SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " heart " 2,439 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are 'heartbroken' following son Joseph's arrest
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have spoken out following their son Joseph's arrest in March.
Boone Health sues cardiology group; coverage change to affect over 20K patients
Boone Health filed a lawsuit against Missouri Heart Center, alleging the cardiology group is trying to open a new clinic in Columbia.
What do you want to know about beta-blockers?
For decades, beta-blockers have been commonly prescribed as a standard treatment for adults who have had heart attacks with no complications and many people continue the medications for life. But a growing body of research has begun to question that approach.
Cardiac Electrophysiology Expertise Now Offered at UAMS Health Family Medical Center in Fort Smith
LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Health Heart Center now offers comprehensive cardiology services at the UAMS Health Family Medical Center in Fort Smith. The services are provided by cardiologists Subodh R. Devabhaktuni, M.D., Risheek Kaul, M.D., and Paul Mounsey, M.D., Ph.D. Cardiology services…
Delaware judge reassigns Elon Musk cases after LinkedIn emoji spat
Delaware Chancery Court Judge Kathaleen McCormick denies "hearting" a LinkedIn post critical of Elon Musk.
After a heart attack, beta-blockers are often a lifelong medicine. Maybe they shouldn’t be
For decades, surviving a heart attack has come with a lifelong prescription: Stay on medications called beta-blockers to help protect your heart. But doctors are taking a closer look at whether long-term beta-blocker use is really necessary, especially beyond the first year of recovery.
Too much sitting is taking a toll on heart and brain health
DALLAS, March 30, 2026 — Too much sitting has quietly become one of the most common threats to heart health in the United States. Research shows that prolonged sedentary time is linked to higher risks of heart disease, stroke and poorer mental health,...
How big a miss could Araujo be for Celtic?
With reports suggesting Julian Araujo has been ruled out for up to eight weeks with a thigh injury, Celtic fans are fearing their season could unravel. Martin O'Neill's side currently sit third in the Scottish Premiership after a defeat at Dundee United, with Rangers two points ahead and leaders Hearts five points clear. News of the severity of the injury to Araujo, who has not played since the recent Scottish Cup win at Ibrox, has served as another blow during the international break.
Don't worry Kingdom Hearts fans, it looks like we might get some new info on Kingdom Hearts 4 in... a year's time?
A new illustration for the 24th anniversary of Kingdom Hearts has some hoping for a Kingdom Hearts 4 update soon.
The tragedy of Adam Ankers – and why his family want football to learn from his death
Nobody knew Adam Ankers had a genetic heart condition. Two years after his death, it has to be hoped that his legacy is to make sport safer
3 Simple Daily Changes Could Lower Your Risk of Heart Attack And Stroke
Small steps for big results.
Sleeping 11 minutes longer each night shows surprising health benefit, study finds
New research suggests that improving heart health may be less about drastic lifestyle changes and more about small, consistent daily habits.
Sleeping 11 minutes longer each night shows surprising health benefit, study finds
New research suggests that improving heart health may be less about drastic lifestyle changes and more about small, consistent daily habits.
Everything Jon Scheyer said following Duke's loss to UConn
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer recaps the Blue Devils' heartbreaking loss to UConn in the Elite Eight.
Just a few minutes of effort could lower your risk of 8 major diseases
Just a few minutes of getting out of breath each day could dramatically cut your risk of major diseases—including heart disease, dementia, and diabetes. A large study of nearly 100,000 people found that it’s not just how much you move, but how intensely you move that matters. Short bursts of vigorous activity—like rushing for a bus or climbing stairs quickly—were linked to striking reductions in disease risk, especially for inflammatory conditions and brain health.
Patrick Mahomes Reacts to Major News on Sunday
Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes sent a heartfelt message after inspiring comeback victory.
Tetsuya Nomura posts new art for Kingdom Hearts 24th anniversary
The revered Tetsuya Nomura has uploaded some new Kingdom Hearts-inspired artwork to celebrate the fact that the beloved series is currently celebrating its 24th anniversary.
This 24-year-old almost died of a rare heart condition. This device saved her life
It's great when a new technology like WHOOP can be life saving, but it's not the be-all, end-all when it comes to health and medicine.
