Diet plays a very important role when it comes to your health. There are many people who have to adhere to strict diets because of certain conditions they have. While the basic understanding that we need all kinds of foods to fulfill our body’s needs, sometimes these foods can also cause harm to your body. For example, lactose intolerant people cannot eat or consume any kind of dairy product as their bodies do not have the necessary compounds, known as lactose, to break down dairy foods. Similarly, there are many foods that may be ok for others to consume, but not for people who have digestive issues like IBS. But this new clinical trial may be able to help us know what food we can eat based on our blood test! The blood test, called inFoods IBS, looks for a special type of antibody in the blood. Antibodies are like tiny soldiers that our bodies make to fight off things that could make us sick.

IBS is a very common problem, affecting a large number of people. Many people know that what they eat can make their IBS symptoms worse, but it's often hard to figure out exactly which foods are the culprits. This is because everyone is different, and what triggers one person might not trigger another. Doctors hear from patients all the time, asking for help in determining which foods are causing their problems. So, finding a reliable way to pinpoint those foods is important. This test is attempting to provide that reliability.

How Does This Blood Test Work?

Basically, the test is looking for an antibody called IgG. When the gut reacts badly to a food, it makes more of this IgG antibody. The test checks for reactions to 18 common foods, like wheat, milk, and certain fruits. If the test finds high levels of the IgG antibody for a certain food, it means that food is likely causing problems. Therefore, the patient should try to remove that food from their diet.

Many people with IBS struggle to find relief from their stomach pain and discomfort. This new study looked at whether a special blood test could help. The idea was to see if the test could tell people which foods were making their IBS worse. The results were encouraging. When people changed their diets based on what the blood test showed, about 60% of them felt less stomach pain. This is better than the 42% who felt better when they just tried a general diet change. This shows that the blood test might be a useful tool for people with IBS to get real relief.

How Does This Personalized Nutrition Approach Work?

Many doctors suggest that people with IBS try elimination diets, where they cut out certain foods to see if their symptoms improve. However, these diets can be very hard to follow, because they often require people to cut out a lot of different foods. Doctors are always looking for ways to give patients care that's tailored to their specific needs. In the case of IBS, that means figuring out exactly which foods each person should avoid.

This blood test is a step in that direction. Experts are calling it a move towards "precision nutrition." This means that instead of giving everyone the same diet advice, doctors could use the blood test to create a personalized plan for each patient. While more research is needed, this test brings hope that doctors will soon be able to give much more precise dietary recommendations to those people that suffer from IBS. While this test is yet to be approved by FDA, it could be a world of comfort and ease for people who suffer with IBS.

Beyond weight loss and diabetes control, GLP-1 drugs may offer mental health benefits by reducing the need for psychiatric hospital care among people with schizophrenia and type 2 diabetes (T2D), according to a new study published in The Lancet Psychiatry.

The findings showed that treatment with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) was associated with lower risks of psychiatric hospitalization and emergency department visits among people with both conditions.

What Did the Study Find?

Also read: Exclusive: GLP-1 Drugs Are The ‘New Statins’, Says University Hospital Birmingham Professor

Researchers from Deakin University and the University of Queensland in Australia analyzed US health records of more than 70,000 adults with schizophrenia and T2D who received treatment between January 2018 and October 2026.

The researchers found that people taking GLP-1 drugs were:

• 24% less likely to require psychiatric hospitalization than those not taking any of the compared diabetes medications.
• 18% less likely to require psychiatric hospitalization than those taking DPP-4 inhibitors.
• 17% less likely to require psychiatric hospitalization than those taking SGLT2 inhibitors.

GLP-1 use was also associated with fewer psychiatric emergency department visits. Compared with the same groups, users were:

• 29% less likely to require emergency care than those not taking any of the compared diabetes medications.
• 13% less likely than those taking DPP-4 inhibitors.
• 20% less likely than those taking SGLT2 inhibitors.

Further, when the researchers analyzed individual drugs, the association was observed with semaglutide, liraglutide, and tirzepatide, but not dulaglutide.

