Medical Bulletin 29/August/2026 - Video

Here are the top medical news for today:

Study Links Inhaler Overuse to Increased Heart Attack Risk in Asthma, COPD

Overusing reliever inhalers may be linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and death among people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a new study published in ERJ Open Research.

Reliever inhalers, also known as short-acting bronchodilators, provide quick relief by relaxing the muscles around the airways. However, frequent use may indicate that the underlying condition is not being adequately controlled with maintenance or “preventer” treatment.

Researchers analysed real-world healthcare data from more than 280,000 asthma and COPD patients in Belgium. The study examined the use of short-acting beta-agonists (SABAs) and short-acting muscarinic antagonists (SAMAs), while accounting for factors including age, sex, smoking, disease severity, socioeconomic status and other medical conditions.

The researchers found that SABA use was associated with a 12% higher risk of death in asthma patients and 14% higher risk in COPD patients, compared with no use. For SAMA medications, the increase was 73% among asthma patients and 36% among COPD patients.

The risk also increased as inhaler use rose. Using three or more reliever inhalers per year was associated with a higher risk of death compared with using two or fewer.

The study linked excessive reliever use with cardiovascular problems including heart failure, heart attack and ischaemic stroke. People without a previous history of cardiovascular disease appeared particularly vulnerable.

Researchers stressed that the findings do not mean reliever inhalers themselves necessarily cause these outcomes. Frequent use can be a warning sign of poorly controlled asthma or COPD, which already increases cardiovascular risk. Some short-acting bronchodilators can also cause faster or irregular heart rates.

Experts say excessive reliance on reliever inhalers should prompt a medical review, including assessment of lung control, medication adherence and inhaler technique. Better monitoring could help identify overuse earlier and ensure patients receive appropriate long-term treatment.

REFERENCE: Frauke Van Vaerenbergh. Et al.; Cardiovascular effects and mortality of short-acting bronchodilators in asthma and COPD; ERJ Open Research; 2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1183/23120541.00462-2026

Turmeric Compound May Protect Blood Vessels From Diabetes-Related Damage: Study

A compound found naturally in turmeric may help protect blood vessels from diabetes-related damage, according to new research in rats. The findings, presented at the 2026 American Physiology Summit, suggest curcumin could have potential as a future approach to reducing cardiovascular complications linked to diabetes.

Curcumin is the substance responsible for turmeric’s bright yellow color and has been widely studied for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Researchers from the Florida Institute of Technology investigated whether it could protect blood vessels affected by Type 1 diabetes, a condition that can increase the risk of heart disease when high blood sugar damages the vascular system.

The researchers used rats with Type 1 diabetes and compared animals treated with curcumin with diabetic rats that did not receive the compound. After one month, the curcumin-treated rats showed improvements in several measures of vascular health, with results approaching those seen in non-diabetic animals.

The treatment appeared to reduce inflammation and restore calcium signaling in blood vessels. It also helped normalize levels of heat shock protein 70, a protein involved in protecting cells from stress and whose regulation can become disrupted by diabetes.

Together, these changes may help preserve the structure, elasticity and normal function of blood vessels, potentially reducing some of the cardiovascular damage associated with diabetes.

However, the findings are preliminary. The research was conducted in rats, so it is not yet known whether curcumin would provide the same vascular benefits in people with Type 1 diabetes.

Researchers say clinical studies are needed to determine whether the compound is effective in humans, establish appropriate doses and assess possible interactions with medications.

The findings also do not mean people with diabetes should simply consume more turmeric or start curcumin supplements. Diabetes treatment should continue to focus on proven strategies, including appropriate glucose management and cardiovascular risk reduction.

REFERENCE: American Physiological Society. "Turmeric compound may protect blood vessels from diabetes damage." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 26 August 2026.

Reduced Brain Volume May Predict Progression to Early-Onset Dementia, Study Finds

A new brain scan biomarker may help predict how quickly people with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease progress from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia, according to a study published August 26, 2026, in Neurology.

Early-onset Alzheimer’s develops before age 65 and can progress rapidly, although the timing varies considerably between individuals. Researchers at Harvard Medical School developed an early-onset Alzheimer’s disease signature, a brain imaging tool that measures shrinkage in regions involved in memory, language and reasoning.

The study included 130 people with MCI and 97 healthy participants, all aged 40 to 64. Participants underwent MRI brain scans at the beginning of the study and at least one annual follow-up. Researchers measured gray matter thickness across eight brain regions and combined the results into an overall atrophy score.

Participants were followed for an average of two years, during which about 65% of those with early-onset Alzheimer’s progressed from MCI to dementia.

Researchers found that people with greater gray matter shrinkage had a faster progression to dementia. For every one-standard-deviation increase in brain shrinkage, the risk of progressing from MCI to dementia was 1.24 times higher.

Importantly, the biomarker performed better at predicting progression than assessments based only on symptoms recorded at the start of the study.

Researchers say the tool could eventually help doctors provide patients and families with better estimates of disease progression and help identify people who may benefit from clinical trials at an earlier stage.

However, the findings remain preliminary. The biomarker was developed and tested in a single study group, which was predominantly non-Hispanic White. This means its accuracy in other racial and ethnic populations remains uncertain.

If validated in larger and more diverse groups, the researchers say the brain scan signature could become a useful tool for personalizing prognosis and monitoring early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

REFERENCE: Paranhos, T., et al. (2026). EOAD-Signature Atrophy Predicts Dementia in Early-Onset MCI due to Alzheimer Disease. Neurology. DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000218519.