My birthday party has rules, cones and judges: Nobody wins at parallel parking. Until now.
Turns out, many people believe in their parallel parking abilities with their whole hearts.
Do the Health Risks of Drinking Alcohol Change With the Type of Booze? (One Drink Hits Different)
It’s hard to decipher all of the contradicting information out there. Some people swear the “magic secret” to staying healthy until the age of 99 is a glass of whiskey every night. Others say a glass of wine every day is good for your heart. Then we read an article that says that no amount […]
New cholesterol guidelines could change when you get tested
A major new U.S. cholesterol guideline is shifting the focus toward earlier, more personalized prevention of heart disease. It urges people to start screening sooner—sometimes even in childhood—and highlights the importance of tracking not just LDL (“bad”) cholesterol but also genetic risk factors like lipoprotein(a). A new, more advanced risk calculator now uses broader health data to better predict heart attack and stroke risk over decades.
The 5 Best Canned Foods You Should Be Eating for Better Heart Health
Eating for heart health doesn’t mean you need to give up on canned foods. Dietitians recommend stocking up on these canned food staples for a healthier heart.
MSU hockey's season ends in heartbreaking overtime loss to Wisconsin
Wisconsin's Ben Dexheimer scored just 24 seconds into overtime to send the Badgers to the Frozen Four.
Rural students get hands-on heart science experience
Jefferson County teacher Jasmine Change-Jones launched the 'Heart of Science' lab, giving rural students hands-on learning about cardiovascular health.
'Hannah Montana' Star Cody Linley Says It's 'Hard to Believe' People Had Shirtless Photos of Him in Their Lockers
Cody Linley reflected on his time as Jake Ryan on 'Hannah Montana' and being a teenage heartthrob, telling Yahoo Entertainment that 'it’s hard to believe that there were girls that had pictures of me with my shirt off in their locker.'
Heartland Sports on The Breakfast Show 3/28
Heartland Sports on The Breakfast Show 3/28
Camila's Breakfast Cafe is ready for business in Forest Grove - Forest Grove News-Times
Forest Grove’s newest breakfast spot has opened its doors on Main Street. Plates were coming out hot and hearty at Camila’s Breakfast Cafe on Friday, March 27, during a soft […]
To protect public health, California must embrace clean transportation
“Diesel pollution is linked to asthma, heart disease, lung cancer, premature death and harm to children’s developing lungs and brains.”
Country music star breaks fans' hearts by canceling entire tour: ‘Can’t do it’
The musician shared the tough news this week.
A nutrition scientist shared 3 food swaps for heart-healthy meals
Professor Sarah Berry, a nutrition scientist who specializes in cardiovascular disease, said getting the basics right can go a long way toward supporting our heart health.
Police officials: Downtowns offer food, entertainment, shopping, safety
Law enforcement say building relationship with community policing at heart of mission
Police officials: Downtowns offer food, entertainment, shopping, safety
Law enforcement say building relationship with community policing at heart of mission
Roland Garros pulls heartstrings with Rafael Nadal viral throwback video
A recent social media trend is the “Dad what were you like in the 90s” where famous people show throwback photos or videos of themselves with the Goo Goo Dolls 90s hit “Iris” playing in the background. Roland Garros, also…
Can a new heart health metric identify fracture risk in postmenopausal women? Study finds link
Postmenopausal women face a high risk of bone fractures. Due to declines in estrogen levels, which can lead to an increased risk of osteoporosis, even a low-impact fall can result in a serious hip, back, ...
BERRY: Nebraska’s season ends in heartbreak fashion
After a memorable season spanning four months and 28 days, highlighted by 28 wins, only seven losses, broken records, flu games and infinite memories, Nebraska’s historic 2025-26 season ended in Houston on Thursday night.
From The Sports Desk: Hoopin’ in the heartland
Three Midwest schools – Purdue, Illinois and Iowa – all won Thursday and advanced to the Elite Eight.
Sun, sand and science: kick start your summer at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition
The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition returns for 2026, from 30 June to 5 July, with everything you need for a sensational summer in the heart of central London.
Why Wild Blueberries Are Getting Attention for Heart and Metabolic Health Benefits
Wild blueberries may support heart health by improving blood vessel function, lowering blood pressure, and aiding cholesterol and blood sugar control.
