URMC experts spent 2025 responding to a wave of health questions driven by viral trends, breaking research, and seasonal illnesses.
A new roundup from UR Medicine highlights the five most-searched questions of the year, revealing what people across the region were most curious and concerned about.
From energy drinks to stomach bugs
One of the biggest questions focused on taurine, a common ingredient in energy drinks and supplements.
URMC researchers at the Wilmot Cancer Institute found that leukemia cells can use taurine as fuel, helping them grow and survive. Experts stress that this does not mean taurine causes cancer in healthy people. Instead, the discovery offers new insight into how certain blood cancers work and how future treatments might target them.
Another surge in searches centered on norovirus, which hit hard during the winter months.
UR Medicine infectious disease specialists say norovirus spreads so quickly because it sheds in massive amounts, survives on surfaces for days, resists many disinfectants, and requires only a tiny exposure to make someone sick. Immunity also fades fast, making repeat infections common.
Clearing up long-running myths
Fluoride returned to the spotlight in 2025 as online claims questioned its safety.
Experts at UR Medicine’s Eastman Dental say fluoride remains safe and effective at recommended levels. They found no evidence linking community water fluoridation to cancer, neurological disease, or bone disorders. Mild tooth discoloration can occur with excessive fluoride in young children, but dentists say the benefits far outweigh the risks.
Another persistent myth involved concussions and sleep.
UR Medicine’s Concussion Care Clinic reassured families that it is safe to sleep after a concussion. Rest plays a key role in recovery. Doctors recommend close monitoring during the first few hours for warning signs like worsening headaches, repeated vomiting, confusion, or trouble waking.
The truth about detox trends
Juice cleanses also made the list as detox trends surged again online.
URMC nutrition experts say juice cleanses do not detox the body or lead to lasting weight loss. Any quick drop on the scale usually reflects water loss, not fat. Cleanses often lack protein, spike blood sugar, slow metabolism, and trigger rebound hunger.
Doctors emphasize that the body already has an effective detox system through the liver and kidneys. Balanced meals, fiber, and steady habits work far better for long-term health.
URMC officials say the most-searched topics of 2025 show a public eager for clear, science-based answers amid a constant stream of health claims and headlines.
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