New stem cell therapy shows 'promising' results for treating hair loss in preclinical trials

Researchers at the San Carlos Clinical Hospital in Madrid may have targeted a potential solution for hair loss.

A recent study analyzed the effect of injecting mice's skin with stem cells from human fat —  "adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs)" — as a means of treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA), more commonly known as male- or female-pattern hair loss.

The team found that male mice achieved the best hair regrowth after three weeks when they received low-dose ASCs, combined with an energy-boosting molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

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Low-dose and high-dose ASC treatments along with ATP led to no hair regrowth improvement in females, but medium-dose ASC plus ATP led to greater regrowth.

The researchers concluded that hair regrowth was improved in "all experimental groups" where male mice received stem cell solutions supplemented with ATP.

The findings were published in the journal Stem Cell Research & Therapy.

Lead study author Dr. Eduardo López Bran — dermatologist and professor at The Complutense University of Madrid — shared his expectations for the study in an interview with Fox News Digital.

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"We expected good results, but not such a high level of success," he said. "We’re talking about a very high degree of hair regrowth in both male and female mice."

With appropriate doses, the researchers achieved "very high percentages" of hair regrowth, noting that 100% of the male mice and up to 90% of the female mice regrew hair.

"These results demonstrate that advanced therapies may represent a new therapeutic approach for many diseases for which no effective treatments are currently available," Bran went on.

"Achieving such promising results in the preclinical phase with a completely novel approach to androgenetic alopecia — one that avoids chronic treatment and is also safe — is a significant scientific milestone."

The main limitation of the study was the thinness of mouse skin, Bran noted, which "posed a challenge in administering the therapy."

"This required the development of protocols to minimize experimental variability, and will be a key factor when studies in humans begin," he said.

These new findings should be "interpreted with caution and scientific rigor," Bran cautioned.

"Although the results in mice represent significant progress, it is also true that it is essential to wait for clinical benefits in humans to be confirmed."

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The researcher encouraged those with androgenetic alopecia to continue consulting with their dermatologists and to follow prescribed treatments as research develops.

"It is important to remain hopeful. Research advances are pointing toward possible solutions that, in the future, may offer long-lasting results without the need for continuous treatment to maintain benefits," Bran added.

Looking ahead to human clinical trials, researchers are "actively working" on confirming safety for men and women between 18 and 50 years old with moderate androgenetic alopecia, the researcher noted.

"If everything progresses as expected, the most optimistic timeline points to the treatment becoming available in approximately five years," he said.

In a separate interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Brendan Camp, M.D., a New York-based dermatologist who was not involved in the study, commented on the potential for this method.

"While not commercially available, this study suggests that injection of stem cells supplemented with ATP into scalp skin could potentially encourage hair regrowth in individuals with androgenetic alopecia," he reiterated.

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"This study is small, and more research is needed on this method as a potential treatment option for androgenetic alopecia."

Until then, Camp encourages people to focus on currently available and "well-studied" treatments to address hair loss, and to visit a board-certified dermatologist for evaluation.

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Hepatitis A outbreak infects thousands of travelers at popular destinations

A spike in viral infections has sickened thousands of travelers and caused several deaths at some popular European destinations.

Four countries — Austria, Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia — have reported a spike in hepatitis A cases between January and May 2025, according to a rapid risk assessment issued by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

In total, 2,097 cases have been reported across the four countries. 

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Slovakia, which has been dealing with an active outbreak since 2022, represents 880 of those cases. Czechia is the next most affected country, reporting 600 cases and six deaths, the ECDC stated. Hungary has reported 530 cases in 2025, and Austria has reported 87.

Hepatitis A is an "acute viral liver disease" caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), according to the agency. 

The disease is mainly spread through contaminated food or water, or through close contact with infected people. 

Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, said that hepatitis A is a "widely transmissible" disease that spreads easily among food handlers and "can get you very sick."

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People who have not received the hepatitis A vaccination or been infected by the virus are susceptible, the agency noted. Vaccinations are given in two doses, six to 12 months apart, according to Siegel.

"People will have lifetime immunity after infection," the doctor noted. "A doctor can check your titres (levels of blood antibodies) to document that you are immune from prior vaccination."

Groups most affected by the infections include people who are homeless, use or inject recreational drugs or live in unsanitary conditions, as well as those with limited access to healthcare.

"Within these groups, the risk of the disease is assessed as moderate for those below 40 years of age and high for adults 40 years of age or older, as the severity of the disease increases with age," the ECDC stated. 

"For people with predisposing liver disease or older adults, the risk can be very high. The risk for the broader population in these countries is assessed as low to moderate."