Louisiana falls behind in cholesterol screenings as new guidelines emerge. See the data.
Regular cholesterol screenings are crucial for evaluating heart risks and preventing heart attacks and strokes. Here's the Louisiana parish data for cholesterol screenings.
Ryan Gosling returning to Los Angeles for new secret film project this Summer
Ryan Gosling is having a moment — and Hollywood can’t get enough. Fresh off the stratospheric success of his sci-fi smash Project Hail Mary, the Oscar-nominated heartthrob is already lining up...
Taylor Swift thanks fiancé Travis Kelce at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards for making her ‘very happy and confident and free’
Taylor Swift thanked fiancé Travis Kelce at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards for making her ‘very happy and confident and free.’
The Oscars are leaving Hollywood
In 2029, the Oscars will move from the Dolby Theater in the heart of Hollywood to the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live, a sprawling tourist hub in Downtown Los Angeles,
Zone 2, 3, 4? What do heart rate zones mean for your health?
If you’re not an athlete or training to be one, how do you know how much time you need to spend in each zone to maintain optimal health?
UT Health San Antonio announces $6.5 million gift to strengthen pediatric health workforce through new Harvey E. Najim Pediatric Health Scholars Program - UT Health San Antonio
UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio), has announced a $6.5 million gift from San Antonio philanthropist Harvey E. Najim to establish the Harvey E. Najim Pediatric Health Scholars Program to support future pediatric-focused professionals in dentistry, medicine and nursing in San Antonio and the surrounding […]
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope - First Details About the Major Heart of Chornobyl Expansion
A massive new storyline, two new regions - including the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant - that can take dozens of hours to explore, and much more. All in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope expansion announced at #XboxPartnerPreview:
‘B&B’ Affair! Rebecca Budig Talks Taylor & Deacon’s Heated First Time
'[Taylor] understands the danger that she puts her family in and can see all sides. But the heart wants what the heart wants,' Budig says of her character's steamy dalliance.
UT Health San Antonio announces $6.5 million gift to strengthen pediatric health workforce through new Harvey E. Najim Pediatric Health Scholars Program - UT Health San Antonio
Contacts: Monica Taylor, UT Health San Antonio, taylorm1@uthscsa.edu, 210-450-8970 Eileen Teves, UT Health San Antonio, tevese@uthscsa.edu, 210-450-7239 SAN ANTONIO, March 26, 2026 – UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio), has announced a $6.5 million gift from San Antonio philanthropist Harvey E. Najim […]
From frustration to inspiration: HeyShantaQ champions women’s health after heart attack and stroke
ShantaQuilette D. Carter-Williams knows heart problems are no laughing matter. But she uses humor and advocacy to help women understand the importance of heart health and how to speak up for themselves when they’re having symptoms.
Two Northside leaders named 2026 Health Care Champions
Lynn Jackson, president and CEO of Northside Hospital Forsyth, was named Health Care Executive of the Year, and Christine Bree Becker, lead nurse practitioner for the Maternal Heart Health Clinic at the Northside Hospital Heart Institute, was named Innovator of the Year in Women’s Health at an awards ceremony on March 19.
Cardiologist's 3 Favorite High-Protein Foods to Boost Heart Health
In TODAY.com's Expert Tip of the Day, a cardiologist shares her favorite foods to add more healthy protein to her diet in a heart-healthy way.
Small Daily Habits Can Add Up To Better Heart Health
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterTHURSDAY, March 26, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Even small improvements to your daily habits – a few minutes more sleep, a couple extra minutes of exercise, a daily side serving of veggies – can lower your risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure, a new study ...
Rock Island Entertainment Venue Nominated In USA Today 10 Best Poll
WOC Newstalk 1420 is the Quad Cities place to talk! WOC is also the Quad Cities home for Iowa sports with a full slate of Iowa football and basketball games.
13 Alert Traffic: Busy Houston sports weekend brings heavy traffic on I-10 Katy Freeway
As the heart of Houston transforms into a sports fan's dream, the additional traffic and weekend construction closures may make the experience of traveling to and from these events a bit of a nightmare.
