
01
Brain scans reveal a possible cause of long COVID fatigue and brain fog
The gist: Brain scans found lower dopamine-related markers in people with long COVID, suggesting damage to this brain system may help explain fatigue, brain fog, and slowed movement.
Big pictureThe findings offer a possible biological explanation for symptoms that can be hard to see or measure from the outside. They also shift some attention from brain inflammation alone toward how inflammation may affect the dopamine system, although the results do not yet prove that dopamine damage causes every long COVID symptom.
Explain like I'm 5Dopamine is one of the brain’s messenger chemicals that helps with energy, movement, and remembering things. The study suggests long COVID may hurt some of the brain’s dopamine-making equipment, like a damaged wiring system.
Why it matters nowResearchers plan to start a clinical trial within the next couple of months to test whether changing dopamine activity can improve fatigue, motivation, and memory.
Three things to know01PET scans measured a brain marker
The researchers used PET imaging to compare a marker linked to dopamine nerve-terminal health in people with long COVID and healthy participants.
02Symptoms matched different brain regions
Lower marker levels in the ventral striatum were linked with lost motivation, while changes in the putamen and caudate were associated with slower movement and memory problems.
03Treatment ideas remain untested
The researchers suggested studying dopamine precursors and drugs that slow dopamine breakdown, but whether these approaches help long COVID will require clinical trials.
Trusted source
ScienceDaily ↗

02
What a Trump order to put political appointees in charge of NIH funding would mean for science
The gist: A reported Trump executive order could let political appointees approve or veto NIH research grants, weakening the independent review system behind U.S. medical science.
Big pictureThe NIH funds research into diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and heart disease, so changing how its money is awarded could affect both scientific discovery and public health. Critics fear political control could make researchers avoid topics that officials dislike and damage the United States’ reputation for trustworthy research.
Explain like I'm 5Scientists usually ask other scientists to check whether a research idea is worth funding. This plan could add political officials as another gatekeeper, like letting a referee’s boss decide which games can be played.
Why it matters nowThe proposed executive order has been reported but not released, while Congress has temporarily blocked a similar set of funding rules from taking effect. The next key development is whether the administration formally issues the order and what powers the committee receives.
Three things to know01The NIH controls vast funding
The agency has a budget of more than $40 billion, making any new approval layer capable of influencing research across many areas of medicine.
02Peer review has several stages
Researchers submit detailed proposals that go through multiple screenings and reviews by independent experts before funding decisions are made.
03A similar rule already stalled
The Office of Management and Budget proposed a related change, but Congress temporarily stopped those regulations from taking effect earlier this month.
Trusted source
Scientific American ↗
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03
Alcohol-Related Cancer Deaths Have More Than Doubled in the United States Over the Past 30 Years, Study Suggests
The gist: Researchers estimate that alcohol-related cancer deaths in the U.S. rose from 11,361 in 1990 to about 23,126 in 2023.
Big pictureThe increase happened even as the overall U.S. cancer death rate fell, suggesting alcohol remains an important and preventable cancer risk. The findings add to calls for clearer public health guidance while stopping short of saying everyone must quit drinking.
Explain like I'm 5Alcohol can hurt the body in ways that sometimes damage cells and lead to cancer. Think of it as adding extra wear and tear, though the risk is different for each person.
Why it matters nowA study published September 2 used health data to estimate the 2023 deaths, prompting renewed discussion about alcohol and cancer prevention.
Three things to know01Several cancers drive the toll
Colorectal, esophageal, liver and breast cancers accounted for the leading causes of alcohol-attributable cancer deaths in 2023.
02Risk varies across groups
Older men had the highest number of alcohol-linked cancer deaths, while breast cancer was the leading cause among women of all ages.
03Alcohol harms cells several ways
The body turns alcohol into acetaldehyde, which can damage DNA, while alcohol can also raise estrogen and help mouth tissues absorb tobacco carcinogens.
Trusted source
Smithsonian ↗