Those who are immunosuppressed are also at a higher risk, the alert said.

Not everyone will develop symptoms, but those who do may notice the following common effects, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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"This outbreak reminds us that hepatitis A can cause serious illness and death, especially among people with limited access to healthcare and basic hygiene," said Ole Heuer, head of the ECDC's One Health Unit, in a press release. 

"We need to strengthen outreach, provide access to vaccination in groups more likely to be exposed and ensure basic sanitation, especially in response to the increase in cases."

To address the outbreak, the ECDC recommends investigating potential means of transmission of hepatitis A, such as "possible foodborne transmission or spill-overs into other groups at increased risk of infection."

The agency also calls for targeted vaccination programs, "post-exposure prophylaxis" to close contacts to prevent infection, and more genetic testing of the virus, as well as increased education and awareness among high-risk groups.

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According to the CDC, receiving the hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin (medication containing antibodies) within two weeks of exposure can prevent illness.

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Single dose of 'magic mushrooms' provides 5 years of depression relief, researchers find

Psilocybin, the main psychoactive ingredient in magic mushrooms, could alleviate depression for at least five years after just one dose, according to a new study.

The research, presented June 18 at the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference in Denver, followed up with patients who had been diagnosed with clinical depression — also known as major depressive disorder (MDD) — and had participated in a previous psilocybin treatment study in 2020.

"Most people who participated in our trial reported improvements in depression symptom intensity or in the ways in which they experienced depression in their life, lasting up to five years after the trial," study co-author Alan Davis, director of the Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education at The Ohio State University, told Fox News Digital.

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Doug Drysdale, CEO of the Canadian pharmaceutical company Cybin in Toronto, Ontario, told Fox News Digital that the outcome speaks to the "exciting" potential of psilocybin and other psychedelic-based treatments in treating MDD and other mental health conditions.

"The results of the study are certainly very encouraging," said Drysdale, who was not involved in the study.

Earlier studies pointed toward the possibility of psilocybin as a potential antidepressant, prompting researchers to conduct the first-ever randomized clinical trial.

The initial 2020 trial, published in JAMA Psychiatry, included 24 patients with major depressive disorder. Half received psilocybin at the beginning of the trial, and the other half received the treatment eight weeks later. 

Each patient also underwent 11 hours of psychotherapy.

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One month after treatment, 17 patients reported experiencing symptom relief. Fourteen of those reported full remission from depression, according to the published study.

"The effectiveness of psilocybin therapy after a single or only a few administrations represents another substantial advantage over commonly used antidepressants that require daily administration," the researchers wrote.

The new study aimed to explore the longer-term effects of this treatment on 21 of the original trial participants.

Sixty-seven percent reported being in remission from depression five years after treatment, and they also had less anxiety and easier daily functioning.

For those whose depression came back, many still reported lasting benefits in their attitudes, perspectives and ability to pursue things that were meaningful to them, Davis told Fox News Digital.

"Certainly, more controlled and rigorous study is required, but at least anecdotally, these findings are very interesting, and I am cautiously optimistic about the potential for extended efficacy provided by these types of treatments," Drysdale added.

Other factors may have also played a role in the participants' long-term mental health benefits, such as psychotherapy sessions or other antidepressants, experts agreed.

"The study doesn't account for naturalistic changes that could have affected their depression in the five years since the main trial, and the sample is not representative of the population of people suffering with depression," Davis told Fox News Digital.

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Psilocybin has also been explored as a potential treatment for post-partum depression (PPD), which affects as many as one in seven new mothers.

A 2022 study outlined the potential role of psychedelics in PPD cases, finding that psilocybin has been shown to catalyze a sense of "reconnection" in new mothers.

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"This effect in PPD, by fostering a sense of 'reconnection' for the mother, may allow for improved mood and maternal sensitivity toward the infant, which can positively impact maternal role gratification and the mother-infant relationship," the researchers stated.

In February, Cleveland Clinic reported on an upcoming study that explores single-dosing psilocybin as a way to treat PPD.

The trial, now in its second phase, focuses on RE104, a proprietary drug similar to psilocybin. 

Study participants will undergo multiple physical and mental health tests.

Ryan Moss, chief science officer at Filament Health, a clinical-stage natural psychedelic drug development company in Canada, has emphasized the importance of administering psychedelics in a safe setting when treating mental health conditions.

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"Psychedelic experiences can sometimes feature anxiety, hallucinations and paranoia," Moss previously told Fox News Digital. 

"Some patients using traditional psychedelics have reported experiencing adverse cardiovascular events during clinical trials."

