Author: Healthcare Propulsion Staff

A protest march in 2025, protesting against Palantir’s involvement in the NHS (Credit: Shutterstock.com) After months of growing pressure, the question no longer appears to be whether Palantir will have its Federated Data Platform (FDP) contract terminated, but when and how it will be done to avoid triggering an expensive legal challenge, writes Jon Hoeksma. NHS CEO Sir Jim Mackey said last week that he personally wanted to see a review of the effectiveness of the FDP and had, in recent weeks, asked the responsible team about the data being reported on benefits. Giving evidence to the House of Commons Health and Care Select Committee on 8 July 2026, Mackey said he had personally…

Could eating lots of chili peppers affect your cancer risk? Scientists have been debating that question for years, and the answer remains far from simple. While chili peppers contain compounds that have shown anti inflammatory and even anticancer effects in laboratory experiments, some human studies have linked very high consumption to a greater risk of certain cancers of the digestive tract. A large review published in Frontiers in Nutrition examined the available evidence and found that people who consumed the most chili peppers were more likely to develop certain gastrointestinal cancers, especially esophageal cancer. At the same time, researchers emphasized…

A new AI model is much better than doctors at identifying patients likely to experience cardiac arrest. The linchpin is the system’s ability to analyze long-underused heart imaging, alongside a full spectrum of medical records, to reveal previously hidden information about a patient’s heart health. The federally-funded work, led by Johns Hopkins University researchers, could save many lives and also spare many people unnecessary medical interventions, including the implantation of unneeded defibrillators. “Currently we have patients dying in the prime of their life because they aren’t protected and others who are putting up with defibrillators for the rest of their…

Researchers at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), part of The University of Alabama System, have identified a promising new use for continuous low-intensity ultrasound that could one day help treat joint injuries and reduce the risk of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Their findings suggest the non-invasive approach may shift the body’s immune response away from long-lasting inflammation and toward tissue repair, offering a potential drug-free strategy for improving healing. The study, published in the Nature journal Scientific Reports, was led by Dr. Anuradha Subramanian, professor of chemical and materials engineering. It combined biological research conducted by Dr. Shahid Khan during…

What do front planks, dead bugs, and the standard Pallof press have in common? They all move in straight lines. But we don’t only move in straight lines. Swinging a golf club, throwing a baseball, or lifting a suitcase into the trunk of your car all require your body to produce and control rotation. These movements require your hips, core, and shoulders to work as a unit. Straight line movements don’t help. That’s where diagonal movements shine, as in the Half-Kneeling Cable Chop. The half-kneeling position removes momentum, challenges your core to generate force while keeping your hips and lower…

Bacteria that cause gum disease may do more than damage your teeth. New preliminary research suggests they could also contribute to the buildup of calcium in the heart’s aortic valve, potentially leading to calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS), a common and potentially life threatening heart valve disorder. The findings were presented at the American Heart Association’s Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions 2026, held in Boston from July 13 to 16. The meeting is one of the world’s largest gatherings focused on basic and translational cardiovascular research. According to the American Heart Association, CAVS develops when the aortic valve gradually becomes…

A new USC led study of more than 214,000 older adults from 14 countries and regions suggests that preventing dementia may require different strategies in different parts of the world. Researchers found that many of the most important modifiable dementia risk factors, including low education, high blood pressure, and smoking, vary dramatically between countries. The findings indicate that a single global approach to dementia prevention is unlikely to be effective everywhere. The research was presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2026 in London and was also published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity. AAIC is the world’s largest scientific meeting…

More than half (54.3%) of patients said it was easy to contact their GP practice using the NHS App, up from 49% in 2025 and 44.8% in 2024, the latest GP Patient Survey results show. The survey, published by NHS England, covers local GP practice services, the last contact with the practice, the quality of care at the last appointment, overall experience of the GP practice, experience when the GP practice is closed, pharmacy services and NHS dentistry, as well as current health status. Three million surveys were sent out in 2026, with 654,000 responses received, covering around 639,000 appointments.…

Scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign have uncovered evidence that could reshape how researchers think about both the brain and artificial intelligence. Their findings suggest that decision making begins much earlier in the brain than traditional theories propose, offering fresh ideas for designing future AI systems that are more capable and far more energy efficient. Led by electrical and computer engineering professor Yurii Vlasov at The Grainger College of Engineering, the research was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS). The study points to an unexpected role for early sensory brain regions in decision making,…

In light of reports from the White House that President Donald J. Trump has been diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI), the American Heart Association is sharing important information on the condition and its association with cardiovascular risk factors, disease and increased risk of death. According to the Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, chronic venous insufficiency (a form of chronic venous disease) is highly prevalent — especially in older adults. The condition is often underrecognized and undertreated and there is a strong association between chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and an increased…