Grace O’Connor — Health & Science Editor

Researchers have uncovered a clear alteration in the brains of people with long COVID indicating that neurons releasing dopamine may suffer burnout or damage, which could account for some of the condition’s most severe symptoms. A preliminary Canadian study of 24 people with long COVID identified clear differences in specific brain regions when compared with … Read more

A 27-year-old woman with no prior medical history developed acute hypoxic respiratory failure requiring up to 10 L/min of supplemental oxygen due to bird fancier’s lung, a form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis triggered by prolonged indoor exposure to a rescued pigeon housed in her family kitchen. Domestic Pigeon Exposure Triggers Severe Hypoxic Respiratory Failure She was … Read more

Multiple sclerosis affects roughly 3.1 million people worldwide, impacting women up to three times more frequently than men, according to recent epidemiological data. Because diagnosis typically occurs between the ages of 20 and 40, many female patients make reproductive decisions while managing their condition. Historically, clinical guidance warned against pregnancy due to concerns that it … Read more

Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) was investigated after an unannounced regulatory inspection uncovered unlocked rooms containing unsecured patient records and overflowing confidential waste bins at Tallaght University Hospital. The Data Protection Commission launched its inquiry in August 2025, according to findings, after receiving protected disclosures regarding data security practices at the facility. Regulatory Investigation Uncovers Unsecured … Read more

Pennsylvania health officials confirmed the fifth measles-associated death of 2026 on September 30, as the state’s historic outbreak climbed to 943 confirmed cases across 39…

25-year regional study tracking over 66,000 patients across Limerick, Clare, and Tipperary reveals drop in osteoporosis rates among older adults, challenging long-held assumptions about degenerative bone disease in later life. the findings show that first-time bone-density scans recorded at regional clinics point to a profoundly different physiological baseline for today’s aging population compared to a … Read more

Dublin’s integrated healthcare conference on September 3, 2026, brought over 2,000 attendees together at the Convention Centre Dublin to debate the future of patient care across hospitals, primary care, and community settings amid sweeping regional reforms. HSE’s Integrated Healthcare Conference 2026: Balancing Local Innovation Against Systemic Bottlenecks in Dublin Regionalisation Realities and the Challenge of … Read more

A neuroimaging analysis from the ENIGMA Eating Disorders Working Group published in JAMA Psychiatry reveals that bulimia nervosa is linked to structural brain differences, specifically reduced nucleus accumbens volume and smaller temporal cortical surface area, offering concrete neurobiological insights into the condition. Unlocking the Neurobiology of Bulimia Nervosa Bulimia nervosa stands as the second most … Read more

Animal Health Ireland recently hosted a Heathy Hooves to Healthy Herds event on the Walsh family farm in Ballyroan, Co. Laois, highlighting that lameness costs farmers between €5,000 and €15,000 annually. With up to 10% of the national herd lame at any given time, modern dairy operations face economic and logistical pressures. The True Financial … Read more