During the COVID-19 pandemic, global levels of poor mental health increased, influenced by factors such as isolation due to lockdown measures and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Previous studies have reported that ACEs may increase perceptions of loneliness in adulthood, which may serve as a prospective risk factor for poor mental health. Guided by the developmental origins framework, this study investigated the association between ACEs and adult mental health symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder), and the potential mediating effect of loneliness in South Africa. This cross-sectional online study recruited 245 participants across South Africa, which included a series of surveys assessing their demographics, social experiences, mental health symptoms, and feelings of loneliness. All statistical analyses were conducted using regression analyses in R, and mediation analysis was conducted using a causal inference framework. Approximately 78% of participants reported experiencing at least one ACE. ACEs were significantly associated with all four mental health outcomes (p < 0.001). In all models, loneliness was a significant mediator between ACEs and poor mental health. These findings highlight that ACEs are a possible risk factor for adult loneliness, which in turn may shape poor mental health in adulthood. Our results highlight the role of early life experiences in shaping adult loneliness and mental health, and the importance of social and family support in mitigating poor psychological health. Furthermore, our results underscore childhood adversity as a public concern requiring systemic responses, including routine screening for ACEs and greater investments in public mental healthcare in South Africa.

Death is a human universal; however, the ways it is conceptualized and ritualized vary significantly across time, space, and culture. In anthropology, death has been conceptualized differently across the subdisciplines. Cultural anthropology tends to emphasize variation in cultural and religious perceptions, experiences, and meanings of death, while bio-archaeological anthropology has tended to focus on conditions impacting deposition and decomposition of human remains, related health implications, and what burials reveal about social organization. Of course, death reflects many axes of human experience and social organization and is usefully theorized using a multi-sub-disciplinary lens. We utilize qualitative interviews addressing perceptions of health, ecology, death, dying, and community in Tanna, Vanuatu, where religious, infrastructural, and ecological change offer opportunities to explore how variation in religious and ecological environments impacts mortuary practices. We supplement these findings with community-wide quantitative data about religious affiliation, perceptions of death and community, funeral attendance, and GPS burial data. Analysis reveals i) community and religion are central features of the ni-Vanuatu deathscape, fostering high levels of cohesion surrounding death; ii) materials and symbols associated with death are grounded in traditional ecological knowledge (TEK); and iii) cultural and ecological understandings of health, dying, and death have been impacted by ongoing market transition. Results highlight the importance of interdisciplinary studies of death, as globalization continues to drive rapid change in social, economic, and physical landscapes across the world.

Child development research demonstrates that early life stress (ELS) can disrupt cognitive and emotional development, often framed as impairment. However, emerging perspectives suggest some stress-related changes may reflect adaptive recalibration of cognitive systems to match environmental demands. The stress-adapted cognition (SAC) model proposes that exposure to ELS during childhood may shape responses to environmental cues, potentially heightening vigilance and attention to threats in adverse contexts. We used electroencephalography (EEG) to test SAC predictions by examining how ELS influences rapid neural responses to emotional stimuli, potentially revealing patterns of brain activity that may reflect adaptive socioemotional processing. Children aged 5–6 years (n = 58; 48% female) completed the Emotional Interrupt Task with positive, negative, and neutral images while EEG data were collected. The Late Positive Potential (LPP), an event-related potential indexing emotional salience and attentional allocation, was scored during the 500–1000 ms window and averaged across occipital and parietal sites of maximal activity. ELS was operationalized as harshness and unpredictability, dimensions considered evolutionarily relevant indicators of stress. ELS variables included children’s experiences witnessing violence (M=0.229. SD=0.174), being a victim of violence (M=0.156, SD=0.161), an income to needs ratio (M=5.470, SD=4.292), and census block group data including personal crime risk (M=149.655, SD=4.292) and an area deprivation index (M=34.448, SD=21.071). These findings will contribute to an anthropological understanding of how children’s emotional attention systems are calibrated to their social and ecological environments and link ELS exposure to variation in neural processing

Estrone (E1), the dominant circulating estrogen in females after menopause, is associated with the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in adipose tissues. Previous work assessing these relationships has largely relied on venous blood samples, which are invasive and challenging to collect in field settings. We therefore assessed the feasibility of collecting and analyzing minimally-invasive biological samples to test relationships between estrone, adiposity, and inflammation using pilot data collected in Southwestern Illinois as part of the Rural Embodiment and Community Health (REACH) Study. Saliva samples were collected via passive drool from 17 female participants and analyzed for E1 using a commercially-available salivary estrone ELISA kit. Participants also provided stool samples to measure fecal calprotectin (FC; a biomarker of intestinal inflammation) using a commercially-available ELISA kit. Linear regression with log-transformed E1 and FC concentrations tested 1) whether sociodemographic and body composition factors predict salivary estrone concentration and 2) whether salivary E1 concentration predicts FC concentration. Bootstrapping (BCa, 2000 reps) was used to assess uncertainty. In models adjusted for age and menopausal status (collected from survey responses), we found no significant associations for either relationship, although increased body fat (measured using a portable bioimpedance scale) was associated with a small, non-significant decrease in salivary estrone concentration (B = -0.0346; p = 0.70), and there was a non-significant association between salivary estrone and increased fecal calprotectin concentration (B = 0.3734; p = 0.67). Future analyses will investigate whether fecal estrone concentration is associated with biomarkers of intestinal and systemic inflammation.

The mental health of mothers is a growing area of concern for global public health. One risk factor for poor mental health is iron status, which has been tentatively but not causally associated with mental health in non-industrialized populations. We generate a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) to test the causal impact of iron status (hemoglobin, soluble transferrin receptor (STFR), anemia status, iron deficiency status) on the mental health of 227 mothers (aged 19–47y) in The Gambia. Mental health was measured in two ways: the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) and the Cantril Ladder. Overall, 56% of women were anemic (hemoglobin range: 6.1–15.3 g/dL) and STFR values were available for 50% of mothers (mean: 3.52 mg/L, sd: 2.31). Cantril scores ranged from the lowest satisfaction value of 1 to the highest of 10 (mean: 6.42, sd: 2.21), while K6 scores ranged from a low of 0 (no psychological distress) to 14 out of a possible 24, a constriction of scores that has been noted in other sub-Saharan populations. None of the models showed strong or statistically significant associations between iron measures and the mental health scales. This analysis does not support a causal relationship between iron status and maternal mental health in this population. However, food insecurity was significantly associated with mental health in all K6 models. Food insecurity may act as a general psychological stressor that worsens mental health, but perhaps not through the pathway. Further research should consider the relationship between food insecurity and mental health.

“Good mothering” is a goal at once seductive, ever-changing and challenging to achieve. Culturally specific constructions of “good” and “bad” practices of infant care can lead women to engage in risky infant care behaviours unknowingly and to discount beneficial practices, while failure to meet cultural standards may jeopardise maternal mental health. This project investigates the perceptions of mothering and infant care practices held by university-aged women in two distinct cultural contexts, upstate New York, US, and Xalapa, Mexico. Five focus groups of 60-90 minutes duration were conducted in each location in March-October 2024, involving 27 women in New York and 33 women in Xalapa. Guiding questions about mothering and infant care provided structure to the discussions and standardised probes elicited additional responses. Participants in NY felt that breastfeeding enhances mother-infant bonding but remains socially taboo, while providing little benefit over breast milk substitutes. In contrast, participants in Xalapa discussed the immunological and nutritional benefits of breast milk. The high cost of breast milk substitutes was mentioned by participants in both contexts. NY participants viewed co-sleeping practices as inherently risky and solitary sleep as unproblematically safe, whereas close proximity sleep was normative for Xalapan participants. Family and community were seen as main sources of parenting support and information among participants in Xalapa. NY women identified family, but exposure to parenting-related content from social media was also mentioned repeatedly. Understanding perceptions of care practices among women who are the next generation of parents may help us to understand their infant care decision-making.

People experiencing houselessness (PEH) in the United States often face difficulty accessing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) resources. Despite being a global health priority and an integral component of social determinants of health (SDOH), WASH is rarely examined in high-income countries like the United States. Pilot data were collected in Summer 2025 on WASH and intestinal health as part of a mixed methods study in Oregon. Minimally invasive biomarkers, focus group discussions, and a brief survey were conducted among 38 PEH adults aged 21-67 years. According to participant self-report, 73% had used the bathroom outside in the previous month, 34% reported that outdoors is their primary bathroom location, 63% were able to access a shower for bathing once per week or less, 26% relied on service providers as their primary source of water, and 45% had utilized a river or lake for bathing within the prior month. These findings highlight a critical gap in WASH access for the study participants. For PEH, SDOH play an outsized role in the ability to live, and service providers play an important role in addressing these crises experienced by PEH. This preliminary study demonstrates an urgent need for immediate and targeted interventions to provide safe WASH facilities for PEH in the United States.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and is associated with higher levels of total cholesterol while lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are generally linked with reduced CVD risk. Physical activity (PA) is thought to be positively associated with HDL-C and inversely related to total cholesterol. We proposed that within a low-resource community with limited access to spaces for recreation and fitness, PA would be significantly associated with cholesterol levels. Survey data and finger-prick blood samples were collected from adults (n=86, ages 20-92) in Southwestern Illinois as part of the Rural Embodiment and Community Health (REACH) Study. The amount of moderate to vigorous PA performed in a typical week was reported by participants while lipid biomarkers levels were measured using a CardioChek Plus analyzer. Logistic regression models tested associations between self-reported PA and healthy levels of total cholesterol or HDL-C (as defined by the CDC), controlling for age, sex, race, income, and cholesterol medication usage. No significant association was found between PA and total cholesterol or HDL-C. Greater odds of healthy total cholesterol levels were predicted by younger age (p=.049) and cholesterol medication usage (p=.007) Higher BMI was associated with lower odds of healthy HDL-C levels (p =.029). It is possible that self-reported PA data may not be reliable for predicting cholesterol levels. Future analyses will assess more objective measures of activity (i.e., accelerometry data) and additional biomarkers linked with CVD (i.e. C-reactive protein).

Non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, have recently emerged as the leading cause of mortality in Ecuador. Previous research from the Galapagos Islands identified lack of access to affordable foods, medications, and care as barriers to diabetes self-management.

We conducted a mixed-methods pilot study with individuals diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes (n=25) living on San Cristobal Island in July 2025 to explore barriers to effective self-management and assess how access to water, food, medication, and healthcare, as well as, social support networks impact health outcomes and the emotional burden of living with diabetes. The survey included sociodemographic, water and food security, healthcare access, and health history questions. Additionally, a semi-structured interview on challenges of living with diabetes was conducted. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analyses of interviews to characterize lived experiences of those with diabetes.

Most participants reported a single basic Ecuadorian household salary or below (68%), water insecurity (80%), and food insecurity (56%). The mean HbA1c value in participants was 8.18%. 60% had at least one family member diagnosed with or at risk of diabetes. 64% were taking diabetes medication. 72% of participants received diabetes care in Galapagos, where there is no medical diabetes specialist. Of those, 22% also received care from mainland Ecuador. Thematic analysis suggests that access to food, medication and care remain significant concerns. Our findings indicate that living with diabetes poses a significant emotional burden, and many individuals expressed a strong interest in connecting with others who live with diabetes.

Environmental pollutants can disrupt endocrine function in ways that reflect and reinforce social inequities in exposure and health. Because calcium balance is central to metabolism, skeletal biology, and adaptation to ecological stressors, the parathyroid hormone (PTH) system offers a sensitive lens on how toxic exposures become biologically embodied. This study examines how exposures to lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) influence PTH variation in U.S. adults and how these effects align with spatial patterns of environmental injustice. Individual-level data from NHANES 2005–2006 (n = 4,128) were analyzed using survey-weighted linear regression to estimate associations between blood metals and serum PTH. To situate these physiological results, county-level socioeconomic and environmental data from the 2022 Environmental Justice Index were mapped and compared with modeled patterns of endocrine vulnerability. At the individual level, metals showed distinct associations with PTH: Pb was positively associated, whereas Cd and Hg were inversely associated (all p < 0.01). Counties with higher environmental-burden scores showed overlapping geographic patterns with elevated modeled PTH and pronounced socioeconomic disadvantage. These findings suggest that toxic metal exposures alter calcium–PTH regulation at the individual level while clustering spatially in communities facing cumulative social and environmental stressors. Integrating physiological, environmental, and socioeconomic data reveals how endocrine function embodies both biochemical disruption and structural inequality.

Socioeconomic status (SES) has well-documented influences on health across the life-course, however, little attention has been given to subjective social status (SSS). Unlike SES, SSS measures personal perception of one’s social standing rather than material wealth. Because of SSS’s focus on self-perception, it offers unique insights into how complex psychosocial factors may impact health and aging— information that cannot be captured through SES alone. The pathways through which psychosocial stressors like SSS impact health and aging are largely uncertain, though DNA methylation has gained popularity as a proxy measure for biological changes that influence overall health and senescence pace. In particular, epigenetic clocks, which use patterns of DNA methylation to estimate age, have gained popularity as a means to search for biological age acceleration in response to chronic stressors. Here we use blood-derived whole genome methylation data from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey (CLHNS) to analyze epigenetic clock estimates in relation to SSS. For our analysis, we used sex-stratified multivariable linear regressions with clock estimates regressed on SSS and chronological age. In males, no clocks were predicted by SSS. However, in females lower SSS significantly or borderline significantly predicted higher epigenetic age in the Hannum (𝛽 = -0.119, p = 0.056), Phenoage (𝛽 = -0.247, p = 0.01), Grimage (𝛽 = -0.078, p = 0.087), and DunedinPACE (𝛽 = -0.006, p = 0.017) clocks. These findings suggest SSS has an effect on DNA methylation patterns amongst women in Cebu and may potentially have a larger impact on health and aging.

The prevalence of cardiometabolic (CM) diseases is rising dramatically across Mexico, with the Yucatán Peninsula experiencing some of the nation's steepest increases in conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Existing regional research has focused primarily on urban centers or minors, leaving a critical data gap in rural adult populations which this study addresses by examining local understandings of chronic disease. We employed qualitative methods, including focus groups and individual interviews (n=30), with residents from a community near Valladolid, Yucatán, to explore their conceptualizations of CM disease development and the societal factors that impede prevention and treatment.

Participants expressed profound concern over the high prevalence of CM conditions. Our key qualitative finding reveals a significant disjunction: despite acknowledging the long-term role of diet and exercise in management, community members primarily conceptualize CM conditions as having an acute, identifiable point of onset rather than a gradual, chronic process. Participants cited profound systemic and environmental barriers to effective management, including inconsistent medical attention, lack of transportation to larger towns, shortages of public health system medications, and the prohibitive cost of private care. They consistently advocated for enhanced local healthcare access and workshops tailored to chronic disease management.

These findings underscore that future research and public health interventions must incorporate these local conceptualizations of acute-onset disease. Understanding this perspective is imperative for developing synergistic, culturally tailored approaches aimed at prevention and ensuring that structural impediments to long-term chronic management are prioritized in rural communities.

The CLHNS is a longitudinal, multi-generational cohort study of three generations of Filipinos from Cebu, Philippines. The CLHNS enrolled more than 3000 births in 1983 and 1984, and more than 1000 births among female infants from the original cohort. Initially focused on infant feeding patterns, the study is now a long running study of developmental programming, aging, and intergenerational health. Kuzawa and Eisenberg reported that birth weight was correlated between mothers and offspring in the CLHNS. Here, we expand this analysis to look at sex-specific trends in birth weight and postnatal growth. We hypothesized that there would be different associations between maternal birth weight and infant birth weight based on infant sex.

A total of 765 mother-infant pairs from these pairs had complete data from 1983-2009. Data were analyzed using linear regression. A subset of participants (n=126) had at least one infant growth measurement.

Female infants had a mean birth weight 99.22 grams higher than male infants among mothers in the low-birth-weight category, though not statistically significant (95% CI: -176.65 to 375.09 grams, p= 0.48). Male infants of low-birth-weight mothers had significantly lower mean birth weight compared to male infants of average birth weight mothers. No differences were found between female infant birth weights between maternal birth weight groups. Male infants of low birth weight mothers, regardless of birth size, had less weight gain in the first year of life.

Within this sample, it appears that male infants of low birth weight mothers have differential fetal and neonatal growth patterns.

Cities are heterogeneous environments, linked to the uneven distribution and development of infrastructure and public services. Irregular urbanization enhances and produces different health risks, including uneven exposure to disease. We build on human biology’s long history of exploring community-level variables that contribute to health by exploring city geography and its relationship to child health status using geographical information systems (GIS) for home locations for 102 Peruvian children. Specifically, we investigated slope and its association with a variety of household-level variables and child health measures by analyzing spatial trends of slope across all locations. Kernel Density analysis was used to find potential areas where certain variables were concentrated while Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation was used to visualize the general trend of variables across all locations. Analyses suggest that slope is not correlated with anemia status, height-for-age or weight-for-age z-scores, or the presence of respiratory and diarrheal disease symptoms. However, c-reactive protein (CRP) level and the amount of money spent on food (both weekly and when eating outside the home) increased with steeper slope (all r:>0.40). Generally, as slope increased the probability of poor-quality house materials increased (r:0.11) and patterns also suggest that child BMI z-scores were lower in steeper slope areas (r: -0.05). This analysis highlights the potential of including spatial analyses in research exploring physical and social environmental variables that impact health status, particularly in peri-urban areas characterized by heterogeneous access to infrastructure and services.

Sleep and thermoregulation are closely linked physiological processes that can reflect underlying metabolic status. Prior research suggests that inefficient sleep is associated with metabolic dysregulation, altered thermoregulation, and higher body mass index (BMI). This study examines associations between sleep, body temperature, and BMI in women from the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation who participated in the RAWBS Study (n=165). Participants were recruited and data collected between 2009 and 2016. Sleep characteristics were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), focusing on component scores for sleep efficiency, duration, and quality. Basal body temperatures were used to calculate individual mean values, and BMI served as an index of metabolic status.

Spearman’s rank correlations examined relationships between mean body temperature, BMI, and PSQI components. Analyses included all participants with temperature data (n=165), and subsets with at least 20 (n=159) and 28 (n=120) valid temperature measures to evaluate completeness effects. Mean body temperature correlated positively with subjective sleep quality (ρ = 0.15-0.20, p ≤ .05) but not with duration or efficiency. BMI showed weak, nonsignificant negative trends with temperature (ρ ≈ -0.12 to -0.15) and sleep measures.

These findings indicate that warmer basal body temperature is modestly associated with better perceived sleep quality among reproductive-age women. Sleep duration and efficiency were unrelated to temperature, suggesting that quantitative aspects of sleep may be less closely linked to thermoregulation in this sample.

Humans have family structures involving stacked dependency periods for offspring who grow slowly and require substantial energy investment. Across cultures, humans cooperate extensively to raise these costly offspring, with mothers receiving support from fathers, grandmothers, and other kin and community members. Cooperative partners may help parents mitigate nutritional stress related to caregiving costs in energetically demanding ecologies. Our prior work in this BaYaka community showed that women often cooperate with other women, particularly kin, in food sharing, which may reflect the support needed to alleviate the energetic costs of reproduction and childcare. In this study, we investigated associations between household composition and two anthropometric measurements associated with nutrition status (body mass index (BMI) and triceps skinfold thickness) among reproductive-aged men and women (N=101; <60 years) from a BaYaka foraging community, which is part of a smaller-scale foraging society in the Republic of the Congo. Adults without a spouse in their household had significantly lower BMI (p<0.05) than those whose spouse lived in the same household. These results were similar for women and men. Triceps skinfold thickness in both women and men did not significantly differ according to whether they lived with a spouse (p>0.9). Adults’ anthropometrics also did not significantly vary based on whether they resided with their own mothers or mothers-in-law (‘grandmothers’) (p>0.2) or the number of other female or male adults residing in the household (p>0.1). These findings suggest that spousal co-residence may help buffer adults’ long-term energetic condition, possibly through greater consistency in subsistence and resource pooling.

The menopausal transition is recognized as a significant determinant of long-term health during the postreproductive period. However, while ovarian and chronological aging may progress in parallel, they are distinct processes. Years since natural menopause (YSM) reflects reproductive aging that may influence cardiometabolic health and cognitive function in ways not captured by age alone. The association between postmenopausal aging and multi-domain health outcomes remains understudied in South Africa where expansion of healthcare and societal infrastructure has contributed to increased life expectancy and, consequently, prevalence of age-related conditions. This study examines the association between YSM (<10, 10–20, 20+ years) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk and cognitive function, respectively, among a cohort of postmenopausal adults (N = 878) in a rural South African setting. Adjusting for age, assets, nativity, parity, and social engagement, individuals more than 20 YSM exhibited a trend toward greater odds of MetS (Ref: <10 YSM; OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 0.96, 2.93); however, social engagement provided a significant protective effect (OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.80, 0.98). Additionally, in the adjusted model, those more than 20 YSM displayed significantly lower cognitive performance as captured by a standardized latent variable (Ref: <10 YSM; b = -0.28, 95% CI: -0.51, -0.05). These findings suggest that the physiological changes accompanying the menopausal transition may continue to influence health decades later, particularly cognitive domains. These findings may help inform risk assessment and implementation of timely interventions to bolster cardiometabolic and cognitive health among postmenopausal individuals in the Global South.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women globally, and the menopausal transition is associated with elevated cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Yet menopause’s impact on blood pressure remains inconclusive, with evidence largely based on data from industrialized populations. To address this gap, we examined associations between menopause, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and hypertension among the Tsimane, forager-horticulturalists, and a nationally representative U.S. population. We analyzed data from female and male Tsimane (nindividuals=5,713; nobservations=19,971; ages 15–93) and U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey participants (NHANES; nindividuals=9,657; ages 15–80). We applied linear regression models for systolic and diastolic blood pressure with menopause, logistic regression models for hypertension and stage 2 hypertension, interaction models to assess menopause-age effects on blood pressure trajectories, and estradiol mediation analyses. Neither blood pressure nor hypertension was associated with menopause among Tsimane or U.S. women. Tsimane women showed no change in blood pressure slope post-menopause. U.S. women exhibited an increase in systolic blood pressure with age post-menopause (b=0.208 mmHg/year, p<0.001) and a decline in diastolic slope post-menopause (b=-0.393 mmHg/year, p<0.001). Estradiol did not mediate effects among the Tsimane but had a modest indirect effect on systolic blood pressure among U.S. women (b=0.756 mmHg, p=0.022), though without a significant overall effect of menopause. We found no direct association between menopause and blood pressure in either population. However, U.S. women showed menopause-related changes in age trajectories of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, underscoring the influence of pre-menopause cardiovascular risk environments on post-menopause risk profiles.

