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Washtenaw County measles outbreak grows to 7. What you need to know
An unvaccinated child exposed to measles in Washtenaw County is now infected, health leaders say, and a local hospital is now an exposure site.
Democrats' win in Trump's 'backyard' is another sign of midterm momentum
"If Democrats can win in Trump’s backyard, we sure as hell can win anywhere across the country," DNC Chair Ken Martin said on social media.
Why Vince Vaughn thinks late-night TV 'stopped being funny'
Vince Vaughn shared his hot take on the state of late-night television during an appearance on Theo Von's "This Past Weekend" podcast.
Avery County's Hank Johnson leads Week 5 boys spring sports top performers
Avery County's Hank Johnson shot six-under-par to lead the list of Week 5 WNC high school spring sports boys top performers.
Franklin's Kendall Rumans leads Week 5 girls spring sports top performers
Franklin's Kendall Rumans recorded 7 RBIs to lead the list of Week 5 WNC high school spring sports girls top performers.
Covenant Health Park named among best US ballparks. See the rankings
Its another home run for the Smokies ⚾
MLB games tomorrow: Opening Day schedule, times, how to watch for March 26
Here's the full MLB schedule, for March 26, including game times, TV channels, scores and how to stream.
Glyphosate: A story of science, risk, and nuance
In the summer of 2014, a California groundskeeper named Dewayne Johnson started noticing patches of raw, weeping skin spreading across his body. He had spent years applying Roundup, Monsanto’s glyphosate-based herbicide, for a school district, sometimes drenched in it when equipment malfunctioned. By 2014, he had a diagnosis: non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In 2018, a jury awarded him $289 million in damages, later reduced on appeal. Tens of thousands of lawsuits followed. The story hasn’t quieted down. It’s all over the internet, swinging between “this will kill you, buy organic” and “relax, you’re fear-mongering.” Some of that recent chatter stems from an Executive Order protecting glyphosate and its production, which set off intense infighting within the MAHA movement. Some of it reflects a deeper truth: Americans genuinely care about harmful chemicals in their environment (see poll below). And the conversation isn’t going anywhere, with a Supreme Court case involving Monsanto set for this April. Glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup) is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. But does glyphosate cause cancer? And how much exposure is actually risky? With so much mistrust in institutions and corporations (and some genuine conflicts of interest), making sense of the actual scientific evidence is genuinely hard. Here is a translation of what the scientific evidence actually says. Does glyphosate cause harm? Glyphosate is an herbicide that kills most plants it contacts rather than targeting specific species. It works by blocking an enzyme pathway (EPSPS) that plants and many microorganisms need to produce essential amino acids. Without those amino acids, the plant can’t grow and dies. Glyphosate was first developed by Monsanto in the 1970s and became ubiquitous after the company introduced “Roundup Ready” crops in the 1990s. In 2024, Bayer removed glyphosate from residential Roundup-branded products due to litigation pressure. But today it is still the most widely used herbicide in the world. Farmers also discovered they could spray it directly on crops like oats, lentils, beans, and peas just before harvest to dry them out faster and make harvesting easier. Because of its widespread use, it’s obviously really important to understand if it’s harmful to humans. The key principle: The dose makes the poison The most important concept in toxicology is that “the dose makes the poison.” Sixteenth-century physician Paracelsus articulated what remains the foundational principle of toxicology: sola dosis facit venenum. Water will kill you if you drink enough of it. Aspirin saves lives at 81 milligrams and causes internal bleeding at higher chronic doses. So, at what dose is glyphosate poisonous? The LD50 in rats (the dose that kills half the test animals) is around 5,600 mg/kg body weight. Table salt is roughly 3,000 mg/kg. By that classic measure, glyphosate is less acutely toxic than salt. But some people are exposed to a lot of glyphosate through their work. And among the general public, there are many questions about low-dose, cumulative exposure from multiple sources over long periods. Does glyphosate cause health problems? Cancer Correlation maps are striking, with one analysis finding that 60% of counties that spray the most glyphosate have non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma rates above the national average. But correlation alone doesn’t establish cause, which is why animal and human studies matter. In animals: Rat studies are typically what most fear is rooted in, but most people don’t know the study details on the dosage given to rats. A pooled analysis of the 13 most rigorous rat studies found evidence that very high doses, around 55,000 times greater than typical food residue exposure, can cause certain cancers. In humans: One of the strongest studies followed 55,000 herbicide users over 20 years and found no overall increased cancer risk. There was one signal: among those with the highest use, rates of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) appeared elevated. A broader meta-analysis of 18 human studies also found no overall cancer risk, though a separate meta-analysis focused specifically on non-Hodgkin lymphoma found that people with high cumulative glyphosate exposure faced a 41% higher relative risk compared to