News from NYU Langone Health
Are You Losing Muscle? Here's How to Get It Back
TIME
Muscle strength is crucial for health, especially as people age, a process accelerated by conditions like sarcopenia and the use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. Guillem Gonzalez-Lomas, MD, associate professor of orthopedic surgery at NYU Langone Health, suggests a simple test for reduced muscle strength: if it takes longer than 15 seconds to stand up and sit down in a chair five times. He notes that while changes in daily activities are early signs, muscle strength is vital for vitality. Gonzalez-Lomas outlines three main approaches to strengthening muscles: nutrition, strength training, and medications.
Also reporting was: Dnyuz, MSN, Yahoo Health, Aol, Head Topics
4/20/2026
No ‘Magic Foods’ After All? Doc Busts Metabolism Myths Wide Open
New York Post
In an 'Ask An Expert' segment, Priya Jaisinghani, MD, an endocrinologist at NYU Langone Health, addresses common metabolism questions. She discusses whether 'fat-burning' superfoods are a myth and explains the science behind hunger hormones. The piece also covers simple daily habits that can help individuals feel full without following viral wellness trends.
Also reporting was: Yahoo, Aol
4/20/2026
Rethinking Mobile Health for Scalable, Personalized Behavioral Care
JAMA Network
In an article, Elizabeth R. Stevens, PhD, MPH, assistant professor in the Department of Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, discusses how generative artificial intelligence can enhance mobile health interventions for managing gestational weight gain. While current digital programs show promise, their scalability is limited by a reliance on human coaches for personalization. Stevens argues that AI can provide continuous, adaptive, and conversational support in real-time, addressing the limitations of existing models. This could improve patient engagement and accessibility, ultimately delivering evidence-based behavioral counseling more effectively and at a larger scale.
4/20/2026
Mobile Intervention Helps Moms With Obesity Reduce Gestational Weight Gain
MedPage Today
A study in JAMA Network Open found a mobile health intervention helped pregnant patients with overweight or obesity reduce gestational weight gain. In an accompanying editorial, Elizabeth Stevens, PhD, MPH, assistant professor in the Department of Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and Devin M. Mann, MD, section director of digitally enabled care at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, wrote that the intervention demonstrates 'both the promise and the ceiling of the current digital behavioral health paradigm.' They proposed that generative AI could help overcome barriers to scalability by reducing reliance on human coaches.
Also reporting was: MSN
4/20/2026
For Some Women, Weight-Loss Drugs Are a Secret They Keep From Their Partners
SELF Magazine
Some women are secretly using GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Wegovy, hiding the medication from their partners due to stigma or fear of negative opinions. The rise of telemedicine has made it easier to obtain these drugs without involving a primary care doctor or family. For those considering discussing their use of these medications, Rachel Goldman, PhD, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, advises framing the conversation around personal experience and health needs. She suggests using “I” statements and preparing for a partner’s potential reactions to foster honesty and support.
Also reporting was: Yahoo Health, MSN, Currently
4/20/2026
'I Would Do It Again': Coworkers Turn 22-Year Friendship Into Lifesaving Kidney Donation
Patch
Krystie Damsker, an employee at AHRC Nassau, received a life-saving kidney transplant after suffering from advanced-stage renal disease. Her coworker and friend of 22 years, Jerri Walker, initiated the process by contacting NYU Langone Health’s kidney donation hotline to see if she could be a donor. Although Walker was not a direct match for Damsker, her donation to another recipient enabled Damsker to receive a compatible kidney through a paired exchange program. Damsker expressed gratitude for her support system, which included her teams of doctors at NYU Langone and Northwell Health.
4/20/2026
E-bike injuries have been spiking at Bellevue trauma center, study finds
Gothamist
A new study published in the journal Neurosurgery finds a significant increase in serious injuries from e-bike and scooter accidents at Bellevue Hospital. The study's lead author, Hannah Weiss, MD, resident physician in NYU Langone's Department of Neurosurgery, noted that the share of injuries involving electric vehicles rose from under 10% in 2018 to over 50% in 2023. The research indicates that not wearing a helmet and intoxication are associated with more severe outcomes. Weiss stated that most of the brain injuries observed are likely preventable, as only about one-third of the patients studied were wearing helmets.