Reliable access to clean water remains a major health and environmental challenge in the Galapagos Islands. Residents facing water insecurity cope with biologically contaminated water and the psychosocial stress of unreliable access. Using data from a mixed-methods pilot study conducted in July 2025 to assess perceived and measured water quality on San Cristobal Island, we explored the relationships between perceived and measured water quality and the patterns of coping behaviors and psychosocial stress. Participants from 21 households completed a survey and semi-structured interview about perceptions of water quality, household water use practices, coping behaviors, and water-related stress. Additionally, samples of tap and drinking water were collected and tested for Escherichia coli. Results show divergence between perceived and measured drinking water quality: 33% of households perceived their water as contaminated despite microbiologically safe results, while 24% perceived their water as clean despite E. coli contamination of any level. Perceived water quality was also related to both coping behavior and psychosocial stress: just over half (52%) of households reported coping strategies - such as prioritizing specific water tasks or seeking alternative water sources - regardless of actual contamination. Additionally, 38% of households reported stress or coping behavior despite safe water, while 19% experienced contaminated water but did not report stress or coping. Findings suggest that water insecurity in the Galápagos is not defined by microbial contamination alone. Psychosocial stress and coping behavior often emerge independently of measured contamination, highlighting the broader burdens of water insecurity.

Background: Religious involvement is positively correlated with cognition while widowhood has been associated with cognitive decline among older adults. Further, religious involvement mitigates the negative impact(s) of losing a spouse for some. We examined whether religious involvement, marital status, and/or their interaction were associated with cognition among older adults.

Methods: The baseline sample (N=2469, 58% female; age=76.52 [5.96]) included participants from the Cache County Study on Memory in Aging. Linear mixed-effects models examined associations between cognition and marital status and religion for a maximum of 8.22 years. Co-variates included activities of daily living (ADLs), health, age, and education. A modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS) measured cognition; religion was organized into two domains (public practice, private practice). Marital status was classified as married, widowed, or single/divorced/separated.

Results: Private religious practice was positively associated with cognition (β=0.668, p<.001). Marital status significantly interacted with time such that being single/divorced/separated was associated with more rapid cognitive decline compared to being widowed or married (ps=.052, .001). Public religious practice and interactions between religion and marital status were not associated with cognition.

Discussion: This analysis identifies a specific component of religion, private practice (e.g., private prayer), that may be protective against cognitive decline in a longitudinal sample. This finding contrasts past work that identified an association between attending religious services and cognition but did not control for participants’ health or ADL status. The present results also suggest that being single/separated/divorced is related to cognition, highlighting the need to examine marital categories beyond a divorced/widowed binary.

Food cravings are a universal experience that influences factors such as weight, diet choice, and health, yet their nutritional and biological mechanisms remain poorly understood. This project examined the relationship between nutritional deficiencies and food cravings among 19 students at Florida State University using 24 hour dietary recalls and structured interviews. Participants (mean age=20.1 years, 74% women) reported what foods they crave, which were then categorized as protein, sugar, fat, or salt. 24 hour food recalls were analyzed using the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR), and four independent t-tests compared the mean nutrient intake between participants who reported specific cravings and those who did not express these cravings for sodium, magnesium, iron, and protein. No significant associations were found between specific cravings and lower nutrient intake (p > 0.05 for tests). Participants expressing cravings did not exhibit corresponding deficiencies; for example, all consumed sodium levels were higher than the daily recommended amount (2300 mg). Deficiencies in magnesium (85% of participants) and iron (63% of participants) were observed but not related to reported cravings. The findings in this study suggest that food cravings may not be reliable indicators of underlying nutritional deficiencies. Cravings may be more closely tied to environmental or psychological factors. Future directions can investigate the behavioral and emotional dimensions of cravings, such as comfort and nostalgia, in addition to the role of childhood or current food insecurity.

Extreme heat, intensified by climate change and urbanization, poses a significant public health threat. Menopausal individuals may face heightened vulnerability under heat stress due to endocrine changes affecting thermoregulation. However, urban heat studies and interventions rarely focus on menopausal populations directly. Over the past 20 years, Philadelphia has faced increasingly frequent and intense heat events, driven by climate change and its pronounced urban heat island landscape. This has prompted the development of notable sustained public health interventions such as the Heatline and cooling centers. Here, we conducted a review of existing literature related to heat, stress, and health and the city of Philadelphia. We systematically searched PubMed and Web of Science (1996-2025) for original research articles using keywords “heat”, “health”, and “Philadelphia.” Thirty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria. We found that while zero articles included menopause as a variable, 81% included age and 46% included sex/gender. Among these, 72.2% found increased age correlated with higher heat-health risk, and 10.8% identified increased risk for females/women. Crucially, 100% of the latter found this risk exclusively in older females. Our findings reveal a critical gap in the Philadelphia existing interventions and overall literature regarding explicit examination of menopausal status and relevant health effects due to heat stress. Simultaneously, existing work strongly implicates older females as a high-risk group. Given that local research has directly informed interventions for other vulnerable populations, future urban heat-health studies must directly incorporate menopausal status to ensure public health strategies address this likely vulnerable demographic.

Life history theory suggests that nutritional and disease ecology affects the timing of puberty, and that trade-offs between life history demands are especially acute in resource-limited populations. Although this is assumed to apply to both adrenal and gonadal puberty, few studies have examined trade-offs affecting adrenal maturation. Following life history theory, it is predicted that those with greater energy budgets will show accelerated adrenal puberty. Further, controlling for differences in overall energy budget, those with a heavier immune load should show diminished investment in adrenal androgen levels. To test these hypotheses, salivary dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (as a measure of adrenal maturation; DHEA-S), body fat percentage, and a measure of mucosal immunity (i.e. secretory IgA; sIgA) were measured in a group of Honduran juveniles and adolescents (96 males and 126 females) aged 7 to 18. Multiple regression analysis showed that DHEA-S was significantly associated with higher mucosal immunity (β = 0.51), greater age (β = 0.19), and female gender (β = 0.16). Body fat percentage was not associated with DHEA-S. Results are discussed in light of potential developmental functions of DHEA-S.

Exposure to environmental endocrine disruptors such as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at the volume seen today is evolutionarily novel. To date, few studies have examined the cumulative exposure of PFAS and its downstream effect on short and long-term health outcomes, especially in children. A pilot study was conducted in January and February 2025 in Utila, Honduras in collaboration with the Utila Child Health Project. Twenty-one drinking and tap water samples were collected from households enrolled in the study and analyzed for 16 different PFAS compounds using LC/MS according to EPA Protocol 537.1. One groundwater sample from a neighborhood where residential flooding is common was also collected. The pilot study aimed to (1) measure the composition and concentration of PFAS in household water sources, (2) examine whether PFAS burden is associated with residential location and household water source type. We find that perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) are the two most common contaminants. 52% of the samples demonstrated detectable levels of at least one PFAS compound with higher contamination present in households located near the town center. These findings indicate that PFAS are a relevant contaminant for both drinking water and household water in Utila, Honduras, particularly for children in vulnerable developmental stages. This pilot data will provide integral information for future work which will expand on this project by comparing children’s household exposure to PFAS with longitudinal health data from the Utila Child Health Project.

Globalization and economic shifts are transforming food systems across Africa, altering diets, ingredients, and family eating patterns. In Rwanda, grandmothers continue to play a central role in sustaining and transmitting traditional food knowledge. The aim of this pilot project is to explore how Rwandan grandmother’s understand nutrition, their role in transmitting traditional food knowledge, and perceived dietary quality of typical meals. Ethnographic fieldwork (March 2024) with 20 Rwandan grandmothers, aged 55-89, included qualitative interviews, focal-follow observations, free listing, and a cooking-based focus group. Data were analyzed using iterative, inductive coding supplemented by Smith’s S index for salience of traditional foods and FAO African food tables for nutrient estimates. Participants defined a good meal as combining three elements – body building foods (proteins, beans, meat, fish), protective foods (vegetables, greens, fruit), and energy- giving foods (cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas, sorghum). Beans are at the core of a traditional Rwandese diet, often cooked in a single pot with leafy greens and a starch. While meat was valued for celebrations, most daily meals were plant based, averaging 275 kcal, with 15 g protein, per 250 g serving. Grandmother’s cultural model of balanced eating aligns with nutritional science, highlighting the potential of grandmothers as a community educators and agents of adaptation during Rwanda’s ongoing nutrition transition.

Over the past decade, the gut microbiome has emerged as a key facilitator of human phenotypic plasticity. Our microbial symbionts serve as a rapidly evolving reservoir of genetic potential that can shift host biology in response to environmental and social change, enhancing the fit between humans and their environments. This capacity likely evolved among our Homo ancestors during periods of climatic instability and global expansion, when the ability to rapidly adjust physiology would have conferred strong adaptive advantages.

A central mechanism through which this plasticity operates is energy regulation. Microbial metabolites influence how the body allocates and stores energy, shaping metabolism, immune function, and inflammation, systems that are critical to human survival and likely under strong selective pressure throughout our evolutionary history. By mediating these processes, the microbiome supports the host in navigating energetic trade-offs to maintain physiological stability across the lifecourse.

Microbially mediated flexibility in growth, metabolism, and immune function ultimately shape human life history, reflecting a continual negotiation between energetic constraints and environmental or social inputs that influence health and wellbeing. In modern contexts of rapid ecological and lifestyle change, our microbial symbionts continue to modulate how human biology shifts in response to new forms of stress and instability.

Understanding how microbiome-mediated plasticity functions today offers critical insight into the evolutionary foundation, and contemporary limits, of human adaptability, and how our microbial symbionts may help us meet the challenges of the future.

Human sociality is unparalleled among mammals and highly complex, including nested layers of interaction, support from kin and non-kin, and support within and across group boundaries. It is thus unsurprising that sociality is a key regulator of human health, with frameworks such as embodiment and social determinants of health underscoring how external social and cultural environments get “under the skin”. Operationalizing key features of social interaction that may impact health is still in its infancy. Social network analysis offers a powerful means of inspecting how various features of social embeddedness may map onto health. Further, while human behavioral ecology has shown links between social networks and reproductive success, especially for females, there are few papers demonstrating objectively links between health and measures of social networks. This undergraduate-led project investigates key features of social networks to explore whether and how cooperative ties map onto health. It analyzes social network and health data that were collected in the summer of 2024 within a small village on Tanna, Vanuatu, where community has long been emphasized as a key feature among other relational concepts of human existence. Although the sample size is small and results not significant, we find expected trends between greater social support and lower risk of hypertension when looking at support across a range of cooperative domains. These results offer tentative support for the importance of social support to human health and well-being.

Globally, 123.2 million people have been forcefully displaced, many facing adversities that result in chronic stress and trauma. Forced migration exposes individuals to chronic stressors that may impact both neuroendocrine and inflammatory systems, with potential effects on cardiovascular health. While variations in exposure to chronic stressors across displacement settings may hint at differences in physiological stress responses, few studies have directly explored such physiological variation among refugees awaiting resettlement. Building from our prior work, we drew on blood pressure (BP), fingernail cortisol, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) antibody titers, and C-reactive protein (CRP) data collected from refugees in Serbia (n=158) and Kenya (n=132). We found that refugees in Kenya had higher BP than those in Serbia (p’s <0.001), whereas refugees in Serbia exhibited higher cortisol (p<0.001) and a lower likelihood of elevated CRP (p = 0.005). These site differences in BP remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, and time in camp (p’s<0.001). To test whether stress and inflammatory biomarkers could further explain these site differences, we included cortisol, EBV, and CRP as explanatory variables. Their inclusion did not attenuate the site–BP association (p’s<0.001). No association was observed for cortisol and CRP, whereas EBV showed a positive association with diastolic BP (p=0.015). While cross-sectional, our study aligns with the idea that refugees in different displacement settings experience distinct socioenvironmental conditions, which may result in different physiological profiles and varying susceptibility to health problems. Understanding these disparities is critical for tailoring context-specific interventions addressing refugees’ needs in different humanitarian settings.

Dietary composition is a risk factor for most chronic diseases; and fruit and vegetable consumption is a cornerstone of health-promoting diets. Methods for measuring dietary intake during daily life are subject to significant error due to poor recall, biased recall, and subject reactivity depending on the method used. Obtaining valid measures of fruit and vegetable consumption among children is especially challenging. We report here on use of the Veggie Meter, a portable, non-invasive, reflectance spectroscopy instrument that detects and scores skin carotenoid content, with third graders in Appleton, WI. 147 children from 4 different elementary schools were assessed during a field trip to a children’s museum and again 25-49 days later at their school. One educational emphasis during the field trip was the importance of fruit and vegetable consumption for maintaining health, in alignment with their third-grade health curriculum. Results (overall mean score 218, s.d. 99.4) are comparable to published results from similar communities. Variation between the first and second measurement for each participant was substantial (s.d of the difference: 87.0), with no significant change overall (mean difference: -11.7, 95% c.i. -25.89-2.47). There were no significant changes in scores by school from the first to the second measurement and no significant differences between schools. The Veggie Meter is an accessible tool for human biologists to assess fruit and vegetable intake. Additional research to assess reliability of individual measurements is indicated if a goal is to use change in Veggie Meter scores over time as an indicator of dietary flux.

Sustaining community-informed research requires careful attention to the experiences and priorities of the communities involved. In this interactive presentation, we sought to understand how Igbo women in Minnesota identify, define, and hypothesize notions of stress and inflammation while also gauging interest in future biocultural work on these topics. We piloted a survey with Igbo women in Minnesota to assess perceptions of stress, inflammation, and community health priorities. The survey included ranked stressors (social, financial, personal, psychological, acculturative, environmental, daily), multiple choice questions on perceived short- and long-term effects of stress and inflammation, and open-ended questions about the meaning and causes of “wahala.” Descriptive statistics summarized frequencies and distributions of categorical responses, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Across participants (N = 18), financial (50%) and daily stress (56%) were identified as most impactful, while acculturative stress was least emphasized; other stressors fell in the mid-range. Most respondents believed stress can cause illness both short-term (72%) and long-term (72%). Most participants agreed inflammation can cause short-term illness (83%), and a majority (72%) endorsed long-term effects. Participants expressed strong beliefs about the health consequences of stress and inflammation, with most interested in future studies. Open-ended responses defined “wahala” as stress, troubles, or problems, commonly linked to finances, family obligations, and health challenges. Interactive presentations serve as an effective first step in community-informed research by revealing nuanced perspectives. They can also be used to provide valuable feedback that can refine research questions, approaches, and guide the overall implementation of future biocultural work.

Adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) face an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS), and recent studies suggest that both conditions may contribute to accelerated aging of the brain, such as reductions in cortical thinning and brain volume reductions. Childhood trauma (CT) may exacerbate the effects of PTSD diagnosis and MetS on accelerated brain aging, though the role of CT exposure on disease-associated brain aging is not well-known. We examined the putative moderating effects of CT exposure on the associations of PTSD diagnosis and MetS status with brain aging in cases (n = 97) compared to trauma-exposed controls (n = 87). Brain age predictions were generated from T1-weighted magnetic resonance image scans using a pre-trained machine learning pipeline. A measure of relative brain aging known as “predicted age difference” (PAD) was calculated by subtracting chronological age from the predicted brain age. Results showed that increased waist circumference was associated with a higher PAD (b = 0.12, 95% CI [0.05, 0.2]). MetS status was also associated with increased PAD in adults with lower CT (b = -4.7, 95% CI [-8.7, -0.6]). Finally, the association between higher PAD and CT were more pronounced in participants with lower triglyceride levels (b = -4.01, 95% CI [-7.4, -0.7]). These results suggest that specific developmental and metabolic profiles may pose increased risks for accelerated brain aging in adulthood. Greater awareness of the possible brain aging effects of cardiometabolic risk factors can help healthcare providers manage and prevent future health complications and promote healthy aging.

Low quality diets – characterized by limited consumption of vegetables, whole grains, fruit, and high intake of saturated fatty acids – have been associated with increased chronic inflammation in healthy adults. However, this relationship remains understudied in low-resource populations within high-income countries. Understanding this association is particularly important as low-resource communities often experience limited access to nutritious foods and are commonly exposed to environmental and socioeconomic stressors such as food deserts that increase inflammation. This study examines the relationship between dietary quality and intestinal inflammation among adults living in low-resource communities in Southwestern Illinois and the Mississippi Delta. Surveys and stool samples were collected from 103 participants (n = 63 in Illinois; n = 40 in Mississippi). Dietary quality was assessed using a modified Mediterranean Eating Patterns for Americans (MEPA) questionnaire which included 13 items on consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and red meat. Each item was scored 0–1 based on adherence to MEPA and summed for a total score (0–13) representing overall diet quality. Intestinal inflammation was measured using fecal calprotectin (FC) levels determined by ELISA. Linear regression analyses controlling for community, age, sex, and income suggested no statistically significant association between dietary quality and log-transformed FC (logFC) (p = 0.085), though higher diet scores tended to correspond with slightly lower inflammation. Notably, higher logFC was predicted by greater age (p = 0.029), and lower logFC was predicted by higher income (p = 0.012). Future analyses will assess dietary quality in relation to biomarkers of systemic inflammation.

Roughly 15.5 million US adults have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The high prevalence and heritability (~80%) of ADHD suggest that it may be a case of evolutionary mismatch. Additionally, ADHD symptoms can fluctuate, with abatement corresponding with certain environmental contexts. We hypothesize that, just as ADHD can be more impairing in some contexts, ADHD may be beneficial in others. Some qualitative research, including our work interviewing individuals with ADHD (N=12), supports this. Understanding patterns of occupational history and ADHD may identify contexts in which ADHD may be beneficial, highlight the positives of ADHD, provide potential avenues for therapeutic intervention, and inform future research directions.

Using National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) data, we seek to characterize the relationship between ADHD and job history and characteristics. We predict that individuals with a diagnosis of or greater polygenic scores for ADHD will be more likely to be found in jobs involving (1) problem solving and creativity, (2) physical movement, (3) fine manipulative tasks, (4) dynamic, active environments, and/or (5) varied work tasks. In Wave IV of Add Health, 5.2% (of 15,701 individuals) reported an ADHD diagnosis and, of those, 65% reported they were currently working; 53% were female and ages ranged from 24-33. ADHD polygenic scores (Min: -3.82; Max: 3.66) are available for 9,130 individuals. Jobs will be categorized using the Standard Occupation Classification system and O*NET. Our hypotheses and methods have been preregistered at: https://osf.io/p4zag/. We are waiting to conduct preliminary analyses to avoid inadvertent data mining.

Food insecurity—defined as having limited or uncertain access to nutritionally adequate and safe foods—remains prevalent in the U.S and is associated with adverse health outcomes across the lifespan. Food insecurity can impact communities differently depending on region and local context. However, research examining food insecurity in low-resource communities within high-income countries remains limited. Using data from the REACH study, we characterize differences in experiences of food insecurity and relationship to diet quality across two sites: a rural community in the Mississippi Delta and a peri-urban community in Southwestern Illinois. We collected survey data from 103 adult participants (Mississippi: n = 40; Illinois: n = 63). Food insecurity was assessed with questions from the USDA Household Food Security Survey Module. Preliminary results indicate significant differences in food insecurity experiences across sites, with the Illinois community experiencing a higher proportion of instances of skipped meals within the past year (X2 = 3.989, p = 0.045). Additionally, participants from the Illinois site reported greater usage of food donations (X2 = 4.164, p = 0.041) and lower perceptions of access to healthy or nutritious foods (X2 = 5.978, p = 0.0145). These results highlight the importance of contextual factors in understanding how food insecurity may uniquely impact different low-resource communities within higher-income countries. Further analysis from 16S rRNA sequencing data is ongoing to determine how differing experiences of food insecurity may influence diet and gut microbiome composition across sites.

Finger-prick dried blood spots (DBS) are a minimally invasive alternative to venipuncture to collect blood samples for biomarker analysis in field-based research. A commonly used DBS protocol involves spotting capillary blood from a finger-prick onto Whatman #903 protein saver cards in the field for elution and analysis in the laboratory. However, the participant experience and sample quality can vary widely depending on the user’s level of experience. Commercial alternatives designed to address this variability include the Capitainer®B50, Capitainer®SEP10, and Tasso Mini T20. However, these devices have not been rigorously evaluated against other methods. This study evaluates the participant experience and sample quality from matched venipuncture samples, DBS samples collected on Whatman #903 cards, and dried blood and plasma samples using these newer devices collected in a laboratory setting. Across 32 participants, the mean age was 34.8 (SD 13.4), and the majority identified as female (53.1%) and white (73.3%). On scales of 1 to 5, the Tasso Mini T20 had the lowest average pain rating (1.3, SD 0.7), lowest discomfort rating (1.2, SD 0.4), and greatest ease of use (4.7, SD 0.4). Common issues with these newer devices include insufficient blood flow, blood clotting in sample collection inlets, and device failures. This study provides recommendations for selecting and using these newer devices to collect biomarker samples in field-based research.

Knowledge of childhood appetite regulation (AR) largely stems from post-industrial populations, with limited research from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and among subsistence populations inhabiting low resource environments. Leptin, a key hormonal biomarker of AR and energy status, signals energy reserves to the brain and down-regulates food intake. While circulating leptin levels are strongly correlated with adiposity in industrialized populations, the few existing studies (among adults) in LMICs suggest that this relationship may not be universal. This study contributes to this important area in AR research. Using an ELISA protocol validated for finger-prick dried blood spots (DBS), we measured leptin among Indigenous Shuar children from rural and peri-urban communities in Amazonian Ecuador (n = 90, aged 3-13 years). Children’s BMI-for-age z-scores (mean = 0.44 ± 1.0) were modest based on WHO standards, indicating a generally lean study population. Leptin levels (serum-equivalent mean = 2.1 ± 2.75 ng/mL) were considerably lower than those of U.S. reference children (mean = 15.6 ng/mL). However, as predicted, adiposity assessed via both skinfolds (p = 0.07) and bioimpedance analysis (p = 0.32) was not a significant predictor of children’s leptin levels in linear regression models controlling for age and sex. These findings support the hypothesis that children’s leptin is driven by factors beyond adiposity in low-resource contexts, suggesting additional roles for leptin in managing food intake and energy homeostasis when facing limited energy availability. We discuss these and other findings among the Shuar as they relate to improved understanding of global variation in children’s AR.

Appalachian mothers and infants are at higher risk for poor health outcomes compared to other regions of the United States. Previous Developmental Origins of Health and Disease work has demonstrated the importance of perinatal experiences to maternal and infant health outcomes. However, little work has been done in the region on the specific confluence of factors that contribute to these poorer outcomes and even less has been done around the underlying biological mechanisms that may be contributing to these disparities. This pilot study was conducted remotely with parent-infant dyads in the Ohio and North Carolina Appalachian regions to test potential research methods in this population. Birthing parents completed a 60- to 90-minute semi-structured interview via Zoom, and the Patient Health Questionnaire – Anxiety and Depression Scale survey, the Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale survey, and a sociodemographic survey online. Sample collection packets were shipped to dyads to collect morning and evening dried urine samples. Dried urine samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. 13 parents completed interviews and surveys, and 10 returned samples. Many parents cited transportation as a major challenge to receiving care, though this varied by desires for care (e.g. homebirth vs. hospital birth). Parent morning cortisol levels ranged from 0.005 µg/g-0.078 µg/g, and infants’ ranged from 0.003µg/g-0.084 µg/g. Parent and infant cortisol levels did not show strong correlation. This research design and methods could be used to explore effects of perinatal care experiences on a larger sample of mothers and infants in Appalachia.

Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide. Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of tumourigenesis, and elevated circulating inflammatory biomarkers (e.g., IL-6 and TNF-α) indicate poor prognosis. Psychological stress promotes chronic inflammation and tumour progression. Mind-body therapies (MBTs) such as yoga, Qigong, Tai Chi and meditation may reduce stress and modulate inflammatory effects. However, few systematic reviews have examined the effects of MBTs on inflammatory biomarkers as a primary outcome. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of MBTs on circulating inflammatory biomarker levels in cancer patients and survivors. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published up to April 2025 were identified through comprehensive database searches. Eligible studies reported biomarker outcomes in cancer patients and survivors who engaged with MBTs. 608 studies were screened, and 13 RCTs were included. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted for biomarkers reported in three or more studies (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α and cortisol). Results revealed a statistically significant increase in IL-10 levels in MBT participants compared to controls (effect size: d = 0.567; 95% CI: 0.118–1.017; p = 0.013; heterogeneity: I² = 66%), with yoga studies showing the largest effects. No significant overall effects were observed for IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and cortisol. However, the MBT subgroup analysis revealed some consistent trends. Heterogeneity was high (I²>66%) for all biomarkers, likely due to small sample sizes and varied intervention protocols. Overall, MBTs were associated with increased IL-10 levels, but larger, more diverse RCTs are warranted to elucidate the long-term effects of MBTs on inflammation in cancer populations.

Background:

Prostate cancer (PCa) represents the second most common neoplasm in men worldwide and one of the main causes of male mortality. In Mexico, cultural stigmas, limited awareness, and uneven healthcare access shape men’s engagement with preventive practices. This study explores perceptions and knowledge about PCa prevention among men over 40 years old in the Yucatán Peninsula, integrating behavioral and sociocultural dimensions of male health.

Methods:

A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Regional High-Specialty Hospital of the Yucatán Peninsula (IMSS-Bienestar). After pilot testing, a validated questionnaire was administered through structured interviews. Quantitative variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics to identify dominant patterns of knowledge, beliefs, and self-perceived vulnerability related to PCa.

Results:

Eighty-six men aged 40–85 years (mean age 58) participated. Most (65%) had education below the high-school level. Only 39.5% recognized PCa as a malignant disease, 5.8% knew its population frequency, and over 60% were unaware of screening methods. Merely 16.3% perceived themselves at high risk of developing PCa.

Conclusions:

Findings reveal a marked gap between biomedical knowledge and local understandings of male health. Limited risk perception and low awareness reflect the intersection of cultural attitudes, educational inequalities, and restricted health communication. Addressing PCa prevention thus requires culturally sensitive, community-based approaches that integrate biological risk awareness with broader social determinants of health.

Global Birth Stories is an online anthropology archive purposefully aimed at amplifying the birth stories of the global majority. GBS seeks to move away from typical birth stories from affluent and Westernized settings. Instead, GBS focuses on the birth stories of (predominately) Black and Indigenous women with varying access to biomedical health care, such as rural areas where women birth at home by tradition, or sometimes because the nearest clinic is far away and might not have access to obstetric care. This Anthropology project examines how birth is experienced by different populations within the broader context of colonization, racism and capitalism, and globally widespread economic and health inequities. How is birth experienced by contemporary hunter-gathers like the Ba’Aka in the Central African Republic, or subsistence farmers in rural Mexico? GBS also examines how young mothers may birth differently than their mothers or grandmothers. How has medicalization (e.g., hospitals and cesarean deliveries) affected birth in the recently urbanized Argentine Toba and the Yucatec Maya? The utilization of social media appeals to the current realm of social outreach and information spread. Free, online publication of these stories, in multiple languages, will help expose fellow academics, obstetricians and other birth workers, and a broader public, to ways of birthing that they would rarely conceptualize. In conclusion, Global Birth Stories can transform ideas and narratives of birth, motherhood, and beyond.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) supports non-shivering thermogenesis and may influence lipid and glucose metabolism, processes involved in metabolic health. Yet, much of what we know about BAT comes from clinical or laboratory settings. This study examines metabolic and biomarker responses to acute cold exposure in sub-Arctic Finland, where prolonged winters create a relevant setting for studying cold stress. We assessed 51 adults (20 reindeer herders, 31 office workers), from the Lapland region of Finland. All participants underwent standardized cold exposure via a water perfused garment for 30 minutes, with metabolic rate (via indirect calorimetry), supraclavicular (SC) skin temperature (via thermography), and biomarker assessment conducted pre- and post-exposure. Participants were divided post hoc into high and low response groups based on mean post cold exposure SC temperature (34.2˚C). Linear regressions assessed associations between SC temperature and biomarkers. Cold exposure resulted in a 12.8% decrease in glucose levels across the cohort. Higher SC temperature predicted lower post-exposure glucose (β = -0.37, p < .01), triglycerides (β = -0.45, p < .001), and increased HDL cholesterol (β = 0.40, p < .01). Total cholesterol to HDL ratios improved in the high SC group but worsened in the low SC group. As a proxy for BAT activity SC temperature was more predictive of lipid and glucose shifts than metabolic rate, suggesting a more direct influence on biomarker changes. These findings highlight how BAT activity during cold exposure may help explain population-level variations in metabolic health.

Body mass index (BMI) remains a widely used measure of metabolic risk, despite known limitations. Because socio-cultural factors complicate relationships between body composition and health, the clinical utility of BMI thresholds is strongest when validated against population-specific morbidity risk. However, few references are available for Indigenous subsistence populations, particularly at early stages of market integration when increases in BMI are anticipated. Preliminary analyses among Indigenous Shuar of Ecuador suggested BMI is a strong predictor of elevated total cholesterol (TC), fasting glucose (FG), and blood pressure (BP). Here, we use cross-sectional data from 423 Shuar adults aged 18-60 (282 females) to determine optimal BMI thresholds for predicting metabolic syndrome. Morbidity was assessed using Adult Treatment Panel III criteria for Metabolic Syndrome (FG> 110mg/dL, TC > 200, BP >130/>85 mmHg). Morbidity risk was used to establish BMI cutoffs, analyzed using receiver operating characteristics (ROC). Cutoff effectiveness was assessed using the area under the curve (AUC) and Youden’s index. Significant AUC values (0.603-0.720) indicated that optimal BMIs for identifying risk of both single morbidity and comorbidity were 25kg/m2 for females and 26kg/m2 for males. Metabolic syndrome appears among Shuar at lower BMIs than standard obesity cutoffs (BMI > 30kg/m2). Using Shuar-specific BMI thresholds increases the number of individuals identified with obesity from 13% to 54% for females and 8% to 43% for males. These findings are important for Shuar health providers, as well as for interpreting results for Shuar study participants.

Elevated blood pressure can help distribute metabolic resources through the body, but it can also lead to pathology. Life history theory predicts that natural selection has shaped energy allocation systems that adjust strategically to psychosocial and energetic challenges posed by the environment. We tested the hypothesis that greater psychosocial challenges will necessitate a greater increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP), predicting that higher social-economic-political-emotional (SEPE) stress exposure would be associated with higher MAP. We also tested whether adiposity positively predicts MAP. We measured the growth and development of 222 children longitudinally and cross-sectionally from 2023-2025 in Utila, Honduras, an island in community experiencing variable SEPE stressors. Standard anthropometrics, blood pressure, and morning salivary hormones were collected and SEPE factors were reported by primary caregiver at consent to the study. A Saint Nicolaus House Analysis network showed a positive correlation between age adjusted MAP and body fat percentage (r = 0.29). Multiple regression analysis revealed no significant relationship between SEPE factors and MAP (β = -0.86 and -0.78; p = 0.18 and 0.47). Instead, body fat percentage was positively associated with MAP (β = 3.06; p = 0.01). This result suggests that nutritional and metabolic status of children is an important predictor of potential cardiovascular risk. In contrast to our predictions, MAP appeared relatively robust to variable stress exposures among children in Utila. These findings highlight the importance of culturally and geographically specific studies of stress and blood pressure.

Hierarchical systems are a central part of how biomedical healthcare organizations manage administrative and clinical positions. Nurses serve an integral role in these healthcare systems, but the workforce is consistently grappling with high rates of burnout. In anthropology, hierarchical social systems have been linked to unequal health outcomes through differences in stress and social experience. Social and structural hierarchies may influence disparities in psychosocial stress by shaping day-to-day experience in nursing roles. This project investigates how social and structural characteristics of nursing positions in healthcare systems may relate to patterns of psychosocial stress and stress-responsive biology, and whether vocational calling is associated with individual caregiving experiences via patterns of work-related psychosocial stress and social connection. We conducted surveys and interviews focused on mental well-being and workplace experience with nurses from two units at a Midwest hospital (N=12), combined with in-unit, direct behavioral observations of care team dynamics (N = 325 interactions observed). Nurses reporting greater work engagement reported stronger vocational identities in nursing (p < 0.01) and higher social support (p < 0.05) than those scoring lower for work engagement. Through behavioral observations, we found a significant association between the hierarchical context of interactions and behavior type (p < 0.05). Observed interactions between nurses and more senior care personnel were more likely to include submissive behaviors, whereas interactions among nurses were characterized by more supportive behaviors. Further analyses will consider links between reported psychosocial stress, vocational identity in nursing, and occupational satisfaction with nurses’ cortisol and oxytocin.

Hypertension is a growing global public health concern, particularly among older adults, and continues to affect a significant portion of the world's population. In India, demographic transitions and lifestyle changes have intensified the burden of non-communicable diseases, with hypertension emerging as a leading contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Ageing itself is a non-modifiable risk factor, and isolated systolic hypertension due to arterial stiffening poses heightened risks in later life. Despite global advances in hypertension management, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like India face challenges, particularly in addressing its problems among the older adults.

Evidence from national surveys such as the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) highlights the role of central obesity and overweight status in exacerbating hypertension risk. Waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) are key predictors of cardiovascular outcomes.

This cross-sectional study investigates the association between anthropometric measures and socioeconomic factors with hypertension among 431 older adults in Lucknow, India. Overall, 64% of participants were hypertensive. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that individuals with high WHtR had nearly four times higher odds of hypertension, while those with higher education levels had 70% lower odds and the model was statistically significant (p<0.001).

Findings underscore the strong link between central obesity and hypertension, emphasizing WHtR as a reliable screening tool. The study advocates for targeted interventions focusing on obesity reduction and education to promote successful ageing and early detection of hypertension in older populations.

Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), an acquired condition of the small intestine, is a major contributor to childhood growth faltering globally, yet its effect on growth metabolism and bone formation has not been directly explored. To address this problem, this study investigates novel measures of osteocalcin (OC), the main non-collagenous protein in bone matrix and a biomarker of bone formation, among Indigenous Shuar children of Ecuador. Data were collected from 373 children (ages 4–13 years) in the Upano Valley (UV, n = 192) and more remote Cross-Cutucú (CC, n = 181) geographic regions. Anthropometric data and finger-prick dried blood spots were collected, and OC, intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (IFABP, a biomarker of EED), and total immunoglobulins G and E (IgG and IgE, measures of adaptive immune activity) were assessed using ELISA. Mean OC concentration was 71,738 ± 46,998 pg/ml, with more market-integrated UV children exhibiting greater OC than those from the CC (+108%, p < .001). Regional OC differences appear partly driven by greater EED and immune burden in the CC. As predicted, OC was negatively related to IFABP (p = .007), IgG (p = .006), and IgE (p = .007). Demonstrating the utility of osteocalcin as a biomarker of children’s linear growth among the Shuar, osteocalcin positively predicted height-for-age z-scores (p < 0.001) and knee height-for-age z-scores (p < .0001) and negatively predicted odds of stunting (p < 0.001). Collectively, these findings provide novel insight into how EED and immune activation drive global variation in children’s metabolism and growth.

Recent work has linked the Val66Met polymorphism (rs6265) in the Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor gene (BDNF) to variation in brain function and health. Specifically, the Met allele has been correlated with reduced activity-dependent secretion of the BDNF protein, affecting cognition, brain structure, and psychiatric health. However, some studies have suggested that this variant may have conferred biological advantages in past environments, raising the possibility that genetic variation at rs6265 could have been a target of natural selection. To test this hypothesis, we examined publicly available sequence data from the Human Genome Diversity Project and the 1000 Genomes Project for evidence of selection using several statistical methods, including the integrated haplotype score (iHS), extended haplotype homozygosity (EHH), number of segregating sites by length (nSL), and Conditional Likelihood Under Evolutionary Scenarios (CLUES2). Our results revealed signatures of positive selection in the form of long-range EHH around the derived Met allele at rs6265 in globally diverse populations. Furthermore, selection coefficient (s) estimates indicated significant selective pressure at genetic variation in BDNF (including rs6265) consistent with a classic selective sweep model. Additionally, we observed the highest s estimate at rs6265 in South Asia (s = 0.0975, [95% CI: 0.03076-0.16422]; -log10(p) = 3.21) comparable to estimates for alleles associated with lactase persistence in pastoralist populations, (among the strongest known cases of positive selection in humans). Collectively, these findings shed light on the evolutionary dynamics of functionally important variation in BDNF and highlight the possible interplay between adaptation and disease susceptibility in modern populations.

Childhood physical activity (PA) is associated with numerous health benefits. However, living in lower-resource areas within high-income countries is associated with reduced access to safe outdoor space, formal sports, and active commuting opportunities, potentially reducing childhood PA. This exploratory, mixed-methods pilot study assessed how perceived environmental factors relate to PA among children ages 5-12 years (n = 17) living in a low-resource community in Southwestern Illinois. Children completed questionnaires, narrative drawing interviews, and a week of accelerometer wear (Axivity AX3); parents completed questionnaires. Initial regression models showed a trend towards negative correlation between parent-reported Neighborhood Environment Index (NEI, higher scores indicate a more positive perception of neighborhood attributes) and child-reported activity frequency (p = 0.06). Among children with valid accelerometry data (n = 12), average acceleration (a measure of activity volume), was negatively associated with parental NEI (p = 0.01), equating to a 4.4-hour difference in daily walking time between the most and least active participants. Contrary to published literature, these results suggest that more active children tended to have parents who perceived more adverse neighborhood environments. In narrative drawing interviews children discussed playing with friends and siblings, being in nature, playing sports, and playground equipment as supportive of play, while outdoor pests, stray animals, and inclement weather were common barriers. These preliminary data suggest children and parents have different perceptions of their environment and factors supporting childhood PA. Future research on childhood PA promotion should include children’s views on environmental factors which facilitate versus inhibit activity.

Post-mortem interval (PMI) estimation is a central component of forensic anthropological investigation, but traditional methods for estimating time since death lose accuracy after ~72 hours. Recent research indicates that some steroid hormones may undergo predictable degradation patterns after death, offering potential use as biochemical clocks for PMI estimation beyond this threshold. Cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and its sulfate form (DHEAS) are of particular interest due to their metabolic stability, systemic influence, and association with trauma. This study investigates whether hormonal degradation patterns correlate with time elapsed since death and body temperature, evaluating their potential as biochemical PMI markers. 160 mL of fresh, whole blood were divided and stored under three conditions: refrigeration (2–4°C), room temperature (~22°C), and incubation (37°C). Sera from sample aliquots under each condition were separated every eight hours across five days before complete coagulation occurred. DHEAS concentrations were determined via commercial ELISA, and DNA quantified on both sera and red blood cells via qPCR. DHEAS concentrations were analyzed with respect to time and temperature using regression modeling and repeated-measures ANOVA. Results demonstrate that sera can be separated even after five days from samples stored at room temperature but not at elevated temperature after four days. Refrigerated samples exhibit minimal RBC presence throughout the five-day period. DHEAS concentrations also decrease consistently with increasing temperature over time. Further research will assess the utility of serum recovery from the deceased under variable environmental conditions as well as the use of predictable changes in steroid hormone concentrations in accurately estimating PMI.

Human biologists have long recognized the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) on health outcomes, yet the relationship between SES and hepatic health has received little attention. The liver is crucial to metabolism and detoxification, plays a prominent role in digestion and its function is strongly associated with diet quality. There is a well-documented relationship between poor diet quality and food insecurity, the latter often reflecting underlying socioeconomic constraints. Despite this, there is a dearth of literature investigating how SES and food insecurity relate to hepatic health. We take a biocultural approach to fill this gap using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2003-2018), including demographics, questionnaires, biomarkers indicating hepatic health, and 24-hour dietary recalls. Variables were classified as binary (e.g., food insecure/food secure), and covariates such as age, sex, immigration status, education, and income, were used to tease apart associations between hepatic health and SES. Those experiencing food insecurity were significantly more likely to have a liver condition (2.83% vs 3.92%, p <0.001), had a notable lower poverty-to-income ratio (3.10 vs 1.45, p <0.001), and consumed less protein/day (84.76g vs 88.57g, p < 0.001). Additionally, five of the six biomarkers were significantly associated with food insecurity and having a liver condition. Our results emphasize the importance of a biocultural approach for understanding the relationships between social inequality and liver health and disease. Future research should consider additional biocultural factors, such as sexual orientation and substance abuse, as part of the relationship between SES and liver health.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are types of synthetic chemicals that persist in industrial contexts, consumer products, and environmental matrices. PFAS are a serious health concern because they can interfere with hormone function as endocrine disruptors, reduce immune response, and impact growth and development. PFAS have been measured in human milk, reflecting an intergenerational transfer to infants through breastfeeding. This systematic review aims to evaluate the social and environmental determinants of PFAS in human milk. We conducted a PubMed search using a combination of PFAS and human milk as MeSH terms and title or abstract words. Original research was included if PFAS was measured in human milk, and a social or environmental determinant was assessed. The search yielded 120 results, and 39 studies from 18 countries were included in this review after screening for inclusion/exclusion criteria. Nineteen studies explored associations with dietary factors (48.7%), 9 of which showed significant positive associations with PFAS concentrations (23.1%). Four studies found significant positive associations with the use of consumer products and PFAS concentrations (10.3%). Environmental exposures, such as contaminated water and soil, vicinity to industrial production, and waste incineration, were assessed in 13 studies (33.3%). Other socioeconomic factors, including income, education, occupation, demographics, and rural-urban residence, were explored in 15 studies (38.5%) as covariates. These results suggest that some PFAS in human milk can be reduced with behavioral interventions in diet and consumer products. The social and environmental determinants of PFAS in human milk highlight the complexity of infant PFAS exposure via breastfeeding.

The frequent co-occurrence of food insecurity and adverse socioeconomic and health conditions, such as gender inequality and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Sub-Saharan Africa, has led some scholars to characterize these interactions as synergistic epidemics or “syndemic.” Using the 2018 Cameroon Demographic and Health Surveys, we examined whether food insecurity and gender inequality synergistically influence HIV infection among women. Overall HIV prevalence was 4.1%, and moderate-to-severe food insecurity affected 19% of participants. In survey-weighted logistic regression, food insecurity alone was not significantly associated with HIV infection in unadjusted (OR 1.24, 95% CI 0.95–1.61, p = 0.11) or adjusted models controlling for age, education, wealth, urban residence, and SWPER empowerment domains (OR 1.25, 95% CI 0.89–1.76, p = 0.20). Interaction analyses between food insecurity and decision-making empowerment similarly showed no evidence of synergistic effects (interaction OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.62–1.44, p = 0.78). Using predicted probabilities to assess “distance” to a syndemic, the observed joint risk of HIV among women experiencing both food insecurity and low decision-making empowerment (0.047) was slightly below the expected additive risk (0.052), indicating no statistical evidence of synergistic interaction. These findings suggest that, in Cameroon, food insecurity and empowerment do not operate synergistically to increase HIV risk, though a modest portion of the population experiences both risk factors. Our analysis provides a reproducible workflow for empirically testing degrees of syndemicity using secondary individual-level data, providing insight into the conditions under which syndemics may occur.

Emerging literature has reported an inconsistent impact of early-life metal exposure on neurodevelopment during adolescence. This study investigated the association between perinatal exposure to toxic (lead, arsenic) and essential (zinc) elements and neurodevelopmental outcomes assessed by using the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI-II) at 14 years of age, using data from a birth cohort in Chitwan, Nepal. We followed 100 mother-infant dyads recruited at birth and measured concentrations of Pb, As, and Zn in cord blood (n = 100) and urine (n = 74) at 14 years. Growth environment was characterized using the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) scale and sociodemographic surveys. Metal exposure levels in this cohort were generally moderate, falling between background and high-risk populations across global studies. Multivariate regression models adjusting for sex, parental education, and income showed no significant associations between cord blood or urine concentrations of Pb, As, or Zn and adolescent WASI-II scores. Higher parental education and household income were positively associated with Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, and Full-Scale scores. Our findings suggest that, in this population, perinatal levels of Pb, As, and Zn did not predict adolescent WASI-II scores, while postnatal growth environment did.

Family planning services represent a critical component of public health, preventing unintended pregnancies, protecting against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and allowing individuals and families to time their pregnancies as desired. Despite these important contributions, the topic remains under-researched in regions including American Samoa, where strong cultural beliefs and structural barriers shape women’s access to and use of contraception. This mixed-methods study aimed to explore the sociocultural and structural factors influencing the preferences, perceptions of, and decision-making processes around contraception in American Samoan women. The study consisted of a cross-sectional survey assessing beliefs, barriers, and facilitators of contraception use as well as focus groups designed to contextualize the experience and choices of participants. 183 surveys and 4 focus groups (n = 22) were completed. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 63 years (mean = 32.5) and represented 34 of 63 villages across the territory. Perceptions of access varied among participants: 57.4% reported that obtaining contraception is “easy” or “very easy.” 79.8% reported having used family planning before, ranging from natural methods like withdrawal to hormonal methods such as the birth control shot (Depo-Provera). Qualitative findings revealed persistent stigma surrounding family planning, widespread concerns about side effects, and a strong desire for more comprehensive education about contraceptive options. These preliminary data highlight the importance of addressing a wider range of barriers to access. Ongoing analysis will further examine how social context and structural factors influence contraception use to inform more culturally responsive and community-driven family planning services in American Samoa.

Human wellbeing depends greatly on the resources available to face disease and on how health is experienced and lived. Coping with illness requires access to social, economic, and health resources. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is among the most well-known chronic diseases whose outcomes and severity are largely determined by socioeconomic constraints worldwide. Evidence from Mexico suggests an increasing burden of DM, strongly linked to marginalization and social inequities.

Under the hypothesis that DM diagnosis may influence life expectancy and mortality in young populations, we aimed to describe the trends of hospitalizations and in-hospital deaths due to diabetes in Mexico. For this purpose, we analyzed data from the Ministry of Health (SS/DGIS) and the National Health Information System (SINAIS) for the 2021–2025 period, using ICD-10 codes E10–E14.7 and the Gini coefficient as a measure of economic inequality.

