Health news summaries — Page 2
Essential facts and source links for recent health stories.
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Viking’s VK2735 study reports 22% adjusted weight loss and sustained results on less frequent dosing
Viking Therapeutics’ injectable VK2735 maintenance study reported 22% adjusted weight loss at week 33 with weekly dosing and no plateau observed; separate groups switching to biweekly or monthly doses retained 97% and 90%, respectively, of their week-21 loss. -
A weekly wellness roundup covers blood sugar, walking and daily habits
Yahoo Life’s roundup shares habit, movement and humidifier tips. A study found smaller blood-sugar spikes after carb-rich meals with loved ones than when eating alone; another found relaxing music helped participants settle faster than nature sounds. -
Oura's IPO plans put workplace choices over wearable health data in focus
As Oura prepares for an IPO and aims to expand employer-sponsored access to its rings, a Forbes analysis says companies should set clear program goals, make data-sharing consent meaningful and measure employee outcomes—not just device enrollment. -
Cigna and OpenAI make cancer care the first focus of their support partnership
Cigna has announced an OpenAI partnership to support patients with complex conditions, with cancer patients as the first use case. The planned tools would help patients find resources and coordinate care, while giving care managers information to identify support needs. -
After an Alzheimer’s diagnosis at 47, Jeremy Scott shares his journey
Florida father Jeremy Scott, 47, says he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s on September 12 and now struggles with memory and word-finding. He said a 2021 brain hemorrhage and six-day coma complicated the picture; he has begun speech therapy and cognitive rehabilitation. -
Vertex and Amgen pair trial progress with second-quarter revenue growth
Vertex said Phase 2b results showed inaxaplin reduced a urine-protein measure in two groups with APOL1-mediated kidney disease; Amgen said a Phase 3 trial found dazodalibep reduced Sjögren’s disease activity. Their Q2 revenues rose year over year by 12% and 10%, respectively. -
Tenet’s ambulatory revenue rises 9.3% in Q2 as BMO sets $265 target
Tenet Healthcare’s ambulatory revenue rose 9.3% year over year to $1.39 billion in the second quarter. The segment’s adjusted EBITDA margin reached 39%. BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on Sept. 22 with a Market Perform rating and a $265 price target. -
Guggenheim lifts Foundayo revenue outlook as prescriptions grow
Guggenheim raised 2027 and 2028 revenue forecasts for Eli Lilly’s oral obesity drug Foundayo to $1.8 billion and $3.7 billion, from $1.2 billion and $2.4 billion, respectively, as prescriptions improved. Its 2026 estimate was unchanged despite a lower modeled 2.5-mg price. -
Medicare costs could consume up to a third of Social Security’s 2027 raise
Social Security’s 2027 raise is forecast at 3.5%–3.6%, but Madison Partners estimates Medicare costs could absorb one-fifth to one-third of a 3.5% increase. The SSA will announce the COLA Oct. 14; at 3.5%, the average retired worker would get about $72 more monthly. -
Eli Lilly stops GLP-1 weight-loss candidate after efficacy falls short
Eli Lilly halted development of an unnamed GLP-1 weight-loss drug candidate after it fell short of the company’s efficacy expectations. In the second quarter of 2026, Mounjaro, Zepbound and its new pill Foundayo together accounted for just over 65% of revenue. -
Last Ditch Bar's Saturday mask-optional policy draws backlash
Last Ditch Bar in Greenfield, Massachusetts, made masks optional on Saturday nights because of financial struggles, after requiring them. Immunocompromised people objected online, saying the change made the bar less accessible to those at higher risk of infection. -
Needham starts GE HealthCare coverage with a Buy rating; $93 target implies 44% upside
Needham initiated GE HealthCare coverage with a Buy rating and a $93 target, implying about 44% upside from the stock’s Sept. 21 close of $64.81. Analyst David Saxon said shares reflected a bear-case outlook after falling about 20% since January. -
Earlier menopause linked to faster cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s diagnosis
A study of 2,603 older women followed for up to 18 years found that earlier menopause was associated with faster declines in global cognition and episodic memory, and an earlier clinical Alzheimer’s diagnosis. The findings do not show menopause causes dementia. -
Workers over 40 advised to document age-related remarks at work
U.S. employment lawyers advise workers 40 and older facing age-related remarks to save messages and note what was said, when and who heard it, then report concerns in writing to HR or a supervisor. Comments alone may not support a legal claim without a pattern of treatment or an. -
Beans, oats, popcorn and fruit offer affordable ways to add fiber
Experts say 95% of Americans don't get enough fiber. Adults typically need 25–30 grams daily, but most consume about 15; canned beans, oatmeal, popcorn and fruit offer budget-friendly options, with bean cans often under $2 and listed fruits under $1 each. -
