Nathan's Notes July 8th, 2025

C-Sections Linked To Cancer, Bird Flu Emergency Over, Working Out And Personality Types, & New Malaria Treatment

Welcome back to Nathan’s Notes!
I break down the top stories and latest research so you don’t have to dig through journals or headlines each day. Let’s get into it.

Planned C-Section Linked To Cancer

A major Swedish study of more than 2.4 million children found that those born by planned Cesarean section had a higher risk of developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), especially B-cell precursor ALL. The increased risk was most noticeable in boys and children under five. Emergency C-sections, in contrast, were not linked to this elevated risk. These findings held up even after adjusting for maternal health, pregnancy complications, and other confounding factors.

Researchers believe two main biological mechanisms may help explain the link. First, babies born by planned C-section miss out on exposure to vaginal microbes, which help train the immune system. Second, planned C-sections done before labor begins deprive babies of a surge in stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which may support immune development and help eliminate pre-leukemic cells.

CDC Ends Bird Flu Emergency Response