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Scientists have uncovered a hidden “stop-scratching” signal in the nervous system that tells your brain when enough scratching is enough. The discovery centers on a molecule called TRPV4, which acts like part of an internal braking system for itch relief. In experiments involving chronic itch similar to eczema, mice missing this signal scratched less often—but when they did scratch, they couldn’t stop.

Rebooting the gut microbiome with bacteria from youth may help stop aging-related liver damage and even prevent liver cancer, according to new research in mice. Older mice that received their own preserved youthful microbiome showed less inflammation, reduced DNA damage, and no signs of liver cancer. Researchers also found that the treatment suppressed a cancer-linked gene called MDM2, making older mice biologically resemble younger ones.

Researchers have developed a stem cell-based model of the human intestine that may transform how new IBD treatments are discovered. After testing thousands of compounds, they identified glycyrrhizin — a natural substance found in black licorice — as a promising anti-inflammatory candidate. In both lab-grown tissue and mice, the compound reduced intestinal damage and cell death linked to IBD.

A new study shows that listening to your own favorite workout music can dramatically boost endurance. Cyclists exercising with self-selected songs lasted nearly 20% longer than when riding in silence, yet they didn’t feel more exhausted at the end. Researchers say music may help people stay in the “pain zone” longer without increasing perceived strain.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with impaired connectivity in critical functional networks. This study investigated the effects of 20 Hz transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on brain network mechanisms in 25 patients with AD, including 17 in the TMS group and 8 in the sham group. We analyzed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data, using the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and fractional ALFF (fALFF) to quantify neural activity and identify regions of...

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder worldwide and the leading cause of dementia in older adults. The presence of extracellular β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) constitutes the two principal neuropathological features of AD. However, current therapies targeting only Aβ or tau remain suboptimal, likely due to intrinsic neuronal and glial dysfunction in affected brain regions. Urolithin A (UroA) is a widely recognized...

Synaptic dysfunction emerges early in Alzheimer's disease, often years before the appearance of clinical symptoms, and is among the most reliable predictors of subsequent cognitive decline. Despite its importance, the cellular events that trigger this early synaptic vulnerability remain poorly defined. Growing evidence points to a critical failure at the interface between neuronal energy metabolism and synaptic signalling, commonly referred to as the mitochondria-synapse axis, suggesting that...

A growing body of research is focusing on how music, technology, and neuroscience can converge to promote healthy ageing and counteract pathological decline. In particular, music interventions for older adults have been garnering increasing attention, with numerous reports showing positive effects of music on various health outcomes, including psychological well-being, cognitive function, physiological responses, quality of life, and overall well-being. In this context, the European...

Human aging is characterized by complex structural and functional decline, but quantifying its heterogeneity and assessing biological age remain challenges. We present the mCAS (multicentric Chinese aging standardized cohort) developed from 2,019 Chinese individuals aged 18-91 years. Integrating high-dimensional clinical, physiological, and molecular-level data, we constructed a three-tiered aging framework: the core capacity clock (CC-clock) to quantify clinical physiological decline, the...

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that even decline confined to a single physical performance domain may signal an early transition toward increased vulnerability. Monitoring trajectories of physical performance may therefore help identify older adults at increased mortality risk before more widespread functional deterioration becomes apparent.

Descendants of longevity-enriched sibships demonstrate a broad health and survival advantage throughout the life course. However, little is known about manifestations during very early life. Here we show a pattern of lower risk of adverse early-life outcomes in third-generation grandchildren (N = 5637) of Danish longevity-enriched sibships compared to the general population, including infant mortality (Hazard Ratio = 0.53, 95% CI [0.36, 0.77]) and a range of neonatal health indicators. These...

sc-ChromAging, a chromatin accessibility-based aging clock, was developed using single-cell ATAC-seq from 401 Chinese individuals. It identified CD4⁺ naive T cells as the most accurate predictors of age. This clock linked immune aging with pathways in inflammation, infection, and tumor susceptibility, and connecting chromatin changes to plasma metabolites like triacylglycerols.

Scientists studying axolotls, zebrafish, and mice have uncovered a shared set of genes that may one day help humans regrow lost limbs. By identifying powerful “SP genes” involved in regeneration, researchers discovered that disabling these genes stopped proper bone regrowth in salamanders and mice. They then used a gene therapy inspired by zebrafish biology to partially restore regeneration in mice, marking a major step toward future treatments that could replace damaged limbs with living tissue instead of prosthetics.

Move comes after Roger Innes complained about the government’s prosecution of Chinese postdocs

Scientists have uncovered a surprising secret hidden inside fat cells that could reshape how we think about obesity and metabolic disease. A protein called HSL, long believed to simply release stored fat when the body needs energy, turns out to have a second job deep inside the nucleus of fat cells—helping keep those cells healthy and balanced. Even more surprising, people and mice missing this protein don’t become obese as expected; instead, they lose fat tissue in a dangerous condition called lipodystrophy.

Cables used to detect earthquakes can also capture the faint vibrations of speech

A common constipation drug may have unexpectedly unlocked a new way to slow chronic kidney disease — a condition that affects millions and often leads to dialysis. In a clinical trial involving 150 patients, researchers found that lubiprostone, a medication normally used to treat constipation, helped preserve kidney function in people with moderate CKD. Scientists traced the effect to changes in gut bacteria that boosted production of spermidine, a compound linked to healthier mitochondria and reduced kidney damage.

In a recent study in Science, Chen et al. engineer astrocytes with anti-amyloid chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to enable sustained, antigen-directed clearance of amyloid-β (Aβ) in vivo, revealing how CAR design can shape both pathology and glial responses.

Lipid homeostasis is essential for preserving the structural integrity and functional capacity of the brain. A diverse array of lipids, including cholesterol, phospholipids, and sphingolipids, has been identified as playing pivotal roles. Dysregulation of lipid metabolism is increasingly recognized as a central pathological mechanism in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Huntington's Disease, and Cerebrotendinous...

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified APOE2 allele as linked to exceptional longevity, with carriers exhibiting a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Apolipoprotein E (APOE), a glycoprotein involved in lipid transport, has three major alleles. However, alterations in lipid metabolism alone do not fully explain APOE2's protective effects. In contrast, APOE4 is the strongest genetic risk factor for AD. To investigate how APOE2 promotes neuronal longevity and confers...