Aggregator
The first ticking ‘nuclear clocks’ are here — what can they do?
Ebola and hantavirus can start like the flu but turn deadly fast
Two dangerous viruses are back in the spotlight, reminding health officials how quickly infectious diseases can become serious threats. Hantavirus, often linked to rodents, can cause severe heart and lung complications and has no specific treatment or vaccine, while certain strains can even spread between people. Ebola remains one of the world's most feared diseases, with some outbreaks killing up to half of those infected, although vaccines and antivirals have improved outcomes for some strains.
After backlash, CDC revises plan to retire research monkeys to Texas sanctuary
New call for proposals seeks alternatives, though critics say the agency’s original choice is still leading option
Interstellar comet is unlike anything seen in our Solar System
Chemical signature of 3I/ATLAS suggests it formed early in the history of the Milky Way
One common fat may fuel type 2 diabetes while another helps fight it
Not all fats affect your body the same way. Researchers found that palmitic acid, a saturated fat common in many foods, may contribute to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes by triggering inflammation, toxic fat buildup, and cellular stress. In contrast, oleic acid—the heart-healthy fat abundant in olive oil—appears to help protect insulin function and may even counter some of the harmful effects of palmitic acid.
Long-lived families reveal a rare genetic clue to healthy aging
A study of long-lived families has identified rare genetic variants that may help people stay healthier for much longer as they age. One standout mutation appears to temper inflammation, potentially delaying disease and extending years of healthy living.
Tubulin prevents toxic brain protein clumps linked to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine may have uncovered a promising new way to combat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Instead of trying to stop Tau and alpha-synuclein proteins from gathering into tiny droplets inside brain cells, the researchers found that tubulin—the protein that builds the cell’s internal transport network—can redirect these proteins away from forming toxic clumps and toward healthy, productive work.
Yale study finds nearly half of older adults improved with age
A long-term Yale study is challenging one of the biggest myths about aging. Nearly half of adults over 65 improved physically, mentally, or both over time, despite the common belief that aging means constant decline. Researchers found that people with more positive attitudes about getting older were significantly more likely to show these gains.
Mitophagy mitigates tau acetylation via the ULK1-NAD(+)/SIRT1 axis in Alzheimer's disease
Autophagy preserves neuronal integrity by clearing damaged proteins and other subcellular components, yet it declines with age and exacerbates in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although autophagy reduces tauopathy, whether it can proactively restrict early tau pathology via post-translational modifications (PTMs) has remained unclear. In a recent paper, we have identified a mitophagy-based metabolic signaling mechanism linking the autophagy-initiating kinase Unc-51-like autophagy activating kinase 1...
Cell-Specific MicroRNA Networks Orchestrate the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by extracellular amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques, intracellular neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau, synaptic dysfunction, and chronic neuroinflammation. AD pathogenesis involves multiple central nervous system (CNS) cell types-including neurons, astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes, and, less prominently, neural stem cells (NSCs), ependymal cells, and endothelial cells-which undergo coordinated but...
Structural MRI and mild behavioral impairment as complementary predictors of conversion from amnestic MCI to Alzheimer's disease
Mild Behavioral Impairment (MBI) and amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) are complementary early markers of Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet their combined neuroanatomical correlates and predictive value for conversion remain underexplored. In this study of 72 community-dwelling older adults (49 aMCI, 23 healthy controls), we retrospectively classified aMCI participants into non-converters (aMCI-NC, n = 31) and converters (aMCI-C, n = 18) based on longitudinal follow-up. Baseline structural...
Jianpi Qiangji granules improve muscle function in sarcopenia and reshape bile acid metabolism: A randomized double-blind positive-controlled trial
CONCLUSION: In this exploratory randomized trial, JQG was associated with greater improvements in grip strength, physical performance, and sarcopenia-related quality of life than calcitriol over 12 weeks, with no major safety concerns observed. Exploratory biomarker and metabolomic findings suggest that inflammatory regulation, hormonal and neurotrophic modulation, and bile acid-related metabolic remodeling may be involved in the response to JQG. These findings are hypothesis-generating and...
Association between sarcopenia and daily living dependency among middle-aged and older adults: findings from three prospective cohort studies
CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia and even possible sarcopenia were associated with higher risks of incident ADL inability.
Brain kappa opioid receptor availability across stress and social buffering conditions: A positron emission tomography study in coppery titi monkeys
Social connectedness strongly influences health and longevity, and adult pair bonds provide psychological benefits distinct from other social relationships. Oxytocin (OT), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), and opioids play an important role in pair bond formation and maintenance. OT modulates the stress response via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, while the kappa (κ) opioid system may modulate OT signaling in contexts of stress and separation. Here, 20 male and female coppery...
Senescent Human Liver Endothelial Cells Mediate CD4(+) T Cell Recruitment via ICOSL
Senescent cells accumulate in chronically diseased liver tissues and are known to actively contribute to disease pathology. To date, these studies have predominantly focussed on senescence in epithelial cells, such as hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells, and senescence in liver endothelial cells remains largely understudied. Here, we utilise publicly available single-cell RNA-sequencing data, immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent staining to detect senescent endothelial cells within...
Scientists discover neurons must break their DNA to build the brain
As newborn neurons make their way through the developing brain, they must squeeze through incredibly tight spaces to reach their final destinations. Researchers discovered that this physical journey routinely causes some of the most severe forms of DNA damage—double-strand breaks—yet the young brain has evolved an impressive ability to repair the damage almost immediately.
Major review finds vaping likely causes lung and oral cancer
Researchers have concluded that nicotine vapes are likely to cause lung and oral cancers, based on evidence ranging from human biomarkers to animal and laboratory studies. The findings challenge the idea that vaping is a harmless alternative to smoking and suggest health risks may be emerging much sooner than many expected.
Scientists found a cannabis compound that relieves pain without the high
Compounds responsible for the aroma of cannabis and many other plants may offer a surprising new way to relieve chronic pain. Researchers found that several cannabis-derived terpenes significantly reduced pain in mouse models of fibromyalgia and post-surgical pain, with one terpene, geraniol, showing especially strong effects. Unlike THC, these compounds are not associated with psychoactive effects, making them a potentially attractive alternative for pain treatment.
This DNA repair gene went rogue and exposed a cancer weakness
Scientists have discovered that a gene normally considered a DNA-protecting "good guy" can become dangerous when cells make too much of it. The gene, EXO1, acts like molecular scissors that help repair DNA, but when overproduced it starts cutting DNA it shouldn't, creating damage linked to cancer.
Ozempic changed obesity treatment, but experts say the real revolution is next
The obesity treatment landscape is changing fast, with GLP-1 drugs opening the door to more effective care than ever before. Experts now envision a future where medications, minimally invasive procedures, surgery, and precision medicine work together to deliver better long-term results.