Jak And Daxter Fans, Prepare To Have Your Heart Broken
Here’s what a remake might’ve looked like back in 2019
Sports Daily: Shockers’ season ends in heartbreaker
The Shockers lose a heartbreaker after an historic in-game comeback.
Upset winner Gray Davis on California's last wide-open governor's race
Gray Davis was a huge underdog who prevailed in a wide-open 1998 contest. The Democrat urges trailing hopefuls to ignore pressure to quit and 'follow your heart.'
Spring sports heat up Tuesday night in the Heartland
The Cape Central Girls Soccer team played its home opener against St. Vincent, while the Notre Dame Boys Baseball team hosted Portageville on Tuesday.
G7 Entertainment Marketing Launches Wild by G7 to Help Destinations Turn Culture Into Travel Demand
New Venture Responds to Surging Demand for Experience-Driven Travel by Helping Destinations Create Cultural Moments that Drive Visitation, Economic Impact, and Brand Loyalty Wild by G7 is producing the Rendezvous Music Festival The Head and the Heart band performed at a past Rendezvous Music Festival in Jackson, Wyoming Wild by G7 Sizzle NASHVILLE, Tenn. and JACKSON, Wyo., March 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- G7 Entertainment Marketing, the experiential and talent booking agency behind campaigns f
Latest stats show stress and lack of physical activity are rising, putting heart health at risk
As people navigate higher levels of stress and spend more of their day sitting, finding time to move can feel challenging. Less than half of adults and fewer than one in five children in the U.S. get ...
Stopping GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic erodes heart health benefits quickly, new study finds
Stopping GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic quickly erodes heart protection, with two years off the medication raising cardiovascular risk by 22%, a new study finds.
Mediterranean diet may boost mitochondrial signals linked to heart and brain health
A study led by researchers at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology suggests that the benefits of the Mediterranean diet may be driven, in part, by tiny proteins hidden within our mitochondria, ...
A geneticist is studying pythons for clues about human health and longevity
A team of researchers believes that pythons may contain clues to help treat a range of human ailments — from heart disease to muscle atrophy, and more.
Nominate a Capital Region health care executive who’s making a difference
Who’s running the organizations shaping health care in the Capital Region — and doing it well? That’s the question at the heart of the Outstanding Health Care Executive category in Business Report‘s inaugural Excellence in Health Care Awards. This recognition is for the senior leaders who are making the hard calls, building strong teams and […]
Inaugural Health Care by Food research award honors excellence in food is medicine science
DALLAS, March 23, 2026 — At a time when American dietary patterns are facing renewed attention, the American Heart Association has announced its inaugural Health Care by Food™ Most Impactful Food Is Medicine Research Award, honoring the year’s most...
Inaugural Health Care by Food research award honors excellence in food is medicine science
DALLAS, March 23, 2026 — At a time when American dietary patterns are facing renewed attention, the American Heart Association has announced its inaugural Health Care by Food™ Most Impactful Food Is Medicine Research Award, honoring the year’s most...
Data Is at the Heart of What Public Health Does
Data is key to protecting the health and safety of a community, from identifying and tracking disease outbreaks to ensuring that water is safe to drink. Data is also vital to understanding where resources are most needed. This value is especially apparent to the officials charged with protecting public health, such as Dr. Janet Berreman, Kauai’s (Kauaʻi’s)* district health officer.
Those who cannot live without wild things
Aldo Leopold wrote in his Sand County Almanac, “There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot.” The collection of essays first published in 1949 was accepted by a publishing house after a steady stream of rejections. His work long outlived him as Leopold died of a heart attack while fighting […]
Kansas coach Bill Self unsure about future after buzzer-beater loss to St. John's: 'I haven't decided'
After a heartbreaking last-second loss in the second round of the NCAA tournament, Self wasn't ready to discuss his coaching future.
