Mercury Pharmaceuticals UK

Aug 2026

An 11-year study found the same social media pattern again and again

Across 11 annual U.S. surveys involving about 183,000 adults, higher social media use was consistently associated with self-reported depression, with social media ranking among the strongest predictors in machine-learning models. SHAP analyses suggested that social media use became a stronger positive signal for depression at around 150 minutes per day, although the authors stress that this is not an established clinical threshold and requires longitudinal and experimental testing.

Aug 2026

Japan vaccinated heavily during COVID-19. Why are so many unsure about vaccinating next time?

A nationwide Japanese survey found that only 53.1% of respondents said they would accept vaccination in a hypothetical future pandemic with COVID-19-like fatality, despite substantially higher previous COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Willingness varied by demographics, perceived disease risk, exposure to misinformation, vaccine characteristics, and practical factors such as cost, evidence, professional recommendations, and accessibility.

Aug 2026

Could a daily vinegar drink help with constipation? A small trial offers a clue

A randomized, double-blind trial found that adults with mild constipation who drank a vinegar beverage daily for four weeks had more frequent bowel movements than those receiving placebo. Exploratory findings also suggested earlier improvements in bowel habits, although the small feasibility-based trial requires confirmation in larger and more diverse populations.

Aug 2026

Shared protein pathology redefines treatment for multiple neurodegenerative diseases

On the surface, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE) might seem like unrelated diseases.

Aug 2026

Researchers explore the link between tau levels and depressive symptoms in older people

During typical aging and Alzheimer's disease progression, higher levels of a protein called tau are associated with more depressive symptoms.

Aug 2026

Harvard engineers develop smartphone app to aid navigation for people with blindness

For people with blindness or who have low vision, moving around independently is a daily challenge. Harvard researchers have developed a new tool that could help such people navigate more quickly and safely, using nothing but a device they likely already have – a smartphone.