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77 interesting medical research topics for 2024

Last updated

25 November 2023

Reviewed by

Brittany Ferri, PhD, OTR/L

Short on time? Get an AI generated summary of this article instead

Medical research is the gateway to improved patient care and expanding our available treatment options. However, finding a relevant and compelling research topic can be challenging.

Use this article as a jumping-off point to select an interesting medical research topic for your next paper or clinical study.

• How to choose a medical research topic

When choosing a research topic , it’s essential to consider a couple of things. What topics interest you? What unanswered questions do you want to address? 

During the decision-making and brainstorming process, here are a few helpful tips to help you pick the right medical research topic:

Focus on a particular field of study

The best medical research is specific to a particular area. Generalized studies are often too broad to produce meaningful results, so we advise picking a specific niche early in the process. 

Maybe a certain topic interests you, or your industry knowledge reveals areas of need.

Look into commonly researched topics

Once you’ve chosen your research field, do some preliminary research. What have other academics done in their papers and projects? 

From this list, you can focus on specific topics that interest you without accidentally creating a copycat project. This groundwork will also help you uncover any literature gaps—those may be beneficial areas for research.

Get curious and ask questions

Now you can get curious. Ask questions that start with why, how, or what. These questions are the starting point of your project design and will act as your guiding light throughout the process. 

For example: 

What impact does pollution have on children’s lung function in inner-city neighborhoods? 

Why is pollution-based asthma on the rise? 

How can we address pollution-induced asthma in young children? 

• 77 medical research topics worth exploring in 2023

Need some research inspiration for your upcoming paper or clinical study? We’ve compiled a list of 77 topical and in-demand medical research ideas. Let’s take a look. 

• Exciting new medical research topics

If you want to study cutting-edge topics, here are some exciting options:

COVID-19 and long COVID symptoms

Since 2020, COVID-19 has been a hot-button topic in medicine, along with the long-term symptoms in those with a history of COVID-19. 

Examples of COVID-19-related research topics worth exploring include:

The long-term impact of COVID-19 on cardiac and respiratory health

COVID-19 vaccination rates

The evolution of COVID-19 symptoms over time

New variants and strains of the COVID-19 virus

Changes in social behavior and public health regulations amid COVID-19

Vaccinations

Finding ways to cure or reduce the disease burden of chronic infectious diseases is a crucial research area. Vaccination is a powerful option and a great topic to research. 

Examples of vaccination-related research topics include:

mRNA vaccines for viral infections

Biomaterial vaccination capabilities

Vaccination rates based on location, ethnicity, or age

Public opinion about vaccination safety 

Artificial tissues fabrication

With the need for donor organs increasing, finding ways to fabricate artificial bioactive tissues (and possibly organs) is a popular research area. 

Examples of artificial tissue-related research topics you can study include:

The viability of artificially printed tissues

Tissue substrate and building block material studies

The ethics and efficacy of artificial tissue creation

• Medical research topics for medical students

For many medical students, research is a big driver for entering healthcare. If you’re a medical student looking for a research topic, here are some great ideas to work from:

Sleep disorders

Poor sleep quality is a growing problem, and it can significantly impact a person’s overall health. 

Examples of sleep disorder-related research topics include:

How stress affects sleep quality

The prevalence and impact of insomnia on patients with mental health conditions

Possible triggers for sleep disorder development

The impact of poor sleep quality on psychological and physical health

How melatonin supplements impact sleep quality

Alzheimer’s and dementia 

Cognitive conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are on the rise worldwide. They currently have no cure. As a result, research about these topics is in high demand. 

Examples of dementia-related research topics you could explore include:

The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in a chosen population

Early onset symptoms of dementia

Possible triggers or causes of cognitive decline with age

Treatment options for dementia-like conditions

The mental and physical burden of caregiving for patients with dementia

• Lifestyle habits and public health

Modern lifestyles have profoundly impacted the average person’s daily habits, and plenty of interesting topics explore its effects. 

Examples of lifestyle and public health-related research topics include:

The nutritional intake of college students

The impact of chronic work stress on overall health

The rise of upper back and neck pain from laptop use

Prevalence and cause of repetitive strain injuries (RSI)

• Controversial medical research paper topics

Medical research is a hotbed of controversial topics, content, and areas of study. 

If you want to explore a more niche (and attention-grabbing) concept, here are some controversial medical research topics worth looking into:

The benefits and risks of medical cannabis

Depending on where you live, the legalization and use of cannabis for medical conditions is controversial for the general public and healthcare providers.

Examples of medical cannabis-related research topics that might grab your attention include:

The legalization process of medical cannabis

The impact of cannabis use on developmental milestones in youth users

Cannabis and mental health diagnoses

CBD’s impact on chronic pain

Prevalence of cannabis use in young people

The impact of maternal cannabis use on fetal development 

Understanding how THC impacts cognitive function

Human genetics

The Human Genome Project identified, mapped, and sequenced all human DNA genes. Its completion in 2003 opened up a world of exciting and controversial studies in human genetics.

Examples of human genetics-related research topics worth delving into include:

Medical genetics and the incidence of genetic-based health disorders

Behavioral genetics differences between identical twins

Genetic risk factors for neurodegenerative disorders

Machine learning technologies for genetic research

Sexual health studies

Human sexuality and sexual health are important (yet often stigmatized) medical topics that need new research and analysis.

As a diverse field ranging from sexual orientation studies to sexual pathophysiology, examples of sexual health-related research topics include:

The incidence of sexually transmitted infections within a chosen population

Mental health conditions within the LGBTQIA+ community

The impact of untreated sexually transmitted infections

Access to safe sex resources (condoms, dental dams, etc.) in rural areas

• Health and wellness research topics

Human wellness and health are trendy topics in modern medicine as more people are interested in finding natural ways to live healthier lifestyles. 

If this field of study interests you, here are some big topics in the wellness space:

Gluten sensitivity

Gluten allergies and intolerances have risen over the past few decades. If you’re interested in exploring this topic, your options range in severity from mild gastrointestinal symptoms to full-blown anaphylaxis. 

Some examples of gluten sensitivity-related research topics include:

The pathophysiology and incidence of Celiac disease

Early onset symptoms of gluten intolerance

The prevalence of gluten allergies within a set population

Gluten allergies and the incidence of other gastrointestinal health conditions

Pollution and lung health

Living in large urban cities means regular exposure to high levels of pollutants. 

As more people become interested in protecting their lung health, examples of impactful lung health and pollution-related research topics include:

The extent of pollution in densely packed urban areas

The prevalence of pollution-based asthma in a set population

Lung capacity and function in young people

The benefits and risks of steroid therapy for asthma

Pollution risks based on geographical location

Plant-based diets

Plant-based diets like vegan and paleo diets are emerging trends in healthcare due to their limited supporting research. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the potential benefits or risks of holistic, diet-based medicine, examples of plant-based diet research topics to explore include:

Vegan and plant-based diets as part of disease management

Potential risks and benefits of specific plant-based diets

Plant-based diets and their impact on body mass index

The effect of diet and lifestyle on chronic disease management

Health supplements

Supplements are a multi-billion dollar industry. Many health-conscious people take supplements, including vitamins, minerals, herbal medicine, and more. 

Examples of health supplement-related research topics worth investigating include:

Omega-3 fish oil safety and efficacy for cardiac patients

The benefits and risks of regular vitamin D supplementation

Health supplementation regulation and product quality

The impact of social influencer marketing on consumer supplement practices

Analyzing added ingredients in protein powders

• Healthcare research topics

Working within the healthcare industry means you have insider knowledge and opportunity. Maybe you’d like to research the overall system, administration, and inherent biases that disrupt access to quality care. 

While these topics are essential to explore, it is important to note that these studies usually require approval and oversight from an Institutional Review Board (IRB). This ensures the study is ethical and does not harm any subjects. 

For this reason, the IRB sets protocols that require additional planning, so consider this when mapping out your study’s timeline. 

Here are some examples of trending healthcare research areas worth pursuing:

The pros and cons of electronic health records

The rise of electronic healthcare charting and records has forever changed how medical professionals and patients interact with their health data. 

Examples of electronic health record-related research topics include:

The number of medication errors reported during a software switch

Nurse sentiment analysis of electronic charting practices

Ethical and legal studies into encrypting and storing personal health data

Inequities within healthcare access

Many barriers inhibit people from accessing the quality medical care they need. These issues result in health disparities and injustices. 

Examples of research topics about health inequities include:

The impact of social determinants of health in a set population

Early and late-stage cancer stage diagnosis in urban vs. rural populations

Affordability of life-saving medications

Health insurance limitations and their impact on overall health

Diagnostic and treatment rates across ethnicities

People who belong to an ethnic minority are more likely to experience barriers and restrictions when trying to receive quality medical care. This is due to systemic healthcare racism and bias. 

As a result, diagnostic and treatment rates in minority populations are a hot-button field of research. Examples of ethnicity-based research topics include:

Cancer biopsy rates in BIPOC women

The prevalence of diabetes in Indigenous communities

Access inequalities in women’s health preventative screenings

The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension in Black populations

• Pharmaceutical research topics

Large pharmaceutical companies are incredibly interested in investing in research to learn more about potential cures and treatments for diseases. 

If you’re interested in building a career in pharmaceutical research, here are a few examples of in-demand research topics:

Cancer treatment options

Clinical research is in high demand as pharmaceutical companies explore novel cancer treatment options outside of chemotherapy and radiation. 

Examples of cancer treatment-related research topics include:

Stem cell therapy for cancer

Oncogenic gene dysregulation and its impact on disease

Cancer-causing viral agents and their risks

Treatment efficacy based on early vs. late-stage cancer diagnosis

Cancer vaccines and targeted therapies

Immunotherapy for cancer

Pain medication alternatives

Historically, opioid medications were the primary treatment for short- and long-term pain. But, with the opioid epidemic getting worse, the need for alternative pain medications has never been more urgent. 

