Birth Defects News
October 27, 2025
Top Headlines
Oct. 26, 2025 GLP-1 drugs, originally developed for diabetes and obesity, may also curb addictive behaviors by acting on reward circuits in the brain. Early trials show reductions in alcohol intake, opioid seeking, and nicotine use. Though more research is ...
Oct. 25, 2025 Scientists at The University of Texas at Austin have developed a revolutionary gene-editing method using bacterial retrons that can correct multiple disease-causing mutations at once. Unlike traditional tools limited to one or two mutations, this ...
Oct. 19, 2025 Groundbreaking research shows that as men age, harmful genetic mutations in sperm become more common—not just from random chance, but because some are naturally favored. Advanced sequencing revealed dozens of genes under selective pressure, many ...
Oct. 18, 2025 EMBL researchers created SDR-seq, a next-generation tool that decodes both DNA and RNA from the same cell. It finally opens access to non-coding regions, where most disease-associated genetic variants lie. By revealing how these variants affect gene ...
Oct. 18, 2025 Semaglutide, tirzepatide, and other GLP-1 drugs appear to slow alcohol absorption and blunt its intoxicating effects, according to new research. The study found participants on these medications felt less drunk despite consuming the same amount of ...
Oct. 16, 2025 Long before humans built cities or wrote words, our ancestors may have faced a hidden threat that shaped who we became. Scientists studying ancient teeth found that early humans, great apes, and even Neanderthals were exposed to lead millions of ...
Oct. 13, 2025 People experiencing their first psychotic episode who also have skin conditions such as rashes or itching are at greater risk of depression and suicidal thoughts, according to new research presented at the ECNP meeting. Scientists found that 25% of ...
Oct. 12, 2025 Young rats given a ketogenic diet were largely protected from the mental and behavioral issues caused by prenatal stress. The high-fat, low-carb diet appeared to safeguard brain development and promote sociability. Researchers believe this could ...
Oct. 11, 2025 Men’s heavy drinking is fueling a hidden crisis affecting millions of women and children worldwide. The harms, from violence to financial instability, are especially severe where gender inequality is high. Experts warn that alcohol policies must ...
Oct. 7, 2025 Addiction often isn’t about chasing pleasure—it’s about escaping pain. Researchers at Scripps Research have discovered that a tiny brain region called the paraventricular nucleus of the ...
Oct. 5, 2025 A new study shows glioblastoma isn’t confined to the brain—it erodes the skull and hijacks the immune system within skull marrow. The cancer opens channels that let inflammatory cells enter the brain, fueling its deadly progression. Even drugs ...
Oct. 4, 2025 A massive new study combining observational and genetic data overturns the long-held belief that light drinking protects the brain. Researchers found that dementia risk rises in direct proportion to alcohol consumption, with no safe level ...
Latest Headlines
updated 9:15am EDT
Oct. 25, 2025 Scientists have identified mutations in the CPD gene as a key cause of a rare congenital hearing loss, revealing how disruptions in arginine and ...
Oct. 22, 2025 A study found that daily vitamin D supplements helped slow telomere shortening—the cellular process linked to aging and disease. Researchers ...
Oct. 18, 2025 Stanford scientists have solved a long-standing challenge in growing brain organoids by using a simple food additive to keep them from sticking ...
Oct. 14, 2025 Endurance exercise may train the immune system as much as the muscles. Older adults with decades of running or cycling had immune cells that functioned better and aged more slowly. Their inflammation ...
Oct. 4, 2025 A Scandinavian clinical trial has revealed that low-dose aspirin can halve the risk of colon and rectal cancer recurrence in patients with specific genetic mutations. The research, involving over ...
Sep. 29, 2025 Morning sickness isn’t just random misery—it’s a biological defense system shaped by evolution to protect the fetus. By linking immune ...
Sep. 29, 2025 Researchers found that middle-aged adults, especially women, are far more likely to be addicted to ultra-processed foods than older generations. Marketing of diet-focused processed foods in the 1980s ...
Sep. 28, 2025 Human fertility hinges on a delicate molecular ballet that begins even before birth. UC Davis researchers have uncovered how special protein networks ...
Sep. 28, 2025 Researchers discovered that autism’s prevalence may be linked to human brain evolution. Specific neurons in the outer brain evolved rapidly, and autism-linked genes changed under natural selection. ...
Sep. 27, 2025 Daily cocoa extract supplements reduced key inflammation markers in older adults, pointing to a role in protecting the heart. The findings reinforce the value of flavanol-rich, plant-based foods for ...
Earlier Headlines
Sep. 26, 2025 Scientists have discovered a way to block pain while still allowing the body’s natural healing to take place. Current painkillers like ibuprofen and aspirin often come with harmful side effects ...