those with low or no exposure. These human studies are observational studies (randomized controlled trials would be unethical), and meta-analyses are only as reliable as the studies they pool. But the story seems consistent: at very high exposure levels, there may be some cancer risk. But that’s about as far as the science currently takes us. Emerging research: gut and reproductive health Gut: Because glyphosate targets a pathway that exists in some gut bacteria, scientists have questioned whether it could affect the microbiome. In mice, a 2023 University of Iowa study found that glyphosate altered gut bacterial composition and raised markers of intestinal inflammation. A 2024 systematic review found similar patterns: disrupted gut bacteria and problems with the mucus layer that protects the intestinal wall in mice. Whether this translates to humans is an open question. The human gut is highly variable and resistant, and we don't yet have strong studies confirming the same effects in people. Reproductive health: Animal studies have found that glyphosate-based herbicides can interfere with reproductive hormones, including disrupting egg cell development in mice and reducing the number of eggs available in sheep’s ovaries. However, the doses used in these experiments were high, so it’s not yet clear whether the same effects would occur in humans. On the human side, a 2021 pilot study led by Mount Sinai researchers tested urine samples from pregnant women across the U.S. and found glyphosate in 95% of them. The study also found a possible connection between higher glyphosate exposure during pregnancy and a subtle physical difference measured in female newborns. That said, some connections weren’t statistically reliable and this was a small study. The researchers themselves said more and larger studies are needed before drawing firm conclusions. What do regulators say about glyphosate safety? In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2A). The classification is worth taking seriously. But, there’s an important distinction: IARC classifies hazard, meaning the potential to cause harm under some conditions. It does not assess risk, which accounts for actual exposure levels and the real-world probability of harm. The U.S. EPA, the European Food Safety Authority, Health Canada, and regulatory agencies in Australia and Japan have all concluded that glyphosate is “unlikely to be carcinogenic to humans” at realistic exposure levels. They’re asking a different question: given how much of this people actually encounter, what is the probability of harm? Your actual exposure is what determines your actual risk. What does glyphosate mean for your daily life? At the grocery store: Food residues are small. The EPA’s acceptable daily intake is 1.75 mg/kg of body weight per day. To hit that threshold from oatmeal alone, a 150-pound adult would need to eat roughly 50 pounds of oats every day. But this calculation addresses only one pathway (food), and we don’t yet have robust tools to measure people’s actual total exposure. If reducing exposure matters to you, organic certification prohibits synthetic herbicides, and organic oat products generally test at lower or undetectable levels. Either way, a diet rich in whole grains, conventional or organic, is far better for your health than one that omits them out of fear of residues. On the farm: Occupational exposure is orders of magnitude higher than consumer exposure. Farmers and farm workers who mix, load, and apply glyphosate-based herbicides, especially without protective equipment, face meaningfully different risk profiles. Proper PPE isn’t optional. Integrated weed management strategies that rotate chemical modes of action are also worth taking seriously, both for health and for long-term effectiveness. If you live near a farm: Spray drift is real. Concentrations near field edges can spike during and after application, particularly on windy days. This is an area where I think public health could really step up and empower rural communities with buffer zones, rather than placing the onus on individuals. But for now, knowing your local agricultural calendar and keeping windows closed during application are the first steps. Bottom line Dewayne Johnson was exposed to glyphosate at levels most people will never encounter, and a jury decided he deserved compensation. That outcome is not evidence that the oatmeal in your pantry is dangerous. But it is a reminder that the dose, the context, and the person doing the exposing all matter enormously. Glyphosate is a chemical tool with benefits, trade-offs, and genuine open scientific questions. Learning to hold that complexity without collapsing into panic or dismissal is, honestly, one of the most useful and hardest things to do in navigating modern health science. Love, YLE Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) is founded and operated by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, MPH PhD—an epidemiologist, wife, and mom of two little girls. Hannah Totte, MPH, is an epidemiologist and YLE Community Manager. YLE reaches more than 425,000 people in over 132 countries with one goal: “Translate” the ever-evolving public health science so that people will be well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade below: Subscribe
Trump names Jensen Huang, Mark Zuckerberg to 13-member science and tech council
Trump has made securing U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence a central priority of his second term.
About 40 'No Kings' protests planned across Tennessee. See when and where
In total, organizers estimate about 3,000 events nationwide, surpassing previous 'No Kings' mobilizations since the movement gained traction on President Trump’s birthday in June 2025.
