Nature Medicine, Published online: 13 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04397-4
This 2026 update integrates emerging trial evidence — particularly for weight loss and liver disease — to refine EASO’s treatment algorithm for obesity management.
Therapeutic Interventions Targeted at Problematic Use of Digital Technology: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Evidence
Background: Problematic use of digital technology has increased across the world. Despite growing research, evidence on treatment effectiveness across digital behaviors remains fragmented. Objective: This study aimed to systematically evaluate and compare the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions targeted at problematic use of digital technology across various behavioral domains. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2020 guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD420251052442). Electronic searches of PubMed, Scopus, and Embase (up to April 2025) were conducted. It identified 125 eligible studies, including 73 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 32 non-RCTs, 14 pre-post studies, and 6 pilot studies. The interventions that were assessed in these studies included psychological therapies, digital or web-based programs, exercise-based interventions, pharmacological treatments, neuromodulation, parent-focused programs, virtual reality–based interventions, educational programs, and multicomponent approaches. Random-effects meta-analyses using standardized mean differences (SMDs) were performed. Results: For problematic internet use, psychological treatments showed a strong effect (effect size=−2.68; <.001). Digital interventions also showed significant benefit (effect size=−1.16; <.001). For smartphone addiction, psychological treatments (effect size=−1.49; <.001) and exercise-based programs (effect size=−3.07; =.001) showed significant improvement. For gaming disorder, psychological treatments showed improvement (effect size=−1.01; =.02), but results were mixed. There were limited studies to calculate pooled results for social media addiction, pornography use, gambling, screen time, and over-the-top content watching. No treatment studies were found for problematic over-the-top content watching. High heterogeneity and evidence of small-study effects were observed in several studies. Conclusions: Overall, structured psychological therapies showed the most consistent benefit. These findings support structured interventions that aim for control of use and reduce cues linked to high use. Evidence remains limited for several emerging digital behaviors. More high-quality studies are needed in clinical settings and for less-studied forms of digital addiction.
STAT+: Why Marty Makary was the worst FDA commissioner in 25 years
I have covered the FDA for the past 25 years, and so I don’t say this lightly: Marty Makary was the worst commissioner in that time.
Makary, who resigned under pressure from the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday, brought to the job a fundamental lack of understanding of the nature of the role, of the functions of his agency, and of the needs of the employees who worked for him. He allowed too much of the senior leadership of the agency to leave or be removed, weakened its standards, and ignored staffers who understood both the science and the political art of regulation. Toward the end of his tenure, he seemed isolated and obsessed with notching “wins” that often amounted to very little.
That is not to say he did no good at all: Makary’s efforts to foster the use of artificial intelligence in drug development, to speed the drug review process by reducing dead time as companies wait for responses from reviewers, and to accelerate clinical trials were all strong ideas.
AAVs in Focus: Practical Approaches to Capsid Analytics and Plasmid DNA Control
Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) continue to be a foundational platform for gene therapies, with rapid advances in vector design, analytics, and manufacturing practices. This three-part USP webinar series on AAV guides participants through a progressive learning journey starting with the current AAV landscape, then advancing to focused, practical discussions on capsid characterization, and ending with specialized session focused plasmid DNA starting materials.
Throughout this series, experts from USP and industry will share first-hand experiences, case studies, and practical insights on how AAV analytics and material controls are evolving. This series will identify common AAV challenges and explore effective solutions across different stages of development.
Why Attend the AAV Webinar Series?
- Broaden attendees’ understanding of the current AAV landscape by learning from experts about key scientific, analytical, and manufacturing considerations
- Learn how developers approach capsid characterization, full/empty analysis, and data comparability, and how production and analytical teams work together to optimize AAV manufacturing
- Discover more about the critical role of plasmid DNA as a starting material, and how expectations change from early development to later stages
- Engage directly with subject matter experts during live Q&A sessions
May 19, 2026
June 16, 2026
July 8, 2026
AAV Manufacturing: Best Practices in Quality Control and the Role of USP Standards
Practical Strategies for AAV Capsid Characterization
Characterizing Plasmid DNA to Improve AAV Manufacturing
A live Q&A session will follow the presentation, offering you a chance to pose questions to our expert panelists.