Examples of pain medication-related research topics include:

Opioid withdrawal symptoms and risks

Early signs of pain medication misuse

Anti-inflammatory medications for pain control

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151+ Public Health Research Topics [Updated 2024]

The important area of public health research is essential to forming laws, influencing medical procedures, and eventually enhancing community well-being. As we delve into the vast landscape of public health research topics, it’s essential to understand the profound impact they have on society.

This blog aims to provide a comprehensive guide to selecting and understanding the diverse array of public health research topics.

Overview of Public Health Research Topics

Table of Contents

Public health research encompasses a wide range of subjects, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the field. From epidemiology and health policy to environmental health and infectious diseases, researchers navigate through various dimensions to address complex health challenges.

Each category holds its own significance, contributing to the overall understanding of public health dynamics.

Key Considerations in Selecting Public Health Research Topics

• Current Relevance: Assess the timeliness of potential topics by considering recent health trends, emerging issues, and societal concerns.
• Impact on Public Health: Evaluate the potential impact of the research on improving health outcomes, addressing disparities, or influencing policy and interventions.
• Feasibility and Resources: Gauge the practicality of conducting research on a particular topic, considering available resources, data accessibility, and research infrastructure.
• Ethical Considerations: Scrutinize the ethical implications of the research, ensuring it aligns with ethical standards and guidelines, especially when dealing with vulnerable populations or sensitive topics.

Top 151+ Public Health Research Topics

Epidemiology.

• The Impact of Social Determinants on Disease Outcomes
• Patterns and Trends in Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Investigating Health Disparities among Different Ethnic Groups
• Childhood Obesity and its Long-Term Health Consequences
• Assessing the Effectiveness of Contact Tracing in Disease Control

Health Policy

• Universal Healthcare: Comparative Analysis of Global Models
• The Role of Telemedicine in Improving Healthcare Access
• Evaluating Mental Health Policies and Their Impact on Communities
• Assessing the Impact of Affordable Care Act on Public Health
• Vaccine Policies and Public Perception: A Comprehensive Study

Environmental Health

• Climate Change and Health: Adapting to the Challenges
• Air Quality and Respiratory Health in Urban Environments
• Waterborne Diseases and Strategies for Safe Water Supply
• Occupational Health Hazards: A Comprehensive Workplace Analysis
• The Impact of Green Spaces on Mental Health in Urban Areas

Infectious Diseases

• Antimicrobial Resistance: Strategies for Mitigation
• Vaccination Strategies and Herd Immunity
• Global Health Security: Preparedness for Pandemics
• The Impact of Vector-Borne Diseases on Public Health
• Emerging Trends in Antibiotic-Resistant Infections

Chronic Diseases

• Lifestyle Interventions for Preventing Cardiovascular Diseases
• Genetic Factors in the Development of Cancer: A Comprehensive Study
• Aging and Health: Addressing the Healthcare Needs of the Elderly
• Diabetes Prevention Programs: Efficacy and Implementation
• Mental Health in Chronic Disease Patients: Bridging the Gap

Maternal and Child Health

• Maternal Mortality: Understanding Causes and Prevention
• The Impact of Breastfeeding on Infant Health and Development
• Childhood Immunization: Barriers and Strategies for Improvement
• Teenage Pregnancy and Its Long-Term Health Consequences
• Mental Health Support for Postpartum Women: Current Gaps and Solutions

Health Behavior and Promotion

• Smoking Cessation Programs: Effectiveness and Challenges
• Physical Activity Promotion in Schools: Strategies for Success
• Nutrition Education and Its Impact on Healthy Eating Habits
• Mental Health Awareness Campaigns: Assessing Public Perceptions
• The Role of Social Media in Health Promotion

Global Health

• Assessing the Impact of International Aid on Global Health
• Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Programs in Developing Countries
• The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in Global Health
• Communicable Disease Control in Refugee Populations
• Global Access to Essential Medicines: Challenges and Solutions

Community Health

• Community-Based Participatory Research: Best Practices and Challenges
• The Impact of Community Health Workers on Health Outcomes
• Health Literacy and its Relationship to Health Disparities
• Assessing the Effectiveness of Mobile Health (mHealth) Interventions
• Community Resilience in the Face of Public Health Crises

Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety

• Hospital-Acquired Infections: Strategies for Prevention
• Patient Safety Culture in Healthcare Organizations
• Quality Improvement Initiatives in Primary Care Settings
• Healthcare Accreditation: Impact on Patient Outcomes
• Implementing Electronic Health Records: Challenges and Benefits

Mental Health

• Stigma Reduction Programs for Mental Health Disorders
• Integrating Mental Health into Primary Care Settings
• The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health: Long-Term Implications
• Mental Health in the Workplace: Strategies for Employee Well-being
• Suicide Prevention Programs: Effectiveness and Outreach

Health Disparities

• Racial Disparities in Healthcare: Addressing Systemic Inequities
• LGBTQ+ Health Disparities and Inclusive Healthcare Practices
• Socioeconomic Status and Access to Healthcare Services
• Geographical Disparities in Health: Rural vs. Urban
• The Impact of Gender on Health Outcomes and Access to Care

Public Health Education

• Evaluation of Public Health Education Programs
• Innovative Approaches to Teaching Public Health Concepts
• Online Health Education Platforms: Opportunities and Challenges
• Interdisciplinary Training in Public Health: Bridging Gaps
• Continuing Education for Public Health Professionals: Current Landscape

Digital Health

• The Role of Wearable Devices in Health Monitoring
• Telehealth Adoption: Barriers and Opportunities
• Health Apps for Chronic Disease Management: User Perspectives
• Blockchain Technology in Healthcare: Privacy and Security Implications
• Artificial Intelligence in Disease Diagnosis and Prediction

Health Economics

• Cost-Effectiveness of Preventive Health Interventions
• The Impact of Healthcare Financing Models on Access to Care
• Pharmaceutical Pricing and Access to Essential Medicines
• Economic Evaluation of Health Promotion Programs
• Health Insurance Coverage and Health Outcomes: A Global Perspective

Innovations in Public Health

• 3D Printing in Healthcare: Applications and Future Prospects
• Gene Editing Technologies and their Ethical Implications
• Smart Cities and Public Health: Integrating Technology for Well-being
• Nanotechnology in Medicine: Potential for Disease Treatment
• The Role of Drones in Public Health: Surveillance and Intervention

Food Safety and Nutrition

• Foodborne Illness Outbreaks: Investigating Causes and Prevention
• Sustainable Food Systems: Implications for Public Health
• Nutritional Interventions for Malnutrition in Developing Countries
• Food Labeling and Consumer Understanding: A Critical Review
• The Impact of Fast Food Consumption on Public Health

Substance Abuse

• Opioid Epidemic: Strategies for Prevention and Treatment
• Harm Reduction Approaches in Substance Abuse Programs
• Alcohol Consumption Patterns and Public Health Outcomes
• Smoking and Mental Health: Exploring the Connection
• Novel Psychoactive Substances: Emerging Threats and Strategies

Occupational Health

• Workplace Stress and Mental Health: Intervention Strategies
• Occupational Hazards in Healthcare Professions: A Comparative Analysis
• Ergonomics in the Workplace: Improving Worker Health and Productivity
• Night Shift Work and Health Consequences: Addressing Challenges
• Occupational Health and Safety Regulations: A Global Overview

Disaster Preparedness and Response

• Pandemic Preparedness and Lessons from COVID-19
• Natural Disasters and Mental Health: Post-Traumatic Stress
• Emergency Response Systems: Improving Timeliness and Efficiency
• Communicating Health Risks During Emergencies: Public Perception
• Collaborative Approaches to Disaster Response in Global Health

Cancer Research

• Precision Medicine in Cancer Treatment: Current Advancements
• Cancer Screening Programs: Efficacy and Challenges
• Environmental Factors and Cancer Risk: Exploring Connections
• Survivorship Care Plans: Enhancing Quality of Life after Cancer
• Integrative Therapies in Cancer Care: Complementary Approaches

Sexual and Reproductive Health

• Access to Contraception in Developing Countries: Challenges and Solutions
• Comprehensive Sex Education Programs: Impact on Teen Pregnancy
• Reproductive Health Rights: Global Perspectives and Challenges
• Infertility Treatment: Ethical Considerations and Societal Impact
• Maternal and Child Health in Conflict Zones: Addressing Challenges

Cardiovascular Health

• Hypertension Prevention Programs: Strategies and Effectiveness
• Cardiovascular Disease in Women: Gender-Specific Risk Factors
• Innovations in Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs
• Artificial Heart Technology: Advancements and Ethical Implications
• Impact of Air Pollution on Cardiovascular Health: A Global Concern

Social Determinants of Health

• Educational Attainment and Health Outcomes: Exploring Links
• Income Inequality and its Impact on Population Health
• Social Support Networks and Mental Health: A Comprehensive Study
• Neighborhood Environments and Health Disparities
• Employment and Health: The Interplay of Work and Well-being

Genomics and Public Health

• Population Genomics and its Implications for Public Health
• Genetic Counseling and Education: Empowering Individuals and Families
• Ethical Issues in Genetic Research: Privacy and Informed Consent
• Pharmacogenomics: Tailoring Drug Therapies to Individual Genotypes
• Gene-Environment Interactions in Disease Risk: Unraveling Complexities

Public Health Ethics

• Informed Consent in Public Health Research: Current Practices
• Ethical Challenges in Global Health Research: Balancing Priorities
• Confidentiality in Public Health Reporting: Striking the Right Balance
• Research with Vulnerable Populations: Ethical Considerations
• Ethical Implications of Emerging Technologies in Healthcare

Health Communication

• The Role of Media in Shaping Public Health Perceptions
• Health Literacy Interventions: Improving Understanding of Health Information
• Social Media Campaigns for Public Health Promotion: Best Practices
• Tailoring Health Messages for Diverse Audiences: Cultural Competency
• Risk Communication in Public Health Emergencies: Lessons Learned

Nutrigenomics

• Personalized Nutrition Plans based on Genetic Makeup
• Impact of Nutrigenomics on Chronic Disease Prevention
• Ethical Considerations in Nutrigenomics Research
• Public Perceptions of Nutrigenomic Testing: A Qualitative Study
• Integrating Nutrigenomics into Public Health Policies

Public Health and Artificial Intelligence

• Predictive Analytics in Disease Surveillance: Harnessing AI for Early Detection
• Ethical Considerations in AI-Driven Health Decision Support Systems
• Machine Learning in Epidemiology: Predicting Disease Outbreaks
• Natural Language Processing in Public Health: Text Mining for Insights
• Bias in AI Algorithms: Implications for Health Equity

Health Disparities in Aging

• Geriatric Health Disparities: Bridging the Gap in Elderly Care
• Ageism in Healthcare: Addressing Stereotypes and Discrimination
• Social Isolation and Health Consequences in Aging Populations
• Access to Palliative Care for Older Adults: A Global Perspective
• Alzheimer’s Disease and Ethnic Disparities in Diagnosis and Treatment
• Loneliness and Mental Health in the Elderly: Interventions and Support

Research Methodologies in Public Health

Public health research employs various methodologies, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches. Each method brings its own strengths to the research process, allowing researchers to gain a comprehensive understanding of the complex issues they investigate. 

