Grace Wade

@gracewade.bsky.social

Features editor at New Scientist focused on all things health, medicine and mind 🕵️‍♀️📝🦠

I'm proud to share my first cover story for @newscientist.com It explores how anorexia nervosa affects the brain. It's a deeply personal story: anorexia nearly killed me 13 years ago. While I made a full recovery, roughly a third of those affected never do, even with treatment (1/3)

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After decades of mixed results, new evidence suggests stem cells really can help the heart heal. The largest trial yet finds stem cell therapy cuts the risk of heart failure by nearly 60% in the years following a heart attack. www.newscientist.com/article/2502...

Stem cell therapy lowers risk of heart failure after a heart attack

People who receive stem cell therapy within a week of their first heart attack have nearly a 60 per cent lower risk of developing heart failure years later

newscientist.com

Throughout the year, the US government has gut staff running crucial public health surveys. These datasets track births, deaths, diet and drug use, forming the foundation of most public health policy. Without them, the public health system will be flying blind. www.newscientist.com/article/2501...

US public health system is flying blind after major cuts

The Trump administration has laid off government workers integral to major public health surveys, meaning the country will lack crucial information on births, deaths and illnesses nationwide

newscientist.com

More research is uncovering that aritficial sweeteners aren't as harmless as we once thought. Not only may they increase hunger and raise blood sugar, but a new study finds they could also be interfering with crucial cancer treatments. www.newscientist.com/article/2490...

Common artificial sweetener may interfere with cancer treatments

People who consume some artificial sweeteners are less likely to respond to certain cancer therapies, potentially because of the impact on their gut microbiome

newscientist.com

The US is the midst of its largest measles outbreak since it eradicated the virus in 2000. And it isn't alone. Countries around the world are losing ground against measles as more people choose to forego vaccination. www.newscientist.com/article/2488...

The world is losing major ground in the fight against measles

A wave of anti-vaccine sentiment has spurred measles outbreaks around the world, and could lead to outbreaks of other preventable illnesses

newscientist.com

I must admit that I knew very little about ivermectin before writing this story. So I was surprised to learn just how important it has been for improving global health – and that some researchers believe it still has untapped potential. www.newscientist.com/article/2487...

The truth about ivermectin’s supposed health benefits

Interest in the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin skyrocketed during the covid-19 pandemic, but evidence for many of its supposed health claims are lacking

newscientist.com

Around 75,000 people - 3.6 per cent of the population - in the Gaza Strip died from violent causes between 7 October 2023 and 5 January 2025, according to an independent study. That is higher than the estimate of 46,000 violent deaths by Gaza’s health ministry www.newscientist.com/article/2485...

Independent estimate of Gaza deaths is higher than official figures

A study based on household surveys suggests that from October 2023 to January 2025, around 75,000 people in Gaza died violent deaths, while Gaza's health ministry estimates 46,000 for the same period

newscientist.com

Last week, RFK Jr announced the CDC would stop reccomending covid-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnancies. In practice, not much has changed when it comes to who can access covid-19 vaccines in the US – but the news still sets a troubling precedent. www.newscientist.com/article/2483...

US stops endorsing covid-19 shots for kids – are other vaccines next?

When Robert F Kennedy Jr announced that the US would stop recommending covid-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnancies, he bypassed standard protocols and set the stage for future vaccine rollb...

newscientist.com

More and more research is suggesting that psychedelics can reduce inflammation. This raises the possibility of using the drugs to treat non-psychiatric conditions linked with excess inflammation, such as inflammatory bowel disease or chronic Lyme disease. www.newscientist.com/article/2479...

Psychedelics may boost mental health by dampening inflammation

Psychedelic drugs like MDMA and psilocybin may help treat depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions by reducing the number of inflammatory cells around the brain

newscientist.com

The US government has faced swift backlash over plans to create a massive health database to study autism. But the initiative, as it turns out, could be a boon for public health research — so long as it is executed ethically. Read more: www.newscientist.com/article/2478...

US plans massive health database to study autism – will it work?

The US government’s proposal for a vast health database to study autism could improve our understanding of the condition – but there is a risk it could do more harm than good

newscientist.com

Took a break from health news to write about what has to be the most metal caterpillar of all time. This lil guy adorns itself with dead insects, lives with spiders, steals their prey AND is a cannibal. If that isn't hardcore enough, its named the bone collector. www.newscientist.com/article/2477...

'Bone collector' caterpillar wears dead insect body parts as disguise

A carnivorous caterpillar species camouflages itself with dead insects so it can live safely alongside spiders, stalking their webs and stealing their prey

newscientist.com

It is ridiculous I am even saying this, but the fact some students experience not just one, but TWO(?!) school shootings in their lifetime is downright deplorable. It shouldn't be a surprise as to why young people are jaded on US government/politics...

The Washington Post@washingtonpost.com · last yr.

Anna Griffin, 18, said she was in class at Florida State University when she heard loud noises, which she believes were gunshots. Griffin overheard another student talking about how this was her second school shooting, having endured one in high school.

Today, @HHSGov abruptly laid off all 17 employees running the United State's only nationwide survey on drug use and mental health. The survey has tracked these issues across the US for more than half a century. Its future is now uncertain. www.newscientist.com/article/2474...

US government fired researchers running a crucial drug use survey

A termination letter obtained by New Scientist reveals that the Trump administration has gutted the office that runs the country’s only nationwide survey on drug use and mental health

newscientist.com

The first randomised controlled trial of LSD for ADHD shows that microdosing the psychedelic drug isn't any more effective at reducing symptoms than a placebo. Still, more research is needed to rule out whether a higher or lower dose could have an effect. www.newscientist.com/article/2472...

Microdosing LSD is not an effective ADHD treatment

The first randomised controlled trial of microdosing LSD as a treatment for ADHD found the psychedelic drug wasn’t any more effective than a placebo in alleviating symptoms

newscientist.com