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Industry-linked studies were also more likely to focus on particular topics, suggesting these ties may be skewing the field

Emerging evidence implicates the Stuxnet (Stx) protein in human disease, extending beyond its known role in proteasome-independent degradation. Exploring this further, our investigation into stx downstream targets in Drosophila reveals that loss of the U snoRNA host gene 5 (Uhg5) gene disrupts sleep. This sleep phenotype is linked to inefficient translation of mitochondrial genes, as Uhg5 produces small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) that directly regulate mitochondrial transcripts. Using GoldCLIP...

Synapses serve as the central functional components mediating information transmission, integration, and storage within the central nervous system (CNS). Their functionality depends on the synergistic interplay of the presynaptic membrane, synaptic cleft, and postsynaptic membrane-three structures that collectively sustain neurotransmitter secretion, postsynaptic signaling, and synaptic plasticity. Of note, synaptic impairment represents an early, shared pathological hallmark across aging and...

The Shaker (Sh) gene in Drosophila melanogaster encodes a voltage-gated potassium channel that regulates neuronal excitability and is well known for its role in sleep regulation; however, its contribution to cardiac physiology and neurocardiac communication remains insufficiently explored. In this study, we investigated how two Sh-mutations (Sh^(mns) and Sh⁵) influence heart function and sleep/circadian behaviors to identify potential age-dependent neurocardiac interactions. Cardiac performance...

Synapses serve as the central functional components mediating information transmission, integration, and storage within the central nervous system (CNS). Their functionality depends on the synergistic interplay of the presynaptic membrane, synaptic cleft, and postsynaptic membrane-three structures that collectively sustain neurotransmitter secretion, postsynaptic signaling, and synaptic plasticity. Of note, synaptic impairment represents an early, shared pathological hallmark across aging and...

The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a specialized synapse essential for translating neuronal signals into muscle contraction. This review examines the complex structural, functional, and molecular differences in NMJs that innervate fast- and slow-twitch skeletal muscle fibers. Fast-twitch fibers, optimized for rapid and powerful contractions, possess elaborate NMJs with deep folds, high neurotransmitter turnover, and greater vulnerability to synaptic fatigue and degeneration. In contrast,...

CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia-related parameters are associated with global and specific cognitive domains. BDNF may, partially, explain the association between muscle mass and MMSE. Additional research with larger sample size is needed to confirm these findings.

Dense temporal measurements of physiological health, using simple and consistent assays, are essential to characterize biological processes associated with aging and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions on these processes. We measured body weight in 960 genetically diverse female mice, every 7-10 days over the full course of their lifespan. We used a state space model to characterize the trajectories of body weight throughout life and derived novel traits capturing the dynamics of body...

CONCLUSION: Cognitive status influences postural control in physically independent older women. Time domain measures, particularly sway velocity, were sensitive to poorer balance among those with cognitive impairment, while time-frequency parameters did not differentiate cognitive groups. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating cognitive screening into balance assessment and fall-prevention strategies in aging populations.

Spatial omics links molecular measurements to their positions in tissue, revealing cellular organization and interactions. Yet most computational tools highlight common cell types and overlook rare populations that can drive disease. Here we show GARDEN, a computational framework that identifies and characterizes these pathogenic cells or regions in spatial omics by embedding graph-based dynamic attention into a spatially-aware graph fusion contrastive model. GARDEN works consistently across...

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This review provides evidence of the relationship between housing and nursing home utilization; however, because of a weak quality of evidence and limited methodologic diversity, more research is needed to strengthen the evidence base. Clinicians, researchers, and policy makers should still recognize the significance of the role housing plays in nursing home utilization and target policies and interventions toward improving housing conditions for older adults and...