Knee treatment without surgery offers lasting pain relief for 80% of arthritis patients, study finds

A non-surgical procedure that temporarily blocks extra blood vessels in the knee is offering lasting pain relief for people with knee osteoarthritis.

In a clinical study of 194 patients, 80% of them reported significant reductions in knee pain that lasted for at least a full year after receiving the treatment.

The findings highlight a potential alternative for millions of adults with chronic joint pain who have outgrown pain medications or steroid injections — but who want to avoid total knee replacement.

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Osteoarthritis wears down joint cartilage and causes the body to grow unnecessary new blood vessels around the knee, according to Mayo Clinic. 

These extra vessels increase inflammation and irritate surrounding nerves, making daily movement painful.

The procedure, known as genicular artery embolization (GAE), addresses this directly. 

By temporarily clogging excess blood vessels, doctors can reduce inflammation and quiet pain-sensing nerves without major surgery or permanent implants.

Because the treatment uses microscopic gelatin particles that dissolve over time, it leaves no foreign material behind. If widely adopted, GAE could provide a repeatable, low-risk way for patients to stay active and preserve joint function longer, researchers say.

"For many patients with knee osteoarthritis, there is a real treatment gap today," said Florian Nima Fleckenstein, M.D., deputy head of Interventional Radiology Campus Mitte, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, in a press release.

"Our study demonstrates that GAE using rapidly resorbable gelatin-based microspheres is a safe, minimally invasive therapy that provides meaningful pain relief and functional improvement in participants with osteoarthritis-related knee symptoms for at least 12 months."

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During GAE, doctors use real-time X-ray guidance to steer a thin, flexible tube into the blood vessels surrounding the knee joint. 

Then they release tiny, dissolvable gelatin particles into specific vessels to slow excess blood flow to the inflamed areas.

Across 239 total procedures performed on 194 study participants, none experienced severe complications. 

Only 6.7% reported mild side effects, such as brief skin discoloration or minor bruising, issues that resolved on their own.

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"In our cohort, we saw a significant drop in pain and a significant increase in function, including sports and recreation and daily activity," Fleckenstein said.

"Most importantly, their quality of life significantly increased."

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In addition to feeling less pain, participants experienced gains in daily mobility. Patients reported easier walking, climbing stairs and bending, while overall quality-of-life scores more than doubled over the 12-month follow-up period.

While the results are promising, researchers note several important limitations.

First, the study did not include a control group receiving a mock or placebo procedure. 

Without a comparison group, it is difficult to isolate the physical benefits of the dissolvable particles from potential placebo effects, the researchers said. 

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Second, the study tracked patients for only one year. 

Further research is needed to determine how long the pain relief typically lasts and how often repeat treatments might be required.

Finally, while GAE effectively reduces inflammation and pain, the researchers said it is not a cure.

The procedure does not rebuild lost cartilage or reverse structural joint damage. Larger, randomized trials are currently underway to confirm these early findings.

Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for further comment. 

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Popular sleep aids before surgery could prevent painkiller dependence later

Taking melatonin or Ambien (zolpidem) before surgery may be associated with less pain and a smoother recovery afterward, according to new research.

Research presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2026 annual meeting in San Diego on Oct. 18 found that improving sleep before surgery with one of these two sleep aids could ease anxiety while reducing post-surgical pain and opioid use.

The researchers analyzed 16 studies of patients who underwent abdominal, gynecologic, orthopedic, urologic, dental and other surgical procedures between 2000 and 2025.

THIS ONE QUESTION MAY REVEAL WHETHER YOUR BODY IS GETTING THE REST IT NEEDS, STUDY FINDS

This amounted to more than 1,100 patients, according to a press release from the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

Melatonin was typically taken the night before surgery and/or 20 to 90 minutes before anesthesia, with dosages ranging from 1 mg to 20 mg.

Ambien, consistently dosed at 10 mg, was taken at bedtime either the night before surgery or for multiple nights up to two days before the procedure.

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Although both are used as sleep aids, melatonin and Ambien work differently.

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle, according to the National Institutes of Health. Ambien, or zolpidem, acts on GABA-A receptors in the central nervous system to produce a sedative effect, states FDA prescribing information.

Across all studies, melatonin was associated with less anxiety, pain and inflammation, in addition to a more than 30% reduction in opioid use among some abdominal surgery patients.

