Medicine
15 notable health news stories from the year 2025
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MPH, MSc
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We have selected 15 news items published in 2025 that cover studies on nutrition and health, pollution and environmental health, and mental health. We hope it has been a great year, and we are looking forward to a 2026 full of study publications to keep you up to date through our ICNS NEWS website. Happy New Year.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/reducing_saturated_fats_does_not_reduce...
2) High blood pressure: the myth of low-sodium diets, antihypertensive drugs, and mortality. In this critical review, we address the management of hypertension and the relationship between blood pressure, low-sodium diets, antihypertensive medication, and mortality. We will see that everything is much less clear than is often assumed, given that cardiovascular risk is broader than hypertension, and hypertension is in turn determined by other cardiovascular risk factors, such as insulin resistance, etc. For this reason, blood pressure management is inadequate in most cases, and the approach that needs to be improved is cardiovascular risk, not simply reducing numbers with drugs, thereby ignoring the metabolic health that causes hypertension in the first place. We will see that diet cannot be thought of simply as sodium reduction. Additionally, when sodium in the body is severely reduced, there may be problems that have not been sufficiently assessed.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/hypertension_myth_low-sodium_diet_antih...
3) Contamination in protein supplements and drinks: should we be concerned? A new analysis of protein supplements by Consumer Reports published in October 2025 discusses the problem of heavy metals in these types of products. We analyze the report, its strengths, and its limitations and contextualization regarding the issue of lead contamination.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/pollution_supplements_drinks_protein_worry
4) Tattoos may increase the risk of several types of cancer. The rise in popularity of tattoos has raised concerns about their safety. Ink particles can cause a local inflammatory response in the skin that can eventually lead to abnormal cell proliferation. In addition, these particles can accumulate in the lymph nodes, which means they can potentially travel to other organs through the bloodstream. The different ink formulations complicate the study of their potential effects, although some of the compounds used are classified as potentially carcinogenic. In addition, the toxic effects of the inks could be enhanced by sun exposure or even during laser tattoo removal.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/tattoos_risk_skin_cancer
5) Personalized drug deprescribing reduces mortality in older people taking multiple medications. A systematic review and meta-analysis shows that individualized, patient-centered drug deprescribing significantly reduces mortality in older people.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/deprescription_mortality_medications_po...
6) Physical exercise reduces mortality in colon cancer. A controlled clinical trial shows that physical exercise reduces recurrence and mortality in patients with colon cancer. The study provides solid evidence that increasing physical activity after chemotherapy improves survival, making it a highly relevant finding that should be incorporated into clinical guidelines worldwide.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/physical_exercise_decreases_mortality_c...
7) Oral health and periodontitis are related to cardiovascular disease. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease with systemic implications.
Several studies link its presence with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This connection raises the need to integrate oral health into cardiovascular prevention and overall health.
https://icns.es/en/news/oral_health_periodontitis_cardiovascular_di...
8) Cannabidiol CBD may elevate liver enzymes. Is cannabidiol safe? A new clinical trial reveals that CBD may cause elevated liver enzymes in healthy adults.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/cannabidiol_cbd_increase_liver_enzymes
https://www.icns.es/en/news/increasing_accumulation_microplastics_h...
10) Incense: an underestimated source of indoor pollution and health risks. Incense is an underestimated source of indoor pollution. Recent studies show that its combustion generates particles and toxic compounds that have been associated with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and other negative health effects.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/incense_indoor_pollution_health_risks
11) Is it safe to exercise in highly polluted air? A recent systematic review of studies has analyzed the effect of physical activity on health in environments with high air pollution. The evidence suggests that its protective effects are maintained.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/safe_exercise_air_pollution
https://www.icns.es/en/news/psychedelics_treatment_depression
13) Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) improves resistant depression. A new clinical trial shows that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) offers an effective alternative for people with resistant depression. In this article, we analyze the most relevant results of this study published in The Lancet Psychiatry.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/mindfulness-based_cognitive_therapy_mbc...
14) Why repeated consumption of short videos produces negative changes in the nervous system. Short video platforms such as TikTok, Instagram reels, and YouTube shorts induce impulsive audiovisual consumption that can lead to addictive usage patterns. Hence their design and success. The structure of these platforms produces a dynamic of signals and stimulus-response processes that generate a conditioning process on the nervous system. Neurobiologically, this process of immediate gratification is similar to the stimulation produced by gambling, inducing compulsive use. The main concern is that, given the adaptive nature of the brain, this repeated activity can produce chronic changes in neural processing through neuroplasticity, particularly in the growing nervous system, but also in adults.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/repeated_consumption_of_short_videos_ne...