Community-based participatory research is another valuable approach, emphasizing collaboration with communities to address their specific health concerns.

Challenges and Opportunities in Public Health Research

While public health research is immensely rewarding, it comes with its own set of challenges. Funding constraints, ethical dilemmas, the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, and the integration of technology pose both obstacles and opportunities. 

Researchers must navigate these challenges to ensure their work has a meaningful impact on public health.

In conclusion, public health research topics are diverse and dynamic, reflecting the complex nature of the field. As researchers embark on their journeys, they must carefully consider the relevance, impact, and ethical implications of their chosen topics. 

The collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of public health research positions it as a powerful tool in addressing the health challenges of our time. By exploring the depths of these topics, researchers contribute to the collective effort to build healthier and more equitable communities. 

As we move forward, a continued exploration of relevant public health research topics is essential for shaping the future of healthcare and improving the well-being of populations worldwide.

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Thanks to decades of research, Americans are living longer. Yet Chronic diseases still affect large swaths of the population and are unevenly distributed creating health disparities. These chronic illness are common and costly, and many are preventable. NIH Researchers — Basic, Translation, clinical and community based — are tackling these challenges head on.

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Heart disease and stroke still the leading causes of death for both U.S. men and women. NIH-funded scientists currently are looking to the power of precision medicine to better understand and manage these disorders.

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Diabetes affects 30 million American adults and children. NIH-funded technological advances offer much promise. 

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As part of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, we produce estimates for more than 80 risk factors along with in-depth analysis for the world's most pressing health issues.

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What are the trending topics in Public Health and related disciplines?

You can identify some of the most discussed and influential topics with the help of Altmetric attention scores, which take into account several outlets including social media, news articles, and policy documents.

Drawing from a selection of Public Health and Medicine journals, we have compiled a list of the articles that have been mentioned the most over the past few months.

Discover the articles that are trending right now, and catch up on current topics in Public Health and related disciplines. We will update our collection every few weeks; come back to this page to be on top of the latest conversations in Public Health and Medicine. Previously featured articles are listed here .

You can also sign up for e-alerts to make sure you never miss the latest research from our journals.

*Last updated October 2021*

Age and Ageing

Alcohol and alcoholism, american journal of epidemiology, annals of work exposures and health, epidemiologic reviews, european journal of public health, family practice, health education research, health policy and planning, health promotion international, international health, international journal of epidemiology, international journal for quality in health care, journal of public health, journal of travel medicine, journal of tropical pediatrics, nicotine & tobacco research, transactions of the royal society of tropical medicine & hygiene, behaviour change interventions to increase physical activity in hospitalised patients: a systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression.

There is moderate-certainty evidence that behaviour change interventions are associated with increased physical activity levels among older hospitalised patients.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Alcohol and Other Substance Use Disorders in Young Adulthood: Findings from a Canadian Nationally Representative Survey

This study from Canada found that one in three young adults with ADHD had a lifetime alcohol use disorder, and that young adults with ADHD were also three times more likely to develop a substance use disorder. Targeted outreach and interventions for this extremely vulnerable population are warranted.

Expiring Eviction Moratoriums and COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality

According to this study, resuming evictions in summer 2020 was associated with increased COVID-19 incidence and mortality in US states, with an estimated 433,700 excess cases and 10,700 excess deaths. Explore more research on COVID-19 in a curated collection from the AJE: https://academic.oup.com/aje/pages/covid-19

The Development of a Covid-19 Control Measures Risk Matrix for Occupational Hygiene Protective Measures

The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) developed a control banding matrix for employers and others to help assess the risks of COVID-19 infection, and calls for further work to validate the reliability of the tool. Browse the Annals' collection on occupational hygiene for virus protection: https://academic.oup.com/annweh/pages/covid-19 

Immunization to Protect the US Armed Forces: Heritage, Current Practice, and Prospects

In 1777, George Washington ordered a mandatory inoculation program for his troops, in what would become the first mass immunization mandate in the US. This archival article discussess and contextualizes immunization practices for US Armed Forces.

Does face mask use elicit risk-compensation? Quasi-experimental evidence from Denmark during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Responding to concerns that that face mask use could elicit a false sense of security and lead to riskier behaviours, this study from Denmark found that mask use overall correlated positively with protective behaviours.

Evidence reversals in primary care research: a study of randomized controlled trials

While medical practice is often undermined by subsequent investigation, randomized trials relevant to primary care generally hold up over time.

Social media influencers can be used to deliver positive information about the flu vaccine: findings from a multi-year study

This study shows the potential for using social media influencers to inspire positive engagements on pro-vaccine health messaging. For more content on accurate information's importance for public health, browse the latest article collection from HER: https://academic.oup.com/her/pages/covid-19

COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plans from 106 countries: a review from a health systems resilience perspective

Current emergency response planning does not have adequate coverage to maintain health systems functionality for essential health service delivery alongside emergency-specific interventions and healthcare. The findings from this study can help align health emergency planning with broader population health needs.

Rise and demise: a case study of public health nutrition in Queensland, Australia, over three decades

This case study shows that that ongoing efforts are needed to improve sustainability of nutrition policy and programmes to address all diet-related diseases.

Institutional and behaviour-change interventions to support COVID-19 public health measures: a review by the Lancet Commission Task Force on public health measures to suppress the pandemic

This review article outlines evidence for a range of institutional measures and behaviour-change measures, and highlights research and knowledge gaps.

Quantifying impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic through life-expectancy losses: a population-level study of 29 countries 

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered significant mortality increases in 2020 of a magnitude not witnessed since World War II in Western Europe or the breakup of the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe.

Gender in the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) Checklist

The authors propose an update to the Equator’s Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) checklist, with the aim of enhancing inclusivity.

Rate of reinfections after SARS-CoV-2 primary infection in the population of an Italian province: a cohort study

This study confirms previous findings on a low risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection. If confirmed, these findings suggest that more targeted restriction policies can be applied to the subjects that recovered after a first infection. Read highly cited papers on COVID-19 from the Journal of Public Health: https://academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/pages/covid-19

The reproductive number of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 is far higher compared to the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 virus

Given the Delta variant's high reproductive number associated with higher transmissibility, in a context of globally still low vaccine coverage rates and lower vaccine effectiveness, public health and social measures will need to be substantially strengthened. A high reproductive number also means that much higher vaccine coverage rates need to be achieved compared to the originally assumed.

Neurological Complications of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Neurological complications are rare in children suffering from COVID-19. Still, these children are at risk of developing seizures and encephalopathy, more in those suffering from severe illness.

Reactions to Sales Restrictions on Flavored Vape Products or All Vape Products Among Young Adults in the United States

The researchers examined support for and perceived impact of e-cigarette sales restrictions. Findings suggest that bans on flavored vape products could have a positive impact on lower-risk users, but that other young adult user subgroups may not experience benefit.

Covid-19 and Health at Work 

An editorial from the earlier stages of the pandemic highlights the importance of properly fitted respirators for worker safety and outlines occupational hygiene measures.

Lessons from the field: delivering trachoma mass drug administration safely in a COVID-19 context

Guidelines for safe mass drug administration for neglected tropical diseases were developed in a COVID-19 context; training and implementation were assessed through an observation checklist.

For more research on the impact of COVID-19 on NTDs, explore the March 2021 special issue: https://academic.oup.com/trstmh/issue/115/3

Previously featured

Age and frailty are independently associated with increased COVID-19 mortality and increased care needs in survivors: results of an international multi-centre study

Trajectories of Alcohol Use and Related Harms for Managed Alcohol Program Participants over 12 Months Compared with Local Controls: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Estimating the Effect of Social Distancing Interventions on COVID-19 in the United States

Selecting Controls for Minimizing SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol Transmission in Workplaces and Conserving Respiratory Protective Equipment Supplies

What Do We Know About the Association Between Firearm Legislation and Firearm-Related Injuries?

Denialism: what is it and how should scientists respond?

