News from NYU Langone Health

Will Jalen Brunson Be Ready For Knicks’ Playoff Run? (New York Post)

The New York Post (3/19) “Ariana Lott, MD, assistant professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, joins Brandon London to discuss Jalen Brunson’s ankle injury, when the Knicks’ captain could return and whether the All-NBA guard have enough time to get himself right for another playoff run.”

The Top 100: America’s Best Large Employers Of 2025. (Forbes)

Forbes (3/19) NYU Langone Health was featured on Forbes’ 10th anniversary list of America’s Best Large Employers, which was determined through a survey of over 217,000 employees from companies with more than 5,000 employees, focusing on criteria such as salary, work environment, training programs, and advancement opportunities.

Rare Hair Loss Condition Can Be Treated With Low Doses Of Antibiotic. (HealthDay)

HealthDay (3/19) A study published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that lower doses of doxycycline are as effective as higher doses in treating lymphocytic scarring alopecia, according to co-lead researcher Carli D. Needle, medical student, the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, who said, “Our findings suggest that physicians can prescribe lower doses of doxycycline to patients struggling with lymphocytic scarring alopecia without compromising the efficacy and anti-inflammatory benefit of the therapy.” Co-lead researcher Anna Brinks, BA, medical student, added, “Our results offer another avenue for healthcare providers to protect patients from harm caused by unnecessary antibiotic use and address the rise of drug-resistant strains of microbes.”

Also reporting is UPI (3/19)

We Finally Know How Parrots ‘Talk’. (Popular Science)

Popular Science (3/19) An NYU Grossman School of Medicine study published in the journal Nature on March 19 reveals that parakeets’ brain activity, similar to humans, encodes vocalization through repeatable neural pathways, potentially aiding research into human speech disorders, according to Michael A. Long, PhD, the Thomas and Suzanne Murphy Professor of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, and professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, who noted, “We see no hint of the actual notes that those birds are singing,” adding, “We may see activity, and that activity is the same every time those birds sing their songs, but there’s no clear kind of sheet music for the song.”

Also reporting is LifeTechnology (3/19).

The Reason Dementia Rates Are Rising Is Surprisingly Simple. (National Geographic)

National Geographic (3/19) A study in Nature Medicine predicts the number of Americans with dementia will double by 2060, reaching one million, with over 40% of Americans potentially developing the condition; Josef Coresh, MD, PhD, the Terry and Mel Karmazin Professor of Population Health, Department of Population Health, professor, Department of Medicine, Optimal Aging Institute, said the increase is due to more people living into their 80s and 90s, when dementia risk is higher.

Rite Of Passage Or Road To Early Liver Damage? (Medscape)

Medscape (3/20)* “A quality improvement study in six urban primary care clinics evaluated the use of a — validated screening test, the three-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test–Consumption items”; Jennifer McNeely, MD, associate professor, Departments of Population Health, and Medicine, who led the research, said, “We achieved very high screening rates, with an overall screening rate of over 70% in the first year, whereas in most practices that haven’t made a concerted effort, it’s less than 10%.”

Updated Treatment Strategies For Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis In 2025, With Ama Alexis, MD. (HCP Live)

HCP Live (3/13) Ama Alexis, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics, emphasizes the importance of being aware of new therapies for pediatric atopic dermatitis, understanding who may benefit from them, and engaging in shared decision-making with patients and their families.

‘Love Hormone’ Oxytocin Can Pause Pregnancy, Animal Study Finds. (LiveScience)

LiveScience (3/19) New research from NYU Grossman School of Medicine, involving study co-author Moses V. Chao, PhD, professor, Departments of Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Physiology, and Psychiatry, and first author Jessica Minder, MS, graduate student, reveals that oxytocin can induce a diapause state in early mouse embryos, delaying pregnancy to conserve resources, with Chao noting the surprising influence of oxytocin; the study, published in Science Advances, found that oxytocin stimulation in nursing mice resulted in embryonic development arrest, suggesting potential implications for understanding early miscarriages and fertility treatments, as well as insights into cell survival.

PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Worthy Of Public Concern, Expert Says. (Pulmonology Advisor)

Pulmonology Advisor (3/19) Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP, the Jim G. Hendrick, M.D. Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, and professor, Department of Population Health, discussed the dangers of PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” which are prevalent in nonstick cookware, food wrappers, and public water supplies, and are particularly harmful to children due to their higher exposure rates and developing organ systems; he advocated for increased government regulation, citing actions such as the Environmental Protection Agency’s limits on PFAS in drinking water and France’s full-scale ban, and recommended personal measures to reduce exposure, including using cast iron or stainless steel cookware and improving home air circulation.

How Would NYC Mayoral Candidates React To Another Pandemic? (City & State (NY))

The City & State (NY) (3/19) Anna Bershteyn, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Population Health, said early detection and surveillance for infectious diseases are crucial to prevent future epidemics, noting that containment could avoid drastic measures like school closures or lockdown.

These Subtle Differences Between Coughs Can Reveal A Lot About Your Illness. (HuffPost)

HuffPost (3/19) Doreen J. Addrizzo-Harris, MD, professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, explained that if you develop a dry cough after starting a new medication, it is crucial to inform your physician for monitoring, as some drugs may cause short-term coughs or even lung scarring; she also advised contacting a doctor if sputum color changes, as this could indicate a bacterial infection requiring antibiotics.

Scientists Announce Possible Breakthrough In Delaying Alzheimer’s. (Gizmodo)

Gizmodo (3/19) Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine released clinical trial data suggesting that the experimental anti-amyloid drug gantenerumab may delay Alzheimer’s symptoms in genetically predisposed individuals; Thomas M. Wisniewski, MD, the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman Professor of New York University Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Department of Neurology, professor, Departments of Pathology, and Psychiatry, remarked, “The results make it clear that there is good hope that treatment of [Alzheimer’s] pathology in the preclinical stages of pathology may be effective at slowing or preventing disease onset.”

The Biggest Challenge To Forcing Change In America’s Diet: Making It Taste Good. (STAT)

STAT (3/19)* Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a plan to prohibit the $113 billion Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from covering candy and soda, with Republicans reintroducing the Healthy SNAP Act, states including Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Tennessee and Utah following suit, and Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, warning that “sugar addiction is very similar to opioid addiction” while urging careful reforms and federal subsidies for healthier alternatives.