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06/14/2026

Scientists found a surprising problem with sugar-free diets
Date:
June 14, 2026
Source:
The Endocrine Society
Summary:
A surprising new study suggests that completely eliminating sugar may backfire. Mice on a sucrose-free low-fat diet showed worse blood sugar control, increased inflammation, disrupted gut bacteria, and signs of fatty liver compared with mice that consumed some sucrose. Researchers say the results highlight the importance of a balanced diet and a healthy gut microbiome rather than focusing solely on cutting out sugar.
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A Surprising Problem With Sugar-Free Diets
A surprising study found that cutting sugar out completely may disrupt gut health and metabolism rather than improve it. Credit: Shutterstock

Giving up sugar entirely may not be as beneficial as many people assume. New research presented Saturday at ENDO 2026, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Chicago, suggests that completely removing sugar from the diet could have unintended effects on gut and metabolic health.

Researchers from the Dasman Diabetes Institute in Kuwait examined what happened when mice were fed a low-fat diet that contained no sucrose, a common form of sugar. The study compared those animals with a control group that received a low-fat diet containing sucrose over a 16-week period.

"Completely removing sucrose from a low-fat diet may unexpectedly disrupt gut health and promote inflammation and metabolic dysfunction, highlighting that balanced nutrition is more important than simply eliminating sugar," said Rasheed Ahmad, Ph.D., principal scientist and head of the Immunology & Microbiology Department at the Dasman Diabetes Institute, in Kuwait City, Kuwait. The institute was founded by Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences.

Sugar-Free Diet Linked to Metabolic Changes

To evaluate the effects of eliminating sucrose, the researchers measured glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, circulating metabolic hormones, the gut microbiome, and inflammation in both the colon and liver.

Despite maintaining similar body weights, mice on the sucrose-free diet experienced several negative health changes compared with the control group. These included poorer glucose control, insulin resistance, imbalances in gut microbes, intestinal inflammation, and changes associated with fatty liver disease.

"The findings suggest that complete removal of sucrose from a low-fat diet may negatively affect gut microbiota and metabolic health," Ahmad said. "The study highlights the importance of maintaining balanced dietary carbohydrates to support gut and immune homeostasis."

Gut Microbiome and Dietary Balance

According to the researchers, little was previously known about the potential consequences of highly restrictive low-fat diets that eliminate sugar entirely.

"This research may influence future dietary recommendations by emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy gut microbiome rather than focusing only on sugar restriction," Ahmad said. "In the long term, these findings could help improve strategies for preventing and managing metabolic disorders, fatty liver disease and chronic inflammatory conditions."

The team believes the results underscore the need to consider overall dietary balance, rather than concentrating solely on reducing sugar intake.

"Studies such as this reflect our institute's commitment to advancing evidence-based scientific discoveries that improve public health outcomes and deepen our understanding of metabolic disease," said Faisal Hamed Al-Refaei, MD, Acting Director General of Dasman Diabetes Institute.

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06/14/2026

People taking GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic started moving less
People on Ozempic and similar weight-loss drugs lost weight, but a new study found they were moving less, not more.
Date:
June 14, 2026
Source:
The Endocrine Society
Summary:
People taking popular weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound may be losing pounds, but they could also be moving less. Researchers analyzing Fitbit data found that daily step counts and exercise levels dropped after people started these medications, despite successful weight loss. Because the drugs can reduce muscle mass along with fat, the decline in physical activity raises concerns about preserving strength and long-term health.
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GLP-1 Users Lost Weight but Moved Less
People using popular weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound took fewer steps and spent less time exercising after starting treatment. Credit: Shutterstock

People with obesity who lost weight while taking popular medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound became significantly less physically active, according to research presented Saturday at ENDO 2026, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Chicago, Illinois.

The finding may come as a surprise because many people assume that shedding excess weight naturally makes it easier to move more. However, researchers found the opposite trend among people taking these medications.

Weight Loss Drugs and Muscle Health

The medications studied belong to a class known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. This group includes semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy), tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound), liraglutide, and dulaglutide.

