News from NYU Langone Health
Study: Long-term use of melatonin linked to 90% increase in heart failure
FOX5 Health News
Rabia De Latour, MD, associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health, discusses a global study of 130,000 medical records that found an association between long-term melatonin use and an increased risk of congestive heart failure. While the data indicated a 90% relative increase, Dr. de Latour clarifies that this reflects an absolute rise from 2.9% to 4.6% in diagnosis rates. She emphasizes that the findings suggest a potential association rather than direct causation. She advises using the unregulated supplement only as a temporary aid under medical supervision, prioritizing natural sleep hygiene to support overall cardiovascular health.
9/01/2026
News12 - beWell
Rachel Pessah-Pollack, MD, endocrinologist at NYU Langone Health, warns that "stacking" multiple supplements can lead to toxic levels of vitamins like Vitamin D. She emphasizes that supplements are most beneficial when addressing a verified medical deficiency, recommending bloodwork before starting any regimen. Dr. Pessah-Pollack highlights calcium as essential for women, particularly those in menopause who require 1,200 mg daily. She notes that while diet is the preferred source, patients with absorption issues should consult their doctor on choosing between calcium carbonate or citrate. Furthermore, she identifies specific populations, such as pregnant women and seniors over 75, who benefit most from Vitamin D supplementation.
9/01/2026
The hidden burden of living with epilepsy
NeurologyLive
In a clinical examination of epilepsy, Jacqueline French, MD, professor of neurology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and co-director of epilepsy research and epilepsy clinical trials at NYU Langone Health, discusses the disease's hidden burdens. Beyond seizure frequency, she highlights the persistent psychological challenges for patients. Dr. French explains that the constant anxiety caused by the unpredictable nature of seizures, growing awareness of mortality risks including sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), and the significant responsibility of daily medication adherence create a substantial, often overlooked, burden.
9/01/2026
95 academic medical center CEOs to know | 2026
Becker's Hospital Review
A list of 95 top academic medical center CEOs for 2026 includes Alec Kimmelman, MD, PhD, dean of NYU Grossman School of Medicine and CEO of NYU Langone Health. The profile notes that since he became CEO in September 2025, NYU Langone Health has expanded its reach with seven inpatient locations and over 320 outpatient sites. In 2024, the system reported $14.2 billion in revenue. The list also recognizes leaders from other institutions, including Brendan Carr, MD, of Mount Sinai Health System; John D’Angelo, MD, of Northwell Health; and Philip Ozuah, MD, of Montefiore Einstein.
9/01/2026
How health systems are evaluating administrative AI tools *
Crain's New York Business
Health systems are being inundated with vendor pitches for administrative artificial intelligence tools as they weigh the technology's costs against the potential for more efficient billing and freed-up labor power. At a Crain’s panel last fall, Paul Testa, MD, NYU Langone’s chief health informatics officer, stated that the health system was rolling out an ambient listening program. He noted that NYU Langone was also in talks with two other AI vendors to perform complementary functions. NYU Langone is among several major systems that have launched programs using AI to document patient visits and identify billable services.
9/02/2026
The 2026 ASCO annual meeting geriatric oncology update: The next challenge is implementation
The ASCO Post
Iris Zhi, interim chief of the Division of Hematology & Medical Oncology at Langone Hospital—Long Island, medical director of Clinical Operations for Medical Oncology at Perlmutter Cancer Center—Long Island, and associate professor of medicine at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, summarizes developments from the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting. The field of geriatric oncology is now focused on implementing evidence-based care rather than proving its value. Key challenges include resource and staffing limitations. Innovations discussed to improve implementation include nurse-led models, telehealth programs, AI-assisted assessment tools, and structured community-based frameworks to expand access to care.
9/01/2026
How physician work values become medicare payment policy
JAMA Network
In a commentary, Mark Schwartz, MD, professor in the Departments of Medicine and Population Health, and vice chair for Education and Faculty Affairs at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, discusses a study on how Medicare payment policy for physician services is determined. The analysis reviews how recommendations from specialty societies are handled by the American Medical Association Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) and finalized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Dr. Schwartz highlights that CMS plays an active role, altering approximately one-third of RUC recommendations. He concludes that improving physician payment requires strengthening the evidence and governance that determine how physician work is measured and valued.
