Read AMA Morning Rounds®’ most popular stories in medicine and public health from the week of March 9, 2026–March 13, 2026.
People suffering from back pain process sounds differently and more intensely
HealthDay (3/6, Thompson) reported, “People suffering from back pain process sounds differently and more intensely, adding to their agony, researchers” found. Study “participants underwent MRI brain imaging, during which they were asked to perform tasks such as listening to sounds.” The investigators found that “on average, back pain patients reacted more strongly to sounds than 84% of people without pain.” The investigators “also found that their brains weren’t having this response in areas that initially receive sound signals. Instead, stronger responses were found in regions that process sound (the auditory cortex) and emotions (the insula).” The findings were published in the Annals of Neurology.
AI-based quantification of breast arterial calcifications during mammograms can help flag risk of heart disease
The Washington Post (3/9, Johnson) reports a study found that “routine mammograms that screen for breast cancer can also flag the risk of heart disease, the leading and often underrecognized cause of death in women.” Radiologists have long “observed that breast cancer screening scans also reveal calcium deposits in the arteries woven through breast tissue, which cause the blood vessels to stiffen.” For the study, “researchers used AI to quantify the calcium deposits on arteries in more than 120,000 breast cancer screening scans and found that more severe breast artery calcification (BAC) was a marker of increased risk for heart failure, heart attacks, stroke and death.” The study was published in the European Heart Journal.
You may also be interested in: Use of AI in medicine is rising. Are you ready?
FDA approves leucovorin as treatment for cerebral folate deficiency
The AP (3/10, Perrone) reports that on Tuesday, the FDA “approved a generic medication for a rare brain disorder, while walking back statements … that the drug showed great promise for people with autism.” The FDA “said it approved leucovorin for children and adults with a genetic condition that limits delivery of folate, a form of vitamin B, to the brain.” Senior agency “officials told reporters Monday that their review was narrowed to focus on the strongest evidence, which only supported the drug’s use by patients with the rare mutation that impacts folate levels in the brain.”
NBC News (3/10, Bendix) reports the FDA approved leucovorin to treat “cerebral folate deficiency, a rare neurological condition characterized by low levels of vitamin B9 in the brain.” A senior FDA official “said Monday that there is not enough data to support leucovorin’s use as an autism treatment.” According to the official, “We don’t have sufficient data to say that we could establish efficacy for autism more broadly.”
CNN (3/10, Goodman) reports that Tuesday’s “update on leucovorin may hit some families of children with autism especially hard.” In the months since the September briefing, “leucovorin prescriptions surged, making the drug hard to find.”
Microsoft report shows many users turn to AI for health-related questions
Modern Healthcare (3/11, Famakinwa, Subscription Publication) says Microsoft “released a report Tuesday examining more than 500,000 health-focused conversations that took place on its Copilot AI-powered assistant platform in January.” According to Tuesday’s report, “Microsoft found roughly 40% of Copilot questions were related to understanding medical symptoms, conditions or treatments. About 11% concerned interpretations of lab or imaging results or specifics about signs of illness.” According to the report, “symptom-related questions increased in the evening and overnight, with report authors suggesting users are turning to AI when they can’t reach medical professionals. One in seven users asked health questions on behalf of their children, aging parents and partners.” Additionally, “Users also relied on Copilot to try and navigate the health care system. More than 5% of questions were related to access to care, as well as insurance coverage and benefits.”
Physicians’ use of AI has more than doubled since 2023, survey finds
Fierce Healthcare (3/12) reports, “Physicians’ use of artificial intelligence has more than doubled since 2023, with 81% surveyed by the American Medical Association reporting that they currently use the technology in a professional context.” Moreover, “nearly 1,700 physician respondents queried in January and February reported, on average, 2.3 use cases,” which is an increase “from 1.1 average use cases in 2023, when the organization first began its near-annual polling on the topic.” The survey also indicated that “the most common among the physician users were applications focused on documenting clinical care and summarizing medical research.”
Forbes (3/12, Japsen) reports that AMA CEO and Executive Vice President John Whyte, MD, MPH, who is presenting the findings at the HIMSS 2026 conference, said, “AI has quickly become part of everyday medical practice.” Dr. Whyte added, “Physicians see real promise in its ability to support clinical decisions and cut down on administrative burden. But as this technology advances, it is critical that augmented intelligence be designed to enhance—not replace—physicians.” Dr. Whyte also said, “For doctors to trust and use these tools, they must be safe, effective, and used responsibly so they truly improve patient care.” According to Dr. Whyte, “The AMA will continue leading this work so physicians help shape how AI is integrated into medicine.”
You may also be interested in: 4 ways the AMA will help physicians drive the future of health AI.
AMA Morning Rounds news coverage is developed in affiliation with Bulletin Healthcare LLC. Subscribe to Morning Rounds Daily.
