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Scientists discover the deep sleep circuit that builds muscle, burns fat, and boosts the brain
Researchers have identified the brain circuitry that links deep sleep with the release of growth hormone, revealing how the two regulate each other. The newly discovered feedback loop helps explain why poor sleep can interfere with growth, muscle repair, fat metabolism, and brain function. Understanding this system could pave the way for new therapies for sleep disorders and diseases tied to metabolism and the brain, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
The secret to healthy aging may be hidden in your blood
Some people live past 100 with remarkable health, and researchers may have uncovered one reason why. A new study found that centenarians have a unique chemical "fingerprint" in their blood that sets them apart from normal aging, including unusual patterns of bile acids and steroids linked to longer survival.
A hidden weakness in deadly cancers could lead to powerful new treatments
A UCLA study has identified a hidden Achilles' heel in aggressive small cell cancers that have resisted new treatments for decades. Scientists found that tumors lacking the RB gene become critically dependent on the protein E2F3 for survival. Blocking E2F3 shut down tumor growth in laboratory models, and existing FDA-approved drugs may be able to exploit this vulnerability. The discovery could pave the way for faster development of more effective therapies.
Multiscale artificial spider web for comprehensive pressure sensing and human-machine interaction
Flexible pressure sensors are key components of Internet of Things systems for monitoring environmental and physiological signals, yet simultaneously achieving a high sensitivity, a fast response time, and a high mechanical durability remains challenging owing to the lack of sophisticated structural designs that balance sensing performance and robustness. Here, we demonstrate a multiscale artificial spider web (MASW) fabricated via copper-mesh-assisted electrospinning of biodegradable polylactic...
Joint trajectories of brain atrophy, white matter hyperintensities and cognition quantify brain maintenance
Brain maintenance - the preservation of brain structure or function relevant to cognitive performance - remains challenging to quantify. Here, we propose a domain-general brain maintenance index derived by jointly modelling the longitudinal co-evolution of ageing-related atrophy (via medial temporal lobe to ventricle ratio, MTLV-ratio), white matter hyperintensities (WMH), and global cognition assessed by the preclinical Alzheimer's cognitive composite (PACC5) using latent growth curve...
Effects of nutritional interventions on biomarkers of cellular senescence in humans: a systematic review
CONCLUSIONS: In humans, available evidence suggests that nutritional interventions may preferentially affect senescence-associated inflammatory and secretory biomarker profiles, particularly SASP-related mediators, rather than markers more directly related to senescent cell abundance. However, because SASP factors and circulating cytokines are heterogeneous and not specific to senescent cells, these findings should be interpreted as evidence for possible modulation of senescence-associated...
Activation of Sirt3 reprograms mitochondrial function to regenerate intervertebral disc degeneration
CONCLUSIONS: We unveiled the critical role of Sirt3 in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis and mitigating intervertebral disc degeneration progression via regulating Ckm and Atp2a1. We provide a novel therapeutic strategy of activating of Sirt3 by 2-APQC to treat intervertebral disc degeneration.
Ayurvedic nutraceutical, Chyawanprash, enhances longevity and stress resilience via mitochondrial and muscular health in C. elegans model of ageing
Chyawanprash is an ancient Ayurvedic superfood described for its antioxidant, anti-ageing and immunity-boosting properties. Prolonged exposure to environmental stressors such as extreme heat, air pollution and toxins could lead to several diseases by triggering oxidative stress and inflammation. These stress response pathways, conserved in humans and C. elegans, play crucial roles in the progression of neurological and metabolic diseases. Present study examines the role of the ancient Ayurvedic...
Joint trajectories of brain atrophy, white matter hyperintensities and cognition quantify brain maintenance
Brain maintenance - the preservation of brain structure or function relevant to cognitive performance - remains challenging to quantify. Here, we propose a domain-general brain maintenance index derived by jointly modelling the longitudinal co-evolution of ageing-related atrophy (via medial temporal lobe to ventricle ratio, MTLV-ratio), white matter hyperintensities (WMH), and global cognition assessed by the preclinical Alzheimer's cognitive composite (PACC5) using latent growth curve...
