UF Health Podcasts

Latest Episodes:

Untreated sleep apnea linked to dramatic cognitive decline Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

For the uninitiated and well-oxygenated, sleep apnea is a condition that causes people to stop breathing during sleep. Sufferers rarely know they have it until someone notices them struggling to draw a breath mid-snore. Depending on the severity, sleep apnea can be treated with a continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP.

Now, a new study from researchers at the University of Florida stresses how important it is to treat the condition: Untreated, sleep apnea is associated with a 69% faster decline in cognitive function over 10 years.

While people with sleep apnea may not all see the short-term benefit of using a CPAP, researchers said using it for longer, sustained periods can help offset cognitive decline.

The study used a decade’s worth of data from Medicare claims and annual assessments to analyze the relationship between sleep apnea and how brain function begins to slide with age.

Cognitive decline takes years to develop. Earlier studies that looked at obstructive sleep apnea treatment and cognition were shorter, ending around the six-month mark. This study explores the effects of up to 10 years of treatment.

Researchers estimate that over 40% of dementia cases worldwide might be attributable to lifestyle factors like sleep problems — and that sleep apnea treatment might mean better cognitive health.

And, although researchers say a CPAP is considered the gold standard, there’s tremendous variability in terms of accessibility, or in when people are diagnosed, if at all. So, if you’re worried about yourself or a loved one, talk to your doctor.

Good sleep — and good health — are nothing to snore at.

Old Pest, New Threat: Tracking the New World Screwworm Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

In June, the USDA confirmed the first U.S. animal case from the resurgence of the New World Screwworm, or NWS, which moved northward through Central America, Mexico and, eventually, into Texas earlier this summer. While the parasitic pest has primarily affected animals and livestock in localized regions of Texas and New Mexico during this current outbreak, one prominent early case involved a dog. The fly targets open wounds to lay its eggs, which hatch into parasitic maggots that feed on living tissue. Prevalence is strongly tied to tropical and subtropical regions, warm and humid weather, posing a threat to animals and livestock in Florida and the Southeast. UF experts Dr. Amy Stone, a clinical associate professor of primary care and dentistry, and Dr. Heather Walden, an associate professor of parasitology, will discuss the NWS, its history, traits of the insect, how to protect your pets, warning signs they may be affected and steps to take if you suspect a case.

Create your own happiness with a routine Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

Do you have trouble sleeping? Are you bothered by aches and pains? Do you feel grumpy more often than not?

If your answer to any of these is yes, a new study may prove helpful to you.

Researchers from the University of Missouri say having and sticking to a predictable daily routine can help reduce pain, improve mood and support healthier aging.

Their study found that older adults who followed regular daily schedules, including those who experienced insomnia, reported less physical pain and fewer symptoms of depression.

With about half of adults age 60 or older known to experience insomnia, the researchers wanted to know more about how a lack of sleep can affect a person’s daily life. In general, it’s known that those with insomnia can struggle to focus.

They delved into a survey of people with a median age of 68. About half the respondents reported having trouble sleeping. The other half described themselves as good sleepers.

As the researchers expected, those with insomnia generally reported more pain and stronger symptoms of depression. However, they found that those who followed regular daily schedules reported less physical pain and fewer depression symptoms.

Researchers found that consistent routines were equally helpful for good sleepers and those who didn’t sleep as well.

They said sticking with a routine for waking up, eating, socializing and sleeping may help regulate our bodies’ internal clocks. Keeping one’s circadian rhythms on an even keel seems to lead to better health.

And since we all spend about a third of our lives in slumber, setting a routine for waking up and going to sleep would be a good place to start.

Posture could impact your mood, study suggests Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

If it’s been a minute since your mother told you to sit up straight, let this study serve as your newest reminder.

Scientists from McGill University wanted to better understand how posture impacts mood and decision-making.

They recruited more than 200 people to complete tasks while sitting at a computer and with a tablet. Researchers set up the tablet portion of the study so as to subtly influence how people sat — either up straight, or slouched. In one group, the tablet was on a table, supported by an adjustable stand; in the other group, the tablet was placed flat on a desk at a lower height, encouraging hunching.

Then, the team had each group play a virtual risk-taking game. Participants were shown a balloon and asked to keep inflating it. The larger the balloon, the higher the rewards in the game — but so was the risk of popping it, which would mean the participants lost everything.

