Puzzling cancer and Alzheimer’s link explored in new study: ‘SHORT QUOTE’

A new study may help clarify a long-observed link between cancer history and reduced Alzheimer’s risk.

The research, published in the journal Cell, used mouse models to explore how the biological changes associated with cancer may affect the progression of the most common dementia type.

The findings suggest that certain cancers release a protein called cystatin-C that can travel through the bloodstream and enter the brain, an area that many Alzheimer’s treatments have difficulty reaching.

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Cystatin-C binds to harmful amyloid protein clumps linked to Alzheimer’s and activates a protein called TREM2, which acts like an on-switch for the brain’s immune cells. 

When activated, those cells begin clearing away existing amyloid plaques, a process that was associated with reduced plaque buildup and improved cognitive function, the study found.

Dr. Bob Arnot, a Vermont-based internal medicine physician, told Fox News Digital that the findings help clarify a pattern doctors have observed for years.

“Scientists have long observed a puzzling statistical pattern known as ‘inverse comorbidity’ — people with a history of cancer are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, and people with Alzheimer’s are less likely to develop cancer,” said Arnot, who was not involved in the study.

The findings suggest that biological signals tied to certain cancers may slow or reverse key features of Alzheimer’s disease.

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Arnot said the research is notable because it identifies a specific biological pathway that could be targeted for future Alzheimer’s treatments.

“This approach targets existing amyloid plaques, not just early prevention. That distinction could be critical for patients who already have established disease,” he said.

Arnot cautioned that the findings do not mean cancer itself is protective.

“This study does not suggest that cancer is protective, desirable or a viable therapy,” he said. “Instead, it reveals that biological programs activated during cancer can inadvertently engage protective immune mechanisms in the brain.”

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The research suggests that future treatments could focus not just on slowing Alzheimer’s, but also on clearing harmful buildup in the brain, Arnot added.

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The results were based on experiments in animal models, and further research is needed to determine whether the same effects occur in humans, the researchers noted.

Health officials are warning the public of potential measles exposure after an international traveler visited several high-traffic locations in Southern California, including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and the Disneyland Resort.

The traveler arrived Jan. 26 on Viva Aerobus Flight 518 at Tom Bradley International Terminal B, Gate 201A, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH).

The department stated that individuals who were in Terminal B between 10:45 p.m. Jan. 26 and 1 a.m. Jan. 27 may have been exposed.

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Following the arrival, the individual traveled to Orange County. The Orange County Health Care Agency shared the following exposure windows for Jan. 28.

• Goofy’s Kitchen (Disneyland Hotel) between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
• Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure from 12:30 p.m. until park closure

A subsequent exposure was identified on Jan. 30 at a Dunkin’ Donuts in Woodland Hills, according to the LADPH.

“People who were at these locations during these times may be at risk of developing measles from seven to 21 days after exposure,” the Orange County Health Care Agency said in a statement.

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Health officials advise anyone who visited these locations during the specified windows to check their immunization status and monitor for symptoms for 21 days following exposure.

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Public health departments in both Los Angeles and Orange County will continue to track potential exposure sites and notify individuals at high risk.

People should contact a healthcare provider by phone before visiting a clinic if symptoms develop to prevent further spread, experts recommend.

Fox News Digital reached out to county officials for a statement.

What to know about measles

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. If one person is infected, up to 90% of nearby people who are not immune will also become infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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“Measles doesn’t only affect people who travel internationally — everyone is at risk if they’re not protected,” said Dr. Anissa Davis, deputy county health officer for Long Beach, California. “The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to get vaccinated before exposure occurs.”

Symptoms of measles typically include fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a characteristic rash that begins on the face and spreads downward, per the CDC. An infected person is contagious for four days before and four days after the rash appears.

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As of Jan. 30, there have been 588 confirmed cases of measles in the U.S. so far in 2026, the agency reports. This follows a significant surge in 2025, which saw 2,267 cases — the highest annual count in more than three decades.

Amid conflicting guidance, GLP-1 weight-loss trends and recent updates to dietary guidelines, navigating nutrition advice can feel overwhelming.

As weight-loss conversations increasingly focus on medications, some Americans may be looking for more natural ways to quiet what’s often called “food noise.”

Here are some tips to help tune it out.

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What is food noise?