Sep. 16, 2025 Researchers from the University of Waterloo discovered that measuring long-term stress through children’s hair samples can reveal early signs of mental health risks in those living with chronic ...
Sep. 15, 2025 Eye drops combining pilocarpine and diclofenac helped patients read extra lines on vision charts, with effects lasting up to two years. The treatment could revolutionize presbyopia care as a safe, ...
Sep. 15, 2025 Dry eyes are far more common than previously believed, with over half of adults in the US and Europe experiencing symptoms, yet most remain undiagnosed for years. The large-scale NESTS study reveals ...
Sep. 22, 2025 Alcohol doesn’t just damage the liver — it locks its cells in a strange “in-between” state that prevents them from healing. Even after someone quits drinking, liver cells often get stuck, ...
Sep. 9, 2025 Thousands of women are using GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic for weight loss without contraception, leading to unintended pregnancies and potential risks for unborn babies. Experts warn clearer medical ...
Aug. 31, 2025 Beta blockers, used for decades after heart attacks, provide no benefit for patients with preserved heart function, according to the REBOOT trial. The massive study also found women faced higher ...
Sep. 2, 2025 Once a universal feature of human psychology, the “unhappiness hump” in midlife has disappeared, replaced by a new trend: mental health is worst in youth and improves with age. Data from the ...
Sep. 19, 2025 Alcohol-associated liver disease is becoming a massive health and economic burden, but researchers at UC San Diego may have uncovered a new way forward. They discovered that chronic alcohol use ...
Aug. 26, 2025 Australian teachers are in crisis, with 9 in 10 experiencing severe stress and nearly 70% saying their workload is unmanageable. A major UNSW Sydney study found teachers suffer depression, anxiety, ...
Sep. 6, 2025 Hidden fat wrapped around organs, known as visceral fat, has now been linked to faster heart aging. Using AI and imaging from more than 21,000 people in the UK Biobank, scientists found that this ...
Sep. 8, 2025 Scientists at Stanford have found that hyperactivity in the brain’s reticular thalamic nucleus may drive autism-like behaviors. In mouse models, drugs and neuromodulation techniques that suppressed ...
Aug. 19, 2025 Researchers analyzing 33 studies found strong evidence that highly sensitive people are more prone to depression and anxiety but also more likely to benefit from therapy. Since about 31% of the ...
Sep. 24, 2025 Researchers reviewing 46 studies found evidence linking prenatal acetaminophen (Tylenol) exposure with higher risks of autism and ADHD. The FDA has since urged caution, echoing scientists’ advice ...
Aug. 21, 2025 A large-scale review finds that acetaminophen use during pregnancy may increase the risk of autism and ADHD in children. The strongest studies showed the clearest links, pointing to biological ...
Sep. 27, 2025 Researchers are showing how phone sensors can track patterns tied to a wide range of mental health symptoms. Instead of relying only on self-reports, clinicians may soon be able to gather continuous, ...
Aug. 1, 2025 Ape behavior just got a name upgrade — “scrumping” — and it might help explain why humans can handle alcohol so well. Researchers discovered that African apes regularly eat overripe, ...
Aug. 1, 2025 Women who drank heavily, even though they strongly wished to avoid pregnancy, were 50% more likely to become pregnant than those who drank little or not at all, according to new research. ...
Aug. 4, 2025 Scientists at Johns Hopkins have grown a first-of-its-kind organoid mimicking an entire human brain, complete with rudimentary blood vessels and neural activity. This new "multi-region brain ...
July 25, 2025 A virus from humble black-eyed peas is showing extraordinary promise in the fight against cancer. Unlike other plant viruses, the cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) can awaken the human immune system and ...
