#Publichealth

A recent round of independent testing has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of many so‑called longevity supplements. According to thorough checks by product testers, about half of the top-selling NAD+ supplements sold on major online marketplaces contain zero or negligible amounts of the very compound they promise to deliver. In parallel, another lab examination found that more than half of products marketed as NAD+ precursors were not accurately labeled, with only a fraction offering NAD+ or its precursors in amounts that align with what the labels claim. The findings come as a growing number of people in Thailand and across Southeast Asia seek anti‑aging and vitality products, often turning to the wellness market for plausible quick fixes.

A health story from the United States is sounding a warning bell for Thailand too. Nearly four in ten adults in America live with obesity, and men, though equally affected by the condition, are far less likely to seek medical help. The result is a mounting burden of heart disease, diabetes, and a troubling life expectancy gap between men and women. The tale is not just about weight; it’s about how fear, stigma, and social norms can keep people from getting life-saving care until late, when treatment becomes harder and more costly. In one moving case, a man known as Eric Reed turned to doctors only after years of struggling, and the change in his life underscores how powerful medical interventions can be when people finally engage with care. His story helps explain a broader, sobering pattern: obesity is accelerating the health crisis for men in ways that demand urgent, practical responses.

A little pain can go a long way in how you feel about a hard workout. In a small but provocative study led by two neuroscientists, researchers showed that a brief, safe dose of physical discomfort—specifically dunking a hand in ice-cold water before exercise—can recalibrate the brain’s interpretation of physical effort. The result: during a demanding cycling task, volunteers reported less pain and more pleasure in the toughest moments. For Thai readers juggling busy lives, the takeaway is not a new workout gimmick but a window into how tiny, well-timed challenges might boost motivation, resilience, and adherence to fitness routines.

A new analysis of nearly 34,000 U.S. veterans suggests that taking nicotinamide, a widely available form of Vitamin B3, is linked to a meaningful reduction in non-melanoma skin cancers among people who have already had skin cancer. The biggest benefit was seen in those who started the supplement after their first cancer diagnosis. Participants who took 500 mg of nicotinamide twice daily for at least one month experienced about a 14% overall reduction in future skin cancers, with a striking 54% risk drop among those who began after their initial cancer. The cancers most affected were basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, the two most common non-melanoma forms. Importantly, the study did not assess melanoma.

A recent personal experiment with a VO2 max test shows how our bodies burn fat and build muscle at different running intensities, offering a practical roadmap for Thai runners and fitness enthusiasts. The test measures how much oxygen the body uses at varying speeds and inclines, laying out a detailed map of “cardio zones” that tell you not just how hard to push, but why certain paces favor fat loss while others support muscle growth and cardiovascular health. The takeaway is simple and actionable: you don’t have to sprint all out to transform your body; you can structure workouts to maximize fat burning while gradually lifting endurance and strength. Experts emphasize that regularly updating these assessments can help track progress and refine training plans over time.

In the quiet hillside town of Scanno, a 94-year-old woman dressed in ancient clothes has quietly rewritten the way visitors experience a place. Tour buses and selfie sticks are not what first brought her into the spotlight; it was the sight of a dignified elder moving through narrow stone lanes in garments that locals say echo centuries of local dress. Tourists harvest moments with her as if she were a living museum exhibit, a walking window into centuries of craft, tradition, and memory. Her presence has turned a simple walk through the town into a small cultural event, drawing photographers and day-trippers who want more than a postcard—they want a story.

A recent international analysis, highlighted in a major European newspaper, suggests that Antarctica’s growing tide of visitors may be contributing to accelerated ice melt on the world’s frozen continent. The report points to several mechanisms by which tourism could influence the delicate ice landscape: soot and pollution from ships and aircraft darkening the pristine snow and ice, heat and noise from visiting vessels disturbing the ice, and the physical impact of landings that compact and fracture delicate snow layers. While the scene sounds almost cinematic, the implications are deeply practical for global climate and sea-level futures—and for communities far from the ice, including readers in Thailand who are increasingly affected by shifting weather patterns, rising seas, and the economic ripples of environmental change.

Thailand’s kitchens are being reshaped by a quiet but growing trend: plant-based eating that doesn’t break the bank. A decade into vegan living for many, communities are turning to practical rules that turn healthy, affordable eating into everyday habit. The lead story of a longtime vegan sharing eight money-smart rules has sparked renewed attention from health researchers who say the newest science supports the idea that well-planned vegan diets can be both nutritious and economical. For Thai households already juggling rising food prices, this link between science and everyday practice could not be more timely. The conversation around vegan eating is increasingly about accessibility, especially as Thailand grapples with the rising burden of non-communicable diseases and the need for affordable, sustainable food choices.