Also reporting was: WNYC, WINS-AM
4/20/2026
Analyzing the Role of CELMoDs in the Relapsed/Refractory Myeloma Space
Cancer Network
A panel of myeloma specialists, including Faith Davies, MD, director of the Clinical Myeloma Program at NYU Langone's Perlmutter Cancer Center, discussed the need to refine treatment sequencing for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. The experts focused on the role of T-cell–redirecting therapies and next-generation cereblon E3 ligase modulators (CELMoDs), such as iberdomide and mezigdomide. Dr. Davies provided an alternative perspective on treatment, suggesting daratumumab for the maintenance setting in previously exposed patients. The discussion also covered CAR T-cell therapy toxicities, unmet needs in late-stage relapse, and integrating new oral therapies into community practice.
4/20/2026
The Washington Post
States are moving to block soda and candy purchases with SNAP food stamps, creating a confusing patchwork of rules for retailers and recipients. The push is part of a broader effort to combat chronic disease. Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, the Muriel G. and George W. Singer Professor of Population Health, and director, Section on Health Choice, Policy and Evaluation, Department of Population Health, associate dean, Research Mission, at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, noted that SNAP often does not cover all of a participant's monthly groceries. He hopes states will analyze whether recipients use their own money for restricted items or switch to healthier foods.
4/20/2026
New York Post
A 51-year-old man, Hector Sierra, died in police custody at The Home Depot Emergency Department at NYU Langone Health—Cobble Hill. Sierra was found with a controlled substance at the time of his arrest. He began vomiting in his cell at Brooklyn Central Booking, showing symptoms of drug withdrawal, and was taken to the emergency department. The incident marks the second in-custody death in a week and is under investigation.
4/20/2026
Brooks Nader Shows Bloody Aftermath of Sister's Nipple Rings amid Arctic Trip
People
The Nader sisters are on a research trip in Svalbard, Norway, as part of a partnership with the Space Prize Foundation, NYU Langone Health, and the University of Arizona. The study is examining how extreme conditions that mirror those in space, such as cold temperatures and isolation, affect women's health. Researchers will explore impacts on hormonal balance, menstrual cycles, sleep patterns, and overall physiological adaptation. The article, which leads with a sensational anecdote, frames the trip as an effort to advocate for women's health.
Also reporting was: Yahoo, Yahoo News UK, Aol
4/20/2026
Gotistobart Shows Survival Benefit in Pretreated Lung Cancer
CURE Magazine
Stage 1 data from the phase 3 PRESERVE-003 trial showed that the drug gotistobart improved responses and survival compared to docetaxel in patients with previously treated squamous non–small cell lung cancer. The objective response rate was 20% with gotistobart versus 4.8% with docetaxel. Joshua K. Sabari, MD, a thoracic medical oncologist and director of High Reliability Organization Initiatives at NYU Langone Health's Perlmutter Cancer Center, called the response rate “meaningful” and “impressive.” He highlighted that overall survival is the key metric and noted the treatment may offer a chemotherapy-free option.
4/20/2026
This NJ dad had arms, legs amputated to save his life. Read his story
MyCentralJersey
A New Jersey father, Chris Mayorga, who underwent a quadruple amputation after a severe infection, is receiving advanced care at NYU Langone Health. Mayorga had osseointegration surgery at NYU Langone to prepare for prosthetics, and his rare case is helping to develop new treatment plans. According to Omri Ayalon, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and co-director of NYU Langone's Center for Amputation Reconstruction, Mayorga's experience will help other patients with four amputations. Dr. Ayalon also praised Mayorga's remarkable determination throughout his recovery.
Also reporting was: Asbury Park Press, Daily Record (Parsippany, NJ)
4/21/2026
Researchers Find 'Surprising' Outcome In Loneliness And Memory Study
HuffPost
A study in the journal Aging and Mental Health found that while high loneliness in adults over 65 is linked to lower initial memory performance, it does not accelerate the rate of memory decline over time. The analysis involved over 10,000 participants from 12 countries. Commenting on the findings, Jordan Weiss, PhD, assistant professor in the division of precision medicine and the Optimal Aging Institute at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, cautioned that the results could be misread. Weiss, who was not part of the study, noted that by the time individuals are in their late 60s, decades of social connection patterns are already established.
4/20/2026
