Newsweek

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias will cost the U.S. an estimated $818 billion in 2026, according to a new USC-led study, with the bulk of that toll coming from often-overlooked burdens on patients and the family members who care for them. The figure comes from the U.S. Cost of Dementia …

Drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have been celebrated as a medical miracle for helping users shed pounds. But as they also influence key parts of the brain, experts warn they could pose risks for some patients. These drugs, also known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, work by quietening what some researchers …

A new tool that identifies early cancer risk in patients is currently under review with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the company that developed the device informed Newsweek, and they hope to have the tool rolled out to Americans next year. C the Signs is a medical device that …

Federal regulators and addiction experts are warning about an emerging drug threat linked to concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a kratom-derived compound that some researchers say may be significantly more potent than morphine. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned last year that products containing 7-OH—including tablets, gummies, drink mixes and shots—are …

Black and Latina women in the U.S. face higher rates of medical misdiagnosis, and the financial consequences can be severe, according to advocates and patients who say errors in care often lead to spiraling medical debt. Jared Walker, founder of Dollar For, a non-profit organization aimed at helping patients terminate …

Medical misdiagnosis costs hundreds of billions of dollars each year in the U.S., a financial burden that quietly drains household finances—especially for women, who are more likely to face years of repeat appointments, tests, and prescriptions before getting the right answer. For many, this means hundreds or thousands of dollars …

Healthcare systems across the U.S. are launching new artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots to help patients ask medical questions and access appointments faster amid growing demand for quick health guidance, even as doctors remain divided over the roll‑out. Some see the positives of patients having access to clinically-focused AI platforms to …

As GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs move into the medical mainstream, experts say they may pose under‑recognized risks for some patients with complex chronic conditions—underscoring the need for careful screening and close medical supervision. GLP-1s like Ozempic and Wegovy have become increasingly popular, with one in eight Americans using them as of …

The war in Iran has helped drive a global energy shock, sending oil and gas prices higher and disrupting fuel markets–developments that are now adding fresh strain to an already fragile global helium supply. Helium suppliers have begun warning customers of supply disruptions, according to industry letters and analysts. The …

Conflict in the Middle East is rippling through the oil industry and into consumer goods, with analysts warning bottled water prices could rise in the coming months. The United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on February 28, after which Iran imposed restrictions on shipping through the Strait …

Senate Republicans who voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary now appear to be showing buyer’s remorse, raising objections to health nominees tied to his orbit amid growing unease over Kennedy's approach to federal health policy. President Donald Trump's pick for surgeon general, Casey Means, has yet …

More than 100 mothers and advocates affected by a type of rare disease gathered outside the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday to stage a funeral to "mourn the futures" of their children, following the agency's rejections of various rare disease treatments. The community, affected by a group of …

Mothers from across the country have spoken to Newsweek about their concern for their children after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been rejecting various treatments for rare diseases that can be life-threatening. One mother said she was "terrified" of losing access, as a result of an FDA rejection, …

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has taken on powerful food industry targets before, but his public challenge to Dunkin’ and Starbucks over high‑sugar drinks has sparked a sharper political and cultural backlash than many of his earlier health initiatives. The health and human services (HHS) secretary has faced relatively limited resistance …

A new study has found that there are dozens of unregulated harmful chemicals in a number of popular brands of bottled water. The study, published by the journal Science Direct, reviewed 64 regulated and unregulated disinfection by-products (DBPs) in 10 popular brands of bottled water, and found that all bottled …

U.S. cattle farmers have voiced their concern about the tariff war escalation between the U.S. and China that saw Beijing bringing in a huge tariff on American beef imports last month. The United States Cattlemen’s Association told Newsweek: "Tariff battles—especially when they’re volatile and inconsistent—create uncertainty that makes it harder …

The ICE agent who fatally shot Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis on Wednesday is the same officer who was dragged and injured during an arrest attempt last year. Court documents reviewed by Newsweek identify the agent as Jonathan Ross. He was involved in the June 17, 2025, apprehension of Roberto …

The Trump administration seems to be veering away from maintaining Obamacare and instead finding its own alternatives to making health insurance more affordable. Rather than extending the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, the administration has instead been slashing drug prices and giving Americans access to pay for drugs on a …

It has been almost six years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic in 2020, and while it is no longer considered a public health emergency, it can still make more vulnerable people very unwell. As the virus is currently on the rise in the United States, which …

A number of fast food favorites from major chains across the U.S. have high levels of certain plastic chemicals, according to the database PlasticList. The fast food items were found to have high levels of a group of chemicals called phthalates, which are commonly found in products that have contact …

One ocean-dwelling creature found in tropical waters is known to be able to reverse its own life cycle, cheating death. The jellyfish, Turritopsis dohrnii, was first discovered in 1883, but it was around 100 years later that scientists uncovered the creature's ability to rejuvenate its own life cycle and combat …

The people most vulnerable to water contamination from the Colorado River are minority and low-income groups, according to a new essay. The essay comes as part of a series of articles released on December 3 in a report by the Colorado River Research Group titled "Colorado River Insights, 2025: Dancing …

America’s Greatest Workplaces for Culture, Belonging & Community 2026 recognizes the best employers based on their success across multiple performance metrics relevant for women, minorities and diverse demographic groups. The comprehensive study combines a large-scale national survey, extensive desk research and third-party data to evaluate companies with more than 1,000 …

A new study has revealed that a significant number of nurses have been turning to side hustles in order to make ends meet under the weight of high tuition costs, student loan debt, and wages that barely stretch to cover the rising costs of living. The study, conducted by St. …

Despite saying he would protect Americans from "harmful chemicals" like pesticides, President Donald Trump and his administration seem to be embracing their use and have sought to bring in new pesticides that have sparked significant concern among environmentalists and experts. The EPA told Newsweek: "Comments from EPA critics are just …

The Department of Education has excluded nursing as a "professional degree" program as it sets about implementing various measures regarding student loans laid out in President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill." The move has sparked significant uproar among nurses and nursing groups, with the American Nurses Association saying, as …

A new study has shown that microplastics can alter gut microbiome, where those changes resemble patterns associated with depression and colorectal cancer. The research, conducted within microONE, a project led by the CBmed research center in Graz, Austria, in collaboration with international partners, was presented at the United European Gastroenterology …

Data collected by the Washington Department of Health (DOH) has revealed that the majority of schools in the state had levels of lead in drinking water fixtures that were higher than the level the state considers safe enough to drink. A Washington DOH spokesperson also told Newsweek that children under …

Most people will be familiar with the huge impact cancer has as a disease, on patients and their loved ones, but the vast effect the disease also has on society more broadly is less recognized. In the United States, more than 1.8 million new cancer cases were reported in 2022, …