Produced with support from:
The post AAVs in Focus: Practical Approaches to Capsid Analytics and Plasmid DNA Control appeared first on GEN – Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.
<![CDATA[How antidepressant myths can raise suicide risk—and what evidence-based prescribing, tapering, and crisis supports really look like.]]>
The Child Mind Institute Hosts 2026 Spring Luncheon “Future-Proofing Your Kids: Empowered Parenting in the Digital Age”
New York Times bestselling author Lisa Damour, PhD, led a thoughtful discussion to honor Mental Health Awareness Month
New York, NY – The Child Mind Institute, the leading independent nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children struggling with mental health and learning disorders, hosted its 2026 Spring Luncheon on Monday, May 11. The event featured a dynamic discussion between Lisa Damour, PhD, a three-time New York Times bestselling author and host of the podcast, Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens, and Dave Anderson, PhD, Vice President of Public Engagement and Education and a senior psychologist at the Child Mind Institute. Their conversation was moderated by Ali Wentworth, an actress, comedian, author, and host of the television show, The Parent Test.
The event brought together advocates and distinguished individuals dedicated to equipping children and families with the skills they need to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving online and social environments. Attendees included Carson and Siri Daly, Jeannie Gaffigan, Kyle MacLachlan, Zibby Owens, and Alysia Reiner.
“We are raising children in a world fundamentally different from any generation before them…a world where childhood unfolds not just in homes and schools but online,” said Harold S. Koplewicz, MD, founding president and medical director of the Child Mind Institute. “Technology brings creativity and connection but also real risks: constant comparison, disrupted sleep, compulsive engagement, and exposure to harmful content. Our job is to help kids build the skills to navigate this world with resilience, confidence, and balance.”
The discussion centered on kids and families and how they can build healthy habits and resilience as they face the demands and distractions of a world increasingly reliant upon and centered around digital technology.
“My umbrella concern is what the conversation about technology is doing to the relationship between adults and kids. The single most powerful force for youth mental health is strong relationships with caring adults,” said Dr. Damour.
“If we focus on driving causal factors — such as family relationships, academic success, in-person friendships, sleep, and movement — we end up promoting a child’s wellness far more than by taking technology away,” said Dr. Anderson.
The luncheon raised over $260,000 to support the Child Mind Institute’s mission to change the lives of children with mental health and learning disorders in the United States and around the world.
The luncheon was co-chaired by Chris Mack, Lisa and Guy Metcalfe, Zibby Owens, and Jil Schaps. The host committee included Robyn and Paul Goldschmid, Desiree Gruber, Molly Jong-Fast, Breanna and John Khoury, Isabelle Krishana, Arielle Tepper, and Sarah J. Wetenhall.
Photos from the luncheon can be found here.
This special event is part of the Child Mind Institute’s programming during Mental Health Awareness Month. The Child Mind Institute recently launched its latest campaign, Mental Health Fitness. Physical fitness doesn’t just happen — it takes skills, regular practice, and a supportive environment. The same is true for mental health. Alongside relatable content from influencers and world-renowned athletes, the Mental Health Fitness resources from the Child Mind Institute provide kids and families with five core mental health skills they can practice every day.
About the Child Mind Institute
The Child Mind Institute is dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders by giving them the help they need. We’ve become the leading independent nonprofit in children’s mental health by providing gold-standard, evidence-based care, delivering educational resources to millions of families each year, training educators in underserved communities, and developing tomorrow’s breakthrough treatments.
Visit Child Mind Institute on social media: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn
For press questions, contact our press team at childmindinstitute@ssmandl.com or our media officer at mediaoffice@childmind.org.
The post The Child Mind Institute Hosts 2026 Spring Luncheon “Future-Proofing Your Kids: Empowered Parenting in the Digital Age” appeared first on Child Mind Institute.
Brain Histamine Map Links Genetic Factors to Mental Health and Psychiatric Disorders
A study headed by researchers at King’s College London and the University of Porto has mapped the histamine system in the brain. Histamine, a molecule more commonly associated with allergies, plays a separate but poorly understood role in brain function. The new study addresses this gap, building the first multiscale map of the histamine system which spans from genetics to behavior and related mental health conditions.
