May 22, 2026

Health News

Top Health News — ScienceDaily Top stories featured on ScienceDaily’s Health & Medicine, Mind & Brain, and Living Well sections.

  • Scientists uncover cancer-causing chemicals hidden in everyday foods
    on May 22, 2026 at 2:46 pm

    Scientists have identified potentially cancer-causing chemicals hiding in many everyday foods, especially those exposed to high heat cooking methods like grilling, roasting, smoking, and frying. The compounds, known as PAHs, can form during cooking or enter foods through contamination, raising concerns about long-term health risks.

  • Surprising study finds beef doesn’t worsen blood sugar or diabetes risk
    on May 22, 2026 at 2:39 pm

    A new clinical trial suggests that eating beef every day may not be as risky for people with prediabetes as many assume. Researchers found that adults who ate 6–7 ounces of beef daily for a month showed no worsening in blood sugar control, insulin function, inflammation, or other key markers linked to type 2 diabetes when compared to people eating poultry instead.

  • Scientists warn that current vitamin B12 guidelines may be putting your brain at risk
    on May 22, 2026 at 12:33 pm

    Getting enough vitamin B12 to meet current health guidelines may not actually be enough to protect the aging brain. Researchers at UC San Francisco found that older adults with “normal” but lower levels of active B12 showed signs of slower thinking, delayed visual processing, and more damage to the brain’s white matter — the communication highways that help different brain regions work together.

  • Scientists discover simple way to relieve arthritis pain without pills or surgery
    on May 22, 2026 at 11:07 am

    A surprisingly simple walking tweak may offer new hope for millions living with knee osteoarthritis. In a year-long clinical trial, researchers found that slightly changing the angle of a person’s foot while walking reduced knee pain as effectively as common medications — and even slowed cartilage damage inside the joint.

  • Popular weight loss drugs like Wegovy may also target arthritis inflammation
    on May 22, 2026 at 6:12 am

    Researchers have discovered that the GLP-1 hormone targeted by drugs like Wegovy is present in very low amounts inside the joints of arthritis patients. That finding suggests high-dose GLP-1 medications could potentially reach the joints and influence inflammation directly, not just help through weight loss. Scientists say this could open the door to a completely new approach to arthritis treatment.

  • “Zombie cells” aren’t always bad and that could transform anti-aging medicine
    on May 22, 2026 at 4:28 am

    Scientists are uncovering a surprising truth about aging cells: some may damage the body, while others help protect it. The discovery is fueling a new wave of precision anti-aging therapies aimed at removing only the harmful “zombie” cells without disrupting the body’s natural repair systems.

  • Scientists discover a two-stage aging process that may cause cancer and arthritis
    on May 22, 2026 at 1:00 am

    A new theory suggests many age-related diseases may actually start decades before symptoms appear. Researchers say early-life damage — from infections, injuries, or genetic mutations — can remain hidden until aging weakens the body’s ability to keep it under control. This could explain why conditions like cancer, osteoarthritis, and shingles suddenly emerge later in life.

  • Think you’re bad at languages? Experts say these 5 myths are to blame
    on May 22, 2026 at 12:14 am

    Many people avoid learning a new language because they remember stressful grammar lessons or fear making mistakes. But language experts say communication, culture, and connection matter far more than perfection. Modern apps, entertainment, travel, and online communities have made learning easier, more social, and surprisingly fun.

  • Childhood junk food may rewire the brain for life
    on May 21, 2026 at 1:31 pm

    Eating too much junk food early in life may rewire the brain in ways that last into adulthood, even after switching to a healthier diet. Scientists found that high-fat, high-sugar diets changed feeding behavior and disrupted appetite-control regions in the brain. Excitingly, certain gut-friendly bacteria and prebiotic fibers appeared to help undo some of the damage.

  • Popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic slash heart attack and stroke risk
    on May 21, 2026 at 1:02 pm

    A huge international review found that GLP-1 weight-loss drugs significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and premature death over the long term. Researchers say these medications could become a major weapon against cardiovascular disease — not just obesity and diabetes.