The world, in perspective.

Bowel Cancer Ireland has renewed its calls for better prevention and screenings following the death of Irish Olympian and European champion runner Ciara Mageean who had stage four bowel cancer.

Scientists have identified a hidden cause of inflammatory bowel disease: antibodies that disable the immune system’s natural ability to control inflammation, potentially explaining severe illness in thousands of patients. The breakthrough also solves a 30-year genetic mystery and could pave the way for more precise diagnoses and targeted treatments.

A major study has uncovered hidden warning signs of inflammatory bowel disease in the blood up to 10 years before diagnosis. Researchers discovered distinct antibody patterns that could help predict who would later develop Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, even distinguishing people at risk of more complicated disease.