Health Alert: Inflammatory Bowel Disease Incidence Rising Worldwide. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a
group of chronic conditions that cause ongoing inflammation in the digestive tract, primarily Crohn’s disease and
ulcerative colitis, resulting in symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, and unintended weight loss.
Using data from the Global Burden of Disease study, researchers report that the age-standardized incidence of IBD
increased by an average of 0.16% per year between 1990 and 2021, with the highest disease burden observed in
Australasia, North America, and Western Europe. Digestive Diseases and Sciences, August 2026
Diet: Fast Food Intake During Pregnancy May Influence Child’s Body Composition. New research suggests
that children born to mothers who consumed fast food two or more times a week during pregnancy had, on average,
a 0.6 kg/m² higher BMI, a 2.2 cm larger waist circumference, a 0.7 cm larger arm circumference, and a 4.0 mm
greater sum of skinfolds than children whose mothers less frequently ate fast food.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, August 2026
Exercise: Active Students Report Greater Mindfulness and Mental Well-Being. Among a group of 407 middle
school-aged children, researchers found that school-based physical activity programs not only provided physical
health benefits but were also associated with improved mindfulness, mental well-being, and quality of life.
International Journal of School Health, July 2026
Chiropractic: Manual Therapy May Reduce Neck Pain-Related Disability. The Neck Disability Index (NDI) is
a tool used to evaluate how neck symptoms interfere with activities such as personal care, lifting, reading, and work.
Among more than 5,800 people receiving care for mechanical neck pain, researchers found that manual therapy
combined with exercise—an approach commonly used by chiropractors—was associated with significant
improvements in NDI scores. Pain Research & Management, August 2026
Mental Attitude: Higher Vitamin D Levels Linked to Better Cognitive Function. Researchers studying
hospitalized older adults found that each 10 ng/mL increase in serum vitamin D levels corresponded with up to 18%
lower odds of adverse cognitive outcomes, including dementia. The authors note that more than half of participants
were vitamin D deficient, highlighting how common low levels are within this population.
Frontiers in Nutrition, August 2026
Wellness/Prevention: Early Heart Disease Death Rate Has Been Cut in Half Since 1990. Thanks to advances in
treatment and worldwide smoking cessation efforts, researchers report the age-adjusted death rate for tobaccoattributable
early onset ischemic heart disease fell about 43%, from 8.69 to 4.96 per 100,000 people between 1990
and 2023. Clinical Cardiology, August 2026
Quote: “Life is measured in love and positive contributions and moments of grace.” ~ Carly Fiorina

I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Rio Vista region.