News for Healthier Living

Bridging the Brain and Behavior in Psychiatric Research

Habits are behaviors that, once established, run on autopilot and are notoriously difficult to break. Christopher Pittenger, MD, PhD, became interested in how we establish habits while he was a graduate student.

December 3, 2025

December 4 2025

• Shredded Cheese Recalled Over Possible Metal Fragments, FDA Says
• CDC Panel May Change Longtime Rule on Hepatitis B Shots for Newborns
• Millions of Abbott Glucose Sensors Recalled After Faulty Readings Linked to Deaths
• Fourth FDA Drug Chief This Year Steps Down, Raising Stability Concerns
• Who Are The Loneliest Americans?
• People With Diabetes Face Dramatically Higher Odds Of Sudden Cardiac Death
• Poor Kidney Health Might Influence Dementia, Alzheimer's Risk
• Background AI Scribe Can Help Doctors During Patient Visits
• 1 In 8 Teens Show Signs Of Hearing Loss, Study Says
• Should You Know Whether You Have Dense Breasts? Maybe Not, Experts Argue
• Researchers Identify Bacterial Enzyme that can Cause Fatal Heart Conditions with Pneumonia Infections
• Energy-Efficient Process Delivers Rare-Earth Element for Magnets
• Hackensack Meridian JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute Leads Nationwide Study Using Teletherapy to Improve Emotional Health After Brain Injury Among Military Members and Civilians
• American Cancer Society Updates Cervical Cancer Screening Guideline: Major Changes Include Self-Collection for HPV Testing and Guidance on Exiting Screening
• Research Explores Effect of Parental Depression Symptoms on Children's Reward Processing
• Nature Communications Publishes Discovery that Could Transform Prostate Cancer Treatment
• Marriage, Emotional Support May Protect Against Obesity Through Brain-Gut Connection, Study Finds

December 3 2025

• Research Reveals How Disordered Protein Regions Contribute to Cancer-Causing Condensates
• Researchers Identify Target to Overcome Treatment Resistance in Preclinical Models of KRAS-Mutant Cancers
• The Medical Minute: Latest Scoliosis Treatments Help Patients Stand Straighter
• Experimental Drug Repairs DNA Damage Caused by Disease
• Valve Trials Validate Better Ways of Fixing a Malfunctioning Heart
• Alternative Sweetener Sorbitol Linked to Liver Disease
• Two Beams, One Detector, Most Precise Search for 'Sterile' Neutrinos
• Researchers Define Unique, Soft Tissue Benign Tumor with Bony Shell That May Previously Have Been Mistaken as Malignant
• Roads, Development Disrupt Movement of Young Mountain Lions in California
• Meet Benjamin Judson, New Chair of the Yale Department of Surgery
• U.S. Skips World AIDS Day for the First Time in 37 Years
• Poor Kidney Health Linked to Higher Levels of Alzheimer's Biomarkers in Blood
• Chikungunya and Dengue Outbreak in Cuba Has Left 33 Dead, Officials Say
• Shingles Vaccine May Help Slow Dementia, New Study Finds
• White House Says Trump’s Imaging Looks Normal; Doctors Question the Testing
• A Common Scan Can Prevent Face Damage From Cosmetic Fillers
• Hallucinogens Linked To Mania, Bipolar Disorder
• Body Shaming, Outdated Ideals Increase Injury Risk Among Female Athletes, Olympics Committee Says
• Asthma More Common Among Kids Whose Moms Have Eating Disorders
• Common Painkillers Trick Doctors Into Misdiagnosing Heart Failure, Study Warns
• Statewide Analysis Quantifies Life-Saving Potential of Stop the Bleed
• Mental Health Conditions May Heighten Liver Cancer Risk in Veterans Due to Increased Hepatitis C, UCLA Study Finds
• Brain Markers Could Yield Early Clues into Parkinson's Disease
• Women Who Receive Mammograms Also Undergo Lung Scans if Notified of Eligibility
• Does Mental Illness Have a Silver Lining? New Research Says Yes
• Bridging the Brain and Behavior in Psychiatric Research
• New Study Uncovers How Cancer Cells Tolerate Missing Chromosomes
• New Study Finds Mango May be Key to Supporting Weight Management and Blood Sugar
• Antibiotics Could Trigger Immune Response Through Gut Microbiome Metabolites
• Sneaky Senescent Cells That Resist Cancer Treatment Can Provide Druggable Lung Cancer Target