Your Thymus and Your Healthspan
Our thymus gland plays a central role in the development or our immune system, specifically for supporting T cell development (how these cells got their name, maturation and differentiation in the thymus) and discriminating between self and foreign, non-self antigen proteins with production of dendritic cells. As we age, our thymus gland shrinks—the process known as involution—with progressive change from spongy to fatty tissue, with loss of functionality. But this process, with respect to timeline and extent, markedly varies from one person to the next. And to make things even more complicated, our thymus gland anatomy and precise location in the chest also is highly variable. So the famous Frank Netter diagrams from the 1960s (such as at left below) don’t capture the remarkable heterogeneity that a random set of 12 chest CT scans (below at right). What I consider as 2 landmark papers in Nature this week (here and here) used AI to quantify health of the thymus in 2 large cohorts, and then correlate the metric to a broad array of health outcomes. In this edition of Ground Truths, I’m going to cover three questions: (1) How was thymus health determined by AI?; (2) How is thymus health linked to key clinical outcomes? and (3) Are there ways we can promote a healthy (aka rejuvenate) thymus gland in our later years? Subscribe 1. How was thymus health determined by AI? This was accomplished by extensive work developing and validating an AI pipeline for 2 stages, the first for localization and segmentation of the thymus bed, and the second to quantify a digital marker, termed the thymic health score. There’s a lot to this algorithmic development, so I won’t go into all the details, but just provide a rudimentary outline of what was done. The 1st stage used supervised learning with 2 radiologists reviewing 2,461 chest CT scans. That work trained a 3D U-Net model to automatically identify the thymic bed’s 3D cropped region using center of mass coordinates, which reached 99.8% accuracy. The 2nd stage used a foundation model that was pre-trained with SwAV (which stands for Swapping Assignment between multiple Views), a self-supervised model, that generated a high-dimensional thymus representation of 4,096 features. That compares to the radiology reductionist and subjective scoring of 0 to 3 where 0 means the thymus is fully degenerated and fatty, and 3 is considered dense, intact glandular soft tissue. Notably, the self-supervised learning (SSL) performance was superior to supervised (AUC ~0.75 vs 0.55, respectively) reflecting the shallowness of the 0-3 classifier vs SSL’s holistic, self-taught AI. The thymic health score ranged from 0 to 100, with the highest number indexed to fully preserved thymic health. The algorithmic work extended to explainability with both Shapely value distribution, meaning the model was holistic not relying on any “magic” pixel, and occlusion sensitivity, demonstrating the model’s performance was not affected by ribs, sternum, lung tissue, but rather focused on the thymic bed directly. Below are a few saliency maps from the occlusion sensitivity that indicate the thymic bed focus, not affected by neighboring structures, using the jet color scale. Now the AI was ready for processing ~25,000 CT scans, each over 30 MB files, from the 2 large participant cohorts to provide a thymic health score, it did so in less than 14 hours, which is less than 2 seconds per scan! Share 2. How is thymus health linked to key clinical outcomes? The two cohorts were the National Lung Screening Trial, NLST (N=25,031) and the Framingham Heart Study, FHS (N=2,581) each with baseline demographics and long term follow up of >12 years for health outcomes. From the NSLT, you can see below that increased age and body-mass index were correlated to reduced thymic health. And, overall, men had reduced thymic health scores compared with women. There are a lot of graphs in the paper for outcomes, for both the NLST and FHS cohorts. To simplify the major outcomes, below is a composite Figure with striking reduction of all-cause mortality and for the different causes of death. The results were consistent between the 2 cohorts. For example, the cardiovascular mortality hazard ratio average was 0.57 in NLST and 0.38 in FHS (weighted to be 0.53 for the aggregate). The reduction of mortality also extended to digestive diseases and pulmonary disease (data not shown below). Lung cancer incidence was reduced by 36% for high vs low thymic health (Figure below, with a panel -incidence and b panel-mortality, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking status). Notably, there was a smoker’s paradox: lower incidence and improved survival for lung cancer in smokers who had a high thymus health score. Smoking was associated with lower thymic scores whereas alcohol was not. Higher thymic health was linked to higher HDL cholesterol, lower triglycerides, lower fasting blood glucose, and lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Inflammation biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, were elevated in the people with lower thymic health scores. In their second paper, the same team looked at the relationship between thymic score and outcomes for 3,476 patients receiving cancer immunotherapy. The non-small cell lung cancer progression-free survival was reduced