Acute cooling of the feet and the onset of common cold symptoms

The effect of falsely balanced reporting of the autism–vaccine controversy on vaccine safety perceptions and behavioral intentions

Climate change: an urgent priority for health policy and systems research

Power, control, communities and health inequalities I: theories, concepts and analytical frameworks

Research ethics in context: understanding the vulnerabilities, agency and resourcefulness of research participants living along the Thai–Myanmar border

Tobacco smoking and mortality among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults in Australia

Quality and safety in the time of Coronavirus: design better, learn faster

Years of life lost associated with COVID-19 deaths in the United States

In-flight transmission of SARS-CoV-2: a review of the attack rates and available data on the efficacy of face masks

Stability of the Initial Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder by DSM-5 in Children: A Short-Term Follow-Up Study

Impact of Tobacco Smoking on the Risk of COVID-19: A Large Scale Retrospective Cohort Study

Mental health of staff working in intensive care during COVID-19

The benefits and costs of social distancing in high- and low-income countries

A classification tree to assist with routine scoring of the Clinical Frailty Scale

Recent Advances in the Potential of Positive Allosteric Modulators of the GABAB Receptor to Treat Alcohol Use Disorder

The recent oubreak of smallpox in Meschede, West Germany

Your Hair or Your Service: An Issue of Faith for Sikh Healthcare Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Emerging Infections: Pandemic Influenza

Identifying the views of adolescents in five European countries on the drivers of obesity using group model building 

Novel multi-virus rapid respiratory microbiological point-of-care testing in primary care: a mixed-methods feasibility evaluation

Public health crisis in the refugee community: little change in social determinants of health preserve health disparities

In search of ‘community’: a critical review of community mental health services for women in African settings

COVID-19, a tale of two pandemics: novel coronavirus and fake news messaging 

Disrupting vaccine logistics

Use of directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) to identify confounders in applied health research: review and recommendations

Measurement and monitoring patient safety in prehospital care: a systematic review

Black Lives Matter protests and COVID-19 cases: relationship in two databases

The positive impact of lockdown in Wuhan on containing the COVID-19 outbreak in China

Severe Malnutrition and Anemia Are Associated with Severe COVID in Infants

A Single-Arm, Open-Label, Pilot, and Feasibility Study of a High Nicotine Strength E-Cigarette Intervention for Smoking Cessation or Reduction for People With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders Who Smoke Cigarettes

Healthcare workers and protection against inhalable SARS-CoV-2 aerosols

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Editorial: Emerging issues in public health

Introduction.

Why this Research Topic of Frontiers in Public Health on “ Emerging issues in public health ?” Public health has become popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a large number of people have learnt the terminology and concepts of the scientific discipline that supports it, epidemiology. However, very few appreciated the involvement of epidemiology and public health in almost every aspect of medicine and beyond medicine, encompassing for example the quality of all medical treatments; the evidence underlying policies to tackle social inequalities; the health impacts of climate changes; and many others.

In this Research Topic we present a few examples of applications of the epidemiological and public health methods to address emerging societal issues, that require bright policy solutions. Needless to say, the relationship between science and policy is not straightforward. It would be naïve to think that scientists provide evidence and then this is translated into policy. Policy-making is the integration of science and values and requires trade-offs and people's participation. However, confused and polarized communication of evidence—largely due to the role played by the new media ( 1 )—makes the relationship between science, civil society and politics complex and frustrating. The fragmentary and speedy nature of the world of communication is paralleled by the slow pace of the world of politics. In the meantime, although there is a long and healthy tradition of distancing science from direct political engagement (that is healthy in the sense that the scientist is expected to investigate nature without being swayed by his or her ideological preferences), climate change challenges a clear-cut separation between science and advocacy. Without the youth movements, for example, that of scientists would be “vox clamantis in deserto” (a voice calling in the desert) in the case of the environmental crisis.

The world of business

Among the challenges posed by the environmental crisis, namely to public health, there is the problem of relationships with the business world. I will argue that it is legitimate and useful that public health looks to the world of business and finance. Indeed, ignoring the corporate world and finance in particular runs the risk of being a serious scotoma among those concerned with climate and health. Businesses produce much of the income but they are also responsible for much of the pollution and greenhouse gases. They are responsible for most of the lobbying to politicians. On the finance side, they are involved in the “great acceleration” that characterizes contemporary capitalism, i.e., a heightened rapidity in the movement of money, goods and people (with all the environmentally destructive implications), and substantial volatility and instability in the economic system. Attempts have been made to curb these inherent trends, for example through the ESG rating of investment funds. ESG stands for “Environment, Social and Governance;” i.e., it is an acronym that induces companies to be responsible to the environment and society and to deal with governance, that is, the downstream consequences (the diseconomies) of their activities. But ESG ratings are completely unreliable even according to the most prudent sources: the Economist devoted a Research Topic ( 2 ) (significantly titled “there is a need for cleanup”) to them, in which all the failures of ESG are mercilessly listed, and are basically summarized in the term “greenwashing.” ESG ratings have been a huge success in the financial market: between 2015 and 2019, when the assets of ESG-certified companies increased by 500%. But ESGs have enormous limitations: it is not clear what information they are based on; ratings are assigned by a multiplicity of firms using different criteria and methods that are not comparable; they refer to the present and not to the future (i.e., not to the investments companies make to improve their environmental and social performance).

If we want to impact climate change, we cannot ignore these phenomena. The effectiveness of ESG comes from the modest (to say the least) ethos of the finance world, but also from the great speed and volatility of capital investments. That is why new ways of evaluating investment funds are being explored, such as the Long-term Stock Exchange, the development of mechanisms that measure success not in terms of days, hours, or minutes, but in terms of years; and that are based on long-term oversight. It is unclear whether capitalism will be able to amend itself, but in the absence of a credible alternative, it is incumbent on us to pay attention to those forces that seek to reform it from within, such as the B-Corps, the companies that have clauses in their bylaws that stipulate that they will not put profit above concern for the environment and people's health. And more generally to that vast world of businesses, large and small, that have begun to realize that veering toward the green transition may be the best investment for the future. These are the topics addressed in the Perspective on “ The need for new metrics in the Anthropocene era ” by Vineis and Mangone , in the present Research Topic.

The various facets of health inequalities

Coming immediately after climate change in importance, and concurrent with it, is social inequality. In fact, the environmental crisis and inequalities go hand in hand, and it is broadly agreed that tackling the first requires strong policies against the second. This Research Topic has a number of contributions that address social inequalities in health in a broad sense. First, we can read a contribution on young workers, a kind of neglected population. This is an extremely important field of research: many young workers today are characterized by huge instability and uncertainty, and are exposed to risk factors among which stress, disruption of circadian rhythms and lack of sleep are common. However, workers in the gig economy are very difficult to investigate because of the absence of regular and systematic registries of workers like in traditional industries, and for the general instability of this workforce. In addition, they are young and may not show yet signs of overt disease for many years. According to the Perspective: young workers at higher risk for carcinogen exposures , workers under the age of 25 are usually considered a vulnerable working population, primarily due to their risk of injury. In their study Sweet et al. investigated if young workers may also be at an increased risk for occupational exposure to carcinogens. Based on CAREX Canada data, they show that young workers in construction, outdoor occupations, and farming are key groups that warrant further investigation. This conclusion is reached because of the large number of young workers employed in those sectors, the high number of possible carcinogen exposures, and the potential for high risk behavioral patterns in these types of jobs. It is clearly necessary to improve the occupational health and safety measures for this vulnerable population. In addition, innovative ways to address occupational risks in the gig economy need to be developed, as has been suggested before in this journal ( 3 ).

Concerning biomarkers, like those proposed in Freni-Sterrantino and Salerno ( 3 ), one of the needs is not only to develop markers able to predict diseases long before their onset, but also to consider a life-course perspective. This is tackled in another contribution to this Research Topic, by Lin and Appleton ( Developmental origins of pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality in black U.S. women ), related to inequalities involving gender and race. In the US, Black women have a disproportionately high risk of pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality. Research on the determinants of such disparities has focused predominantly on risk factors occurring during pregnancy, while a set of studies has investigated the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) model but only in a limited way in Black people . This stream of research seems to indicate that the origins of adult cardiometabolic health can be traced back to stressors occurring during the intrauterine and early life periods. Lin and Appleton argue that the DOHaD model represents a theoretical framework from which to conceptualize factors that drive racial disparities. This is a very important conclusion that requires up-to-date research including novel biomarkers ( 4 ) and more attention to minorities.

Still related to inequalities, in this case associated with exposure to SARS-CoV-2, is the issue of education and its disruption by the pandemic, particularly among the low socio-economic groups. Stock et al. argue in their review of the literature that closures of institutions for face-to-face teaching over a long period of time have had significant consequences on the psychosocial health and wellbeing of students in many countries. The perspective ( COVID-19 related disruption in higher education students' health and wellbeing: implications for university action ) advocates for health promotion and support services, programmes, structures and policies together with the wider policy-oriented approach of a Health Promoting University.

Elliott et al. tackle another issue that has become urgent in the last decades in all high-income countries and the middle class of low- and middle -income countries, the quality of diet and food literacy ( Food promotion and children's health: considering best practices for teaching and evaluating media literacy on food marketing ).

Food marketing to children tends to promote foods of poor nutritional quality and influences children's food preferences and habits. It is therefore a factor in childhood obesity (see for example the results of the EU-funded network STOP: https://www.stopchildobesity.eu/ ). Children and their parents urgently need critical literacy skills that increase their understanding of food marketing. This paper shows the outcomes of a stakeholder meeting on best practices in literacy and food marketing to children, suggesting useful criteria. Needless to say, once again this is a topic strictly related to social inequalities: for example, a study in Brazil has found large differences in the intake of ultraprocessed food (UPF) by socio-economic position ( 5 ). UPF in turn has been found to be associated to childhood obesity ( 6 ), and its consumption is clearly affected by marketing strategies.

Finally, Smith and Ory address still another topic that is affected by large social inequalities, falls in the older population ( Multi-directional nature of falls among older adults: a rationale for prevention and management ). Their aim is to to challenge the way we think about falls, that should be viewed as a multi-directional occurrence . A fall may be the result of a set of personal or environmental circumstances, a sign or symptom of an underlying health issue, or a cause of subsequent health consequences. This leads to the claim that we must holistically assess the person and determine the role of the fall within the context. Among many other determinants, loneliness is a strongly socially patterned situation and a strong risk factor for falls itself, acting as a multiplier of other risk factors (depression, cognitive impairment, sedentary behavior, and substance use). While clinicians have implemented strategies to refer at-risk older adults to fall prevention programs, it is also necessary to consider how falls interact with other health issues (e.g., malnutrition, physical inactivity, cognitive impairment, social disconnectedness, polypharmacy, and the built environment). Additional multi-level, multi-sectorial solutions are needed to prevent and manage falls, including research, healthcare practice, community programming, and policy to ensure “practical, effective, replicable, scalable, and sustainable” solutions.

