Medical Bulletin 08/January/2026 - Video

Here are the top medical news for today:

New study links ketogenic diet to improved PCOS outcomes

Could the ketogenic diet—a regimen known for rapid weight loss—help rebalance hormones and metabolism in women with PCOS? A new meta-analysis published in Clinical Nutrition suggests it might. Researchers reviewed existing studies to understand how low-carb, high-fat ketogenic diets influence metabolic, hormonal, and body composition outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

PCOS is one of the most common hormonal disorders among women of reproductive age. It’s marked by irregular periods, excess male hormones, infertility, and insulin resistance—often making weight management difficult. Traditional treatment relies on exercise, lifestyle changes, and medications that target insulin metabolism. But researchers have increasingly wondered whether nutritional ketosis—the metabolic state induced by a ketogenic diet—could help restore balance by improving insulin sensitivity and reducing inflammation.

To test this, a global team of scientists systematically searched databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Central for studies that used ketogenic diets in PCOS patients. They identified 15 relevant trials, including cohort studies and randomized controlled trials, spanning Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The analysis pooled outcomes related to body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, insulin resistance (measured by HOMA-IR), reproductive hormones like LH and FSH, and lipid profiles.

Results showed consistent benefits across many metabolic markers. Women on the ketogenic diet saw significant reductions in body weight, BMI, and waist circumference compared to baseline and compared with other diets. Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides dropped notably, while HDL levels rose modestly. Hormonal changes also pointed in a positive direction—luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels decreased, while insulin resistance improved substantially. Improvements were most pronounced in overweight participants, suggesting that weight loss plays a major role in these benefits.

Despite promising results, the researchers cautioned that most studies were small and short-term, often lasting just a few weeks or months. Long-term effects and adherence challenges remain unclear. Still, the findings show that when well monitored, a ketogenic diet could be a powerful option for women struggling with PCOS and related metabolic issues.

REFERENCE: Arsenaki E, Stathi D, Triantafyllidis KK, et al. (2025). The effects of ketogenic diet on polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Nutrition. DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2025.11.019, https://www.clinicalnutritionjournal.com/article/S0261-5614(25)00314-0/fulltext

Acupuncture found to speed recovery and improve outcomes in ICU patients: Study

What if ancient healing techniques could help modern medicine’s most fragile patients recover faster? A new review published in Frontiers in Neurology suggests that acupuncture—a 3,000-year-old therapy—may play a promising role in improving the recovery of intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Researchers examined recent studies exploring how acupuncture can reduce dependence on sedatives and painkillers, ease inflammation, and boost gut and muscle function in critically ill patients.

Even with advanced life support and precise monitoring, many ICU survivors face lasting health obstacles such as weakness, delirium, chronic pain, and poor digestion. ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW), for instance, affects up to half of all patients and can lead to slow recovery and longer hospital stays. Standard treatments often rely on drugs like opioids and benzodiazepines, which can relieve symptoms but risk causing respiratory depression, delirium, or dependence.

Acupuncture involves inserting fine needles at specific body points to stimulate nerves and trigger the release of natural painkillers such as endorphins. In the ICU, techniques like electroacupuncture (EA) and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) are gaining attention. The review summarizes studies showing that acupuncture can improve pain control and sedation quality, helping patients wean off ventilators sooner and reduce their overall ICU stay.

Preliminary findings also suggest benefits beyond pain relief. Acupuncture may help restore muscle function and prevent ICU-AW by improving blood flow and reducing oxidative stress. Some studies show it can even reduce delirium by balancing neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine, supporting sleep and cognitive recovery. Equally notable are its gut-related effects—acupuncture can ease constipation, reduce diarrhea linked to tube feeding, and promote healthier gut microbiota.

Mechanistically, acupuncture activates the body’s vagus nerve and “cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway,” dampening harmful inflammation while boosting tissue repair and immune balance. Though larger, well-controlled clinical trials are still needed, researchers see enormous potential in integrating acupuncture into critical care.

REFERENCE: Li, P. et al. (2026) Acupuncture for ICU patients: Evidence, mechanisms, and implementation challenges. Frontiers in Neurology. 16, 1711600. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2025.1711600. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1711600/full

Breakthrough finger-prick blood test shows promise for early Alzheimer’s detection

Diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease may soon be as simple as pricking a finger. In a landmark study published in Nature Medicine, scientists have shown that tiny finger-prick blood samples—collected at home and mailed to laboratories—can accurately detect key biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s is typically confirmed through expensive brain scans or invasive spinal fluid tests. Recent discoveries, however, have identified specific blood biomarkers such as phosphorylated tau (p-tau217), which strongly indicate Alzheimer’s pathology. The challenge has been making blood testing widely accessible—especially in communities lacking medical infrastructure or specialized staff for blood draws.

The DROP-AD project took on that challenge, enrolling 337 participants across seven European medical centers. Researchers used a method that required just a few drops of blood collected from a fingertip and dried on a card—known as a dried blood spot (DBS) sample. These cards could be sent to laboratories without refrigeration, maintaining stability for analysis. Using advanced lab assays, the team measured three major biomarkers linked to Alzheimer’s and other neurological changes: p-tau217, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light chain (NfL).

Results were striking. The finger-prick samples mirrored standard blood test results with 86% accuracy in detecting Alzheimer’s-related changes found in spinal fluid—an impressive match for such a simple collection method. The University of Exeter played a crucial role by testing self-collected samples from UK participants, who successfully followed remote instructions without professional assistance.

Beyond Alzheimer’s, the approach shows promise for studying conditions like Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and multiple sclerosis, all of which involve neurodegeneration. Researchers believe this innovation could make global research and early detection far more inclusive by reaching populations that were previously underrepresented in clinical studies.

While not yet ready for routine diagnosis, the method marks a pivotal step toward at-home brain health testing—bringing the promise of early Alzheimer’s detection quite literally to people’s fingertips.

REFERENCE: Huber, H., Montoliu-Gaya, L., Brum, W.S. et al. A minimally invasive dried blood spot biomarker test for the detection of Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Nat Med (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-04080-0