Those who were in the upright group tended to take greater risks, receiving more rewards. Researchers called this “effective risk-taking,” as people correctly gauged whether they were likely to lose their reward.

In a questionnaire following the game, the group of participants who sat upright also reported significantly stronger feelings of pride.

This isn’t the first study to question how body posture impacts our thoughts, feelings and behavior. But it was designed to avoid common issues other research studies ran into — like wondering if participants reported feeling a certain way because they knew researchers expected them to.

So the next time someone tells you to sit up straight, remember: It might not just improve your posture. It could brighten your outlook, too.

Larkspur and wolfsbane have always been two-faced. They can kill you or heal you. Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

For centuries, humans have used these flowering plants as a tool to ward off wolves and to control agricultural pests. Just tiny amounts of the plants cause severe neurotoxicity and paralysis.

As a healing agent, humans have used the plants as a sedative, an anesthetic and to bring down fevers.

Scientists are now following suit. Researchers from Michigan State University and the Czech Academy of Sciences have found a way to reproduce part of their potent makeup in a laboratory and believe they can tap the plants’ chemistry for practical use.

What modern science can do in a lab is breathtaking, but the researchers say plants are unmatched in their ability to produce intricate natural chemicals as they change and survive over time.

After identifying the most promising genes from wolfsbane, also known as monkshood, and larkspur, often called delphinium, the scientists transferred their genetic code into tobacco plants. The tobacco became a convenient location for them to test whether the genes could reproduce the plants’ chemical process.

The modified tobacco did just that. Six enzymes worked together to produce atisinium [at-ih-SIN-ee-əm], a type of alkaloid found in both larkspur and wolfsbane.

By identifying the first biochemical steps in the process, the team found a way to study the alkaloid and its potentially useful medicinal properties. Their goal now is to use what they have learned to create new drugs based on natural products.

Larkspur and wolfsbane have long guarded their own secrets. Now, scientists finally have the recipe.

Miniature brains grown in lab offer hope for Alzheimer’s treatments Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

Do you like thinking outside the box? How about thinking inside the petri dish?

In a new study from researchers at Johns Hopkins, a team used lab-grown brain cells to test how certain medicines affect patients with Alzheimer’s.

They used blood samples from people with the disease and turned them into stem cells, which they then transformed into brain cells.

These helped them make tiny brains by forming an organoid, a miniature brain that is simpler than a real brain but still mimics how cells are affected by medication, albeit without independent thought.

Having prototype brains to test in a lab before doing clinical trials can be a game-changer for medical research and can help scientists better understand the risks and benefits of a particular medication.

In this study, scientists treated the mini brains with escitalopram oxalate [eh-sih-TAL-o-pram ox-uh-late], a common antidepressant. Often sold as Lexapro, it can be prescribed to patients with Alzheimer’s to help manage symptoms like anxiety, depression and agitation.

The team wanted to see if this type of SSRI could reduce symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s. The study included organoids created from cells from hundreds of patients, including those with Alzheimer’s and those without.

The mini brains made from the cells of people with Alzheimer’s showed more communication between brain cells and better serotonin signaling, which antidepressants are meant to help with.

However, some showed little or no change.

This research could suggest a need for more research that one day can identify patients who would respond well to an individual treatment plan.

Until then, researchers will put their heads — and their lab’s little brains —together to keep searching.

Microwaves could make healthier french fries Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

Everything good comes at a cost — at least when it comes to french fries. The ubiquitous fast food item is one we’ve been trying to duplicate in healthier ways for decades.

One of the main reasons fries wreak havoc on our hearts is how much oil they absorb during their, well, frying.

Now, a new study from the University of Illinois seeks to keep the crispy part of the potato’s cooking process by involving a well-known household appliance — the humble microwave.

Researchers measured the potatoes’ internal pressure, volume, moisture, temperature and — most importantly for us and our cardiologists — the oil content during blanching and frying. These measurements let the team track how water left the potatoes, and how oil seeped in. When the potatoes’ moisture content is still high, there’s no room for oil molecules to sidle in. But as the water vaporizes, space frees up, and the negative pressure results in a vacuum that pulls the oil in.

Researchers said most of the frying process occurs during this window.

Now, a microwave heats from the inside out, causing the water molecules to move quickly and generate extra vapor. This means more pressure in the food item. For fries, this could prevent as much oil being absorbed throughout the cooking process — and would cut down on cooking time, too. The downside, however, is that notorious microwave sog.

