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PubMed2026

Effectiveness of tobacco cessation interventions delivered in clinical settings in South Asia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Despite the burden of tobacco use, access to cessation support in South Asia remains scarce. OBJECTIVE: This review evaluates the effectiveness of tobacco cessation interventions delivered in clinical settings in South Asia. METHODS: Five relevant databases were searched from inception to February 2025. Eligibility criteria included randomized and non-randomized studies evaluating behavioral, pharmacotherapy, and multicomponent interventions delivered in clinical settings in South Asia. Data on study setting and design, participant information, intervention, comparator, and outcomes were extracted. Meta-analyses using random-effect models were conducted where possible. Certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE. RESULTS: Thirty-seven studies were included (22 randomized and 15 non-randomized). Interventions involved pharmacotherapy (n = 6; 16.2%), nicotine replacement therapy (n = 7; 18.9%), behavioral counseling (n = 12; 32.4%), or combined/multicomponent interventions (n = 12; 32.4%). Most studies were conducted in India (n = 26; 70.3%), followed by Pakistan (n = 6; 16.2%), Nepal (n = 3; 8.1%), and two studies (5.4%) were multi-country in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Pooled analyses demonstrated higher quit rates among intervention versus control for continuous abstinence at 0-3 months (RR: 1.21, 95%CI: 1.06 to 1.37) and >3 months (RR: 1.68, 95%CI: 1.1.4 to 2.47), and for point abstinence at >3 months post-intervention (RR: 2.03, 95%CI:1.35 to 3.08). Heterogeneity was high for all analyses (I2 range: 94% to 97%). Combined behavioral and pharmacotherapy interventions were most effective (RR: 1.70, 95%CI: 0.98 to 2.92), although not statistically significant (p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: Tobacco cessation interventions delivered in clinical settings in South Asia are effective, particularly when combining behavioral support with pharmacotherapy. However, evidence is limited by methodological weaknesses.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Catecholaminergic Contributions to Inhibitory Control Following Physical Fatigue: Behavioral and Neurophysiological Findings.

Acute physical fatigue can impair cognitive control, yet its underlying neurochemical mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated whether catecholaminergic modulation influences behavioral and neural markers of inhibitory control following physical fatigue. Eighteen healthy, recreationally active adults (9 males, 9 females; 23.4 ± 2.2 years) completed a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. On separate visits, participants received methylphenidate (MPH; 20 mg; a dopamine and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor), reboxetine (REB; 8 mg; a noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor), or placebo. Physical fatigue was induced by repeated bilateral leg extensions to task failure. Cognitive performance was assessed before and after physical fatigue using a Go/No-Go task with electroencephalographic recording. Behavioral outcomes included reaction time and accuracy, while event-related potentials measured neural stages of response execution and inhibition (N2 and P3). Mixed-effects models were used for statistical analysis. For No-Go trials, a significant MPH × Time interaction was observed for accuracy (p = 0.008), with improved post-fatigue performance following MPH administration (p = 0.048). At the neural level, MPH was associated with shorter fronto-central No-Go N2 latency (p = 0.038) and altered fatigue-related changes in No-Go P3 latency (p = 0.047). REB did not produce comparable behavioral or neural effects. These findings provide pharmacological evidence that catecholaminergic mechanisms contribute to inhibitory control following physical fatigue. The differential effects of MPH and REB suggest that selective noradrenergic enhancement alone is insufficient to maintain inhibitory control following physical fatigue. Instead, the findings implicate broader dopaminergic and noradrenergic mechanisms, potentially involving alterations in the temporal dynamics of inhibitory processing. TRIAL REGISTRATION: (G095422N and identifier NCT05880342).

Adult↗

PubMed2026

New Horizons in the Development of Treatments for Substance Use Disorders.

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a major public health problem in the United States and cause substantial morbidity and mortality. There are meaningful gaps in the available SUD treatment options, and the development of new therapies is urgently needed. While medications with U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval are available for alcohol, nicotine, and opioid use disorders, there are no approved pharmacotherapies for cannabis, cocaine, or methamphetamine use disorders. Behavioral treatments for SUDs have significant limitations in effectiveness and accessibility, and there is a need for the development of both new behavioral treatment options and new models of treatment delivery. The next generation of treatments for SUDs will likely come from a diverse set of interventions, including new drug classes, new technologies, and new methods of delivery.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Sexual selection purges mutation load, but not overall genetic diversity, decreasing vulnerability to extinction.