in patients with low thymic health score. A parallel relationship for survival was seen for other types of cancer including melanoma, breast, and kidney with a 44% lower risk among high thymic scores (Figure). A similar pattern was seen with different immune checkpoint inhibitors. The thymus health score outperformed programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1)and tumor mutation burden (TMB) assay of the tumor and was an independent prognostic marker of progression-free survival. In this dataset, a direct connect with thymus score and adaptive immune function was noted with a correlation before cancer treatment for both T-cell diversity and thymus T-cell production (a metric known as T cell receptor excision circles). Thymus Removal Study There is a highly relevant citation about thymus function before moving onto ways to rejuvenate it. In 2023, a very important study of thymus removal during cardiothoracic surgery was published, with 1146 patients undergoing thymus removal vs 1146 matched controls (mean age 55 years). The adverse outcomes for thymus removal were striking, with a 2.9 higher risk of all-cause mortality and doubling of cancer incidence, 1.5 fold increase in cancer mortality, and 1.5-fold increase in autoimmune diseases. The immune function showed marked compromise after thymus removal, as reflected by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (Figure below) Share Ground Truths 3. Are there ways we can promote a healthy (aka rejuvenate) thymus gland in our later years? In recent months we’ve learned a lot about the process of thymus involution and the pathways by which this may be modulated. Thymus involution is primarily due to loss to thymus epithelial cells (TECs) and there are 2 subtypes with different functions: the cortical, responsible for positive selection of T cells, and the medullary, for negative selection. When adipose tissue infiltrates the thymus, thymic adipocytes are pro-inflammatory, knocking out T-cell output. Likewise, systemic inflammation, or “inflammaging,” from smoking, obesity, and chronic stress promote thymic adipocytes. Now, from preclinical studies, we know about key pathways that account for these processes. Historically, back in 2014, FOXN1 was recognized as a single master transcription factor essential for TEC function, with studies in mice with forced FOXN1 upregulation leading to thymus regeneration. That laid the foundation for potential regrowth of quiescent thymus cells. It took awhile to find pathways to accomplish this goal and to even refute its role as the master regulator. The Liver-Thymus Axis Feng Zhang and his team recently showed that injection of an mRNA vaccine to the liver encoding DLL1, IL-7 and FLT3-L in combination, factors known to support thymopoiesis (Figure), successfully enhanced immune function in aged mice. However, the effect was transient. The FGF21 Story Two reports in 2025 addressed the thymus gland’s production of FGF21, a growth factor (fibroblast growth factor 21) and its control of thymus involution. This growth factor is also produced by the liver, but it doesn’t have impact on the thymus in aged rodent models. In contrast, The liver’s hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been shown to reverse senescent TEC structural changes. Growth hormone stimulates production of insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the liver and the thymus. Two small studies in human participants (TRIIM, for Thymus Regeneration, Immunorestoration, and Insulin Mitigation) of 6 and 50 people, respectively, treated with combined human growth hormone, metformin and DHEA, suggested the potential of slowing epigenetic aging and improving thymus mass and function. But the combination of drugs, small sample, and lack of controls make conclusions murky. Increased thymus FGF21 led to increased CD8 T cells in old mice and extended healthspan and improved physical performance. Building on the previous FOXN1 data, ablation of β-klotho, the obligatory co-receptor for FOXN1, accelerated thymic aging. The benefit to FGF21 was confirmed in a companion paper using an FGF21 knock-in mouse model showing thymus enlargement and increased TECs throughout the lifespan. (schematic Figure below). The accompanying editorial for these 2 papers speculated: “The proposed link between age-associated thymus involution and organismal aging is intriguing, and suggests we might seek to achieve systemic rejuvenation by counteracting thymic involution.” Other Factors Lessons from the Axolotl (Mexican Salamander) In an elegant set of experiments of the axolotl (Figure), known for its complete thymus regeneration after total surgical removal, mediators were identified. Surprisingly FOXN1 was dispensable. But midkine, a growth factor, appeared to be the driver, the initiator of thymus cell growth, survival, and repair. Other components that contributed were Postn+ (periostin-expressing mesenchymal niches) and Ccl19, a chemokine protein from the bloodstream. RANK and RANKL RANK (receptor activator of nuclear factor κB its ligand (RANKL) have been considered key regulators of medullary TECs. In a study of both aged mice and human thymus cell cultures, their key role was confirmed, with multiple benefits of resorting TEC function, recruitment of progenitor cells, and T cell development. Subscribe Summing Up This body