unwelcome consequence: A small leak of urine. 

Often dismissed as a normal part of aging or motherhood, new research suggests the real culprit may lie deep within the abdomen.

A study from the Federal University of S&ati...

Children’s Activity Cubes Recalled Over Choking Hazard Risk

TUESDAY, April 21, 2026 (HealthDay News) — A kid's toy designed for learning and play is being pulled from the market over safety concerns.

Officials say parts of the ATOYUS Children’s Activity Cubes can fall off, posing a choking risk for young kids.

The recall, announced April 16, involves about 70 wooden activity cubes...

Study Finds AI Chatbots Can Give Misleading Health Advice

TUESDAY, April 21, 2026 (HealthDay News) — "Do I really need chemotherapy?" 

"Is this natural remedy safer?"

"Does eating sugar cause cancer?"

As more people turn to artificial intelligence (AI) for quick answers to health questions like these, a new study finds the advice they receive can sometimes be incomplete, mi...

Former Surgeon General Backs CDC Nominee, But Questions Remain on Vaccines

TUESDAY, April 21, 2026 (HealthDay News) — A former U.S. surgeon general is weighing in on the president’s pick to lead the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), calling Dr. Erica Schwartz highly qualified while warning of some potential challenges.

Dr. Jerome Adams, who worked with Schwartz during President Do...