Reuters reported on 23 October that Microsoft researchers developed an AI diagnostic tool that progressively gathers patient histories, evaluates examination findings, requests tests and updates its diagnostic hypotheses. The system performed better than general physicians using textbooks and the internet in tests involving more than 300 challenging medical cases.

A study published in Scientific Reports on 12 October tested gait-triggered neuromuscular electrical stimulation alongside an unloading knee brace in people with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis. The trial found no significant overall functional advantage over the brace alone, although the stimulation group showed a modest reduction in pain.

A study reported by Medical Xpress on 21 October analysed one year of activity-tracker data from more than 22,000 adults aged 40 and older. Researchers found that people averaging fewer than 5,000 steps per day had higher rates of dementia, Parkinson's disease and stroke over the following five years than those averaging more than 12,000 steps.

The World Health Organization reported on 19 October on discussions about traditional medicine at the World Health Summit 2026 in Berlin. The event highlighted international cooperation and the importance of evaluating traditional healthcare approaches responsibly.

Medical Xpress reported on 23 October that researchers were examining how L-carnitine, a nutrient found in red meat and used in some exercise supplements, may amplify inflammation through a previously unrecognised biological mechanism. The underlying study was published in Cell on 19 October.

Medical Xpress reported on 21 October that researchers analysed a year of Fitbit data from more than 22,000 adults aged 40 and older and then examined health records over the following five years. Dementia, Parkinson's disease and stroke rates were 80% higher among those averaging fewer than 5,000 steps daily than among those averaging more than 12,000.