GLP-1 Drugs Not Primary Treatment for Schizophrenia

Read More: Ozempic Baby: Can GLP-1 Drugs Help Women With PMOS Conceive?

The researchers cautioned that the observational study cannot establish that GLP-1 drugs directly reduce the need for acute psychiatric care.

They said the medications should not be considered primary psychiatric treatments or prescribed solely to reduce psychiatric hospitalizations and emergency visits.

Instead, the findings point to a potential additional benefit when GLP-1 drugs are prescribed for appropriate metabolic indications as part of integrated cardiometabolic and mental health care.

“The findings suggest that lower psychiatric acute-care use could be a favourable secondary benefit when GLP-1-based therapies are clinically indicated for metabolic management,” the researchers said.

They added that randomized clinical trials and mechanistic studies are needed to determine whether the drugs have a direct effect on psychiatric outcomes. Further research should also investigate their potential benefits in people with schizophrenia who do not have T2D.

Why Is Type 2 Diabetes More Common in People With Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a serious psychiatric disorder associated with disability, other health conditions, and premature mortality. Cardiometabolic diseases, including T2D, contribute substantially to this burden.

Studies suggest that diabetes may be up to five times more common among people with schizophrenia than among those without the condition. Approximately one in five people with schizophrenia may also have diabetes.

Several factors may contribute to this increased risk, including:

• Obesity
• High cholesterol and other abnormal blood lipid levels
• Elevated blood sugar
• Smoking
• Unhealthy diet
• Physical inactivity
• Poor sleep
• Stress

Could GLP-1 Drugs Help Address Both Conditions?

GLP-1 receptor agonists are an established class of medications used to manage T2D and, in some cases, obesity. Their potential role in people with schizophrenia is of growing interest because of the high burden of metabolic disease in this population.

However, whether these medications directly improve psychiatric outcomes remains uncertain.

The latest findings suggest that GLP-1 treatment may be associated with reduced use of acute psychiatric care among people with schizophrenia and T2D. Further clinical trials are needed before any direct mental health benefit can be established.

Originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, GLP-1 receptor agonists have shown benefits beyond blood sugar control and weight loss, including for cardiovascular and kidney health.

Some women, particularly those with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), formerly known

as PCOS, have reported conceiving after taking these medications.

Although GLP-1 drugs can support weight loss and improve metabolic health, evidence that they directly improve fertility remains limited.

Woman Says GLP-1 Drug Helped Her Conceive

For 30-year-old Ashlee Amborn, pregnancy was challenging. According to ABC News, she had PMOS, one functioning fallopian tube and half a uterus, which complicated her chances of conceiving naturally.

After years of fertility treatments, she conceived her first two children. Four months after her second child's birth, she became pregnant again.

Amborn said a GLP-1 drug prescribed to manage her PMOS symptoms, including inflammation and hormonal imbalances, helped her conceive. She became pregnant after taking the medication for a month.

"It was kind of these mixed emotions of, 'Holy cow, I'm pregnant,'" Amborn said. "I did this on my own without fertility treatment. All it took was a GLP-1."

Also read: Sorority Rush Sees Ozempic Trend: What Young Women Should Know Before Using GLP-1 Drugs

What Does Research Say?

A recent review published in the Journal of the Brazilian Reproduction Association (JBRA) Assisted Reproduction suggests a possible association between GLP-1 use and improved fertility outcomes in women with obesity and PMOS, particularly those also taking metformin, a medication used to manage blood sugar.

Weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity may support ovulation and reduce ovarian dysfunction. However, more research is needed to establish whether these medications improve pregnancy or live-birth rates.

Can GLP-1 Drugs Affect Ovulation?

Dr. Jacinta Anyaoku, a physician at Maven Clinic specializing in obesity and women's health in midlife, told ABC News that research has not established a direct link between GLP-1 use and ovulation rates, although she has observed potential benefits among her patients.