December 2 2025

• Study Provides Comprehensive Insights Into DNA Language Models
• Partnering for Better Health on L.A. Streets
• Evidence Lacking for Medical Cannabis in Most Conditions
• Long-Term Antidepressant Use Surges in Australia, Sparking Warnings of Overprescribing
• SHRO's Giordano Joins Press Briefing on Health System Access for Italians Living Abroad
• Small Team, Big Impact: Automation Helps Relieve Symptoms to Keep Cancer Patients Out of the ER
• Why Undisturbed Sleep Is Important to Brain Injury Recovery
• Fred Hutch at ASH: Expanding CAR-T access, AML treatment strategies, climate and cancer -- and ASH lifetime achievement award
• COVID-19 Pandemic Linked to Increases in Childhood Obesity
• When Seizures Stop the Heart: The Challenge of Identifying and Managing Ictal Asystole
• Roswell Park-Led Clinical Trial Paves Way for FDA Approval of Targeted Drug for Aggressive Leukemia
• Mount Sinai Obstetricians First in New York City to Use FDA-Approved AI Tool That Enhances Fetal Screenings for Congenital Heart Defects
• The Elf on the Shelf Brings Holiday Cheer to Johns Hopkins Children's Center Patients
• Small Trial Shows Patients Controlled HIV Without Daily Meds For Months
• FDA Memo Claims COVID Vaccine Tied to 10 Child Deaths
• Britain Takes Even Bigger Bite Out of Sugar With Milk Drink Tax
• WHO Issues First Guidance on Using GLP-1 Drugs to Treat Obesity
• Making Quieter Dental Drills to Reduce Dental Anxiety
• Up to 1 in 4 Breast Cancers Occur in Women Under 50, Study Shows
• Obesity Could Speed Alzheimer's Progression, Study Suggests
• Men's Beer Bellies Could Pose Special Risk to Heart
• Quick Treatment of Head Injury Lowers Alzheimer's Risk
• Science Explains Why You Wince When Watching Another's Pain
• AOB Pharma Receives European Medicines Agency (EMA) Positive Decision on the Pediatric Investigation Plan (PIP), Supporting Future Development of B244 for the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Atopic Derm
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Researchers Identify Potential Therapeutic Target for Mucosal Healing in Eosinophilic Esophagitis
• Scrolling for Sleep: The Social Media Trends Impacting Americans' Sleep Habits
• New Research Discovers Dementia-Linked Protein's Role in DNA Mistakes
• Rutgers Cancer Institute and RWJBarnabas Health to Showcase Practice-Changing Blood Cancer Research at the 67th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition
• Rutgers Cancer Institute and RWJBarnabas Health to Showcase Practice-Changing Blood Cancer Research at the 67th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition

December 1 2025

• Scientists Can Finally Answer an Old Question About Cellular Aging
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Researchers Show How Circadian Rhythms Help Boost Infection Recovery
• Study Shows Quitting Smoking Completely Is Best Way to Protect Your Health
• Penn Medicine at the 2025 ASH Annual Meeting
• DNA Transcription Is a Tightly Choreographed Event - A New Study Reveals How It Is Choreographed
• Presurgical Vaccine May Prevent Orthopedic Device Infections
• Research Reveals Structural Mechanism Behind Anti-Epilepsy Therapies
• Sylvester Researchers Lead Major Treatment Overhauls for Acute Myeloid Leukemia
• Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals from Plastics Shown to Promote a Chronic Inflammatory Skin Condition
• UTEP Researcher Finds Potential New Treatment for Aggressive Ovarian Cancer
• Corticosteroid Use Does Not Appear to Increase Infectious Complications in Non-COVID-19 Pneumonia
• Physician Outlines Best Practices and Resources for Addressing Gun Violence with Patients
• Baby Steps to Ease Chronic Back Pain
• FDA Tells Consumers to Toss 19 Cookware Items That May Contain Lead
• Global Measles Cases Surge as Vaccination Rates Fall, WHO Warns
• FDA Pulls Plan to Require Asbestos Testing in Talc-Based Cosmetics
• CDC Names Ralph Abraham as Second-in-Command Despite Vaccine Controversy
• Tea, Coffee, Nuts, Berries: All Good for Your Heart
• Tai Chi Might Equal Talk Therapy in Easing Insomnia
• Famous Singers Die 4 Years Earlier Than Non-famous, Study Shows
• Cognitive Decline Can Show Up Early in Driving Patterns
• Brain's 'Waste Disposal' Impaired in Pro Fighters
• Monthly Injection Could Free People With Severe Asthma From Steroids
• Drug That Costs as Little as 50 Cents Per Day Could Save Hospitals Thousands, McMaster Study Finds
• New Program to Support Healthier Pregnancies, Safer Homes for Indianapolis Families
• JMIR Publications' News & Perspectives Unveils Future of Patient Care: Smart Implants Transforming Surgery and Beyond
• Mayo Clinic Researchers Develop 3D Scanning Approach for Ultra-Precise Brain Surgery
• One in Eight Adolescents Shows Signs of Hearing Damage by Age 18
• Bridging Controversy: New International Guidelines Redefine Diagnosis and Treatment of Fungal Eye Infections
• What to Know About Infant Botulism
• Turning Light Into Insight: New Mouse Model Unlocks Mysteries of Non-Visual Photoreception
• Breaking the Heart's Barrier to Solve Drug-Resistant TB
• Avoidable Cancellation of Knee Replacement Operations Costs NHS Millions and Increases Waiting Times
• BRIDGE-ICU Workflow Associated With Reduced Nonbeneficial ICU Care
• December 2025 Issue of Neurosurgical Focus: "Open Surgical Management of Cerebral Aneurysms: Indications and Technique"

November 30 2025

• City Raccoons Showing Signs of Domestication

November 29 2025

• Mapping the Exposome: Science Broadens Focus to Environmental Disease Triggers

November 28 2025

• Inflammation and Metabolic Stress Combine to Drive a New Cell Death Pathway: Mitoxyperilysis
• Steep Rise in Alcohol-Related Liver Disease Contributing to "Deaths of Despair" Phenomenon--While Impacting Nearly All Demographic Groups
• Negative Consequences Do Not Deter Young Adults from Using Alcohol and Cannabis Together, Study Finds
• Reducing Alcohol Use May Reduce Falls Risk in People with Mild Cognitive Impairment
• Autonomy and Intrinsic Sense of Control Linked to Drinking Behaviors and Alcohol Consequences, Suggesting Opportunities For Targeted Harm Reduction
• Rethinking Pain: How Pulling Back and Forth the Subcutaneous Tissue Restores Blood Flow and Eases Chronic Pain

November 27 2025

• Study: New Protocol for Treg Expansion Uses Targeted Immunotherapy to Reduce Transplant Complications
• Enhancing the Health Benefits of Poria Cocos: High-Pressure Microfluidization Optimizes Polysaccharide Extraction and Functional Properties
• Tea Consumption: A Double-Edged Sword with Health Benefits and Concerns
• AI-Inspired Texture Analysis Detects "Silent" Retinal Damage in Early Diabetes