A total of 7,379 first-time hospital admissions of individuals under 18 years of age were included, with an overall mortality rate of 9.6 deaths per 1,000 discharges. The mean age was 12 years, and 57% were female. Guanajuato reported the highest number of cases of type 1 and malnutrition-related diabetes, while the State of Mexico recorded the highest number of deaths and the greatest frequency of type 2 and other forms of diabetes. Notably, Guanajuato ranks as the second state with the lowest economic inequality, whereas the State of Mexico ranks seventh among those with the highest inequality. These findings suggest a potential link between social inequity and diabetes outcomes on this population in Mexico.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are some of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States. The University of Oregon is located in Lane County which continues to have the highest reported numbers of syphilis cases in Oregon. Young adults account for roughly half of the positive STI test results in the US. Considering the typical age of university attendance in the US is 18-22, these students are particularly at risk of contracting STIs. Beginning in 2018, University of Oregon Health Services (UHS) has implemented sexual wellbeing programs such as Sex Week and Protection Connection, a free sexual barrier program, to decrease STI rates on campus. It is hypothesized that the University of Oregon’s implementation of sexual wellbeing programs increased the number of students getting tested for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Regression analyses were performed using HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis tests between 2018 and 2024 submitted to the University Health Services. Due to testing practices, chlamydia and gonorrhea test results are considered one test. A significant increase in syphilis tests taken at the University of Oregon was found (t=3.47, P=0.013). Results indicate that there was no significant increase in the number of HIV tests taken (t=0.68, P=0.522). There was no increase in the chlamydia/gonorrhea tests taken (t=-0.43, P=0.685). The results suggest while syphilis testing has increased since 2018, possibly due to UHS efforts, more programs must be focused on increasing testing for HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.

Brown Adipose tissue (BAT) plays a crucial role in regulating body temperature and storing energy. In adults, BAT is concentrated around the supraclavicular region. Previous studies with mouse models have shown that females have more active BAT when compared to male mice. This disparity is often credited toward higher estrogen levels in females. Our exploratory research investigates potential activators of BAT within a sample of college-aged adults. Our sample consists of 22 males and 34 females. 13 of the females in our study were on oral hormonal contraceptives at the time of data collection. In addition to a general demographic survey, we also incorporated the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), basic anthropometric measurements (height and weight), salivary samples, and dried blood spots. Preliminary results reveal that 61.7% of females and 36.4% of males showed BAT activation. We explored bivariate relationships between BAT activation and selected variables. Due to the small sample size, we selected a p-value of 0.1 as the cut off for significance. These models showed a relationship between sex and BAT activation (X2: 3.45, p-value: 0.06) and suggest that low BMI (18.5-24.9) and higher perceived stress levels are associated with BAT activation (X2: 3.19, p-value: 0.07 andX2: 5.48, p-value: 0.04, respectively). Additional analyses will explore the relationship between BAT and salivary estrogen level, C-reactive protein, and diet. While preliminary, this study adds to our understanding of human BAT and factors that contribute to its activation.

Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is a subclinical condition of the small intestine linked to childhood growth faltering in unsanitary and low-resource contexts. This study investigates how household-level factors related to market integration (MI) and environmental exposures are associated with gut health and EED during childhood. Data were collected from 416 Indigenous Shuar children (aged 4-12 years) living in the market-integrated Upano Valley (UV: n=213) and remote Cross-Cutucú (CC: n=203) geographic regions. Household interviews and anthropometry were collected, and finger-prick dried blood spots were used to measure endotoxin-core antibodies (EndoCAb, a biomarker of EED and gut microbial translocation) with ELISA. Mean EndoCAb concentration was 0.54 ± 0.27 GMU/ml. Mixed effects linear regression models clustered by community and controlling for age and sex revealed no significant difference in EndoCAb concentration between the UV and CC regions (p =.622). However, household-level MI and pathogen exposure variables predicted EndoCAb; for example, ownership of market items (a proxy for household wealth) was negatively associated with EndoCAb (p =.033), while lack of running water (p =.001) and pig ownership (p =.047), known sources of pathogen exposure, both predicted greater EndoCAb. These findings suggest that MI may reduce the burden of childhood EED and improve gut health via pathways linked to wealth, access to clean water, and altered contact with animal pathogen vectors. Ongoing analyses will further assess the relationship between EndoCAb and children’s linear growth, enhancing understanding of how EED and poor gut health influence child development.

Existing research suggests that sexual minority (SM) people experience higher levels of stress, leading to higher health risks in comparison to their heterosexual counterparts. Additionally, there is evidence that older SM people experience cognitive decline to a greater degree than their heterosexual peers. However, little is known about how cognitive health disparities in SM populations vary across countries. Using the Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging (CLSA) and Health and Retirement Study (HRS) datasets, we examined differences in cognitive performance in SM people from Canada and the United States. Preliminary analyses of the CLSA data (N = 30,042) indicate SM adults were significantly younger, more likely to be male, and more urban-dwelling than heterosexual peers. Despite reporting higher psychological distress (p < 0.001) and slightly lower social support (p < 0.001), SM participants demonstrated significantly higher scores on all measures of verbal fluency (FAS tests; all p < 0.001), suggesting potential cognitive strengths or resilience in this population. Early analysis of the HRS data (N=4452) shows SM individuals had slightly higher cognitive performance than heterosexual peers (p < 0.05), but this effect becomes marginal when controlling for age, sex, and minority status. While both the Canadian and American SM populations outperformed the heterosexual populations on cognition tasks, differences were more pronounced in the Canadian population after controlling for potential covariates. We suspect these results to originate from differences in social and cultural values between the two countries, as discrimination stress would likely vary based on cultural acceptance of SM status.

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is estimated to be 8-16% worldwide and rising, particularly in hot environments. Yet awareness of CKD is low in low-resource, remote regions because screening is expensive and requires laboratory capacity and CKD is asymptomatic until it is advanced and progresses to end-stage kidney disease. Using data collected by the Daasanach Human Biology Project in 2025, we assessed the prevalence of CKD among semi-nomadic pastoralist Daasanach adults (n=446) in hot-arid northern Kenya who rely on water containing elevated sodium-chloride levels. We used the NovaMax Pro point-of-care device with capillary fingerprick blood samples to assess creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the 2021-CKD EPI equation. Our preliminary findings suggest 47.1% of adults had eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73m2 signifying at least CKD stage 3a or mild to moderate loss of kidney function; 11.7% had at least CKD stage 3b (eGFR<45 mL/min/1.73m2; moderate to severe loss of kidney function); and 1.1% had at least CKD Stage 4 (<30 mL/min/1.73m2; severe loss of kidney function). Older age and higher adiposity were both significantly negatively associated with eGFR. For example, each year of age was associated with -0.5 mL/min/1.73m2 (95% CI: -0.38, -0.60; P<0.001). Repeat measurements are necessary as CKD is diagnosed after 3+ months of abnormal kidney function. Human biologists working in remote areas have a unique opportunity to provide critical screening and early detection to unmask the true burden of CKD, thereby contributing essential evidence to shape health policy and community-based interventions for improved outcomes.

Fruit and vegetable intake (FVI) plays an important role in chronic disease risk and overall human health. Childhood FVI is especially important for optimal growth and establishment of lifelong healthy eating behaviors. Problematically, standard methods for measuring children’s FVI have major limitations. Self-report of FVI is often unreliable and high-performance liquid chromatography measurement of circulating plasma carotenoid concentrations—the gold standard approach—is invasive. Carotenoids, antioxidant pigments found in many fruits and vegetables, are an established marker of FVI. The Veggie Meter (Longevity Link Corporation) is a device that measures finger skin carotenoid concentrations using reflection spectroscopy, providing a field-friendly, non-invasive method for evaluating FVI. Here, we present cross-sectional pilot data assessing Veggie Meter scores among children (n = 21, 3-12 y) living in a food insecure community in Southwestern Illinois. Veggie Meter scores were low, ranging from 89-244 (possible range is 0-800, average for U.S. children ~238), with a mean of 174.1 (± 46.9). All children had scores indicating inadequate FVI, with two children having skin carotenoid levels below the Veggie Meter limit of detection. Though not significant, initial regression models indicate positive trends between Veggie Meter scores and measures of food/nutrition security, such as perceived healthful food availability (p < 0.2). We build on these findings using biomarkers of antioxidant activity to further investigate drivers of variation in children’s skin carotenoid concentrations. The Veggie Meter has the potential to provide quick, objective measures of children’s FVI, positioning it as a useful tool for future human biology studies.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune condition that can emerge across the life course but is most often diagnosed during childhood or adolescence. An important yet understudied aspect of living with T1D is diabetes identity integration, which is the process of harmonizing one’s diabetes with one’s sense of self. Strong diabetes identity integration is essential for long-term self-management, psychosocial adjustment, and well-being, particularly during adolescence and young adulthood when identity formation and self-regulation are still developing.

Effective T1D management relies on executive functions such as working memory, planning, and inhibition. However, little is known about how differences in these cognitive processes influence diabetes identity integration, particularly because executive function difficulties can increase challenges to effective diabetes self-management.

Using survey and clinical data from individuals with T1D (ages 15-35), this study examines relationships between executive function challenges and diabetes identity integration. Executive function was measured using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2 (BRIEF-2) Self-Report measure, and diabetes identity integration was assessed using the Accepting Diabetes and Personal Treatment (ADAPT) Survey. Stratified and multivariable analyses, including glycemic outcomes (HbA1c % and continuous glucose monitor time-in-target-range), diabetes technology use, and demographic variables, were assessed to evaluate mediating or moderating factors.

Preliminary findings show that greater executive function challenges are linked to lower diabetes identity integration and higher glucose levels. By examining cognition, context, and identity, this study takes a biocultural approach to understanding diabetes self-management and highlights the need for culturally and cognitively adaptive care models.

Epigenetics bridges the gap between genes and the environment, explaining how nutrition, lifestyle, and external exposures influence disease susceptibility without altering the DNA sequence. Among various epigenetic mechanisms, DNA methylation plays an important role in regulating gene activity and maintaining cellular homeostasis through dynamic cycles of methylation and demethylation. The epigenetic reprogramming of methylation during fertilisation and germ cell formation lays the foundation for lifelong genomic regulation, yet these patterns remain susceptible to environmental influences. Establishing a universal standard for gene-specific methylation is challenging, as methylation signatures vary considerably across tissues, ages, disease states, and environmental contexts.

In contrast, global DNA methylation provides a broader and more consistent biomarker, particularly relevant for population-based health studies. Findings from studies in Haryana and Punjab showed significantly lower global DNA methylation among hypertensive and diabetic individuals compared to controls, while higher levels were observed in medically treated individuals and those with adequate folate levels. Exposure to air pollution, smoking, and ageing was associated with global hypomethylation, highlighting environmental impacts on the epigenome. Maternal–infant methylation analysis further indicated that early maternal methylation influences infant methylation, though this association weakens in complicated pregnancies such as gestational diabetes or hypertension. Together, these findings highlight global DNA methylation as a cost-effective, integrative biomarker for assessing chronic disease risk and intergenerational health outcomes across diverse Indian populations.

South Asian (SA) immigrants in the United States experience higher risk for cardiometabolic (CM) disease than US Whites, due to a combination of physiological, social, and cultural risk exposures. Prevalent risk factors (i.e. central obesity, visceral adiposity) have been examined in the context of diet. However, few studies have focused on the impact of other social/lifestyle factors such as physical activity and acculturation. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between physical activity and CM risk profile, and the interaction of acculturation strategy. Acculturation, the process by which individuals reject or retain their native culture and their host culture, was measured using a brief questionnaire and scores are categorized as assimilation, separation, integration, or marginalization strategies.

We conducted secondary data analysis on a cross-section of the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study conducted among 887 first-generation SA immigrants living in the San Francisco Bay Area and the greater Chicago area. We used latent class analysis to identify clusters of CM risk factors. We then used regression models to examine whether associations between physical activity and CM risk profile (composite outcome using blood pressure, HbA1c, blood lipids, and waist-to-height ratio) differ by sex, age, or acculturation strategy, adjusting for covariates. Our preliminary findings suggest that an integration or assimilation strategy is associated with increased physical activity levels and a more favorable CM risk profile and support future research investigating duration, frequency, and intensity of physical activity among different SA subgroups.

Humans are cooperative breeders for whom alloparental care is critical to reproductive success. During the postpartum period, mothers bond with their infants, establish breastfeeding, and troubleshoot problems, tasks that come with a steep learning curve and require multifaceted support. For most of our evolutionary history, this support came mainly from women’s kin networks, particularly the maternal grandmother. In contrast, women in the US face an evolutionary mismatch in which lactation training, resource supplementation, and socio-informational support are dispersed across a fragmented health care system. Mothers bear the burden of coordinating their own care amid time constraints, limited knowledge, undervaluation of their own health over that of their infant, and other psychosocial stressors. Yet little is known about how care providers themselves perceive fragmentation in the postnatal care landscape. The present study draws upon five focus groups of healthcare professionals (n=29), stratified by postpartum specialty: postpartum doulas, midwives, lactation consultants, obstetricians, and pediatricians. Both qualitative and quantitative (free-listing, mind-mapping) responses revealed clear discontinuities in the domains of care respondents felt equipped to address. However, postpartum doulas stood out as being uniquely suited to help mothers leverage care from others, in addition to providing multifaceted care themselves. These findings highlight the critical but under-recognized role of postpartum doulas in realigning modern maternal care with the cooperative roots of our evolutionary past.

Age-related declines in men’s testosterone have been documented across a range of cultures and ecologies. Yet, evidence from smaller-scale subsistence societies remains mixed, suggesting local lifestyle and energetic factors may contribute to age–related testosterone trajectories. Prior research has linked age-related declines in men’s testosterone with changes in body composition, but the degree to which these associations vary cross-culturally remains unclear. Here, we analyzed men’s salivary testosterone from Bayaka forager and Bandongo fisher-farmer men (n=45; obs=179; ages: 22-68 years) from the Republic of the Congo and serum total testosterone from a large, nationally-representative study of U.S. men (NHANES; n=6,227; ages: 20-70 years) to evaluate age-based changes in testosterone and moderation by body composition and ethnicity (for the Congo study). For both the Congo- and U.S.-based samples, we calculated body mass index from individuals’ height and weight, and also analyzed skinfold thickness for the Congolese participants. Men’s testosterone was significantly lower with age in the U.S. (p<0.001) and Congo (p<0.001). This pattern was similar for both BaYaka and Bandongo men. Additionally, neither BMI nor skinfold thickness moderated the decline in testosterone with age (all p>0.4). Our findings confirm age-related declines in men’s testosterone and show broad similarities in these declines across distinct ecologies and cultures. We did not find that body composition moderated these age-related patterns. Overall, this study provides further insight into men’s testosterone trajectories as they age in relation to context-specific factors, such as energetic condition.

Understanding the prioritization of health issues among the Hadzabe foragers provides insight into the community’s disease burden. In this exploratory study, we surveyed 91 adults (mean age = 39, 46% female) from six bush camps about sickness, including questions about “major” and “minor” health problems in the community. Overall, 51.8% of participants identified communicable diseases as a major community concern. HIV/AIDS was frequently mentioned (35.2%), followed by gonorrhea (16.8%). Gonorrhea was primarily reported among male participants (24.4%) compared to female participants (7.1%). 21.9% of respondents identified non-communicable diseases as a major issue. Cardiovascular conditions were the predominantly reported major health issue (8.03%). 39.2% of participants reported no major illness/did not provide an answer. A majority (72.5%) identified communicable diseases as a minor issue. Among these, malaria was the most reported illness (52.7%), followed by stomach-related problems (25.5%). Over half of the participants (62.6%) reported non-communicable illnesses as a minor issue; the most prevalent problem was respiratory conditions (43.9%), such as non-specific cough and chest tightness, followed by headaches (40.7%), a common symptom of malaria that may also be caused by heat and environmental factors. The findings suggest that Hadzabe interpretations of illnesses as major or minor health issues are influenced by the prevalence of diseases (e.g., malaria endemicity) and local views. Understanding these classifications aligns health efforts with community priorities and enables tracking of changing prioritization in the face of market integration. Future studies can determine whether these classifications affect the Hadzabe's patterns of healthcare-seeking behaviors.

Water insecurity is increasingly recognized as an important factor influencing child growth outcomes in low-resource settings. Problematically, the pathways underlying this relationship are not clear. One potential key variable is children’s gut health. Here, we present data from novel glucose breath tests (GBT) performed among Maasai children living in rural Kenya. Prior research demonstrates that water insecurity and growth faltering are pervasive in the area. The GBT was performed with 103 children (ages 4-12 years) using a Gastro+ handheld breath hydrogen analyzer. Fasted children provided baseline hydrogen measures, drank a 2g/kg body mass glucose dose, and provided additional hydrogen measures every 15 minutes for 90 minutes. Impaired gut function indicating small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and carbohydrate malabsorption was identified using established criteria (e.g., hydrogen rise of >12 ppm). Results show that 31% of children met criteria for impaired gut function. Regression models controlling for age and sex were used to investigate relationships with GBT measures. Household water insecurity assessed via HWISE did not significantly increase children’s likelihood of impaired gut function (p = 0.138). However, several related measures did, including if household members did not treat drinking water (p = 0.021) or did not regularly wash hands before eating (p = 0.005). Indicating a link to growth faltering, children with impaired gut function measures were more likely to be underweight (p = 0.048). These findings demonstrate the utility of GBT measures in human biology research and support continued investigation of the role of gut health in the water insecurity-growth relationship.

Understanding human decomposition processes in diverse ecological contexts is central to biological and forensic anthropology. This study examines how skin-associated microbial communities (the necromicrobiome) can enhance postmortem interval (PMI) estimation in semi-arid, high-elevation environments, where traditional methods often fail due to environmental variability.

Research was conducted at the Forensic Investigation Research Station (FIRS) in western Colorado (1,416 m), a semi-arid, high-altitude setting underrepresented in existing PMI models. Human skin microbiota were sampled during decomposition, and bacterial communities were characterized through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Accumulated degree days (ADD) were used to standardize decomposition timelines across variable thermal inputs.

Building on findings by Burcham et al. (2024), which identified skin microbiomes as more reliable for PMI estimation than soil communities, this study aims to validate those results under distinct environmental conditions. Preliminary analyses highlight Helcococcus seattlensis as a consistent PMI indicator across climates. Conversely, taxa commonly observed in temperate regions such as, Olsenella alkaliphila, Savagea sp., Peptoniphilus stercorisius, Ignatzschineria sp., and Acinetobacter sp., appear less frequently, underscoring the role of climate in shaping microbial succession.

This research contributes to the development of ecologically specific, non-invasive forensic tools and deepens our understanding of decomposition as a biological and ecological process. It supports efforts to improve human identification in underserved regions, reinforcing the broader anthropological goals of contextualizing death and enhancing access to justice through science.

Anthropologists recognize that humans are cooperative breeders, with alloparenting—care provided by individuals other than the biological parents—playing a critical role in child health and development. The extent and sources of this alloparental care vary significantly due to socioecological variation in access to resources, post-marital residence, and marriage systems. It has been suggested that relative to children born to monogamous marriages, children born of polygynous unions may receive less paternal and patrilineal care due to a father’s resources being diluted across multiple wives and children, and that this reduction in care is one potential pathway by which these children often have comparatively poorer growth and health outcomes. However, the impact of a woman’s polygynous marriage on her broader alloparental network remains unknown. This study examined how a mother’s marriage type (monogamous vs. polygynous) affected alloparental care from both family members and unrelated community members. Using Bayesian analyses of data collected in collaboration with 474 mothers in The Gambia, we found that while children in polygynous marriages are less likely to receive care from their father and their father’s family, this is offset by a greater likelihood of receiving care from unrelated community members. Overall, we found no difference in the total amount of alloparental care between children born to monogamously and polygynously married women. However, sources of care differed, and these differences may have important implications for child health and survival. Our results emphasize the need for further research to explore how care from different sources influences child health.

The transmission of tick-borne Rickettsia pathogens is a complex phenomenon driven by the synergy of arthropod vectors, environmental conditions, and socio-economic factors. Yucatan is an endemic region with diverse Rickettsia species, and its presence has been associated with individual characteristics such as age and sex, as well as environmental factors. However, structural determinants and ecological factors have not been adequately quantified in a representative sample. Our objective was to analyze the association between the seroprevalence of Rickettsia spp. and both social and environmental factors across regions of Yucatan. We conducted a cross-sectional and ecological study that included a representative sample of 390 participants distributed across three distinct areas of Yucatan. Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay was performed to determine seropositivity to Rickettsia spp. We used a Poisson regression model to assess the association between seroprevalence and social factors (percentage of poverty, educational lag, and lack of access to health insurance) and ecological factors (maximum temperature, rainfall, land use, and population density). We identified an overall seroprevalence of Rickettsia spp. of 31.28% (122/390). The regression analysis demonstrated that maximum temperature, educational lag, and a high marginalization index were associated with an increased risk of seropositivity. Conversely, higher population density was associated with a decrease in seroprevalence. Our findings demonstrate that structural social factors and ecological variables are significantly associated with Rickettsia seroprevalence. These results underscore the critical need for public health interventions focused on addressing the upstream determinants of health to effectively reduce the burden of rickettsial diseases in marginalized and high-risk populations.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are known to be lipophilic and are associated with many adverse health effects in humans, such as alterations to sexual maturation (Tanner stages and age at menarche) and growth and development. The effects of exposures to multiple POPs have historically been difficult to determine due to high multi-collinearity in exposure. We seek to characterize relationships among toxicants and markers of sexual maturation using data on POP levels and sexual maturation in adolescents from the Mohawk Adolescent Well-Being Study (1995-2000; n = 271). The POPs for this analysis are: dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p’-DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and PCBs (persistent, non-persistent, and airborne) along with blood lead levels. There are significant bivariate correlations between blood lead levels and delays in breast development (-0.254, p=0.003), female pubic hair development (-0.233, p=0.006) and age at menarche (-0.361, p<0.001); and DDE with advancements in male Tanner genital stage development (0.196, p=0.003) and pubic hair development (0.257, p=0.025). Exposure to multiple POPs can complicate the causal pathway of relationships between endocrine disruptors and the outcomes measured. To disentangle the multiple influences on sexual maturation elastic net regression will be used to further specify these exposure-outcome relationships. The results from this analysis will allow for further understanding of the impact of exposure to multiple toxicants at once. This work was supported by grants from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS-ESO4913; ES10904), and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health (grant number 1 P20 MD003373).

Objective: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) and vasoconstriction supports the multisystem process of regulating body temperature to reduce the amount of heat lost during cold exposure. Previous work documents a relationship between cold-induced vasoconstriction, blood pressure (BP), and negative health consequence like strokes. However, the relationship between BAT and BP during cold exposure has not been explored. We tested weather there is a relationship between BAT thermogenesis and BP after mild cold exposure among healthy young adults.