"When you lose weight, your inflammation goes down," Anyaoku said. "It actually can help with improving your rate of ovulation. Your egg quality could potentially improve if you have reduced inflammation, and so these are all potential effects that come with GLP-1 use."

Sharrón L. Manuel, a board-certified OB/GYN and reproductive endocrinology specialist at HRC Fertility, attributes the reported "Ozempic Baby Boom" largely to weight loss and improved metabolic health, which may help restore ovulation.

Excess body weight can disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis, contribute to insulin resistance and affect egg and uterine lining quality.

Manuel also points to preliminary research suggesting GLP-1 drugs may influence reproductive function through hormonal regulation, reduced inflammation and improved insulin sensitivity. However, preclinical findings involving ovarian function and endometrial receptivity require further investigation in humans.

Read More: GLP-1 Drugs Ozempic, Zepbound Use Rises 24-Fold Among American Women After Childbirth

Can GLP-1 Drugs Be Used During Pregnancy?

GLP-1 drugs should not be used during pregnancy. Women planning to conceive should consult their healthcare professional about stopping treatment. For semaglutide, prescribing guidance recommends discontinuation at least two months before a planned pregnancy.

Women should also seek medical advice about using these medications while breastfeeding.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises against weight-loss medications during pregnancy. Women considering GLP-1 treatment should discuss the risks, benefits and timing with their healthcare professional, particularly if they plan to conceive.

What About Birth Control?

Tirzepatide, sold under the brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound, can affect oral contraceptive absorption. Its prescribing information recommends switching to a non-oral contraceptive method or adding a barrier method for four weeks after starting treatment and for four weeks after each dose increase.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) symptoms differ between women and men, a new study has found, with potential implications for treatment.

Presented at the 2026 International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders in Seoul, the study found that women experienced more severe motor complications and depression. Men, however, had greater cognitive impairment.

“Sex differences in movement disorders remain understudied and undervalued despite having an important impact on clinical outcomes in both real-life and clinical trial settings,” said Dr. Marina Picillo, assistant professor of neurology at AOU San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d’Aragona.

What Did The Study Find?

Researchers retrospectively analyzed 10 years of clinical data from more than 10,000 Parkinson’s patients examined at a movement disorders clinic in Germany.

The findings showed that women had a greater burden of motor complications and depression. Men were more likely to experience cognitive impairment, REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and loss of smell.

“By analyzing data for more than 10,000 PD patients, this study confirmed that depression is more common in women, while RBD, worse cognition, and poorer olfaction are more prevalent in men,” Picillo said. “With good representation of women (40%), it also confirmed a greater female burden of motor complications.”

How Could The Findings Help?

The findings highlight the need to account for sex differences in Parkinson’s disease management and clinical trial design, particularly given the historical underrepresentation of women in neurological research. However, the factors underlying these differences remain unclear.

Picillo stressed that considering sex differences when tailoring treatment and designing clinical trials could be an important first step toward precision medicine in Parkinson’s disease.

“This would be the very first, basic step for boosting precision medicine in PD,” she said.

What Is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain.

Common symptoms include tremors, muscle stiffness, slowed movement and impaired balance. As the disease progresses, patients may have difficulty walking, speaking and performing everyday tasks.

The condition can also cause cognitive impairment, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, pain and swallowing difficulties, affecting patients’ independence and quality of life. Although it primarily affects older adults, younger people can also develop Parkinson’s disease.

Global Burden Of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease affected an estimated 11.9 million people worldwide in 2021. The number is projected to reach 25.2 million by 2050, a 112% increase.

Can Parkinson’s Disease Be Prevented?

There is currently no established way to prevent Parkinson’s disease. However, research suggests that certain lifestyle and environmental factors may influence disease risk.

• Physical activity: Regular exercise supports overall health, although its role in preventing Parkinson’s disease remains under investigation.
• Diet and nutrition: A balanced diet supports brain health, but no specific diet has been proven to prevent the disease.
• Environmental factors: Exposure to certain pesticides and other environmental pollutants has been associated with Parkinson’s disease risk. Reducing harmful exposures may help address potential risk factors.