of work strongly supports the health of the thymus gland as a critical regulator of human healthspan, not just a correlate or link. The new landmark studies are reinforced by the regenerative biology experimental models that have shown, via an array of mediators, that healthspan of aged mice is at least in part dependent on thymus gland function and its critical role for maintaining adaptive immunity. It sure seems that we’d be better off having an immune reservoir of naive T cells instead of a profile in older adults of exhausted, low quality, memory T cells, with a senescent phenotype. It is striking that we ignored the importance of the thymus gland for many decades. A wake-up call was the results of the thymectomy matched control study reviewed here, with the opposite of high thymic health score improved health outcomes. The convergence of AI and healthspan here is notable. The exceptional and laborious work for developing and validating (no less explaining) the AI to quantify thymus health set the foundation for probing the connect the major health outcomes in two cohorts with extensive follow-up. We’ve never had a way to meaningfully quantify the thymus gland before, so this represents important leverage of supervised, self-supervised, and transformer models. The study wouldn’t have been possible without AI. And it begs the question as to whether there are ways we can maintain our thymus at a high health score. But it’s not so simple to rejuvenate our thymus. There are multiple risks including the induction of autoimmunity, increasing the risk of cancer, and inducing a pro-inflammatory state. For example, factors that increase TEC proliferation could compromise the medulllary negative selection process and leak out auto-reactive (self-attacking) T cells. Thymic cells could be induced to proliferate, but we know, for example, that growth hormone and IGF-1 are associated with an increase risk of cancer. If thymus rejuvenation doesn’t clear out the accumulated senescent cells in older adults, then inflammation within the gland could block the production of TECs. Keeping these risks in mind, we now have identified many ways to keep our thymus healthy as we age that undoubtedly will be tested in clinical trials going forward. Ultimately, the benefit-to-risk tradeoffs will be defined. In the meantime, we have desperately needed an immunome. As I’ve stressed in multiple prior Ground Truths, we have no test in the clinic to assess a patient’s immune status! It was very encouraging for me to get an email from Hugo Aerts, the senior author of the landmark papers in the days after they were published: “I also wanted to say that your Substack on “Why We Need an Immunome” was inspiring for this work. We found it a very compelling perspective and greatly enjoyed reading it.” Just having an assessment of a person’s immune status via a chest CT scan, with millions of these performed per year, might help in guiding the right immunotherapy for cancer (e.g. more intensive, combinations for those with low thymic health scores) and help define people who are increased risk for age-related diseases of cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative. The main theme of Super Agers is that we now have many layers of data (genetics, proteins, biomarkers, organ clocks that can be integrated via multimodal AI) for us to define a person’s specific risk decades before one of these age-related diseases leads to symptoms, enabling prevention. From the new studies this week, we can add thymus health score as yet another way to understand a person’s risk, a window into their adaptive immune system and healthspan. And perhaps someday we will be able to safely rejuvenate the thymus, or maintain its health through one’s life, and use the thymus health score to monitor. NB: I wrote this post (No A.I.) A Quick Poll Loading... ********************************************************************* Thanks to Ground Truths subscribers (now > 200,000) from every US state and 212 countries. Your subscription to these free essays and podcasts makes my work in putting them together worthwhile. Please join! If you found this interesting PLEASE share it! Share Ground Truths Paid subscriptions are voluntary and all proceeds from them go to support Scripps Research. They do allow for posting comments and questions, which I do my best to respond to. Please don’t hesitate to post comments and give me feedback. Let me know topics that you would like to see covered. Leave a comment Many thanks to those who have contributed—they have greatly helped fund our summer internship programs for the past two years. It enabled us to accept and support 47 summer interns in 2025! We aim to accept even more of the several thousand who will apply for summer 2026.
Bill Self health scare, explained: Why Kansas coach was hospitalized during 2025-26 season
Bill Self was briefly hospitalized after experiencing symptoms related to heart problems he has dealt with in the past.
'Heartbreaking' - fighter pay debate laid bare at UFC London
The debate around fighter pay reemerges at UFC London amid some career-defining performances on the undercard.
Jaebri'an Autry ends Detroit Renaissance career with heartbreak
Muskegon beat Detroit Renaissance 34-29 in the MHSAA girls basketball Division 1 state championship game on Saturday, March 21 in East Lansing.