DJ Lagway leaves Florida drama behind him, rewriting his story at Baylor
DJ Lagway was No. 1 QB in his recruiting class. But self-induced isolation and a run of injuries derailed Florida career. Baylor is a fresh start.
Anderson to get new youth behavioral health campus with $24.7M grant
A Redding nonprofit received a $24.7 million state grant to build a behavioral health campus in Anderson for vulnerable youth. Find out more.
USA TODAY Sports Network picks for Iowa State vs Tennessee in Sweet 16
USA TODAY Sports Network picks for Iowa State vs Tennessee in Sweet 16.
Iowa State vs Tennessee prediction, analysis, Sweet 16 expert picks for men's March Madness
Our March Madness experts analyze the Sweet 16 matchup between No. 2 Iowa State vs No. 6 Tennessee in the 2026 NCAA Tournament on March 27.
MLB power rankings: Dodgers vs. Everybody as Opening Day ushers in 2026
Dodgers' quest for World Series three-peat begins. Can anyone de-throne LA?
Cape Cod fishermen take science offshore to count monkfish
Cape Cod fishermen have been helping scientists track monkfish. Here’s why it matters for the fishery, the fish, and your seafood plate.
Scene Calendar: Local theater, art, local benefits and more
A comprehensive list of Gainesville-area entertainment events.
SW FL Business Hall of Fame honors four new leaders. Read about them
Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida inducted four new laureates into its Business Hall of Fame on March 24.
SW FL Business Hall of Fame honors four new leaders. Read about them
Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida inducted four new laureates into its Business Hall of Fame on March 24.
Sports Illustrated Stadium to host fan events during FIFA World Cup
Sports Illustrated Stadium will host fan events — unaffiliated with the 2026 FIFA World Cup — during the world's largest sporting event.
NHL games today: Schedule, odds, how to watch for March 25
Here's the full NHL schedule, for March 25, including game times, TV channels, scores, odds and how to stream.
How to stream all Yankees games in 2026 if you don't have cable TV
Here's how to watch all New York Yankees games during the 2026 season.
OnePlus 15T launched: Pocket-friendly size, but not a wallet-friendly price
OnePlus has finally launched the OnePlus 15T, and this pocket-friendly phone has a huge battery and a major price hike.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 leak makes 2027's Ultra phones look both exciting and scary
New details of the so-called Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro have emerged from a trusty source.
Fix the process before reauthorizing state PUC
What needs to be fixed before reauthorizing the Public Utilities Commission? The answer is simple: the process. The last time the commission was reauthorized in 2021, lawmakers expanded its role in meaningful ways — particularly as Colorado accelerated its clean energy transition. The PUC was asked to do more, to carry more and to implement […]
Trump votes by mail amid his push to end mail-in ballots
President Donald Trump cast a ballot by mail in the March 24 special election in Palm Beach, Florida, even though he has spent years attacking mail-in ballots as susceptible to fraud.
8 new emojis arrive in Apple iOS 26.4 update for iPhone users
Along with eight new emojis, the latest Apple iPhone and iPad software update includes new Apple Music features such as AI-generated playlists.
Memphis area spring sports top performers for Week 4 of the 2026 season
Here are Memphis area high school baseball, softball, boys soccer and lacrosse top performers from Week 4 of the 2026 season
Trump sinks to record low approval rating due to Iran war in new poll
President Donald Trump's approval rating dropped to 36%, its lowest level since his return to the White House, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.
Democrats throw cold water on shutdown deal, call for more ICE reforms
Senate Democrats are cautiously optimistic about a potential agreement to fund the Department of Homeland Security. But it's far from a done deal.
NFL rule changes 2026: Competition committees submits five proposals
The NFL's competition committee proposed five rule changes for 2026, including adjustments to onside kicks and a referee contingency.
Public health alert issued for this ground beef product. Here's why.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert for a ground beef product on March 23, due to metal contamination.
7 new children’s and young adult books by local authors
The Northwest is home to a vibrant community of children’s and young adult authors. Celebrate early reading with these recommendations.
New poll finds Trump's net favorability at record low in Wisconsin
The first Marquette University Law School poll conducted after the U.S. attacks on Iran found 61% oppose the war, with divides among Republicans.
Congress Passes Small Business Research Reauthorization
If it becomes law, the compromise bill would end a nearly six-month lapse in solicitations and annual funding.