The analysis suggested melatonin could offer advantages over traditional sedatives for older adults, who may be more susceptible to confusion after surgery. Studies that used activity monitors also found that patients who took melatonin showed improvements in recovery and sleep patterns.

Ambien reportedly helped patients with pre-existing sleep problems sleep better before surgery and was also associated with less pain afterward.

Patients who underwent colorectal surgery and took Ambien required less opioid medication during and in the first 24 hours after the procedure. They also had lower inflammation levels.

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Those who had hip replacement reportedly experienced less anxiety and depression and were more satisfied with the recovery process.

Because this was a scoping review, which summarizes existing research rather than testing a treatment directly, the researchers could not make clinical recommendations or fully assess the risk of bias. They noted that more research is needed.

Dr. Sebastian Amaya, senior study author and senior anesthesiology resident at Yale School of Medicine, said he was not surprised that improving sleep was associated with positive outcomes.

He noted that sleep is "extremely important" for maintaining overall health and controlling the immune system, cognitive function and emotional well-being.

In the studies reviewed, use of melatonin and Ambien was associated with less pain and lower opioid use, the doctor reiterated.

ONE TYPE OF SLEEP LINKED TO DRAMATICALLY LOWER RISK OF DEMENTIA, PARKINSON'S AND 81 OTHER DISEASES

"Pain is ultimately an experience," Amaya said, noting that a person’s environment and other individual factors can influence pain levels.

Sleep also plays an important role in brain function, including the processes involved in how pain is experienced, he added.

"A lot of the hormones that are involved in pain are also involved in sleep," he said. "If you have insomnia, if you have other chronic sleep issues, all these different biological pathways can be disrupted, and that could lead to increased pain after surgery."

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"So, by having somebody with optimized sleep preoperatively, we decrease the risk of increased pain after surgery."

Opioids are commonly prescribed to manage pain after surgery, and research has linked greater post-surgical opioid exposure with an increased risk of persistent use. Although the possibility that better sleep could reduce opioid use after surgery is promising, Amaya cautioned that the findings are not conclusive.

"A lot of these studies did show that the patients had decreased pain levels and decreased opioid consumption in the immediate post-operative period," he said. "Unfortunately, they didn't get followed up for the next couple of days. That would be another study that should be done."

Amaya said the goal is to get patients out of the hospital as soon as possible while keeping pain under control. Improving sleep before surgery may be "low-hanging fruit," particularly as modern lifestyle factors such as blue light and noise can interfere with sleep quality.

"There are probably a lot of people who actually have poor sleep quality, and that can play a role when they come to surgery and have post-operative problems, like a lot of pain," he said. "Maybe their sleep could have been optimized with better sleep hygiene, or maybe they could have talked to their primary care physician."

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Dr. Wendy Troxel, a Utah-based licensed clinical psychologist and senior behavioral scientist at RAND, who was not involved in the study, said the findings "make sense" from a sleep perspective.

"We know how important sleep is for healing and recovery, and it’s very normal to feel anxious and sleep poorly before a major medical procedure," she told Fox News Digital. "For some patients, a short-term sleep aid around the time of surgery may help."

Troxel suggested the concern would be that sleep medications generally are not recommended as a long-term solution for insomnia.

"I’m a little surprised that melatonin showed benefits, since the overall evidence suggests it has limited effects as a sleep aid for most people," she noted. "It may be that placebo, or expectancy effects, could also contribute, particularly in such a stressful context."

Despite the limitations, Troxel concluded that the findings are "interesting and could positively impact patient care for surgical procedures."

For patients who are anticipating an upcoming surgery, Troxel noted that pre-procedure anxiety and disjointed sleep are "normal," and there may be short-term solutions.

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"Anyone considering melatonin or a prescription sleep medication should check with their surgical and anesthesia team about what is appropriate for them," she advised.

Fox News Digital reached out to manufacturers of Ambien and melatonin requesting comment.

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Dementia risk may be linked to seemingly harmless daily habit, new research suggests

Frequent daytime napping among older adults has been linked to a higher risk of developing dementia, according to a study published in The Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences.

Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health tracked nearly 1,000 adults age 65 and older who showed no signs of memory or thinking problems when the study began in 2013.

A decade later, the researchers found that daily rest habits — like how often people nap, how long they sleep and whether they fall asleep by accident — are linked to long-term brain health.

ONE TYPE OF SLEEP LINKED TO DRAMATICALLY LOWER RISK OF DEMENTIA, PARKINSON'S AND 81 OTHER DISEASES

The study found that participants who napped frequently, defined as most days or every day, had a 48% higher risk of developing dementia compared to those who rarely or never napped.

