Kai Trump reveals emotional college transition, claims she 'hasn't eaten in like three days'

Kai Trump, the 19-year-old granddaughter of President Donald Trump, detailed her emotional transition to college life in a video posted to her YouTube channel, capturing everything from early-morning team meetings to an unexpected bout of strep throat during her first week at the University of Miami.

The video documents her final days in Jupiter, Florida, before moving into her apartment to join the University of Miami women’s golf team as a freshman.

During the drive home after playing a round of golf before her move, Kai spoke about the stress of leaving her home routine behind.

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"I’ve been like literally sobbing," she said.

"It’s just like really sad that I have to say goodbye to like everyone today. I’m not like a very emotional person at all, so this is like really weird for me to cry."

She added, "I’m just struggling right now just like thinking about it, but like I’m excited."

Once Kai arrived in Miami, her best friend, Emma, helped her move in and brought along groceries to make sure she was eating during the busy move.

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"Emma got me some frozen foods because I haven't eaten in like three days," Kai said in the video.

As classes began, the president’s granddaughter chronicled the early start to her athletic and academic responsibilities, noting a 7 a.m. team meeting on her first Monday.

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"I’m very tired if you guys cannot tell by my face," she said while getting ready.

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The vlog also highlighted her official team gear haul, including Miami-branded apparel and golf equipment, as well as her first team practice. However, her initial week on campus was interrupted when she fell ill shortly after classes began.

"I got sick with strep on Wednesday, my first week of school," Kai told viewers later in the vlog.

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"I came all the way back to Jupiter because I was so sick. I needed like my mom to nurse me back to health."

Trump is the eldest daughter of Donald Trump Jr. and his ex-wife Vanessa Trump.

In other recent news involving her family, golfer Tiger Woods arrived alongside Vanessa Trump for Woods' plea conference hearing in a DUI case stemming from a rollover crash in Florida that occurred in March.

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Women who start common hormone therapy in their 50s may have 23% lower dementia risk

Women who start hormone replacement therapy (HRT) at a certain age may have a lower dementia risk, a new study suggests.

The study, which was published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, analyzed UK Biobank data of 183,450 postmenopausal women averaging 60 years of age.

The U.K. researchers determined that HRT use was associated with about a 10% lower risk of all-cause dementia and a 16% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) over a 13-year follow-up period.

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The association was strongest among women who started the therapy between the ages of 46 and 56. It was also high among those who had undergone surgical menopause.

Starting HRT after age 56 was not associated with reduced dementia risk.

Dr. Alexa Fiffick, a board-certified family medicine physician and founder of Concierge Medicine of Westlake in Cleveland, Ohio, noted that this was an observational study that can’t show cause and effect.

"So, it kind of stays where the data has been for a while — that in certain patients, we have no evidence that it really makes a difference," she told Fox News Digital.

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"And for some patients, such as [those] who go through menopause a little bit younger, whether that's surgically or naturally, or if they have that APOE ε4 genotype that predisposes them to dementia, there may be some benefit."

The researchers also stated that as this was an observational study, it could not establish that HRT prevents dementia, but only showed an association.

The study also did not assess any safety outcomes or adverse events related to HRT.

Women who use HRT may differ from non-users in other ways that affect dementia risk, such as their overall health, lifestyle or access to healthcare, the researchers noted.

Although researchers adjusted for many of these factors, some unmeasured differences could still factor into the lower dementia risk seen among HRT users.

The study also did not have detailed information on the types of hormone therapy, the way they were administered or the specific dosages women took.

Most of the people in the study were of European ancestry and tended to be better off financially, so the findings may not apply equally to people from other populations.

This study alone likely doesn't warrant seeking out HRT just for dementia prevention, Fiffick said.

"However, if you're having symptoms, if you feel not yourself, come in, talk to your doctor, have that conversation," she advised.

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There is some data linking menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats, with vascular changes in the brain, the doctor noted.

"So we are very hopeful to see that treating those symptoms may prevent the vascular changes that lead to vascular dementia, but we just don't have that data right now," she said. "So, it's worth the conversation, it's worth bringing up, but I wouldn't go out of your way for just this purpose."

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HRT does carry some known risks and side effects, Fiffick noted.

For oral versions of estrogen, there may be an increased risk of blood clots. That risk does not appear to exist for transdermal options, such as patches, gels and creams.

Other types of HRT may impact breast activity, overall inflammation, cardiovascular markers and cardiometabolic markers, according to the doctor.

"So it's not one size fits all, and it's really worth an extensive conversation."

The U.K. researchers plan to conduct randomized controlled trials to confirm that HRT reduces dementia risk. Future studies will include factors such as estrogen-only versus combined therapy, dosage amounts, administration route, treatment duration, age at the start of therapy, menopause type and potentially APOE genotype.

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"I think the more we have studies like this, the more we're going to propel forward the randomized controlled trials to really give women the data they deserve," Fiffick concluded.

"Women deserve to have information to use to make decisions about their bodies. So I'm excited to see the trends heading in that direction."

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New weight-loss compound melts fat without curbing appetite — and preserves muscle

A team of researchers led by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, has identified a decades-old oral compound that produced substantial weight loss in obese mice.

Rather than suppressing appetite, the compound appears to boost energy expenditure, according to a study published in Science Advances.

The molecule, known as TOFA, reduced the mice’s body weight by an average of 18% without changing how much they ate or causing a statistically significant loss of lean mass.

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While popular injectable weight-loss medications such as semaglutide can produce substantial weight loss partly by reducing food intake, some patients experience gastrointestinal side effects and loss of lean mass.

Studies have also found that people often regain a significant amount of weight after stopping treatment.

Preserving muscle during weight loss remains one of the greatest clinical hurdles in obesity medicine, according to experts.

"Muscle mass is really important for our function during the day. It helps fight the effects of aging," Dr. Leslie Pristas, a bariatric surgeon and owner of Best Life Bariatrics and Medical Weight Loss in Northeast Ohio, told Fox News Digital.

"Building muscle is really hard. It takes a really long time. So if we can avoid having muscle loss while we're having weight loss, that's going to be so much better."

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Instead of primarily targeting appetite, TOFA acts inside cells, according to the researchers. It blocks enzymes involved in the production of lipids, including fats such as triglycerides, while also activating cellular receptors that turn on genes involved in fat burning and energy production.

Treated mice burned up to 18% more energy under room-temperature and mildly warm conditions, without becoming less active or developing a dangerous increase in body temperature.

When the researchers combined TOFA with existing obesity drugs such as semaglutide or tirzepatide, the combination treatments produced greater reductions in body weight and improvements in blood sugar, insulin and triglyceride levels than either drug alone.

Mice treated with TOFA maintained body weights close to control levels after treatment ended, while mice previously given semaglutide began rapidly regaining weight.

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Pristas urged caution against assuming that any single medication could permanently prevent post-treatment weight gain.

"Obesity is super complex," she said. "There's not just one mechanism by which everyone gains weight or even a single person gains weight. There are a lot of overlapping factors."

"Once we have extra weight on our body, that kind of becomes where our body thinks we're supposed to be. That becomes our body's weight set point," she noted, adding that if someone stops a medication abruptly, the body may then work to return to its previous weight.

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The compound also showed promise in mouse models for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH, a form of fatty liver disease. Mice given TOFA had less liver fat, inflammation and fibrosis (scarring).

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TOFA achieved these liver benefits without increasing triglyceride levels in the blood, the researchers noted. Some similar metabolic drugs have caused triglycerides to rise, creating potential cardiovascular and other health concerns that have complicated their development.

The authors emphasized that all the animal experiments involved male mice. Future studies will need to determine whether TOFA produces similar results in female animals.

The drug has not yet been tested in people, so researchers still don't know what dose would be appropriate, whether it is safe to use over long periods, or whether it could cause subtle toxicities or other safety problems.

Pristas emphasized that early mouse data must be weighed carefully against potential hidden side effects in humans.

"If it sounds too good to be true, it's probably too good to be true," she said.

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"When you're talking about manipulating our bodies' manufacturing or processing of lipids, it's complex. And so there can be downstream effects that we don't want. That's where we can't get too excited."

However, the expert said the treatment could eventually benefit people, either on its own or in combination with another therapy.

The study authors disclosed that several researchers are co-founders, officers or equity holders in ReRx Therapeutics, a company with an agreement giving it the option to develop UC Berkeley’s TOFA-related discovery.

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Teen dies from ‘brain-eating amoeba’ just days after young girl succumbs to same rare infection

A North Carolina teenager has died from a rare and often fatal infection caused by an amoeba found in warm freshwater, state health officials said.

In a GoFundMe set up by the teen’s mother, she shared that his first symptom was "severe headaches."

"I never imagined that something like this could be so serious," she said.

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The illness is caused by Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba (one-celled living organism) that inhabits ponds, lakes and rivers.