Theory suggests sexual selection will enhance population viability by purging deleterious alleles. However, direct genomic evidence for this fundamental idea is scarce and contradictory. We combined long-term experimental evolution with whole-genome resequencing to directly test how sexual selection affects mutation load, genomic divergence, and extinction risk in small populations (maximum Ne = 40) of Tribolium castaneum. After 156 generations, populations evolving under strong sexual selection carried substantially fewer deleterious alleles than populations under weak sexual selection, based on both individual-level estimates of missense and nonsense variants and population-level Rxy analyses, indicating more efficient purging of deleterious alleles. In contrast, nucleotide diversity and runs of homozygosity were similar across treatments, indicating that purging acted most strongly on deleterious variation, and that reduced mutation load in these small populations under strong sexual selection was not explained by demographic effects. Importantly, population-level mutation load estimates best explained extinction risk under inbreeding, directly linking sexual selection to purging and population viability. Genome scans of high and low sexual selection populations revealed peaks of divergence, which included genes involved in courtship, sex discrimination, and seminal fluid proteins. Our results provide direct genomic evidence that sexual selection can reduce mutation load without eroding standing genetic diversity and thus adaptive potential, while driving adaptive divergence in reproductive traits. This beneficial purging may help explain the widespread prevalence of sexual reproduction in nature despite inherent costs and have important ramifications as to how we manage populations of conservation concern.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Efficacy and safety of cannabinoid-based interventions for behavioral and cognitive symptoms in dementia: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Behavioral and cognitive symptoms are frequent in Alzheimer's disease and dementia, and available pharmacological options offer limited benefit. Cannabinoid-based therapies have been proposed as alternatives, but evidence remains inconclusive. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library through November 2025 for randomized controlled trials evaluating cannabinoids in Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Primary outcomes were agitation measured by the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) and neuropsychiatric symptoms assessed by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home version (NPI-NH). Secondary outcomes included cognition using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and adverse events. Standardized Mean Differences (SMDs) and Risk Ratios (RRs) were synthesized using random-effects (REML) and Bayesian random-effects models. Risk of bias was evaluated with RoB 2, and certainty of evidence with GRADE. RESULTS: Nine trials (334 participants) met inclusion criteria. Cannabinoids did not improve CMAI (SMD -0.58, 95% CI -1.71 to 0.55; I2 = 84%), NPI-NH total (SMD -0.02, 95% CI -1.00 to 0.96; I2 = 67%), NPI-NH agitation (SMD -0.44, 95% CI -1.45 to 0.57; I2 = 48%), or MMSE (SMD 0.86, 95% CI -16.33 to 18.06; I2 = 96%). Bayesian posterior estimates were close to zero, supporting the absence of effect. Leave-one-out analyses reduced heterogeneity only after excluding influential trials but did not alter results. Certainty of evidence was moderate for behavioral outcomes and low for cognition. Overall adverse events were similar to placebo, while somnolence was more frequent with cannabinoids (RR 2.03, 95% CI 1.29-3.20). CONCLUSIONS: Cannabinoid-based therapies do not improve agitation, neuropsychiatric symptoms, or cognition in Alzheimer's disease and increase somnolence.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Space to grieve and grow: A systematic review of psychosocial interventions for people newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review synthesized evidence from intervention studies published over the past 25 years that aimed to improve coping and psychosocial well-being among individuals early in the multiple sclerosis (MS) disease course. The goal was to evaluate intervention characteristics, theoretical foundations, and psychosocial outcomes, and to identify gaps for future research. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science (2000-2025). Eligible studies included quantitative or mixed-methods interventions that addressed coping or psychosocial well-being among adults newly diagnosed with MS. Data extraction and quality assessment were completed independently by multiple reviewers using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools. RESULTS: Seven studies (n = 345) met inclusion criteria, representing cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, acceptance-based, and nurse- or peer-delivered interventions. The interval between diagnosis and intervention enrollment ranged from 14 days to >4 years, suggesting different phases of adjustment. All interventions produced significant short-term improvements in at least one psychosocial domain (e.g., anxiety, depression, stress, coping, or illness acceptance). However, sustained effects beyond 6-12 months were inconsistent. Common mechanisms across interventions included enhancing self-efficacy, stress management, and adaptive coping. CONCLUSIONS: The available evidence suggests that brief psychosocial interventions for adults in the early years after MS diagnosis are feasible and may provide short-term benefits for selected psychosocial outcomes. However, the evidence base remains limited, heterogeneous, and preliminary. Future studies should more clearly define diagnosis timing, use adequately powered designs and longer follow-up, and examine mechanisms of change.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Building phenotypic character matrices for phylogenetic inference: exploration of 35 years of practice.

