Fighting a tropical disease; brain and body shapes; food against cancer – Morning Medical Update

Studying chikungunya

In November 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first vaccine against chikungunya, a viral disease that is a risk for 1.3 billion people living in tropical and subtropical regions. It can be deadly, and researchers in Brazil and the United States are getting closer to figuring out exactly how it affects the human body, according to this study and accompanying news release.

Obesity in the body and brain

As people age, they become more prone to overweight and obesity, which can lead to any number of health problems. Japanese researchers believe changes in the shape of the body could be linked to changes in the shape of neurons in the brain. The lead author of the study said it could “lead to a fundamental treatment for obesity,” according to this news release.

Eating for health

These veggie-friendly recipes are loaded with nutrients that could help patients fighting cancer – or anyone fighting hunger. Check out these dishes posted on CURE, a clearinghouse of information for patients with cancer, survivors and their caregivers. (CURE also is a sister publication of Medical Economics).