Methods: We recruited 51 participants (30 females; 21 males; average age: 22.9 y/o). From the Hunter College community in New York City. We measured anthropometric dimensions, BP at baseline, and after participants wore a cooling suit for 30 min (15ºC). Infrared thermal imaging was used to quantify the change in supraclavicular skin temperature as an indirect measurement of BAT thermogenesis.

Results: There was a significant increase in systolic BP after mild cold exposure (p=0.002) however, there was not a relationship between BAT thermogenesis and cold induced change in BP. We did detect a positive association between cold-induced change in BP and age (systolic BP: p = 0.003; diastolic BP: p = 0.005) after controlling for baseline BP.

Discussion: Our findings indicate that even among young, healthy participants, there exists a relationship between cold-induced change in BP and age. Based on our preliminary results, BAT does not appear to protect against cold-induced increases in BP. Additional research is needed to understand wintertime spikes in cardiovascular disease and its biological mechanisms.

Urban environments have been associated with negative birth outcomes, including lower birthweights, preterm births and congenital malformations. However, little research has been done on the effect of urbanism on fetal death, an event with a high emotional cost for families and communities. This exploratory research examines all cases of fetal death recorded in Mexico during 2020-2024 (116, 250 cases; 52.7% males and 47.3% females) to analyze the magnitude and distribution of the phenomenon, and its relationship with sociodemographic indicators of urbanism. The national and state rates (per 1,000 live births) were calculated and their distribution analyzed using heat maps. Linear regression models were used to analyze the association between the state rate of fetal death and the percentage of urban population, population density, socioeconomic inequality (Gini coefficient) and crime incidence. The national rate was 13.1 cases per 1,000 live births. The highest rates are concentrated in the center of the country; Mexico City and the State of Mexico (neighboring states) account for 27% of cases. In bivariate analyses, the percentage of urban population, population density, and crime rate were positively associated with fetal death rate. In adjusted models, the percentage of urban population and density remained significant. These results are discussed in the context of the potential role played by psychosocial stress and violence, pollutant and contaminant exposure present in large cities and metropolitan areas.

This research focuses on cancer patients who struggle with mental health and biotechnological solutions that address these concerns. Cancer treatment has developed vastly over the years and saves countless lives annually. However, a commonly overlooked issue is mental health concerns in cancer patients. The profound psychological toll of a diagnosis including anxiety, depression, fear of recurrence, etc., is often overlooked. These can influence the possibility of poor patient outcomes, reduced quality of life, and low rates of treatment adherence. While traditional psychological approaches are effective, they tend to face gaps in accessibility, scalability, and integration with standard oncology care.

To address this issue, this paper reviews recent literature (2020 - 2025) on biotechnological interventions. The analysis focuses on digital platforms, AI-powered tools, and wearable devices, identifying scalable and personalized approaches. Findings suggest that a digital app made to help reduce depression and anxiety, and wearable technology to help monitor psychological distress may support mental wellbeing. We also address concerns regarding data privacy and ethics surrounding the use of these interventions. Overall, this research highlights the significant impacts mental health has on cancer patients and how the strategic integration of these solutions can help bridge the gap in cancer care, providing support during the difficult cancer journey.

Bogin’s Social-Economic-Political-Emotional Theory (SEPE) has been used to help better elucidate our understanding of factors that impact growth and development of individuals in varying environments. These factors have a marked impact on overall growth and growth trajectories demonstrating the plasticity of human growth and development. This study examines the height, weight, and body mass index of 1,858 students, 896 females and 962 males, between the ages of 5 and 14 from two disparate school districts in New Jersey; although these school districts are less than 15 miles apart, they have substantial differences in their SEPE environment and their self-identified primary ethnicity. In order to compare these populations, Mann-Whitney U tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests were conducted on height, weight and BMI, which identified statistical differences between these populations in all of the variables. Dunn post-hoc pairwise tests indicated that the differences were due to self-identified primary ethnicity and SEPE factors, which is in agreement with previous research. In addition, it appears that in this study, SEPE factors have a greater impact than primary ethnicity because there are more differences across districts comparing White and Hispanic or Latino students than within the district with both groups present. Further, White individuals from the less affluent population are, on average, shorter than their more privileged White counterparts. Unfortunately, there were not enough individuals in the other ethnic groups in both populations to compare.

Contemporary Brazilian society has faced changes in the health of human groups affected by various diseases due to socio-environmental, economic, labor, climatic, and anti-vaccine factors. The importance of studying the multiplicity of social indicators that impact individuals distributed throughout the country, particularly in the Amazon, lies in the need to investigate socioepidemiological indices that cause illnesses and what measures can be taken to mitigate diseases such as high blood pressure, mental health issues, tuberculosis, dengue fever, depression, obesity, malnutrition, allergies, respiratory diseases, measles, malaria, etc., in pursuit of quality of life. We conducted a bibliographic and statistical survey of the last ten years on public health websites, journals, articles, and other sources, analyzing how our population faces the challenges of health and disease today. Results indicate high rates of high blood pressure among men and women, especially quilombolas and riverine communities in the Amazon (State of Pará), a significant degree of malnutrition among children in rural and urban areas, as well as tuberculosis, dengue fever, allergies, and other diseases that are growing significantly throughout the country, causing a relevant epidemiological alert. Massive investment in public health policies among the most vulnerable populations is essential and urgent, as poverty and illness are still a difficult reality from north to south in Brazil.

Infant mortality is a key indicator of human development and health system equity. In Mexico, improvements in medical coverage have not consistently translated into proportional survival gains. This study describes temporal trends, leading causes, and contextual inequities in infant deaths between 2014 and 2023.

A retrospective national analysis was conducted using official mortality records for children under 12 months of age. Variables included sex, area of residence, medical assistance at the time of death, necropsy performance, and cause of death coded according to ICD-10. Data were analyzed by year, state, and locality size using descriptive and stratified statistics to assess geographic and social disparities.

Between 2014 and 2023, 224,212 infant deaths were recorded. The five leading causes accounted for 39% of all deaths: respiratory disorders of the newborn (11.7%), neonatal bacterial sepsis (11.7%), congenital heart malformations (7.9%), prematurity and low birth weight (4.2%), and birth asphyxia (3.8%). The infant mortality rate declined marginally from 10.72 to 10.62 per 1,000 live births. Although medical assistance at death reached 99.5% in 2023, the likelihood of receiving care was inversely related to locality size. Necropsy remained underperformed, even in cases of aggression. About 88% of deaths occurred among infants without social security coverage.

Infant mortality in Mexico remained similar over the decade, meaning persistent inequities may be limiting effective access. Improving data quality, linking maternal-neonatal records, and expanding neonatal critical-care capacity in underserved regions are essential to reduce preventable deaths.

While human facial expressions have been extensively studied in emotionally charged contexts, little is known about the subtle, low-intensity facial movements that occur during everyday conversation. This study explores these expressions in a culturally distinct sample—115 young Kabardians—using FaceReader, an advanced facial expression recognition system based on Facial Action Coding System (FACS). Participants engaged in 20-second conversations on neutral topics, and their facial movements were recorded on video and analyzed in terms of Action Units. Results showed that both men and women exhibited low intensity facial movements falling below the visibility threshold for untrained observers. However, women consistently demonstrated more varied and expressive activity in the eyes, nose, and mouth regions

Factor analysis revealed several distinct and recognizable mimс patterns. In men, dominant combinations corresponded to classic emotional configurations such as happiness, disgust, and anger, with additional expressions resembling sadness and contempt. Among women, expressions were more complex and blended, combining happiness, disgust, and subtle fear cues within the same configurations. A notable feature was the presence of brow frowning in women only, potentially reflecting a sex-specific element of conversational facial dynamics.

This study contributes novel insights into the ethology of facial expressions in non-emotional settings and underscores the role of background expressions in gendered social signaling. Findings suggest both evolutionary and cultural implications, advocating for further cross-cultural comparisons.

Body size is influenced by genetic, environmental, and cultural (biocultural) factors that produce phenotypic plasticity and reflect life history. The Sundanese people of West Java live in diverse ecological areas, from coastal lowlands to highlands. Variations in topography, livelihood, and ecology may create different selective pressures on body size. This study compared body sizes among Sundanese populations representing agricultural and coastal ecological types. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Sukapura Village, Kertasari District, West Java (1,300 m above sea level), representing an agricultural population (312 females, 241 males), and in Cikelet District, Garut, West Java (19–628 m above sea level), representing a coastal population (382 females, 359 males). Anthropometric measures (stature, weight, and body mass index-BMI) were taken in subjects aged 6–20 years. Data were analyzed using Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale, and Shape (GAMLSS) in R to estimate the median (50th percentile). Females were generally shorter and lighter than males in both populations. The coastal population showed greater stature than the agricultural population in both sexes across all ages. However, body weight was similar at younger ages; it increased more rapidly among the coastal population during adolescence. The agricultural population showed higher BMI values overall, especially in females, with only slight differences in males. Variations in body size reflect ecological adaptation. Taller, leaner physiques in coastal Sundanese probably result from energy being allocated toward skeletal growth. Meanwhile, greater fat accumulation (as indicated by BMI values) in the high-altitude agricultural population may serve as thermal insulation in low temperatures.

La inseguridad hídrica en el hogar es un fenómeno cada vez más frecuente en contextos urbanos, con profundas repercusiones en el bienestar y las dinámicas cotidianas, especialmente para las mujeres de bajos ingresos. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo documentar cómo las mujeres madres de familia perciben y responden a la inseguridad hídrica doméstica en la ciudad de Xalapa, Veracruz, entendida como la incapacidad de acceder y utilizar el agua de manera constante y confiable dentro del hogar. Se realizaron grupos focales piloto que permitieron validar la pertinencia de las categorías preliminares y ajustar la guía de entrevista, posterior, se aplicaron entrevistas semiestructuradas con madres que habitan en distintos contextos de la ciudad, y se aplicó un análisis temático para identificar patrones, contrastes y significados en sus experiencias. Los resultados muestran que la infraestructura doméstica condiciona las formas de enfrentar la inseguridad hídrica: el sistema de llenado y almacenamiento de agua se reveló como un factor clave en la distribución del trabajo y la carga psicológica y emocional. Asimismo, la impredecibilidad del suministro emergió como un eje clave de la experiencia, generando estados de alerta prolongados, tensión constante y dificultades para planificar las actividades de cuidado y sociales. Al documentar experiencias cotidianas poco exploradas en contextos urbanos de México, este estudio amplía la comprensión de la inseguridad hídrica doméstica como un fenómeno situado, atravesado por desigualdades de género y condiciones de infraestructura que configuran el bienestar y las dinámicas de cuidado en el hogar.

Grip strength is widely recognized as an integrative indicator of physical fitness and vitality. Beyond its biomedical significance, it may function as a bodily cue of social and reproductive potential, shaping parental favoritism and kin-directed behavior. In 2024, we conducted an experimental study among 98 Kalmyk university students (Elista, Russia) to test the hypothesis that grip strength is associated with the accuracy of kin recognition. Each participant was photographed under standardized anthropological conditions, and handgrip strength was measured using a dynamometer. For each individual, the facial portrait was digitally modified to resemble a child aged approximately 5–12 years. Participants were presented with a set of five child images (one derived from their own face) and asked to choose the child they would most likely invest in (e.g., through adoption, babysitting, or financial support). Results showed that grip strength was positively correlated with the frequency of choosing the “self-derived” child image. Participants with lower grip strength more often selected unrelated faces, suggesting possible alternative strategies of parental investment. These findings point to grip strength as a possible somatic marker of kin-oriented altruism, with weaker individuals showing a tendency toward broader, group-level prosociality, highlighting the need for further investigation of biometric correlates of altruistic behavior.

The Brazilian Food and Nutritional Security (FNS) landscape, which has “The Geography of Hunger” as its fundamental theoretical framework, identifies the food situation in territories from north to south of the country, stratifying hunger and malnutrition in Brazil, a reality that continued into the first decade of the 21st century. The COVID-19 syndemicc was a health crisis and economic catastrophe that exacerbated the issue of food shortages with the abrupt widening of social inequalities, particularly in the State of Pará, Amazon region. Food insecurity between 2019 and 2022 worsened due to disastrous policies before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic, when about one million people in the Amazon had the Bolsa Família Program as their only source of monthly income, characterizing the poverty rate and people in situations of hunger, with occupations without fixed income in the informal market. Qualitative health methodology was used with statistics, articles, books, and exhibitions of historical collections, public health activities, and continuing education in an interdisciplinary manner. Between 2019 and 2025, we analyzed primary and secondary data, focusing on the health of urban, rural, quilombola, and riverine populations to share the research conducted in the state of Pará. The results showed these elements contribute to alarming Social Determinants of Health (SDH), with food and nutritional insecurity among riverine, fishing, rural, indigenous and quilombola populations as a whole at levels never before recorded, which corroborates the current reconfiguration and massive investiment o social assistance programs aimed at the most vulnerable.

Long COVID, also known as post acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), includes a wide range of persistent complications that span multiple organ systems. Neurological symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and cognitive impairment are among the most disabling, affecting quality of life, occupational functioning, and disease morbidity. While much of the existing evidence comes from high income countries, data from sub-Saharan Africa remain limited despite high infection burdens and under resourced health systems. This study investigated the prevalence and correlates of neurological sequelae of Long COVID among adults in Johannesburg, South Africa. Additionally, we examined the association between acute COVID-19 severity and long-term neurological symptoms of Long COVID, including headaches, fatigue, pain, and cognitive function. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study at the Ezintsha Research Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa between August 2022 and July 2023. Adults with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection at least six months prior were allocated into four groups: asymptomatic, symptomatic outpatients, hospitalised patients, and vaccinated controls without prior infection. Multiple regression models found that adults with symptomatic COVID-19 infection exhibited the worst headache symptoms (b = 0.1, 95% CI [0.032, 0.16]). Relative to vaccinated controls, all infection groups exhibited elevated symptoms of mental, physical, and overall fatigue (all p < 0.04). Pain and cognitive function were not significantly different across groups. These results call attention to the long-term neurological sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection and early identification and management of emerging neurological symptoms in high-risk COVID-19 survivors in South Africa.

Objective: Early-life undernutrition can have lasting impacts on growth and metabolic function, yet its relationship to adult brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity and non-shivering thermogenesis remains unclear. BAT contributes to energy expenditure and thermoregulation, but the extent to which early life nutritional conditions influence adult BAT activity is largely unexplored. Relative leg length, a sensitive indicator of early life nutrition, offers a noninvasive approach to examining developmental influences on adult metabolic physiology.

Methods: We recruited 63 adults (41 females; 22 males) residing in New York City. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) and respiratory quotient (RQ) were measured using indirect calorimetry under thermoneutral conditions. Anthropometric dimensions, including relative leg length, were recorded to assess early life nutritional status. BAT activity and non-shivering thermogenesis were evaluated using thermal imaging and indirect calorimetry.

Results: We found that relative limb length was not associated with baseline REE after controlling for fat-free mass . Relative limb length was not associated with RQ in the total sample or females, but a trend existed among males (p=0.096). BAT thermogenesis, change in REE, and change in RQ were not associated with relative limb length.

Discussion: These findings highlight the complicated relationship between early-life environments and adult metabolism. The lack of associations could stem from the limited sample size, the types of early-life nutritional environments represented in the study, and methodological constraints. By focusing on a diverse, urban sample, this study contributes to understanding how social and ecological variation in early growth environments may shape adult metabolic health and adaptive thermogenesis.

This research offers a bioanthropological reflection on how young adults in Brazil construct their body image and identity through digital aesthetic norms. In the current context, marked by the strong presence of social networks such as TikTok, Instagram, etc..., the bodies of young adults have become a veritable space for performance and control. Influenced by often demanding digital aesthetic standards, they seek to conform to visual ideals, sometimes resorting to cosmetic surgery, or the use of digital filters. Adopting a bioanthropological approach, which combines biological and cultural dimensions, together with a netnographic methodology, the analysis explores how these social networks shape aesthetic norms and influence body representations: young adults, confronted with retouched images and idealized content, often feel pressure to reconstruct their bodies, leading them to undergo surgical procedures, such as body reduction surgery or breast augmentation. Preliminary observations show that this continuous exposure to idealized beauty standards contributes to a redefinition of body identity, exacerbating insecurities and social comparisons. Faced with these challenges, young people develop coping mechanisms, such as involvement in movements of body positivity, that promote self-acceptance despite the aesthetic pressures. Through a literature review ad critical analysis of data, this Flash Talk aims to provide an understanding of contemporary issues related to body imagem. By integrating historical and cultural perspectives, this research highlights the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to understanding modern challenges related to body perception and identity, while also shedding light on the sociocultural implications for the psychological well-being of young adults in the digital age.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is among the most common endocrine disorders affecting women worldwide, yet it remains poorly understood and deeply stigmatized. Embodiment theory posits that social inequalities, cultural expectations, and lived experiences become physically inscribed, shaping both bodily states and perceptions of health. Despite extensive biomedical research, few studies have explored how the stigma surrounding hallmark PCOS symptoms, such as hirsutism, acne, weight gain, irregular menstruation, and infertility, affects diagnostic access, emotional well-being, and health-seeking behaviors. Applying an embodiment framework, this study examines how PCOS-related stigma is internalized and expressed through emotional and physiological experience. Survey data were collected from 224 individuals with PCOS (age M = 34.6 ± 10.2). Feelings of stigmatization and experiences of being judged for having PCOS were significantly associated, χ²(1, n = 224) = 61.61, p < 0.001, indicating strong convergence across stigma measures. Participants were diagnosed at an average age of 31.1 years and reported a mean diagnostic delay of 17.5 years. Over half (51.7%) reported experiencing stigma in healthcare settings, while nearly one-third (32%) felt somewhat or extremely uncomfortable seeking mental health care (M = 3.56 ± 1.22). These findings demonstrate that PCOS stigma, rooted in gendered body norms and reproductive expectations, may become embodied as chronic stress, emotional distress, and barriers to care. Integrating embodiment theory within a biocultural framework highlights how social stigma produces measurable physiological consequences and highlights the need for interdisciplinary, patient-centered approaches to PCOS research and treatment.

Sexual and reproductive justice (SRJ) frameworks emphasize the right of all people to bodily autonomy, to have or not have children, and to parent in safe and sustainable communities. Sexual minority (SM) individuals, whose sexual orientation, attraction, or behavior vary from heterosexual norms, make reproductive decisions within systems shaped by inequity, stigma, and heteronormativity. Reproductive research and policy have historically marginalized SM people, framing their fertility as biologically atypical rather than as outcomes of social and structural forces. Using data from the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG, 2011–2019), we take a biocultural approach to examine associations between sexual orientation and reproductive outcomes among people capable of pregnancy, focusing on sterilization as a key indicator of reproductive autonomy and constraint. SM women were significantly more likely than heterosexual women to report having undergone a sterilizing procedure (11.0% vs. 6.3%, p < 0.001). Among those sterilized, 23.4% of SM women reported doing so before having all the children they wanted, compared with 13.7% of heterosexual women (p < 0.001). These disparities persisted across race, education, income, and age. suggesting that sexual orientation-based differences are not reducible to socioeconomic factors. Findings raise concerns about informed consent, healthcare bias, and the systemic undervaluing of SM people’s reproductive intentions. From an SRJ perspective, these results suggest that reproductive autonomy may not simply be a matter of personal choice. Future research should examine the social, institutional, and political contexts that determine whose reproductive desires are supported, discouraged, or constrained.

Introduction to Plenary Session

SR Leigh

Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO

Methodologies comprise critical elements of research in biological anthropology. Fortunately, the abundance and richness of methods seems ever-increasing in service of exciting new paradigms, theories, and hypotheses. This talk shares lessons learned about shifting to new problems, deploying unfamiliar or new theories, and the importance of methods in these processes.

Consistently prioritizing scholarly renewal has been a valuable lesson learned. The idea is that a path to success in scientific research and, in fact, just about any scholarly field, is to pursue ways to actively renew one’s scholarship. This means consciously seeking out new, unfamiliar, sometimes difficult or even uncomfortable new problems or topics for investigation. Scholarly renewal becomes a form of “meta-method” that guides new learning, investigations, methods, collaborations, and new research.

Collaboration is central to this sort of approach, especially when a direction of scholarly renewal leads to unfamiliar fields. As our symposium proposal notes, we “benefit from partnership more often than not.” Fortunately, most of us belong to institutions of higher learning, intrinsically spanning wide and divergent fields of knowledge. Moreover, our field engenders curiosity and intrinsically interests potential collaborators. I advocate dedicated efforts to work with colleagues across a broad spectrum. My own research in fields beginning in bioarchaeology, through to comparative primate anatomy and human evolution, to evolutionary microbiomics, provides examples of how this might be accomplished.

In this presentation, I will briefly reflect on field research conducted over the past 30+ years in different parts of the world. I will particularly focus on the challenges involved in collecting and transporting biological samples from the field to the lab for genetic analysis. Overall, this work has revealed how such efforts can be affected by logistical constraints, local politics, sampling methods, shifting bioethical practices, participant recruitment, and other random factors. Suffice it to say that, while collecting biological samples for DNA analysis in the field is generally straightforward from a methodological perspective, the context in which they are obtained and transported from the field can vary widely by the time, location, community and sociopolitical environment in which fieldwork is being conducted.

Gastrointestinal infections with parasitic organisms (e.g., soil-transmitted helminths, waterborne protozoal infections) affect billions of people globally. Soil-transmitted helminths alone are estimated to infect almost a quarter of the world’s population. While these infections can drive important health outcomes related to immune and gut function, chronic disease risk, and even mortality rates, they remain understudied and are often not incorporated into human biology field studies. Because these infections can lead to altered levels of other biomarkers, their inclusion in research focused on immune, digestive, and chronic disease-related biomarkers is crucial. Beginning research that incorporates stool sample collection to test for intestinal pathogens can be challenging due to many unknowns, including type and abundance of species present, level of comfort for participants collecting their own stool samples and researchers processing samples, and access to field laboratory and storage space. These factors are important considerations that should drive site-specific methodological decisions. Here, we discuss lessons learned over more than a decade of stool sample collection for parasitological analyses across several highly variable field sites in Ecuador and the United States. These sometimes hard-learned lessons include: 1) creating collection kits to maximize participant comfort based on level of sanitation and hygiene infrastructure available; 2) setting up a sanitary laboratory space for processing, analyzing, and disposing of samples in varying climates and environments; and 3) choosing the most accurate analysis methods based on expected pathogens encountered, equipment availability, and budgetary constraints. More comparative global studies on parasitological infections will benefit holistic human biology research.