This editorial does not exhaust all the richness of the papers in the Research Topic, and just highlights some common aspects, the main of which is inequalities and vulnerable subgroups in the population. The conclusion of the papers in the Research Topic is not the usual one that “more research is needed,” but, consistently with the spirit of this journal, “more evidence needs to be transferred into public health practice.” Thoughtful and novel solutions are proposed and should become priorities in the prevention agenda of health and social services addressing young workers, the black population and other racial minorities, women, the older population and children (particularly the deprived ones). Special considerations are needed for climate change and environmental degradation, that require quick action taking into account several degrees of vulnerability in the population.

Author contributions

PV: Writing—original draft.

Conflict of interest

The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Research Topics & Ideas: Mental Health

100+ Mental Health Research Topic Ideas To Fast-Track Your Project

If you’re just starting out exploring mental health topics for your dissertation, thesis or research project, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll help kickstart your research topic ideation process by providing a hearty list of mental health-related research topics and ideas.

PS – This is just the start…

We know it’s exciting to run through a list of research topics, but please keep in mind that this list is just a starting point . To develop a suitable education-related research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , and a viable plan of action to fill that gap.

If this sounds foreign to you, check out our free research topic webinar that explores how to find and refine a high-quality research topic, from scratch. Alternatively, if you’d like hands-on help, consider our 1-on-1 coaching service .

Overview: Mental Health Topic Ideas

• Mood disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Psychotic disorders
• Personality disorders
• Obsessive-compulsive disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Neurodevelopmental disorders
• Eating disorders
• Substance-related disorders

Mood Disorders

Research in mood disorders can help understand their causes and improve treatment methods. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

• The impact of genetics on the susceptibility to depression
• Efficacy of antidepressants vs. cognitive behavioural therapy
• The role of gut microbiota in mood regulation
• Cultural variations in the experience and diagnosis of bipolar disorder
• Seasonal Affective Disorder: Environmental factors and treatment
• The link between depression and chronic illnesses
• Exercise as an adjunct treatment for mood disorders
• Hormonal changes and mood swings in postpartum women
• Stigma around mood disorders in the workplace
• Suicidal tendencies among patients with severe mood disorders

Anxiety Disorders

Research topics in this category can potentially explore the triggers, coping mechanisms, or treatment efficacy for anxiety disorders.

• The relationship between social media and anxiety
• Exposure therapy effectiveness in treating phobias
• Generalised Anxiety Disorder in children: Early signs and interventions
• The role of mindfulness in treating anxiety
• Genetics and heritability of anxiety disorders
• The link between anxiety disorders and heart disease
• Anxiety prevalence in LGBTQ+ communities
• Caffeine consumption and its impact on anxiety levels
• The economic cost of untreated anxiety disorders
• Virtual Reality as a treatment method for anxiety disorders

Psychotic Disorders

Within this space, your research topic could potentially aim to investigate the underlying factors and treatment possibilities for psychotic disorders.

• Early signs and interventions in adolescent psychosis
• Brain imaging techniques for diagnosing psychotic disorders
• The efficacy of antipsychotic medication
• The role of family history in psychotic disorders
• Misdiagnosis and delayed treatment of psychotic disorders
• Co-morbidity of psychotic and mood disorders
• The relationship between substance abuse and psychotic disorders
• Art therapy as a treatment for schizophrenia
• Public perception and stigma around psychotic disorders
• Hospital vs. community-based care for psychotic disorders

Personality Disorders

Research topics within in this area could delve into the identification, management, and social implications of personality disorders.

• Long-term outcomes of borderline personality disorder
• Antisocial personality disorder and criminal behaviour
• The role of early life experiences in developing personality disorders
• Narcissistic personality disorder in corporate leaders
• Gender differences in personality disorders
• Diagnosis challenges for Cluster A personality disorders
• Emotional intelligence and its role in treating personality disorders
• Psychotherapy methods for treating personality disorders
• Personality disorders in the elderly population
• Stigma and misconceptions about personality disorders

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders

Within this space, research topics could focus on the causes, symptoms, or treatment of disorders like OCD and hoarding.

• OCD and its relationship with anxiety disorders
• Cognitive mechanisms behind hoarding behaviour
• Deep Brain Stimulation as a treatment for severe OCD
• The impact of OCD on academic performance in students
• Role of family and social networks in treating OCD
• Alternative treatments for hoarding disorder
• Childhood onset OCD: Diagnosis and treatment
• OCD and religious obsessions
• The impact of OCD on family dynamics
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Causes and treatment

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Research topics in this area could explore the triggers, symptoms, and treatments for PTSD. Here are some thought starters to get you moving.

• PTSD in military veterans: Coping mechanisms and treatment
• Childhood trauma and adult onset PTSD
• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) efficacy
• Role of emotional support animals in treating PTSD
• Gender differences in PTSD occurrence and treatment
• Effectiveness of group therapy for PTSD patients
• PTSD and substance abuse: A dual diagnosis
• First responders and rates of PTSD
• Domestic violence as a cause of PTSD
• The neurobiology of PTSD

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

This category of mental health aims to better understand disorders like Autism and ADHD and their impact on day-to-day life.

• Early diagnosis and interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorder
• ADHD medication and its impact on academic performance
• Parental coping strategies for children with neurodevelopmental disorders
• Autism and gender: Diagnosis disparities
• The role of diet in managing ADHD symptoms
• Neurodevelopmental disorders in the criminal justice system
• Genetic factors influencing Autism
• ADHD and its relationship with sleep disorders
• Educational adaptations for children with neurodevelopmental disorders
• Neurodevelopmental disorders and stigma in schools

Eating Disorders

Research topics within this space can explore the psychological, social, and biological aspects of eating disorders.

• The role of social media in promoting eating disorders
• Family dynamics and their impact on anorexia
• Biological basis of binge-eating disorder
• Treatment outcomes for bulimia nervosa
• Eating disorders in athletes
• Media portrayal of body image and its impact
• Eating disorders and gender: Are men underdiagnosed?
• Cultural variations in eating disorders
• The relationship between obesity and eating disorders
• Eating disorders in the LGBTQ+ community

Substance-Related Disorders

Research topics in this category can focus on addiction mechanisms, treatment options, and social implications.

• Efficacy of rehabilitation centres for alcohol addiction
• The role of genetics in substance abuse
• Substance abuse and its impact on family dynamics
• Prescription drug abuse among the elderly
• Legalisation of marijuana and its impact on substance abuse rates
• Alcoholism and its relationship with liver diseases
• Opioid crisis: Causes and solutions
• Substance abuse education in schools: Is it effective?
• Harm reduction strategies for drug abuse
• Co-occurring mental health disorders in substance abusers

Choosing A Research Topic

These research topic ideas we’ve covered here serve as thought starters to help you explore different areas within mental health. They are intentionally very broad and open-ended. By engaging with the currently literature in your field of interest, you’ll be able to narrow down your focus to a specific research gap .

It’s important to consider a variety of factors when choosing a topic for your dissertation or thesis . Think about the relevance of the topic, its feasibility , and the resources available to you, including time, data, and academic guidance. Also, consider your own interest and expertise in the subject, as this will sustain you through the research process.

Always consult with your academic advisor to ensure that your chosen topic aligns with academic requirements and offers a meaningful contribution to the field. If you need help choosing a topic, consider our private coaching service.

Good morning everyone. This are very patent topics for research in neuroscience. Thank you for guidance

What if everything is important, original and intresting? as in Neuroscience. I find myself overwhelmd with tens of relveant areas and within each area many optional topics. I ask myself if importance (for example – able to treat people suffering) is more relevant than what intrest me, and on the other hand if what advance me further in my career should not also be a consideration?

This information is really helpful and have learnt alot

Phd research topics on implementation of mental health policy in Nigeria :the prospects, challenges and way forward.

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3 Public Health Topics for Research

What are the pressing public health topics for research today? To find out, public health researchers start by examining health data. Because infectious diseases and chronic conditions evolve, researchers also follow trends.

When researchers determine which public health topics they want to investigate, they use specific techniques to collect and analyze health data. This can include surveys, interviews, focus groups, observational studies or randomized controlled trials.

Because each method has strengths and limitations, public health researchers consider which method suits their specific research focus best. For example, a researcher may choose to interview people in certain populations to identify the root causes of mental health disorders. In another example, an observational method may help track the spread of an infectious disease in a community.

Consider the following key public health topics for research in 2023 and beyond.

Public Health Research Topics for 2023

Every researcher’s goal is to uncover important information that can be used to determine potential solutions to help address specific health issues.

Public health researchers consider the potential impact of their research on public health policy and practice. For example, the easier it is for policymakers to understand a research finding, the easier it is for them to use it to make informed decisions. Moreover, if a study finds, for example, that a particular vaccine is effective, policymakers can use this evidence to support broader vaccine interventions.

The following are examples of public health research topics with implications for public health policy in 2023.

1. Post-COVID-19 Conditions

Post-COVID-19 conditions, known as long COVID-19, have become a significant public health issue. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), up to 23 million Americans have been affected by these conditions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes long COVID as ongoing health problems occurring weeks to years after an initial infection of COVID-19. Common symptoms of long COVID include fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, joint pain and cognitive impairment.

A primary challenge is understanding the factors that cause long COVID. Research in this area can help determine the condition’s prevalence, severity, clinical features and risk factors for developing it. For example, what role do age, sex and comorbidities, such as diabetes, play in developing long COVID?

Understanding these risk factors could help identify high-risk individuals, identify targeted interventions and inform public health policies to prevent and manage the condition.

2. Mental Health and Behavioral Disorders

Mental health and behavioral disorders affect millions of people globally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 out of every 8 individuals worldwide has a mental illness. The WHO also reports that the COVID-19 pandemic helped increase anxiety and depression by 25 percent.

Research in this area can help policymakers address conditions that can aggravate mental health issues. Researchers can study genetic, environmental and societal risk factors of mental health and behavioral disorders to inform the development of prevention strategies.

To date, research has helped develop many interventions that improve mental health outcomes. These include cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness and pharmacological treatments.