Recent methodological development in phylogenetic inference has focused predominantly on molecular data. However, renewed interest in other data types, particularly morphological data, has followed from the increased recognition of the power of total evidence and tip-dating approaches, including fossil data, for inference of time-scaled trees and rates of evolution. However, attention has largely focused on the improvement of models of morphological evolution and other analytical tools with much less discussion about data acquisition itself. Here we review past and current practice for describing and collecting morphological data for phylogenetic inference. We present a systematic review of 164 phylogenetic analyses conducted over the last 35 years and focused on a diverse group of extinct arthropods: trilobites. Trends in increasing matrix size, data type, and coding strategy are evident. Where present, polymorphic characters have been predominantly derived from discretized continuous characters, although increasingly practitioners are utilizing alternative approaches for the treatment of quantitative characters. Not surprisingly, traditional indices that describe character consistency are highly correlated with matrix size but show surprising variation at different taxonomic scales. More recent attempts to describe data quality using information theory imply that characters can have high information content even if data are missing for many tips, providing support against the exclusion of characters because of missing data. In consideration of this, as well as advances in the study of developmental biology and variational complexity, we identify several avenues for increasing the quality and quantity of morphological data going forward.

Phylogeny↗

PubMed2025

Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence Against Politically Active Women: A Systematic Review of Psychological and Political Consequences and Women's Coping Behaviors.

Technology-facilitated gender-based violence presents critical challenges for politically active women, whose professional roles often expose them to elevated levels of online abuse with far-reaching impacts on their emotional well-being, professional engagement, and participation in public life. This systematic review synthesizes findings from 48 studies employing qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research to examine the psychological and political consequences and coping mechanisms associated with online harassment. Eighty-one percent of the included studies (39/48) report psychological distress, anxiety, and fear among targeted women, with 31% of the studies (15/48) identifying online harassment as a trigger for (re-) traumatization. The political consequences are equally significant, with 62% of the studies (30/48) documenting modifications in political messaging, 39% (19/48) noting reduced engagement with online platforms, and 29% (14/48) showing that women abandon their online presence altogether. Additionally, 20% (10/48) of the studies report cases of women withdrawing from their political roles. In terms of coping strategies, 66% (32/48) report women blocking or muting harassers, while 37% (18/48) document women reporting abuse to authorities or platforms. This study highlights the pervasive impact of technology-facilitated violence on women's emotional well-being, and their political participation and underscores its broader implications for democratic discourse and social equity.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effectiveness of peer recovery support services for substance use disorders: A systematic review of healthcare utilization, behavioral health, and engagement outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Peer recovery support services (PRS) delivered by individuals with lived experience of substance use, are increasingly incorporated into substance use disorder (SUD) care systems to improve care engagement, reduce acute care use, and support recovery. However, existing systematic reviews have focused on substance use outcomes, with limited attention to healthcare utilization, psychosocial functioning, and outcomes across settings, and populations. METHODS: This systematic review, registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023469279), synthesized peer-reviewed studies from 2003 to 2026 evaluating PRS for individuals with alcohol or drug-related SUD. Using MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL, the review included 53 studies primarily conducted in high-income countries that reported quantitative outcomes across substance use, healthcare utilization, behavioral health, and treatment engagement. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane RoB 2, ROBINS-I, and ROBINS-E tools. RESULTS: Overall, evidence was most favorable for selected treatment-linkage and engagement outcomes, whereas findings for substance use, emergency department use, hospitalization, overdose, and mortality were inconsistent. Uncontrolled longitudinal studies frequently reported improvements in depression and anxiety, but no randomized trials evaluated these outcomes, limiting causal inference. Exploratory cross-study patterns suggested that sustained navigation, practical assistance, and repeated peer contact were more often present in programs reporting favorable outcomes; however, these components were not independently evaluated. Substantial heterogeneity, frequent multicomponent interventions, high risk of bias in many nonrandomized studies, and limited long-term and economic data constrain conclusions. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support the promise of PRS while underscoring the need for more rigorous comparative studies, cost-effectiveness data, and further research in low- and middle-income countries.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