Previously validated psychological and behavioral instruments are often applied to field-based anthropology. These surveys have the benefit of internal and external validity, accuracy, and comparability with previous work. However, most instruments are used and validated only in WEIRD settings, making their applicability to small-scale societies suspect. WEIRD instruments typically rely on many difficult-to-translate Likert-scale items and often reference beliefs and constructs that may not be cross-culturally applicable. Drawing on lessons from 10+ years of fieldwork with Kunene pastoralists of Namibia, we argue that, when the goal is to understand the internal cultural dynamics of a group, validated WEIRD instruments have limited utility and introduce significant problems. Instead, developing locally relevant questions, tasks, and instruments that are embedded in the norms and beliefs of the communities of study is a more expeditious and scientifically valid way do to conduct anthropological research.

The use of point-of-care tests (POCT) has become increasingly common in human biology research. Instruments that deliver immediate results from minimally invasive samples at the location of collection can facilitate rapid data sharing with participants and enhance community outreach efforts. However, concerns around equipment reliability and results interpretation limit POCT usefulness in some contexts. This presentation draws on past experiences incorporating POCT in the Rural Embodiment and Community Health (REACH) study – a community-engaged project assessing how lived experiences impact intestinal health and immune function – to describe unforeseen POCT complications, including equipment malfunctions and navigating IRB concerns surrounding data sharing. Additionally, our lab has previously documented statistically significant differences in test sensitivity between POCT and standard laboratory analysis techniques. For example, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays detected significantly more positive cases of Helicobacter pylori (a common gastrointestinal bacteria; X2(1) = 42.68, p < .001) and more cases of elevated fecal calprotectin (a measure of intestinal inflammation; X2(4) = 149.89, p < .001) compared to POCT from the same manufacturers. Fully understanding test strengths and limitations can help ensure POCT are used appropriately. Finally, this presentation will consider lessons learned from past community-engaged work, including strategies for incorporating POCT to address community concerns and provide easily interpretable information requested by community members. Challenges in sharing health information and connecting participants with affordable follow-up medical care will also be discussed. Cumulatively, the knowledge gained from these past challenges has shaped the REACH project in profound ways and led to exciting new research foci.

Saliva reflects mucosal immune function at a major portal of pathogen entry. Because collection is noninvasive and inexpensive, salivary measures enable repeated sampling and inclusion of populations where venipuncture is impractical. Functional bacteria-killing assays (BKA) offer an integrative endpoint that captures combined activity of complement, lysozyme, antimicrobial peptides, and natural antibodies. To present a standardized saliva bacteria-killing assay (BKA) suitable for human field and lab studies, and summarize validation tests. The assay uses passive drool saliva, heat inactivation at 42 °C for 8 min, 1:2 dilution in CO₂-independent medium, incubation with E. coli ATCC 8739 for 30 min at 37 °C/95% humidity, and triplicate plating with matched positive controls. To limit end-of-run effects, samples are processed in batches of ≤20. We evaluated effects of heat-inactivation, storage, freeze–thaw cycles, and diurnal timing. Heat-inactivation produced values closely aligned with untreated samples. Percent killing was similar across one to five freeze–thaw cycles. Storage at −80 °C, −20 °C, or 4 °C performed comparably; room-temperature storage reduced killing. Across the day, mean killing was stable with modest within-day curvature, supporting first-morning collections to reduce variation. No effect of salivary flow rate was detected. The protocol yields a practical functional readout of salivary innate activity and is feasible across settings. Key implementation points include clear labeling and plate matching for controls, batch processing, and triplicate counts. The BKA can support comparative, ecological, and health research that requires a noninvasive functional immune measure.

Most researchers measure the prevalence of hot flashes with questionnaires. For example, we administered questionnaires in Paraguay and Slovenia to assess frequency of hot flash experience among women at midlife during the past two weeks: 43% of Paraguayan women reported hot flashes in Asunción compared to 24% of women in the Selška Valley of Slovenia. In Puebla, Mexico, we added biometric measures and learned that polygraph tracings do not always reflect self-report. Hot flashes were commonly experienced on the back of the neck, but these were not measured by the conventional method of placing electrodes on either side of the sternum. In Bangladesh, 64% of participants felt hot flashes on the top of their head versus 46% of participants in Mexico and 27% in the US. In Hilo, Hawaii, we placed electrodes on the back of the neck, as well as on either side of the sternum. Discord with questionnaire results, particularly among Japanese Americans, led us to conclude that differences in self-report were influenced in part by population variation in sensing, labeling, and willingness to talk about hot flashes. Our work in Campeche, Mexico, showed that extreme heat and humidity can compromise self-reported hot flashes. Questionnaires alone are not the best way to compare hot flash experience across populations; however, biometric measures have their own set of challenges. A combination of methods contributes to an appreciation for how differences in hot flash frequencies across populations are associated with variation in physiology, culture, and environment.

The early days of work with degraded/ancient DNA (aDNA) from various historic and archaeological sources recognized the potential for contamination from modern DNA, but how to protect against exogenous DNA took time to be fully implemented. It was, in some ways, the Wild West, of genetic research, rife with “black hat” research that often reported more of the researcher than DNA from the purported source. Early publications on everything from Egyptian mummies to Neanderthals ran afoul of the dreaded contamination. However, the scope of contamination and how to control it was wrangled, particularly with the technologies such as Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). The lessons learned, by and large, have led to degraded DNA being able to be sequenced and utilized in studies of human evolution, migration, and selection in a myriad of important ways. And while there are still great divides in the representation of aDNA from many parts of the world, the ability to trust in the data that is published now goes a long way to aid in our understanding of human biology past, present, and maybe even future. It’ll probably never help us find Bigfoot, though, no matter how many times someone brings me a “sample.”

Gut function is central to human biology. It influences our ability to extract energy from our environments (e.g., the absorption of consumed food). It also influences how our bodies allocate the resources that we have available to competing metabolic tasks (e.g., the translocation of microbes across the gut-blood barrier and resulting immune activation). Despite clear implications for human evolution, variation, and health, gut function has been poorly studied in the field of human biology. We have begun to address this shortcoming in the Human Evolutionary Biology and Health Lab. Over the past few years, we have implemented several minimally invasive approaches for assessing gut function in population research. This includes the application of several established assessment methods that are common in other fields but have rarely/never been adopted in human biology (e.g., urinary lactulose-mannitol testing of intestinal absorption and permeability), methods that are based on newly available point-of-care technology (e.g., breath-based testing of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), and methods that have been validated using minimally invasive approaches for the first time in our lab (e.g., finger-prick dried blood spot biomarkers of environmental enteric dysfunction). In this talk, I highlight some of these methods and our initial findings on children’s gut function in projects in Ecuador, Kenya, and elsewhere. I also share advice on what works, what doesn’t, and how human biologists might best contribute to this exciting area of research.

Hair is a widely used biological matrix for measuring steroid hormones, with hair cortisol concentration (HCC) most commonly employed as a retrospective indicator of long-term systemic exposure over months (and sometimes even years). HCC offers a useful alternative to biological fluid matrices for estimating cortisol exposure, which is otherwise complicated by the hormone’s circadian and pulsatile secretion.

To date, HCC has been linked to dozens of health outcomes—spanning cardiometabolic, endocrine, mental health, sleep, perinatal, pain, and cognitive domains—suggesting a broad association with health risk.

Nonetheless, key methodological questions remain. These include the physiological meaning and temporal dynamics of HCC (e.g., the assumption that hair grows ~1 cm per month, contributions from secondary cortisol sources, and the lag between acute systemic changes and their appearance in the proximal hair segment) and evidence-informed best practices for laboratory handling (e.g., the effectiveness of washing steps in removing exogenous steroids and other factors that influence extraction efficiency). Such issues ultimately shape observed associations and likely contribute to mixed findings across studies.

In this presentation, I will synthesize findings from the literature and present data from my prior and ongoing projects on hair steroids, including associations between HCC and indices of acute HPA-axis reactivity. I will also discuss how downstream protocol steps affect extraction efficiency and quantification, and address confounding factors unique to hair-based cortisol measures. Finally, I will highlight implications for study design and laboratory protocols to improve the interpretability and reproducibility of HCC and other hair-steroid measures.

In efforts to become an independent scholar, I failed to learn enough from other people’s mistakes. I believe this is true for most of us, as biting off more than we can chew is so common. Siloed people and projects can result from drive and pride, and impostorism can lead to overcompensation that is further compounded by our unrealistic optimism. Academic territoriality deemphasizes interdisciplinarity and we can feel forced to work on a narrow set of questions, constraining our creativity. And when we reach out for new methods, we can fall sort for many reasons. We must be candid about our failures. There is much I wish I learned sooner about this, and the present brief message shares some of these thoughts. Foremost, people come first. Honor your collaborators and mentees at least as much as you honor your ideas, efforts, and professional products. Second, embrace mixed methods and step out of your comfort zone, but do not reinvent the wheel. Get a lot of advice during the design stage and be sure to walk before you run. You should dream big, but remember to be humble and realistic. Third, the ‘why’ determines the ‘how.’ Choose methods to best answer your specific questions, and sometimes those methods will not be the ones you default to. Your interpretation of results (and any implications toward causality) will be critically limited by your methods; remain prudent in your conclusions and grateful for the opportunities.

Community-based studies on growth, development, energetics, reproduction, senescence, health and disease, all central to bioanthropological scholarship, have, directly or indirectly engaged with food-related questions around its production, availability and utilization. As scholars expand their interests in documenting the impact of ongoing socio-environmental, economic, technological and cultural transitions on human variation, health and wellbeing, the need to understand how individuals and communities relate to food in specific contexts remains key. Human biologists have developed, adopted and refined a series of standardized methods and techniques to document and assess food-related variables and outcomes that have overall proved effective. However, food has, beyond its universal nutritional and health enhancing properties, a myriad of practical and symbolic connotations that vary as a function of the sociocultural context, and the uses and relevance specific communities give it. In this respect, the toolkit relies on conceptual and procedural assumptions that are not necessarily universal, requiring that the methods, techniques and instruments be adapted to the context in question beyond language and cognitive comprehension; failure to do so may inadvertently lead to incorrect, invalid and meaningless results. Examples collected over a decade-long project with agricultural families in central Veracruz will be shared to: 1)illustrate how ethnographic insights are indispensable to operationalize culturally appropriate food-related questions to yield contextualized valid, reliable and meaningful knowledge that can be easily appropriated by the communities with which it is produced; and 2)argue that an engaged and relational approach to research is a necessary condition for such situated knowledge production to occur.

The founder of the Human Biology Association, Gabriel Lasker, defined adaptation as "the change by which organisms surmount the challenges to life." This definition frames adaptation as a positive feature of the basic biology of all organisms, humans included. It also resonates with the current sense of urgency among climate scientists as humans face the potentially existential challenge of anthropogenic climate change (which is, itself, just one element of a potentially looming polycrisis for humanity). In times of urgency, theory might seem like a luxury we can ill afford. In fact, theory is eminently practical and an absolute necessity when we are faced with uncertainty about the best decisions for the future. In addition to its familiar role of structuring scientific inquiry, theory allows us to understand worlds different from the unique one we currently inhabit. Such alternative worlds include the counterfactual futures that arise from different decision paths or different attempts to surmount the challenges of life. The evolutionary theory that undergirds the science of human biology provides a powerful set of tools for understanding adaptation, species persistence, and alternative futures. Unfortunately, our training in formal evolutionary theory has lagged. Developing the capacity for theory among human biologists, and evolutionary human scientists more broadly, depends on established practitioners prioritizing the acquisition of necessary skills in their students and forming strategic alliances with cognate fields. I provide some examples from own personal journey working with population geneticists, demographers (and other sociologists), statisticians, and epidemiologists.

Secondary datasets offer anthropologists a powerful tool for exploring questions of health, behavior, and social and environmental context at population scale. These datasets, often collected by large teams at national and cross-national levels, can provide access to representative and diverse samples that would be logistically or financially prohibitive through primary data collection. They also allow for analyses that require larger sample sizes or greater power, provide opportunities for student engagement and can guide future research design. However, using secondary data presents distinct challenges. Some challenges, such as missing variables, inconsistent definitions, or differences in survey instruments across time or populations, are common to any secondary data analysis. Others, such as the focus on specific outcomes, lack of behavioral questions, and limited contextual detail about the participants, may be a particular challenge for anthropological studies, necessitating creative strategies to operationalize theoretical constructs and contextualize findings. Drawing on examples from my own work in maternal and child health, this presentation offers some lessons learned (e.g. don’t forget to collect the units, diet patterns differ depending on how mothers are asked about their child’s diet, and measuring size vs. growth may lead to very different interpretations) and some strategies (e.g. make the variable categorical, triangulate quantitative behavioral data to infer beliefs, and combine multiple datasets to provide missing context) for using previously collected data to address key issues in human biology.

One of the perennial strengths of biological anthropology is its emphasis on using interdisciplinary methods, from ethnographic fieldwork to molecular biology and computational statistics, to better understand human evolution. However, as laboratory techniques become more sophisticated and our datasets grow larger, being a biological anthropologist increasingly demands fluency across more disparate methodological domains than a single researcher can ever hope to master. Drawing from my own experiences in anthropological genetics, I explore how disciplinary expectations and our ambition as researchers often collides with practical limits on our time and individual expertise. Rather than framing this as a deficit, I argue that these frictions reveal opportunities for more intentional collaboration and a rethinking of what counts as “independent” scholarship. I discuss the hidden labor of switching between modes of inquiry, the challenges for specialists in branding their research, and the emotional toll of feeling perennially undertrained. By sharing my own growing pains, I hope to contribute to a broader conversation about how we build collaborations that are rigorous, reflexive, and mutually beneficial and to encourage researchers at all levels to recognize when to let go of doing it all ourselves.

Studies of women’s health increasingly draw from two distinct methodological approaches: recruiting participants prospectively in clinical settings, and reanalyzing preexisting datasets collected for other purposes. Each approach offers unique advantages and constraints that shape inference in human biological research. Recruiting within clinical populations allows precise phenotyping, detailed exposure measurement, fresh biosamples, and creating a study design optimally tailored for your research question. However, these studies face rising costs and barriers to recruitment, especially for women with caregiving or financial burdens. In contrast, secondary analyses of preexisting datasets enable larger and more diverse samples at relatively low cost, but are often constrained by missing variables, inconsistent biomarker protocols, or limited contextual data on hormonal, environmental, or behavioral exposures. The methodological tradeoffs between these strategies are not merely logistical but conceptual: they determine which hypotheses can be tested and whose biology is ultimately represented. Drawing on examples from my own research, such as the Mothers’ Cultural Experiences study and the Women’s Health Initiative, this presentation considers how design choices influence hypotheses and interpretation of results in women’s health research. Ongoing methodological dialogue across human biology and medical research is critical to conduct women’s health research in a way that is both rigorous and grounded in evolutionary sciences.

Many complementary methodological approaches contribute to our understanding of human biology. Laboratory work provides precision and control, but here we focus on fieldwork – research conducted in complex, dynamic contexts where human life unfolds. Our experiences conducting studies in environmental extremes – including the Amazon, Himalayas and on a small boat in the Arctic Ocean – have underscored the unparalleled opportunities fieldwork provides to study humans in context-rich real-world settings. However, it also challenges every aspect of a team’s preparation, adaptability and collaboration.

Fieldwork demands flexibility in the face of unpredictable circumstances: data collection at all hours, makeshift field sites and rapidly changing weather and access conditions. Beyond the field, navigating administrative and bureaucratic processes before and after trips can be equally demanding, requiring patience, persistence and coordination across institutions and cultures.

Through these experiences, we have learned that success in the field relies as much on people and relationships as on equipment and protocols. A cohesive, well-prepared team that shares purpose, humour and an understanding of one another’s strengths can adapt effectively when the unexpected occurs. Investing time in collective preparation – anticipating contingencies, practicing procedures and developing mutual trust – builds resilience and flexibility that no checklist can replace.

Reflecting on “what we wish we knew then,” we have come to appreciate that methodological excellence in field settings is inseparable from the social dynamics that sustain it. Fieldwork remains one of the most demanding yet rewarding aspects of human biology, offering enduring lessons about both science and collaboration.

It is the case in human and other primate research that the ability to investigate the multifarious interactions between bodies, neurobiologies, genes, endocrine systems, immune systems, behavior, histories, cultures, ecologies, minds, and experiences is more tangible now than ever. The current methodological, theoretical, and technological landscapes make integrative assessing and engaging all of these variables finally feasible. But the ability to bring together the diverse disciplines and practitioners across these landscapes is less so. A solution is to move towards transdisciplinary teams for work in human biology writ large. With transdisciplinarity there is a goal of developing a relationship that creates an exchange and metalanguage in which the terms and concepts of all the participant disciplines are, or can be, expressed facilitating a systems approach and an intellectual transformation that is thorough, intensive, and generative. Transdisciplinarity can enable different questions, broader visions, and offer novel insights for complex real-world dynamics. In this very brief talk, I look back into my research experience and highlight two cases, one in human-primate pathogen transmission and the other in human mating/social organization, where a more integrative approach would have produced much better results and opine about how to create transdisciplinary teams to tackle such projects in the future.

Recent work demonstrated that allostatic load (AL), a metric of multisystem physiological dysregulation, incurred during sensitive periods of development, imparts lasting consequences on adult health outcomes. We expand on this work to examine how childhood AL mediates the relationship between childhood adversity and adult cardiometabolic outcomes. Using data from the Great Smoky Mountains Study, a longitudinal study tracking psychiatric and physical functioning outcomes in children ages 9-13 assessed annually into adulthood, we evaluated survey, blood sample, and demographic data to determine childhood adversity, childhood AL, and adult cardiometabolic health (n=650). Childhood adversity was determined through interviews evaluating various stress dimensions, including threat, loss, unpredictability, maltreatment, poverty, and other adverse events reported by child or parent within 3 months preceding interviews. AL scores were calculated from biomarkers representing immune, metabolic, and neuroendocrine function. Adult cardiometabolic health was determined from blood pressure, BMI, and waist-hip-ratio at age 30. We used confirmatory factor analysis to examine the relationship between stress dimensions and a latent adversity variable. The latent adversity construct was primarily driven by maltreatment and poverty, although all dimensions of stress contributed significantly (p<0.001). Using structural equation modeling (SEM), we examined direct and indirect paths between this latent variable and measured indicators of AL and adult outcomes, controlling for sex, race, age and pubertal stage. SEM results showed that childhood AL mediates the relationship between childhood adversity and adult cardiometabolic outcomes (p<0.005), while the direct path was non-significant. These results highlight AL as a key mechanism linking early adversity to long-term risk.

Lower birth weight (BW) has been widely shown to predict elevated risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) like hypertension, diabetes and atherosclerosis. Building on this finding, it has been hypothesized that the higher rates of CVD among Black Americans may trace, in part, to socially-driven inequities in BW. A critical review of empirical tests of this idea yielded a paradox: although Black Americans have lower BWs and higher CVD, and even though lower BW has been widely shown to predict future CVD risk, studies generally report stronger inverse BW–CVD relationships in white compared to Black samples. Drawing on recent clarifications in intergenerational pathways, we propose an updated model that could help explain the weaker BW–CVD relationship in Black Americans: Structural racism not only elevates offspring CVD risk through intergenerational pathways that reduce BW (e.g. maternal stress or hypertension), but also increases the likelihood of maternal weight gain and elevated gestational glucose, which elevate future offspring CVD risk but increase BW. We review evidence that these offsetting, “push–pull” effects on BW operate across the full spectrum of maternal gestational glucose and offspring BW. As a result, when BW is used as a marker, a dimension of CVD risk is rendered invisible, proportionate to the strength of these opposing pathways. BW will thus be particularly uncoupled from CVD risk in minoritized US populations, who face psychosocial stress but are also more likely to be exposed to environments that lead to weight gain and metabolic dysregulation.

Famines, defined as severe hunger crises, have often been studied within the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) framework, which hypothesizes that harmful environmental exposures during critical periods of development induce epigenetic and/or physiological changes which alter metabolism and increase risk of disease. With increasing rates of cardiometabolic disease, it is imperative to understand how exposures during development contribute to worsening health in later-life. We explored the effects of famine on subsequent hypertension and type 2 diabetes risk observed in countries at varying income levels and nutrition transitions. Following MOOSE and PRISMA protocols, we identified papers that examined famine exposure across peri-natal, childhood and adolescence. Overall, exposure to famine at the perinatal stage was positively associated with both hypertension and diabetes (pooled OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.08-1.25, p =< 0.0001; pooled OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.20-1.42, p =< 0.0001). Strong positive associations were apparent for combined early, middle and late childhood exposure with hypertension and diabetes in adulthood (pooled OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.19-1.42, p=< 0.0001; pooled OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.18-1.42, p=< 0.0001). Sex based analysis revealed that females were more affected across all developmental stages for both hypertension and diabetes (pooled OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.16-1.70, p=0.0004; pooled OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.11-1.43, p=0.0002). Overall, the study establishes that the effects of famine can be seen beyond the peri-natal stage, suggesting that developmental plasticity extends well into childhood. These results can help us anticipate disease risk as well as answer bigger questions on human evolution and development.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, often extending into adulthood. Adult ADHD frequently co-occurs with depression and anxiety, reflecting overlapping neurobiological mechanisms, including dysregulation of catecholaminergic signalling and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. However, limited research in India has examined these interactions among young adults.

This cross-sectional study assessed 1,634 young adults (18–25 years) in Delhi-NCR, India, using the ASRS-V1.1, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI).

ADHD was strongly associated with depression, anxiety, and elevated stress, suggesting a biological vulnerability. Individuals with ADHD showed 4.7-fold higher odds of moderate/severe depression, 5.1-fold higher odds of moderate/severe anxiety, and 18.6-fold higher odds of high stress. Mediation analysis indicated that stress and anxiety partially mediated the ADHD–depression relationship. The indirect effects via stress (β = 3.82, 95% CI [3.06–4.58], p < .001) and anxiety (β = 4.23, 95% CI [3.40–5.06], p < .001) were significant, while the direct effect remained, highlighting both direct and indirect pathways linking ADHD to depressive symptoms.

Among ADHD subtypes, the combined subtype (ADHD-C) exhibited the highest burden of depression, anxiety, and stress, while inattentive (ADHD-I) and hyperactive/impulsive (ADHD-H) subtypes also showed elevated mental health risks. These findings suggest that understanding the neurobiological and stress-related pathways connecting ADHD to depression may enhance early identification, inform targeted interventions, and guide biologically informed strategies for prevention and treatment of comorbid mental health conditions in young adults with ADHD.

The Texas Rural Health and Heritage Project studies the social and historical contexts of health disparities for middle aged and older adults in the rural Blackland Prairie regions of Texas. In addition to exploring the relationship between the histories of plantation ecologies, farming, and embodiment in the rural South over the lifespan, we are investigating the ways that individuals create communities of support to buffer the specific challenges of rural life. This paper explores the relationship between social support and healthy aging using survey and biometric data from over 6000 Texans in the more urban Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Our findings suggest that for this comparative population, older women report higher levels of worry, anxiety and depression than their male counterparts, while also describing higher levels of social support. Notably, this pattern persists for married men and women. Narratives about rural life and farming often center male perspectives on work and weathering, while women’s perspectives remain secondary. These findings suggest that across rural and urban spaces greater attention should be paid to the costs of connectedness, variability in experiences of social support, the gendered dynamics of sociality for older individuals, and their potential implications differential markers of aging in these communities.