The solution? Researchers propose a hybrid fryer. One that combines microwave technology with that of a conventional fryer.

Like most gadgets of the future, it could be some time before we see it. Until then, it’s nice to know there’s research being conducted on all sorts of things that matter … including french fries.

Meditation shows results in seven days, small study suggests Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

A change in your habits can be hard to stick to — even when it’s for the best. But what if it only took one week to feel results?

A new study from researchers in San Diego evaluated the impacts of an intensive seven-day retreat focused on meditation. The centuries-old practice has been linked to a variety of mind-body benefits like stress relief.

During the retreat, 20 people engaged in a total of 33 hours of meditation, excluding other lectures and activities. To track how people’s brains changed throughout the retreat, researchers had individuals undergo brain scans to see which areas of their brain were the most active. They also collected blood samples.

At the end of the retreat, researchers had participants fill out a questionnaire to better understand their subjective experiences.

The team noticed a few changes. When researchers added blood samples taken after the retreat to lab-grown neurons, they found that the neurons produced longer branches and more connections, suggesting possible neuroplasticity. The body’s own pain medication was activated, too — concentrations of endogenous opioids, or naturally occurring chemicals that impact the same systems pain-relieving drugs do, increased after the retreat.

Now, for the questionnaire results: Those who reported higher feelings of transcendence and altered consciousness tended to be the same people whose biological markers showed significant changes following the retreat.

Scientists said it was surprising, as the meditation’s effects appeared to mirror those of psilocybin [SY-loh-SY-bin], a psychedelic mushroom.

Although further research is needed, as the number of participants in the study was small — it can’t hurt to take a deep breath.

A new treatment for long COVID offers hope Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

Long COVID-19 may be relatively new, but it is far from rare.

In the wake of the pandemic, about 6% of the world suffers from the condition, and no specific treatments exist to meaningfully manage the disease.

Until now, that is.

Researchers from Canada, Brazil and the United States combined resources and expertise to discover that fluvoxamine [Flu-VOX-ah-meen], a common type of antidepressant, reduced fatigue and improved patients’ quality of life. On the shelf, it’s known by the brand name Luvox.

The study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, a highly respected medical journal.

Long COVID includes symptoms of fatigue, breathlessness, muscle or joint pain and disturbed sleep. The condition is characterized by unpleasantries that begin within three months of a COVID-19 diagnosis and last at least two.

The condition can cause significant problems for patients, sometimes preventing people from working, socializing, participating in family life or even leaving the house.

In the study, researchers wanted to see if common, affordable medications might offer relief for patients with established long COVID.

They tested fluvoxamine and metformin, a common diabetes medication. Metformin didn’t have any significant impact, but fluvoxamine was more effective than a placebo. Next steps will include understanding why the drug works and seeing if it can be used alongside other treatments, as well as which populations it is most effective for.

Although patients with long COVID have been desperate for science-backed treatments, researchers caution that more work lies ahead. But after years without effective options, they say the findings offer long COVID patients a long-awaited reason for hope.

What kids drink now matters later Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

If your child gravitates toward soda, sports drinks or sweet fruit juices, you might want to steer them toward water, milk or a piece of fresh fruit instead.

An American Heart Association study found that frequent consumption of sugary drinks in childhood was linked to a bigger risk of high blood pressure in adulthood.

The good news? Some daily swaps can lower the risk.

Dietary habits formed early on tend to stick, the researchers said, and they noted that high blood pressure is on the rise among younger adults, teens and children.

If our blood pressure is too high, we are susceptible to heart attacks and strokes. We can’t control our genetics, age, gender or race. But some things we can: Eating better, not smoking and staying active can help keep blood pressure down.

Researchers examined records from the long-running Growing Up Today project. In that study, more than 25,000 participants answered questionnaires every few years, reporting on their health habits.

Those habits included things like how often they drank sugar-sweetened beverages or ate fresh fruit. They reported body measurements, how active they were and whether they smoked.

The new study found that drinking two or more sugar-sweetened beverages daily meant a 52% higher risk for high blood pressure later.

One daily soda was associated with a 23% higher risk, and a daily sports drink brought a 36% higher risk.

Replacing one daily sugary beverage with a piece of fruit could lower one’s risk of high blood pressure by 22%, the researchers found.

The next time your progeny heads to the refrigerator, point them to the fresh fruit bowl — and do your best to keep it stocked.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected