Medical Bulletin 18/September/2026 - Video

Here are the top medical news for today:

Single CAR-T Treatment Shows Promise for Relieving Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms, Trial Finds

A single injection that genetically reprograms immune cells inside the body may offer a simpler approach to treating difficult autoimmune diseases, according to an early clinical trial.

Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study tested in vivo CAR T-cell therapy in 16 people with neurological autoimmune disorders, including multiple sclerosis and related neurological autoimmune conditions.

CAR T therapy has already been used against blood cancers. Traditionally, doctors collect T cells, modify them in a laboratory and return them to the body. This can take weeks, cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and require chemotherapy, increasing treatment burden and infection risk for people with chronic autoimmune disease.

The new approach aims to avoid this manufacturing process. Researchers led by Dai-Shi Tian gave patients a virus carrying genetic instructions that transformed T cells into CAR T cells inside the body. These cells targeted B cells that can produce harmful autoantibodies.

Patients were followed for six months. None developed severe nerve inflammation. Eleven had temporary increases in inflammatory molecules that settled after about two weeks.

CAR T cells persisted for months and were followed by a major reduction in disease-causing B cells. New B cells no longer appeared to produce harmful autoantibodies, suggesting an immune reset.

Patients with multiple sclerosis reported less fatigue and better movement and cognitive function, while nerve injury markers decreased. Other participants also showed improved muscle strength, inflammation and quality of life.

However, the findings remain preliminary. The study involved only 16 patients and had no control group. Because the treatment uses a virus that inserts genetic material into cells, longer follow-up is needed to assess potential risks, including cancer and infections. Larger controlled trials are needed to determine how effective and durable this treatment is.

REFERENCE: Yu-Hang Cheng, et al.; Lentiviral In Vivo CD19 CAR T-Cell Therapy in Neurologic Autoimmune Disorders; New England Journal of Medicine; 2026; doi:10.1056/NEJMc2603114

Eating Four to Six Wholegrain Servings Each Day Linked to Heart Benefits: Study

Eating more whole grains may improve several heart health risk factors, according to a large review of clinical trials.

Published in the European Heart Journal, the review combined results from 87 randomised controlled trials involving 6,529 people. Researchers examined how wholegrain intake affected measures linked to cardiovascular health.

The analysis found that higher wholegrain consumption was associated with reductions in body weight, waist circumference and blood pressure. It was also linked to lower total cholesterol, LDL or “bad” cholesterol, triglycerides, blood glucose, insulin resistance and interleukin-6, a marker of inflammation.

The researchers found measurable benefits from eating about 30 to 40 grams of whole grains daily. However, the greatest improvements were generally seen at around 60 to 100 grams per day, equivalent to roughly four to six servings.

Whole grains contain the bran, germ and endosperm naturally. Examples include oats, brown rice and wholegrain bread. Replacing refined grains with minimally processed whole grains could provide several health benefits.

The findings may help explain why diets rich in whole grains have previously been associated with better cardiovascular health. However, the study did not directly measure heart attacks, strokes or other cardiovascular events. It therefore cannot prove that eating four to six servings daily will prevent cardiovascular disease.

The researchers also noted limitations. Most included trials were short, lasting about eight weeks on average, so it remains unclear whether the improvements continue over many years. Few studies examined very high intakes above 140 grams daily.

Overall, the findings suggest that increasing wholegrain intake may potentially support healthier body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels. Researchers say whole grains can complement other healthy lifestyle measures, but longer studies are needed to determine whether these changes translate into fewer cardiovascular events over time.

REFERENCE: Naghshi, S., et al. (2026) Whole-grain consumption and cardiometabolic risk: a meta-analysis of randomized trials, European Heart Journal. DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehag519.

New Study Links Shatavari’s Health Effects to Gut Microbiome Changes

Shatavari may influence pathways linked to brain and gut health, but current evidence is not strong enough to establish it as a treatment for cognitive or neurological disorders.

A review published in Nutrients examined research on Asparagus racemosus, commonly known as Shatavari, including laboratory, animal and human studies. Researchers focused on how its compounds may interact with the microbiota-gut-brain axis, connecting the gut and brain.

One important compound is Shatavarin IV, a steroidal saponin that partly resembles estrogen. The review found that it can influence estrogen receptor signalling, although it is much weaker than estradiol. Laboratory and preclinical research also linked it with BDNF, a protein involved in brain cell health, synaptic plasticity, inflammation.

Shatavari also contains fructooligosaccharides, or FOS, which act as prebiotic fibres. These compounds can support beneficial gut bacteria and increase short-chain fatty acids. The review suggests these changes could help maintain the intestinal barrier and indirectly influence brain signalling through inflammation, microbial metabolites and tryptophan metabolism.

Laboratory studies found that Shatavari extracts affected inflammatory and oxidative pathways in human nerve cells in early laboratory studies. Other enzyme studies suggested possible effects on acetylcholinesterase and monoamine oxidase, enzymes involved in neurotransmitter breakdown. However, these findings do not demonstrate improved brain function in people.

A small eight-week clinical trial involving 80 perimenopausal women found that 300 mg of Shatavari extract daily improved menopause-related symptoms and perceived stress compared with placebo. Estradiol levels also increased.

The researchers emphasise that much of the evidence remains preclinical. It is not yet known whether Shatavarin IV reaches the human brain at active levels or what long-term safety may be.

Larger clinical studies are needed to establish effective doses, safety, brain exposure and whether Shatavari can produce meaningful cognitive or neurological benefits.

REFERENCE: Das, D., Dasgupta, S. B., Banik, S. P., & Bagchi, D. (2025). Unraveling the Mechanistic Insights of Asparagus Bioactives to Promote Cognitive Health: Insights from the Gut–Brain Axis. Nutrients, 18(18), 3016. DOI: 10.3390/nu18183016

One Partner’s Poor Sleep May Influence Both Partners’ Eating Habits, Study Finds

Poor sleep may influence more than one person’s eating habits, suggesting sleep quality can affect a partner’s efforts to maintain a healthy diet.

Published in Annals of Behavioural Medicine, the Concordia-led study followed 204 couples living together in Canada for three months. Participants were around 42 years old, and at least one person in each couple had overweight or obesity and was trying to improve their diet.

Researchers assessed sleep and diet using questionnaires at the start, after one month and three months later. Participants also kept diaries for 14 days to record their efforts to eat healthily.

The findings showed that people who slept poorly reported making less effort to eat well and feeling less confident about maintaining healthy eating habits. Their partners reported similar difficulties, even when their own sleep was better.

Researchers suggest this may happen because couples often share meals and food environments. A sleep-deprived partner may be more likely to bring calorie-dense foods such as chips, crackers, chocolate or sweets into the home, making healthy choices harder for both people.

Diet quality improved modestly, while sleep quality remained largely unchanged. Women reported healthier diets and stronger efforts to eat well than men, but gender did not appear to change how one partner’s sleep affected the other’s eating behaviour.

However, the study does not prove that poor sleep causes unhealthy eating. It was observational and relied on self-reported information. Future research could use objective sleep and dietary measurements and examine household food choices, meal planning, partner support and conflict.

Researchers say the findings highlight the importance of considering sleep and eating habits as shared issues within couples. Treatments that improve sleep, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, could potentially be studied as couple-based approaches to support eating.

REFERENCE: Maegan Dymarski et al, Dyadic associations between sleep quality, diet-related self-regulation, and diet quality in couples, Annals of Behavioral Medicine (2026). DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaag041

ADHD Linked to Increased Digestive Problems in Massive 1.9 Million-Person Study

An analysis has found an association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and digestive problems, suggesting that gut symptoms may warrant attention when caring for people with ADHD.

Researchers at the University of Warwick reviewed 23 studies involving more than 1.9 million people from the United States, Sweden, Germany and South Korea. Participants ranged from 2 to 65 years old. The review, published in the Journal of Attention Disorders, is the first systematic review specifically examining gastrointestinal symptoms in ADHD.

Overall, people with ADHD were almost 50% more likely to experience gastrointestinal symptoms than people without ADHD. The strongest associations were seen for constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and encopresis, or loss of bowel control. People with ADHD had nearly twice the odds of constipation, 58% higher odds of IBS and more than four times the odds of encopresis.

Researchers say several factors could contribute to the connection. ADHD-related impulsivity, irregular eating patterns and dietary habits may affect digestion. Medicines used to treat ADHD can also cause gastrointestinal side effects, including constipation.

The gut microbiome may provide another possible explanation. Previous research has reported differences in gut bacteria among people with ADHD. These microbes can influence communication between the digestive system and brain through pathways including the vagus nerve. However, these mechanisms remain under investigation.

The researchers say clinicians should ask people with ADHD about digestive symptoms, particularly when symptoms affect daily life. Patients may also benefit from advice from a qualified dietitian.

Importantly, the findings show an association and do not prove that ADHD causes gastrointestinal problems. The review also cannot establish whether symptoms are driven mainly by ADHD-related behaviours, medications, biological factors or other influences.

Further research is needed to understand the ADHD-gut connection and determine whether addressing digestive health could improve wellbeing.

REFERENCE: Sarah Blake, Hugo Cannon, Saran Shantikumar. The Association Between Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Gastrointestinal Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Attention Disorders, 2026; DOI: 10.1177/10870547261469626