Vicarious touch is common than previously thought, with implications for empathy, ASMR and mental health

Up to 60% of congenital and early-onset hearing loss is caused by genetic mutations in an inherited gene, and gene therapy has recently emerged as a potential treatment option. To provide a standardized framework for conducting safe, high-quality clinical trials, a group of international experts has put together guidelines on the administration of gene therapy for hereditary hearing loss.

Scientists have known hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) as the enzyme that releases energy stored in our fat. Yet patients born without this protein do not become obese: on the contrary, they lose their adipose tissue, developing lipodystrophy with severe metabolic complications.

The United States continues to face a growing maternal health crisis. Despite being one of the most resource-rich nations in the world, America has the highest maternal mortality rate among wealthy countries and it's worsening. A 2025 report found that nearly half of U.S. counties lack a single obstetrician, midwife or birthing facility, creating what experts call "maternity care deserts."

A mutation previously linked to skin disorders like psoriasis may also play a surprising role in gut health, according to new research published by scientists at VIB-UGent and colleagues from UGent, the University of Barcelona, and University College London. This mutation activates skin immune responses but also affects the intestine.

Socializing could help to reverse frailty in older people, according to new research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

A new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows that images portraying dementia in Finnish newspapers often paint a clichéd and negative picture. The findings were published in the journal Age and Ageing.

Companies running private Medicare and Medicaid insurance plans inaccurately list many mental health professionals as being available to treat the plans' members, a new federal watchdog report says.

For decades, scientists have thought they understood the biochemical machinery that causes asthma—inflammation in the lungs that constricts airways and makes it hard to breathe.

Through the 1990s and early 2000s, guidelines for treating a concussion called for complete mental and physical rest. Current guidelines recommend a gradual resumption of cognitive and physical activity while consistently remaining engaged in typical daily activities as much as possible, but many clinicians are still following outdated guidelines and are advising patients to avoid sensory stimulation and activity following a concussion.

Liver disease is usually caused by one of three factors: alcohol consumption, fat buildup in the liver linked to obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol, or hepatitis B and C.

A new study from Saint Louis University (SLU) reveals that individuals with frequent heartburn—clinically known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)—have a higher chance of being diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD) within two years. Researchers are urging primary care providers to screen GERD patients for alcohol misuse during routine visits.

While news feeds and social media are abuzz with unproven claims about links between acetaminophen and autism in children, there are well-established concerns about the harmful effects of an overdose of the over-the-counter pain and fever medication.

A new potential antibody therapy strategy which restricts the growth of treatment-resistant breast cancers has been developed by scientists.

For millions of people living with back pain, the cause is often elusive. One underrecognized culprit is axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA)—a form of inflammatory arthritis that primarily affects the spine and sacroiliac joints of the hips. Left undiagnosed, axSpA can lead to chronic back pain, stiffness, reduced mobility, and diminished quality of life. On average, patients may suffer pain for eight to 12 years before receiving the correct diagnosis.

In the U.S. alone, more than 6.7 million people have heart failure, a number that is projected to increase to more than 8.5 million by 2030. Heart failure is a progressive condition in which the heart struggles to pump enough blood and oxygen to support the organs in the body.

Individuals who are physically fit may be better equipped to handle the negative effects of dehydration, according to research from the University of California, Riverside.

Neurons have dominated neuroscience research for decades, but a growing body of evidence suggests that a group of non-neuronal brain cells called glia may play an equal or greater role in shaping brain health and disease. The human brain contains as many glial cells as it does neurons, yet we know far less about their organization and how they might contribute to the unique functions of each brain area.

Randomized, controlled clinical trials are crucial for telling whether a new treatment is safe and effective. But often scientists don't fully report the details of their trials in a way that allows other researchers to gauge how well they designed and conducted those studies.