A new study by Mass General Brigham researchers shows that a longer duration Food Is Medicine program associated with improved adult cardiometabolic health. Participants who received weekly plant-based grocery packages for 2.7 years showed dose-dependent reductions in diastolic blood pressure, body weight, and BMI.
A retrospective cohort study found that only half of Medicaid-enrolled youths with opioid use disorder begin treatment, with significant gaps in care, particularly for younger adolescents and racially minoritized youths. The study highlights the need for improved quality and equity in youth opioid use disorder care.
Researchers developed a mathematical model to understand how the tumor microenvironment affects cancer therapy. The model suggests strategies to
Researchers discovered that moderate-intensity exercise significantly improved cartilage health and tissue resilience in aging-related osteoarthritis. The molecular cargo of extracellular vesicles was found to be enriched with microRNA-29, which restored youthful characteristics in cartilage cells and reduced joint degeneration features.
A new clinical practice guideline aims to standardize the identification and management of infants at increased risk for cerebral visual impairment (CVI). The guideline recommends comprehensive ophthalmologic evaluation and referral to developmental services within the first six months of life to access interventions as early as possible.
The 2026 World Medical Innovation Forum brought together 250+ leaders to discuss emerging treatments, AI, and scientific breakthroughs. Mass General Brigham's Chief Innovation Officer highlighted the forum's goal of accelerating innovation to improve patient care.
A retrospective analysis of 20,000 patient records found that patients receiving immunotherapy and multiple immunosuppressive therapies were at higher risk of severe infections. Treatment with multiple immunosuppressive therapies was associated with increased rates and severity of infection.
A Phase 1 clinical trial found that an investigational CAR-T therapy, anito-cel, led to high response rates and durable benefits in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Serious side effects were uncommon, and no delayed neurological complications were reported.
Researchers found that higher blood vessel density in tumors was associated with better survival, while certain vessel subtypes linked to angiogenesis were correlated with poorer outcomes. The study suggests that tumor vessel characteristics may serve as prognostic biomarkers for colorectal cancer.
A study found that children at high genetic risk of type 1 diabetes whose gut microbiome development plateaued early had three times the risk of developing the disease. The study also identified patterns of microbiome maturation and genetic influences on disease risk.
Researchers analyzed blood samples from 114 patients with MS and 21 healthy participants to track immune changes before relapse. They found increased EBV lytic activity in immune cells up to three months before MS relapse and discovered elevated expression of genes linked to MS risk.
The use of azithromycin for emergency c-sections significantly increased after trial results publication, with a corresponding decrease in postpartum infection rates. Postpartum infection rates declined from 9.2% to 8.0%, a 20% relative risk reduction.
Oben Health's AI-enabled platform brings preventive care to underserved communities through trusted community spaces. Malama Health's digital maternal health mobile app also receives recognition for its impact on maternal health outcomes.
A new study identified MC1R loss-of-function variants as markers of faster Parkinson's disease progression, with carriers experiencing 30-50% faster motor decline. The findings suggest a simple genetic test could improve prognostic assessment and clinical trial design for patients.
Researchers found associations between splenic features and coronary artery disease in a large dataset, suggesting new targets for prevention and treatment. The study used artificial intelligence and imaging scans to identify CAD-relevant splenic features, shedding light on novel mechanisms linking the spleen to heart disease.
Researchers report successful xenotransplantation of genetically edited pig kidney to patient with end-stage kidney disease, achieving longest dialysis-free survival of 271 days. The study highlights the potential of xenotransplantation as a bridge to human transplant, addressing the organ shortage crisis.
Researchers discovered a link between chronic pain and altered skull bone marrow activity, indicating a potential therapeutic target for this debilitating health problem. The study suggests that elevated translocator protein in skull bone marrow may be a key factor in chronic pain development.
A phase 2 clinical trial found that a less-intensive combination of azacitidine and venetoclax was more effective in treating acute myeloid leukemia, with patients tolerating treatment better and spending less time in the hospital. The combination also led to more patients reaching stem cell transplantation.