The effect of tDCS on emotion-related risk-taking behavior and delay discounting in adults with ADHD.

INTRODUCTION: Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often engage in risky behaviors due to impaired decision-making processes. This study aims to investigate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) on emotion-related risk-taking behavior and delay discounting in adults with ADHD. METHODS: Thirty adults with ADHD underwent three tDCS conditions, administered in a randomized order with at least one week between sessions: (1) left dlPFC anode/right vmPFC cathode, (2) left dlPFC cathode/right vmPFC anode, and (3) sham stimulation. In each session, participants completed the Delay Discounting Task (DDT) and the Modified Balloon Analogue Risk Task (mBART) under three emotional conditions (neutral, positive, and negative) which were induced using emotionally congruent photographs and sounds. Galvanic skin responses (GSR) were also recorded. In the DDT, both area under the curve (AUC) values and log-transformed discounting rates (log k) were calculated for small, medium, and large reward magnitudes (RM). Exploratory electric field modeling was also performed to characterize current distribution. RESULTS: The findings demonstrated task-specific effects of tDCS on decision-making. Although no overall tDCS effect was observed on DDT performance, significant tDCS × RM interactions emerged, particularly for smaller rewards. In contrast, exploratory analyses suggested that tDCS affected all mBART scores. Emotional condition did not influence consistently behavioral performance in either task, whereas both emotional stimulation and tDCS significantly affected GSR responses. However, exploratory electric field modeling indicated a broad prefrontal current distribution extending beyond the intended cortical targets. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest preliminary evidence that prefrontal tDCS can influence risk-related decision-making and autonomic responses in adults with ADHD. However, its effects on delay discounting appear to be context-dependent and limited to specific RMs. Future studies combining neuroimaging with individualized electric field modeling are needed to clarify the neural mechanisms underlying the observed effects of tDCS and to optimize stimulation protocols in adults with ADHD.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Adjunctive intermittent theta-burst stimulation for first-episode schizophrenia: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) combined with pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy in first-episode schizophrenia remains unclear. This study evaluated adjunctive iTBS with risperidone and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and explored serum biomarkers indicating treatment response. METHODS: In this randomized, assessor-blind trial, 100 first-episode schizophrenia patients received either iTBS plus risperidone and CBT (iTBS group, n = 50) or risperidone and CBT alone (control, n = 50) for 3 months. The primary outcome was change in PANSS total score at 4 weeks and 3 months. Response was defined as a ≥ 50 % PANSS reduction. Secondary outcomes included cognitive function (MCCB subtests) and serum GDNF, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels. RESULTS: The iTBS group showed significantly greater reduction in PANSS total scores than controls at both 4 weeks and 3 months (mean difference at 3 months: -13.3, 95 % CI: -16.8 to -9.8; P < 0.001), with a higher responder rate (76 % vs. 48 %). Significant improvements across all cognitive domains were observed in the iTBS group (all P < 0.001). Post-treatment, the iTBS group exhibited higher GDNF and lower cortisol and DHEA-S levels (all P < 0.001). A combined biomarker panel demonstrated superior discriminative performance for treatment efficacy (AUC=0.865 after cross-validation). Adverse events were comparable between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Adding iTBS to risperidone and CBT significantly improves clinical symptoms and cognitive function in first-episode schizophrenia. The combination of GDNF, cortisol, and DHEA-S shows promise as a composite biomarker for treatment response, though sham-controlled validation is warranted.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy vs Media Literacy for Prevention of Gaming Disorder and Unspecified Internet Use Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