Mouse study shows repeated cloning causes grave genetic mutations
1,206 cloned laboratory mice were generated by the scientists from a single female donor mouse from 2005 to 2025 in research conducted in Japan.
Crowded Democratic race for California governor could open door for Republicans
The candidates will clash on Tuesday at a debate.
Peninsula Community Health plans to add 2 Bremerton dental clinics
Peninsula Community Health Services, with state funding coming from back-to-back budgets, will open to two new dental clinics along Kitsap Way.
Iowa lawmakers OK conscience bill letting health workers deny services
Health care providers and institutions may decline services that violate their conscience under a bill headed to Gov. Kim Reynolds' desk.
Timeline: A Milwaukee father's fight for his son's mental health treatment
Pete Christiansen spent eight months trying to get Milwaukee authorities to commit his son for mental health treatment, also known as Chapter 51.
March Madness top seeds dominate: Each No. 1 team's path to Sweet 16
Only one perfect 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament bracket remains as of Monday evening following several upsets, but the top seeds have been chalk.
Fayetteville Community’s Choice Awards business spotlight: Woods Plumbing
We're in the final stretch! Ready to recognize your favorite local businesses? Submit your Fayetteville Community’s Choice Awards nominations today.
SouthCoast Community’s Choice Awards business spotlight: Anchor Animal Hospital
We're in the final stretch! Ready to recognize your favorite local businesses? Submit your SouthCoast Community’s Choice Awards nominations today.
Women's NCAA Tournament Round 2 winners, losers: Virginia make history, Iowa fizzles
USA TODAY has followed every upset, buzzer-beater and game from the 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament and rounded up our winners and losers from round two:
John Fogerty, Cyndi Lauper, more join forces to say 'Thank You, NYPD'
The 'Thank You, NYPD' concert will feature John Fogerty, Cyndi Lauper and Fat Joe, comedians Chris Distefano and Sam Morril, and more.
Just get a new Samsung phone? Turn off these 6 features immediately
Samsung phones are great — but they're even better after you disable some of the default features and settings.
Grading hires from 2026 men's college basketball coaching carousel
Here are grades for each of the hires made by schools from men's college basketball's five major conferences.
Android Auto is breaking for Pixel and Samsung users, and no one knows why
Users are reporting connection issues associated with a recent update and an Android 16 security feature.
Markwayne Mullin confirmed to lead Department of Homeland Security
The Oklahoma Republican faced a glide path to confirmation with the help of two Democratic senators.
Cypress business owner charged with felony water pollution, authorities say
Detectives said the Cypress company, which power washes dump-truck engines, was dumping contaminated wastewater into a drainage ditch that eventually leads all the way to the Gulf.
Can pesticide exposure before pregnancy affect babies’ health?
A study co-authored by UCLA researchers suggests certain chemical compounds correlated with lower newborn health scores.
Detroit Tigers' Opening Day be on cable TV? Here's what we know
The Detroit Tigers haven't been able to give details on their broadcast service, Detroit SportsNet, and its status on cable TV packages.
Why are the Virginia Cavaliers sports teams also called the Wahoos?
The term “Wahoos” or “Hoos” are almost exclusively used by Virginia students when referring to their athletes and fans.
Marco Rubio's evolution. Hardliner becomes Trump’s top Cuba negotiator
From hardliner to dealmaker, Marco Rubio evolves on Cuba, taking charge of Trump’s talks with Havana.
Group abandons Michigan minimum wage ballot campaign
A group seeking to reverse changes the state Legislature made last year to Michigan's tipped and minimum wage laws is abandoning its efforts for now.
Rahm Emanuel says federal workers shouldn't bet on politics
Former Obama chief of staff and possible 2028 presidential candidate Rahm Emanuel is calling for a federal employee ban on prediction markets betting.
Federal judge sides with Wisconsin in transgender health care suit
A U.S. judge ruled in favor of Wisconsin and 20 other states challenging a Trump administration declaration that tried to limit care for trans youth.
Women's March Madness results so far: Scores from Monday's NCAA Tournament
Three No. 1 seeds are in action today as the Women's NCAA Tournament whittles the field down to the Sweet 16. See who's primed to survive and advance.
Supreme Court leans toward Trump-backed push to limit mail-in ballots
The Supreme Court's conservative majority seemed skeptical of late- arriving ballots. The case could lead to stricter rules in this year's midterm elections.
DanDan restaurant in Milwaukee's Third Ward is temporarily closed
According to a sign posted on the door of the popular Third Ward American-Chinese restaurant, DanDan has been closed since March 20.
What’s the new 'Background Security' on the iPhone? What we know.
