by Harrison Tasoff, University of California – Santa Barbara Differences in gene expression, not just their presence, seem to drive the remarkable specialization found in the human brain. Credit: Matt Perko Our brain is arguably the organ that most distinguishes humans from other primates. Its exceptional size, complexity and capabilities far exceed those of any other...
Category: <span>Research Updates</span>
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Urinary Metals Linked to Increased Dementia Risk
Edited by Anushree Chaphalkar December 31, 2024 0130 TOPLINE: Higher levels of environmental metals in urine are associated with poorer cognitive performance and an increased risk for dementia, new research suggests. METHODOLOGY: TAKEAWAY: IN PRACTICE: “We found an inverse association of essential and nonessential metals in urine, both individually and as a mixture, with the...
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Achilles Heel’ of Drug-Resistant Bacteria Has Been Found, Scientists Say
Health30 December 2024 ByTessa Koumoundouros Bacillus subtilis bacteria with green fluorescence indicating a lack of magnesium. (Ashley Moon, Süel Lab, UC San Diego) New tactics in controlling infection are sorely needed, with antibiotic-resistant bacteria expected to claim as many as 2 million lives each year by 2050. US and Spanish researchers have now discovered at least some bacteria pay...
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Can We Stop Brain Aging? Scientists Uncover Mitochondrial Key
By American Association for the Advancement of ScienceJanuary 1, 20253 Comments3 Mins Read FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegram Share Researchers uncovered a mechanism called excitation-mitochondrial DNA transcription coupling (E-TCmito) linking neuronal activity to mitochondrial DNA transcription, crucial for maintaining brain function. Enhancing E-TCmito in aged mice improved cognition, offering a potential therapeutic target for age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases....
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Y chromosome’s unexpected impact on aging and disease in men
By Priyanjana Pramanik, MSc.Reviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc.Jan 5 2025 Why losing the Y chromosome is more than genetics—it’s a key to understanding male health disparities. Review Article: The effects of loss of Y chromosome on male health. Image Credit: Rost9 / Shutterstock In a recent review article in the journal Nature Reviews Genetics, researchers discussed the current understanding regarding the...
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Impact of exosomal and cell-free circRNAs on cancer drug resistance
Peer-Reviewed Publication ELSP The researcher has given an overview on the regulatory network of extracellular circRNAs in cancer and their impact on cancer drug resistance. In order to propagate malignancy, circRNAs shuttle through the blood circulation as cell-free molecules or in exosomes, small vesicles where they are transported to various cells. Published in ExRNA, the...
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Aging changes some brain cells more than others
By Paul McClure January 02, 2025 Certain brain cells respond to aging differently than others DALL-E View 3 Images View gallery – 3 images Detailed mapping of 1.2 million brain cells has revealed that not all cell types age in the same way and that some – found in a specific ‘hot spot’ – are more...
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Scientists Discover Common Virus Could Be Causing a Type of Alzheimer’s
Health06 January 2025 ByJess Cockerill CMV-infected human placental cell. (Nephron/CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Commons) Researchers have discovered a link between a chronic gut infection caused by a common virus and the development of Alzheimer’s disease in some people. Most people encounter cytomegalovirus (CMV) during childhood, and after the initial infection the virus remains in the body for life, usually dormant. By the age of...
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Long COVID Breakthrough: Spike Proteins Persist in Brain for Years
By Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenJanuary 6, 20251 Comment5 Mins Read FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegram Share A study reveals that the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 remains in the brain long after infection, causing potential neurological issues and accelerated brain aging. mRNA vaccines help lower this risk but are not completely effective in eliminating the protein. Credit: SciTechDaily.com Researchers have discovered that...
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GLP-1s May Cut Risk for Late-Onset Epilepsy
Pauline Anderson December 17, 2024 287 LOS ANGELES — Newer glucose-lowering drugs reduce the risk for late-onset seizures and epilepsy by 24%, with glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) cutting the risk by 33%, according to a new meta-analysis. These results are “amazing” considering there are currently no drugs that actually prevent epilepsy, lead...