The perfect amount of wine to drink to lower your risk of dying from heart disease by 21%
6 Supplements That May Support Heart Health
Supplements that may support heart health include garlic, fiber, and red yeast rice. They may lower cholesterol levels and improve blood pressure.
Early Menopause Linked to 40% Higher Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Women who go through natural menopause before age 40 face a 40% higher lifetime risk of coronary heart disease. Black women are three times as likely to experience early menopause as white women.
What Buffy's Nicholas Brendon Said About His Congenital Heart Defect, Cauda Equina Syndrome Before Death
Before Nicholas Brendon died on March 20 at the age of 54, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum and his sister had discussed his health diagnoses, including cauda equina syndrome and a heart defect.
Men are losing a key chromosome with age and it may be deadly
Aging men often lose the Y chromosome in a growing number of their cells—and it may be far more dangerous than once believed. This loss has been linked to heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and shorter lifespans. Researchers suspect Y-less cells may grow faster and disrupt normal body functions. What seemed like a minor genetic quirk could actually be a major driver of age-related disease.
Splenda manufacturer eyes $91M in upgrades to Indianapolis operations
Carmel-based Heartland Food Products Group plans to construct a new building and add the newly acquired Splenda brand to its product manufacturing operations in Indianapolis.
Kyle Juszczyk recalls 49ers memory that gave him ‘soft spot' for Dre Greenlaw
Kyle Juszczyk has a special place in his heart for Dre Greenlaw, who is returning to the San Francisco 49ers for the 2026 NFL season.
New Cholesterol Guidelines: The No. 1 Thing Young People Can Do Now to Boost Heart Health
New cholesterol guidelines offer opportunities to not just treat disease, but to get ahead of it.
Get an Lp(a) test — and 3 other things you must do now for heart health
I’m a cardiologist. Here are the most important new guidelines that younger people need to know about when it comes to their heart health.
How Stress, Depression and Anxiety Hit the Heart
Depression, anxiety, PTSD and more are linked to higher odds of heart attack, stroke and heart failure — and the risk is especially relevant after age 50
Cycle Nova: Villanova students unite to honor a legacy and advance heart health
Villanova, Pa., March 17, 2026 — Beat for Good, Villanova University’s student‑run organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by cardiovascular disease, hosted its inaugural cycling fundraiser, Cycle Nova, on Saturday, March...
Cone Health to Cut Ribbon on Two New Mobile Health Units
Two New Mobile Units Launch To Meet The Needs of the Community
Premature Menopause Increases Heart Disease Risk
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterTHURSDAY, March 19, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Premature menopause can increase a woman’s long-term risk of heart disease from clogged arteries by 40%, a new study says. This risk is particularly important among Black women, as they are three times more likely to ...
Olivia Walton: States should lead on maternal health crisis
Heartland Forward is rolling out state-level roadmaps.
This heart-healthy diet may also lower the risk of dementia
Two studies have found the DASH diet — either alone or combined with the Mediterranean diet — is a winner in terms of brain health.
Early menopause could put women at greater risk for heart attack, study finds
The heart health steps now recommended you take in your 20s and 30s
People between ages 20 and 40 should be taking steps now to prevent heart attacks and strokes, according to new recommendations from the American Heart Association.
Healthy Returns: Stopping GLP-1s raises risk of heart attack, stroke and death, study says
Research finds that even short gaps in treatment with a GLP-1 can drive up risks of heart attack, stroke and death in patients with Type 2 diabetes.
Why quitting Ozempic and GLP-1s can be bad for your heart health
People who quit taking popular GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic might their jeopardize heart health, according to a new study.
Heart benefits fade after stopping GLP-1 medications
One major benefit of taking injected GLP-1 medications is a sizeable reduction in risk for heart attacks, strokes and other heart problems.
9 Fruits To Reduce Inflammation In The Body
Fruits are one of the best sources of anti-inflammatory nutrients, helping to reduce chronic inflammation, which has been linked to heart disease, cancer and cognitive decline.
Christie Gayheart earns top Michigan science honor
Jefferson Middle School science teacher Dr. Christie Gayheart was recognized by the Midland Public Schools Board of Education for being awarded the George G. Mallinson Award.