Apple's new Background Security Improvements operate between software updates, providing "lightweight security releases."
Exclusive: Prenuvo expands full-body MRI protocol. What's new?
Prenuvo is launching a new bloodwork component to complement its full-body MRIs. Here's what to know.
Republicans fear this Democrat in Georgia Senate race: ‘This guy’s no slouch’
The Cook Political Report rates the general election as a toss-up.
Trump visits Memphis to tout crime-fighting efforts as Iran war lingers
His talk on crime and immigration marks a return to an issue that he hopes will resonate with voters.
Here are nearly 100 local high school spring sports stars to watch
Spring sports are rich with talented athletes. From baseball to track and soccer to swimming, here are nearly 100 Fort Collins-area stars to watch.
Illinois, the youngest team in Women's NCAA tournament, proving age is just a number
No. 7 seed Illinois faces No. 2 seed Vanderbilt in Nashville in the second round of the Women's NCAA Tournament.
Peace of mind was Mikaela Shiffrin's biggest victory in 2026 Winter Olympics
Olympic legends Mikaela Shiffrin and Simone Biles are fierce advocates for athletes prioritizing their mental health.
Mailer in Germantown school election has one big problem
An outside political group urges Germantown School District voters to re-elect a candidate who isn't on the ballot.
Vanderbilt’s historic gym takes center stage for Women's NCAA Tournament
Opening in 1952, Memorial Gymnasium is the oldest arena in the SEC. It had been 14 years since the Commodores last hosted the NCAA Tournament.
2026 NFL mock draft: Surprises in top 10 of latest first-round projection
The 2026 NFL Draft is just a month away, and our latest mock draft features a few surprises materializing in the top 10 picks.
Scouting Michigan State basketball Sweet 16 matchup with UConn
Get a first glimpse at the NCAA Tournament East region Sweet 16 semifinal matchup between 3-seed Michigan State basketball and 2-seed UConn.
Ohio State vs Notre Dame predictions, picks, odds for NCAA Tournament Second Round
Our March Madness experts pick the winner for No. 3 Ohio State vs No. 6 Notre Dame in the 2026 women's NCAA Tournament on March 23
UConn vs Syracuse predictions, picks, odds for NCAA Tournament Second Round
Our March Madness experts pick the winner for No. 1 UConn vs No. 9 Syracuse in the 2026 women's NCAA Tournament on March 23
Where to watch South Carolina vs. USC in March Madness Second Round: Time, TV Channel
The No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks face the 9 USC Trojans in the Second Round of the women's NCAA Tournament. Here's how to see all the action.
Science should guide Florida’s pesticide conversations
The science on glyphosate exposure is extensive, and the levels reported in bread testing fall well below thresholds associated with harm.
Florida dogs featured in TCPalm articles for National Puppy Day
National Puppy Day is March 23. TCPalm has articles, videos and photo galleries about dogs. Do you have a dog? What's their name?
Palm Beach County high school sports weekly schedule for March 23-28
High school sports are back in full swing in Palm Beach County. See the full schedule for baseball, softball, lacrosse and more.
Brevard County high school sports weekly schedule, Week of March 23-29
Brevard County high school sports schedule for the week of March 23-29, 2026.
Best selling author Marie Benedict to talk at the United Theatre
WESTERLY — Marie Benedict, the Pittsburgh-based author known for using real — mostly forgotten — women as inspiration for her bestselling works of historical fiction, was on the phone Tuesday
Obesity report sets out vision for healthy future in Peterborough
A new obesity charter for Peterborough says authorities should look beyond individual behaviour.
TCU completes comeback, avoids Washington's NCAA Tournament upset bid
TCU women's basketball’s 62-59 overtime win over Washington in the second round of March Madness wasn’t pretty, but it was resilient.
These Michigan U.S. Senate candidates took money from ICE contractors
Anti-ICE messaging is expected to be featured prominently in Michigan's hotly contested U.S. Senate Democratic primary.
Kansas coach Bill Self non-committal if he'll return next year due to health concerns
Hall of Fame Kansas basketball coach Bill Self said after a crushing loss to St. John's that he hasn't decided if he'll be back next season or retire.
Florida basketball stunned by Iowa in March Madness Round 2 upset
Florida basketball was stunned by Iowa, ending its hopes to repeat as national champions in the Men's NCAA Tourrnament.
Joe Kent says he wants Donald Trump to hear MAGA opposition to Iran war
It’s a concerted effort, Kent said, to rally members of the president’s Make America Great Again movement and ensure he hears dissenting voices.