November 26 2025

• What Is Dravet Syndrome?
• From Crisis to Cascading Disaster: Invisibility, False Narratives, Societal Inaction Drive Silently Worsening U.S. Latino HIV Epidemic
• UTHealth Houston Fetoscopic Spina Bifida Trial Receives NIH Funding to Evaluate Long-Term Efficacy of the Treatment
• How the Brain Decides What to Remember
• High Risk of Metastatic Recurrence Among Young Cancer Patients
• Glioblastoma Clinical Trial: Focused Ultrasound Blood-Brain Barrier Opening is Safe, Provides Possible Survival Benefit
• Mayo Clinic Researchers Identify Why Some Lung Tumors Respond Well to Immunotherapy
• Can Your Driving Patterns Predict Cognitive Decline?
• One Week Less on Social Media Linked to Better Mental Health
• Your Brain Changes in Stages as You Age, Study Finds
• Some Suicide Victims Show No Typical Warning Signs, Study Finds
• ByHeart Formula Faces Lawsuits After Babies Sickened With Botulism
• Switch to Vegan Diet Could Cut Your Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Half
• Regular Bedtime Does Wonders for Blood Pressure
• Dining Alone Could Mean Worse Nutrition for Seniors
• Heat Waves Can Be Deadly for Seniors With Diabetes, Heart Disease
• Family Doctor Shortages in Rural America Are Getting Worse
• Pesticides Endanger People's Good Gut Microbes
• Data-Driven Surgical Supply Lists Can Reduce Hospital Cost and Waste
• Kitchen Fires Most Prevalent on Thanksgiving Day
• Enantioselective Maternal Transfer of Pesticide Metabolite and Its Thyroid Effects
• UCLA Study Finds AI Scribes May Reduce Documentation Time and Improve Physician Well-Being
• New Insights Into Jaw Growth in Infants with Robin Sequence
• Sub-Chronic Exposure to Ambient Ozone Induced Liver and Lung Damage: Raveled by Lung-Liver Axis
• Experimental mRNA Therapy Shows Potential to Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Infections

November 25 2025

• New Study Shows Why Some Minds Can't Switch Off at Night
• Mount Sinai Dermatologist Reports Phase 3 Success for Rocatinlimab in Moderate-to-Severe Eczema
• Younger People Are Increasingly Diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Why Do Some Lung Transplant Patients Face Higher Rejection Risk?
• Study Identifies Target for Disease Hyper Progression After Immunotherapy in Kidney Cancer
• HER2-Targeted Therapy Shows Promising Results in Rare Bile Duct Cancers
• A Child's Health Journey with Hyperinsulinism
• New Study Links Immediate Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injuries to Lower Risk for Alzheimer's Disease
• Why Certain Arthritis Drugs Don't Work in Rheumatoid Arthritis
• RWJBarnabas Health on Navigating the Holiday Blues and Supporting Mental Well-Being This Season
• UNC Scientists Discover How a Critical Signaling Step Works Inside Cells
• RWJBarnabas Health on Helping Kids Manage Diabetes During Diabetes Awareness Month
• Most Preschoolers Aren’t Getting Enough Daily Exercise, Study Finds
• How to Enjoy Holiday Meals Without Feeling Stuffed All Day
• Pill Form of Semaglutide Fails to Slow Alzheimer's in Large Trial
• New Female Crash Dummy Aims to Make Cars Safer for Women
• GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drug in Pill Form Shows Promise in Trial
• Untreated Sleep Apnea Could Greatly Raise Odds for Parkinson's
• Most Americans Believe Obesity Is A Disease That Deserves Insurance Coverage, Poll Finds
• Quitting a GLP-1 Before Pregnancy Linked to Higher Weight Gain, Complications
• Your Butt's Shape Might Predict Frailty, Diabetes Risk
• Want a Younger Brain? Keep the Muscle, Shed the Fat
• Study Suggests Many Men May Not Need Long-Term Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer
• Becker's Hospital Review Names RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute to 2025 "100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs" List
• Becker's Hospital Review Names RWJBarnabas Health to 2025 "100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Orthopedic Programs" List
• New Study Identifies Key Mechanism Driving HIV-Associated Immune Suppression
• Is Malaria Messaging Working? African Biostatisticians Have the Data
• Understanding Hernia Care: Why Choosing the Right Surgeon Matters
• Thyroid Dysfunction During Pregnancy May Increase Autism Risk in Children
• Don't Let Holiday Meals Spoil the Celebration: Expert Food Safety Tips
• University of Portsmouth Study Sheds Light on Why Tendons Are Prone to Injury

