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Researchers identify gene targets that may protect against Alzheimer’s

A study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) at Texas Children's Hospital provides solutions to the pressing need to identify factors that influence Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk or resistance while providing an avenue to explore potential biological markers and therapeutic targets.

17 Apr 2025

GLP1 agonists linked to depression risk in new genetic study

A groundbreaking study published in the journal Current Neuropharmacology highlights a concerning potential link between Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP1) receptor agonists-widely used in blockbuster drugs like Ozempic-and the risk of depression and suicidal ideation (SI).

17 Apr 2025

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': On autism, it’s the secretary’s word vs. CDC’S

The secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., contradicted his agency's researchers this week with unsubstantiated or outright false claims about autism spectrum disorder and those with the condition.

17 Apr 2025

New clues on how cells protect chromosome ends during division

A new study from Weill Cornell Medicine provides insights into how cells maintain the tiny end caps of chromosomes as they divide, a key process in keeping cells healthy.

17 Apr 2025

Vaccine trial shows promise for saving California condors from bird flu

Researchers evaluated the safety and immune response of a poultry-derived H5N1 avian influenza vaccine in black vultures and critically endangered California condors. The findings support the use of vaccination as a conservation tool against deadly avian flu outbreaks.

17 Apr 2025

Study unveils genetic pathway leading to cleft lip and palate formation

Cleft lip and cleft palate are among the most common birth defects, occurring in about one in 1,050 births in the United States.

17 Apr 2025

Experimental bird flu vaccine offers strong protection in preclinical trials

A vaccine under development at the University at Buffalo has demonstrated complete protection in mice against a deadly variant of the virus that causes bird flu.

17 Apr 2025

Affectionate mothering linked to positive personality development

Affectionate mothering in childhood may have a lasting impact on important personality traits, potentially influencing life outcomes such as educational achievement, economic success, and health and well-being, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

17 Apr 2025

Beyond Ivy League, RFK Jr.’s NIH slashed science funding across states that backed Trump

The National Institutes of Health's sweeping cuts of grants that fund scientific research are inflicting pain almost universally across the U.S., including in most states that backed President Donald Trump in the 2024 election.

17 Apr 2025

Sex and age play key roles in dementia biomarker levels

A new study has found important clues about the roles age, sex, hormonal changes and genetics play in how certain biomarkers for dementia are expressed in the blood, according to a study published on April 16, 2025, online in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

16 Apr 2025

New tool simplifies genomic research and boosts medical breakthroughs

A University of Virginia School of Medicine scientist and collaborators have developed a much-needed new tool to increase the efficiency of genomic research and accelerate the development of new ways to improve human health.

16 Apr 2025

Researchers link 9 blood proteins to breast cancer and suggest 3 drugs for repurposing

Researchers used integrated Mendelian randomization in a cohort of over 247,000 individuals to identify 62 plasma proteins associated with breast cancer risk. Nine high-confidence targets, including ULK3 and CSK, showed potential for drug repurposing and immune pathway regulation.

16 Apr 2025

Gold nanoparticles offer new hope for vision restoration

A new study by Brown University researchers suggests that gold nanoparticles - microscopic bits of gold thousands of times thinner than a human hair - might one day be used to help restore vision in people with macular degeneration and other retinal disorders.

16 Apr 2025

Humanized liver organoids double survival rate in rodent models

One reason why our livers excel at clearing waste from our blood system is that the organ functions according to three key "zones" that perform specific major tasks.

16 Apr 2025

Early detection of Alzheimer's disease through blood biomarker

Individuals with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's disease show altered blood levels indicating damaged neuronal contacts as early as 11 years before the expected onset of dementia symptoms.

16 Apr 2025

Breakthrough method creates functional liver organoids

While organoids aim to mimic human organs, the liver's repertoire of complex functions – and thus the energy it needs to operate – have made it challenging for researchers to grow organoids that proliferate and fully function, says Sato. When prioritizing growth and survival in laboratory settings, hepatocytes, the liver's main cells, eventually transformed into cells resembling cholangiocytes, which line the bile duct.

16 Apr 2025