"We extend our condolences to the family, friends and community impacted by this loss," the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement obtained by news outlets.

The teen’s death was reported just days after an 8-year-old girl in Louisiana succumbed to the infection.

"While these infections are very rare, this is an important reminder that this amoeba is present in our state and across the U.S.," State Epidemiologist Zack Moore, M.D., said in a prior statement. "There are steps people can take to reduce their risk of infection while swimming during the warmer months."

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Naegleria fowleri — commonly referred to as a "brain-eating amoeba" — causes a life-threatening brain infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).

The amoeba is most active in the months that the water temperature stays elevated.

"It's typically this time of year when it's very hot outside, when there hasn't been a lot of rain … and the lakes and ponds get pretty stagnant and get very warm, and that's a great breeding ground for these type of natural inhabitants of those waters," Dr. Jeffrey Kahn, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at UT Southwestern and Children's Health in Dallas, Texas, told Fox News Digital.

The infection can occur when water containing the amoeba is forced up the nose, allowing the amoeba to travel to the brain. This can occur when someone jumps or dives into the water or participates in water sports.

"Once that happens, it's nearly a lethal disease," Kahn warned. "The mortality rate is close to 100%."

Naegleria fowleri does not cause illness via swallowing.

The initial symptoms of PAM usually begin about five days after exposure, but they can be noticed sooner.

Early signs usually include headache, nausea, fever and/or vomiting, the CDC’s website states.

As the infection progresses, people may experience confusion, slurred speech, stiff neck, disorientation, hallucinations, seizures and coma.

"The initial symptoms are actually quite nonspecific — they don't point to one disease or another — but they can progress very rapidly," Kahn noted.

Diagnosis involves testing cerebrospinal fluid obtained through a spinal tap; specialized laboratory testing may be needed.

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Symptoms usually begin about five days after exposure, although they can appear anywhere from one to 12 days later. Once symptoms start, the disease progresses rapidly.

Most people die within one to 18 days after symptoms begin, typically around five days, per the CDC.

To prevent potentially fatal infections, Kahn recommends either avoiding the types of waters where the amoeba is likelier to be found, or taking added precautions.

"If you are swimming in those waters, wear a nose clip, don't put your head underwater, those types of things," he said.

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Drinking contaminated water does not present a risk, and the infection does not spread from one person to another.

Because the amoeba is found in soil, the CDC also recommends avoiding stirring up the sediment at the bottom of lakes, ponds and rivers.

When a patient has been diagnosed with a brain-eating amoeba, treatment involves a combination of antimicrobial and anti-amoebic medications, including amphotericin B, azithromycin, rifampin and miltefosine.

"There has been a cocktail of antibiotics and antimicrobials that have been tried over the years — but with a very, very small number of cases every year, it's tough to draw any conclusions from that," Kahn said.

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"In the cases we've seen, we typically throw a lot of these antibiotics as a therapeutic modality, but by the time the [amoeba] enters the brain and starts to basically erode the brain tissue, it's too late."

Those who experience sudden headache, fever, stiff neck or vomiting — especially if they have recently been swimming in warm freshwater — should seek immediate medical attention, the CDC recommends.

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7 new dementia risk factors revealed — including one millions struggle with

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a major update to its guidelines on reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

The second edition of the original 2019 report was updated to "reflect the latest evidence and advances in dementia risk reduction."

The following seven additional health conditions and exposures were added to the list.

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These new risk factors joined the previously existing 12, which are listed below.

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Dr. Daniel Amen, physician and founder of Amen Clinics in California, has his own formula for reducing Alzheimer’s risk factors, following an acronym called BRIGHT MINDS.

This stands for blood flow, retirement and aging, inflammation, genetics, head trauma, toxins, mental health, immunity and infections, neurohormones, diabesity (co-occurrence of obesity and type 2 diabetes) and sleep. The WHO’s updated guidelines offer similar advice.

Amen spoke with Fox News Digital about the new additions to the WHO's list of risk factors.

The WHO does not recommend menopausal hormone therapy specifically to prevent dementia in postmenopausal women 65 and older. For younger women, it says there is not enough evidence to determine whether MHT affects dementia risk.

Amen agreed that there is not enough evidence to support using MHT specifically to prevent dementia. He said hormonal changes during menopause may affect mood and memory, although the relationship between MHT and dementia risk remains uncertain.

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"For women, as they go through menopause, lower progesterone makes them anxious, and [with] lower estrogen, they start to have memory problems," he said. "Hormone replacement early on is helpful, and that's what we see on the brain imaging work that we do."

Experts note that while menopause-related hormonal changes can be associated with mood and cognitive symptoms, these effects can vary widely.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in or near the brain bursts, according to the American Stroke Association.

Conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels can also affect brain health and are associated with a higher risk of dementia, according to Amen.

That can include conditions such as heart disease, heart rhythm problems, stroke and transient ischemic attacks. Erectile dysfunction can also be associated with underlying vascular disease, he said.

"And 40% of 40-year-olds have erectile dysfunction, 70% of 70-year-olds. So, if I'm an older person, I'm thinking if I get my brain right, my love life could be better, too," Amen added.

Amen surmised that the WHO is "late to the party" on emphasizing the importance of head trauma as a dementia risk factor. TBI can range from a mild concussion to a severe brain injury.

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"One of the big lessons from the brain imaging work we do is that mild traumatic brain injury ruins people's lives," he said. "They end up seeing psychiatrists because they have temper problems or ... depression or anxiety, and it's really from a snowmobiling accident in [their] 30s."

Amen added that failing to protect the brain — which he described as "very soft" and about the consistency of "soft butter" — is "not the smart thing to do."

A significant portion of the brain is dedicated to vision, according to Amen.

"So, if your vision becomes troubled, your brain's troubled," he said.

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Amen said vision impairment may place additional demands on the brain. While the condition has been linked with cognitive decline, the WHO says there is insufficient evidence to recommend vision treatment specifically for dementia prevention.

Sleep appears to support the brain’s waste-clearance processes, Amen noted.

Sleep challenges affect tens of millions of Americans. In 2024, 30.5% of U.S. adults reported getting less than seven hours of shuteye per day, according to the CDC.

For those with sleep problems such as sleep apnea, it can cause changes in the brain that resemble the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, the expert said.

Research suggests that sleep may help the brain clear beta-amyloid, although the relationship between sleep and dementia remains complex and is still being studied.

Inflammation and infections can affect brain health. Untreated HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) can affect the central nervous system and is associated with HIV-related cognitive impairment.

Amen said he has scanned "hundreds of people" with HIV, stating that the virus is "clearly a risk factor."

Untreated HIV is known to affect the central nervous system and is associated with HIV-related cognitive impairment. Effective antiretroviral therapy has greatly reduced the incidence of severe HIV-associated dementia.

Exposure to any toxins, from alcohol and marijuana to lead, mercury or air pollution, could be detrimental to brain health, according to Amen.

The WHO recommends reducing exposure to household and outdoor air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter. Research has linked long-term exposure to air pollution with a higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia, although the WHO characterizes the evidence as low to very low certainty.

Dementia risk rises sharply with age. A recent U.S. analysis estimated that about one in five people had developed dementia by age 85, with risk increasing further at older ages.

While those with a genetic predisposition to the disease have a higher risk, Amen noted that certain lifestyle factors can increase the risk for anyone.

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"We should be on a dementia prevention program our whole lives," the doctor said. "It’s not something to start when you're 65."

Amen urged everyone to ask themselves the question: "Is what I’m doing good or bad for my brain?"

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"Social activity is one of the prevention strategies. New learning is a prevention strategy," he added. "So always working on being connected with other people and then just making better decisions."

"If you love and care for your brain, you're going to love your life a whole bunch more."

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Popular artificial sweetener linked to potentially dangerous heart risk

People who consume greater amounts of a popular artificial sweetener could face a greater risk of heart attack and stroke, a new study suggests.

The research, which was presented at the ESC Cardiology Congress in Germany this week, showed that higher levels of xylitol in the blood were associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is commonly used as a low-calorie sweetener and sugar substitute, according to the National Institutes of Health. It is often used in higher amounts to sweeten foods, drinks, chewing gum and dental care products.

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The researchers followed two large study cohorts of more than 17,700 Canadian and British participants.

Over a six-year follow-up, people in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging with the highest xylitol levels had a 57% higher risk of death, myocardial infarction or stroke related to cardiovascular events compared to those with the lowest levels.

Over 30 years, participants in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk group with the highest xylitol levels had an 18% greater risk of MACE.

Both cohorts showed evidence of a dose-dependent association, in which higher blood xylitol concentrations corresponded to higher rates of cardiovascular events.

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These higher risks persisted even after the researchers adjusted for other factors like age, gender, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes and lipid levels.

The study follows previous research that showed xylitol can enhance the ability of platelets to form clots, according to Dr. Marco Witkowski, the study presenter from Charité University Hospital in Berlin, Germany.

"Artificial sweeteners are consumed by people who think they are healthier than sugar, and they are generally regarded as safe by regulatory agencies," the doctor said in a statement.

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"Our long-term findings in the general population highlight how little we know about the cardiovascular safety of xylitol and indicate that further studies are warranted, especially as the amount of xylitol in products continues to increase."

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The study was observational and does not prove that xylitol causes cardiovascular events, as the researchers noted that more studies are needed to confirm the findings.

The report also does not establish whether high levels of xylitol in the blood necessarily reflect dietary consumption, as the sugar alcohol can also be produced naturally in the body as part of glucose metabolism.

"These disturbing findings with [a] plausible mechanism of xylitol increasing cardiovascular risk should be taken very seriously," Dr. Aseem Malhotra, a cardiologist and public health campaigner based in London, told Fox News Digital.

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"As a practicing cardiologist, I see many patients suffering from anxiety and palpitations that resolve as soon as they stop taking artificial sweeteners."

Malhotra, who was not involved in the study, noted that one of the most important dietary changes to reduce cardiovascular risk is to "unsweeten your sweet tooth."

"That’s why I advise all my patients to avoid all processed sugars and artificial sweeteners for six weeks to break the addiction," he added.

Fox News Digital reached out to several food and beverage trade groups for comment.

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Dietitian reveals simple eating strategy for better sleep — and one habit to avoid

How you eat can influence how you sleep, according to experts.

Erin Palinski-Wade, a New Jersey-based registered dietitian, certified diabetes care specialist and author of "The Sleepdemic Solution," says certain foods can make, or break, a good night’s sleep.

"There are a number of foods that can help support sleep, and sometimes it's even a combination," she told Fox News Digital.

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Keeping blood sugar steady throughout the day may help prevent afternoon energy crashes and support more restorative sleep at night, Palinski-Wade said.

Waking up in the middle of the night and struggling to fall back asleep may not always be insomnia, she suggested, but could be linked to fluctuations in glucose levels.

Combining lean proteins, slow-digesting carbohydrates and healthy fats in meals and snacks can help stabilize those levels — what Palinski-Wade called the "No. 1 way" to improve overall sleep.

Some small studies suggest tart cherry juice may support sleep, and the expert named tart cherries — or 100% tart cherry juice — as her top choice. 

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"Tart cherries [are] one of the foods that have the highest amount of melatonin naturally, but they also have compounds that help to really extend that melatonin in our bodies and our body's ability to use it," she said.

Still, research linking tart cherry consumption to modest improvements in sleep duration or quality is limited and mixed; a 2025 systematic review reached a similar conclusion.

For those who suffer from insomnia, Palinski-Wade recommends ingesting 4 to 6 ounces of 100% tart cherry juice, or about a quarter cup of dried tart cherries.

"It's a really, really great tool to improve your sleep – and it's really tasty, too," she said.

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Foods and drinks that may help reduce inflammation can also support sleep, the dietitian said.

"When we have more antioxidants in the body, more anti-inflammatory compounds, we're really helping our body to achieve that more restful state," Palinski-Wade said.

Foods rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds — including nuts and seeds, olive oil and avocados — also provide healthy fats and other nutrients that may support sleep.

On the other hand, Palinski-Wade warned that caffeine intake can negatively impact sleep quality.

"So many of us have a poor night's sleep and the next day we reach for caffeine to give us a burst of energy," she said. "And there's nothing wrong with a little bit of caffeine, but you have to look at how much you're having and how close to bedtime."

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"And it's a stimulant, so it's harder to fall asleep," Palinski-Wade warned. "If you have foods or beverages with a large amount of caffeine, and you're having them in the afternoon or toward the evening, that is going to make it very hard to get restorative, restful sleep in the evening."

For those who do drink caffeine, it is best to stop about 10 hours before bedtime, the expert advised.

The "sweet spot" for daily caffeine intake is 300 milligrams or less, she said. Any more than that becomes a "stressor to our body." A cup of coffee, traditionally 8 ounces, is about 100 milligrams.

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The FDA says up to 400 milligrams daily is not generally associated with negative effects for most adults, although individual tolerance can vary depending on factors such as medications, health conditions and sensitivity to caffeine.

"We start to release stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, and that not only makes our body store fat versus burn it, but it also increases inflammation," Palinski-Wade noted. 

"So now you have the stimulant, you have this inflammation, and all those things go against quality sleep."

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