While these drugs can be highly effective for weight loss, they reduce more than just body fat. They can also contribute to a loss of lean muscle mass, making physical activity especially important for maintaining strength and overall health.

Protecting muscle is a key part of healthy weight loss, explained study leader Sajana Maharjan, M.D., of HSHS St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Illinois.

Fitbit Data Showed Activity Declines

To investigate how activity levels changed after starting treatment, researchers analyzed data from the National Institutes of Health's All of Us Research Program, which combines electronic health records with Fitbit activity data.

The study began with 1,950 adults with obesity who started a GLP-1 medication. Of those, 753 participants had enough wearable-device data to be included in the final analysis. Most were women (78.6%), and the average age was 52.7 years.

Researchers compared physical activity before and after participants began taking the medications. They focused on daily step counts and minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).

Fewer Steps and Less Exercise

The results showed a clear decline in movement after treatment began.

Average daily step counts fell from 5,047 to 4,487 steps per day. Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) also dropped, decreasing from 28 minutes to 22 minutes per day.

The largest decreases were seen in men and in people who reported joint or muscle pain. Factors such as age, heart failure, and a previous stroke did not alter the findings.

Importantly, the researchers found no evidence that losing weight with these medications led people to become more physically active.

Exercise Cannot Be an Afterthought

"While many assume that weight loss leads naturally to increased physical activity, our study suggests otherwise. The findings in our study reinforce that exercise cannot be optional for people taking these medications. People need targeted interventions that encourage physical activity alongside medication for obesity," Maharjan said.

According to the researchers, this is the first large study to use wearable fitness tracker data to examine physical activity patterns among adults taking GLP-1 receptor agonists.

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06/14/2026

Why middle age is becoming a breaking point in the U.S.
America's real midlife crisis may be loneliness, stress, and declining well-being—not sports cars or lifestyle choices.
Date:
June 13, 2026
Source:
Arizona State University
Summary:
A new international study finds that middle-aged Americans are lonelier, more depressed, and experiencing worse memory and health than earlier generations. Researchers say growing financial strain, weaker social supports, and chronic stress may explain why the U.S. is falling behind other wealthy nations.
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American Midlife Is Hitting a Breaking Point
Americans entering midlife are reporting more loneliness, depression, and memory problems than previous generations, according to a study spanning 17 countries. Credit: Shutterstock

For many Americans, middle age is becoming more challenging than it was for previous generations. People born in the 1960s and early 1970s report higher levels of loneliness and depression, along with poorer memory and reduced physical strength compared with those who came before them.

What makes this trend especially notable is that it is not happening to the same extent in many other wealthy countries. In several peer nations, particularly in Nordic Europe, health and well-being during midlife have improved over time rather than declined.

To understand why the United States appears to be moving in a different direction, psychologist Frank J. Infurna of Arizona State University and his colleagues examined survey data from 17 countries.

"The real midlife crisis in America isn't about lifestyle choices or sports cars. It's about juggling work, finances, family, and health amid weakening social supports," Infurna said. "The data make this clear."

The study, published in Current Directions in Psychological Science, points to several factors that may be driving these differences and suggests possible ways to improve outcomes.

Family Support Policies and Loneliness

One key distinction between the United States and many European countries involves support for families.

Since the early 2000s, European nations have increased spending on family benefits, while spending in the U.S. has remained largely unchanged. Compared with Europe, the United States offers fewer programs such as cash assistance for families with children, income support during parental leave, and subsidized childcare.

These policies can have a meaningful impact on people in midlife, who are often balancing careers while raising children and caring for aging parents.

The researchers found that adults in countries with stronger family support systems reported lower levels of loneliness and experienced smaller increases in loneliness over time. In contrast, loneliness among Americans continued to rise across generations.

Health Care Costs Add to the Pressure

The study also points to health care as an important factor.

Although the United States spends more on health care than any other wealthy country, Americans often face greater challenges when it comes to access and affordability. Higher out-of-pocket expenses can strain household finances, discourage preventive medical care, and increase stress, anxiety, and medical debt, according to the authors.