High-risk patients taking evolocumab had a 20% lower risk of death compared to those on placebo, according to a Mass General Brigham study. The study found that intensive LDL-C lowering with evolocumab was associated with lower risk of heart attack and stroke, as well as improved survival in high-risk patients without a prior CV event.
A clinical trial found that AZD5462, a new oral medication, was well-tolerated and improved cardiac remodeling and blood flow in patients with heart failure. The results suggest that AZD5462 may be a promising treatment option for patients with chronic heart failure.
A multicenter study found that early rasburicase treatment can significantly reduce the risk of dialysis and death in adults with tumor lysis syndrome. The study analyzed data from 1,276 patients and showed that early rasburicase treatment was associated with lower 90-day mortality and faster return to cancer therapy.
Researchers found a pattern of brain atrophy visible on MRI that can predict disease progression in people with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. This discovery could help clinicians identify patients likely to have a slower or faster disease course, supporting treatment and care planning.
New research from Mass General Brigham suggests that protecting the thymus during cancer therapy may improve outcomes. The study found that patients with unimpaired thymic health before radiotherapy had the most favorable outcomes, while those with higher radiation doses to the thymus had significantly worse overall survival.
A two-year study enrolling up to 300 participants on Martha's Vineyard will investigate who develops alpha-gal syndrome and why, as well as its impact on daily life and healthcare use. The study aims to identify immune and demographic factors that influence risk and inform diagnosis, prevention, and treatment approaches.
A study by Mass General Brigham, Boston University, and the Concussion & CTE Foundation found that at least 1-in-4 former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), with 61.3% of NFL donors with CTE meeting clinical criteria for dementia. The study also found that dementia was common among br...
A new study by Mass General Brigham researchers identifies dual specificity phosphatase 5 (Dusp5) and zinc finger protein 219 (Zfp219) as key regulators of T cell dysfunction in cancer. The findings suggest that blocking Zfp219 activity could be a promising approach to improving T cell function in older adults, potentially leading to b...
Consuming at least one sugar-sweetened beverage per day increases gastric cancer risk by over twice, while artificially sweetened beverages show no association. The study analyzed data from over 100,000 participants and found a significant link between high fructose intake and greater gastric cancer incidence.
A study by Mass General Brigham researchers found that preeclampsia, preterm birth, gestational diabetes, and other adverse outcomes were associated with greater social needs, such as inadequate food, employment, and education among Black and Latina women. Integrating social needs assessment into postpartum care could improve long-term...
A preclinical study suggests that restoring inhibitory neuron plasticity may reverse symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy. By boosting Meis2 expression in parvalbumin inhibitory neurons, the researchers restored experience-dependent plasticity and improved spatial and social memory.
A new study suggests that genetic testing added to routine newborn screening can identify babies at increased risk of developing cancer before symptoms appear. The study found pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in 132 children, nearly seven percent of the group, linked to pediatric cancer predisposition syndromes.
A study published in The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease found that patients with early Alzheimer's disease are often not adhering to brain health recommendations, including exercise and healthy eating. Most patients pursue anti-amyloid antibody therapy but still fall short of optimal brain health guidelines.
A study published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health reveals that mobile addiction services can effectively treat people who use drugs, particularly those disconnected from traditional care. The Mass General Brigham Kraft Center for Community Health model proved successful in improving outcomes and red...
Research reveals that patients' inherited genetic variants can impact the benefits and toxicity of CAR-T cell therapy for blood cancers. Variants in genes such as STXBP2, ADAMTSL3, and PTPN22 were found to correlate with treatment-related toxicity or enhanced therapeutic activity.
Researchers found that individuals with higher modifiable risk factors, such as high blood pressure and obesity, have more widespread plaque buildup and unstable plaques prone to rupture. The study's findings highlight the importance of early intervention to control these risk factors and prevent future events.