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Whether the naps were intentional also appeared to play a role. Seniors who fell asleep unintentionally had a 39% higher risk, while shorter naps were also linked to poorer outcomes.

Napping for 30 minutes or less was linked to a 40% increased risk of dementia, even after researchers adjusted for other health factors. For naps longer than 30 minutes, the association was less pronounced after researchers accounted for nighttime sleep patterns.

The research team stressed that looking at daytime napping habits gives a much clearer picture of overall health than looking at nighttime sleep alone.

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"Our study highlights the importance of looking beyond just how long people nap and considering other napping characteristics, such as how frequently they nap and whether their naps are intentional," study authors Adam Spira, Ph.D., a professor at the Bloomberg School, and postdoctoral fellow Kening Jiang, Ph.D., told Fox News Digital.

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"This study provides important longitudinal evidence that frequent and unintentional daytime napping were associated with a higher risk of developing dementia among older adults."

The findings held true even after accounting for nighttime sleep length, daytime drowsiness and indicators of sleep apnea.

"Nighttime sleep and daytime napping are closely related," Spira and Jiang went on. "Daytime napping may compensate for poor nighttime sleep, but it may also reduce the drive to sleep at night, potentially contributing to nighttime sleep disturbances, another important potential risk factor for dementia."

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Researchers pointed out that daytime resting does not necessarily cause brain changes. Rather, changing nap habits could be an early warning sign of underlying changes in the brain.

Brain regions that help regulate wakefulness can start to break down in the early stages of dementia, leading to more frequent daytime fatigue, they noted.

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To double-check this, the team re-analyzed the data after removing anyone who developed dementia during the first five years.

The link between frequent, accidental naps and dementia remained just as strong, suggesting that changes in napping habits can show up years before a formal diagnosis.

The researchers emphasized that this was an observational study with limitations.

"We did not directly intervene on participants’ napping behaviors to examine whether changing these behaviors would affect their dementia risk," Spira and Jiang told Fox News Digital.

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"Although we don’t know whether napping causes dementia, our study findings suggest that daytime napping patterns may be useful indicators of future dementia risk," they added.

The findings suggest that daytime napping patterns in older adults may be worth monitoring, particularly when naps become frequent or happen unintentionally, according to the researchers.

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Marijuana use rises sharply among one group of Americans, new study finds

A growing number of American parents are using cannabis, prompting questions about potential child exposure and safety, according to a new study.

Cannabis use increased substantially among parents between 2012 and 2024, with researchers estimating that at least 5.9 million U.S. children were living with a parent who used marijuana on most days in 2024.

By 2024, 8% of parents used cannabis on most days, 5.2% used it daily and 6.7% met the criteria for cannabis use disorder (CUD).

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Daily cannabis use among parents was about four times as common as daily alcohol use, the study found.

While increases occurred across nearly all demographic groups, some of the largest were seen among younger and unmarried parents, those in lower-income households and those without a four-year college degree.

Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, analyzed data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), involving nearly 482,000 U.S. individuals ages 12 and older.

The findings were published in the journal Addictive Behaviors.

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"Marijuana has become so socially acceptable that people are starting to overlook the risks," Dr. Jarid Pachter, who specializes in family medicine and addiction medicine at Stony Brook Medicine in New York, told Fox News Digital.

"Just because it's legal doesn't mean it's harmless," added Pachter, who was not involved in the study.

The physician also expressed concern about the example parents are setting for their children.

"If marijuana use is a regular part of life at home, children may start to see it as something that's normal and relatively harmless," he said, pointing to studies that show children whose parents use marijuana are more likely to use it themselves as they get older.

"That doesn't necessarily mean the parent's marijuana use is causing the child to use, but there's clearly an association."

The doctor also cautioned that THC, the main psychoactive chemical in the marijuana plant, is known to affect attention, memory, coordination and reaction time.

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"When you have young children, you need to be alert and able to respond to their needs," he said. "I'm not suggesting that someone who uses marijuana can't be a good parent. My concern is about being impaired when you're responsible for a child's safety."

"I also think we need to be careful about normalizing daily marijuana use," he went on. "We wouldn't automatically consider daily alcohol use harmless, and we shouldn't look at marijuana that way, either."

Pachter emphasized that accidental ingestion is another concern, especially with edibles like marijuana gummies or chocolate, which can look like regular candy to a young child.