The Role of Income Inequality

Growing income inequality may also help explain why U.S. midlife outcomes differ from those in other countries.

Since the early 2000s, income inequality has increased in the United States, while remaining stable or declining in much of Europe. Previous work by Infurna found that higher levels of inequality are associated with poorer health and greater loneliness among middle-aged adults.

Other research has shown that inequality can increase poverty, reduce opportunities to move up the SES ladder, and limit access to education, employment, and social services. Those disadvantages can ultimately affect both physical and mental health.

Cultural Differences and Financial Vulnerability

The researchers say cultural factors may play a role as well.

Americans are more likely to move frequently and live farther away from family members, making it harder to maintain long-term relationships and caregiving networks.

Economic conditions may also be contributing to the problem. Compared with earlier generations, more recent groups of middle-aged Americans have accumulated less wealth and face greater financial insecurity. Wage stagnation and the effects of the Great Recession are among the reasons cited by the researchers.

In many European countries, stronger social safety nets appear to have helped shield middle-aged adults from some of the negative health consequences associated with economic hardship.

Memory Decline Despite More Education

One of the study's most surprising findings involves cognitive health.

Despite higher levels of educational attainment than previous generations, middle-aged Americans showed declines in episodic memory. The researchers noted that this pattern was not seen in most comparable countries.

"Education is becoming less protective against loneliness, memory decline, and depressive symptoms," Infurna said.

The study suggests that chronic stress, financial insecurity, and higher rates of cardiovascular risk factors may be reducing some of the cognitive advantages typically associated with education.

Can the Trend Be Reversed?

The authors stress that these outcomes are not inevitable.

Personal resources such as strong social support, a sense of control over one's life, and positive attitudes toward aging can help people cope with stress and maintain well-being. However, the researchers argue that broader policy changes will likely be needed to address the underlying causes of the problem.

"At the individual level, social engagement is crucial. Finding community -- through work, hobbies, or caregiving networks -- can buffer stress and improve well-being," Infurna said. "At the policy level, countries with stronger safety nets -- paid leave, childcare support, healthcare -- tend to have better outcomes."

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Materials provided by Arizona State University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

Frank J. Infurna, Yesenia Cruz-Carrillo, Nutifafa E. Y. Dey, Markus Wettstein, Margie E. Lachman, Denis Gerstorf. Historical Change in Midlife Development From a Cross-National Perspective. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2026; DOI: 10.1177/09637214251410195
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06/13/2026

Why grandparents matter more than ever for children's mental health
Date:
June 13, 2026
Source:
Taylor & Francis Group
Summary:
A child psychologist says grandparents are more important than ever as youth mental health challenges continue to rise. He argues that children need supportive relationships, meaningful conversations, and a sense of purpose—not just pressure to achieve. Grandparents can help by listening, encouraging, and creating positive experiences that strengthen emotional resilience.
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Children Need Grandparents More Than Ever
A psychologist says grandparents may be one of the most powerful—and overlooked—keys to helping kids navigate today’s mental health challenges. Credit: Shutterstock

With more than 40% of U.S. teenagers reporting ongoing feelings of sadness or hopelessness, one child psychologist believes grandparents may be an important part of the solution.

Kenneth Barish, Ph.D., Clinical Professor of Psychology at Weill Cornell Medicine, says the decline of extended family involvement has helped fuel what the U.S. Surgeon General has described as a continuing crisis in child and adolescent mental health.

"We did not evolve to raise children with as little extended family and community support as most American parents have now," says Dr. Barish, a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. "Children need grandparents, and they always have."

In his new book, The Art and Science of Parenting and Grandparenting, Dr. Barish draws on 40 years of clinical experience, as well as findings from neuroscience, child development studies, and educational programs, to argue that grandparents can play a meaningful role in helping families navigate today's parenting challenges.

Why Purpose Matters for Children's Well-Being

According to Dr. Barish, grandparents can help counter a cultural trend that has increasingly emphasized individual achievement over community and connection.