To mitigate these risks, Moss recommended clinical trial participants receive thorough preparation and monitoring by trained professionals during sessions. 

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and Fox News' senior medical analyst, previously interviewed two of the country's top researchers on psychedelics: Dr. Rachel Yehuda, founder and director of the Center for Psychedelic Psychotherapy and Trauma Research at Mt. Sinai in New York, and Dr. Charles Marmar, director of the PTSD research program at NYU Langone.

"They agree there is therapeutic potential if very carefully studied under very strict medical guidance, but there is a huge downside in terms of unregulated recreational uses," Siegel told Fox News Digital at the time.

"Both doctors see likely therapeutic value to psychedelics if carefully managed by medical experts," Siegel added.

Melissa Rudy and Angelica Stabile, both of Fox News Digital, contributed reporting.

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Experimental drug helps patients lose nearly a quarter of body weight in early trials

An experimental weight-loss medication was shown to help people lose nearly 25% of their body weight in early-stage 1a/2b trials.

The drug, amycretin — developed by Novo Nordisk — works by replicating two hunger hormones — amylin, which regulates appetite and creates a feeling of fullness, and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), the same hormone that is used in Ozempic and Wegovy to suppress appetite and boost insulin secretion.

"Amycretin is the first treatment to harness the two distinct biological pathways stimulated by amylin and GLP-1 in a single molecule," Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president and head of development at Novo Nordisk, previously said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital.

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In the study, which included 125 overweight or obese adults, participants who received weekly injections of amycretin lost more weight than those who took a placebo, according to a press release from Novo Nordisk.

Those who got the highest doses (up to 60 mg) lost up to 24.3% pounds after 36 weeks, compared to just 1.1% for the placebo group, per the release.

A previous phase 1 trial of the oral (pill) version of amycretin also showed that treatment was "safe and tolerable," with an "observed reduction in body weight" compared to placebo, the company stated.

Taking the pill once a day led to around 10% weight loss, and those who doubled the dose lost 13%.

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Another benefit the researchers highlighted is that people taking amycretin did not appear to hit a "weight-loss plateau," continuing to shed pounds as long as they took it.

"The lack of weight loss plateauing indicates the possibility of achieving further weight reductions with extended treatment," Agnes Gasoirek, a senior clinical pharmacology specialist at Novo Nordisk, wrote in the phase 1 study findings.

Novo Nordisk presented the latest findings at the American Diabetes Association in Chicago on June 22; they were also published in the medical journal Lancet.

"We are pleased with the promising results of amycretin and the feedback from regulatory authorities and are excited to advance both subcutaneous and oral versions of this molecule into phase 3 development for weight management," said Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president for Development at Novo Nordisk, in the release. 

"These results reflect our robust pipeline in obesity, [and] our focus on progressing scientific innovation and expanding the range of options available to patients and healthcare professionals."

The most common side effects of amycretin, similar to other GLP-1s, were gastrointestinal symptoms — primarily nausea, vomiting and decreased appetite.

Adverse events were "mild to moderate" in severity, according to researchers. More frequent doses resulted in greater side effects.

It’s important to monitor these side effects closely, experts advise, as GI issues are common among patients with obesity. 

"While the initial weight-loss outcomes are indeed encouraging, further studies are needed to ensure that the therapeutic benefits consistently outweigh the potential risks, especially with long-term administration," Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding, director and chief of bariatric surgery at the NYU Langone Weight Management Program, previously told Fox News Digital.

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While GLP-1-based drugs — including this new experimental pill — may show promising results, Ren-Fielding, who was not involved in the study, emphasized that they’re "not a cure-all for obesity."

"Obesity is a chronic, multifactorial disease that requires a comprehensive, long-term approach," she said at the time.

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"Pharmacological treatments can play a significant role in managing the condition, but they are often most effective when combined with other interventions."

Next, Novo Nordisk plans to prepare for phase 3 trials of the medication, in both oral and injectable forms, for the management of obesity.

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Simple daily activity could reduce risk of lower back pain, study finds

Taking longer walks could actually improve back pain, according to a new study.

Researchers in Norway investigated how chronic low back pain, a "prevalent and costly condition," could be reduced by regular physical activity, including accessible walking.

The study, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, measured daily walking volume and walking intensity among more than 11,000 participants over the age of 20.

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The participants then reported any incidences of lower back pain lasting three months or longer in the past year.

Walking for more than 100 minutes per day resulted in a 23% lower risk of pain compared to walking less than 78 minutes per day, according to the results.

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Walking intensity was also associated with chronic lower back pain risk, but to a "lesser degree" than walking volume, researchers noted.

