According to Experts Club, American researchers have found a link between frequent daytime napping and an increased risk of developing dementia in people aged 65 and older. According to a study by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, people who napped almost every day had a 48% higher relative risk of developing dementia compared to those who rarely napped.
The study’s findings were published in the scientific journal The Journals of Gerontology: Series A. The final version of the article was published on October 5, 2026, and on October 13, the university released a separate press release announcing the results.
The study included 995 Americans aged 65 and older who were covered by Medicare. At the start of the study in 2013, none of the participants showed signs of probable or possible dementia according to the classification used by the researchers.
The researchers followed the participants for up to ten years, using data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), a nationwide study on aging. They analyzed not only the duration of nighttime sleep but also the frequency of daytime naps, their duration, and the circumstances under which participants fell asleep.
The researchers paid particular attention to the difference between planned daytime naps and instances when a person fell asleep involuntarily, such as while watching TV, reading, or relaxing in a chair.
According to the results of the statistical analysis, frequent daytime napping was associated with a 48% increase in the relative risk of dementia, while unplanned falling asleep was associated with a 39% increase.
In their analysis, the researchers accounted for age, gender, education, the presence of chronic diseases, body mass index, symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as characteristics of nighttime sleep and the risk of obstructive sleep apnea.
The association remained significant even after adjusting for these factors, suggesting a potential independent role of daytime napping patterns as an indicator of risk for cognitive impairment.
The researchers also found that daytime naps lasting up to 30 minutes were associated with a 40% increase in the relative risk of dementia. At the same time, for naps lasting more than 30 minutes, the statistical association weakened after accounting for characteristics of nighttime sleep.
However, irregular or intentionally scheduled daytime naps did not show a statistically significant increase in risk after adjusting for all major factors.
Overall, during the follow-up period, 417 participants—or 41.9% of the sample—showed signs of possible or probable dementia. Among people who did not nap during the day, this outcome was observed in 37.8%, and among those who regularly napped during the day, in 51.1%. However, the duration of follow-up varied across the different groups, so these percentages should not be interpreted as a direct predictor of individual risk.
In addition to dementia, the researchers found a link between frequent daytime napping and subsequent deterioration in memory and certain executive brain functions, particularly the ability to plan and control complex actions.
However, the researchers emphasize that the results do not prove a cause-and-effect relationship between daytime napping and dementia.
“More frequent daytime napping may be a sign of changes in the brain, rather than the cause of the changes that lead to dementia,” noted the study’s senior author, Adam Spira, a professor in the Department of Mental Health at Johns Hopkins University.
According to the researchers, neurodegenerative processes can begin long before the onset of clinical symptoms of dementia. Among the first areas to change may be those parts of the brain that regulate wakefulness and sleep. As a result, a person may fall asleep more often during the day even before a diagnosis is made.
To test this hypothesis, the researchers conducted an additional analysis, excluding cases of dementia identified during the first five years of follow-up. The association between frequent daytime napping and the subsequent development of dementia persisted. For unplanned sleep episodes, the direction of the association also remained similar, although the statistical uncertainty of the result increased.
The study’s first author, Kenin Jiang, noted that monitoring changes in daytime sleep could be a relatively simple way to identify people at increased risk of dementia early on.
Researchers believe that doctors should pay attention not only to patients’ complaints about nighttime sleep but also to an increase in the frequency of daytime sleepiness, especially if such changes occur for no apparent reason.
At the same time, the authors caution against drawing hasty practical conclusions. The study was observational in nature: the researchers did not alter the participants’ sleep patterns and did not test whether avoiding daytime naps could prevent dementia.
Furthermore, information about daytime napping was collected primarily from the participants themselves, and signs of dementia were identified using a validated algorithm rather than through clinical diagnosis of each individual case.
Therefore, the results do not mean that a short daytime nap is inherently harmful to the brain or that it should be avoided. Instead, new or increasingly frequent episodes of involuntary sleepiness in older adults may be a reason to discuss their health, the quality of their nighttime sleep, and possible cognitive changes with a doctor.
To definitively establish a causal link, additional long-term studies are needed that objectively measure sleep using specialized devices.
Johns Hopkins University, founded in 1876 in Baltimore, is one of the leading research universities in the United States. Its Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, founded in 1916, specializes in epidemiology, disease prevention, mental health, population aging, and the study of risk factors for chronic diseases. The study on daytime napping and dementia was conducted with partial funding from the U.S. National Institute on Aging.
Sources: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, press release dated October 13, 2026; original research article in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glag208.
Brazil delivered a new batch of medicines to Ukraine under an international humanitarian aid program, the Brazilian Embassy in Kyiv reported.
The shipment was received in October by the Health Department of the Zakarpattia Region in Uzhhorod.
The donated medicines are intended to treat patients with secondary progressive forms of multiple sclerosis, adults with moderate and severe rheumatoid arthritis, as well as children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
The Brazilian Embassy noted that the new shipment continues bilateral cooperation in the humanitarian sphere and is aimed at supporting Ukraine’s healthcare system amid ongoing humanitarian challenges.
“This new contribution reaffirms Brazil’s firm support for Ukraine and reflects the strong strategic partnership between the two countries, based on longstanding historical and cultural ties,” the embassy’s statement said.
The Brazilian side also stated its intention to continue developing bilateral cooperation and to provide assistance to Ukraine in the humanitarian sphere.
The new batch of medicines represented another delivery of Brazilian humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Source: Brazilian Embassy in Kyiv
The ADONIS Medical Center has launched a specialized Cough Center, which combines the diagnosis and treatment of patients with persistent, recurrent, or unexplained coughs.
According to the medical network, the new center focuses on a comprehensive approach to patients whose cough persists for a long time, recurs after treatment, or may be associated with several conditions at once.
ADONIS notes that a chronic cough can have various causes and is not always related solely to respiratory tract diseases. Possible factors include allergic conditions, bronchial asthma, the aftereffects of infections, ENT disorders, gastroesophageal reflux, and other conditions; therefore, in some cases, consultation with several specialists is necessary to determine the cause of the symptom.
The Cough Center’s approach involves a systematic diagnostic process that brings together doctors from relevant specialties and conducts the necessary tests within a single medical network. Once the cause is identified, a personalized treatment plan and follow-up care regimen are developed for the patient.
The creation of a specialized center allows for the diagnosis of chronic cough to be focused in one place and reduces the number of visits the patient must make to different specialists and for various tests.
ADONIS has been operating in Ukraine since 1997. According to the company, the network comprises six medical branches in Kyiv and the Kyiv region and provides services in 89 medical specialties. The network includes outpatient centers, laboratories, surgical units, and inpatient facilities. The company employs more than 1,800 specialists.
Source: ADONIS Medical Network
Yuriy Polyachenko, Director of the State Institution “Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine,” was awarded the special Gennadiy Knyshov Award “For loyalty to humanistic ideals and the promotion of universal human values” as part of the 30th anniversary season of the nationwide “Person of the Year 2025” program.
Poliachenko is a Doctor of Medical Sciences, professor, Honored Physician of Ukraine, laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology, and a full Knight of the Order “For Merit.”
He was born on February 20, 1963, in Kyiv. After graduating from the Kyiv Medical Institute in 1986, he began his professional career at the Kyiv Research Institute of Orthopedics, which now operates as the Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine. He rose through the ranks from junior to senior research fellow at the Clinic of Bone and Purulent Surgery.
In 1995, Yuriy Polyachenko traveled to Cuba, where for three years he headed the International Medical and Health Center and organized treatment for critically ill children, particularly those with cancer and systemic diseases. In 1997, he was awarded the title of “Honored Physician of Ukraine.”
Starting in 1999, Polyachenko devoted a significant portion of his professional career to public administration in the field of healthcare. He served as Deputy Minister and First Deputy Minister of Health, State Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, and advisor to the President of Ukraine.
From 2005 to 2007, Yuriy Polyachenko headed the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.
After leaving government service, he returned to clinical and scientific medicine. In 2007, he became director of the O.O. Shalimov National Institute of Surgery and Transplantology, a position he held until 2013.
In 2013, Polyachenko was awarded the State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology for a series of scientific works. From 2013 to 2014, he served as a People’s Deputy of Ukraine and worked on the Parliamentary Committee on Health Care, where he chaired the Subcommittee on Transplantology.
Since 2020, Polyachenko has headed the Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine. After the start of full-scale Russian aggression, the institute became one of the medical centers providing care to military personnel and civilians with severe injuries.
In 2025, Yuriy Polyachenko was awarded the Order of Merit, First Class, for organizing assistance to wounded and injured civilians and military personnel. He had previously received the Second and Third Classes of this state award.
For over 25 years, Yuriy Polyachenko has combined scientific research with clinical, administrative, and teaching work. He defended his doctoral dissertation in 2002 and was awarded the title of professor in 2004. Since 2025, he has headed the Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics at the O.O. Bogomolets National Medical University.
He is the author of over 100 scientific publications and co-author of nine monographs.
The special Gennadiy Knyshov Award, presented as part of the “Person of the Year” program, is given for contributions to the development of humanistic values, medicine, and socially significant initiatives.
Open4Business is the media partner for the 30th anniversary season of the nationwide “Person of the Year 2025” program.
HEALTHCARE, MEDICINE, National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, PERSON OF THE YEAR, Yuriy Polyachenko
The state-owned enterprise “Medical Procurements of Ukraine” (MPU) purchased medical supplies worth nearly 8.2 billion hryvnias over the first eight months of 2026, which accounts for 83% of the medical supplies designated for procurement this year.
As reported by MZU in a press release, as of early September, the largest portion of funds was allocated to the procurement of drugs and medical devices for the treatment and care of patients, specifically: medications for children and adults with cancer—184 items totaling 2 billion hryvnias; innovative medicines procured through managed access agreements (MAA)—32 items totaling 1.9 billion hryvnias, medications and medical devices for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases—105 items totaling 1.1 billion UAH; medical devices to support blood donation—122 items totaling 817.9 million UAH; and medications for children and adults with hemophilia—29 items totaling 541.7 million UAH.
In total, in 2026, the Ministry of Health is set to procure 813 items, including those purchased with funds from donors via the UNITED24 fundraising platform. Over the past 8 months, the Ministry of Health has delivered 760 items of medicines and medical devices to the regions, purchased with funds from this year’s and last year’s budgets.
In addition, the Ministry of Health reports that from January through August, hospitals purchased nearly 21.1 billion UAH worth of medical supplies through the Prozorro Market electronic catalog—the medical section of which has been administered by the Ministry since 2019—which is 30.2% more than during the same period in 2025.
The average savings over the first eight months of 2026 for purchases made through Prozorro Market amounted to 12.77% of the expected procurement cost, and in total, buyers saved 3.1 billion UAH.
During January–August 2026, 2,633 contracting entities purchased medical supplies through Prozorro Market, and 1,530 qualified suppliers submitted their offers in the catalog.
HOSPITAL, MEDICINE, Ministry of Health, PROCUREMENT, Prozorro Market
GLP-1 agonists, which are widely used to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes, may be associated with a slight increased risk of hereditary hair loss in men, according to the Experts Club information and analysis center, citing the results of a new study by researchers at NYU Langone Health, published online on September 3, 2026, in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. (NYU Langone Health).
The researchers studied androgenetic alopecia, the most common type of male baldness, in which hair loss predominantly affects the frontal and upper parts of the scalp. The analysis showed that in men with a genetic predisposition, increased activity of the GLP-1 receptor signaling pathway was associated with an approximately 7% additional risk of this type of hair loss. (NYU Langone Health)
The same class includes drugs based on semaglutide and tirzepatide, known, in particular, under the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound. However, the authors emphasize that the study did not involve observing patients who were actually taking these medications. The scientists used Mendelian randomization, a method in which genetic variants serve as a kind of natural proxy for an effect on a particular biological mechanism.
The study identified 22 genetic variants that increase the expression of the GLP1R gene and, accordingly, the activity of the GLP-1 receptor. These data were compared with genetic information on male baldness. Large databases were used for the analysis, including eQTLGen, with data from 31,684 people, and Complex Traits Genetics, with data from 205,327 people.
The association persisted after accounting for a number of other factors that can influence hair loss, including blood pressure, insulin resistance and testosterone levels. The authors consider the findings evidence of a possible causal role of the GLP1R pathway itself, but warn that they cannot automatically be equated with the effect of a specific medication.
“Our study shows for the first time a genetic link between GLP-1 activity and an increased risk of male baldness in androgenetic alopecia,” noted the study’s senior author, Lynn Petukhova of NYU Grossman School of Medicine. According to her, genetic assessment could potentially help identify patients most predisposed to this side effect in the future.
The mechanism of the possible effect remains unclear. The researchers suggest both a direct effect on hair follicles and an indirect effect through metabolic changes. In addition, hair loss in some patients has previously been linked to rapid weight loss, inadequate nutrient intake and temporary telogen effluvium.
The new study is consistent with the findings of a number of previous studies. A meta-analysis of nine interventional studies involving 4,114 users of GLP-1 drugs, published in May 2026, found a statistically significant increase in the risk of hair loss compared with placebo. The overall incidence of hair loss among patients receiving these drugs was approximately 3.9%. At the same time, the authors of the meta-analysis noted the need for further research because of the relatively small number of available clinical studies.
Another systematic review from 2026 also concluded that reports of hair loss during GLP-1 therapy require closer investigation, since possible causes may include both the effects of the drugs and rapid weight loss, dietary changes and deficiencies in certain micronutrients.
The authors of the new study emphasize that the identified effect is modest and that its clinical significance has not yet been definitively established. The findings are not grounds for independently discontinuing prescribed GLP-1 therapy. Patients experiencing noticeable hair loss should discuss the situation with their treating physician.
