Medical Bulletin 13/May/2026 - Video

Here are the top medical news for today:

Researchers Discover How Tumors Use Peripheral Nerves to Advance Cancer Progression

Cancer may be doing far more than growing uncontrollably — it may also be rewiring the body’s nervous system to help itself survive. Scientists are now uncovering evidence that tumors can hijack nerves, manipulate brain-body communication, and create a microenvironment that supports cancer growth, spread, and resistance to treatment. A new review published in Research proposes a new three-dimensional framework to explain how cancers interact with the peripheral nervous system.

Traditionally, nerve involvement in cancer was mostly linked to perineural invasion, where tumors spread into nearby nerves. But researchers now say the relationship is far more complex. Tumors appear capable of remodeling nerves, attracting new nerve growth, damaging nerve tissue, and even hijacking long-distance neural circuits that influence immunity and metabolism throughout the body.

The review divides these interactions into several major categories. One involves tumor innervation, where nerves grow into tumors and release neurotransmitters and neuropeptides that can help cancer cells survive and evade immune attack. Another involves cancer-induced neuropathy, in which tumors damage nerves even without directly invading them. Researchers also describe long-distance neural regulation, suggesting cancers may influence communication pathways between organs and the brain.

Scientists further found that nerve signaling does not act only on cancer cells. It can also reshape the behavior of immune cells, fibroblasts, blood vessels, and other components of the tumor microenvironment. Some cancer cells may even develop neuron-like properties — a process called neuronal mimicry — allowing tumors to use neural signaling systems to boost growth and treatment resistance.

Researchers say these discoveries could open new therapeutic strategies. While many questions remain, scientists believe understanding how tumors exploit the nervous system may reveal an entirely new dimension of cancer biology — and potentially a ne

REFERENCE: Shao, F., et al. (2026). Peripheral Nerve–Cancer Interactions in the Tumor Microenvironment. Research. DOI: 10.34133/research.1221. https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/research.1221

Scientists Warn Common Sweetener May Quietly Alter Metabolism and Energy Regulation Mechanisms

The sugar hiding in sodas, desserts, sauces, and even “healthy” snacks may be doing far more than adding extra calories. Scientists now say fructose could be actively rewiring the body’s metabolism in ways that promote obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

A new report published in Nature Metabolism suggests fructose behaves very differently from ordinary glucose inside the body. Researchers argue that fructose is not simply another type of sugar — it may function as a biological signal that pushes the body toward fat storage and metabolic dysfunction.

The study reviewed evidence on common sweeteners such as table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, both widely used in processed foods and sugary drinks. While these sweeteners contain both glucose and fructose, scientists found that fructose follows unique metabolic pathways that bypass some of the body’s normal energy-regulating systems.

Fructose can rapidly trigger fat production, lower cellular energy levels, and generate compounds linked to inflammation and metabolic stress. Over time, these changes may contribute to metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions including obesity, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and increased cardiovascular risk.

Researchers also highlighted an important discovery: fructose does not come only from food. The body can actually produce fructose internally from glucose under certain conditions, suggesting its role in disease may be broader than previously believed.

Scientists believe fructose may once have served an evolutionary purpose. In ancient environments where food shortages were common, the sugar’s ability to help store fat efficiently may have improved survival during famine. But in today’s world of constant access to ultra-processed foods and sweetened beverages, those same biological mechanisms may now be driving chronic disease.

Researchers say understanding fructose’s unique effects on metabolism could help shape future strategies for preventing obesity and related diseases.

REFERENCE: Richard J. Johnson, Miguel A. Lanaspa, Dean R. Tolan, Marcus D. Goncalves, Samir Softic, Kimber L. Stanhope, Laura G. Sánchez-Lozada, Mark A. Herman, Joshua D. Rabinowitz. Fructose: metabolic signal and modern hazard. Nature Metabolism, 2026; DOI: 10.1038/s42255-026-01506-y

Specific Diets Associated with Lower Biological Age in New Research Findings

A few simple changes on the dinner plate may be able to make the body biologically younger — and the effects could appear in just a month.

Researchers from the University of Sydney have found that older adults who reduced either dietary fat or animal-based protein showed measurable improvements in biological aging markers after only four weeks. The study, published in Aging Cell, suggests that targeted dietary changes later in life may rapidly influence health and aging processes.

Unlike chronological age, which increases year by year, biological age reflects how well the body is actually functioning. Scientists estimate biological age using biomarkers linked to inflammation, metabolism, and overall physiological health.

In this study, researchers analyzed 20 biomarkers, including cholesterol, insulin, and C-reactive protein levels, to calculate participants’ biological age profiles. The trial involved 104 adults aged 65 to 75 who followed one of four carefully designed diets. Two diets were omnivorous, while the other two were semi-vegetarian with most protein coming from plant sources. Participants were also assigned either high-fat, low-carbohydrate diets or lower-fat, higher-carbohydrate diets.

Researchers found that the group eating an omnivorous high-fat diet — which most closely matched participants’ usual eating habits — showed virtually no change in biological age. In contrast, the other three dietary groups experienced reductions in biological age markers. The strongest improvements were seen in participants who consumed a lower-fat, higher-carbohydrate omnivorous diet.

However, scientists caution that the results are preliminary. The study lasted only four weeks, making it unclear whether these biological changes are long-lasting or whether they ultimately reduce the risk of diseases linked to aging.

The findings add to growing evidence that what people eat may influence not only weight and heart health, but also how quickly the body ages at a biological level.

REFERENCE: Andrews, C. J., et al. (2026). Short‐Term Dietary Intervention Alters Physiological Profiles Relevant to Ageing. Aging Cell. DOI: 10.1111/acel.70507. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acel.70507