"In this cohort study, daily walking volume and walking intensity were inversely associated with the risk of chronic [lower back pain]," the study concluded. 

"The findings suggest that walking volume may have a more pronounced benefit than walking intensity."

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"These findings suggest that policies and public health strategies promoting walking could help to reduce the occurrence of chronic [lower back pain]."

Dr. Arthur L. Jenkins III, board-certified neurosurgeon and founder of Jenkins NeuroSpine in New York City, confirmed in an interview with Fox News Digital that long walks "are good," as long as other orthopedic issues don't make it difficult to walk.

"I always encourage my patients to walk, and to engage their core (squeeze their abs and back) while walking to exercise more than just their legs, and straighten their backs," he advised.

Statistics show that more than one-quarter of Americans report experiencing chronic lower back or sciatic pain.

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

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Diabetic patients taking GLP-1s may face increased risk of eye disease, study suggests

Diabetes is the leading cause of vision loss in people between 18 and 64 years old, according to the American Diabetes Association — and the best way to prevent this is to control blood sugar levels.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s), such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, have become popular medications for controlling diabetes and treating obesity — but new Canadian research suggests they can also lead to a paradoxical side effect in the form of eye problems.

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A retrospective study conducted from January 2020 to November 2023 included more than 139,000 diabetic patients, some of whom were taking GLP-1s for at least six months and some who were not taking the medications over a three-year period.

The average age of the participants was 66 years old, and approximately 47% were women.

Researchers found that the participants taking the weight-loss medications had twice the risk of developing neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) compared to the people not taking them.

"There have been growing reports of [eye] adverse events with GLP-1 receptor agonists, but no clear consensus regarding their impact on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) progression," study author Dr. Rajeev Muni, an ophthalmologist and vice-chair of clinical research in the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences at the University of Toronto, told Fox News Digital.

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"In particular, we observed a dose-response relationship — the longer patients were exposed to these medications, the greater their risk appeared to be," added author Reut Shor, a researcher in the department of ophthalmology and vision sciences at the University of Toronto.

The findings were published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of vision loss in those aged 50 and older in the developing world, according to the American Society of Retinal Specialists.

Approximately 20 million adults in the U.S. have the condition.

It mainly affects people’s central vision, which means they have a challenging time seeing in front of them, but their peripheral vision is intact, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

There are two types of AMD – dry and wet. 

Dry AMD, the most common type, occurs when small yellow deposits of protein develop under the macula, but symptoms may not occur in the early stages, experts said.

In about two out of every 10 cases, dry AMD develops into wet AMD — also known as neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

With this more advanced type of disease, abnormal blood vessels form under the retina and start to leak, causing damage to the central part of the retina, known as the macula, according to WebMD.

"When this occurs, symptoms include loss of central vision, distortions in vision and blank areas missing in the central vision," Nishika Reddy, M.D., assistant professor of ophthalmology at Moran Eye Center’s Midvalley Health Center at the University of Utah, told Fox News Digital. (She was not part of the study.)

Risk factors for nAMD include chronic heart failure, chronic kidney disease and diabetes – all of which often overlap with those who take GLP-1s, experts confirmed.

The study authors cautioned that their findings should be taken in the context of the overall higher risk of eye disease in older people.

The incidence of nAMD in the general population is about one in 1,000, and it doubled to two in 1,000 for the group taking the GLP-1s in the study.

However, the overall absolute risk is still small, according to the researchers.

The study’s main limitation is that it was observational in nature, meaning the researchers could not confirm that GLP-1s medications cause neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

The study also could not draw conclusions about younger populations, the researchers acknowledged.

"Also, our findings apply only to diabetic patients aged 66 years or older, and cannot be directly generalized to non-diabetic individuals using GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss," Shor told Fox News Digital.

GLP-1 receptors are present in the retina regardless of age or diabetes status — so theoretically, the risk could apply to younger populations.

More research is needed to better understand why diabetic people on GLP-1s have increased eye disease, Shor said.

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"While the risk of developing macular degeneration while on a GLP-1 drug is low, patients should be aware of the possible eye side effects related to these types of medications," Reddy said.

If someone notices blurred or distorted vision, straight lines appearing wavy, or any new blind spots, they should seek medical attention, according to Muni.

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Early detection of eye disease is crucial, experts agree, as timely treatment can reduce the risk of vision loss.

The study authors said they hope their findings will empower patients to monitor for early symptoms.

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Dental experts reveal 6 essential tips to prevent tooth loss in aging adults

Some may assume that losing teeth is just part of growing older. 

