Articles By Joseph James
Study Links Ultra-Processed Food Industry to Big Tobacco's Playbook
An American Journal of Public Health study published June 9, 2026 documents how the ultra-processed food industry has deployed Big Tobacco's production, strategy, and marketing tactics to protect market share and block public health warnings. 
Anxiety-Control Brain Circuit Discovered, Scientists Learn to Switch It Off
Researchers at Spain's Institute for Neurosciences identified a specific amygdala neuron circuit (Grik4/GluK4) that drives anxiety and social withdrawal — and reversed both behaviors in mice by rebalancing it. Published June 2026. 
Loneliness Raises Heart Valve Disease Risk by 19%, Major 2026 Study Finds — and It's Independent of Genetics
A 462,917-person, 14-year study published in JAHA found loneliness raises degenerative heart valve disease risk by up to 19%, independent of genetics and traditional risk factors. 
SLAMF6 Cancer Discovery 2026: Scientists Identify Hidden T Cell Brake That Explains Why Immunotherapy Fails
A June 2026 Nature study identified SLAMF6, a previously unknown T cell self-suppressor, as the reason immunotherapy fails for many cancer patients. Custom antibodies in mice showed superior tumor-killing results. 
Microplastics Are Accumulating in Human Brains at Alarming Levels — And the Link to Dementia and Heart Disease Is Growing Clearer
A May 2026 study found microplastics in human brains at 7–30x levels vs. other organs, with a 50% rise since 2016. Dementia patients had the highest levels. Arterial plaque microplastics linked to 4x heart attack risk. 
Medicare Is About to Cover Weight-Loss Drugs for the First Time — Here's What the GLP-1 Bridge Program Means for Millions of Americans with Obesity
Medicare's GLP-1 Bridge launches July 1, 2026, offering eligible Part D enrollees Wegovy and Zepbound for $50/month — the first-ever Medicare coverage for obesity-specific GLP-1 drugs. 
New York City Reports First Severe Mpox Clade I Case — A More Dangerous Strain Now Showing Up Across America
NYC confirmed its first severe mpox clade I case in March 2026. Over 79 mpox cases have been reported in NYC in 2026. Clade I causes more serious illness than the 2022 outbreak strain. 
Listeria Warning in Illinois: USDA Confirms Deli Meat Product Linked to Outbreak Strain — Consumers Urged to Check Their Fridges
USDA confirmed that Crawford Sausage Co. headcheese from Chicago tested positive for the Listeria outbreak strain. Deli meat sold in retail stores may still be in homes. Check products now. 
Washington State Reports Active Measles Cases in 2026 as School Vaccination Exemption Rates Remain Among the Highest in the Nation — Seattle Is Watching Closely
Washington State has confirmed measles cases in 2026 amid school vaccination exemption rates that exceed the national threshold for herd immunity in multiple districts. Seattle-area health officials are on high alert. 
E. Coli Outbreak Tied to Los Angeles Restaurant Chain — California, Texas, and Florida Diners May Have Been Exposed
Federal investigators confirmed E. coli O157:H7 in beef kofta served at The Kebab Shop in California, Texas, and Florida. USDA issued a public health alert on May 24, 2026. 
Dengue Risk Rises in San Antonio and South Texas as World Cup Fans Arrive from High-Outbreak Nations — Health Officials Issue Mosquito Warning
San Antonio faces elevated dengue fever risk as World Cup brings international visitors from dengue-endemic countries. Positive mosquito pools confirmed in Bexar County. Officials urge bite prevention. 
A New Drug Just Nearly Doubled Survival for Pancreatic Cancer Patients — Dallas's UT Southwestern Is at the Forefront of What Researchers Are Calling a Historic Breakthrough
The drug daraxonrasib nearly doubled overall survival in metastatic pancreatic cancer in a Phase 3 trial presented at ASCO 2026. UT Southwestern Medical Center is among leading institutions involved in KRAS research.