The findings provide a new framework for understanding how this often-overlooked chemical system contributes to brain function and could point towards new treatment strategies for histamine-related conditions such as depression, ADHD, and schizophrenia. The study was funded by the National institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre.
Daniel Martins, MD, PhD, visiting senior research fellow at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) King’s College London, said, “This work provides a crucial foundation for future research. By integrating molecular biology, brain imaging, and computational analysis, it offers a new perspective on how neurotransmitter systems are organized across the human brain. As neuroscience moves toward more integrated and personalized models of mental health, understanding systems like histamine may prove essential for unlocking new approaches to diagnosis and treatment.”
Martins is first and corresponding author of the team’s published paper in Nature Mental Health, which is titled “Mapping histamine pathway networks in the human brain across cognition and psychiatric disorders.” In their paper the team concluded, “This study provides an integrated characterization of the histaminergic system in the human brain, leveraging transcriptomic, neuroimaging, and functional datasets to delineate its molecular organization and relevance to brain function underlying cognition and psychiatric disorders.”
Histamine is a neurotransmitter, a molecule crucial for neurons to communicate with one another, the authors explained. “Neuronal histamine plays a crucial role in the regulation of brain function, serving as a neuromodulator with widespread influence across multiple neurotransmitter systems.” However, neuroscience research has classically focused on understanding other neurotransmitter systems such as dopamine and serotonin.
As the investigators noted, the organization of histamine in the human brain remains incompletely characterized. However, they explained, dysregulation of the histaminergic system has been implicated in a number of neuropsychiatric conditions, including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases. “Therefore, targeting the brain histamine system has garnered significant attention as a potential new therapeutic strategy for treating these disorders, with pharmacological interventions aimed at modulating histamine receptor activity showing promise in preclinical models.”
Histamine acts through four known histamine receptors, which are responsible for how the signal will influence receiver neurons. Each of these histamine receptors, (histamine receptor H1 (encoded by HRH1), H2 (HRH2), H3 (HRH3) and H4 (HRH4)), mediates distinct functions. For their newly reported study, Martins and colleagues carried out what they described as multimodal analysis, integrating transcriptomic, neuroimaging, developmental and functional datasets to map the architecture of the histaminergic system.
To build a comprehensive map of how histamine acts in the brain, researchers first combined genetic and molecular data with physical maps of the brain.
This revealed which brain regions receive more input from the brain’s histamine system, and which parts show greater capacity to respond to histamine. These molecular data were then linked with positron emission tomography imaging of histamine receptors in living individuals, as well as functional neuroimaging databases that map brain regions to specific cognitive processes and mental health conditions. This type of scan shows how different parts of the brain are working by tracking a tiny amount of radioactive tracer in real time.
Their results found that different histamine receptors were found on brain cells that either turn activity up (excitation) or turn it down (inhibition). “The findings reveal that histaminergic genes exhibit distinct cellular and regional expression profiles, closely aligning with known histaminergic neuroanatomy and function,” they wrote. “At the single-cell level, histamine receptor H1 and histamine receptor H2 were enriched in excitatory neurons, whereas histamine receptor H3 showed preferential expression in inhibitory populations.” This suggests histamine may be important in maintaining the balance between excitation and inhibition, a fundamental property of healthy brain function.
Brain regions with higher histamine-related gene expression were consistently associated with processes such as emotional regulation, stress and fear responses, decision-making, impulsivity, reward, sleep, and memory.
The parts of the brain where histamine-related genes were most active also overlapped significantly with brain regions known to be affected in several psychiatric conditions, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and anorexia nervosa. This is in keeping with previous hypotheses linking histamine to these disorders. “By linking histaminergic gene expression to brain-cell types, neurotransmitter systems, cognitive domains and psychiatric disorders, these correlational findings generate several hypotheses concerning histamine’s critical role in brain organization, neurodevelopment and mental health, which further experimental mechanistic work should prioritize and build onto investigate causal relationships,” the investigators concluded.
Martins said, “Current psychiatric treatments largely target neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, yet histamine interacts closely with these systems and influences their activity. By providing a detailed map of histamine-related pathways, this work suggests new opportunities for developing treatments that target this system more directly, particularly for symptoms such as cognitive dysfunction, fatigue, and impaired motivation.
