How Metformin Works: Mechanism, B12 Risk & Longevity
How metformin works at the cellular level, the often-overlooked long‑term risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, and what the NIH‑backed TAME trial can — and can’t — tell us about metformin and ageing.
Disease
Plain-English explainers on diseases and conditions — causes, symptoms, diagnosis and the latest treatments. From cancer screening and cardiovascular disease to respiratory, neurological and rare conditions, we translate current research and clinical guidelines into clear, sourced articles. Reviewed by qualified clinicians, this section helps patients, carers and clinicians stay current on how conditions are understood and managed today.
18 articles
VERVE-102 gene editing: Can it replace daily statins?
VERVE-102 tests a one‑time CRISPR base‑editing shot to disable PCSK9 in the liver and cut LDL for years. This article breaks down the early Phase‑1 data, what we actually know about safety and durability, and why proven, cheap statins will still be the default for most patients.
Methamphetamine Withdrawal: 3-Phase Timeline & Care
Methamphetamine withdrawal follows a predictable three-phase timeline — crash (1–3 days), withdrawal (1–3 weeks) and an extinction phase lasting months. This post explains what symptoms to expect in each phase, which signs require urgent medical attention, and the evidence-based treatments that…
Colorectal Cancer Screening: When, Why & How Often to Test
Ninety-three percent of colorectal cancers could be prevented or caught early, yet standard screening ignores individual risk. This guide explains the biology behind screening intervals, why polyp size drives cancer risk more than age, and how to tailor screening timing to your family history,…
Cold Makes You Sick: Research Shows Why Winter Raises Risk
The idea that 'cold makes you sick' is misleading: viruses cause colds, but cold air and winter behaviours amplify risk. This piece lays out the research (nasal-temperature immune suppression, a ~40% drop in extracellular vesicles after cooling, indoor crowding, low humidity), names the key…
Raynaud syndrome: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments Explained
If your fingers go white, blue then red in the cold, this practical guide to Raynaud syndrome explains exactly what’s happening, how clinicians tell benign (primary) from warning-sign (secondary) Raynaud's, and which lifestyle steps and medical treatments — from gloves to calcium-channel blockers —…
Mobile Chat Support and Smoking Relapse: What a JAMA Trial Found
A randomised trial in JAMA Internal Medicine reported that adding mobile chat support (a live counsellor plus a supportive chatbot) to usual cessation care raised six-month biochemically validated abstinence from 35.5% to 45.9% and lowered relapse. The findings suggest chat-based support may help recent quitters stay smoke-free.
Dog cancer vaccine: Rosie’s personalised mRNA case
When surgery and chemo failed, a Sydney data engineer used tumour sequencing, ChatGPT and AlphaFold — then partnered with UNSW researchers — to develop a personalised mRNA vaccine that rapidly shrank Rosie's tumour and restored her energy. This article explains how the vaccine was designed, the…
FLAV-27 Alzheimer’s Breakthrough? New Study Reversed Memory Loss in Mice
Researchers at the University of Barcelona have developed FLAV-27, an experimental Alzheimer’s compound that restored memory and improved disease markers in mice by targeting epigenetic dysfunction rather than amyloid plaques alone.
Endometriosis Systemic Disease Research: New 2026 Findings
Groundbreaking endometriosis research from 2023-2026 reveals why this affects your whole body — not just your pelvis. Discover how immune dysfunction, gut microbiome disruption, and systemic inflammation drive symptoms like brain fog and fatigue, plus evidence-based lifestyle strategies that…
A Promising New Approach Targets the Root Cause of This Progressive Hand Condition
Oxford researchers reveal a new Dupuytren's disease early treatment using Adalimumab injections. Learn how this anti-TNF therapy stops hand nodules from progressing.
3 New Drug-Resistant TB Treatments: Breakthroughs in Success Rates
Discover three new drug-resistant TB treatments showing high success rates in clinical trials. Learn how these breakthroughs provide a safer, more effective alternative to traditional TB medication.
Nvidia GluFormer: The New AI “Crystal Ball” for Your Blood Sugar
Nvidia GluFormer is a breakthrough AI foundation model that predicts diabetes and heart disease risk better than traditional blood tests. Using CGM data and transformer technology, Nvidia GluFormer is paving the way for 12-year health forecasting and precision nutrition.
Tarlov Cysts Trauma Connection: 40-60% Link Symptoms to Injury
Between 40% and 60% of symptomatic Tarlov cysts can be traced to specific traumatic events like falls, childbirth, or heavy lifting. Discover how the "two-hit" hypothesis explains why some spinal cysts remain silent for years before trauma triggers the ball-valve mechanism that traps cerebrospinal…
Seasonal Lyme Disease Prevention: The TNX-4800 Antibody Trials Explained
Researchers are developing TNX-4800, a long-acting monoclonal antibody intended to prevent Lyme disease for a full tick season after a single spring injection. This article explains how the approach works and where it sits in the clinical pipeline.
Cyclobenzaprine for Fibromyalgia: Game-Changer or Just Hype?
For the estimated 10 million Americans living with fibromyalgia - about 80% of whom are women - this represents the first new treatment option in more than a decade and a half. That's a pretty significant development for a patient population that's been dealing with limited options for way too long.
Empowering Diabetes Diet Choices in Residential Facilities – Practical Steps to Shape Your Plate and Advocate for Your Needs
Nutrition plays a key role in managing diabetes, especially in residential facilities where dietary choices can significantly impact your health. By understanding crucial food groups and learning to advocate for your nutritional needs, you can take control of your meals. This guide will provide…
Bronchiectasis: A Guide to This Under-Recognised Airway Disease
Bronchiectasis is a chronic airway disease in which the bronchi become permanently widened, allowing mucus to pool and infections to recur. This guide covers its causes, symptoms, diagnosis and current management, including brensocatib — the first treatment licensed specifically for the condition.