"Over several decades, America has increasingly become a society of I, not We. In many families and communities, preoccupation with individual achievement has eroded the values of kindness and caring in the lives of our children," he explains.

Research has linked intense achievement pressure to elevated rates of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, particularly in affluent communities. Dr. Barish argues that children need a stronger sense of purpose that extends beyond personal accomplishments.

"Individual achievement alone is a fragile source of motivation and effort, with a high cost in anxiety and stress," Dr. Barish writes. "Helping others promotes a greater balance in children's emotional lives."

Evidence reviewed by psychologist Jane Piliavin found that helping others is associated with higher self-esteem, lower rates of depression, reduced school dropout rates, improved immune function, and even longer life expectancy.

To encourage these benefits, Dr. Barish recommends volunteering as a family and regularly talking with children, beginning at a young age, about kindness, empathy, and understanding other people's feelings and needs.

He explains: "These conversations strengthen a child's sense of meaning and purpose. They are just as important as making sure kids have done their homework and correcting their mistakes, maybe more."

How Grandparents Support Children's Mental Health

Dr. Barish says grandparents offer more than practical support for parents. They also provide what he describes as 'molecules of emotional health', small but meaningful moments of encouragement, attention, and understanding that help strengthen children's 'emotional immune systems'.

"A child's confident expectation that someone will listen and understand is the best protection against the emotional pathogens they will experience throughout their childhood. "More than anything else, children need someone in their life who listens, who helps them feel less alone, and who teaches them that problems can be solved, relationships can be repaired, and bad feelings do not last forever," Dr. Barish explains.

He also highlights the importance of play, shared enjoyment, and showing genuine enthusiasm for children's interests and goals. These positive interactions can help build emotional resilience and strengthen family relationships.

The Hidden Harm of Excessive Criticism

One of the most common parenting challenges Dr. Barish encounters is not too much praise, but too much criticism.

In his clinical work, he has found that well-intentioned family members often underestimate the negative effects of frequent criticism.

"The most common problem I see in my work with families is not too much praise, but too much criticism," Dr. Barish states.

"Criticism does not motivate children to work harder. Instead, frequent criticism breeds resentment and defiance, and undermines children's initiative and effort."

At the same time, he notes that not all praise is equally beneficial. Drawing on Carol Dweck's concept of a "growth mindset," he encourages adults to focus praise on effort and learning rather than innate ability.

"Praise effort, not intelligence or talent. Praise learning, not grades."

Building Confidence Through Conversation

Dr. Barish acknowledges that raising children often involves managing difficult behavior. In his book, he outlines 21 principles designed to encourage cooperation, based on both scientific research and decades of clinical experience.

Among his recommendations are involving children in collaborative problem solving and giving them opportunities to 'reset', an approach he believes works better than punishment.

Ultimately, Dr. Barish argues that helping children thrive depends less on teaching specific skills and more on fostering emotional strength, confidence, and meaningful relationships.

Dr. Barish explains: "Helping our children and grandchildren succeed in life is less about teaching skills and more about having conversations; less about earning rewards and more about learning to cope with painful feelings; less about clearing a path to success and more about strengthening an inner feeling of confidence and pride. Our children will then work harder, bounce back more quickly, show more caring and kindness toward others, and pursue interests with greater enthusiasm, commitment, and sense of purpose."

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06/13/2026

A hidden gene finally explains this rare neurological disorder
Date:
June 13, 2026
Source:
Ruhr-University Bochum
Summary:
Scientists have uncovered a surprising new genetic cause of a rare movement disorder after analyzing nearly 3,000 patients with conditions affecting coordination and muscle control. The team identified mutations in a gene called CD99L2, previously linked only to the immune system, and showed that it plays an essential role in keeping nerve-cell communication running smoothly.
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Hidden Gene Solves Rare Brain Mystery
A gene hiding in the immune system’s playbook has been revealed as an unexpected culprit behind a rare and debilitating movement disorder. Credit: AI/ScienceDaily.com

Even with today's advanced DNA sequencing technologies, the underlying genetic causes of many rare movement disorders remain unknown. Researchers in Germany have now uncovered an important new clue. By analyzing 2,811 people with ataxia, hereditary spastic paraplegia, and dystonia, scientists identified harmful variants in a gene called CD99L2 as the cause of X-linked spastic ataxia.

