In its July 2025 health bulletin, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) underscored two significant developments: the mental health benefits of open‑ocean swimming and a landmark personalized gene therapy treatment for an infant with a rare genetic disorder.
Recent research highlighted by the NIH illustrates that open‑ocean swimming delivers physical and psychological benefits beyond conventional forms of exercise. Studies show that immersing in ocean waters can lower cortisol levels—the body’s main stress hormone—while promoting better mood and cognitive clarity. This activity engages the full body, leverages cold‑water exposure to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, and induces what behavioral scientists describe as “blue mindfulness,” a restorative, meditative state fostered by the natural marine environment.
Surveys and empirical studies across multiple countries indicate that wild swimming in the sea, lakes, or rivers is associated with significantly higher mental well‑being, emotional regulation, improved sleep quality, and enhanced cognitive focus compared to swimming in chlorinated pools or indoor aquatic settings. The NIH bulletin notes increasing interest from mental health practitioners to incorporate open‑water sessions into holistic care models, especially for mood disorders, anxiety, and chronic stress. Pilot initiatives are underway to broaden access—particularly among underserved communities and veterans coping with PTSD.
In parallel, NIH-supported researchers have achieved a milestone by successfully delivering a personalized CRISPR gene-editing therapy to treat a baby with carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) deficiency, a rare and often lethal metabolic disorder. The treatment, administered in Philadelphia in mid‑2025, was developed specifically to correct the infant’s unique gene mutations affecting ammonia metabolism in the liver.
From diagnosis to delivery of the tailored gene therapy took just six months. Following treatment, the infant—referred to as “KJ”—began showing marked improvement: reduced reliance on ammonia-scavenging medications, increased dietary protein tolerance, and developmental progression in line with expected milestones. No serious side effects were reported during early follow‑up, though long‑term monitoring is ongoing.
According to NIH’s Joni Rutter, director of NCATS, this personalized CRISPR platform represents a scalable approach that could be adapted rapidly for other rare genetic diseases. The initiative also benefited from collaborative support across multiple institutions, demonstrating how federal funding and cross‑sector partnerships accelerate progress in precision medicine.
NIH also continues to fund projects focused on outcome‑based quality measures in mental health settings. Six major initiatives are underway to design metrics that gauge the effectiveness of non‑traditional interventions, including community clinics, school-based programs, mobile health units, and integrative care environments. The goal is to bridge the gap between research findings and real-world applications, ensuring that holistic approaches such as blue-space therapy are grounded in measurable patient outcomes.
These developments illustrate NIH’s dual commitment to exploring evidence‑based wellness approaches while advancing cutting‑edge biomedical therapies. Ocean swimming, once seen mainly as recreational, is gaining recognition as a therapeutic adjunct with measurable mental health benefits. Meanwhile, the successful use of personalized gene-editing therapy opens a new frontier in treating ultra-rare diseases, offering hope to families for whom few medical options exist.
Collectively, these advances reflect broader trends: a growing embrace of natural, lifestyle-based interventions to support mental health, alongside transformative innovations in precision medicine funded and supported by federal research programs.
