A new study published in Nature Medicine on Tuesday shows that nearly 40 percent of new cancer cases worldwide could be prevented by managing common risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use, and infections. The research, released ahead of World Cancer Day, analyzed 36 types of cancer across 185 countries using data from 2022 and examined 30 modifiable risk factors that can be controlled or managed to reduce the likelihood of developing the disease.

The study found that tobacco use remains the leading contributor to cancer globally, followed by infections and alcohol consumption. Out of the 18.7 million new cancer cases recorded in 2022, about 7.1 million, or 38 percent, were linked to preventable causes. Stomach, lung, and cervical cancers accounted for nearly half of these avoidable cases.

Smoking was responsible for approximately 15 percent of preventable cancers, making it the single largest risk factor worldwide. Infections, including human papillomavirus (HPV), contributed to around 10 percent of cases, while alcohol consumption accounted for three percent.

Regional differences were evident in the data. In low- and middle-income regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa, infections were the leading contributor to preventable cancers, with cervical cancer being particularly prevalent. In contrast, in high-income regions such as Europe and North America, smoking was the primary factor driving cancer cases among women. Smoking also remained the top risk factor among men globally, responsible for nearly 25 percent of 4.3 million avoidable cases. Infections were the second leading cause of cancer among men, especially in Asia, Africa, and South America.

Among the 9.2 million new cancer cases in women, roughly 30 percent were considered preventable. Infections such as HPV were linked to over 11 percent of these cases, highlighting the importance of vaccination and early detection programs in vulnerable regions.

The research also considered population-level exposure to each risk factor, showing how the number of cases varied across regions based on lifestyle, healthcare access, and public health interventions. Previous studies often focused on single risk factors or mortality, but this study provides a more comprehensive view of cancer incidence globally and the proportion that could be avoided through preventive measures.

Researchers say the findings could help guide more targeted cancer prevention strategies. By identifying the most significant risk factors in different regions, policymakers and health organizations can design interventions tailored to local needs rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.

“This study underscores the potential for prevention in reducing the global burden of cancer,” the authors said. “Addressing smoking, infections, and alcohol consumption could prevent millions of cases each year and save countless lives.”

As cuts in international aid continue worldwide, a new study projects that 22.6 million people could die by 2030, including 5.4 million children under the age of five.

The research, conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, examines 93 low- and middle-income countries home to 6.3 billion people, or roughly 75 percent of the world’s population. Researchers warn that the decline in official development assistance (ODA) threatens to reverse decades of progress in global health.

Using two decades of data from 2002 to 2021, the team modelled outcomes under different funding scenarios. “We don’t want to accept this as the new normal, we don’t want to accept this situation, this constant reduction,” said Davide Rasella, study coordinator at ISGlobal, in an interview with Euronews Health.

In 2023, total ODA reached a record $250.3 billion (€212.3 billion), with France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States providing around 70 percent of the total. All of these major donors, except Japan, reduced their contributions in 2024 for the first time in three decades, marking the first overall fall in international aid in six years.

The United States dismantled its foreign aid agency, USAID, in 2025, and other countries followed with further cuts. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria saw contributions drop sharply from $15.7 billion in 2022 to $11.34 billion in 2025. Some donors, including the European Union, have not yet confirmed their pledges.

“People are going to die. Unless we restore the level of funding, millions of people are going to die. There’s no doubt of it,” Rasella said. He added that the next challenge is how to allocate the remaining funds most effectively.

The study highlights the critical role ODA has played in global health. Between 2002 and 2021, aid programs helped reduce child mortality by 39 percent, prevent 70 percent of HIV/AIDS deaths, and cut deaths from malaria and nutritional deficiencies by 56 percent.

Researchers modelled two scenarios for 2030. A mild defunding scenario, reflecting a 10.6 percent reduction in aid, could result in 9.4 million preventable deaths, including 2.5 million children under five. A more severe defunding scenario could see more than 22.6 million additional deaths, including 5.4 million children. “At least three out of every four people on the planet live in countries where two decades of development gains could be reversed,” the authors said.

Cuts in aid affect more than health outcomes. They also reduce the number of doctors on the ground and limit the exchange of critical information, including epidemic preparedness and responses to climate-related shocks.

Eric Pelofsky, vice president for global economic recovery at the Rockefeller Foundation, said investing in development not only saves lives but promotes global stability and prosperity. He noted that aid is often framed domestically as a trade-off, but protecting global health and stability ultimately benefits donor countries.

As winter sets in, the number of misplaced items seems to grow. Scarves dangling from coat pockets, gloves left behind at coffee shops, and the ever-elusive keys or phones can make anyone feel forgetful. Experts, however, say that losing things is less about having a bad memory and more about how the brain handles attention and memory.

“Rather than having a bad memory, it might be a breakdown at the interface of memory and attention,” said Daniel L. Schacter, a psychology professor at Harvard University and author of The Seven Sins of Memory. He explained that memory operates in three phases: encoding, storage, and retrieval. Misplacing keys or other items often happens because the brain was focused elsewhere when the memory should have been formed. “You have to do a little bit of cognitive work. At the time of encoding, you have to focus your attention,” he said.

Even seasoned memory researchers are not immune. Mark McDaniel, a professor emeritus at Washington University in St. Louis who has studied memory for nearly 50 years, recently left a hat under a restaurant chair. “I should know how to remember to remember, but at the moment, you don’t think you’re going to forget,” he said.

Experts say strategies can help reduce forgetfulness, especially for items used daily. Schacter recommends creating a consistent place for important objects such as phones, wallets, or keys. For example, he keeps his reading glasses in one spot in the kitchen and always places his phone in the same pocket of his golf bag. “Maybe not always, but a very high percentage of the time,” he said.

For items used less frequently, elaboration can strengthen memory. McDaniel explained that the brain encodes information better when multiple details are attached to an object. Saying out loud where you place an item helps create stronger connections in the brain. “Saying it out loud creates a better encoding because it makes you pay attention, and the verbalisation creates a richer memory,” he said.

Memory champions take this method further with techniques like the “memory palace,” visualizing objects in a structured, familiar environment to aid recall. For everyday items, a simple version works well. For instance, imagining a hat under a chair and connecting it to a reason or consequence—such as avoiding dirt on a table—can help you remember where it was left, even if you forget to pick it up immediately.

Schacter cautioned that a noticeable increase in forgetfulness, especially if it interferes with daily life, may warrant a medical consultation. For most people, though, losing objects is a common and normal result of a distracted mind. By focusing attention and using consistent routines, misplaced items can become far less frequent.