IMPORTANCE: Mitigating the harmful effects of digitalization on youth mental health is essential. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) compared with a media literacy-based intervention for gaming disorder and unspecified internet use disorder and to determine whether universal or indicated prevention yields stronger benefits. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: PROTECTconfirm was a randomized clinical trial conducted from July 1, 2020, to August 31, 2024, across 44 secondary schools in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, with 1-, 4-, and 12-month follow-up. All students were included in universal prevention analyses, whereas indicated prevention analyses included a subgroup of adolescents at high risk meeting 2 or more Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition) criteria for gaming disorder or unspecified internet use disorder at baseline. INTERVENTIONS: Students were individually randomized within 90 classes to PROTECTtraining, a CBT-based program; or PROTECTinfo, a structurally parallel media literacy program. Both consisted of four 90-minute sessions delivered weekly during school hours by trained local prevention professionals under live supervision and adherence protocols. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was gaming disorder symptom severity and unspecified internet use disorder symptom severity, assessed at 12 months with a modified version of the Video Game Dependency Scale. Secondary outcomes included internalizing, externalizing, and transdiagnostic symptoms. Primary and secondary outcomes were analyzed according to the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: A total of 1793 students were randomized to PROTECTtraining (n = 896; mean [SD] age, 13.1 [1.5] years; 498 male students [56.1%]) or PROTECTinfo (n = 897; mean [SD] age, 13.1 [1.5] years; 484 male students [54.8%]). Participants in the subsample of 205 adolescents at high risk showed significantly lower 12-month severity of gaming disorder and unspecified internet use disorder symptoms with PROTECTtraining than with PROTECTinfo (mean [SD] Modified Video Game Dependency Scale score: 14.7 [9.7] vs 17.7 [10.3]; within-group Cohen d = -0.91 [95% CI, -1.10 to -0.72] vs Cohen d = -0.61 [95% CI, -0.80 to -0.42]; between-group Cohen d = -0.30 [95% CI, -0.55 to -0.05]), but not in the total sample (mean [SD] Modified Video Game Dependency Scale score: PROTECTtraining, 8.8 [8.3] vs PROTECTinfo, 9.4 [8.4]; within-group Cohen d = -0.11 [95% CI, -0.18 to -0.05] vs Cohen d = -0.04 [95% CI, -0.11 to 0.02]; between-group Cohen d = -0.07 [95% CI, -0.16 to 0.01]). Secondary outcomes did not differ significantly between groups. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this randomized clinical trial of 1793 adolescents, the CBT-based intervention reduced gaming disorder symptoms and unspecified internet use disorder symptoms more effectively than the media literacy-based intervention among adolescents at high risk. These findings support the use of CBT-based approaches primarily within indicated, rather than universal, prevention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) trial registration: DRKS00033989.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Determinants of Meal Satisfaction and Their Association With Childhood Obesity: A Systematic Review.

Meal satisfaction is considered a multidimensional concept that includes sensory enjoyment, cognitive, emotional, and physiological components and relates to contentment with the meal experience as a whole. However, its relevance to eating behavior and body weight remains unclear, especially in children. The present review investigated the potential relationship between meal satisfaction-related constructs and childhood obesity, and whether this relation is shaped by individual factors and the external environment. Seventeen eligible studies from 350 records published between 2008 and 2024 were included. No study directly assessed meal satisfaction; instead, proxy measures were used. Food enjoyment emerged as the proxy most consistently associated with BMI, often clustering with higher food responsiveness, lower satiety responsiveness, and emotional overeating. Parental feeding practices, especially pressure to eat, significantly contributed to variation in children's eating behavior and were associated with lower food enjoyment. Overall, meal satisfaction could be a key aspect to consider in childhood obesity prevention programs. However, to date, the available evidence is heterogeneous and predominantly observational. Future longitudinal and intervention studies are needed, alongside child-appropriate instruments to objectively quantify food satisfaction in children. Research that helps understand the role of contextual eating factors on children's meal satisfaction and eating behavior is also warranted.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Dissociable neural mechanisms of cognitive enhancement through transcranial stimulation and behavioral training.