Research can also help address issues exacerbating mental health challenges. For example, while awareness of mental health issues has increased, stigmas associated with these conditions persist. This can worsen symptoms and cause individuals to refuse help, according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

Anxiety and Depression

Everyone faces bouts of sadness in their lives. But when sadness or feeling down persists for a long time and impacts an individual’s day-to-day functioning, it could be a sign of major depression. About 21 million American adults had at least one major depressive episode in 2020, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Anxiety, often mentioned in the same breath as depression, is a mental health disorder impacting about a third of adults at some point in their lives. Anxiety disorder is an umbrella term describing various types of disorders, from generalized anxiety disorder to panic and social disorders to phobia-related disorders.

Research has played a critical role in addressing anxiety and depression challenges by identifying risk factors, developing effective prevention and treatment strategies, and increasing access to mental health services. For example, the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study follows over 10,000 children to understand the relationship between brain development and mental health outcomes as children become adolescents.

Substance Abuse

Substance abuse disorder refers to the overuse of drugs — from over-the-counter prescription drugs to alcohol to illicit drugs such as cocaine — in a way that harms one’s health. In addition to the negative physical health impacts, substance abuse disorder can lead to social, emotional and mental harm.

In 2021, 16.5 percent of the U.S. population had a substance use disorder, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Research into substance abuse disorders can reveal factors that cause drug dependency, which can lead to prevention and intervention strategies. One example of prominent research in this area is the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an annual survey conducted by SAMHSA. Another example is the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Clinical Trials Network (CTN). It conducts clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of behavioral and pharmacological treatments for substance abuse disorders.

3. Health Impacts of Climate Change

Since 1880, Earth’s surface temperature has risen by 2 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Climate.gov. This increase represents a significant warming of the planet. Climate change brings extreme temperature variances, reduced ice cover and heavier rainfalls.

In addition to impacting the natural ecosystems of plants and animals, including habitat loss, climate change affects humans in various ways. For example, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that over 11,000 Americans have died from heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke since 1979.

The potential impact of research into the health impacts of climate change can affect public health policy and practice. Below are examples:

Extreme Weather Events

Research findings can be used to help build resilience in communities prone to extreme weather events, such as coastal areas in the U.S. Studies can help reduce the risk of health impacts from extreme weather events by providing information that can be used to improve flood preparedness and reduce the risk of illnesses in certain communities.

For example, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) conducts studies in the U.S. and abroad on the health effects of exposure to negative environmental conditions.

Disruption of Food Systems

A report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that climate change will significantly impact food security in the future. Food security means being able to obtain and consume food consistently, without periods of hunger. Climate change brings about more extreme weather events and can disrupt communities’ food security.

Research is essential to study the links between climate change, land degradation and food security to empower policymakers to respond with strategies that can help minimize food system disruptions.

Increase in Diseases Borne by Food, Water and Vectors

Climate change’s impact on health is significant as it affects safe drinking water for billions of people on the planet. The CDC reports that 2 billion people do not have safe drinking water accessible in their homes.

Climate change is also causing various health problems from water- and vector-borne diseases. For example, unsafe drinking water is a factor that impacts millions of people in some of the poorest regions on Earth, causing them to suffer from illnesses that range from diarrhea to cholera, both of which can lead to death.

Research is essential to help determine the scale of water-borne health threats and to provide other information that can be used to develop targeted strategies to provide safe drinking water and adequate sanitation to some of the world’s most affected regions.

Prepare for a Career Focused on Solutions to Public Health Problems

An important aspect of public health research is collaboration. Researchers from different backgrounds, such as medicine, social sciences and epidemiology, can share data and solutions about public health topics for research.

For example, public health experts and urban planners can work together to promote physical activity in cities. In another example, partnerships between health care providers and community organizations can help address health disparities in a community.

For individuals looking to make an impact, learning valuable public health research skills can be a great first step. For example, the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at Augusta University Online prepares individuals with knowledge and competencies to develop effective, equitable public health solutions through research. The program focuses on teaching students how to promote public health, develop research strategies to uncover solutions, and advocate for communities and individuals.

Learn more about the MPH program at Augusta University Online. Where will it take you?

Sources: Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development, Significance of the ABCD Study American Medical Association, “Leana Wen, MD, MSc, on Her Top Public Health Priorities for 2023” American Psychiatric Association, “Stigma, Prejudice and Discrimination Against People with Mental Illness” American Psychiatric Association, “What Are Anxiety Disorders?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Global WASH Fast Facts Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mental Health Conditions: Depression and Anxiety Climate.gov, “Climate Change: Global Temperature” HHS.gov, “SAMHSA Announces National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Results Detailing Mental Illness and Substance Use Levels in 2021” IPCC, “Food Security” National Institute on Drug Abuse, Clinical Trials Network (CTN) National Institute of Environment Health Sciences, Global Environmental Health National Institute of Mental Health, Anxiety Disorders National Institute of Mental Health, Major Depression World Health Organization, Climate Change World Health Organization, “Climate Change and Health” World Health Organization, “COVID-19 Pandemic Triggers 25% Increase in Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression Worldwide” World Health Organization, “Mental Disorders” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Climate Change Indicators: Heat-Related Deaths” U.S. Government Accountability Office, “Science & Tech Spotlight: Long COVID”

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• 09 July 2024

How PhD students and other academics are fighting the mental-health crisis in science

• Shannon Hall

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You have full access to this article via your institution.

On the first day of her class, Annika Martin asks the assembled researchers at the University of Zurich in Switzerland to roll out their yoga mats and stand with their feet spread wide apart. They place their hands on their hips before swinging their torsos down towards the mat and back up again. The pose, called ‘wild goose drinking water’ is from Lu Jong, a foundational practice in Tantrayana Buddhism.

Martin, a health psychologist, can sense that some students are sceptical. They are academics at heart, many of whom have never tried yoga, and registered for Martin’s course to learn how to deal with the stress associated with academic research. Over the course of a semester, she teaches her students about stress and its impact on the body before giving them the tools to help cope with it — from yoga, meditation and progressive muscle relaxation to journalling.

It is one of many initiatives designed to combat the mental-health crisis that is gripping science and academia more broadly. The problems are particularly acute for students and early-career researchers, who are often paid meagre wages, have to uproot their lives every few years and have few long-term job prospects. But senior researchers face immense pressure as well. Many academics also experience harassment, discrimination , bullying and even sexual assault . The end result is that students and academics are much more likely to experience depression and anxiety than is the general population.

But some universities and institutions are starting to fight back in creative ways.

The beginning of a movement

The University of Zurich now offers academics several popular courses on mental health. Beyond Martin’s class, called ‘Mindfulness and Meditation’, one helps students learn how to build resilience and another provides senior researchers with the tools they need to supervise PhD candidates.

The courses are in high demand. “We have way more registrations than we have actual course spots,” says Eric Alms, a programme manager who is responsible for many of the mental-health courses at the University of Zurich. “I’m happy that my courses are so successful. On the other hand, it’s a sign of troubling times when these are the most popular courses.”

Several studies over the past few years have collectively surveyed tens of thousands of researchers and have documented the scope and consequences of science’s mental-health crisis.

In 2020, the biomedical research funder Wellcome in London, surveyed more than 4,000 researchers (mostly in the United Kingdom) and found that 70% felt stressed on the average work day . Specifically, survey respondents said that they felt intense pressure to publish — so much so that they work 50–60 hours per week, or more. And they do so for little pay, without a sense of a secure future. Only 41% of mid-career and 31% of early-career researchers said that they were satisfied with their career prospects in research.

The International Max Planck Research School for Intelligent Systems run bootcamps involving activities such as painting. Credit: Alejandro Posada

A survey designed by Cactus Communications , a science-communication and technology company headquartered in Mumbai, India, analysed the opinions of 13,000 researchers in more than 160 countries in 2020 and found that 37% of scientists experienced discrimination, harassment or bullying in their work environment. This was especially true for researchers from under-represented groups and was the case for 42% of female researchers, 45% of homosexual researchers and 60% of multiracial researchers.

Yet some experts are hopeful that there is change afoot. As well as the University of Zurich, several other institutions have started to offer courses on mental health. Imperial College London, for example, conducts more than two dozen courses, workshops and short webinars on topics as diverse as menstrual health and seasonal depression. Most of these have been running for at least five years, but several were developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “At that time, the true dimension of the mental-health crisis in science was unveiled and potentially exacerbated by the lockdowns,” says Ines Perpetuo, a research-development consultant for postdocs and fellows at Imperial College London.

Desiree Dickerson, a clinical psychologist with a PhD in neuroscience who leads workshops at the University of Zurich, Imperial College London and other institutes around the world, says she has a heavier workload than ever before. “Before COVID, this kind of stuff wasn’t really in the spotlight,” she says. “Now it feels like it is gaining a solid foothold — that we are moving in the right direction.”

A mental-health crisis is gripping science — toxic research culture is to blame

Some of this change has been initiated by graduate students and postdocs. When Yaniv Yacoby was a graduate student in computer science at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for example, he designed a course to teach the “hidden curriculum of the PhD”. The goal was to help students to learn how to succeed in science (often by breaking down preconceived ideas), while creating an inclusive and supportive community. An adapted form of that course is now offered by both Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and the University of Washington in Seattle. And Yacoby has worked with other universities to develop single-session workshops to jump-start mental-health advocacy and normalize conversations about it in academia.

Similarly, Jessica Noviello, a planetary scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, built a workshop series designed to target a key stressor for academics’ mental health: job insecurity, or specifically, the ability to find a job that aligns with career plans and life goals. She argues that most advisers lack experience outside academia, “making it hard for them to advise students about other career options”, and most institutes don’t have the resources to bring in outside speakers. Yet it is a key issue. The 2020 Wellcome survey found that nearly half of the respondents who had left research reported difficulty in finding a job.

So Noviello established the Professional Advancement Workshop Series (PAWS) in August 2021. The programme has run workshops and panel discussions about careers at national laboratories and in science journalism and media communications, science policy, data science, NASA management and more. And it has hosted two sessions on mental-health topics. “PAWS isn’t a programme that specifically set out to improve mental health in the sciences, but by building a community and having conversations with each other, the experts, and ourselves, I think we are giving ourselves tools to make choices that benefit us, and that is where mental health begins,” Noviello says.

Beyond the classroom

Although these courses and workshops mark a welcome change, say researchers, many wonder whether they are enough.