The discovery, published in Nature Communications, helps explain a previously unsolved neurological disorder and offers new insight into how certain neurodegenerative diseases develop.

Researchers Link CD99L2 to Rare Neurological Disease

Before this study, CD99L2 was mainly recognized for its role in the immune system. No neurological function had been established for the gene.

Using a combination of genome-wide genetic analysis and laboratory experiments in cells, the research team demonstrated that CD99L2 is also essential for communication pathways within nerve cells. Their findings revealed that the gene plays a critical role in maintaining normal neuronal signaling.

How the Gene Affects Brain Cell Function

Scientists at Ruhr University Bochum found that the protein produced by CD99L2 works as an activating partner for CAPN1, a calcium-dependent protease already known to be involved in hereditary spastic paraplegia and ataxia.

"Disease-causing variants lead to disrupted production of the CD99L2 protein in the cell and prevent its interaction with CAPN1," explains Dr. Jonasz Weber. "Patients' cells also showed specific disruptions of synaptic processes."

According to the researchers, defects in CD99L2 reduce the activation of CAPN1. This, in turn, disrupts important neuronal signaling pathways, providing a likely explanation for the movement-related symptoms seen in affected patients.

Combining Genetics and Neuroscience

The findings highlight the value of combining genetic testing with functional studies of how genes operate inside cells.

"Our results show that genetic diagnostics and functional neuroscience are not mutually exclusive areas," says Weber. "Only when both disciplines work closely together can a reliable disease mechanism be derived from a genetic variant."

Identifying CD99L2 as a disease-causing gene could improve genetic diagnosis for people with rare movement disorders. It also provides researchers with new information about the biological processes involved in neurodegeneration.

What Is Spastic Ataxia?

Spastic ataxia is a group of rare neurodegenerative disorders characterized by problems with movement coordination (ataxia) together with spastic paralysis. The symptoms result from damage affecting the cerebellum and motor pathways within the central nervous system.

The age at which symptoms appear and the progression of the disease can vary widely depending on the underlying genetic cause.

The large-scale genetic analysis of the patient cohort was carried out in Tübingen under the supervision of Dr. Tobias Haack. Functional studies of the newly identified disease gene were led by Dr. Jonasz Weber and colleagues at the Department of Human Genetics at Ruhr University Bochum.

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Materials provided by Ruhr-University Bochum. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

