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At least 1 in 4 former NFL players who died during 2016-21 had evidence of brain disease at death linked to repeated head impacts

New estimates strengthen evidence of confirmed CTE burden in former NFL players, while highlighting uncertainties   At minimum, nearly a quarter of all former National Football League (NFL) players who died from 2016 to 2021 had confirmed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) – a neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated head impacts  – ...

2026-08-25T10:44:25+01:0025 August 2026|Press release, The BMJ|

Childhood epilepsy linked to significantly lower long term educational attainment

Lowest levels of achievement among those with very early onset epilepsy Unclear if condition impairs brain function; mechanisms likely multifactorial and cumulative Childhood epilepsy is linked to significantly poorer exam grades and long term educational attainment, with the lowest levels of academic prowess among those whose neurological disorder started when ...

Prioritise routine screening and regular monitoring of elite athletes’ mental health, says IOC

This should be done at predefined time points, after significant events, and address full range of contributory factors in training and competition, says consensus statement Organisational culture needs to foster good mental health and wellbeing across the board Sports bodies should prioritise routine screening and regular monitoring of elite athletes’ ...

2026-08-12T09:30:33+01:0012 August 2026|British Journal of Sports Medicine, Press release|

Workers’ pesticide exposure linked to 60-70% heightened motor neuron disease risk

Increased risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) associated with herbicides, insecticides Men exposed to these chemicals may be twice as likely to develop ALS as unexposed men Workplace exposure to pesticides (herbicides and insecticides) is linked to a 60-70% heightened risk of the most common form of motor neuron disease—amyotrophic ...

2026-08-04T16:39:13+01:005 August 2026|Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Press release|

Newer obesity drugs linked to fewer alcohol-related hospitalisations for people with alcohol dependence

Use of newer GLP-1 receptor agonists for obesity or diabetes was associated with a reduction in hospital admissions suggesting a potential role for the treatment of alcohol-use disorder Use of newer GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide or tirzepatide) for obesity or diabetes by people with alcohol-use disorder was associated with a ...

2026-07-22T15:02:58+01:0022 July 2026|BMJ Open, Press release|

Lower thresholds for help seeking and/or changes in diagnostic practice may explain rise in young people’s service use for mental health issues

Rather than increase in worsening psychological ill health, Norwegian study suggests Strongest rise seen for symptoms of anxiety and depression, not actual disorders Lower thresholds for seeking medical help and/or changes in diagnostic practice, rather than a true increase in worsening psychological ill health, may help to explain the rise ...

Cost of emergency hospital admissions for mental health problems in young people almost quadruples over a decade

Growing financial strain on the NHS due to longer stays in hospital Eating disorders and self-harm most common reasons for emergency admissions The total cost of emergency admissions for mental health among children and young people in England rose from £22.5 million in 2012/13 to £87.3 million in 2021/22, finds ...

2026-05-19T17:00:21+01:0020 May 2026|BMJ Open, Press release|

New brain stimulation technique improves short term social skills in children with autism

Accelerated continuous theta burst stimulation (a-cTBS) may be a “viable and scalable therapeutic option” say researchers  A new non-invasive brain stimulation technique known as accelerated continuous theta burst stimulation (a-cTBS) improves social communication at one month follow up and has a favourable safety profile in children with autism, finds a ...

2026-05-12T11:33:37+01:0030 April 2026|Press release, The BMJ|

The more siblings you have the easier it may be to cope with parental death in midlife

Mental health drug purchases lower among those with more siblings after mother’s death Having more brothers and sisters may make it easier to cope with the death of a parent, in midlife, particularly when it’s the mother who dies, suggests research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community ...

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