Melanie Anne-Atkins, a clinical psychologist and the associate director of student experience at the University of Guelph in Canada, who gives talks on mental health at various universities, says that she rarely sees universities follow through after her workshops. “People are moved to tears,” she says. “But priorities happen afterward. And even though they made a plan, it never rises to that. Because dollars will always come first.”

David Trang, a planetary geologist based in Honolulu, Hawaii, at the Space Science Institute, is currently working towards a licence in mental-health counselling to promote a healthier work environment in the sciences. He agrees with Anne-Atkins — arguing that even individual researchers have little incentive to make broad changes. “Caring about mental health, caring about diversity, equity and inclusion is not going to help scientists with their progress in science,” he says. Although they might worry about these matters tremendously, Trang argues, mental-health efforts won’t help scientists to win a grant or receive tenure. “At the end of the day, they have to care about their own survival in science.”

Still, others argue that these workshops are a natural and crucial first step — that people need to de-stigmatize these topics before moving forward. “It is quite a big challenge,” Perpetuo says. “But you have to understand what’s under your control. You can control your well-being, your reactions to things and you can influence what’s around you.”

PhD students compete in a team-building relay race at a bootcamp run by the International Max Planck Research School for Intelligent Systems. Credit: Alejandro Posada

That is especially pertinent to the typical scientist who tends to see their work as a calling and not just a job, argues Nina Effenberger, who is studying computer science at the University of Tübingen in Germany. The Wellcome survey found that scientists are often driven by their own passion — making failure deeply personal. But a solid mental-health toolkit (one that includes the skills taught in many of the new workshops) will help them to separate their work from their identity and understand that a grant denial or a paper rejection is not the end of their career. Nor should it have any bearing on their self-worth, Effenberger argues. It is simply a part of a career in science.

Moreover, Dickerson argues that although systemic change is necessary, individuals will drive much of that change. “My sense is that if I can empower the individual, then that individual can also push back,” she says.

Many researchers are starting to do just that through efforts aimed at improving working conditions for early-career researchers, an area of widespread concern. The Cactus survey found that 38% of researchers were dissatisfied with their financial situation. And another survey of 3,500 graduate students by the US National Science Foundation in 2020 (see go.nature.com/3xbokbk) found that more than one-quarter of the respondents experienced food insecurity, housing insecurity or both.

In the United States, efforts to organize unions have won salary increases and other benefits, such as childcare assistance, at the University of California in 2022, Columbia University in New York City in 2023 and the University of Washington in 2023. These wins are part of a surge in union formation. Last year alone, 26 unions representing nearly 50,000 graduate students, postdocs and researchers, formed in the United States.

There has also been collective action in other countries. In 2022, for example, Effenberger and her colleagues surveyed graduate students about their finances, and ultimately won an increase in pay at the International Max Planck Research School for Intelligent Systems (IMPRS-IS), an interdisciplinary doctoral programme within the Max Planck Society in Munich, Germany.

Why the mental cost of a STEM career can be too high for women and people of colour

Union drives are only part of the changes that are happening beyond the classroom. In the past few years, Imperial College London has revamped its common rooms, lecture halls and other spaces to create more places in which students can congregate. “If they have a space where they can go and chat, it is more conducive to research conversations and even just personal connection, which is one of the key aspects of fostering mental health,” Perpetuo says. Imperial also introduced both one-day and three-day voluntary retreats for postdocs and fellows to build personal relationships.

The IMPRS-IS similarly runs ‘bootcamps’ or retreats for many of its doctoral students and faculty members. Dickerson spoke at the one last year. The programme also mandates annual check-ins at which students can discuss group dynamics and raise any issues with staff. It has initiated thesis advisory committees so that no single academic supervisor has too much power over a student. And it plans to survey its students’ mental health twice a year for the next three years to probe the mental health of the institute. The institute has even set various mental-health goals, such as high job satisfaction among PhD students regardless of gender.

Dickerson applauds this change. “One of the biggest problems that I see is a fear of measuring the problem,” she says. “Many don’t want to ask the questions and I think those that do should be championed because I think without measuring it, we can’t show that we are actually changing anything.”

She hopes that other universities will follow suit and provide researchers with the resources that they need to improve conditions. Last year, for example, Trang surveyed the planetary-science community and found that imposter syndrome and feeling unappreciated were large issues — giving him a focus for many future workshops. “We’re moving slowly to make changes,” he says. “But I’m glad we are finally turning the corner from ‘if there is a problem’ to ‘let’s start solving the problem.’”

Nature 631 , 496-498 (2024)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-02225-8

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Researchers find biological clues to mental health impacts of prenatal cannabis exposure

More evidence shows potential connection between cannabis exposure in womb and adolescent behaviorial problems

Scientists are trying to understand how cannabis may affect long-term neurodevelopment when people were exposed to it in the womb.  Previous work by Washington University in St. Louis researchers Sarah Paul and David Baranger in the Behavioral Research and Imaging Neurogenetics (BRAIN) lab led by Ryan Bogdan found associations between prenatal cannabis exposure and potential mental health conditions in childhood and adolescence, but potential biological mechanisms that could possibly explain this association were unclear.

In research published in Nature Mental Health this month , Bogdan, the Dean’s Distinguished Professor of Psychological & Brain Sciences in Arts & Sciences, and senior scientist Baranger outline some of those potential mechanisms, the intermediate biological steps that could play into how prenatal cannabis exposure leads to behavioral issues down the line.

“We see evidence that cannabis exposure may influence the developing brain, consistent with associations with mental health,” Baranger said.

Trying to draw out the long-term impacts of cannabis exposure during pregnancy is not a simple knot to untangle. There are many confounding factors that affect mental health and behavior.

For example, say someone was exposed in utero to cannabis and later develops attention deficit disorder as a teen — how do you differentiate that as an inherited trait or a trait influenced by environmental factors, versus a trait that cannabis exposure somehow contributed to early on in development? It is also possible that all three potentially could contribute to eventual psychopathology.

Another complication is the increasing prevalence of the drug, including among the pregnant population, where cannabis use has increased from 3% to 7% from 2002 to 2017.

Researchers have statistical methods to filter out some of those confounding factors that they used in the previous study, but now they can point to specific biological measurements that further signal a connection to cannabis exposure and adolescent behavioral problems.

Bogdan said that nothing can establish causation with certainty, “but we can look at the plausibility of causation and identifying biological correlates that are associated with exposure and these mental health outcomes suggests it’s plausible.”

Researchers have been using data on the children and their mothers from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, an ongoing research project that includes nearly 12,000 children across the country. As part of that study, they collected data about each mother’s substance use prior to the birth as well as the neuroimaging data of their offspring when they were between 9 and 10 and 11 and 12 years old. Some 370 children were exposed to cannabis prior to the mother’s knowledge of pregnancy, and 195 were exposed before and after learning of pregnancy.

The researchers looked at a variety of neuroimaging measurements that factor into brain development, including measures of brain thickness and surface area, as well as measures reflecting water diffusion in and outside of cells. The patterns found in the group exposed to cannabis are consistent with potential reductions in neuroinflammation.

“It’s possible what we’re seeing is an anti-inflammatory effect of cannabis, which is leading to differences in how the brain is being pruned during neurodevelopment,” Bogdan said.

Much has been touted about the anti-inflammatory effects of cannabis, but it’s not always good to reduce inflammation. It’s all about the timing — too much of a reduction of inflammation at the wrong time could affect how the brain is pruned and primed.

Another theory is that cannabis exposure leads to accelerated aging. But don’t expect to find the smoking gun of biological clues pinning mental health problems to early cannabis exposure.

It might not even be about cannabis effects on pruning but the post-combustion products from smoking cannabis that set off accelerated aging and the downstream cognitive effects, Bogdan said.

Or, it could all come down to sociological factors, he added.

Trying to find the one-to-one connection that proves that prenatal cannabis exposure has negative effects during the teenage years is a challenge and may not be possible with retrospective studies. Baranger notes that the major limitation of this data set is that it was retrospective; mothers reported what their cannabis use was 10 years ago, so he’s looking forward to new data from prospective, longitudinal studies that will offer more recent, accurate and detailed information about cannabis use in pregnancy.

“That will potentially give us more answers to these questions in the future,” Baranger said.

Baranger said these results reaffirm that if someone is thinking about using cannabis while pregnant, they should “talk to their doctor about their choices and what other options there might be.”

Baranger DA, Miller AP, Gorelik AJ, Paul SE, Hatoum AS, Johnson EC, Colbert SM, Smyser CD, Rogers CE, Bijsterbosch JD, Agrawal A, Bogdan R. Prenatal cannabis exposure is associated with localized brain differences that partially mediate associations with increased adolescent psychopathology. Nat. Mental Health (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-024-00281-7

Research reported in this press release was supported by R01DA54750 (RB, AA). Additional funding included: DAAB (K99AA030808), APM (T32DA015035), AJG (DGE-213989), SEP (F31AA029934), ASH (K01AA030083), ECJ (K01DA051759; BBRF Young Investigator Grant 29571), CER (R01DA046224), AA (R01DA54750), RB (R01DA54750, R21AA027827, U01DA055367). Data for this study were provided by the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study which was funded by awards U01DA041022, U01DA041025, U01DA041028, U01DA041048, U01DA041089, U01DA041093, U01DA041106, U01DA041117, U01DA041120, U01DA041134, U01DA041148, U01DA041156, U01DA041174, U24DA041123, and U24DA041147 from the NIH and additional federal partners ( https://abcdstudy.org/federal-partners.html ). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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Q&A: Seaweed—weighing the many health benefits and potential risks

by Elaina Hancock, University of Connecticut

Seaweed, a staple in traditional diets across the globe, is now gaining recognition in the United States. UConn Department of Nutritional Sciences researchers, including Department Head Professor Ji-Young Lee and Assistant Research Professor Young-Ki Park, are researching not only the health benefits of seaweed but also addressing the potential health risks.

They met with UConn Today to discuss their most recent paper published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Research .

Can you tell us what inspired this research?

