Microdosing LSD shows some cognitive benefits — but only for women Different effects of low-dose psychedelics on sustained attention in women and men deserve further investigation. By Gemma Conroy

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-03265-y?utm_source=Live+Audience&utm_campaign=b691f2a608-nature-briefing-daily-20261020&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-33f35e09ea-50432164 Chart showing the results of assessing the effects of the psychedelic drug LSD on cognitive function in a group of healthy participants: 24 women and 24 men. The drug significantly decreased the number of attention lapses that women experienced during a 10-minute task — an effect that wasn’t seen in men. Tiny doses of the psychedelic drug LSD seem to boost some elements of cognition — but only in women. In a small trial, women who took 15 micrograms of the drug focused for longer periods and responded faster to a stimulus than did those who were given a placebo. This trial alone can’t confirm that LSD was behind these benefits, but the signal “warrants further investigation”, says psychopharmacologist Mikkel Højlund.

Will this sleep-disorder drug be the next big blockbuster? Orexin agonists have been approved for the treatment of a type of narcolepsy, yet they could also treat conditions across the health spectrum. By Amanda Heidt

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-03310-w?utm_source=Live+Audience&utm_campaign=b691f2a608-nature-briefing-daily-20261020&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-33f35e09ea-50432164 In August, a type of drug called an orexin agonist was approved by US regulators to treat narcolepsy — the first of what researchers hope will be many uses for this class of drug. Several pharma companies are already exploring the effectiveness of orexin agonists to treat conditions beyond sleep disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). “Diabetes was the tip of the iceberg for GLP-1s, and I’m convinced the same story will play out for orexin,” says Andrew Plump, president of research and development at pharmaceutical company Takeda.

Longevity Boom: How to Respond When ‘Normal’ Isn’t Enough (+++ +++)

Longevity Boom: How to Respond When ‘Normal’ Isn’t Enough Medscape Medical News Outside My Specialty https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/longevity-boom-how-respond-when-normal-isnt-enough-2026a10012h5?ecd=wnl_oms_ous_all_en_etid8811805_261019_1&uac=148436CN&impID=8811805 How Are Stress, Depression, and Cardiovascular Risk Linked? Medscape News Europe Outside My Specialty https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/how-are-stress-depression-and-cardiovascular-risk-linked-2026a10012b3?ecd=wnl_oms_ous_all_en_etid8811805_261019_2&uac=148436CN&impID=8811805 Beyond CGRP: The Search for Migraine’s Next Big Target Medscape Medical News Outside My Specialty https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/beyond-cgrp-search-migraines-next-big-target-2026a100125z?ecd=wnl_oms_ous_all_en_etid8811805_261019_3&uac=148436CN&impID=8811805 Low-Calorie Diet/Exercise Intervention May Drive Diabetes Into Remission Medscape Medical News Outside My Specialty https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/low-calorie-diet-exercise-intervention-may-drive-diabetes-2026a10012cw?ecd=wnl_oms_ous_all_en_etid8811805_261019_4&uac=148436CN&impID=8811805 Medscape Poll: New Targets in Migraine: Where Do They Fit in Your Practice? Medscape Reader Polls Outside My Specialty https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/medscape-poll-new-targets-migraine-where-do-they-fit-your-2026a100120m?ecd=wnl_oms_ous_all_en_etid8811805_261019_5&uac=148436CN&impID=8811805 Functional Dyspepsia or GLP-1 Adverse Effect? How to Tell Medscape Europe https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/functional-dyspepsia-or-glp-1-adverse-effect-how-tell-2026a10012c7?ecd=wnl_oms_ous_all_en_etid8811805_261019_6&uac=148436CN&impID=8811805

Roivant says closely watched immune drug succeeded in new eye disease Non-infectious uveitis was the next test for Lisraya pill

https://www.statnews.com/2026/10/21/roivant-immune-drug-lisraya-noninfectious-uveitis-trial-results/ By Jason MastOct. 21, 2026 General Assignment Reporter

How knocking on doors can help beat measles — again America pushed back on diseases by building trust door by door. Let’s go back to that model

https://www.statnews.com/2026/10/21/measles-public-health-door-to-door-initiatives/ By Raj PanjabiOct. 21, 2026 Panjabi is a Harvard Medical School and Mass General Brigham physician, adviser to the Governors Public Health Alliance, and former White House senior director for global health security and biodefense at the National Security Council.

The impact of PCSK9 inhibitors and what physicians really need to know

https://www.statnews.com/sponsor/2026/10/02/the-impact-of-pcsk9-inhibitors-and-what-physicians-really-need-to-know/

Replication is necessary even if scientists do everything right The NIH is pulling back on plans to prioritize replication. That’s a bad idea

https://www.statnews.com/2026/10/21/nih-replication-process-type-1-error-bhattacharya/ By Mark Louie F. RamosOct. 21, 2026 Ramos is an assistant research professor in the Department of Health Policy and Administration at Pennsylvania State University.