While these findings do not establish a direct causal role, they suggest that histamine signalling may contribute to regional vulnerability in these disorders. This aligns with a growing view in psychiatry that mental health conditions arise from disruptions across interacting brain systems rather than a single chemical imbalance.”
This new map paints a neural picture of a previously lesser-studied molecule. It opens up future avenues of research into exactly what histamine is doing in various cell types and parts of the brain.
“We want to emphasise that these findings are hypothesis-generating and based on large-scale datasets that capture patterns rather than direct mechanisms,” commented senior author Steve Williams, PhD, professor of neuroimaging at IoPPN King’s College London. Future studies will focus on testing how histamine signaling changes in living individuals, for example through pharmacological interventions or longitudinal imaging approaches.
Co-author Daniel Van Wamelen, PhD, clinical senior lecturer in neuroscience at IoPPN, King’s College London and one of the authors on the paper said: “This kind of work is already taking place at King’s College London, for example in the iMarkHD project. In this project we use Positron Emission Tomography scans to study a specific histamine receptor (called H3) in people with Huntington’s disease, an inherited condition that affects the brain. The goal is to see how histamine activity changes in different parts of the brain over time, and how these changes relate to symptoms such as apathy, depression, and anxiety.”
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Males who discuss suicide seek help less often than females, report finds
Death by suicide is a male emergency. Although three times as many women as men report suicidal ideation and attempts, the vast majority of deaths by suicide in the U.S. — up to 80% — are among men. The reasons: higher impulsivity, lower reported fear of death, and, crucially, easy access to guns.
The most recent report from Crisis Text Line — a nonprofit working with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to provide free and confidential text-based mental health support — sheds light on another explanation: Men reach out for help a lot less than women.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia Therapy Improved by CRISPR Stem Cell Transplant
For highly aggressive types of blood cancer, stem cell transplantation is often the only potentially curative therapy. Yet, these cancers can often return even after a transplant. Notably, CAR T cell therapy has not been effective against all blood cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
A recent Phase I/II multicenter clinical trial, led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, shows that a stem cell transplant, that removes CD33 from donor cells using CRISPR, can help prevent cancer recurrence.
The work was published in Nature Medicine and titled, “CRISPR−Cas9 CD33-deleted allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation with gemtuzumab ozogamicin maintenance in AML: a Phase I/II trial.” The study was conducted at Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine, and 14 other sites in the U.S. and Canada. 30 adult patients with AML or MDS at high risk of relapse received the stem cell transplant.
Myeloid cancers, such as AML and MDS, are difficult to treat with CAR T cells because the same proteins targets are present on both cancer cells and healthy myeloid cells, leading to toxicity risks.
“We are encouraged by the results of this study showing that a CD33-deleted stem cell transplant looks very similar to the outcomes of standard stem cell transplantation,” said John DiPersio, MD, PhD, professor of medicine at WashU Medicine and corresponding author of the study. “In the future, we are hopeful we will be able to combine this with CD33-targeted immunotherapies, such as CAR T cells, and improve treatment options for patients with these very aggressive blood cancers.”
As proof of concept, patients also received a maintenance therapy that targets CD33, after completion of the stem cell transplant. While not a CD33-targeted CAR T cell, the maintenance therapy, called gemtuzumab ozogamicin, is an engineered antibody that targets CD33 and carries an anti-cancer drug. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat CD33-positive AML and is in clinical trials for CD33-positive MDS. While it helps prevent relapse, the drug’s use is limited because it can cause liver toxicity and damage to blood cells, including dangerously low counts of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.
All patients from the trial achieved engraftment of their transplanted stem cells by day 28. Some patients met this goal sooner with platelet production returning by day 16 on average. These timeframes are comparable to those of standard transplanted stem cells.
Average survival was just over 14 months. Nineteen patients received at least one cycle of the antibody maintenance therapy as part of a dose-escalation protocol. The authors found that patients maintained blood cell counts across all doses, suggesting that the gene-edited stem cell transplant protected patients from low blood cell counts typically seen following a standard stem cell transplant.