15) The use of Artificial Intelligence to perform academic tasks reduces neural activation and cognitive performance. How does artificial intelligence affect human cognitive development? A recent experimental study has analyzed the impact of using models such as GPT-4o on essay writing. The results show that AI assistance reduces brain activation and limits the development of thinking and learning.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/artificial_intelligence_academic_tasks_...
https://www.icns.es/en/news/jaques_heers_the_invention_middle_ages
2) Ray Kurzweil. The singularity is closer. Raymond Kurzweil (1948-) has a degree in computer science and has received more than 20 honorary doctorates from various universities in recognition of his contributions to technology and artificial intelligence. In 2024, he published his work "The Singularity Is Near," a continuation of his 2005 work "The Singularity Is Near."
https://www.icns.es/en/news/ray_kurzweil_the_singularity_is_nearer_ai
3) Jordan Peterson. We Who Struggle with God. Jordan Bernt Peterson (1962-) is a professor of psychology at universities such as Harvard and the University of Toronto, author of We Who Struggle with God (2025). In his work, through a symbolic reading of Genesis, Peterson presents life as an eternal struggle between chaos and order, a conflict that is reflected in the cosmic order and permeates all dimensions of human existence: personal, social, and political, reflecting on individual responsibility, truth as an antidote to tyranny, and the danger of hedonism and resentment as a modern ideology. Peterson warns that totalitarianism is the consequence of abandoning truth and the moral order that sustains existence.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/jordan_peterson_we_who_wrestle_with_god
NUTRITION AND HEALTH
1) Reducing saturated fat intake does not lower mortality. A recent meta-analysis conducted by researchers from several universities in Japan (Yamada et al, 2025) found no reduction in mortality through lower saturated fat consumption. We explain the study's findings and their implications in detail.https://www.icns.es/en/news/reducing_saturated_fats_does_not_reduce...
2) High blood pressure: the myth of low-sodium diets, antihypertensive drugs, and mortality. In this critical review, we address the management of hypertension and the relationship between blood pressure, low-sodium diets, antihypertensive medication, and mortality. We will see that everything is much less clear than is often assumed, given that cardiovascular risk is broader than hypertension, and hypertension is in turn determined by other cardiovascular risk factors, such as insulin resistance, etc. For this reason, blood pressure management is inadequate in most cases, and the approach that needs to be improved is cardiovascular risk, not simply reducing numbers with drugs, thereby ignoring the metabolic health that causes hypertension in the first place. We will see that diet cannot be thought of simply as sodium reduction. Additionally, when sodium in the body is severely reduced, there may be problems that have not been sufficiently assessed.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/hypertension_myth_low-sodium_diet_antih...
3) Contamination in protein supplements and drinks: should we be concerned? A new analysis of protein supplements by Consumer Reports published in October 2025 discusses the problem of heavy metals in these types of products. We analyze the report, its strengths, and its limitations and contextualization regarding the issue of lead contamination.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/pollution_supplements_drinks_protein_worry
4) Tattoos may increase the risk of several types of cancer. The rise in popularity of tattoos has raised concerns about their safety. Ink particles can cause a local inflammatory response in the skin that can eventually lead to abnormal cell proliferation. In addition, these particles can accumulate in the lymph nodes, which means they can potentially travel to other organs through the bloodstream. The different ink formulations complicate the study of their potential effects, although some of the compounds used are classified as potentially carcinogenic. In addition, the toxic effects of the inks could be enhanced by sun exposure or even during laser tattoo removal.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/tattoos_risk_skin_cancer
5) Personalized drug deprescribing reduces mortality in older people taking multiple medications. A systematic review and meta-analysis shows that individualized, patient-centered drug deprescribing significantly reduces mortality in older people.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/deprescription_mortality_medications_po...
6) Physical exercise reduces mortality in colon cancer. A controlled clinical trial shows that physical exercise reduces recurrence and mortality in patients with colon cancer. The study provides solid evidence that increasing physical activity after chemotherapy improves survival, making it a highly relevant finding that should be incorporated into clinical guidelines worldwide.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/physical_exercise_decreases_mortality_c...
7) Oral health and periodontitis are related to cardiovascular disease. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease with systemic implications.
Several studies link its presence with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This connection raises the need to integrate oral health into cardiovascular prevention and overall health.
https://icns.es/en/news/oral_health_periodontitis_cardiovascular_di...
