NBC News (7/14, Edwards ) reports, “The number of young children sickened after getting their…hands on nicotine products like pouches and vape e-liquids has skyrocketed in recent years.” A study found that “from 2010 through 2023, U.S. poison centers reported 134,663 cases of nicotine poisonings among kids under age 6.” The findings were published in Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “Nicotine poisonings soar in babies and toddlers,”Erika Edwards, NBC News, July 14, 2025

Psychiatric News (7/15) reports that “taking metformin may help” adolescents with overweight or obesity “who take antipsychotic medications avoid the weight gain commonly associated with the drugs, according to researchers.” The investigators said, “Based on our assessment…of the risks and benefits of adding [metformin] to a brief healthy lifestyle intervention among youth with [bipolar disorder] who have overweight or obesity, clinicians should strongly consider prescribing [metformin] in conjunction with [second-generation antipsychotics].” The findings (PDF) were published by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

Related Links:

— “Metformin May Curb Weight Gain in Youth Who Take Antipsychotics,Psychiatric News, July 15, 2025

HealthDay (7/10, Thompson ) reports a study found that “half of folks who say they always feel lonely (50%) have clinical depression, compared with just 10% of those who report never feeling lonely.” Researchers examined data “gathered between 2016 and 2023 as part of an annual government survey on health risks, involving more than 47,000 people. More than 80% of people surveyed reported some level of loneliness, but those with higher levels were more likely to suffer mentally and physically.” According to the results, “women had a higher likelihood of depression and poor mental health than men, across all levels of loneliness. On the other hand, Black people were less likely to suffer from depression and poor mental health because of loneliness than white individuals.” The study was published in PLOS One.

Related Links:

— “Loneliness Preys On Mental, Physical Health,”
Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, July 10, 2025

MedPage Today (7/10, George ) reports a study found that “gabapentin (Neurontin) prescriptions for chronic low back pain were linked with an increased risk of dementia and cognitive impairment.” Researchers found that “among more than 52,000 adults with chronic back pain who were followed for 10 years, those who had six or more gabapentin prescriptions had a higher incidence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment than those not prescribed gabapentin.” Researchers observed no heightened risk among patients aged 18 to 34 who were prescribed gabapentin, “but dementia risk was more than double and mild cognitive impairment risk more than triple among those ages 35 to 49. A similar pattern emerged among those 50 to 64 years old.” The study was published in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine.

Related Links:

— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)