9/01/2026
Nearly every pregnant woman carried pesticide traces from produce, but autism traits were not linked
Earth.com
A study from NYU Grossman School of Medicine found no link between typical organophosphate pesticide exposure during pregnancy and subsequent autism-related symptoms in children. The research, led by Haleigh Cavalier, a former doctoral student in NYU Langone's population health and pediatrics departments, and Akhgar Ghassabian, MD, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics and population health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, analyzed 3,339 mother-child pairs. While it suggests no association at common exposure levels, the researchers noted the chemicals have other health effects and still recommend washing produce. The findings were published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.
Also reporting was: Newsweek, Yahoo, MSN Greece
9/01/2026
13 foods to eat instead of taking vitamin b supplements, according to dietitians
TODAY
Most healthy people do not need vitamin B supplements and can get enough through a balanced diet. According to Collin Popp, PhD, dietitian and assistant professor of population health at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, whole foods offer a wider variety of benefits than supplements. He notes that whole foods contain other essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, protein, and fiber that work together to optimize nutrient absorption. The article highlights that taking mega-doses of B vitamins in supplement form can lead to adverse effects, and it lists 13 foods, including beef liver, salmon, and chickpeas, that are naturally rich sources.
9/01/2026
Newark woman celebrates 10 years of life after lifesaving liver transplant
TAPinto Newark
Newark resident Gloria Robinson-Mills is celebrating a decade of life following a lifesaving liver transplant performed at the NYU Langone Transplant Institute on 16 August 2016. After a diagnosis of hepatitis progressed to cirrhosis, Robinson-Mills received the organ that saved her life. Today, she advocates for organ and tissue donation with NJ Sharing Network, encouraging people in diverse communities to register as donors. Her story highlights the ongoing need for donors, as she uses her second chance to give back to her community and support others waiting for transplants.
9/01/2026
Vocal
Actress Busy Philipps shared her experience with a brain tumor diagnosis and successful surgery at NYU Langone Health. After a full-body scan revealed a lesion, Orrin Devinsky, MD, professor in the Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry at NYU Langone Health, reviewed her MRI. Neurosurgeon John Golfinos, MD, co-director of the Brain Tumor Center at NYU Langone's Perlmutter Cancer Center and chair of the Department of Neurosurgery, performed the surgery to remove the tumor. According to her neuro-oncologist, Alexandra Miller, MD, chief of Neuro-Oncology and co-director of the Brain and Spine Tumor Center at NYU Langone's Perlmutter Cancer Center, the tumor was a grade 2 oligodendroglioma that, because it was caught early, does not require chemotherapy or radiation.
9/02/2026
What’s it like to give your kidney to a stranger? These Coloradans did it.
5280 Magazine
An article about organ donation in Colorado discusses scientific progress toward viable eye transplants, noting that in 2023, a team at NYU Langone Health performed the world’s first whole eye transplant. This non-functional but groundbreaking procedure is a key step in efforts to restore vision, with a CU Anschutz team now working toward human clinical trials. The report also shares personal stories from Coloradans who have donated organs to strangers, highlighting the state's high donation rates and the infrastructure supporting transplants.
9/01/2026
3 reasons it’s harder to fall asleep as you get older—and what to do about it
Real Simple
Falling asleep can become more difficult with age due to factors like technology use, stress, and overheating. Creating a calming bedroom and a consistent bedtime routine can help improve sleep quality. Edward Fisher, MD, PhD, MPH, the Leon H. Charney Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and director of the Marc & Ruti Bell Vascular Biology and Disease Prevention and Research Center at NYU Langone Health, explains that chronic sleep disorders are linked to a higher risk of developing serious health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke. He advises individuals with potential sleep disorders to seek medical evaluation for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Also reporting was: Yahoo Health
9/01/2026
TP53 status and treatment toxicity burden guide sequencing in EGFR-mutated NSCLC
OncLive
Medical oncologists discussed treatment sequencing for EGFR-mutated non–small cell lung cancer, weighing comutation status and toxicity burden. Experts noted that while TP53 comutation is a marker of poor prognosis, it does not independently determine treatment intensification. The discussion also addressed how toxicity and access barriers shape regimen choice. Olivia Fankuchen, MD, former clinical fellow in Hematology and Oncology at NYU Langone Health, commented that treatment burdens fall unevenly on patients with fewer resources, making certain regimens difficult for them to sustain.