Low folate can cause anemia; severe deficiency is linked to cognitive changes
Folate deficiency is rare in the US, but doctors say it can cause anemia that leads to fatigue and weakness, and sometimes headaches. Severe deficiency has also been associated with cognitive changes; these symptoms have other possible causes, and a blood test can measure folate. -
Study links men's hairline recession to sleep side, but causation is unclear
A 2026 study of 161 men with male-pattern hair loss found greater recession on their usual sleeping side, but experts say it does not prove side-sleeping causes baldness. They say pillow friction can break hair, especially when it is wet or damaged. -
Music listening and playing linked to lower dementia risk in adults over 70
A Monash University team analyzing data from more than 10,800 adults over 70 found that listening to music most days was associated with a 39% lower likelihood of dementia; playing an instrument or singing was associated with a 35% lower risk. -
Analysis of FDA reports flags menstrual signals for semaglutide
Analysis of FDA reports found disproportionate semaglutide signals for heavy bleeding, clots, infrequent periods and cycles without ovulation. Tirzepatide also showed signals for bleeding between periods and clots; the reports cannot prove the drugs caused these changes. -
Experts say adults vaccinated in 1963–67 should consider an MMR booster
Adults who received the measles vaccine from 1963 to 1967 should consider another MMR dose if they have not already had one, experts say, because that version was not considered fully effective. People with records of two doses after their first birthday are considered protected. -
ER clinicians say aggression can disrupt care for others
ER clinicians urge patients and visitors not to yell at or assault staff. Emergency rooms prioritize by medical urgency, and aggression can disrupt care for others; one cited study found 66% of ER physicians reported being assaulted in the past year. -
U.S. health insurance premiums rose 78% in 13 years as some workers dropped coverage
U.S. average annual health insurance premiums rose from $4,008 in 2011 to $7,151 in 2024, up 78.4%—twice the overall inflation rate, a JAMA study found. Some healthcare workers are uninsured; Boise doctor Joshua Durham and pharmacist Ashley Durham canceled coverage this year. -
Commonwealth Fund survey finds 32% of insured working-age adults repaying medical debt
A Commonwealth Fund survey found 32% of working-age U.S. adults with health insurance are paying off medical debt; 46% of them owe at least $2,000. The debt caused anxiety and stress for 68% of respondents; some cut back on food, heat or rent or skipped future care. -
AARP projects a 3.6% Social Security COLA for 2027, but premiums may trim gains
AARP estimates Social Security’s 2027 cost-of-living adjustment at 3.6%, but Medicare Part B premiums may erode it. The monthly premium is projected to rise from $202.90 in 2026 to $218.60 in 2027, so a $50 monthly benefit increase would net $34.30 after premiums. -
Fort Worth parents sue daycare for $1 million over alleged assault on 4-year-old
Parents Heather and Richard Harris are suing Fort Worth’s Arka Montessori Academy for $1 million, alleging a substitute encouraged a fight, grabbed and shoved a 4-year-old, then stood aside as her son attacked him; another teacher allegedly did not intervene. -
Vitamin D3 trial reports adiponectin and resistin shifts in deficient women 50–65
A nine-month randomized trial found that vitamin D3 (at least 1,000 IU daily) was associated with an 18.6% rise in adiponectin and a 32.4% fall in resistin among vitamin D-deficient women ages 50–65; the changes were significant versus placebo. -
Doctor invested in Healz AI after it suggested a second opinion for his wife
Atlanta psychiatrist Munjal Shroff says Healz AI encouraged a second opinion at MD Anderson, where his wife was diagnosed with rare T-cell lymphoma after months of unexplained symptoms. He kept using the chatbot through her treatment and later invested in the startup. -
Lilly’s growth outlook is stronger, but its GLP-1 lead may not last
Since mid-2024, Eli Lilly shares have gained about 35%, while Novo Nordisk’s have fallen roughly 74%. Lilly trades at about 24.4 times forward earnings versus 11.8 for Novo; the article sees Lilly’s growth outlook as stronger but says its GLP-1 edge may not endure. -
ABIVAX projects runway into Q4 2029 after cash use rises 54%
ABIVAX reported first-half 2026 operating cash use of €102.5 million, up from €66.6 million a year earlier. July's equity financing added €767.1 million net; the company projects its resources will fund operations into Q4 2029 under current assumptions. -
Alkermes reports early ADHD score declines for ALKS 7290; placebo benefit unknown
Alkermes reported median ADHD symptom-score declines of 14 points at 20 mg per day and 19 at 50 mg per day after 14 days of split-dose ALKS 7290 in a 50-person adult trial. The Phase 1b study included placebo but did not establish benefit over it.