In a focused study led by researchers in Japan and published online in late 2025, a striking 44% of people with systemic sclerosis (SSc) who report exercise intolerance showed exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH). Even more notable, about 30% of the same group had PH at rest. The study also found that nailfold capillary density—an accessible skin-based measure—was notably lower among those with PH and exercise-induced PH, offering a potential early clue for clinicians. The researchers emphasize that a small set of clinical features during exertion, together with a simple nailfold capillary assessment, might help identify patients at risk who would benefit from more definitive testing, such as exercise right heart catheterization.

A new wave of research on stress management is underscoring simple, practical steps that anyone can try today. In a BBC feature, medical broadcaster Dr Xand van Tulleken outlines five key tips to tame everyday stress and restore balance. While the full article explains these ideas in a concise, accessible way, the implications reach far beyond the newsroom. Here in Thailand, where family life, work pressures, and education demands shape daily routines, these five steps could offer tangible relief when implemented at home, in schools, and in workplaces.

A provocative argument is gaining traction in scientific circles: the long-dominant materialist view of science may be narrowing our questions, and gatekeeping alternatives could be slowing progress. The lead voice in this debate, a theoretical physicist and neuroscientist, argues that to push knowledge forward we must interrogate the gaps in our current theories rather than resorting to rigid reverence for material explanations alone. The conversation reverberates beyond laboratories and conference rooms, touching the heart of how Thailand teaches, discusses, and applies science in everyday life. For Thai families, students, and policy makers alike, the question is whether our educational and media ecosystems encourage open inquiry without surrendering the standards of rigorous evidence that protect public trust.

The latest examination of Pilates, sparked by a long-running marketing promise that the workout sculpts “long and lean” muscles, concludes what many fitness scientists have long suspected: muscles don’t physically lengthen through practice, and the real gains come from improved endurance, better posture, and a leaner appearance largely driven by reduced body fat. For Thai readers, where millions seek practical, bankable health guidance amid busy work, school, and family life, the takeaway could reshape how we choose and value exercise routines, and how we talk about body image in a culture that deeply respects discipline, gradual progress, and balance.

A growing body of research suggests you can lose weight by eating fewer calories, even if you skip the gym. Yet experts stress that weight loss is only part of the picture: exercise remains crucial for long-term health, muscle preservation, and metabolic well-being. For Thai readers balancing busy work schedules, family meals, and deeply rooted food traditions, the findings offer both practical pathways and important cautions about what it takes to keep weight off for good.

A sweeping new line of blended proteins is moving from lab benches into pantries across Asia, and its promise could ripple through Thailand’s food security, farming, and everyday meals. In a major regional effort led by NECTAR, a consortium studying the “Future of the Industry: Balanced Proteins APAC” is testing how combinations of plant, fungal, and animal-adjacent ingredients can deliver meat-like satisfaction while easing pressure on land, water, and farming systems. The Singapore-focused phase in particular shows taste tests where blends sometimes outshine traditional animal meat in consumer panels. If these early signals hold, Thai households—facing rising protein prices and shifting dietary expectations—could see more versatile, culturally familiar options at markets and in eateries within a few years.

A recent question at the center of fitness chatter asks whether Pilates can truly make muscles “long and lean.” The New York Times exploring this claim reopens a debate that has followed Pilates for decades: does this form of movement actually lengthen muscle fibers, or does it simply change how we look and feel by improving posture, control, and muscular endurance? Across medical experts, fitness professionals, and journalists who reviewed recent discussions, the consensus is nuanced. Pilates does not physically elongate muscles beyond their natural length, but it can reshape how muscles work and how the body presents itself through better alignment, breath, and movement quality. For Thai readers, this matters because millions juggle office work, commuting in Bangkok’s traffic, and family duties—activities that often leave people stiff, sore, and seeking practical ways to protect long-term health.

A recent feature highlights a provocative claim: creatine supplementation may counteract some of the mood and cognitive costs of stress and sleep loss. While the details of the study are not fully laid out in every outlet, the lead suggests that simply adding a well-known bodybuilding supplement could help people cope better when sleep is scarce and stress levels are high. For Thailand, where urban life increasingly blends long work hours, hectic commutes, and social pressures, the idea of a readily available, affordable supplement offering even modest protection against fatigue and irritability is striking enough to warrant careful local consideration.

A small, early long-term follow-up of psilocybin-assisted therapy for major depressive disorder suggests that the benefits can endure for five years. In the study, about two-thirds of participants who received two doses of psilocybin paired with psychotherapy remained in complete remission from depression five years later, with broad improvements in anxiety, functioning, and well-being. Yet the findings come from a limited, open-label follow-up of a single-trial cohort, underscoring both the promise and the caution needed when translating these results into wider practice. The new data offer a rare glimpse into the durability of psychedelic-assisted treatment, while highlighting the substantial questions that remain about who benefits most, how to scale such therapies responsibly, and how they might fit into Thailand’s mental health landscape.