Food noise can be described as frequent thoughts about food that can sometimes be mistaken as hunger, experts say.

Northwell Health’s The Well describes it as a “steady background loop of food-related thoughts” that can interfere with daily life and decision-making about eating.

This can lead someone to eat excess calories, causing weight gain, obesity and other medical problems like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and sleep apnea, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

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“It’s a lot of unnecessary, excessive thoughts around food that can be exhausting,” Kat Garcia-Benson, registered dietitian-nutritionist at VNutrition, a wellness brand that offers plant-based dishes and expert nutrition tips, told Fox News Digital.

“You might have thoughts like: ‘I’m craving this,’ ‘When is my next meal?’, ‘What should I eat to be healthier?’, ‘I should eat this,’ or ‘I shouldn’t eat that,’” added the Texas-based expert.

Certain behaviors can worsen food noise. These may include skipping meals, ignoring hunger clues, relying on rigid food rules and cutting out entire food groups, according to Garcia-Benson.

Studies have shown that some medical conditions, like polycystic ovarian syndrome and depression, can also increase food noise, as can stress and inadequate sleep. Certain medications, such as antidepressants, can also exacerbate it.

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“It’s also important to note that food noise is not a personal failure or [due to] having a lack of willpower,” Garcia-Benson added. “For many people, it’s a response from years of dieting/food restriction, stress or inconsistent nourishment.”

Drivers of hunger

“The impulse to eat is driven by three core aspects: hunger, satiety, and pleasure or reward,” Dr. Vinita Tandon, chief medical officer of Medi-Weightloss, a physician-supervised weight-loss program based in Tampa, told Fox News Digital.

The body naturally makes a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, which helps to regulate appetite and food intake.

“It’s a lot of unnecessary, excessive thoughts around food that can be exhausting.”

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In people with obesity, however, the body’s natural GLP-1 response may be less effective at signaling fullness, Tandon noted.

GLP-1 medications, including Ozempic, can fast-track weight loss by mimicking a natural hormone that suppresses appetite and helps people feel full sooner, the expert said.

They also offer an additional benefit by acting on the brain’s rewards pathway.

When someone eats a brownie, for example, they experience a surge in a “pleasure hormone” known as dopamine, Tandon said. GLP-1 medications blunt this response, so the person feels no differently eating a brownie than when eating a spinach salad.

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“We no longer crave those unhealthy, sugary foods because we don’t derive pleasure from them anymore,” she added.

6 tips to tune out food noise

Some triggers of food noise may be internal – like certain hunger hormones that can make us eat more — while others are external, like seeing a favorite snack or getting a whiff of a freshly baked pie.

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“[Some] people find that peeling back the layers and building a healthier relationship with food can quiet the food noise, especially when it comes from a lifetime of diet cycling – like moving between restrictive diets and periods of overconsumption,” Garcia-Benson said.

Experts shared the following natural techniques that can help reduce food noise.

No. 1: Keep a “hunger record”

Writing down when your food cravings are loudest — such as when scrolling on your phone — can help you identify any triggers.

No. 2: Increase fiber and protein intake

Research shows that these nutrients help you stay full longer, stimulating natural GLP-1 hormones to send signals to the brain that lessen cravings.

Health experts recommend that adults get 25 to 38 grams of fiber per day and at least 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, with higher protein intakes often advised for appetite control. 

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No. 3: Slow down and be more present when eating

Focusing solely on food and eating mindfully can help to curb appetite, experts say.

Harvard experts recommend eating more slowly and paying attention to each bite — without distractions like phones or TV — to better recognize fullness cues and avoid overeating.

No. 4: Get enough sleep

People who don’t sleep well may have a difficult time being disciplined about food intake the next day. They often crave highly processed and carb-heavy foods to increase their energy, multiple studies have shown.

Health authorities recommend that adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night.

No. 5: Manage stress

Chronic stress lowers the production of natural GLP-1 and leads to high cortisol levels, which can lead to weight gain, according to Tandon.

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Experts recommend managing chronic stress with mindfulness, meditation and consistent physical activity to help lower cortisol levels and support healthier metabolic function and weight regulation, per Cleveland Clinic.

No. 6: Exercise regularly

Physical activity has been shown to boost GLP-1 levels. Most health authorities recommend that adults aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week and at least two days per week of muscle-strengthening activities.