Body and Mind

Researchers have uncovered a gut-diet link to postpartum depression, finding that eating a diet of soy, fermented foods, and seaweed may nurture beneficial gut bacteria and protect mothers’ mental health.

When scientists study obesity, it's often focused on genetics, physical activity and poor eating habits. However, new findings show that stress, hardship, isolation and social inequality create the biological environment that underpins the epidemic.

Signs of immune system aging appear years before rheumatoid arthritis takes hold, offering new hope for early diagnosis and treatments that could slow or stop the disease before it starts, according to new research.

Large weight swings or weight loss in later life aren’t just physical health risks, they’re tied to fast memory and cognitive decline, a new study has found. It underscores the importance of weight stability for brain health in older adults.

A new drug candidate could become a first-in-class medication, after impressive results in a mid-stage clinical trial for drug-resistant epilepsy. It now moves to Phase 3 trials, raising hope for people who suffer seizures despite being on medication.

A centuries-old samurai etiquette practice may hold the key to stronger legs in just five minutes a day, with a new study finding that "Rei-ho" squats can boost knee strength by 26% and may help older adults stay independent.

A weekend of burgers, fries and hot dogs will probably have you thinking more about your waistline than your brain, but a new study has found that just a few days eating high-fat foods is enough to rewire your memory hub. But the damage can be undone.

Stress during pregnancy may rewire a baby’s brain for anxiety, a new study found. Adverse prenatal environments change how neurons in the hippocampus develop, leaving offspring more sensitive to threats in adulthood.

While scientists are amassing a fair amount of data regarding our gut microbiomes, the oral microbiome is a bit of a new frontier. Case in point: researchers have just discovered huge pieces of DNA there that they never knew existed.

A study has found people living with chronic pain tend to be more perfectionistic, less self-compassionate and – depending on the measure – less confident in their ability to cope. These traits may intensify suffering, but also point to new avenues for relief.

People who eat high ultra-processed diets have a specific elevated health marker that's a telltale sign of chronic inflammation – even without any symptoms. This inflammation is a slow burn, contributing to diseases likes heart conditions and diabetes.

New research shows cannabis can speed up egg maturation but at the cost of egg quality, increasing the risk of abnormal embryos. Fertility experts say even occasional use may compromise IVF success and pregnancy chances.

A squishy cartilage-like material has been developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge. It can be loaded up with either long-term or short-term pain killers that are released when the material senses chemical stress from arthritis.

Australia's embattled koalas have been given some good news for once, with the approval of the world's first chlamydia vaccine. More than a decade in the making, a single jab will now protect koalas from the disease decimating their populations.

In a landmark move, the FDA has given biotech company eGenesis the go-ahead to conduct a wider trial of pig-to-human kidney transplants, marking a significant step forward in addressing the critical organ shortage now facing thousands of Americans.