November 24 2025

• Faculty Excellence Draws Nation's Chief Nurse to Rutgers
• Many Who Die by Suicide Aren't Depressed, Genetic Research Suggests
• Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center Care Award Winner Marc Junchaya, BSN, RN
• Why Monkey Studies May Mislead Research on Cancer Immunotherapy Drugs Targeting TIGIT
• DNA Shape and Rigidity Regulate Key Players of Gene Expression
• Scientists Get Detailed Look at Part of a Cellular 'Stress' Warning Protein
• Genetic Study Links Impulsive Decision Making to a Wide Range of Health and Psychiatric Risks
• When You Have Cataracts and Glaucoma
• November Spotlight: Understanding and Preventing Diabetes
• Clinical Trial Using Focused Ultrasound with Chemotherapy Finds Potential Survival Benefit for Brain Cancer Patients
• Having a Dispensary in Your Neighborhood Could Be Harmful to Your Health
• ACP Says Managed Care Strategies Should Focus on Improving Health Outcomes
• EHR-Linked Patient Intervention with Clinical Training and Patient Outreach Increases Advanced Care Planning
• Mount Sinai Scientists Reverse Aging in Blood Stem Cells by Targeting Lysosomal Dysfunction
• From Diagnosis to Hope: A Husband and Wife's Journey Through Consecutive Cancer Diagnoses
• How Citrullination of CAMP Contributes to IBD: A New Mechanism of Immune Dysfunction
• Twin Sisters Cheese Recall Linked to E. Coli Infections
• Washington Patient Dies After Rare Bird Flu Infection
• JFK’s Granddaughter Shares Terminal Cancer Diagnosis in New Personal Essay
• Eli Lilly Becomes First Trillion-Dollar Health Company
• Catheter-Free Approach to VUR Testing Shows Early Feasibility
• 'Zap-and-Freeze' Technique Successfully Used to Watch Human Brain Cell Communication
• A Root Canal's Hidden Beneficiary: The Heart
• Could CBD in Cannabis Help Protect the Livers of Heavy Drinkers?
• Could Ultra-Processed Foods Trigger Overeating in Teens?
• Under Current Guidelines, Most Lung Cancer Patients Weren't Eligible for Cancer Screening
• Staying Slim: What’s More Effective, Exercise or Healthy Eating?
• GLP-1 Drug May Offer Short-Term Control of Obsessive Food Cravings
• One in Two People in the U.S. Is Affected by a Neurological Disease or Disorder
• Microprotein Plays Vital Role in Fat Accumulation
• Not All Immune Cells Are Created Equal
• GEMMABio Announces Clinical Trial Authorization for New SMA1 Gene Therapy
• Prebiotic in Diet Linked to Less Impulsivity in Gambling Rats with TBI
• Another Critical Reason to Prevent and Control Diabetes: It Is a Top Cause of Chronic Kidney Disease
• New Study Reveals That Differences Between Parent and Child Views Best Assess Quality of Life After Pediatric Liver Transplant
• Most Preschoolers Failing to Meet Daily Physical Activity Guidelines, Study Suggests
• Novel Liver Cancer Vaccine Achieves Responses in Rare Disease Affecting Children and Young Adults
• Inspired by a Family's Struggle, a Scientist Helps Uncover Defense Against Alzheimer's Disease
• New Artificial Intelligence Model Could Speed Rare Disease Diagnosis
• For Rutgers Health's First Chancellor, Mentoring Was the Mission