BACKGROUND: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and adaptive working memory (WM) training are promising cognitive enhancement approaches; however, their neural mechanisms and potential synergies remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: We directly compared how tDCS and WM training modulate neural oscillations during WM performance and examined whether combining both interventions produces additive effects. METHODS: We randomized 112 healthy adults into four groups: control (sham tDCS + non-adaptive 1-back), tDCS-only (active tDCS + non-adaptive 1-back), training-only (sham tDCS + adaptive n-back training), or combined (active tDCS + adaptive training). Participants underwent five daily intervention sessions. We recorded high-density EEG during transfer n-back tasks at baseline, post-intervention, and one-week follow-up. RESULTS: All active interventions improved WM performance relative to the control group, with the combined group showing the largest gains (n-back accuracy: +15.6% vs. + 10.1% tDCS-only, +9.7% training-only, +0.7% control; all p < 0.001). Critically, tDCS selectively increased gamma-band (30-50 Hz) power in the frontal and parietal regions (cluster p = 0.018, d > 1.0), whereas WM training enhanced frontal theta-band (4-8 Hz) power and theta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling (both cluster p < 0.012, d > 0.85). The combined group exhibited both neural signatures. Brain-behavior correlations revealed dissociable relationships: gamma increases predicted n-back accuracy improvements (r = 0.61, p < 0.001), whereas theta enhancements correlated with operation span gains (r = 0.58, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: tDCS and WM training enhance cognition through distinct yet complementary neural mechanisms: tDCS via gamma-mediated cortical excitability and WM training via theta-mediated cognitive control. These findings provide neurophysiological evidence for multimodal enhancement strategies that target parallel pathways within WM networks.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Changes in hemoglobin levels and cardiometabolic health in adults with metabolic syndrome - a secondary outcome analysis of a six-month randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Lower hemoglobin (Hb) levels within the normal range have been associated with favorable metabolic traits in cross-sectional studies. This study investigated whether changes in Hb levels correlated with changes in physiological and cardiometabolic parameters during a six-month behavioral intervention in individuals with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: The six-month randomized controlled trial aimed to reduce sedentary behavior in adults with metabolic syndrome (n = 64). Key measurements included fasting blood samples, insulin sensitivity during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, insulin-stimulated liver glucose uptake, liver fat content (LFC), indirect calorimetry, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiac function. Correlations between changes in these variables and changes in Hb levels at baseline, three, and six months were examined. RESULTS: Cross-sectionally, higher Hb levels correlated with lower insulin sensitivity (r=-0.35, p = 0.005), higher resting O2 consumption (r = 0.41, p < 0.001), higher resting energy expenditure (r = 0.49, p < 0.001), higher LFC (r = 0.40, p = 0.011), and greater left ventricular wall thickness (r = 0.42, p = 0.001). The intervention did not significantly impact Hb levels, and changes in Hb levels did not correlate with most cardiometabolic changes. However, reduced Hb levels correlated with reduced fasting blood glucose (r = 0.29, p = 0.032), improved insulin sensitivity (r = -0.26, p = 0.045), and increased cardiorespiratory fitness (r = -0.29, p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Changes in Hb levels did not consistently correlate with changes in cardiometabolic markers during the intervention. However, reductions in Hb levels may relate to improved insulin sensitivity and fitness. Along cross-sectional correlations, this may be clinically relevant for individuals with metabolic syndrome. Further studies are merited to clarify the role of Hb levels in this high-risk group.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Adolescents' Growing Sensitivity to Psychosocial Stressors: Evidence From Two Decades of Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Data in the Nordic Countries.

