Public Health Video Recap—February 13, 2026

Welcome to the latest edition of Public Health Updates, covering breakthroughs in the past two weeks. Brought to you by LucidQuest.

A new study from the Weizmann Institute of Science estimates that genetics account for about fifty percent of human lifespan variation, higher than previous estimates of ten to twenty-five percent. Researchers analyzed Swedish and Danish twin databases, including twins raised apart, using a novel framework to separate deaths from biological aging versus external causes. These findings may guide future longevity gene research.

A WHO and IARC report finds that thirty-seven percent of global cancers, about seven million cases per year, are preventable. Tobacco, infections, and alcohol are leading drivers. Preventable cases vary by sex and region, with lung, stomach, and cervical cancers making up half of the burden. The study highlights the impact of vaccination, smoking cessation, and behavioral interventions.

Researchers at Changping Laboratory and Washington University St. Louis identified the somato-cognitive action network, SCAN, as central in Parkinson’s disease. SCAN, linking the motor cortex to subcortical regions, drives tremors, mobility issues, sleep, and cognitive symptoms. Targeted transcranial magnetic stimulation improved symptoms by fifty-six percent versus twenty-two percent in controls, offering a potential noninvasive therapy.

In cardiology, a Phase 3 trial of oral enlicitide cut LDL cholesterol by up to sixty percent in over 2,900 high-risk patients on statins. Reductions were sustained over six months with minimal safety issues. A large cardiovascular outcomes trial is underway, and the drug could provide an oral alternative to injectable PCSK9 inhibitors.

A twenty-year trial of more than two thousand adults aged sixty-five and older found only speed-of-processing brain training reduced dementia risk. Participants receiving booster sessions had about a twenty-five percent lower risk compared to controls. Memory and reasoning training offered no measurable protection, suggesting adaptive exercises are key for cognitive preservation.

Analysis of over eleven thousand gut microbiomes identified CAG-170, a previously overlooked bacterial group, as strongly linked to health. It produces vitamin B12 and metabolizes a wide range of dietary fibers, supporting microbiome function. Lower CAG-170 levels associate with dysbiosis and chronic conditions, positioning it as a biomarker and potential probiotic target.

A twelve-week trial from the University of Calgary found that eight-hour time-restricted feeding significantly reduced Crohn’s disease activity in adults with overweight or obesity. Symptomatic activity fell forty percent, abdominal discomfort decreased fifty percent, and visceral fat and inflammatory markers improved. Early microbiome data suggest beneficial shifts in gut bacteria, indicating timing of meals may support disease remission alongside standard therapy.

Finally, a polymer-based gel delivered insulin through intact skin in diabetic mice and pigs, normalizing blood glucose within one to two hours and maintaining it for up to twelve hours. The pH-responsive polymer carries chemically linked insulin through the skin. While promising for basal glucose control, human dosing, safety, and broader protein delivery applications require further study.

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