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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.
RNA-binding proteins in aging and age-related diseases: roles, mechanisms, and a large language model analysis
Aging is a progressive and irreversible biological process that contributes to the pathogenesis of numerous age-related diseases. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of aging is crucial for promoting healthy aging and extending healthspan. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are pivotal regulators of post-transcriptional gene expression and play essential roles in diverse biological processes. RBPs interact with both coding and non-coding RNAs to regulate RNA metabolism, stability, localization, and...
Analysis of second-generation epigenetic clocks reveals further associations between disproportionate biological ageing and hippocampal volume
Age acceleration, or the difference between biological and chronological age, is a research area of growing interest, particularly in the field of age-related and neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). First-generation epigenetic clocks that predict chronological age utilising DNA methylation data were the first to derive estimates of age acceleration, which have been associated with several age-related conditions. More recently, second-generation epigenetic clocks that...
A local-to-distant shift in dynamic brain connectivity marks early Alzheimer's risk
Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves early disruptions in brain connectivity, yet how AD risk markers relate to resting-state dynamic functional connectivity (rs-dFC) remains unclear. We examined associations of AD pathology, genetic risk, and blood-based biomarkers (BBMs) of neurodegeneration with local and distant rs-dFC in cognitively normal older adults and explored links with cognitive performance. Baseline data from 86 cognitively normal older adults in the AGUEDA trial (NCT05186090) were...
Telomere length and appendicular lean mass over six years in older adults with overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome: a prospective cohort study
Telomere length (TL) has been proposed as a marker of appendicular lean mass (ALM) decline; however, longitudinal evidence remains limited. We aimed to investigate the longitudinal association between TL and 6-year trajectories of ALM. This longitudinal study included 185 older adults aged 55-75 years with overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome at baseline. Baseline TL was assessed using a monochrome multiplex real-time quantitative PCR. ALM from the four limbs was obtained at baseline,...
Dual blockade of PD-1 and NKG2A prevents NK cell senescence and reprograms the immunosuppressive microenvironment in pancreatic cancer
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) shows limited efficacy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Here, we demonstrate that ICB-induced IFN-γ signaling upregulates H2-T23 on pancreatic tumor cells, which interacts with NKG2A on NK cells to induce NK cell senescence through activation of p38 MAPK and STAT1/3 pathways. This impairs NK cell cytotoxicity and restricts antitumor immunity. Dual blockade of PD-1 and NKG2A effectively prevents NK cell senescence, restores NK cell function, and...
Review of current research practices in social and structural determinants of health data collection in Canadian longitudinal cohorts of aging and dementia
CONCLUSION: SSDH that shape dementia risk and brain resilience, many modifiable at the community and policy levels, remain unevenly collected in Canadian aging and dementia cohorts. Strengthening and harmonizing SSDH measurement is a critical step toward equitable dementia prevention and reducing health disparities.
Dynamic heterogeneity in the self-induced spin glass state of elemental neodymium
Spin glasses are magnetic materials exhibiting numerous magnetization patterns, that randomly vary both in real space and in time. To date, it is still not well understood what the nature of these spatiotemporal dynamics is, namely if they are completely random or if there are relevant and correlated length and time scales. Here, we demonstrate dynamic heterogeneity in the aging dynamics of elemental neodymium. We used spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy in combination with atomistic...
Integrated proteomic and metabolomic analyses implicate redox-metabolic pathways in PTSD-associated multisystem disease and accelerated aging
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with increased risk of chronic disease and premature aging, yet underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We performed plasma proteomics (SomaScan; 9404 proteins) and targeted metabolomics (145 metabolites) in 393 World Trade Center responders (232 with PTSD, 161 trauma-exposed controls). A total of 114 proteins and seven metabolites were differentially expressed in PTSD. Top proteins included NCAN, BCAN, NCAM1, and GDF15. Top metabolites...
Investigating the human anellome across the lifespan reveals sex-specific biphasic trajectories
Anelloviruses dominate the human plasma virome, yet their lifespan dynamics and relationships with the immune system are unclear. We integrated metagenomics with cytokines, HERV-K, and CMV profiling across 405 individuals (0-100 years) and found that prevalence, abundance, and diversity varied non-linearly with age and by sex. Alphatorqueviruses accumulated progressively with age, while betatorqueviruses and gammatorqueviruses displayed biphasic, female-specific patterns. Alphatorquevirus...
Coordinated transcriptional shifts in microglia and oligodendrocytes from neurodevelopment to inflammaging
Glial cells shape brain development and aging, yet whether distinct glial lineages undergo coordinated lifespan transitions remains unclear. Although microglial aging states and oligodendrocyte vulnerability in neurodegeneration are well described, it remains unclear whether these programs evolve independently or in a temporally related manner. Here, we analyzed Mouse Cell Atlas single-cell RNA-seq data spanning embryogenesis to 24 months. Microglia and oligodendrocytes were the most...
Seismocardiography for nonexercise estimation of cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults
CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that Seismofit show a moderate-to-strong association with CPET measurements in older adults. Seismofit, however, systematically overestimated V̇O₂-peak. For Seismofit to be integrated into large-scale cohort studies and experimental research, the methodology used for older adults needs further development.
Think you're eating healthy? You may be missing this heart-protecting nutrient
Eating five servings of fruits and vegetables may not be enough if you're missing foods rich in flavanols, a group of compounds linked to better heart health. Researchers found that choices like blackberries, plums, apples, broad beans, cherries, and green tea can dramatically increase flavanol intake.
Scientists reprogram brain immune cells to fight Alzheimer’s
A newly identified molecule called OLE helped restore the brain’s immune cells to a more protective state in Alzheimer’s models. The treatment reduced toxic plaque buildup and improved memory, raising hopes for a new therapeutic approach.
Researchers caught in the crossfire as companies and government grapple over AI safety
After tumultuous Fable 5 takedown, scientists fear AI safety rules could reshape open research
Molecular crosstalk between MAPK signaling and neuroprotective pathways in Parkinson's disease: from pathogenesis to therapeutic potential
Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling is increasingly recognized as a central regulator in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). PD is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), driven by a complex interplay of mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. While basal MAPK activity is essential for neuroprotection and neuronal growth, its overactivation,...