Friday, September 26, 2025
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Monday, September 15, 2025
- Daily Eye Drops Could Make Reading Glasses Obsolete
- Half of Adults Suffer from Dry Eyes, but Most Never Get Help
Monday, September 22, 2025
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Sunday, August 31, 2025
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Friday, September 19, 2025
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Saturday, September 6, 2025
Monday, September 8, 2025
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Thursday, August 21, 2025
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Friday, August 1, 2025
- Did Drunk Apes Help Us Evolve? New Clues Reveal Why We Digest Alcohol So Well
- Unwanted Pregnancies Surge With Alcohol, but Not With Cannabis, Study Finds
Monday, August 4, 2025
Friday, July 25, 2025
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Saturday, September 6, 2025
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Friday, July 18, 2025
Thursday, July 17, 2025
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Sunday, July 13, 2025
Sunday, July 6, 2025
Thursday, July 3, 2025
- AI Spots Deadly Heart Risk Most Doctors Can't See
- Parkinson’s Reversal? One Drug Brings Dying Brain Cells Back to Life
Sunday, June 29, 2025
- The Gene That Hijacks Fear: How PTEN Rewires the Brain’s Anxiety Circuit
- Brain Scan Breakthrough Reveals Why Parkinson’s Drugs Don’t Always Work
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Friday, June 20, 2025
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Sunday, June 8, 2025
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
- Molecular Link Between Air Pollution and Pregnancy Risks
- Epilepsy Is More Common in Patients With Frontotemporal Dementia Than Expected
Monday, June 2, 2025
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
- Potential to Prevent and Treat a Common Type of Inflammatory Arthritis Advanced by the Identification of New Genetic Links
- Nearly Five Million Seized Seahorses Just 'tip of the Iceberg' In Global Wildlife Smuggling
- Gene Editing Disrupts Huntington's Mutation in Mice
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
- Zika Virus Uses Cells' 'self-Care' System to Turn Against Host
- Study Quantifies the Sleep Loss and Disruption Experienced by New Mothers
- Why After 2000 Years We Still Don't Know How Tickling Works
- Significant Declines in Maternal Mental Health Across US
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
- Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms More Common Among Long-Term Users
- Good News for People With Migraine Who Take Drugs Before or During Pregnancy
- PREVENT Equation Accurately Estimated 10-Year CVD Risk and Those With Calcium Buildup
- Researchers Identify a Dual Origin of Cells Controlling Puberty and Reproduction
- New Method Paves Way for Fewer Severe Birth Injuries
- Increased Risk of Psychopathology Found in Offspring of People With Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder
- Southeast Asia Could Prevent Up to 36,000 Ozone-Related Early Deaths a Year by 2050 With Stricter Air Pollution Controls
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
- Thinking Peers Drink More Drives Risky Behavior
- Depression Linked to Physical Pain Years Later
- Selenium Exposure During Pregnancy May Reduce Childhood Streptococcal Infections
- Controlling These 8 Risk Factors May Eliminate Early Death Risk for Those With High Blood Pressure
Monday, May 19, 2025
Friday, May 16, 2025
Thursday, May 15, 2025
- New Gene Editor Enables Greater Precision
- Key Player in Childhood Food Allergies Identified: Thetis Cells
- The Effect of Physical Fitness on Mortality Is Overestimated
- People With Critical Cardiovascular Disease May Benefit from Palliative Care
- Recessive Genes Are Subject to Darwinian Selection
- Marfan Syndrome Increases Risk of Brain Alterations
- Improved Model System Allows Researchers to Study Embryo Development
- New Stem Cell Model Sheds Light on Human Amniotic Sac Development
- Study Reveals Why Women Tend to Have Faster Heartbeats, Men More Irregular Rhythms
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
- Too Much Sleep Can Hurt Cognitive Performance, Especially for Those With Depression
- People With Lupus Who Have Certain Antibodies Are More Likely to Experience Blood Clots, Researchers Find
- Marsupial Research Reveals How Mammalian Embryos Form
- MRI Scans Could Help Detect Life-Threatening Heart Disease
- A Step Forward in Treating Serious Genetic Disorders Prenatally
- The Risk of Death or Complications from Broken Heart Syndrome Was High from 2016 to 2020
- Study Sheds Light on How Autistic People Communicate
- Postpartum Depression and Bonding: Long-Term Effects on School-Age Children
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Monday, May 12, 2025
- Drug to Slow Alzheimer's Well Tolerated Outside of Clinical Trial Setting
- ChatGPT Helps Pinpoint Precise Locations of Seizures in the Brain, Aiding Neurosurgeons
Friday, May 9, 2025
- Researchers Map 7,000-Year-Old Genetic Mutation That Protects Against HIV
- Fatty Liver in Pregnancy May Increase Risk of Preterm Birth
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Monday, May 5, 2025
- Evidence Review Raises Concern About Cannabis Use in Pregnancy
- Study Finds One Protein That Mitigates Huntington's Disease, and One That Exacerbates It
- How Individuals Grasp an Object May Offer Simpler Diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Certain Traits in Romantic Partners Can Amplify the Impact of a Person's Genetic Risk for Alcohol Problems
- How Is Handedness Linked to Neurological Disorders?
- Teens With Mental Health Conditions Use Social Media Differently Than Their Peers, Study Suggests
Friday, May 2, 2025
- The All-Female Korean Haenyeo Divers Show Genetic Adaptions to Cold Water Diving
- Scientists Engineer Precision Tool for Mitochondrial DNA Manipulation
Thursday, May 1, 2025
- Is your Heart Aging Too Fast?
- A Digestive 'treasure Chest' Shows Promise for Targeted Drug Treatment in the Gut
- Link Between Mental Health and Personality Traits Uncovered
- Designer Microbe Shows Promise for Reducing Mercury Absorption from Seafood