The COVID-19 pandemic worsened health disparities by disrupting access to care, especially for marginalized populations. Latinas, who faced barriers to prenatal care, may have experienced emotional distress in response to pandemic-related disruptions in access to prenatal care. This study investigates how healthcare access disruptions during COVID-19 are associated with maternal mental health among Latinas receiving publicly funded prenatal health care in El Paso, Texas. We hypothesized that disruptions to prenatal care, such as delayed appointments, telehealth transitions, or difficulty scheduling appointments, would be associated with levels of psychological distress. Using cross-sectional survey data from pregnant Latinas interviewed between 2020-2022, we assessed self-reported healthcare disruptions and emotional distress levels using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). We also examined associations with a history of healthcare avoidance to financial costs. Statistical analysis was conducted in R, using multivariable linear regression models to test for associations between healthcare disruptions and distress, adjusting for covariates, including country of birth, maternal age, parity, and gestational age at interview. Analyses suggest that healthcare disruptions predicted elevated psychological distress in the domains of difficulty accessing general healthcare (b=5.42, p-value≤0.001) or prenatal care services (b=5.90, p-value≤0.001), delayed initiation of prenatal care (b=4.03, p-value=0.01), and having fewer prenatal appointments scheduled (b=5.10, p-value=0.01). Previous experiences of avoiding healthcare visits due to cost for participants (b=6.09, p-value≤0.001), their children (b=2.56, p-value=0.04), or household members (b=4.58, p-value≤0.001) were also associated with psychological distress scores. Findings highlight the need for policies that ensure equitable access to prenatal care during crises for marginalized populations.

Food and water insecurity often co-occur, jointly contributing to malnutrition, psychosocial stress, and risk of infectious and non-communicable diseases, including diabetes. This pattern is especially pronounced in the Galapagos Islands, where rapid socioeconomic and epidemiological changes and geographic isolation pose significant challenges to human health. In July 2025, a mixed-methods pilot study was conducted on San Cristóbal Island in households (n=25) with at least one adult diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes to explore associations between food and water security status and measured metabolic health outcomes. Surveys included sociodemographic, water and food security, and diabetes-related variables. Metabolic biomarkers, blood pressure, and anthropometric measurements were collected for all adults in the households (n=40). 48% of households experienced either water or food insecurity, while 44% faced both water and food insecurity. The severity of insecurity was similar between single and doubly insecure households. Among those with diabetes or prediabetes, HbA1c, systolic blood pressure, HDL, and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were higher in households with one insecurity compared to households with both, though triglycerides were lower. Notably, doubly insecure households had higher diabetes medication use. Among other household members, HbA1c and WHtR were higher in single insecure households, while higher triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, and lower HDL were more common in doubly insecure ones. No statistically significant differences were observed, possibly due to the limited sample size. Poorer metabolic outcomes associated with only food or water insecurity are surprising but may reflect differing physiological stress and instability across the groups.

Access to adequate food is a significant challenge of homelessness in the United States. Even with support from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and community programs, many people experiencing homelessness (PEH) cope with high levels of food insecurity (FI). This study explores the factors associated with FI among PEH in a mid-sized city in Oregon. FI was assessed using a modified USDA Food Insecurity Module, and associated factors were assessed using validated and internally developed measures likely related to food insecurity based on literature and our pilot work. 298 participants completed the FI portion of the questionnaire, and a subset of 45 participated in qualitative interviews where food access was discussed. Of the 298 questionnaire participants, 80.2% were food insecure. In bivariate analysis, FI was significantly associated (p < 0.05) with common mental disorders (higher anxiety and depression scale scores; reported diagnosis of PTSD, anxiety, and depression), stressful experiences (higher ACE and perceived stress scale scores, more police encounters), having an injury resulting in chronic pain or disability, and living in temporary shelter. Further multivariate analyses will examine individual, social, and structural factors associated with FI. Qualitative findings demonstrate that even when strategically utilizing SNAP, PEH are often hungry. Community and nonprofit efforts to address this need periodically meet caloric needs but not nutritional or cultural ones. Given the high levels of food insecurity in this population, this work points to the need for more stable and comprehensive nutrition support programs for PEH and sustained investment in SNAP.

During reproduction, many altered or new physiological processes place significant demands on the maternal body. Water and energy demands increase dramatically during both pregnancy and lactation. In limited-resource environments, it is unclear how these reproductive states contribute to physiological stress. Using longitudinal data collected by the Daasanach Human Biology Project between 2022-2024, we assessed the association between reproductive status (pregnant, lactating, non-pregnant/non-lactating) and fingernail cortisol concentration (FCC) among semi-nomadic pastoralist Daasanach women (n=217 reproductive-age individuals, defined as aged 16-51, with 293 observations; n=247 total individuals with 378 observations) in northern Kenya. We estimated random-effects panel linear regression models to test these relationships, adjusting for water and food insecurity among other covariates. Lactating status, but not pregnancy or non-pregnant/non-lactating status, was significantly associated with log-transformed FCC for reproductive-age women (β=0.10, SE=0.04, p=0.01) and overall (β=0.09, SE=0.04, p<0.05). Cortisol levels were lower in women above the reproductive age cutoff than in reproductive-age women (t=2.27, df=77.7, p=0.03), but water insecurity (p=0.70) and food insecurity (p=0.96) levels did not differ between these groups. Since age did not predict FCC, this suggests that when women are lactating they have significantly higher chronic stress regardless of water stress, and that the reproductive years confer social or familial responsibilities which also increase stress. Further work is needed to understand how the maternal body adapts to the stress of increased resource demands during reproductive events, particularly in resource-limited environments.

Early life environments shape future health outcomes. However, gaps exist in our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for these patterns. Gut microbes represent one potential pathway through which early life environments can influence physiology and health in infancy and beyond. Infants are born mostly sterile and acquire microbes from contact with caregivers and the environment during the first three years of life. Many of the microbiome traits obtained during this period may be retained into adulthood, and gut microbes have been shown to affect host metabolism, immune function, and even behavior across the lifecourse. Here, we use a long-term birth cohort, the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey (CLHNS) in the Philippines, to examine the association between early life environments and the subsequent composition of the gut microbiome. We characterized gut microbiome composition and functional potential in 105 women in 2017 and related it to survey data collected for them at birth in 1983-1984. We found significant associations between early life microbial exposures and overall gut microbiome composition (PERMANOVA F1,84= 4.3, p = 0.009). We also found that early life microbial exposure accounted for 77% of the microbial functional pathways that differed in relative abundance across individuals, many of which were associated with amino acid metabolism. These findings suggest that early life environments can be embodied via impacts on the gut microbiome and that these impacts can persist until adulthood. Implications for physiology and health must be further explored.

Many cross-sectional studies have examined determinants of gut microbiota diversity and composition, but the long-term effects of early-life exposures remain poorly understood. This study aimed to explore associations between prenatal heavy metal exposure and gut microbiota diversity and composition at age 15, and to examine how early-life growth and neurodevelopment relate to later microbial profiles. The study was based on a hospital-based birth cohort established in 2008 in the Terai region of Nepal, an area where heavy metal exposure and child growth retardation have been recognized as public health concerns. Among 100 infants originally recruited, 74 adolescents participated in the 2022–2023 follow-up. Cord blood samples were analyzed for heavy metal concentrations (As, Cu), and fecal samples at age 15 were sequenced using MiSeq. Data were processed using QIIME2 pipelines, and associations were analyzed with R software. α-diversity metrics (Shannon index, observed ASVs) were positively correlated with cord blood As and Cu, while weight, height, and BMI at 14 years were negatively correlated with diversity. β-diversity (unweighted UniFrac) was significantly associated with anthropometric indices, and height at 6 months and psychomotor development index at 24 months were linked to weighted UniFrac distances. Taxonomic analyses revealed significant associations at both phylum (Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota) and genus (Dorea_A lineage) levels. These findings suggest that prenatal heavy metal exposure and early-life developmental conditions may shape adolescent gut microbiota, highlighting the importance of developmental and environmental factors in long-term microbial ecology.

Low-resource communities face disproportionately greater exposure to environmental contaminants, many of which are both directly obesogenic and influence the gut microbiome in ways that further increase obesity risk. In this study, we used a multi-omics approach to investigate how gut microbiome composition mediates the relationship between environmental contaminants and body mass index (BMI) in two low-resource communities in the United States. Our sample included anthropometrics and fecal samples collected from 185 individuals living in southwest Illinois (n=97) and the Mississippi Delta (n=88) in 2022 and 2023 as part of the REACH Study. Fecal samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics – a technique that measures as many metabolites, as possible in a biological sample, unlike the limited data provided by targeted approaches. High-dimensional mediation analysis revealed nineteen metabolites that were significantly associated with gut microbiome composition and BMI, including six known chemical contaminants. All known contaminants had a significant negative relationship with adiposity, including 4-Methylquinoline, a probable human carcinogen (B = -1.50, p = 0.05). 4-Methylquinoline was also associated with the abundance of an anti-inflammatory, short-chain fatty acid-producing Clostridium species (B = -0.17, p = 0.04). Several bacterial metabolites were associated with BMI, including trans-3-Indoleacrylic acid (B = 2.24, p = 0.03), a tryptophan metabolite. Our results suggest a bidirectional relationship where environmental contaminants affect microbiome composition and specific microbes modify contaminant toxicity. By clarifying the biological pathways that mediate environmental disparities and human health, this research provides data that could inform future public health interventions.

Human biologists are increasingly attentive to how pollutant exposures disrupt endocrine systems, with consequences for health and human variation. The calcium–parathyroid hormone (PTH)–vitamin D axis is a central regulatory pathway for mineral metabolism, skeletal biology, and adaptation to ecological stressors. Its disruption is both clinically significant and anthropologically meaningful: parathyroid disorders are shaped by sex, age, and gendered life course processes, with incidence rising sharply in midlife and disproportionately affecting women. Metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) plausibly disrupt calcium–PTH regulation, yet their influence in population-based settings remains underexplored.

This study examines how heavy metal exposure alters continuous variation in calcium, PTH, and derived indices (calcium/phosphorus ratio, parathyroid function index), conceptualizing these measures as biomarkers of endocrine disruption rather than diagnostic thresholds. Data are drawn from NHANES 2003–2006, the only U.S. cycles with concurrent intact PTH, serum calcium, 25(OH)D, phosphorus, and biomonitoring for Pb, Cd, and Hg. Multivariable models estimate associations between metals and both biomarkers and composite indices, adjusting for demographic and nutritional covariates. When analyzed as an exposure mixture, metals showed a positive, monotonic association with both PTH and the parathyroid function index. Weighted quantile sum regression indicated Cd contributed the largest weight to the mixture effect, followed by Pb and Hg. These associations reflect chronic, low-level endocrine disruption of a homeostatic regulatory system. By treating the calcium–PTH axis as a sensitive target of endocrine disruption, this research highlights how low-level metal exposures shape human biology and health across the life course.

Transgender and nonbinary (TNB) people experience significant exposure to anti-TNB enacted stigma at all stages of life, yet few studies examine health effects from a life course perspective. To understand how early life adversity becomes embodied, we analyzed baseline survey and biomarker data from the longitudinal Transgender Resilience and Health Study among TNB people in the United States (N = 147). T-tests compared those reporting experiences of anti-trans enacted stigma before age 18 (ESU18; n = 90) to those who did not (n = 57), and linear regressions tested the associations between exposure to ESU18 and adult health. Biomarker analyses controlled for age, BMI, medication use, and chronic disease. Mental health analyses were age-adjusted. Mental health and cardiovascular function did not significantly differ between those who experienced ESU18 and those who did not (p > .50). Among participants reporting ESU18, the amount of enacted stigma was positively associated with adulthood anxiety (B = .335, 95% CI: [.008, .663], p = .045), but not depression (B = .147, 95% CI: [-.212, .506], p = .418). Contrary to our hypotheses, greater ESU18 exposure was significantly associated with lower diastolic blood pressure (B = -.659, 95% CI: [-1.307, -.011], p = .046), suggesting increased autonomic nervous system regulation. Systolic blood pressure (B = -.195, 95% CI: [-1.056, .667], p = .654) was not. Though early life experiences of enacted stigma may impact TNB adult health, decreasing chronic exposure over the life course is key for TNB health.

Resilience is generally understood to positively affect health, yet there is less discussion about the role of adversity in developing resilience. To understand how resilience from past adversity (i.e., hard-earned resilience) influences health, we analyzed baseline data from the Transgender Resilience and Health Study, a longitudinal study among transgender and nonbinary people in the United States (N = 153). Data collected at baseline included semi-structured interviews, surveys, and several types of biomarker samples. During the interview, participants were asked what contributed to their resilience. Then we conducted two rounds of systematic, multi-coder theme identification, coding, and analysis to explore the theme of hard-earned resilience. One subtheme we identified was post-traumatic growth (i.e., growth from previous experiences of adversity). We then used t-tests and ANCOVA to compare how cardiovascular function differed between participants reporting post-traumatic growth (n = 57, 37.3%) from those who did not (n = 96, 62.7%). Age, smoking, medication use, and BMI were covariates. Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was significantly higher among participants reporting post-traumatic growth compared to those who did not (MPTG = 84.2, MnoPTG = 79.4, p = .01). Systolic blood pressure (MPTG = 121.1, MnoPTG = 118.9, p = .36) and heart rate did not significantly differ (MPTG = 73.9, MnoPTG = 71.4, p = .11). Results suggest chronic stress related to prior adversity precipitating post-traumatic growth may contribute to higher DBP suggesting decreased vascular relaxation. These results highlight the physiological scars that past adversity can leave alongside perceived positive mental growth.

A quarter century ago, Building a New Biocultural Synthesis (Goodman and Leatherman, 1998) transformed the field of biocultural anthropology by foregrounding the roles of history, power, and political economy in shaping human health and biology. In 2025, the Wenner-Gren Foundation convened a new generation of scholars alongside the original architects of the synthesis for an intergenerational, interdisciplinary, and more global seminar titled “Biocultural Anthropology for the Challenges of the 21st Century.” The seminar engaged 18 participants from nine countries* in an intensive three-day collaboration to chart the future of an engaged biocultural anthropology—one that investigates how biocultural anthropology and applied action can come together.

In this presentation, we share key outcomes from that seminar, including the articulation of foundational engaged biocultural theories and concepts (e.g., embodiment, decoloniality, structural vulnerability), methodological innovations in community-based and action research, and pedagogical frameworks for training the next generation of biocultural students and scholars. We also synthesize engaged resources—including a global view of professional networks, funding pathways, and digital platforms—intended to help researchers integrate applied and justice-oriented approaches into their work. Together, this summary of engaged biocultural approaches extends the biocultural synthesis into the current moment and positions biocultural scholars to investigate and address the complex social and ecological challenges of our century.

*Kenya, South Africa, Mexico, United States, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Australia, England

The American Journal of Human Biology (AJHB) has published research on human biology, health, and disease since 1989. The goal of this study was to identify trends in research themes, including theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches, over this 36-year period. To achieve this goal, we adopted a mixed-methods approach that combined large language model (LLM) topic modelling, using Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT), with qualitative expert review. Our dataset comprised 3,404 abstracts and metadata (e.g., author, year, title) published between 1989 and April 2025 retrieved from PubMed. We used BERT-based clustering as a first-pass classifier and then expert consensus to refine and name the clusters as themes. For a random sample of 54 abstracts, BERT achieved 78% accuracy in F-score test compared to expert review. Fourteen major themes emerged. We then examined temporal changes in these 14 themes. The themes Growth and Development, and Body Composition dominated early on and have remained frequent with time. In contrast, Genetics, while common, declined in recent years. Maternal, Fetal, and Infant Health, and Demography and Reproduction, while always common, increased, especially since 2010. Meanwhile, the themes Stress Biology, Metabolic Disease Biology, Immune Function and Infectious Disease, Nutrition and Sleep, while less prevalent have shown gradual growth. Overall, while a set of themes dominate the journal, the trends we found signal a transition from descriptive toward multi-level, theory-driven analyses of health and disease and underscore the journal’s responsiveness to emerging scientific paradigms and global health challenges, offering a roadmap for future scholarship.

The biocultural approach has been widely applied in transdisciplinary research addressing topics across diverse disciplines. Notably, it plays a central role in medical anthropology, where it serves as a key framework for research. However, the extent to which Canadian biological medical anthropologists embrace a biocultural approach in their research is unknown. Further, the precise definition of the biocultural approach is not clearly defined.

For this presentation we used a Google search of faculty university biographies to identify:

1. Medical anthropologists who are faculty members at a public post-secondary institution in Canada

2. Medical anthropologists who self-identify as using biocultural methods

Out of the identified biological medical anthropologists, we explore frequency of the usage of the biocultural approach in their research within the last 10 years.

Our preliminary findings suggest that in departments with at least one medical anthropologist (total anthropology faculty of 546), 10.2% identify as medical anthropologists. 3.5% of anthropology faculty self-identified as a biological medical anthropologist. Of all medical anthropologists in Canada, 33.92% identify as biological medical anthropologists. Common research areas include disease, global and public health, nutrition, and maternal and infant health. Less common areas of interest are mental health, trauma and surgery, and disability studies.

Achieving a precise percentage as to who are medical anthropologists proved to be a challenge. We propose an expansive definition of the biocultural approach within medical anthropology, which includes the physical and social environments. Future research requires interviews with medical anthropologists to elucidate their perspectives on what is biological medical anthropology.

Ethnic minorities often experience disproportionately negative health outcomes, with persistent inequalities across physical and mental health indicators. Conventional clinical approaches, usually based on Eurocentric and top-down frameworks, have shown limited success in addressing these disparities. The CHEER (Creative Health Equity and Empowerment Resources) toolkit has been designed specifically for ethnically diverse communities. CHEER is structured around six interconnected work packages, each capable of functioning independently yet designed to operate as a cohesive system: (1) establishment of a stakeholder engagement panel to embed lived experience in community health initiatives; (2) mapping of existing creative and health assets in a given geographic area; (3) assessment of readiness for creative health interventions across communities, arts assets, and health/social care systems; (4) participatory co-design of culturally appropriate models to integrate creative assets into health structures; (5) establishment of a 12-week creative health programme to improve physical health and wellbeing, evaluated through objective measures and biomarkers; (6) synthesis and integration of results within broader creative health networks. Grounded in participatory and interdisciplinary methodologies using a biocultural framework, CHEER provides culturally sensitive, community-driven pathways to improve health outcomes through art. By addressing systemic barriers and amplifying existing assets, it offers a transferable model for reducing ethnic-based health inequalities and supporting more inclusive, resilient health systems.

Humans have plastic biological systems that integrate information from multiple sources to tailor individual development to local environments. This observation has sparked debate about the capacity of humans to accurately predict their future adult environments based on environmental cues. Proposed strategies include 1) genetic predictions based on many generations of natural selection, 2) sampling cues from each organism’s own early life, and 3) intergenerational strategies like “phenotypic inertia,” which uses cues sampled by grandmothers and mothers. But under what ecological conditions is it adaptive to rely on each of these strategies? Previous theory has used mathematical modeling to explore this question without incorporating unique characteristics of human life history. To address this gap, we present a mathematical model which assesses the accuracy of predictive sampling strategies in stationary environments that fluctuate around a constant mean. Our model suggests that under stationary conditions, organisms typically benefit from relying on a genetic prediction reflecting the environment’s long-term mean. Only in highly stable environments (autocorrelation>0.96) did we observe lower prediction errors in strategies that incorporate early-life and recent-matrilineal cues. The best-performing non-genetic strategy used cues from both an organism’s own early life and recent matrilineal ancestors. Next steps will include assessing the accuracy of strategies in non-stationary environments (environments with underlying variability in the mean) which represent large periodic ecological shifts, like those experienced during rapid environmental fluctuations or by migratory populations.

The Bodh tribe, an indigenous community inhabiting the cold mountainous regions of the Kullu district in Himachal Pradesh, represents a culturally and genetically distinct population within North India. Belonging to the Tibeto-Burman language family, the Bodh people include those who migrated from Tibet to India before 1962, later recognised as a Scheduled Tribe, while post-1962 migrants were categorised as Tibetans. Although the Bodh share linguistic and ancestral ties with East Asian (Tibetan) groups, their genetic composition remains largely uncharacterized. In the present study, we investigated the genetic diversity of 46 selected Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers. We compared our findings with those from East Asian populations in the 1000 Genomes Project (Phase 3), given their shared ancestral background. Genotyping results revealed moderate to high levels of genetic variation across loci, with several SNPs showing deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium due to excess heterozygosity. This pattern may be attributed to seasonal migration, their semi-nomadic lifestyle, and the prevalence of inter-caste marriages within the community. Comparative analysis with East Asian reference datasets revealed notable differences in allele frequencies for several markers and identified the presence of novel alleles at three SNPs. These findings highlight the distinct genetic identity of the Bodh tribe within the broader South Asian and East Asian genetic landscape, underscoring the importance of integrating population genetics and anthropology to understand localised human diversity.

Previous research consistently links human pulmonary function, especially in women, to digit ratios (2D:4D) – an indicator of prenatal androgen/estrogen exposure. In our study, we tested the relationship between lungs function (vital capacity) and 2D:4D among modern Yakuts (N=184; 90 males, mean age 21 ± 3 years), representatives of an Asian population in North-Eastern Siberia whose respiratory system is adapted to the low-temperature climate. Digit ratios were significantly lower, while vital capacity higher in Yakut males than females. Our results revealed a highly significant negative association between 2D:4D and vital capacity in women, whereas in men these parameters were not related. We further hypothesized that this sex-specific pattern might stem from significant postnatal androgen exposure in males, potentially overshadowing the influence of prenatal androgenization. Given that pubertal androgens drive sex differences in facial shape, we subsequently examined the relationship between facial shape and vital capacity in the same Yakut sample. This analysis utilized geometric morphometrics applied to facial photographs. We found a strong association between facial shape and vital capacity in both sexes, specifically involving the shape of nasal wings, nose bridge, and glabella area. Additionally, in men, a prominent association was observed with the lower face shape. Such association was absent in women. The lower face is a key sex-specific facial feature; intriguingly, more masculine lower facial shapes in Yakut males were associated with lower vital capacity. These findings are discussed considering long-term respiratory adaptations to low-temperature environments.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a mitochondria-dense, heat producing fat activated by mild cold exposure. Research conducted among free living populations have inferred BAT activity among the Sakha of Siberia, reindeer herders in Finland, and Samoans. This work has revealed a great deal of variation in BAT activity not only between populations but within them, leaving far more questions than answers about what is driving said variation. Here we assessed seasonal BAT activity among reindeer herders (N=16, F=8) and indoor workers (N=25, F=17) from the same regions of northern Finland during the autumn, winter, and late spring/early summer in 2024/2025. Participants took part in a mild cooling protocol following a resting metabolic rate measurement, during which time metabolic rate was measured using indirect calorimetry and BAT heat production was inferred using far infrared imaging of supraclavicular region (BAT positive) and sternum (BAT negative). We hypothesized that occupation style would have a significant impact on BAT activity due to differences in frequency and duration of exposure to cold. Surprisingly, we found no significant difference in BAT associated increases in metabolic rate between the two occupations across seasons (F=2.302, p=0.113). However, despite no difference in metabolic rate, reindeer herders maintained significantly higher supraclavicular temperatures than their indoor working counterparts (F=13.388, p<0.001). These results suggest that greater exposure through occupational demands potentially lead to more efficient BAT activity, with more substantial heat production among reindeer herders relative to indoor workers not incurring a substantially higher metabolic cost.