Business closed after new Ohio law banning intoxicating hemp products went into effect
Senate Bill 56 grants law enforcement the authority to remove intoxicating THC products from unlicensed retail locations,
Arizona vs Utah State live updates: Prediction, how to watch March Madness Round 2 game
Folks were gushing about Jerrod Calhoun and Utah State's offense in Round 1. Arizona is a whole different obstacle. Follow March Madness Round 2 game.
CBS analyst picked against Purdue basketball. Here's what he thinks of Sweet 16 vs Texas
Boilermakers fans were critical of Seth Davis for his pick proven wrong after Purdue beat Miami. Here's what he thinks of the Sweet 16 game vs Texas.
Florida vs Iowa live updates: Prediction, how to watch March Madness Round 2 game
Defending national champion Florida didn't need a warm-up to get going in their NCAA title defense. Will Iowa provide any resistance in March Madness?
'Disgusting.' Democratic senator slams Trump's reaction to Mueller's death
Sen. Chris Murphy called President Donald Trump's response to the death of Robert Mueller "disgusting."
Your Thymus and Your Healthspan
Our thymus gland plays a central role in the development or our immune system, specifically for supporting T cell development (how these cells got their name, maturation and differentiation in the thymus) and discriminating between self and foreign, non-self antigen proteins with production of dendritic cells. As we age, our thymus gland shrinks—the process known as involution—with progressive change from spongy to fatty tissue, with loss of functionality. But this process, with respect to timeline and extent, markedly varies from one person to the next. And to make things even more complicated, our thymus gland anatomy and precise location in the chest also is highly variable. So the famous Frank Netter diagrams from the 1960s (such as at left below) don’t capture the remarkable heterogeneity that a random set of 12 chest CT scans (below at right). What I consider as 2 landmark papers in Nature this week (here and here) used AI to quantify health of the thymus in 2 large cohorts, and then correlate the metric to a broad array of health outcomes. In this edition of Ground Truths, I’m going to cover three questions: (1) How was thymus health determined by AI?; (2) How is thymus health linked to key clinical outcomes? and (3) Are there ways we can promote a healthy (aka rejuvenate) thymus gland in our later years? Subscribe 1. How was thymus health determined by AI? This was accomplished by extensive work developing and validating an AI pipeline for 2 stages, the first for localization and segmentation of the thymus bed, and the second to quantify a digital marker, termed the thymic health score. There’s a lot to this algorithmic development, so I won’t go into all the details, but just provide a rudimentary outline of what was done. The 1st stage used supervised learning with 2 radiologists reviewing 2,461 chest CT scans. That work trained a 3D U-Net model to automatically identify the thymic bed’s 3D cropped region using center of mass coordinates, which reached 99.8% accuracy. The 2nd stage used a foundation model that was pre-trained with SwAV (which stands for Swapping Assignment between multiple Views), a self-supervised model, that generated a high-dimensional thymus representation of 4,096 features. That compares to the radiology reductionist and subjective scoring of 0 to 3 where 0 means the thymus is fully degenerated and fatty, and 3 is considered dense, intact glandular soft tissue. Notably, the self-supervised learning (SSL) performance was superior to supervised (AUC ~0.75 vs 0.55, respectively) reflecting the shallowness of the 0-3 classifier vs SSL’s holistic, self-taught AI. The thymic health score ranged from 0 to 100, with the highest number indexed to fully preserved thymic health. The algorithmic work extended to explainability with both Shapely value distribution, meaning the model was holistic not relying on any “magic” pixel, and occlusion sensitivity, demonstrating the model’s performance was not affected by ribs, sternum, lung tissue, but rather focused on the thymic bed directly. Below are a few saliency maps from the occlusion sensitivity that indicate the thymic bed focus, not affected by neighboring structures, using the jet color scale. Now the AI was ready for processing ~25,000 CT scans, each over 30 MB files, from the 2 large participant cohorts to provide a thymic health score, it did so in less than 14 hours, which is less than 2 seconds per scan! Share 2. How is thymus health linked to key clinical outcomes? The two cohorts were the National Lung Screening Trial, NLST (N=25,031) and the Framingham Heart Study, FHS (N=2,581) each with baseline demographics and long term follow up of >12 years for health outcomes. From the NSLT, you can see below that increased age and body-mass index were correlated to reduced thymic health. And, overall, men had reduced thymic health scores compared with women. There are a lot of graphs in the paper for outcomes, for both the NLST and FHS cohorts. To simplify the major outcomes, below is a composite Figure with striking reduction of all-cause mortality and for the different causes of death. The results were consistent between the 2 cohorts. For example, the cardiovascular mortality hazard ratio average was 0.57 in NLST and 0.38 in FHS (weighted to be 0.53 for the aggregate). The reduction of mortality also extended to digestive diseases and pulmonary