Around 11% of adults between the ages of 65 and 74 have lost all of their teeth, according to 2020 data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — and that number rises to one in five at age 75 and older.

But according to experts, this isn’t inevitable. Dental professionals shared the following tips to prevent tooth loss and boost overall health.

About two in three adults over age 65 are dealing with some form of gum disease, according to a recently published AARP report.

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Clinical experts cited in the report, including Dr. Uchenna Akosa, assistant professor and director at Rutgers Health University Dental Associates in New Jersey, warn that bleeding gums can signal a much deeper problem. 

"Even if you have not lost any teeth, gum disease impairs your ability to chew hard food," Akosa told AARP. "That will affect your nutrition and can put you at risk of malnutrition in the future."

Left untreated, gum disease can also destroy the bones that hold teeth in place and may interfere with nutrition and chewing.

Gum disease is also a source of chronic inflammation in the body, which can contribute to dementia risk, studies have shown. A meta-analysis of about 34,000 people found that older adults who had lost all of their teeth had a 1.4 times greater risk of developing dementia, as cited by AARP.

The publication also points to previous research linking gum disease to other health risks, such as heart attack, stroke and cancer.

Experts recommend focusing on early prevention. If your gums bleed when brushing, or if you notice sensitivity or recession, those are signs to schedule a dental visit. 

Regular professional cleanings and checkups can catch gum problems before they lead to tooth loss or other health effects.

AARP reports that switching to an electric toothbrush, brushing twice daily for two minutes and using a water flosser are all effective ways to protect gum health.

Dr. David Frey, a cosmetic dentist at Your Perfect Smile in Beverly Hills, California, said that he often recommends water flossers – particularly the Sonic-Fusion by Waterpik – to older patients.

"It’s especially valuable for patients with arthritis, limited mobility or trouble using traditional floss," Frey told Fox News Digital.

Saliva plays an essential role in neutralizing acids and protecting tooth enamel, but dry mouth affects nearly six in 10 older adults, according to AARP.

Many common medications — including antihistamines, antidepressants and blood pressure drugs — can reduce saliva production, making the mouth more prone to tooth decay, infection and gum disease, WebMD states.

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To prevent dry mouth, AARP recommends sipping water regularly, rinsing the mouth after eating, asking your dentist about prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste, and using dry mouth rinses like Biotene or Act.

Contrary to the standard six-month checkup rule, AARP notes that dental care schedules should be personalized. 

One doctor in the report noted that there’s "nothing magical about a six-month checkup" — some people may only need to go once a year, while others, especially those with chronic conditions, may need more frequent visits.

Oral health issues in older adults often go unnoticed, especially those related to bite alignment, according to Frey.

"Bite-related issues are often an overlooked source of headaches and neck pain," he told Fox News Digital. "The public simply hasn’t been informed that tension, misalignment and jaw dysfunction can manifest in ways that seem unrelated at first glance."

Evaluating bite position and jaw health can sometimes reveal the root causes of chronic discomfort, Frey noted.

"When I combine 3D imaging with a close exam of the teeth — worn surfaces, tiny fractures and chipping — it often reveals that the muscles around the head and neck aren’t in harmony with the bite."

Only three in 10 adults over 65 have dental insurance, per the American Dental Association, and Medicare typically doesn’t cover cleanings, fillings or other routine procedures.

This financial gap often leads people to skip dental care altogether, which can cause more serious (and expensive) problems in the future.

AARP suggests looking into dental savings plans, local dental schools or sliding-scale community clinics if coverage is an issue.

Smoking is a major contributor to tooth loss. 

CDC data shows that smokers are up to three times more likely to lose all their teeth than non-smokers. 

And while sugary cough drops or hard candies may seem harmless, they can be damaging to tooth enamel over time, experts warn.

Switching to sugar-free gum or candies containing xylitol may help prevent cavities and support better oral health, Akosa told AARP.

One of the biggest misconceptions about aging and dental health is that worn, discolored teeth are something to simply accept, according to Frey.

"A delicate, thin porcelain veneer can restore the vitality, color and shape your teeth once had, enhancing your smile and overall appearance," he told Fox News Digital. 

"And it’s not just cosmetic — it’s about restoring health, confidence and proper function."

According to Dr. Frey, "It’s not just about revitalizing the teeth — it’s about revitalizing the person."

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For those looking to brighten their smile, Erin Fraundorf, founder of BOCA Orthodontic and Whitening Studio in St. Louis, recommends seeing a dentist before trying any whitening treatments, per the AARP report.

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"In-office treatments remain the safest, most effective option, while professional-grade take-home kits and OTC products can be great for maintenance," Fraundorf said.

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