From the Journals

Medical Oddities: For the Birds—and the Brain

Birds for brains, blackout laughs, anti-aging tea, thin air, muscle memory—and torn marriages, all with a clinical touch this week.

Share

  • 1

    Bird-identification experts show brain structural changes.

  • 2

    Laughter can trigger syncope in some patients.

  • 3

    Dark tea may offer anti-aging benefits through specific pathways.

  • 4

    Chronic hypoxia in mice improved glucose tolerance via red blood cell changes.

  • 5

    Surgeons face high emotional exhaustion and divorce rates.

Original Source(s)

Medical Oddities: For the Birds—and the Brain

Birds for brains, blackout laughs, anti-aging tea, thin air, muscle memory—and torn marriages, all with a clinical touch this week.

  • by Teraya Smith

  • February 25, 2026

  • 6 min

Related Content

How Midlife Diet Relates to Cognitive Aging 

Healthier dietary patterns were associated with better later-life cognitive outcomes 

Experts Prioritize 3 Drugs for Alzheimer's

A global expert consensus identifies three repurposed drugs, including the shingles vaccine, as top candidates for Alzheimer disease clinical trials

At-Home Brain Stimulation for Alzheimer’s

Clinical trial evaluates safety, cognitive outcomes, and biologic engagement