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Scientists have uncovered a surprising reason why statins, the widely prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs that help prevent heart attacks and strokes, can sometimes cause muscle pain, weakness, and even severe muscle damage. Using advanced imaging technology, researchers discovered that statins can attach to a crucial protein in muscle cells and force open a channel that normally controls calcium flow. This causes calcium to leak continuously, potentially damaging muscle tissue.

Scientists have discovered a natural compound that targets dangerous C. difficile bacteria without wiping out the gut's beneficial microbes. Successful early tests suggest it could lead to a gentler, more effective treatment for stubborn intestinal infections that frequently return.

The aging brain may be undergoing a remarkable transformation rather than simply losing its abilities, shifting its focus from remembering details to understanding the bigger picture. Scientists suggest this change could be an evolutionary adaptation that helps older adults develop wisdom and share decades of knowledge with younger generations.

Genetic evidence implicates immune dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet the neuroimmune mechanisms operating in human tissue remain poorly defined. Here, we establish a modular human forebrain organoid platform that systematically integrates human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived microglia and CD8^(+) T cells to reconstitute multicellular AD pathology. This system enables functional interrogation of both innate and adaptive immune components in a human-relevant context. Using this...

Multiple lysosomal stresses activate Parkinson's-linked LRRK2 kinase, and these involve the so-called "CASM" pathway to help recruit LRRK2 to lysosome surfaces. Clegg et al. (https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202511137) show that LRRK2, activated upon lysosome swelling caused by PIKfyve inhibition, instead relies solely on Rab GTPase binding for lysosome localization and activation.

Increased activity of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) confers Parkinson's disease risk. LRRK2 dynamically localizes to lysosomal membranes in response to various stresses, yet the mechanisms by which distinct lysosomal perturbations are communicated to LRRK2 remain unclear. Here, we show that inhibition of the lysosomal lipid kinase PIKfyve promotes LRRK2 recruitment and signaling through a pathway that requires the lysosomal chloride/proton antiporter ClC-7. ClC-7 in turn controls the...

Immune-neuron interactions play a critical role in neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), but how CD8⁺ T cells contribute to brain pathology remains poorly understood. Amyloid-β (Aβ), a hallmark of AD, is known to trigger neuronal stress and inflammation. Here, we established a human cortical organoid (hCO) model to investigate CD8⁺ T cell responses to Aβ-induced neurodegenerative stress. Aβ exposure increased neuronal expression of CX3CL1...

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related progressive neurodegenerative disorder that represents the leading cause of dementia worldwide, affecting over 50 million people. This global burden is expected to rise dramatically over the coming decades because of global population aging, representing a public health concern. Despite significant advances in understanding AD pathophysiology, early diagnosis remains challenging, emphasizing the urgent need for novel, reliable diagnostic and predictive...

CONCLUSION: In this diverse HABS-HD sample, increasing ten-year ASCVD risk was associated with greater AT(N)-V biomarker burden and poorer cognitive performance across multiple domains. These cross-sectional findings suggest that ten-year ASCVD risk may serve as a marker of co-occurring cardiovascular and brain health burden, but they do not establish causality or temporal direction.

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Baker's yeast is a long-standing model for studying mechanisms of aging. Due to asymmetric division, yeast mother and daughter cells are distinguishable, and mother cells usually cease division after 15-25 budding events. However, yeast suspensions consist predominantly of young cells. Here we investigated whether, under harsh environmental conditions, replicative aging-defined by the number of buds produced-manifests at early replicative ages. To test this, we adapted a flow-cytometry-based...

Scientists have found a promising way to protect the brain from Alzheimer’s-related damage by blocking immune cells that contribute to the destruction of neurons. In mice, the treatment preserved roughly 40% more tissue in memory centers and improved memory, even without removing harmful tau protein buildup.

A jury ruled in favor of the former Whitehead Institute scientist, dismissing accuser’s claims of sexual harassment and retaliation