Sleep duration and quality often decline with age due to a combination of biological, environmental, and behavioral changes. In this study, we characterized sleep patterns across the life course among the Tsimane, a subsistence-foraging population in Bolivia. We hypothesized that sleep duration and efficiency would decrease with age because of age-related biological changes and shifts in daily activity, such as reduced physical activity. We analyzed 18,706 nights of actigraphy data from 4,170 participants (mean age = 65 years; range = 6–95 years; 50.4% female). Each participant contributed an average of 4.9 nights of sleep recorded with GT3X accelerometers. Sleep quantity and quality were assessed using sleep duration and efficiency. Across all nights, the mean sleep duration was 5.78 hours, and the mean sleep efficiency was 79%. Men slept for a shorter duration (β = -0.50, p < 0.001) and had lower sleep efficiency (β = -1.81, p < 0.001) than women. Both sleep duration (β = -0.02, p < 0.001) and efficiency (β = -0.04, p < 0.001) declined with age until approximately 30 years. However, participants aged 6–20 years slept longer (β = 1.02, p < 0.001) and had more sleep efficiency (β = 2.19, p < 0.001). In conclusion, the Tsimane have shorter and inefficient sleep, in comparison to industrialized populations. The changes in sleep quantity and quality with age reflect the biological demands for sleep in both non-industrialized and industrialized environments.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether self-reported night sweats (NS) and hot flashes (HF) were associated with sleep problems or daytime fatigue. We hypothesized that NS and HF differentially increase the likelihood of sleep problems, assessed by “trouble sleeping” from a symptom checklist and the Sleep Problems Scale (SPS), and the degree of fatigue, assessed by “lack of energy” from a symptom checklist and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Data were drawn from a study of midlife women aged 40 to 60 in Doha, Qatar (n=840). Participants were categorized as having (1) neither HF nor NS, (2) only HF, (3) only NS, or (4) both HF and NS. Chi-square and ANOVA were used for bivariate analyses followed by logistic and linear regression analyses. Women with both HF and NS scored significantly higher on the SPS compared with women with neither HF nor NS (16.3, s.d., 5.9 vs. 12.6, s.d. 5.2, p<0.001). In contrast, mean ESS did not differ by HF/NS category. Among women reporting trouble sleeping, the odds of having only NS were almost two times higher (adjusted OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.17-2.30), while the odds of reporting lack of energy were 2.72 times higher (adjusted OR 2.72, 95% CI 1.54-4.81), than women with neither HF nor NS, after controlling for menopausal status, depressed mood, education, nationality, and smoking. Women with only HF did not significantly differ from women with neither HF nor NS, suggesting that NS are more disruptive to women’s sleep and fatigue than HF.

Previous research links nutritional stress during sensitive childhood periods to shorter adult leg length, while evidence for similar effects on trunk length is weaker. Advances in epigenetics allow biological aging to be measured through “epigenetic clocks.” Using follow-up data from 2022–2023 in the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey (est. 1983–1984), we derived leg and trunk length from knee height. Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge, GrimAge, and DunedinPACE clocks, along with DNAm-estimated telomere length (DNAmTL), were previously obtained through whole-blood DNA methylation (Illumina EPIC v1 array). Models were sex-stratified; multiple testing was controlled using the Benjamini–Hochberg FDR. In females, longer legs were associated with lower (slower) age estimates from Horvath, Hannum, and PhenoAge (p<0.05). Associations with GrimAge and DunedinPACE trended negative but were not statistically significant. Female trunk length was inversely related to Hannum, PhenoAge, and DunedinPACE (p<0.05) and showed negative, non-significant associations with Horvath and GrimAge. In females, both leg and trunk length positively correlated with DNAmTL (p<0.02). In males, the associations were weaker: trunk length was not related to any of the clocks, and leg length showed inverse associations with GrimAge and DNAmTL (p<0.05). Linear body measurements, especially leg length, predict multiple epigenetic aging markers, supporting the idea that early-life nutrition leaves lasting molecular signatures. Contrary to previous research that emphasized only leg length, female trunk length also tracked slower epigenetic aging. Sex differences suggest varying sensitivity or life-course exposures. Morphometric markers might help identify populations at risk of accelerated biological aging, guiding early-life interventions.

Obesity has become a major focus of public and global health initiatives largely due to increases in its prevalence as well as comorbidities commonly associated with high BMI, including inflammation and metabolic dysfunction. An emerging body of evidence has also revealed a link between adiposity and accelerated biological aging, but the role of weight-based discrimination in this relationship is unknown. We hypothesized that weight-based discrimination would be associated with accelerated biological aging, inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction, independent of body composition. Data are from the large, omnibus Person to Person Health Interview Study and DNA methylation (DNAm) data from a stratified household probability sample in Indiana. Outcome variables include DNAm-based estimates of biological aging (DunedinPACE, GrimAge), C-reactive protein (CRP), and glycosylated hemoglobin (A1c). Survey-weighted regressions tested whether weight-based discrimination predicted outcomes adjusting for demographic, behavioral, and body composition factors. When controlling for BMI, weight-based discrimination was associated with greater DunedinPACE (B=0.060, p<0.0001) and marginally associated with higher GrimAge (B=0.529, p=0.057) and CRP (B=0.086, p=0.056). When controlling for waist circumference, weight-based discrimination was associated with greater DunedinPACE (B=0.047, p=0.001) and marginally associated with GrimAge (B=0.551, p=0.061). These relationships are stronger and more robust when restricting the sample to BMI ≥25, with significant associations observed for accelerated aging (DunedinPACE B=0.074, p<0.0001; GrimAge B=0.755, p=0.007), higher CRP (B=0.126, p=0.018), and higher A1c (B=0.013, p=0.003). Given that weight-based discrimination predicts accelerated aging, inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction, stigma and related social responses to obesity may contribute to physiological dysregulation and deterioration independent of adiposity.

Understanding how urbanization reshapes the human gut microbiome requires studying populations currently undergoing lifestyle transitions, not only comparisons between hunter-gatherers and industrialized groups. The Turkana of Northern Kenya, a community spanning traditional nomadic pastoralism to urban living, provide a unique opportunity for disentangling the effects of diet and lifestyle on host–microbe interactions within a genetically homogenous group. We generated 16S and shotgun metagenomic profiles from 150 individuals alongside detailed dietary and environmental metadata. Pastoralist microbiomes exhibited higher alpha diversity (Shannon index) than both urban (p = 0.05) and rural (p = 0.03) counterparts, the latter showing the lowest diversity (despite higher fiber intake). Beta diversity analysis (Bray-Curtis dissimilarity) showed that microbial community structures differed significantly across lifestyle groups (PERMANOVA, p<0.001). Despite these differences we identified 106 species forming a core microbiome signature across lifestyles composed primarily of Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium. Differential abundance analysis revealed enrichment of Clostridium species in pastoral microbiomes (LFC =2.005, FDR=0.003) and depletion in urban and rural samples (LFC =-5.563, FDR=0.003) consistent with differential protein intake. Serum metabolomic data mirrored these patterns, revealing clear clustering by lifestyle. Several differentially abundant metabolites including short-chain fatty acids, bile acid conjugates, 8-Amino-7-oxononanoic acid, Ginsenoside Rh3 and indole-3-lactate, known to be microbiome-derived, suggest coordinated host–microbial metabolic shifts accompanying urbanization. Together, these findings highlight how rapid lifestyle change reshapes both gut microbial ecology and systemic metabolism underscoring the importance of examining diverse traditional lifestyles to better understand how urbanization reshapes the human gut microbiome in context-specific ways.

We analyzed the effect of diet change on microbiota composition on Maya mother infant pairs from rural Yucatan, Mexico. Metagenomic DNA was extracted from stool samples, collected twice from 14 individuals, once during each agricultural season, nine from the abundance season only and 11 exclusively from the scarcity season, and sent to Novogene Co. for shotgun sequencing. A 24-hour diet recall was applied whenever a sample was collected. Households were classified into those that depended mostly on a harvested diet (HD), and those on a store-bought diet (SBD). Microbiome species composition didn´t show any seasonal differences, but two significantly different clusters were identified (Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrix and NMDS). Cluster 1 grouped infants under 12 months of age with children between 12 and 36 months from SBD households. Cluster 2 put together children 12 and 36 months old from HD households with all mothers. Cluster 1 was less diverse than Cluster 2 (Shannon Index range 3.08- 3.671 vs. 3.642- 3.786) and was ecologically less complex (12% vs. 18% of all possible interactions in a Lotka-Volterra model). This makes children from SBD households as vulnerable to environmental disturbance as babies, and more vulnerable than HD children. Finally, Cluster 1 showed a significant association with carbohydrate and fiber intake not found in Cluster 2. This suggests that in SBD households, an infant’s strong dependence on a rich carbohydrate diet extended well into the third year of life. This may explain the origin of a thrifty phenotype in households abandoning food production.

Chronic low-grade inflammation is a central feature of human disease and is strongly modulated by diet–microbiome interactions. We evaluated whether combining structurally distinct fibers can modulate the human gut communities toward profiles associated with reduced inflammatory potential. Anaerobic batch fermentations inoculated with fecal samples from two healthy adults compared a β-glucan/mannan control matrix with the same matrix supplemented by inulin (fructan), pectin (heteropolysaccharide), or dextran (α-1,6-glucan). Microbiome composition (16S rRNA V4–V5) and diversity were profiled over 0–48 h; community change was assessed via alpha diversity, beta diversity and differential relative abundance. All treatments showed an early, sucrose-driven Proteobacteria increase with a transient drop in α-diversity at ~8 h, followed by fiber-specific recovery. Dextran enriched Bacteroides and suppressed Proteobacteria; inulin promoted Bifidobacterium, Collinsella, and butyrate-associated Firmicutes; pectin supported broad cross-feeding consortia (e.g., Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus, Eubacterium). Trajectories converged across donors by 24–48 h, indicating that fiber complexity can reduce inter-individual variation in community structure. The results suggest that multi-fiber strategies can reproducibly shift microbiomes away from an inflammatory state. These findings suggest that policy and health recommendations aimed at reducing the chronic disease risk through diet should consider specific multi-fiber food supplements rather than broadly promoting single soluble fiber products.

Food security has four dimensions, availability, access, utilization, and stability. Research in the social and health sciences emphasizes the access and utilization dimensions of food security. To measure these dimensions, researchers often use standardized measures of diet quality such as Food Variety Score (FVS) and Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS). Previous studies have found associations between household economic factors, which serve as proxies for food access, and lower FVS/HDDS scores. However, a growing body of work argues that interhousehold food sharing may be an important, yet under-explored, strategy for ensuring long-term food security. We explore associations between food sharing and diet quality (HDDS/FVS) in a multiethnic, predominantly Indigenous peri-urban community in the Brazilian Amazon. We used 24-hour dietary recall interviews to measure the FVS and HDDS in 106 households, tracking the source of each food item reported. Mean FVS was 11.4 (3.4) and mean HDDS was 5.8 (1.3). Using Bayesian regressions and controlling for household demographic and economic factors, our findings indicate that while increased food sharing demonstrated a positive effect on FVS (β=0.19, 89% CI [ 0.07, 0.30]) and HDDS (β=0.37, 89% CI [ 0.24, 0.50]), greater reliance on shared food had a negative association with FVS (β=-0.57, 89% CI [-0.69, -0.44]) and HDDS (β=-0.50, 89% CI [-0.63, -0.36] ). These findings suggest that while sharing enhances dietary outcomes, over-reliance may indicate underlying vulnerability. Understanding the social processes that drive both increased sharing and dependence on shared food is thus essential for community-level food security engagement.

Evolutionary models propose that in contexts of Perceived Economic Insecurity (PEI) and Food Insecurity (FI), the activation of chronic stress mechanisms associated with unpredictability modifies dietary patterns and affects metabolic function, leading to obesity. To date, this hypothesis has not been empirically tested in Low-and Middle-Income Country (LMIC) settings. This study uses a mixed-methods biocultural approach to explore associations between PEI, FI, chronic stress, dietary patterns, and obesity among vulnerable populations. Participants were recruited through a food bank in Minatitlán, Mexico. Quantitative data were collected through a cross-sectional survey (n= 216) to assess PEI, FI, perceived chronic stress, dietary patterns, and anthropometric measurements. Additionally, semi-structured interviews with a sub-sample (n=16) were conducted to document the lived experiences of PEI. The findings indicate a positive association between PEI, FI, and elevated levels of perceived chronic stress, as well as between PEI and obesity. Regarding dietary patterns, there was a negative relationship between PEI and diet diversity and the consumption of ultra-processed. Participant narratives suggest that PEI and FI are experienced as significant stressors, associated not only with resource scarcity but also with increased exposure to pollution and barriers to adequate healthcare. The findings partially support the evolutionary model by suggesting that PEI may be an important factor in the development of obesity among adults experiencing FI, though the interactions with dietary patterns and other environmental factors are complex. These results underscore the need for structural interventions to enhance economic stability for vulnerable households, aiming to reduce obesity-related inequalities.

Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey (2018-2019) data on health trends in the Yucatan reported a doubling of obesity rates in a generation, from 15% in 2000 to 32% in 2018. Type 2 diabetes prevalence has similarly risen from 3% in the 1950s to current estimates of 22% among Maya adults - exceeding Mexico’s national average of ~13%. This study is a biocultural examination of how ongoing socioeconomic transformations are impacting the health and well-being of Yucatec Maya communities. By harnessing the Two-Eyed Seeing approach, which values both Indigenous and Western knowledge systems, we gain insight into the rapidly changing environmental challenges and rising cardiometabolic diseases facing Yucatec Maya communities. A key factor in this community-based approach was implementing the Go-Along Method, which involves performing daily tasks with interlocutors – including activities like laboring in fields, chopping firewood, and cooking. Working with community members, I developed a Traditional Food Diversity Score (TFDS) that accounts for adherence to and access to traditional foods. This study co-creates knowledge with Yucatec Maya community members (n = 188), incorporating these ethnographic data with point-of-care biomarker data and anthropometrics to assess the possible health-protective role of TFDS. In the communities I work with, there is a strong inverse relationship between TFDS and cardiometabolic health outcomes: higher TFDS predicts lower blood pressure, reduced waist circumference, and lower incidence of Type 2 diabetes. These data thus suggest that maintaining access to traditional foods may be one means of reducing the rising burden of cardiometabolic diseases in the Yucatan region.

The world is increasingly urban, households are increasingly market-oriented, and individuals are larger and more hypertensive than ever. There is debate over the extent to which the obesity epidemic is causally associated with these factors and to what extent individual-level variables drive the recent increase. Here we rely on Hackman and Hruschka’s newly developed wealth index to explore how changes in achievement in agricultural vs. market-oriented wealth are associated with individual body mass index, how this varies by sex/gender, and what role individual level variables play in explaining individual body mass index. Our results from three countries (Albania, Bangladesh, and Namibia) and ~25,000 men and women suggest that while achievement in market and agricultural activities are both positively associated with body mass index, the effect of market wealth is much greater, and this is particularly true for women. For instance, in Namibia, a 1SD increase in a household’s market achievement is associated with a 4 point in increase in men’s BMI but an 8 point increase in women’s. Interestingly, few variables other than age predicted blood pressure. In this talk, we will expand our analysis to 18 additional countries, and include country-level policy and food availability and price data. This allows us to understand how and why men’s and women’s bodies respond to the changing household and economic and food price landscape.

Background: Obesity and normal weight central obesity (NWCO) are significant risk factors for cardiometabolic disorders. BMI alone may overlook individuals at risk due to central adiposity. This study examined risks posed by obesity and NWCO on hypertension and dyslipidaemia.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2,349 adults (≥18 years) in Mansa district, Punjab. Data collection included interviews, anthropometry, blood pressure, and lipid profile assessments. Obesity was categorised in participants as BMI <23 kg/m², BMI <23 kg/m² with central obesity, and BMI ≥23 kg/m² with central obesity based on waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, and waist-height ratio. Hypertension was classified per JNC 7. Dyslipidaemia was defined by abnormal total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, or triglycerides. Logistic regression adjusted for age and sex estimated adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for risk of hypertension and dyslipidaemia.

Results: About 69.5% had BMI ≥23 kg/m² with central obesity, and 25.5% had NWCO (BMI <23 kg/m² with central obesity). Stage 1 hypertension prevalence was highest in NWCO, while stage 2 hypertension and abnormal HDL prevalence were highest in the BMI ≥23 kg/m² with central obesity group (36.2% & 24.3%). Both NWCO and BMI ≥23 kg/m² with central obesity significantly increased risk for Stage 1 hypertension (2.87, p=0.008 and 3.43, p=0.001, respectively). BMI ≥23 kg/m² with central obesity also showed a higher risk of abnormal triglycerides (1.62, p=0.029) and low HDL (1.72, p=0.087).

Conclusion: Both NWCO and obesity with central adiposity substantially increase risks for hypertension and dyslipidaemia markers. Waist-based measures should be used alongside BMI for comprehensive cardiometabolic risk assessment.

Hypertension remains a significant public health challenge in India, with suboptimal treatment outcomes despite widespread availability of antihypertensive medications. Emerging evidence suggests that genetic and micronutrient factors may influence drug response, yet their roles in community settings are not well understood. This study investigated the contribution of One Carbon Metabolic Pathway (OCMP) genes and micronutrient status to uncontrolled hypertension among regular users of antihypertensive drugs in rural Punjab.

A total of 2,328 adults aged 30–75 years were recruited from Mansa district, Punjab and screened for hypertension. Data were collected through a pretested interview schedule, and blood pressure was measured using a digital sphygmomanometer. Venous blood samples were analyzed for serum folate and vitamin B12 levels, and OCMP gene polymorphisms were identified through RFLP-based genotyping.

Among participants on regular medication, calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) were most commonly used. Analyses revealed trends indicating that OCMP genetic variants, MTHFR C677T (T), MTR A2756G (G), and MTRR A66G (A), were associated with higher odds of uncontrolled hypertension among CCB and ARB users. Low folate levels further increased the risk of uncontrolled hypertension, and gene–environment interactions demonstrated synergistic effects, when combined with folate deficiency. Beta-blocker users showed no such associations.

Although statistical significance was not reached, these findings highlight a potential pharmacogenetic influence of OCMP genes and folate status on antihypertensive efficacy. They emphasize integrating folate assessment and supplementation into hypertension care to improve drug response and overall blood pressure control at the population level.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally and are especially prevalent in low-resource communities. However, the extent of disease prevalence varies between communities because of structural factors and environmental differences. In this study, we investigated the effects of different sociodemographic factors on cardiovascular disease prevalence and systemic inflammation in two low-resource communities with poor water infrastructure in the United States (U.S.). We predicted that CVD prevalence would be associated with older age and lower socioeconomic status. To test this prediction, we collected survey data, dried blood spots, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels using a point of care device in two low-resource communities located in southwest IL and the Mississippi Delta across four study years (total = 316, age range = 18-85 years). We defined CVD as reporting a diagnosis of a cardiovascular condition (high blood pressure or cholesterol), measured blood pressure or cholesterol that was above clinical recommendations, or reporting taking a medication for a cardiovascular condition. Dried blood spots were analyzed for C-reactive protein (CRP), a measure of systemic inflammation, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Linear regression models tested whether socioeconomic status defined by self-reported income was associated with cardiovascular health or inflammation, controlling for age, sex, education, self-reported race, and household smoking. We found that lower income (B= -0.03, p = 0.03) and older age (B = 0.01, p <0.001) were associated with CVD and higher CRP. Notably, income had a greater effect size than age.

Hypertension among young adults is an emerging public health concern influenced by modifiable metabolic and anthropometric factors. This study aimed to examine the association between obesity indices, lipid parameters, and blood pressure status among Indian adolescents aged 18–19 years.A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2,457 adolescents enrolled in various educational institutions across the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR). Anthropometric assessments included Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC), Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR), and Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR). Blood pressure was measured using a validated Omron digital sphygmomanometer following standard protocols. Venous blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis of serum lipids, including total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides (TRG). A significant association was observed between blood pressure categories and BMI, WC, WHtR, HDL, and TRG (p < .001). The prevalence of overweight and obesity increased progressively with higher blood pressure stages—obese individuals comprised 13.8% of the normotensive group and 31.1% of those with stage II hypertension. Similarly, participants with high WC increased from 13.4% in the normal BP group to 27.7% in stage II hypertension. Elevated WHtR was more prevalent among hypertensives (38.3%) compared to normotensives (19.0%). Dyslipidemia, particularly low HDL and high triglyceride levels, was more common among elevated and hypertensive categories. The findings underscore a significant relationship between central obesity, dyslipidemia, and elevated blood pressure among adolescents. Early screening and targeted lifestyle interventions addressing obesity and lipid abnormalities are essential to prevent the early onset of hypertension in this population.

We use biological normalcy to understand the relationships between weight status, weight perception, school-level overweight/obesity prevalence, and depressive symptoms among adolescents participating in the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). We predict (1) adolescents with high weight status will have lower weight perception if they attend schools with a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity and (2) weight perception and weight status will be positively associated with depression, with effect sizes varying by overweight/obesity prevalence. School overweight/obesity prevalence was calculated for each school. Weight status was classified as overweight or not overweight using BMI-percentile CDC cutoffs. Weight perception was categorized as high (“slightly overweight”, “very overweight”) or low (“about right”, “slightly underweight”, “very underweight”). Depression was a yes/no response. Logistic regression models adjusted for weight status, gender, grade, and race/ethnicity. 10,448 adolescents across 76 schools were included. For every 10% increase in overweight/obesity prevalence, the odds of describing oneself as overweight were 15% lower among all students (p=0.01) and 29% lower among students with high weight status (p=0.019). High weight perception was associated with 76% increased odds of experiencing depression among all students (p<0.0001) and two times higher among students with high weight status (p<0.0001). In stratified analyses, schools in the lowest tertile of obesity prevalence had the strongest associations between depression and weight status (OR:1.49 vs. 1.28) and weight perception (OR:2.22 vs. 1.68). High weight status and high weight perception were associated with higher risk of depressive episodes. These relationships were strongest in schools where overweight and obesity are less common.