Common heart drug taken by millions found useless, possibly risky

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 risks when taking the drug. Experts say the results will change heart treatment guidelines worldwide.

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Lithium deficiency may be the hidden spark behind Alzheimer’s

Harvard scientists have uncovered that lithium, a naturally occurring element in the brain, may be the missing piece in understanding Alzheimer’s. Their decade-long research shows that lithium depletion—caused by amyloid plaques binding to it—triggers early brain changes that lead to memory loss. By testing new lithium compounds that evade plaque capture, they reversed Alzheimer’s-like damage and restored memory in mice at doses far lower than those used in psychiatric treatments.

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The surprising reason x-rays can push arthritis patients toward surgery

Knee osteoarthritis is a major cause of pain and disability, but routine X-rays often do more harm than good. New research shows that being shown an X-ray can increase anxiety, make people fear exercise, and lead them to believe surgery is the only option, even when less invasive treatments could help. By focusing on clinical diagnosis instead, patients may avoid unnecessary scans, reduce health costs, and make better choices about their care.

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Scientists uncover sugar pathway driving aggressive childhood cancer

Scientists have uncovered a hidden weakness in one of the deadliest childhood cancers. The tumors, which spread quickly and are notoriously hard to treat, rely on a sugar-processing pathway to survive and grow. By blocking this pathway, researchers were able to slow down the cancer and make it more vulnerable to treatment. This breakthrough opens the door to new therapies for children and young adults facing a disease with very few options today.

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A new cancer vaccine just wiped out tumors in mice

A breakthrough mRNA cancer vaccine has shown the ability to supercharge the effects of immunotherapy in mice, sparking hope for a universal “off-the-shelf” treatment that could fight multiple cancers. Unlike traditional vaccines designed to target specific tumor proteins, this approach simply revs up the immune system as if it were fighting a virus. The results were dramatic—when paired with checkpoint inhibitors, tumors shrank, and in some cases, the vaccine alone wiped them out.

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Trojan horse bacteria sneak cancer-killing viruses into tumors

Scientists have engineered a groundbreaking cancer treatment that uses bacteria to smuggle viruses directly into tumors, bypassing the immune system and delivering a powerful one-two punch against cancer cells. The bacteria act like Trojan horses, carrying viral payloads to cancer’s core, where the virus can spread and destroy malignant cells. Built-in safety features ensure the virus can’t multiply outside the tumor, offering a promising pathway for safe, targeted therapy.

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Starving tumors makes cancer treatment work better

Pancreatic cancer cells are known for being hard to treat, partly because they change the environment around them to block drugs and immune cells. Scientists discovered that these tumors use a scavenging process—called macropinocytosis—to pull nutrients from nearby tissue and keep growing. By blocking this process in mice, researchers were able to change the tumor’s environment, making it softer, less dense, and easier for immune cells and therapies to reach.

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Perfectly timed cancer combo wipes out tumors by supercharging the immune system

Head and neck cancer, notoriously hard to treat, might have a new weakness—timing. Researchers discovered that syncing radiation and immunotherapy in just the right way can make tumors disappear in mice. By protecting the body’s immune system hubs, they’ve unlocked a potentially powerful method to fight aggressive cancers more effectively. Clinical trials are already underway, hinting at a new era in cancer treatment.

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Breakthrough lung cancer treatment supercharges immune cells with mitochondria

Scientists have found a way to supercharge lung cancer treatment by transplanting healthy mitochondria into tumors, which both boosts immune response and makes chemotherapy far more effective. By combining this novel method with cisplatin, researchers reversed harmful tumor metabolism and empowered immune cells to fight back, all without added toxicity.

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This vaccine uses dental floss instead of needles

Scientists have discovered that flossing between your teeth could one day help vaccinate you. By targeting a uniquely permeable gum tissue called the junctional epithelium, this new method stimulates immunity right where many infections enter: the mouth, nose, and lungs. Using dental floss on mice to apply a flu vaccine triggered a robust immune response—better than existing oral approaches and comparable to nasal vaccines, but without the risks. It even worked with mRNA and protein-based vaccines.

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