DiPersio and colleagues published a single case study detailing a patient with high-risk AML who received a CD33-deleted stem cell transplant. Upon relapse after the transplant, the patient received a CD33-targeted CAR T cell therapy, which used T cells from the same donor who provided the stem cell transplant.
The treatment resulted in complete remission and the patient remains cancer free over one year after receiving the CAR T cell therapy. Normal blood cell production returned with all blood cells lacking CD33, providing evidence that the genetically engineered donor cells had established themselves in the bone marrow.
DiPersio said the results of the study lay the groundwork for developing paired CD33-deleted stem cell transplant and CD33-targeted immunotherapy interventions that avoid destruction of healthy donor cells in the course of cancer treatment.
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Low‑Dose Digoxin Shows Benefit in Heart Failure Treatment
Prescribing low-dose digoxin for patients with heart failure may reduce hospitalizations and cardiovascular complications when the drug is added to current guideline-directed therapy, according to three studies led by researchers at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). The findings, published in Nature Medicine, showed that a meta-analysis combining data from the DECISION clinical trial with two earlier randomized studies found hospitalizations were reduced by 25% achieved by a reduction in worsening heart failure events.
Heart failure affects roughly 60 million people worldwide. Standard treatments currently rely on four medications commonly referred to as the “Fantastic Four.” The Groningen investigators examined whether digoxin, a drug that has been used for centuries in cardiovascular medicine, could serve as an additional therapy alongside those treatments.
The core study in the newly published research was the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled DECISION trial, which enrolled 1,000 patients with symptomatic chronic heart failure and a left ventricular ejection fraction of 50% or less at 43 centers in the Netherlands. Participants received either low-dose digoxin (600) or placebo (400) in addition to standard therapy with a median follow-up of 36.5 months.
The trial found that low-dose digoxin reduced the combined rate of worsening heart failure events and cardiovascular mortality by 19%, a figure that was not statistically significance. But when these data were then combined with two earlier randomized trials that evaluated digitalis glycosides—the same class of drugs as digoxin—in heart failure, the pooling of data from the three studies was able to demonstrate a statistically significant benefit.
The data from DECISION showed 238 primary outcome events among patients receiving digoxin compared with 291 events in the placebo group. The number of worsening heart failure events was also lower in the digoxin arm, with 155 events compared with 203 among placebo-treated patients.
One of the earlier studies, the DIG trial, published in 1997, had researched digoxin in patients receiving diuretics and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. While this combination did not reduce all-cause mortality, it demonstrated a 28% reduction in hospitalization for worsening heart failure. Subsequent analyses of the DIG data also suggested that lower serum digoxin concentrations were associated with more favorable outcomes, while higher concentrations above 1.2 ng ml−1 were linked to increased mortality.
The other earlier study, DIGIT-HF, had evaluated low-dose digitoxin added to contemporary heart failure therapy. In this study, the researchers reported a 15% reduction in the combined endpoint of all-cause death and first hospitalization for heart failure.
The third and current study from the Groningen researchers followed about 600 patients who had participated in the DECISION clinical trial after study treatment ceased. In this case, the team found that patients who discontinued digoxin experienced more problems during the first six weeks after withdrawal than patients who had never received the drug. Among 288 patients who stopped digoxin, 14 were hospitalized or died.
The studies all focused on low-dose digoxin because earlier analyses had suggested that lower serum concentrations of the drug produced benefit without the adverse effects created by higher dosing levels. In the past, higher doses were used to increase heart muscle contraction, but the researchers found that this approach was not beneficial in weakened hearts. Instead, lower doses appear to blunt adverse compensatory responses in heart failure.
The DECISION study also provided new randomized data regarding the safety of low-dose digoxin in women and in patients with atrial fibrillation, populations that had been considered at risk from higher doses. The investigators reported that low-dose digoxin did not increase adverse effects or pacemaker implantation and produced similar findings in men and women.
These new data could change heart failure guidelines in the future by including the use of digoxin as an additional therapy in patients with reduced or mildly reduced ejection fraction. Further, because digoxin therapy costs less than ten cents per day, it could offer a low-cost treatment option compared with newer therapies that cost several dollars daily.
The researchers said future work should further define which heart failure populations benefit most from low-dose digoxin and continue evaluating its role alongside contemporary guideline-directed therapies, including sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and other newer agents.
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