Mercury Pharmaceuticals

Smoking linked to increased loneliness, study shows

Smoking is not social and leads to increased loneliness, according to a large Europe-wide study presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

GLP-1 drugs appear psychiatrically safe, but one finding still raises questions

A systematic review of 11 observational studies representing more than 4.9 million patients found that GLP-1 receptor agonists were generally associated with neutral or potentially protective psychiatric outcomes, although one obesity-focused cohort reported increased risks of depression, anxiety, and suicidal behavior. Direct evidence for antidepressant effects remains limited, with only one cross-sectional study using validated mood scales and no randomized trials in the final synthesis, meaning causality cannot be established

Laughter therapy eases breathlessness in people with COPD

A clinical trial for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) shows that laughter therapy can reduce breathing difficulties and is as effective as more traditional breathing exercises. The research is presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

AI chatbots wrongly reassure sleep apnea patients, study finds

In a third of cases, AI chatbots wrongly reassure sleep apnea patients that their symptoms are not serious, discouraging them from seeking a referral to a specialist, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

Bacteria found in classroom dust may affect children’s respiratory health

Common bacteria found in classroom dust are associated with reduced lung function in children according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

Genetic COPD risk emerges early with higher air pollution

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious, incurable lung disease that is common in older people.

Yoga with a cognitive twist showed some intriguing benefits in older adults

A 24-week pilot randomized trial found that both traditional Hatha yoga and a faster, cognitively demanding YogaCue program were associated with improvements in cognitive and physical performance in independently living older adults. YogaCue showed promising additional gains in verbal and episodic memory, aerobic fitness, and lower-body power, although the small study could not establish clear superiority over Hatha yoga across all outcomes.

Psilocybin protects sensory nerves from chemotherapy damage in preclinical study

In mouse models, prophylactic psilocybin prevented or reduced multiple features of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, with cycle-matched dosing sustaining protection during repeated cisplatin exposure without measurably affecting tumor growth. Experiments in human-derived sensory neurons and ex vivo peripheral nerves linked the effect to 5-HT2A-dependent preservation of mitochondrial trafficking and local axonal energy supply, while a nonhallucinogenic 5-HT2A agonist reproduced protection against mechanical hypersensitivity.

Some popular drinks were linked to depression and anxiety. Coffee was different

Alcohol-free beer looks cheaper on the shelf, but the checkout tells a different story

A Great Britain analysis found that no/low-alcohol drinks were generally cheaper than regular-strength products on supermarket shelves and when equivalent products were compared directly. However, consumers paid more per serving for no/lo beer and about the same for cider, partly because these products were often sold in smaller, less cost-efficient packs.