PURPOSE: We tested a perception-based explanation for rising psychosomatic complaints among adolescents in the Nordic countries. Specifically, we examined whether adolescents have become more sensitive to psychosocial stressors, reflected in stronger associations between stressors and psychosomatic complaints in 2022 than in 2002. METHODS: Data were drawn from the 2002 to 2022 waves of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey among 15-year-olds in five Nordic countries (N = 7,263 in 2002 and 6,739 in 2022). Psychosomatic complaints were examined in relation to stressors in the following three domains: interpersonal relationships, school-related strain, and body- and activity-related factors. Moderated regression analyses tested whether associations between stressors and complaints differed between survey years. Sex and perceived family finances were included as covariates. RESULTS: Four of five psychosocial stressors showed stronger associations with psychosomatic complaints in 2022 than in 2002. Perceived poor family finances, although less prevalent in 2022, were more strongly related to complaints. Girls consistently reported higher levels of psychosomatic complaints, and the association between school pressure and complaints was stronger among girls. DISCUSSION: Although several psychosocial stressors declined in prevalence, their associations with psychosomatic complaints strengthened over time. These findings suggest that rising complaints may reflect changes in how psychosocial stressors are linked to adolescents' psychosomatic symptoms, rather than increases in exposure to those stressors. This shift highlights the importance of considering how adolescents interpret and respond to everyday stress when addressing population trends in mental health.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Are there any common effects in preclinical models of micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) exposure? A systematic review.

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are emerging contaminants detected in food sources and the marine food chain, raising concerns about human health. Although no causal relationship has been established between MNP exposure and specific diseases, growing evidence suggests adverse developmental, behavioral, cognitive and biochemical effects. This systematic review synthesized evidence from common preclinical neurotoxicology models, including C. elegans, D. rerio, D. melanogaster, in vitro systems and rodents, to identify convergent developmental, behavioral and biochemical outcomes. The protocol was preregistered in OSF, followed PRISMA-P guidelines, applied PICOS criteria, and assessed methodological quality using the European Commission's ToxRTool. Overall, 185 studies were included. Consistent findings showed impaired survival and disrupted development across all models. Behavioral alterations affecting anxiety, memory, learning, sociability and locomotor activity were also consistently reported. In addition, numerous studies identified disruptions in the serotonergic (5-HT) system, including changes in neurotransmitter levels, transporters and metabolic enzymes. Despite methodological heterogeneity, these findings indicate that MNP exposure produces reproducible neurodevelopmental and neurochemical alterations across experimental models. Future studies should improve methodological harmonization, strengthen cross-model comparability and identify robust biomarkers and key mechanisms underlying MNP-induced neurotoxicity, facilitating translation to human health risk assessment frameworks.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Effectiveness of psychosocial and lifestyle interventions in promoting behaviour change and improving cognitive outcomes in older people with memory concerns: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Older adults with mild cognitive impairment or subjective cognitive decline have a greater dementia risk, particularly those from minority ethnic and socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. Psychosocial and lifestyle interventions targeting modifiable risk factors offer hope for reducing risk, yet behavioural mechanisms remain unclear. This systematic review examines these mechanisms and associated outcomes. METHOD: We searched PubMed, Embase (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), Web of Science, and Scopus for randomised control trials testing interventions that aimed to improve lifestyle and cognition in older adults with memory concerns. We explored behavioural mechanisms using the COM-B model and synthesised intervention effectiveness, overall and within underserved groups. We prioritised lower risk of bias studies. RESULTS: 26 studies described 23 randomised controlled trials (14 multidomain, 9 single domain interventions). Certainty of evidence that behaviour change was associated with cognition was low. Moderate-certainty evidence indicated that interventions providing a socially supportive environment and combining nutritional education and counselling for 6 + months improved diet. Physical activity improved primarily in interventions incorporating education, structured training, and enablement strategies (e.g., tailored programmes, providing tools). Interventions simultaneously targeting capability, opportunity and motivation showed greater overall effectiveness. Few studies recorded ethnicity (13%) or sociodemographic status (9%), and none explored their impact. CONCLUSIONS: Non-pharmacological interventions can help this population improve their lifestyles if they feel capable, equipped and motivated, highlighting the value of careful design and implementation. There is scarce evidence on how these interventions work for underserved populations. Future research should explore this to inform tailored interventions and develop equitable dementia prevention strategies.

Humans↗