November 23 2025

• Holiday Tips To Keep Allergies and Asthma Under Control

November 22 2025

• Can Screen Time Help Kids Stay Healthy? New Research Says Yes

November 21 2025

• Nasal Drops Fight Brain Tumors Noninvasively
• Researchers Highlight Genetic Factors in Pediatric Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors
• Celebrate This Holiday Season Safely With Tips From the Poison Control Center
• Sylvester Cancer Tip Sheet for November 2025
• Faxes? Really? AI System Speeds Up New Patient Process
• New Approach Could Make Gene-Editing Treatments Faster and Cheaper
• New Trial Shows Pfizer’s mRNA Flu Shot Beats Traditional Flu Vaccine
• Health Experts Alarmed After CDC Revises Autism Webpage
• Recalled Baby Formula Still on Store Shelves as Botulism Cases Rise
• Immune cells 'caught in the act' could spur earlier detection and prevention of Type 1 Diabetes
• Current Heart Attack Screening Tools Are Not Optimal and Fail to Identify Half the People Who Are at Risk
• LJI Scientists Discover How T Cells Transform to Defend Our Organs
• Most People Aren't Aware Of Genetic Risk For Dangerously High Cholesterol
• Popularity of Psilocybin, Psychedelics Hasn't Increased ER Visits
• Three Times As Many Lung Cancer Deaths Could Be Prevented With One Simple Step
• Compensation Claims More Frequently Rejected For Families Of Black Murder Victims
• Common Health Problems Of Old Age Pose More Danger Following Major Surgery, Experts Say
• Obesity No Barrier For Shoulder Replacement Surgery, Study Finds
• Scientists Uncover How COVID-19 Variants Outsmart the Immune System
• Mechanical Forces Are Key to Embryonic Self-Organization
• Landmark Mayo Clinic Study Finds Stenting Reduces Stroke Risk in People with Carotid Artery Narrowing
• AI Helps Cancer Patients Better Understand CT Reports
• New CAR T Strategy Targets Most Common Form of Heart Disease
• Decreased Neurotensin Induces Ovulatory Dysfunction via the NTSR1/ERK/EGR1 Axis in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
• Suboptimal Reporting of Randomized Controlled Trials on Non-Pharmacological Therapies in Chinese Medicine

November 20 2025

• Shine On: A Holiday Gift Guide for Breast Cancer Thrivers
• Underlying cause of Gulf War illness confirmed in UTSW study
• MD Anderson Shares Latest Research Breakthroughs
• AI's Double-Edged Impact on Neurological Care: A Tool for Innovation or a Source of Bias?
• Aged Blood Vessel Cells Drive Metabolic Diseases
• Researchers Identify Rare Mutation That Predicts Strong Immunotherapy Response in Colorectal Cancer
• New Study Shows Lung Cancer Surveillance in the United States Misses Most Patients; Northwestern Medicine Researchers Urge Universal Age-Based Screening
• New Flu Variant Could Bring Another Severe U.S. Season
• Nearly Half of Americans Fear They Can’t Afford Care in 2026, Poll Finds
• Whooping Cough Surges Nationwide as Vaccinations Fall
• Scientists Say Kissing Began Long Before Humans Existed
• Subverting Plasmids To Combat Antibiotic Resistance
• Want A Happier Hospital? Hire More Nurses, Study Says
• Buprenorphine Lowers Opioid OD Risk, But Only If Taken As Directed Long-Term
• Head CT Scan Use Has Doubled In U.S. ERs
• U.S. Making No Progress In Protecting Pregnancy Health, March Of Dimes Report Card Says
• Plasma Treatment Shows Promise For Menopause Symptoms Among Breast Cancer Survivors
• Advanced Drugs Should Be Used First In Crohn's Disease, New Guidelines Suggest
• Developing Dehydration and Other Age-Related Conditions Following Major Surgery Linked to Dramatically Worse Outcomes for Older Adults
• AI Psychosis Risk: LLMs Fail to Challenge Delusions, Experts Warn
• Gordon Bell Finalist Team Pushes Scale of Rocket Simulation on El Capitan
• Discovering America's 'Epilepsy Belt': First-of-Its-Kind National Study Reveals US Regions with High Epilepsy Rates Among Older Adults
• University Hospitals Approved as a US Site - and the Only Site in Ohio - to Administer Breakthrough Treatment Lantidra for Type 1 Diabetes
• Mayo Clinic Physicians Map Patients' Brain Waves to Personalize Epilepsy Treatment
• Daily Oral GLP-1 Pill Exhibits Promising Results in Treatment Options for Adults with Diabetes and Obesity in Trial Led by UTHealth Houston Researcher
• Worried About Health Insurance for 2026? Read This
• Toward a Cervical Cancer-Free Future: Cancer Biology & Medicine Highlights Science, Policy, and Equity