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Researchers have discovered that a microscopic skeleton inside neurons does much more than hold cells together. It acts as a gatekeeper that controls what brain cells absorb and when they absorb it. When this protective structure weakens, neurons rapidly take in harmful proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease, suggesting that stabilizing it could become a promising new strategy for preventing brain cell damage.

An unusual leopard gecko that naturally develops aggressive tumors may become an important new model for cancer research. Scientists found its tumors share key genetic changes with human cancers, offering a rare opportunity to study the disease as it develops naturally.

Microglia maintain neuronal homeostasis through dynamic surveillance strategies that depend on their functional state. In the healthy brain, highly ramified microglia monitor neuronal integrity via motile processes and transient soma contacts. Aging is associated with reduced process motility and diminished expression of homeostatic markers, raising the question of how microglial surveillance adapts to these changes. Here, we used ex vivo time-lapse imaging of acute cortical slices from young...

Going to the cinema, visiting museums, or attending concerts may do more than entertain. Researchers found that older adults who regularly participated in cultural activities tended to have bodies that functioned like those of people about three years younger. They believe stronger social ties, better mental health, and healthier habits could help explain the link, although more research is needed to determine whether cultural activities directly slow aging.

A deadly fungus has wiped out amphibian populations around the globe, yet some mysteriously recover. Researchers discovered that survivors develop powerful immune defenses while they are still tadpoles, giving them a head start before the fungus can attack after metamorphosis. The study also uncovered a vast collection of previously unknown antimicrobial peptides that could someday inspire new drugs to fight infections.

A new study found that chewing sugary gum after eating nitrate-rich vegetables or drinking beetroot juice helped the body produce more beneficial nitrite, leading to a temporary drop in blood pressure. Researchers hope the discovery will lead to healthier ways to enhance the cardiovascular and performance benefits of dietary nitrate without relying on sugar.

A major review found that people who consumed the most chili peppers had a substantially higher risk of esophageal cancer, though the evidence was less clear for stomach and colorectal cancers. Researchers emphasize that the findings show an association, not proof of cause and effect, and that more research is needed to determine whether moderate consumption carries similar risks.

Inflammasomes, particularly the NLRP3 complex, play a central role in coordinating innate immune activation and neuroinflammatory responses within the cytosol. Persistent or dysregulated nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) activation promotes caspase-1-dependent maturation of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 and triggers gasdermin D (GSDMD)-mediated pyroptosis, thereby contributing to the pathogenic cascades underlying Alzheimer's disease...

This longitudinal study including four independent cohorts assessed the spatiotemporal dynamics of tau extent and load changes in Alzheimer's disease using tau positron emission tomography data from 2,459 participants, including 898 followed for up to 7 years. Regional standardized uptake value ratios indexed tau load, whereas the spatial extent of tauopathy (SEOT) (proportion of abnormal voxels) measured tau extent. We observed burden-dependent longitudinal dynamics of tau progression: SEOT...

Middle age is emerging as a turning point in brain ageing, prognostic of future cognitive health and amenable to intervention. Metabolic and proteomic differences during this period are not yet fully understood and may potentially influence functions of the hippocampus, a brain area that regulates memory and anxiety. While the gut microbiota is implicated in brain ageing, the relationship between the gut microbiota, the metabolic state, and hippocampal proteome in middle age has not been...

Aging and chronic inflammation alter hematopoiesis, impacting the hematopoietic progenitor populations in the bone marrow. In this issue of Immunity, Yao et al. show that the canonical type 2 cytokine interleukin 4 reverses age-related hematopoietic and physiologic effects by rebalancing progenitor fates.

Inflammasomes, particularly the NLRP3 complex, play a central role in coordinating innate immune activation and neuroinflammatory responses within the cytosol. Persistent or dysregulated nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) activation promotes caspase-1-dependent maturation of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 and triggers gasdermin D (GSDMD)-mediated pyroptosis, thereby contributing to the pathogenic cascades underlying Alzheimer's disease...

Cellular senescence is a hallmark of aging and a contributing factor to many age-related morbidity and decline. A key characteristic of senescent cells is a pro-inflammatory secretome known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). When tracked in circulation, SASP factors associate with age-related clinical traits and diseases, raising the captivating possibility that the senescence burden, and concomitant susceptibility to age-related morbidity, can be noninvasively assessed in...

The pursuit of high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries demands high-silicon silicon-graphite composite negative electrodes, yet their commercialization remains hindered by interfacial incompatibility and mechanical instability. While an ideal binder must simultaneously achieve robust adhesion to both silicon and graphite, accommodate substantial silicon volume changes, and maintain high binder bulk stability, existing systems fail to harmonize these requirements. Here, we present a molecularly...

Too much or too less lipid deposition increases mortality, while in contrast, modest lipid deposition during aging is crucial for healthspan. How animals determine the aging state and then promote appropriate lipid deposition for lifespan benefits are largely unknown. In this study, we identified citrulline as a key metabolite driving aging-related lipid deposition for healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans. Citrulline deficiency reduced aging-related lipid accumulation and shortened lifespan, an...

The accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in long-lived proteins is a hallmark of mammalian aging and implicated as a driver of metabolic dysfunction. Among these adducts, N^(ε)-carboxymethyl-lysine (CML) is particularly abundant in aging tissues, where it modifies proteins and acts as a ligand for the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), thereby perpetuating chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. While endogenous detoxification systems exist for reactive...