9/01/2026
Optimal midlife vascular health adds nearly 13 dementia‑free survival years
Physician's Weekly
Optimal vascular health in midlife was associated with up to 12.6 additional years of dementia-free survival, according to findings published in Neurology Open Access. The study's corresponding author, Josef Coresh, MD, PhD, founding director of the Optimal Aging Institute at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the Terry and Mel Karmazin Professor of Population Health, and colleagues found that individuals with zero midlife vascular risk factors had about 13 more dementia-free years compared to those with three risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, and smoking. Researchers followed more than 12,400 adults from age 55 for a median of 26.3 years, concluding that early vascular prevention is crucial for maintaining brain health and extending dementia-free survival.
9/01/2026
UroToday
A study co-authored by Stacy Loeb, MD, professor in the Departments of Urology and Population Health at NYU Langone Health, evaluated the association between a 22-gene genomic classifier (GC) and initial management for localized prostate cancer. Among 2,547 patients, higher GC scores were linked to greater use of immediate treatment and less use of active surveillance or watchful waiting. For patients with low clinical-risk cancer, initial treatment increased from 20.5% for low GC scores to 46.2% for high GC scores. The authors note the need to determine if GC testing predicts long-term outcomes for patients on active surveillance.
9/02/2026
Brain stimulation takes aim at improving women’s health
Science Magazine
New clinical trials are testing noninvasive brain stimulation to treat women's health conditions like postpartum depression and menstrual pain. Giuseppina Pilloni, PhD, research assistant professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, noted the field is increasingly focused on women-specific issues. Researchers are studying transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), with a study at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai investigating TMS for postpartum women. Other research is exploring transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for its affordability and potential for at-home use. [Note: Staff credentials require verification]
9/01/2026
Are you in perimenopause? Take our quiz
Flow Space
Flow Space developed a quiz to help individuals gauge if they are experiencing symptoms of perimenopause. The quiz, which is not a diagnostic tool, was created with several medical experts, including Meleen Chuang, MD, medical director of Women's Health at the Family Health Centers at NYU Langone. It covers topics such as irregular periods, hot flashes, mood fluctuations, and changes in skin and body odor. The goal is to help users track changes in their bodies to share with a healthcare provider.
Also reporting was: Yahoo Health
9/01/2026
What geriatric emergency departments do differently
The Sacramento Bee
Specialized geriatric emergency departments can significantly reduce hospital admissions, mortality, and costs for older adults by addressing specific risks like delirium and falls. Ula Hwang, MD, an emergency doctor and researcher at NYU Langone Health and medical director of geriatric emergency medicine for the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine, explains that unlike standard ERs, these units prioritize screening for delirium and cognitive impairment. A study led by Hwang found that patients treated in geriatric emergency departments had a 39% lower likelihood of hospital admission and a 38% reduction in mortality over 30 days compared to those in standard emergency rooms.
9/02/2026
5 small changes to eating habits that can be signs of dementia
HuffPost
Neurologists have identified five changes in eating habits that may be early signs of dementia, including a new craving for sweets and forgetting to eat. Joel Salinas, MD, clinical associate professor in NYU Langone's Department of Neurology, notes that another sign can be when a person who previously cooked complex meals starts making simpler dishes or stops cooking entirely. He explains that this is because skills like planning and sequencing are affected by dementia. Dr. Salinas also points out that a reduced sense of smell can diminish the pleasure derived from food, making meals seem bland to someone with dementia.
Also reporting was: Yahoo Health, MSN Greece
9/01/2026
Inside Fortell’s push into the prescription hearing aid market
This Week in Hearing
Hearing aid startup Fortell is entering the market with proprietary AI technology designed to improve speech comprehension in noisy environments. The company's clinical research included an intelligibility study conducted with Marco Svirsky, PhD, the Noel L. Cohen Professor of Hearing Science, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and director of Research for the Cochlear Implant Program at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and William Shapiro, AUD, the Lester S. Miller, Jr. & Kathleen V. Miller Clinical Associate Professor of Hearing Health, and co-director of NYU Cochlear Implant Center at NYU Langone Health. This study found that participants wearing Fortell could understand words at a significantly more challenging signal-to-noise ratio than with a competing product, demonstrating a major improvement in performance for multi-talker environments.
9/02/2026
Smithsonian Magazine
Researchers at Kindred Companion Sciences used the CRISPR gene-editing tool to create two beagles, Alfie and Bailey, that do not produce the major allergen Can f 1. Initial tests showed the dogs did not trigger allergic reactions. Commenting on the development, Arthur Caplan, PhD, founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics and professor emeritus of Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, noted that this success could enable more people to own pets but might also discourage the adoption of stray animals. The gene-edited dogs are not yet commercially available or approved by the FDA.
9/01/2026