Lee: We both grew up in South Korea, and like other East Asian countries like Japan and China, in the South Korean peninsula, we are exposed to the different types of seaweed and always hear about how great it is for health. For example, in Korea, it is a custom that after a woman delivers a baby, she eats a particular seaweed soup for faster recovery.

In 2010 when we came to UConn, we were very interested in studying seaweed, but at that time public interest or awareness about it in the United States was still fairly low. We got funded about five or six years ago, and started researching sugar kelp, a major seaweed grown in the United States where compounds in the seaweed are extracted to be used as gelling agents or hydrocolloids which are ingredients commonly used in food products or other items like pharmaceuticals or cosmetics.

What are some of the benefits of eating seaweed?

Lee: Seaweed has many health benefits, but they can vary depending on where they grow. That's why we started studying sugar kelp grown in the U.S. to understand whether it has the same benefits as the many other types of seaweed that people have been eating for many years.

Our research is on obesity and obesity-related diseases such as fatty liver disease , which are a big problem in the United States and globally. In the first paper we published on sugar kelp consumption, we found that it prevented weight gain.

In the experiment, we fed mice a diet that was very high in fat, sugar, and cholesterol. Some of the mice were also fed seaweed. We found that, despite the mice eating the same, very high fat, high sugars, high cholesterol diet, when mice are fed sugar kelp, it prevents obesity and other diseases. Then, we had another recent publication that confirmed the similar benefits as well.

Park: That high-fat diet usually makes the mice gain a lot of weight, and then they do not move around much because of that weight gain. However, the mice that ate the diet with sugar kelp added, were leaner, even though the amount of food they consumed was similar, and they were more physically active.

Lee: We can clearly see that seaweed consumption can prevent obesity and weight gain , and several obesity-related conditions, like inflammation and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Can you talk about some of the risks associated with seaweed?

Lee: Despite these health benefits, there are health concerns that we need to address. Like other fish and seafood caught in the ocean, we know that heavy metals are a concern for seaweed, but there are no established regulations for safety. This is important because depending on where the seaweed is grown or harvested, heavy metal contamination may exist.

In the article, we emphasize the importance of studying the toxicity potential of seaweed, emphasizing the need to standardize the product so people can safely gain the health benefits of seaweed without the risks.

The same is true for agricultural products. For instance, the same spinach grown on different land can have different healthy compounds or contaminants depending on the soil. Therefore, standardization and safety regulations should be established for food sources like seaweed.

We want to study more of the safety aspect to systematically address that utilizing the accepted techniques and models.

We are cautious when discussing the health benefits of sugar kelp we found in our research because the information should not be misused as an advertisement without acknowledging potential risks that must be addressed before we start making recommendations to ensure the safety of consumption.

Park: We want people to understand that studying the health benefits and safety of seaweed consumption should be done in parallel to encourage consumers to eat seaweed without worrying about its safety.

What are your next steps in this research?

Lee: Thinking about the future, I think seaweed is really the next big agricultural crop. People study many different angles about seaweed, from making fuels from the seaweed to its carbon capture potential or identifying and extracting some of the healthy bioactives from there as well.

It is an environmentally friendly crop in many ways and if we can make it safer for human consumption, I think that'd be the best.

A similar example is the blue-green algae Spirulina, and we have done quite a bit of research on its health benefits in the past. Now it is in many different products like smoothies and energy bars. One concern about Spirulina is that it is grown in open farms, so producers have to be careful about contamination.

Now, the biggest companies growing Spirulina are in California and another in Hawaii, but their production is well controlled for consumer safety. That should be the future of seaweeds.

Provided by University of Connecticut

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Older women's health is woefully understudied

Medical research has shortchanged women for decades. This is particularly true of older women, leaving them without critically important information.

Many drugs widely prescribed to older adults were studied mostly in men, with results extrapolated to women. Consider the Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi, approved by the FDA last year after the manufacturer reported a 27% slower rate of cognitive decline in people who took the medication. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that sex differences were substantial: a 12% slowdown for women, compared with a 43% slowdown for men. And nearly two-thirds of older adults with Alzheimer’s are women.

“It’s assumed that women’s biology doesn’t matter and that women who are premenopausal and those who are postmenopausal respond similarly,” said Stephanie Faubion, director of the Mayo Clinic’s Center for Women’s Health. “This has got to stop.”

Older women are also more likely than older men to have multiple medical conditions, disabilities, difficulties with daily activities, autoimmune illness, depression and anxiety, uncontrolled high blood pressure and osteoarthritis, among other issues, according to scores of research studies.

Even so, women outlive men by more than five years in the U.S. Which means that older women outnumber older men by significant margins. If we’re concerned about the health of the older population, we need to be concerned about the health of older women.

Late last year, the Biden administration promised to address this problem with the new White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research . Which raises the question: What priorities should be on its list for older women?

Here’s what doctors and researchers suggested.

Heart disease

Women with heart disease, which becomes far more common after menopause and kills more women than any other condition, are given less care.

“We’re notably less aggressive,” said Martha Gulati, associate director of the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. “We delay evaluations for chest pain. We don’t give blood thinners at the same rate. We don’t do procedures like aortic valve replacements as often. We’re not adequately addressing hypertension. We need to figure out why these biases in care exist and how to remove them.”

Older women are less likely than their male peers to have obstructive coronary artery disease and undetected damage to smaller blood vessels, Gulati said. When they get procedures such as cardiac catheterizations, women have more bleeding and complications.

What are the best treatments for older women given these issues? “We have very limited data. This needs to be a focus,” Gulati said.

Brain and mental health

How can women reduce their risk of cognitive decline and dementia as they age? “We really need to have clear messages for women and effective interventions that are feasible and accessible,” said JoAnn Manson, a key researcher for the  Women’s Health Initiative , the largest study of women’s health in the U.S.

Numerous factors affect women’s brain health, including stress – sexism, caregiving responsibilities and financial strain. Older women lose estrogen, a hormone important to brain health. They have a higher incidence of conditions with serious brain impacts such as multiple sclerosis and stroke.

Older women are also more vulnerable to anxiety and depression.  Studies suggest  a variety of factors, including hormonal changes and cumulative stress. Paula Rochon, a professor of geriatrics at the University of Toronto, also faulted “gendered ageism” in  an interview  in Nature Aging.

Helen Lavretsky, past president of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, named several topics that need further investigation. How does menopause impact mood and stress-related disorders? What nonpharmaceutical interventions can promote resilience in older women and help them recover? What combination of interventions is likely to be most effective?

Cancer screening and treatment

Supriya Gupta Mohile, director of the Geriatric Oncology Research Group at the University of Rochester, wants better guidance about breast cancer screening for older women.

“Right now, I think we’re underscreening fit older women and overscreening frail older women,” Mohile said.

The doctor also wants more research about effective, safe and tolerable treatments for lung cancer in older women, many of whom have multiple medical conditions and functional impairments. The age-sensitive condition kills more women than breast cancer.

Bone health and frailty

Osteoporosis is more common in older women than older men, increasing the risk of dangerous fractures and falls.

Jane Cauley, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh, wants more data about the condition among older Black, Asian and Hispanic women, who are undertreated. She also wants better drugs with fewer side effects.

Marcia Stefanick, a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, wants to know which strategies are most likely to motivate older women to be physically active. And she’d like more studies investigating how older women can best preserve muscle mass, strength and the ability to care for themselves.

“Frailty is one of the biggest problems for older women,” she said. “Learning what can be done to prevent that is essential.”

KFF Health News  is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF – an independent source of health policy research, polling and journalism.

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Young people believe that AI is a valuable tool for health care, finds survey

by University College London

Children and young people are generally positive about artificial intelligence (AI) and think it should be used in modern health care, finds the first-of-its-kind survey led by UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). The findings are published in the journal European Radiology .

The national study asked children and young people aged six to 23 years old, across all four UK nations for their views on how they would like AI to be used to enhance their health care.

The team was led by Professor Susan Shelmerdine (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and GOSH) and Dr. Lauren Lee, a Young Facilitator in the GOSH Young Persons' Advisory Group (YPAG)—a group that works with GOSH to ensure young people's views are considered.

AI is becoming more available in modern health care, particularly in the field of radiology, where it can be used to analyze scans. But while the radiology community, including children's radiologists, are generally positive about AI use, little attention has been paid to how children and young adults feel about the use of AI on their own imaging data.

The results of the survey, which was co-developed with a steering committee of patients and caregivers from the GOSH YPAG and GOSH parents and Carer Advisory Group (PCAG) for research showed that children and young people are cautious, but generally positive about AI.

The survey results found that young people were keen for AI to be used in health care, particularly if it could improve their care and outcomes. However, they wanted the tools to be supervised by health care professionals as they feel there are elements of care such as empathy and ethical decision making, that AI cannot mimic and when faced between a human and computer they would be more willing to trust the human.

For specific questions asked about radiology, respondents felt that AI would be accurate at finding problems on bone X-rays and they didn't mind how long the results took, as long as they were as accurate as possible, and that the AI was used with a trusted doctor still in charge of their care.

The study's findings are already being incorporated into research based at GOSH, evaluating and developing AI tools to better detect and describe fractures from a large dataset of X-ray scans in children across Britain. The online survey was sent out to schools, universities and charity partners, encouraging children and young adults to respond over a one-year period.

Lead researcher, Professor Susan Shelmerdine (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and GOSH) and her team are hoping to develop AI tools that can create written reports direct from radiology images and allow patients to ask the AI questions about their imaging.

Professor Shelmerdine said, "The number of trained children's radiologists in the UK is relatively small, so tools like AI could help upskill our workforce to enable more equitable care for patients who don't have the option to visit specialist hospitals like GOSH.

"Nevertheless, we cannot assume that we know what children want. It was encouraging to see that when asked, children and young people were positive about the use of AI in their health care, but it was also important to understand what was important to them—such as human oversight—so that we can factor this into the development of new tools and treatments."

Study co-lead and Young Facilitator, Dr. Lauren Lee of Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, said, "There are a lot of discussions about how AI can help to facilitate health care. Until this study, no one has really asked the younger generation how we feel about it, especially as we will be growing up alongside AI developments.

"It has been great to be able to give young people a voice in this space."

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