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A new study reveals that viral infections may leave behind hidden damage to the immune system long after symptoms disappear. Researchers found that mice recovering from an acute infection experienced lasting changes to their spleens and weakened immune responses, potentially leaving them more vulnerable to future threats. Surprisingly, prior vaccination completely prevented these harmful changes in the mouse model.

A study of more than 750,000 pregnancies found that early exposure to Ozempic, Wegovy, and similar drugs was not linked to increased pregnancy complications when used for weight loss, but was associated with a higher risk of premature birth when prescribed for diabetes. The surprising difference suggests that diabetes itself may be driving the risk, although researchers caution that the drugs' safety during pregnancy remains uncertain.

A major study of nearly 1,900 older adults suggests that stopping statins after age 70 may be relatively safe in the short term for people who have never experienced a heart attack or stroke. However, a higher rate of serious cardiovascular events or death during longer follow-up raises questions about the risks of discontinuing these widely prescribed medications.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibits region- and cell-type-specific vulnerability, yet the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain poorly defined. We performed integrated single-nucleus RNA-seq and ATAC-seq of human hippocampus to resolve gene regulatory architecture in AD. By linking chromatin accessibility to transcription, we identified more than 1000 disease-associated cis-regulatory interactions, highlighting coordinated epigenomic-transcriptomic remodeling. Excitatory cornu ammonis (EX.CA)...

Meningiomas exhibit substantial molecular, anatomical, and microenvironmental heterogeneity, yet the spatial organization of their lipid biology remains poorly understood. Emerging lipidomic studies demonstrate extensive remodeling of membrane, signaling, and mitochondrial lipid classes, with profiles varying according to molecular genotype, histopathological grade, and potentially patient characteristics. In parallel, developmental, single-cell, and spatial studies have revealed the meninges...

BackgroundUnderstanding changes in long-term care (LTC) applicants' needs informs service planning.ObjectiveTo examine trends in functional impairment and multimorbidity among Hong Kong's publicly funded LTC applicants during 2001-2019.MethodsWe analyzed interRAI assessments from 315,556 applicants aged ≥60. Hierarchical mixed-effects models estimated trends in physical and cognitive impairment, loneliness, and multimorbidity, adjusting for age, birth cohort, and sociodemographic factors....

ObjectiveHispanic individuals are understudied in cognitive aging research and are disproportionately exposed to crime, yet the cognitive consequences of this exposure remain unclear. We examined whether county-level crime moderates the association between physical functioning (PF) and cognitive change among Mexican Americans aged 75 years and older without cognitive impairment at baseline.MethodsParticipants included 1,189 older adults from the Hispanic Established Populations for the...

Aging research has advanced along two largely parallel paths. Experimental biology has transformed aging research by establishing that aging is biologically malleable and identifying conserved molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate lifespan and healthspan. In parallel, population research has revealed substantial heterogeneity in human aging and identified social, environmental, behavioral, and genetic factors associated with differences in aging trajectories. Despite a shared goal of...

Mild disruptions to mitochondrial function can lead to the activation of an adaptive program that extends animal lifespan. The mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) is associated with such conditions that prolong lifespan. We previously discovered that methionine restriction, resulting from the genetic loss of methionine synthase in C. elegans, activated the UPRmt and extended lifespan. Here, we demonstrate that methionine restriction activates the UPRmt and delays aging within the...

Researchers have uncovered a surprising hidden function of a protein that may hold the key to repairing damaged muscles and treating muscular dystrophy. Known for protecting chromosomes, TRF2 also helps muscle stem cells maintain their identity and regenerate injured tissue. When scientists removed the protein in mice, muscles struggled to repair themselves, and muscular dystrophy progressed dramatically faster.

A surprising new study suggests that where men get their protein may be linked to their testosterone levels. Researchers studying more than 2,500 men found that higher animal protein intake, particularly from dairy, was associated with lower testosterone, while plant protein was linked to higher levels. The findings raise intriguing questions about how everyday food choices might relate to male hormone levels.

Stanford researchers have discovered that children who struggle persistently with math may have underlying differences in how their brains manage problem-solving strategies. Children with developmental dyscalculia were slower to switch strategies, less responsive to changes in difficulty, and less able to improve their approach over time. Distinct patterns of brain activity were linked to these difficulties and could even predict certain math-related abilities.

Crows may be even smarter than we thought, and their brains are astonishingly fast. Researchers at the University of Tübingen discovered that crows can make visual decisions twice as quickly as humans and monkeys, taking just 235 milliseconds on average to identify the direction of moving dots while maintaining remarkable accuracy.

Colorectal cancer is making an alarming comeback in the United States after more than 20 years of declining rates, and the increase is no longer limited to younger adults. A major new study found rising rates across nearly every age group under 70, including older Americans who have historically benefited most from cancer screening.