Benita Menden, Rana D. Incebacak Eltemur, German Demidov, Marc Sturm, Joohyun Park, Chrisovalantou Huridou, Florian Fath, Astrid Nümann, Alexander Baumann, Illja J. Diets, Claudia Dufke, Martin Regensburger, Maria Rönnefarth, Vera Wilke, Nienke van Os, Stefan Vielhaber, Tim W. Rattay, Zacharias Kohl, Susana Peralta, Priscila Pereira Sena, Melanie Kellner, Nadine Weissert, Andreas Traschütz, Lena Zeltner, Kai Boelmans, Natalie Deininger, Leon Schütz, Caspar Gross, Ana Beatriz Hinojosa Amaya, Katrin Raupach, Holger Hengel, Florian Harmuth, Jakob Admard, Ingrid Bader, Sarah Baumann, Friedemann Bender, Andrea Bevot, Almut Bischoff, Felix Boschann, Rebecca Buchert, Daniel Buchzik, Nicolas Casadei, Claudia B. Catarino, Isabell Cordts, Kirsten Cremer, Marion Doebler-Neumann, Nadja Ehmke, Miriam Elbracht, Ruth J. Falb, Thomas Feindt, Zofia Fleszar, Lea Gerstner, Dieter Gläser, Ute Grasshoff, Sarah Grosch, Kathrin Grundmann, Alexander Gutschalk, Manja Haaga, Stefanie Hayer, Ute Hehr, Yorck Hellenbroich, Wolfram Henn, Barbara Herr, Rebecca Herzog, Veronka Horber, Jonas Deppe, Nadja Kaiser, Christiane Kehrer, Martin Kehrer, Jan Kern, Christoph Keßler, Katharina Khuller, Hannah Klinkhammer, Urania Kotzaeridou, Peter Krawitz, Martina Kreiss, Hanna Küpper, Alice Kuster, Lucia Laugwitz, Anne Lesemann, Nadine Lichey, Tobias Linden, Boris Macek, Janine Magg, Elisabeth Mangold, Eva Manka, Iris Marquardt, Karl Mehnert, David Mengel, Susanne Morlot, Barbara Oehl-Jaschkowitz, Martje G. Pauly, Melanie Philipp, Florentine Radelfahr, Maren Ra******rg, Angelika Riess, Carsten Saft, Beate Schlotter-Weigel, Axel Schmidt, Eva M. C. Schwaibold, Veronika Spahlinger, Stephanie Spranger, Katharina Marie Steiner, Claudia Stendel, Andreas Thieme, Andreas Tzschach, Ana Velic, Sarah Wiethoff, Carlo Wilke, Stephan Züchner, Simone Zittel, Nienke van Os, Bart van de Warrenburg, Ralf A. Husain, Marcus Deschauer, Felix Distelmaier, Andreas Dufke, Holm Graessner, Bernhard Hemmer, Heike Jacobi, Thomas Klockgether, Thomas Klopstock, Xenia Kobeleva, Georg-Christoph Korenke, Alma Kuechler, Gregor Kuhlenbäumer, Ingo Kurth, Huu P**c Nguyen, Gilbert Wunderlich, Kirsten E. Zeuner, Stephan Klebe, Michaela Auer-Grumbach, Michaela Butryn, Jürgen Winkler, Dagmar Timmann, Matthis Synofzik, Bart van de Warrenburg, Rebecca Schüle, Ludger Schöls, Stephan Ossowski, Olaf Riess, Jonasz J. Weber, Tobias B. Haack. Loss-of-function variants in the CAPN1 activator CD99L2 cause X-linked spastic ataxia. Nature Communications, 2026; 17 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-69337-9
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06/13/2026

New fentanyl vaccine blocks deadly overdoses before they start
Scientists have developed a promising vaccine that could block fentanyl and many of its deadly variants before they can trigger an overdose.
Date:
June 13, 2026
Source:
Scripps Research Institute
Summary:
A new experimental vaccine developed by Scripps Research could offer a powerful new way to prevent fentanyl overdoses by stopping the drug before it reaches the brain. Rather than targeting only fentanyl itself, the vaccine trains the immune system to recognize a broad range of fentanyl-related designer drugs, including some of the most dangerous variants.
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Outsmarting Fentanyl With a Vaccine
Fentanyl (yellow structure) and the antibody's binding pocket (green structure)—showing how the antibody recognizes the overall shape of the new molecule, rather than one particular scaffold. Credit: Scripps Research

Fentanyl has become one of the deadliest drugs in the United States. Each year, fentanyl and related synthetic opioids are responsible for more deaths than car crashes and gun violence combined. In high doses, these drugs disrupt normal brain function and can suppress the signals that control breathing, often leading to fatal overdoses. Although medications can reverse an overdose, they must be administered quickly to be effective.

Researchers at Scripps Research are now exploring a very different strategy. Instead of treating an overdose after it happens, they have developed an experimental vaccine designed to stop fentanyl from reaching the brain in the first place.

The findings, published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, indicate that the vaccine may provide protection not only against fentanyl itself but also against a wide range of fentanyl-related "designer drugs." These modified versions are often created to increase potency or help manufacturers avoid detection and regulation.