Researchers at Mass General Brigham have been awarded $25.8 million in ARPA-H funding to develop a scalable gene editing platform for treating rare genetic vascular diseases. The VESSEL program aims to create durable, potentially one-time treatments for severe genetic vasculopathies.
A study by Mass General Brigham found that nearly 1 in 3 US adults without heart disease have LDL levels above the recommended goal, and 3 in 4 are not receiving any cholesterol-lowering medication. The gap is wider among those with established heart disease, where most are already receiving therapy but still not reaching goals.
A phase 2 trial found that avatrombopag was safe and effective in managing persistent chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia, a common complication from cancer treatment. The oral drug helped 70% of patients with low platelet counts stay on their chemotherapy schedule, compared to 17% receiving placebo.
Researchers developed an advanced generative model called ALADYNOULLI to uncover underlying disease processes and predict individual outcomes. The model reduced complex patient histories into 21 reproducible 'latent' disease signatures, which were highly similar across datasets and reproduced known disease processes.
A blood-based test for the biomarker p-tau217 has been shown to predict the risk of developing cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease up to a decade earlier than previously thought. The study found that individuals with very high levels of p-tau217 had a 38% absolute risk of developing cognitive impairment over five years, and...
A new study found that a virtual smoking cessation treatment program nearly doubled quit rates for cancer patients who currently smoke. The program, delivered at community oncology care settings, was both cost-effective and satisfying for patients. Participants who completed more sessions had a higher likelihood of quitting.
New research has identified genetic mutations involved in congenital cerebral ventriculomegaly, a condition where brain fluid-filled ventricles swell due to hydrocephalus. The study links CCV to neurodevelopmental disorders and positions it as an early neuroimaging correlate of autism risk.
A cohort study of nearly 20,000 NFL players revealed that players are dying of dementia and Parkinson’s disease at much higher rates than the general population. The study found a fourfold increase in neurodegenerative mortality among NFL players compared to the general population.
Researchers propose a new standard, Human Fidelity, to measure the alignment of implantable brain devices with stakeholders' needs and expectations. The study identified five domains where gaps between devices and stakeholders exist, including Access and Uptake, Invasiveness, and Patient-Centered Outcomes.
A new study found that BCG vaccines can modify Alzheimer's biomarkers in non-Alzheimer's participants, suggesting a potential biological explanation for the observed link between BCG vaccination and lower disease risk. The vaccine also promoted increased immune responses in healthy participants without Alzheimer's pathology.
A team of researchers has identified a distinct blood protein pattern that can accurately diagnose pediatric inflammatory bowel disease and differentiate between its two main forms. The discovery, using proteomics technology, showed high accuracy in identifying IBD and distinguishing ulcerative colitis from Crohn's disease.
Researchers developed BRIDGE, a multilingual benchmark that assesses large language models' understanding of clinical patient-care text. The benchmark reveals significant gaps in LLM performance on real-world clinical tasks, particularly in nuanced clinical language.
A new study found that HPV-DeepSeek, an ultrasensitive blood test, can identify patients with HPV-associated head and neck cancer who may benefit from additional treatments. The test detected circulating tumor DNA in 98.1% of patients at diagnosis, significantly improving detection rates compared to existing methods.
A study published in Neuroepidemiology found that individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at a higher risk of dying from brain cancer compared to the general population. The research, which analyzed data from over 20,000 TBI patients, revealed that those with severe TBI were nearly 14 times more likely to die from brain cancer.
Researchers found that statin use was associated with a 24% lower risk of developing frailty in older adults. The study suggests that statins may offer an opportunity to reduce the risk of frailty and help people preserve their health and independence as they age.
A new oral GLP-1 medication, elecoglipron, has been shown to significantly reduce blood glucose levels and bodyweight in adults with type 2 diabetes. The study found that up to 89.6% of participants achieved an HbA1c level of 7%, while 72.3% experienced at least 5% weight reduction.