"We've seen significant increases in emergency room visits involving children who accidentally consume marijuana," he told Fox News Digital.

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"Some develop severe sedation, confusion and difficulty walking. In more serious cases, children can have breathing problems and require hospitalization."

The more frequently someone uses marijuana, the greater risk of developing cannabis use disorder, the doctor cautioned.

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"We also know THC can affect memory, attention and coordination. Frequent use, particularly of high-potency products, is associated with an increased risk of certain psychiatric problems in susceptible individuals."

Smoking marijuana around children can also pose a risk of secondhand exposure.

"Marijuana smoke contains many of the same harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke," the physician said. "We know children can be exposed to THC through secondhand smoke, although we're still learning about the long-term health effects."

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For those who use marijuana every day, Pachter suggests they ask themselves whether they can go without it, and whether it is affecting work, relationships or responsibilities.

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"And if you're a parent, you need to consider whether your marijuana use is affecting your ability to care for your children."

The study had some limitations. The researchers did not assess parenting quality or children’s health, and the findings do not establish that parental cannabis use causes adverse child outcomes.

Additionally, the data relied on self-reported substance use, which could be subject to recall or reporting bias.

The researchers called for further studies examining whether the frequency of parental cannabis use, cannabis use disorder, household exposure and storage practices are associated with children’s health or developmental outcomes.

The researchers reported funding support from the California Department of Cannabis Control, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

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Stacking supplements without key test can do more harm than good, expert warns

Supplements are a daily wellness habit for many Americans – but experts warn more isn’t always better.

Some common nutritional supplements include zinc for immune function, ashwaganda for stress relief, fish oil for improving heart health and magnesium for better sleep, among others that have gained popularity on social media.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Jim LaValle, a clinical pharmacist and metabolic medicine expert based in Texas, said that supplements should be balanced with other medications and medical conditions.

AMERICANS ARE GIVING UP MULTIVITAMINS FOR A DIFFERENT DAILY HEALTH HABIT, STUDY FINDS

"I've never met a supplement I didn't like under the right circumstances," he said. "There's some evidence around what it's doing in the body."

While supplementing certain nutrients can be beneficial, the health expert warned that overdoing it can be "problematic."

"A lot of people take one of everything and then stack peptides on top of it – and then they're going and doing 18 different things," he said.

It's important to first assess what the body needs from an individualized approach, according to LaValle.

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For example, low magnesium has been associated with the development of metabolic syndrome. In that case, he said, taking a magnesium supplement could help to balance out levels.

"We assume that if you eat healthy, you're going to get those nutrients. But are the foods we're selecting actually rich in those nutrients?" he questioned.

LaValle recommends using supplements to address specific needs, starting with a blood test to pinpoint any deficiencies, rather than blindly treating symptoms.

Low iron and ferritin are common among people complaining of fatigue, LaValle said, yet some may instead turn to supplements like ashwagandha or rhodiola in an effort to boost their energy.

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"They’re buying some kind of stimulant adaptogen to try to get their energy up," he said. "That’s pretty basic — you’re low in iron, and you never got a blood test."

LaValle noted that the number of biomarkers measured is less important than how well the results are interpreted.

After appropriate blood testing, the results can be used to identify "functional highs and lows" and help establish specific health goals, he said.

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"If you're somebody who has a goal to get out there and get after it and do a Hyrox or an LT Games or a Tough Mudder, there could be supplements that would help improve your performance [or] reduce your risk of injury," LaValle said.

"It doesn't mean you [have to] take them all the time."

The expert reiterated that it’s easy to "overdo it," particularly with the influence of online health and wellness advice.

"When people are getting barraged with marketing between social media and friends telling them, 'I did this and it worked,' they'll lean in and go, 'Hey, if two is good, four is better, and why not do 10?'"

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In one example, having low levels of certain nutrients, such as zinc, can disrupt key functions in the body, as zinc plays an important role in immune health, cell growth and metabolism.

But supplementing with too much zinc can cause digestive distress and even copper deficiency, which can lead to anemia and other neurological problems, according to the NIH.

"So having low zinc is not good, but you can overdo zinc," LaValle said. "You can overdo vitamin A. You can overdo vitamin D easily, and that could be potentially toxic if you're taking too much of it."

People should talk with a doctor or pharmacist before starting or combining supplements, particularly if they take prescription medications or have underlying health conditions. Blood testing may also be appropriate before supplementing certain nutrients, experts advise.