disease (data not shown below). Lung cancer incidence was reduced by 36% for high vs low thymic health (Figure below, with a panel -incidence and b panel-mortality, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking status). Notably, there was a smoker’s paradox: lower incidence and improved survival for lung cancer in smokers who had a high thymus health score. Smoking was associated with lower thymic scores whereas alcohol was not. Higher thymic health was linked to higher HDL cholesterol, lower triglycerides, lower fasting blood glucose, and lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Inflammation biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, were elevated in the people with lower thymic health scores. In their second paper, the same team looked at the relationship between thymic score and outcomes for 3,476 patients receiving cancer immunotherapy. The non-small cell lung cancer progression-free survival was reduced in patients with low thymic health score. A parallel relationship for survival was seen for other types of cancer including melanoma, breast, and kidney with a 44% lower risk among high thymic scores (Figure). A similar pattern was seen with different immune checkpoint inhibitors. The thymus health score outperformed programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1)and tumor mutation burden (TMB) assay of the tumor and was an independent prognostic marker of progression-free survival. In this dataset, a direct connect with thymus score and adaptive immune function was noted with a correlation before cancer treatment for both T-cell diversity and thymus T-cell production (a metric known as T cell receptor excision circles). Thymus Removal Study There is a highly relevant citation about thymus function before moving onto ways to rejuvenate it. In 2023, a very important study of thymus removal during cardiothoracic surgery was published, with 1146 patients undergoing thymus removal vs 1146 matched controls (mean age 55 years). The adverse outcomes for thymus removal were striking, with a 2.9 higher risk of all-cause mortality and doubling of cancer incidence, 1.5 fold increase in cancer mortality, and 1.5-fold increase in autoimmune diseases. The immune function showed marked compromise after thymus removal, as reflected by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (Figure below) Share Ground Truths 3. Are there ways we can promote a healthy (aka rejuvenate) thymus gland in our later years? In recent months we’ve learned a lot about the process of thymus involution and the pathways by which this may be modulated. Thymus involution is primarily due to loss to thymus epithelial cells (TECs) and there are 2 subtypes with different functions: the cortical, responsible for positive selection of T cells, and the medullary, for negative selection. When adipose tissue infiltrates the thymus, thymic adipocytes are pro-inflammatory, knocking out T-cell output. Likewise, systemic inflammation, or “inflammaging,” from smoking, obesity, and chronic stress promote thymic adipocytes. Now, from preclinical studies, we know about key pathways that account for these processes. Historically, back in 2014, FOXN1 was recognized as a single master transcription factor essential for TEC function, with studies in mice with forced FOXN1 upregulation leading to thymus regeneration. That laid the foundation for potential regrowth of quiescent thymus cells. It took awhile to find pathways to accomplish this goal and to even refute its role as the master regulator. The Liver-Thymus Axis Feng Zhang and his team recently showed that injection of an mRNA vaccine to the liver encoding DLL1, IL-7 and FLT3-L in combination, factors known to support thymopoiesis (Figure), successfully enhanced immune function in aged mice. However, the effect was transient. The FGF21 Story Two reports in 2025 addressed the thymus gland’s production of FGF21, a growth factor (fibroblast growth factor 21) and its control of thymus involution. This growth factor is also produced by the liver, but it doesn’t have impact on the thymus in aged rodent models. In contrast, The liver’s hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been shown to reverse senescent TEC structural changes. Growth hormone stimulates production of insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the liver and the thymus. Two small studies in human participants (TRIIM, for Thymus Regeneration, Immunorestoration, and Insulin Mitigation) of 6 and 50 people, respectively, treated with combined human growth hormone, metformin and DHEA, suggested the potential of slowing epigenetic aging and improving thymus mass and function. But the combination of drugs, small sample, and lack of controls make conclusions murky. Increased thymus FGF21 led to increased CD8 T cells in old mice and extended healthspan and improved physical performance. Building on the previous FOXN1 data, ablation of β-klotho, the obligatory co-receptor for FOXN1, accelerated thymic aging. The benefit to FGF21 was confirmed in a companion paper using an FGF21 knock-in mouse model showing thymus enlargement and increased TECs throughout the lifespan. (schematic Figure below). The accompanying editorial for these 2 papers speculated: “The proposed link between age-associated thymus involution and organismal aging is intriguing, and suggests we might seek to achieve systemic rejuvenation by counteracting thymic involution.” Other Factors Lessons from the Axolotl (Mexican Salamander) In an elegant set of experiments of the axolotl (Figure), known for its complete thymus regeneration after total surgical removal, mediators were identified. Surprisingly FOXN1 was dispensable. But midkine, a growth factor, appeared to be the driver, the initiator of thymus cell growth, survival, and repair. Other components that contributed were Postn+ (periostin-expressing mesenchymal niches) and Ccl19, a chemokine protein from the bloodstream. RANK and RANKL RANK (receptor activator of nuclear factor κB its ligand (RANKL) have been considered key regulators of medullary TECs. In a study of both aged mice and human thymus cell cultures, their key role was confirmed, with multiple benefits of resorting TEC function, recruitment of progenitor cells, and T cell development. Subscribe Summing Up This body of work strongly supports the health of the thymus gland as a critical regulator of human healthspan, not just a correlate or link. The new landmark studies are reinforced by the regenerative biology experimental models that have shown, via an array of mediators, that healthspan of aged mice is at least in part dependent on thymus gland function and its critical role for maintaining adaptive immunity. It sure seems that we’d be better off having an immune reservoir of naive T cells instead of a profile in older adults of exhausted, low quality, memory T cells, with a senescent phenotype. It is striking that we ignored the importance of the thymus gland for many decades. A wake-up call was the results of the thymectomy matched control study reviewed here, with the opposite of high thymic health score improved health outcomes. The convergence of AI and healthspan here is notable. The exceptional and laborious work for developing and validating (no less explaining) the AI to quantify thymus health set the foundation for probing the connect the major health outcomes in two cohorts with extensive follow-up. We’ve never had a way to meaningfully quantify the thymus gland before, so this represents important leverage of supervised, self-supervised, and transformer models. The study wouldn’t have been possible without AI. And it begs the question as to whether there are ways we can maintain our thymus at a high health score. But it’s not so simple to rejuvenate our thymus. There are multiple risks including the induction of autoimmunity, increasing the risk of cancer, and inducing a pro-inflammatory state. For example, factors that increase TEC proliferation could compromise the medulllary negative selection process and leak out auto-reactive (self-attacking) T cells. Thymic cells could be induced to proliferate, but we know, for example, that growth hormone and IGF-1 are associated with an increase risk of cancer. If thymus rejuvenation doesn’t clear out the accumulated senescent cells in older adults, then inflammation within the gland could block the production of TECs. Keeping these risks in mind, we now have identified many ways to keep our thymus healthy as we age that undoubtedly will be tested in clinical trials going forward. Ultimately, the benefit-to-risk tradeoffs will be defined. In the meantime, we have desperately needed an immunome. As I’ve stressed in multiple prior Ground Truths, we have no test in the clinic to assess a patient’s immune status! It was very encouraging for me to get an email from Hugo Aerts, the senior author of the landmark papers in the days after they were published: “I also wanted to say that your Substack on “Why We Need an Immunome” was inspiring for this work. We found it a very compelling perspective and greatly enjoyed reading it.” Just having an assessment of a person’s immune status via a chest CT scan, with millions of these performed per year, might help in guiding the right immunotherapy for cancer (e.g. more intensive, combinations for those with low thymic health scores) and help define people who are increased risk for age-related diseases of cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative. The main theme of Super Agers is that we now have many layers of data (genetics, proteins, biomarkers, organ clocks that can be integrated via multimodal AI) for us to define a person’s specific risk decades before one of these age-related diseases leads to symptoms, enabling prevention. From the new studies this week, we can add thymus health score as yet another way to understand a person’s risk, a window into their adaptive immune system and healthspan. And perhaps someday we will be able to safely rejuvenate the thymus, or maintain its health through one’s life, and use the thymus health score to monitor. NB: I wrote this post (No A.I.) A Quick Poll Loading... ********************************************************************* Thanks to Ground Truths subscribers (now > 200,000) from every US state and 212 countries. Your subscription to these free essays and podcasts makes my work in putting them together worthwhile. Please join! If you found this interesting PLEASE share it! Share Ground Truths Paid subscriptions are voluntary and all proceeds from them go to support Scripps Research. They do allow for posting comments and questions, which I do my best to respond to. Please don’t hesitate to post comments and give me feedback. Let me know topics that you would like to see covered. Leave a comment Many thanks to those who have contributed—they have greatly helped fund our summer internship programs for the past two years. 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