The hottest Medical Research Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health Politics Topics

Exenatide - the drug that failed

Rory’s Always On Newsletter • 595 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Medical Research
  1. Exenatide, a drug initially hopeful for slowing Parkinson's, failed in its final trial. This has left many in the Parkinson's community feeling uncertain and disappointed.
  2. Researchers are still figuring out why the drug worked in earlier tests but failed later. They need more data to understand if it was because the drug didn't reach the brain or if it just wasn't effective.
  3. The failure of Exenatide could make it harder for other similar drugs to get funding for trials. Meanwhile, experts emphasize that exercise remains a reliable way to manage Parkinson's symptoms.

Another PRO-MASK Study Debunked

COVID Reason • 733 implied HN points • 07 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Medical Research
  1. Recent studies show that school mask mandates may not significantly reduce COVID-19 transmission. It's important to look closely at how studies are conducted to understand their true effectiveness.
  2. Researchers highlight that using observational data can lead to misleading conclusions about mask mandates. Different methods could give us clearer answers about their impact.
  3. Future public health decisions about masks should rely on strong evidence from well-designed studies. This will help build trust and ensure that interventions are truly beneficial.

OPINION: The GOP Plan to Right-Size the NIH and Provide Oversight Does Not Go Far Enough

Popular Rationalism • 693 implied HN points • 05 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Medical Research
  1. The GOP wants to cut the number of NIH disease centers and add political oversight, but that won't fix deeper problems. Chronic diseases are a big issue, and the focus needs to shift towards prevention, not just treatment.
  2. NIH spends a lot on traditional pharmaceutical research, but it often ignores integrative medicine, which could really help with chronic illnesses. More research into things like diet and lifestyle changes can make a big difference.
  3. #PlanB suggests decentralizing research by creating many independent labs that can focus on local health needs. It prioritizes prevention and transparency, aiming to better address the long-term health problems facing the country.

The NHS Data Goldmine

Odds and Ends of History • 335 implied HN points • 09 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Medical Research
  1. OpenSafely gives scientists access to nationwide NHS GP data, creating a powerful resource for large-scale medical research.
  2. Moving to Net Zero makes energy pricing much more complex, introducing new technical and market challenges that experts are working to resolve.
  3. These topics are being explained and shared through podcasts and newsletters so people can follow expert discussions and find further resources.

Measles and echo chambers, fresh science, and more

Your Local Epidemiologist • 658 implied HN points • 27 Feb 26
🔬 Science Medical Research
  1. Working with Christian faith-based content creators is a practical way to break echo chambers and better inform faith communities about measles and medical evidence.
  2. New scientific studies are notable, including promising progress for a hard-to-treat breast cancer and an intriguing clue found in the brains of superagers.
  3. A dangerous online trend of making cornstarch fireballs is emerging, creating a fresh public-safety and misinformation concern.
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Medical Roundup #6

Don't Worry About the Vase • 1657 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Research
  1. The apparent rise in autism is actually just more people being diagnosed under much broader criteria, not a real increase in prevalence, and the "autism spectrum" is now so wide it would be clearer to separate the very different ends.
  2. Doing even a small amount of regular exercise gives real health and cognitive benefits, and lowering psychological barriers (like free gym access) raises activity, though gains taper off once you become very fit.
  3. Regulatory and system problems — costly, slow clinical trials, restrictive FDA decisions, and workforce bottlenecks — are slowing drug development and harming care, so easing unnecessary barriers and better incentives would speed innovation and improve outcome access.

Our Brain—Immune Axis Gets A Jolt

Ground Truths • 12422 implied HN points • 03 Aug 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Research
  1. Seeing someone with an infection can kickstart our immune system. This was shown in a study where participants responded to animated characters showing signs of illness.
  2. A new device that stimulates the vagus nerve has been developed to help treat autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Early trial results are promising and show it can reduce pain and swelling.
  3. People carrying the APOE4 gene, linked to Alzheimer's, have immune system changes that raise their risk of disease. This insight gives new understanding into how genetics can affect brain health.

The Gut-Brain Axis Takes Center Stage

Ground Truths • 13472 implied HN points • 22 Jun 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Research
  1. The gut and brain communicate in many ways, affecting our mood and health. Hormones produced in the gut and gut bacteria play a huge role in this relationship.
  2. Recent studies show how gut inflammation can lead to brain inflammation, which may explain some neurological issues. This connection makes it important to take care of our gut health.
  3. New medications targeting gut hormones are being developed, offering potential treatment for conditions like obesity and Alzheimer's disease. These discoveries could change how we think about health and medicine.

mRNA Technology Is the Culprit Behind Faulty Immune Response That Prolonged the Pandemic, IgG4 Study Shows

Igor’s Newsletter • 12618 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Research
  1. IgG4 antibodies caused by mRNA technology may lead to immune tolerance and reduced ability to fight infections.
  2. A study showed that mRNA vaccines resulted in much higher IgG4 levels compared to Novavax, indicating a dysfunctional immune response.
  3. The use of mRNA technology in vaccines has been linked to a faulty immune response, potentially worsening the pandemic.

Debunked: Misleading NYT Anti-Trans Article By Pamela Paul Relies On Pseudoscience

Erin In The Morning • 10161 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Medical Research
  1. The article by Pamela Paul in The New York Times relies on debunked information about transgender care and detransitioning.
  2. Claims about rapid onset gender dysphoria and social contagion in the article are not supported by reliable research or credible sources.
  3. The assertion that a significant percentage of transgender individuals detransition or desist is based on outdated and flawed studies, contradicting more recent research findings.

1DaySooner's Trump II Health Policy Proposals

Astral Codex Ten • 14935 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Medical Research
  1. To improve kidney donations, policies may allow compensation for organ donors, which could help reduce the waiting list and save lives.
  2. There is a push for better transparency in healthcare data from the FDA, which could improve research and lead to safer medical products.
  3. Novel research ideas are often underfunded, so increasing support for unconventional studies and human challenge trials could speed up medical advancements.

Should All Parents Consider Embryo Selection?

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 1511 implied HN points • 01 Dec 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Research
  1. Research suggests that embryo selection and IVF may not lead to significantly worse outcomes compared to natural conception. Many potential negative effects may actually stem from the parents' health rather than the IVF process itself.
  2. Sperm competition in natural conception may not provide a better selection of embryos than IVF methods, which often involve either filtering sperm or simply picking the best-looking one.
  3. Overall health and success of children born through assisted reproductive technology tend to be more influenced by factors like socioeconomic status than by the method of conception itself.

Patient Zero Comes Back From Stage Four Cancer: Was It Ivermectin?

RESCUE with Michael Capuzzo • 5267 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Research
  1. Paul Mann, diagnosed with stage four cancer, used ivermectin along with traditional treatments and supplements to achieve remission.
  2. A study led by Dr. Kathleen Ruddy aims to determine if repurposed drugs like ivermectin can improve survival rates for different types of cancer.
  3. The study, titled 'God of Pi', emphasizes systematic exploration of repurposed drugs in cancer treatment, focusing on patient safety and research integrity.

Iron Overload: Forget What You Thought You Knew

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1817 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Research
  1. Iron overload can lead to serious health issues like liver damage and heart problems, and may accelerate aging.
  2. Manganese overload is linked to symptoms like headaches and balance issues and can be a concern for those with genetic predispositions to iron overload.
  3. When managing iron overload, it's critical to limit dietary manganese intake, maintain a proper iron-to-manganese ratio, and be cautious about how blood donation affects manganese toxicity.

The Penicillin Myth

Asimov Press • 593 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
🔬 Science Medical Research
  1. The story of Alexander Fleming discovering penicillin is filled with uncertainty. Scientists have pointed out many inconsistencies in his account, like how he didn't notice the contamination for almost two months after supposedly finding it.
  2. Fleming's famous discovery might not have been as accidental as it seems. Some theories suggest he was actually looking for new antibacterial substances before penicillin came along; this implies he was actively searching for something valuable rather than just stumbling upon it.
  3. There are competing theories for how penicillin was discovered and its implications for science. Whether it was truly an accident or part of a more planned inquiry shows how scientific discoveries can happen through both chance and careful research.

Dr. Rose, McCullough, Steve Kirsch et al., I again implore you to rewrite the abstract of your paper in Cureus, as written it is wrong! Do not fall for the slight of hand by Malone et al. on 'modified

Alexander News Network -Dr. Paul Elias Alexander's substack • 2004 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Research
  1. Urgent call to rewrite the abstract of a paper on Cureus due to concerns about the language used and safety of mRNA technology.
  2. Questioning the necessity of safety studies for vaccines that are already known to be harmful.
  3. Critique of 'modified mRNA' technology and urging for clear, direct communication about the risks.

Can Data Just Speak for Itself?

Sensible Medicine • 1375 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Research
  1. Initial trial results may not always show the full picture of a medication's effectiveness.
  2. Surprising findings in data analysis might challenge pre-conceived notions of drug efficacy.
  3. Understanding the importance of setting primary endpoints in clinical trials to avoid false positives in data interpretation.

Long Covid and Cognitive Deficits

Ground Truths • 10104 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Research
  1. Two new studies show cognitive deficits after Covid in large populations, with impacts on memory, executive function, and reasoning.
  2. The cognitive decline from Long Covid can range from 3 to 9 IQ points, showing significant impact even after symptoms resolve.
  3. Research indicates that cognitive decline from Covid can persist for up to 3 years, emphasizing the long-term effects of the virus on brain function.

The Race to Make Designer Babies

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 635 implied HN points • 11 Aug 25
🔬 Science Medical Research
  1. CRISPR-Cas9 technology can potentially eliminate genetic diseases, but it also raises ethical concerns about creating 'designer babies.'
  2. Two individuals, He Jiankui and Cathy Tie, are in competition to lead the gene editing field in the U.S., each with different visions.
  3. As gene editing technology advances rapidly, society must decide the ethical boundaries of its use before it's too late.

How & why did medical & scientific establishment e.g. medical doctors, allow governments ('officials' elected or not), health officials (in CDC, PHAC, NIH, Health Canada, SAGE, NIAID, FDA) College

Alexander News Network -Dr. Paul Elias Alexander's substack • 727 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🏥 Health Politics Medical Research
  1. Questions are raised on how medical professionals allowed the approval of untested mRNA technology for Covid vaccines, prompting a need to investigate incentives and motives of key figures.
  2. Concerns are voiced about the silence regarding potential risks and long-term effects of mRNA vaccines communicated by medical doctors and scientists like Malone, Bourla, Weissman, and Kariko.
  3. Criticism is directed towards media outlets and organizations for not holding key players accountable and failing to ask important questions about the safety and efficacy of Covid vaccines.

The Bride of ‘Chinese Frankenstein’—and the Race to Make Designer Babies

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 505 implied HN points • 11 Aug 25
🔬 Science Medical Research
  1. He Jiankui claims to be a pioneer of gene editing, but his past actions have earned him a bad reputation. He created the first gene-edited babies, which was condemned by many as unethical.
  2. The CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing tool was developed by Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, but He used it in a controversial way without their collaboration.
  3. Now out of prison, He plans to open a lab in Austin, Texas, where he wants to research Alzheimer’s in hopes of applying gene editing in the future.

Q&A: measles symptoms; B12 supplements; Ashwagandha for anxiety; & the measles booster

Are You Okay? • 359 implied HN points • 29 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Research
  1. Measles is difficult to contain due to the anti-vax movement and asymptomatic spread. Symptoms can include cough, runny nose, pink eye, fever, and a rash spreading across the body.
  2. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles and provides lifelong protection. It is recommended for adults without a history of measles.
  3. Taking vitamin B12 supplements may be necessary for individuals with low levels, especially if caused by medications like Prilosec; however, unnecessary vitamin supplementation should be approached with caution.

MAHA Movement Needs to Focus on Changing Processes, Not Enacting Bans

The DisInformation Chronicle • 95 implied HN points • 02 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Medical Research
  1. The MAHA movement should focus on improving systems instead of just putting bans in place. This means changing how things work rather than just restricting them.
  2. It's important to think about better processes to prevent problems rather than just creating rules that might not work.
  3. By changing how we do things, we can find more effective solutions that really help, instead of just saying no to certain actions.

COVID-19 UPDATE

LIL Science • 746 implied HN points • 21 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Research
  1. COVID-19 infections often increase after holidays like Thanksgiving
  2. Current COVID-19 metrics are trending upward, but hospitalizations have decreased
  3. Ways to stay safe during the holidays: self-quarantine, rapid testing, ventilation, mask-wearing

Wegovy’s So-Called “Long-Term” Study

Weight and Healthcare • 758 implied HN points • 27 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Research
  1. The study on Wegovy's long-term effects raised concerns about the definition of 'long-term' in the context of a 2-year study.
  2. The conflicts of interest among the study authors, who receive funding and support from Novo Nordisk, the drug manufacturer, raise questions about the study's credibility.
  3. The study revealed high rates of adverse events among participants taking Semaglutide, emphasizing the risks associated with such weight loss medications.

Explaining the "Hospitalization Paradox"

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 3494 implied HN points • 19 Feb 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Research
  1. The "Hospitalization Paradox" highlights the vaccine's impact on PCR tests and COVID-like illness, creating a statistical anomaly exploited by media and health authorities.
  2. Vaccines may not be clinically useful as they predominantly impact the ability to test negative rather than reducing the severity of illness or hospitalization.
  3. During the waning phase of efficacy, the persistence of a negative test may correlate with undesirable inflammation, spike protein toxicity, autoimmunity, and COVID-like illness.

A Visual Guide to Gene Delivery

Asimov Press • 335 implied HN points • 28 Jul 25
🔬 Science Medical Research
  1. Gene therapies are designed to fix problems caused by genetic mutations, and there are many delivery methods available to target these issues. The choice of delivery method depends on how the gene needs to be delivered and what condition is being treated.
  2. Two common types of gene therapies are _ex vivo_ (where cells are modified outside the body and then put back) and _in vivo_ (where the therapy is delivered directly into the body). Each has its own advantages based on the target cells and diseases.
  3. When choosing a gene delivery vehicle, factors like how much genetic material can be delivered, the ability to target specific cells, and immune responses need to be carefully considered to ensure effective and safe therapy.

I Say Thank You to Big Pharma

In My Tribe • 455 implied HN points • 01 Jun 25
🏥 Health Politics Medical Research
  1. It's important to keep encouraging medical research because it brings a lot of benefits to society. We rely on a mix of private and government support for this research.
  2. Cutting drug prices without considering the negative effects might hurt medical research and innovation. We should think about the long-term impact of such changes.
  3. Using prizes instead of patents could lead to fairer rewards for drug developers and might reduce some issues in the research funding system.

Higher-Weight People Have Best Hip Surgery Outcomes in New Study

Weight and Healthcare • 698 implied HN points • 22 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Research
  1. The outcomes of hip surgery for higher-weight individuals were found to be better in a new study, which challenges common beliefs about weight and healthcare.
  2. It's important to consider various factors impacting surgical outcomes beyond just weight, such as individual characteristics, bias, and pre-surgery weight loss attempts.
  3. Even if there are complications, all individuals, regardless of weight, should have access to healthcare and surgeries to reduce pain and improve quality of life.

Are puberty blockers helpful or harmful to trans youth?

News from Those Nerdy Girls • 373 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Research
  1. Puberty blockers are reversible and help improve the mental health of trans youth while reducing the need for future surgeries.
  2. Using puberty blockers gives trans youth time to explore interventions and prevents irreversible physical changes.
  3. Research shows that puberty blockers are safe and beneficial for trans youth, improving well-being and decreasing mental health risks.

It's Almost Impossible To Fathom The Level Of Stupidity This Harvard Medical School Study Manages To Sink To

Unmasked • 46 implied HN points • 01 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Medical Research
  1. Some high-profile medical institutions published COVID studies that appear deeply flawed and sometimes absurd.
  2. Several studies used weak methods or drew implausible conclusions — for example relying on phone surveys to claim mask mandates worked or modeling that linked vaccines to fewer deaths from unrelated causes.
  3. Those publications helped erode public trust, feeding accusations of fear-mongering and political bias in science.

A Federal Moonshot for Better Addiction Medications Can Help Us Escape the Crisis

Curing Addiction • 159 implied HN points • 11 Apr 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Research
  1. The United States faces a worsening addiction crisis with increasing drug overdose deaths and huge economic and social costs.
  2. Addiction disorders rank high in disability-adjusted life years, similar to heart disease, yet there's minimal investment in new addiction medications compared to other major diseases.
  3. Developing novel breakthrough medical treatments for addiction, similar to past successes like HIV treatments, could significantly impact and potentially cure addiction.