Biological aging increases risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality: an international, multi-cohort study
Biological age often diverges from chronological age, yet its independent impact on surgical outcomes remains poorly defined. We evaluated PhenoAge, a validated biological age metric, in an international multi-cohort study comprising over 430,000 surgical patients across the UK, USA, and South Korea. In the UK Biobank (N = 291,845), PhenoAge was a robust, independent predictor of 1-year mortality (OR 1.043; p < 0.001), major adverse cardiovascular events (OR 1.041; p < 0.001), and 30-day...
Barriers and facilitators to older patients' counselling in community pharmacy, perceived by pharmacy professionals - a focus group study
CONCLUSION: This study demonstrate that it is urgent to involve community pharmacies into age-friendly initiatives, to create safe environments for older population which is one of the most frequent patients in community pharmacies.
Association of stress hyperglycemia ratio with malnutrition, sarcopenia, and frailty in older adults: a cross-sectional study
CONCLUSIONS: Lower SHR values were associated with increased vulnerability to geriatric syndromes, particularly probable sarcopenia and frailty, in older adults. These findings suggest that SHR may reflect impaired metabolic adaptation and reduced physiological reserve in aging populations. Further prospective studies are needed to establish the clinical utility of SHR as a marker of geriatric vulnerability.
Associations of IL-17 and TGF-β1 with physical frailty in older adults
CONCLUSIONS: Physical frailty was associated with lower IL-17 and higher TGF-β1 levels, suggesting that immune-related pathways beyond classical systemic inflammation may be associated with physical frailty. Rather than reflecting overt systemic inflammation, these findings suggest that biological pathways involved in immune regulation and tissue remodeling may be associated with physical frailty. IL-17 and TGF-β1 may therefore represent potentially informative biomarkers for future...
Johns Hopkins scientists develop nose spray DNA vaccine for tuberculosis
A new intranasal DNA vaccine may give the immune system an extra weapon against tuberculosis by targeting bacteria that can hide from antibiotics. In animal studies, it helped clear infections faster, reduced lung inflammation, and prevented relapse after treatment. The vaccine also enhanced the performance of drugs used against drug-resistant TB.
Drinking to cope with stress may permanently rewire your brain
Using alcohol to cope with stress when young may permanently alter the brain, making it harder to adapt to challenges and increasing the risk of returning to drinking later in life. Researchers also found signs of brain damage associated with early dementia, suggesting the effects can linger long after alcohol use has stopped.
Scientists discover why some brains resist Alzheimer's
Some brains appear to fight back against Alzheimer's by helping immature brain cells survive damage instead of succumbing to it. Understanding this natural resilience could point researchers toward entirely new ways to protect memory and slow dementia.
Epileptiform discharges are associated with increased theta activity over time in patients with Lewy body dementia
Electroencephalography (EEG) slowing and reduced functional connectivity are markers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Lewy body dementia (DLB), but the significance of epileptiform discharges to these changes remains unknown. To investigate whether epileptiform discharges are associated with EEG slowing or decreased functional connectivity over time. In this longitudinal observational exploratory study, we included a total of 15 healthy controls, 25 patients with AD, and 10 patients with DLB. The...
Modeling single nucleus microglia across species identifies immune pathways and therapeutic candidates in Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by memory loss and behavioral changes. A pivotal influence on AD pathology is the dysregulation of microglia in the brain. Despite promising findings in mouse models, there are limitations to the translatable biological information across species due to differences in the physiology, timeline of disease, and human heterogeneity. To address these interspecies discrepancies, we developed a novel implementation of the...
Amygdala and hippocampal volumes as neural correlates of resilience and loneliness in older adults
Loneliness and social isolation increase the risk of physical and mental disorders in older adults, while resilience may mitigate this risk. The evidence that medial temporal lobe (MTL) structures are associated with loneliness, social isolation, and resilience is largely cross-sectional. This study examined whether baseline MTL structures were associated with loneliness, social isolation, or resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. 114 older adults (59 females; mean age: 73.8 ± 5.6 years)...
Systemic recalibration and epigenetic resetting as complementary strategies in ageing biology
Two principal strategies have gained prominence among currently recognised approaches to anti-ageing: systemic interventions that modulate the circulatory environment and cellular interventions that reset epigenetic information. Systemic approaches, beginning with experimental heterochronic parabiosis models that are not applicable to humans and extending to clinically applicable therapeutic plasma exchange, test the hypothesis that ageing is promoted by the accumulation of inhibitory...