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Energy drinks linked to 11 times more reports of cardiac arrest
A new study found that energy drinks and stimulant supplements were linked to disproportionately frequent reports of serious heart problems, including 11 times more reports of cardiac arrest and 4.5 times more reports of heart attacks. Young adults accounted for nearly half of the cardiovascular reports involving these products, raising concerns about their potential risks despite the study being unable to prove causation.
Obesity linked to up to 27% lower risk of death in dementia
A surprising study of more than 4,500 older adults found that people who were overweight or obese when diagnosed with dementia had a 16% to 27% lower risk of death than those at a normal weight. Researchers suspect that extra energy and muscle reserves may help patients survive the disease's toll on the body, although the reason for the survival advantage remains unclear.
Scientists find deadly virus DNA hidden in 1,000-year-old manuscripts
Ancient manuscripts, including the 1,000-year-old York Gospels, have revealed traces of a deadly sheep virus whose history stretches back more than 3,700 years. Scientists discovered that the virus has remained remarkably unchanged for millennia, turning historic parchment into an unexpected record of ancient disease outbreaks.
Author or just ‘acknowledged’? How women are not gaining full credit for research
Retractions of old papers are on the rise: when should bad science be culled?
Hideki Shirakawa obituary: chemist who showed that plastics can conduct electricity
Biotech innovations are an opportunity to limit climate change
How to avoid aliens and live
Cancer-fighting chewing gum slashes HPV levels by up to 93%
A surprising new weapon against microbes linked to head and neck cancer could be as simple as chewing gum. Scientists developed a bioengineered gum that reduced HPV levels by up to 93% in oral samples from cancer patients and nearly eliminated two harmful bacterial species after a single dose of its extract. Even more promising, the treatment spared beneficial bacteria in the mouth.
Even occasional marijuana use linked to 40% higher odds of stroke
New research involving more than 440,000 Americans links cannabis use to increased cardiovascular risk, with occasional users showing 40% higher odds of reporting a history of stroke. The findings suggest that even infrequent marijuana use may warrant concern, although researchers have not established that cannabis directly causes strokes or heart disease.
Eating less protein could slow aging, review of 350 studies finds
A major review of more than 350 studies suggests that eating less protein could slow aging, improve metabolic health, and potentially extend lifespan, challenging the widespread belief that more protein is always better. Researchers warn that many sedentary adults may be consuming too much protein, while emphasizing that individual needs depend on age and physical activity.
Cancer uses antioxidants to disarm the immune system, scientists discover
Scientists have discovered that tumors release natural antioxidants to shut down the immune cells responsible for destroying cancer, exploiting a surprising weakness in the body's defenses. Blocking this mechanism in mice restored immune activity and improved immunotherapy responses, potentially opening a new path toward more effective cancer treatments.
Amyloid-beta dimers bind to microglial TLR2 to induce early neuroinflammation and cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease
Previous studies have shown that amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers are implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ oligomers include various molecules with distinct characteristics, such as dimers and trimers; among these, Aβ dimers have been found to possess neurotoxicity. This study found that Aβ dimers can induce microglial proliferation, enhanced phagocytosis, and pro-inflammatory polarization in the mouse brain even before cognitive impairment occurs, and this effect was validated...
Nicotianamine-driven nickel transport to sink organs underpins maize productivity
Nickel (Ni), the last essential trace element identified in plants, has long been enigmatic regarding the genetic basis underlying its homeostasis and its agricultural significance. Using genome-wide association analysis, we identified ZmNAET1 as a key transporter controlling Ni allocation to seeds. Mechanistically, ZmNAET1 mediates nicotianamine secretion and enables nicotianamine-dependent phloem loading of Ni in nodes and subsequent Ni translocation into sink organs. Mutants lacking ZmNAET1...
Reframing disease elimination: an update from the Lancet Commission on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with increasing global burden driven by population growth and ageing, persistent harmful exposures, and substantial health inequities. The Lancet Commission on COPD articulated an ambitious vision for disease elimination with prevention, early detection, and intervention. This Review revisits that vision, assesses progress since 2022, and calls for a broader commitment to lifelong lung...
Analysis of exposures linked to age acceleration using epigenetic and biological clocks
CONCLUSION: IDMAge was associated with mortality and multiple exposomic factors. Although neither approach provided direct validation, both MR and analyses in CHARLS and HRS revealed consistent patterns supporting a potential role for glucose in aging-related decline. Future research should focus on strategies to slow aging and improve resilience in aging populations.
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide Induces Transcriptional Changes Opposing Signatures of Brain Ageing and Neurodegeneration
Psychedelic compounds such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) are increasingly studied for their neuroplastic effects and potential relevance to brain ageing and neurodegenerative conditions, including dementia. These processes are characterised by transcriptional changes involving progressive synaptic dysfunction and altered neuron-glia interactions. In computational drug discovery, the transcriptional signature reversion principle proposes that compounds inducing gene expression states...
Mouse APOE Christchurch protects against Aβ-induced tau and α-synuclein aggregation
Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype alters the risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) but also affects dementia risk in Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Recent evidence suggests that the APOE Christchurch (CC) mutation protects against AD, however, its effects on PD and DLB are unknown. We generated an APOE CC knock-in mouse to understand its effects on amyloid-β (Aβ), tau, and α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregation. APOE CC mice show increased plasma cholesterol and triglyceride...
DNA methylation correlates with lifespan and predicts remaining lifespan in the zebra finch
Biomarkers that correlate with age are essential tools for understanding aging and lifespan variation. DNA methylation (DNAm) changes predictably with age in parts of the genome. In humans, epigenetically "old" individuals relative to their chronological age also have a reduced life expectancy but whether the link between epigenetic age and lifespan is a general feature remains an open question. We explored age-related changes in DNAm in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia castanotis), a key avian...
Socioeconomic Differences in the Association between the Big Five Personality Traits and Episodic Memory Trajectories in Midlife and Old Age
CONCLUSION: Our findings underscore the relevance of wealth as an important socioeconomic resource for cognitive health beyond income and education, particularly in old age, when income is typically reduced. Overall, the results support modest concurrent associations between personality, SES, and episodic memory levels but provide hardly any evidence for longitudinal effects. More frequent and longer term longitudinal assessments are needed to clarify potential effects on cognitive aging.