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Common disorder linked to 70% higher death rate, but medication may offer protection

People diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) face a roughly 71% higher overall risk of early death compared to those without the condition, according to a new review published in JAMA Network Open.

However, taking prescription ADHD medication may offer a protective benefit, lowering overall risk of death, the review found.

Researchers analyzed data from 19 observational studies involving nearly 16 million people across three continents to evaluate the long-term effects associated with the condition.

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The review considered both unnatural causes of death, such as injuries and suicide, and natural causes, including physical health conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Across all categories, individuals with ADHD experienced elevated mortality rates compared to those without the diagnosis.

"We found that people with ADHD face an increased risk not only of death by suicide and injury, but also of deaths by natural causes, adding to evidence that health inequalities faced by people with ADHD are broad and wide-ranging," senior author Joshua Stott, professor of aging and clinical psychology at University College London (UCL), said in a press release.

The risk of death from suicide was nearly doubled, showing an 89% increase, while the risk of dying from intentional or unintentional injuries, such as motor vehicle accidents, was 55% higher, the study found.

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There was also a 27% higher risk of death from natural causes among people with ADHD.

The increased risk of death from natural causes was often tied to long-term health risks like smoking and substance use, as well as executive function challenges that can make it harder to manage chronic conditions, attend doctor’s appointments and follow treatment plans.

In one analysis, researchers checked whether medical treatment changed overall mortality rates.

Among people with ADHD, those taking prescribed ADHD medication had a 25% lower risk of death from any cause compared to those not taking medication, suggesting that effective treatment may lower some of the behavioral effects and health risks associated with the condition.

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"ADHD is not by definition a life-limiting condition, as the right support and treatment can help people live long and healthy lives," Stott said.

"Our findings underscore the importance of ensuring that everyone who may have ADHD has access to accurate diagnosis and treatment."

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Despite these findings, the researchers emphasized several key limitations.

All included studies were observational, meaning the results show associations rather than direct cause-and-effect relationships.

The findings on ADHD medication came from just three of the 19 studies, so those results are still preliminary and based on a much smaller group of people.

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Results also varied widely across individual studies due to differences in diagnostic criteria, healthcare access and tracking methods, while underlying factors such as socioeconomic status and other mental health conditions were not controlled across data sets.

"Our findings provide early evidence to suggest that medication may play an important role in supporting the health of people with ADHD, but this is based on a small number of studies and further research is needed to clarify this link," first author Lucy Corrigan, a research assistant in the University of Liverpool’s Department of Psychology, said in the same press release.

"Medication is just part of the story; many people with ADHD benefit from comprehensive, long-term treatment and support."

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Robert F Kennedy's granddaughter dies at 42 after years of health struggles

Kyle Kennedy, the granddaughter of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy, has died at the age of 42.

Kennedy, the daughter of Michael Kennedy and Victoria Gifford Kennedy, died Sept. 21 at her Massachusetts home, according to an obituary published by Burke Funeral Homes.

Her cause of death remains pending, People reported.

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Born in Washington, D.C., on July 6, 1984, Kennedy spent much of her upbringing in Cohasset, Massachusetts. She attended Milton Academy before earning a bachelor’s degree in history from Georgetown University.

She went on to pursue advanced degrees in education, earning a master of science in early education from Pace University and a master of education in education policy and management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Kennedy began her professional life with Teach for America, teaching for two years in New York City public schools. That experience sparked a lifelong commitment to early childhood education and reform, according to her obituary.

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Over the course of her career, Kennedy worked as an advocate for equitable elementary education and charter schools, collaborated with education technology companies on curriculum improvement, and served as an instructional coach for primary school educators.

An avid athlete and long-distance runner, Kennedy completed the 2019 Boston Marathon.

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In 2020, Kennedy suffered a severe spinal cord injury that caused long-term paralysis and significant health obstacles.

Following her injury, Kennedy focused on disability rights advocacy, including testifying at the Massachusetts State House on healthcare discrimination against individuals living with disabilities.

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Kennedy was preceded in death by her father, Michael, in 1997, and her infant daughter, Josie.

Kennedy is survived by her sons, Conor, 12, and Declan, 10; her ex-husband, Liam; her mother, Victoria (the daughter of Frank Gifford and Maxine Avis Ewart and Kathie Lee Gifford’s stepdaughter); her brother, Michael, and his family; and her sister, Rory, and her family.

Funeral services were held privately.

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