"What this research shows us is that we don't have to keep playing catch-up with every new synthetic designer drug that emerges," says senior author Kim Janda, the Ely R. Callaway, Jr. Professor of Chemistry at Scripps Research. "By training the immune system to recognize the entire fentanyl class -- not just individual structures -- we can stay ahead of illicit drug traffickers."

A New Approach to Fentanyl Prevention

Scientists have spent years working on vaccines that trigger the production of antibodies capable of binding to fentanyl in the bloodstream before it can affect the brain. Janda's laboratory has previously developed vaccine candidates targeting both fentanyl and he**in.

However, most vaccine designs rely on the drug itself, or a molecule that closely resembles it, to train the immune system. That approach presents two major challenges. First, the drugs involved are highly regulated, making research and development more difficult. Second, the immune response tends to be highly specific, meaning it may recognize only the exact drug used in the vaccine.

"The way the fentanyl landscape is evolving, the black-market drug makers are constantly coming up with new versions to skirt regulations and avoid detection in standard screenings," says Janda. "We need countermeasures that are going to work against all these future variants at once, not just one at a time."

Testing an Unconventional Vaccine Design

In earlier research, Janda's team developed a modified form of fentanyl that maintained its pain-relieving effects while eliminating many of the drug's harmful side effects. For the new study, the researchers investigated whether a related molecule could serve as the foundation for a vaccine.

The molecule shared some characteristics with fentanyl but had a fundamentally different core structure.

"When we started testing this molecule as a vaccine component, we honestly didn't know if it would work," says Arran Stewart, a research associate in the Janda lab and first author of the study. "The conventional wisdom says that to get the immune system to recognize fentanyl, you have to use something that looks like fentanyl. We were doing the opposite."

To test the idea, the team attached the modified molecule to a carrier protein and administered four vaccine doses to mice over an eight-week period.

The results surprised the researchers. Rather than requiring an exact match to fentanyl's structure, the immune system generated antibodies that recognized a broader molecular signature shared by many fentanyl-related compounds.

Broad Protection Against Fentanyl Variants

When the scientists evaluated the antibodies against multiple fentanyl designer drugs, the vaccine demonstrated the broad protection they had hoped to achieve.

The antibodies strongly recognized fentanyl as well as several dangerous variants, including carfentanil, China White, acetylfentanyl and furanylfentanyl. At the same time, they did not bind to commonly used medical opioids such as morphine, oxycodone, remifentanil and alfentanil.

The protective effects were also evident in animal testing. Mice that received the vaccine maintained nearly normal breathing even after being given fentanyl doses that would typically cause severe respiratory depression.

Researchers also found that fentanyl levels in the brains of vaccinated mice were approximately 70% lower than in mice that had not received the vaccine.

Potential Future Applications

The vaccine must still undergo clinical trials to determine whether it is safe and effective in people. Even so, Janda believes the platform could eventually help protect individuals enrolled in substance abuse recovery programs and others who face a high risk of fentanyl exposure.

"The public health potential here is significant," says Janda. "But so is the lesson that we can design vaccines that recognize an entire drug class, not just a singular drug."

The study, titled "Redefining Drug Immune Recognition: A Radically Reconfigured Molecular Architecture Enables Broad Fentanyl-Class Protection," was authored by Janda, Stewart, Lisa Eubanks, Bin Zhou and Rachel Steinhardt, all of Scripps Research.

The work was supported by the Shadek Family Foundation.

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Materials provided by Scripps Research Institute. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

Arran W. Stewart, Lisa M. Eubanks, Bin Zhou, Rachel C. Steinhardt, Kim D. Janda. Redefining Drug Immune Recognition: A Radically Reconfigured Molecular Architecture Enables Broad Fentanyl-Class Protection. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2026; 69 (10): 12690 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6c00991
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Scripps Research Institute. "New fentanyl vaccine blocks deadly overdoses before they start." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 13 June 2026. .

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Thursday 7am - 9pm
Friday 7am - 9pm
Saturday 7am - 9pm
Sunday 7am - 9pm

Telephone

+14088880582

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