Depression in the United States has reached a level that many health officials describe as alarming, with more than one in five adults either suffering from depression or receiving treatment in recent years. The trend did not appear overnight; it traces back to a sharp rise that began around 2020, a turning point tied to the COVID-19 pandemic but not limited to it. For Thai readers, the numbers offer a sobering mirror: mental health challenges are not confined to one country, and societies with rapid change, economic stress, and social fragmentation face similar pressures. The Newsweek reporting on U.S. data, drawing from polling by Gallup and insights from leading psychiatrists, underscores how broad, persistent, and multifaceted the depression landscape has become—and why Thailand should pay heed to these international findings as it refines its own mental health strategies.

A new multinational study led by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, in collaboration with Harvard and the University of Leipzig, finds that a green-Mediterranean diet can slow the brain’s aging process. Over 18 months, participants who followed this diet—rich in green tea and the aquatic plant Mankai—showed a smaller brain age gap compared with those on standard healthy or traditional calorie-controlled Mediterranean diets. The brain age gap refers to how old a brain appears on MRI compared with the person’s actual age. In practical terms, this means dietary choices may help protect cognitive function as we get older.

A newly released U.S. survey of Generation Z finds that loneliness is a widespread signal of strain on young people’s mental health, with a striking split in experiences: while more than half of respondents report overall good or better mental health, a large share say loneliness still drains their daily lives and has tangible effects on school, work, and relationships. The study, conducted by Hopelab and Data for Progress and shared with Axios, reveals that loneliness and family problems are among the top challenges weighing on young people today, even as many also describe resilience and hope for the future. For Thai readers, the findings resonate with ongoing conversations about youth mental health at home, in schools, and across communities where family bonds, social expectations, and the pressures of rapid digital life shape daily life. The message from researchers is clear: mental health is not a single story, and responses must be nuanced, equitable, and embedded within everyday Thai contexts.

A new pilot study conducted at a major U.S. university suggests that a ketogenic diet may significantly reduce depressive symptoms in college students who are already receiving treatment. Over ten weeks, participants on a keto plan experienced a dramatic drop in mood-related symptoms, with results described by researchers as potentially meaningful for mental health strategies on campuses. The finding arrives at a time when many students struggle to access consistent mental health care, making accessible lifestyle approaches an appealing complement to existing therapies.

A long-running study of nearly 3,000 older adults in the United Kingdom has found a striking association between the timing of breakfast and overall survival. The researchers tracked participants from 1983 to 2017 and observed that those who tended to eat breakfast later in the day also showed poorer physical and mental health, with an increased risk of death from any cause as time passed. Importantly, the bigger the delay in breakfast timing, the greater the mortality signal appeared to be, with each hour later in the morning linked to an 8-11 percent higher risk of dying during the study period. While the findings draw attention to a potentially simple marker of health status, scientists caution that the study does not prove that eating breakfast later causes earlier death. Instead, breakfast timing may reflect underlying health challenges, sleep disturbances, or other interrelated factors that intensify with aging.

A powerful new line of research is reshaping how doctors might treat depression: prescribe movement, not just medications or talk therapy. An editorial sweeping across leading journals argues that physical activity should be a first‑line treatment for depressive disorders, with a clear, structured plan — a dose of exercise tailored to the patient’s condition, preferences, and life realities. The core message is both simple and transformative: movement is medicine, and when it’s prescribed with the same seriousness as a prescription, it can be as effective as conventional therapies for many people. Yet the piece also flags a stubborn barrier in clinical practice — most health professionals have little training in exercise prescription, and a substantial share rarely, if ever, prescribe structured activity to patients with depression. The contrast between evidence and practice is stark, and it lands with particular force in Thailand, where mental health needs are rising and access to care remains uneven across urban and rural communities.

A growing chorus of aging health experts is spotlighting a single dietary champion as we get older: fatty fish, especially salmon. The latest synthesis of nutrition science suggests that the two omega-3s in salmon—EPA and DHA—play a pivotal role in brain health and in tamping down chronic inflammation that underpins many age-related diseases. For Thai families navigating the realities of elder care, this message lands with practical implications: prioritize high-quality protein and healthy fats at a time when muscle mass, hormone balance, and cognitive vitality often wane. As aging becomes an increasingly common experience in Thai society, doctors and dietitians alike are urging a simple, food-first approach to keep elders strong, engaged, and independent.