8) Cannabidiol CBD may elevate liver enzymes. Is cannabidiol safe? A new clinical trial reveals that CBD may cause elevated liver enzymes in healthy adults.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/cannabidiol_cbd_increase_liver_enzymes
POLLUTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
9) Increasing accumulation of microplastics in the human brain. Microplastics and nanoplastics are synthetic polymer particles ranging in size from 1 nm to 500 µm, which originate from the degradation of plastics and industrial processes. Their accumulation in the environment has grown exponentially, entering the body through ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption. Some nanoparticles have the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, implying a potential link to neurodegenerative diseases through mechanisms such as neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. However, the distribution and concentration of these substances in the nervous system has not been precisely characterized.https://www.icns.es/en/news/increasing_accumulation_microplastics_h...
10) Incense: an underestimated source of indoor pollution and health risks. Incense is an underestimated source of indoor pollution. Recent studies show that its combustion generates particles and toxic compounds that have been associated with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and other negative health effects.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/incense_indoor_pollution_health_risks
11) Is it safe to exercise in highly polluted air? A recent systematic review of studies has analyzed the effect of physical activity on health in environments with high air pollution. The evidence suggests that its protective effects are maintained.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/safe_exercise_air_pollution
MENTAL HEALTH
12) Psychedelics for the treatment of depression. Psychedelics such as LSD, psilocybin, or ayahuasca were used by psychiatrists and psychologists as assisted therapy in the 1950s, although these substances were later controversially banned, even for research purposes. Psilocybin and LSD are serotonergic 5-HT2A receptor agonists and can induce neuroplasticity by increasing the expression of neurotrophic factors such as BDNF. Some preliminary studies have shown significant effects even in cases of depression that are refractory to standard psychopharmacology. However, the evidence is still preliminary.https://www.icns.es/en/news/psychedelics_treatment_depression
13) Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) improves resistant depression. A new clinical trial shows that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) offers an effective alternative for people with resistant depression. In this article, we analyze the most relevant results of this study published in The Lancet Psychiatry.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/mindfulness-based_cognitive_therapy_mbc...
14) Why repeated consumption of short videos produces negative changes in the nervous system. Short video platforms such as TikTok, Instagram reels, and YouTube shorts induce impulsive audiovisual consumption that can lead to addictive usage patterns. Hence their design and success. The structure of these platforms produces a dynamic of signals and stimulus-response processes that generate a conditioning process on the nervous system. Neurobiologically, this process of immediate gratification is similar to the stimulation produced by gambling, inducing compulsive use. The main concern is that, given the adaptive nature of the brain, this repeated activity can produce chronic changes in neural processing through neuroplasticity, particularly in the growing nervous system, but also in adults.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/repeated_consumption_of_short_videos_ne...
15) The use of Artificial Intelligence to perform academic tasks reduces neural activation and cognitive performance. How does artificial intelligence affect human cognitive development? A recent experimental study has analyzed the impact of using models such as GPT-4o on essay writing. The results show that AI assistance reduces brain activation and limits the development of thinking and learning.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/artificial_intelligence_academic_tasks_...
RECOMMENDED BOOKS
1) Jaques Heers. The Invention of the Middle Ages. Jacques Heers (1924-2013) was a professor of history at the University of Paris X Nanterre and director of medieval studies at the Sorbonne. Heers wrote The Invention of the Middle Ages in 1992. In his work, Heers shows how historical concepts and periodizations are not natural realities, but rather labels created later by historians, if not ideologues, to produce interpretations that serve an ideological and propagandistic purpose rather than historical documentation.https://www.icns.es/en/news/jaques_heers_the_invention_middle_ages
2) Ray Kurzweil. The singularity is closer. Raymond Kurzweil (1948-) has a degree in computer science and has received more than 20 honorary doctorates from various universities in recognition of his contributions to technology and artificial intelligence. In 2024, he published his work "The Singularity Is Near," a continuation of his 2005 work "The Singularity Is Near."
https://www.icns.es/en/news/ray_kurzweil_the_singularity_is_nearer_ai
3) Jordan Peterson. We Who Struggle with God. Jordan Bernt Peterson (1962-) is a professor of psychology at universities such as Harvard and the University of Toronto, author of We Who Struggle with God (2025). In his work, through a symbolic reading of Genesis, Peterson presents life as an eternal struggle between chaos and order, a conflict that is reflected in the cosmic order and permeates all dimensions of human existence: personal, social, and political, reflecting on individual responsibility, truth as an antidote to tyranny, and the danger of hedonism and resentment as a modern ideology. Peterson warns that totalitarianism is the consequence of abandoning truth and the moral order that sustains existence.
https://www.icns.es/en/news/jordan_peterson_we_who_wrestle_with_god
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