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Longer activity bouts link to lower future dementia and mental health risks

A UK Biobank analysis of 66,483 adults found that longer daily moderate-to-vigorous activity bouts and less fragmented activity were associated with lower subsequent risks of inpatient diagnoses of dementia, depression, and anxiety, independent of total activity time. In neuroimaging data from 13,108 participants, these activity patterns were also associated with more favorable brain measures, although the observational analyses cannot establish cause and effect.

23 Jul 2026

Tailored gene therapy dramatically reduces childhood epilepsy seizures in trial

SCN2A‑related developmental epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) is a rare, severe form of childhood epilepsy and one of the most common causes of monogenic autism.

21 Jul 2026

Blood p-tau217 levels signal cognitive impairment risk years before symptoms emerge

Higher baseline plasma p-tau217 was associated with greater 5- and 10-year risks of cognitive impairment and faster cognitive decline among 2,684 cognitively unimpaired adults. Very high levels corresponded to an estimated 38% risk at five years, but selected cohorts and limited long-term data mean routine screening and individualized prediction remain premature.

16 Jul 2026

Weill Cornell Medicine receives federal grant to study new gene therapy for Alzheimer's disease

The National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health has awarded a five-year grant initially worth $8.37 million for Weill Cornell Medicine researchers to study a new gene therapy for Alzheimer's disease in people who have a high genetic risk of developing the condition.

8 Jul 2026

Psychological traits may uncover why Alzheimer’s biology differs between patients

In 822 deceased older adults from ROS and MAP, researchers linked stable psychological traits to multi-omic molecular subtypes of Alzheimer’s dementia using postmortem brain tissue from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Neuroticism and loneliness were associated with molecular progression, while purpose in life showed subtype-specific inverse associations, suggesting psychological traits may align with Alzheimer’s biology beyond conventional neuropathology.

22 Jun 2026

Cancer-driving genetic mutation does not always cause disease

Researchers have found that a genetic mutation associated with a rare group of blood cancers does not always result in development of the disease.

18 Jun 2026

Australia’s diphtheria outbreak shows why boosters, antibiotics, and better housing all matter

A 131-case diphtheria outbreak in Australia’s Northern Territory showed how toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae can re-emerge even in highly vaccinated populations. Genomic and epidemiological evidence linked most cases to a dominant ST381 strain, with transmission shaped by overcrowding, poor skin health, and persistent health inequities.

15 Jun 2026

Favorable lifestyle factors reduce dementia risk across key genetic profiles

With dementia cases expected to nearly triple worldwide by 2050, researchers are increasingly focused on identifying ways to prevent or delay the disease.

5 Jun 2026

Antibody fragment offers safer alternative for Alzheimer disease treatment

In 2025, the European Medicines Agency approved two antibodies for Alzheimer's disease: lecanemab (Leqembi, from Biogen) and donanemab (KisunlaTM, from Eli Lilly and Company), both based on immunotherapy (the use of molecules from the immune system to treat diseases).

5 Jun 2026

Higher genetic pulse pressure risk associated with dementia-related mortality

When looking at genetic variants in a person's DNA that predispose them to disease, a new study has found having a higher number of genetic variants for increased pulse pressure is associated with a small, increased risk of dementia as a contributing cause of death.

3 Jun 2026

Poor sleep may flag early Alzheimer’s risk in genetically vulnerable older women

Poorer subjective sleep quality was linked to worse visual memory and greater limbic tau burden in older women with higher genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The findings suggest sleep complaints may help identify women at elevated risk for early AD-related brain and cognitive changes, but larger longitudinal studies are needed.

20 May 2026

New gene editing approach improves survival in epileptic mice

In a world first, a research team at the University of Zurich has successfully treated mice carrying an inherited form of epilepsy.

13 May 2026

Study explains how APOE2 gene protects the brain against Alzheimer's disease

People who carry the APOE2 version of the apolipoprotein E gene are more likely to live to advanced age and are partly protected against Alzheimer's disease, but scientists have struggled to explain why.

13 May 2026

Faster biological aging linked to higher dementia risk

Having a biological age older than chronological age is associated with a greater likelihood of developing dementia, a new study has shown.

13 May 2026

New genomic study tracks rare blood disease in children

Aplastic anemia is a rare, life-threatening blood disorder where patients are unable to make enough blood cells due to the immune system's attack on blood stem cells. The condition can progress to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and leukemia. A study led by scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, with multiple collaborating institutions, used state-of-the-art genomic techniques to profile 619 children and adults with aplastic anemia.

4 May 2026

How the immune system may influence Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and related diseases

This review argues that neurodegeneration is shaped not only by toxic protein buildup but also by immune signaling, with microglia and T cells able to either protect the brain or worsen damage depending on context. It also highlights aging, head injury, and viral infection as major forces that reshape CNS immunity and may influence disease progression and future treatment strategies.

16 Apr 2026

Genetic variants may help explain who loses more weight and who gets side effects on GLP-1 drugs

A large 23andMe-based GWAS found that common variants in GLP1R and GIPR help explain why some people lose more weight or experience more nausea and vomiting on GLP-1 drugs. The findings suggest genetics may eventually help predict who responds best to semaglutide or tirzepatide and who is more likely to develop side effects.

9 Apr 2026

Study identifies a common hidden genetic cause of neurodevelopmental disorder in children

Researchers identified biallelic variants in RNU2-2 as the cause of a recessive neurodevelopmental disorder marked by intellectual disability, global developmental delay, and frequent seizures. The study suggests this condition may be the most prevalent known recessive neurodevelopmental disorder currently diagnosable by sequencing, with RNA data pointing to a loss-of-expression mechanism.

2 Apr 2026

AEGIS tool helps scientists study evolution of aging and lifespan

Why do some species live for only weeks while others survive for centuries? Researchers at the Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) in Jena have developed AEGIS, a freely available software tool that enables scientists to simulate evolution on a standard computer and investigate how lifespan and aging evolve under different ecological pressures and genetic constraints.

1 Apr 2026

Gut microbiome changes improve memory in early cognitive decline

Research shows that modifying the gut microbiome can enhance cognitive performance and mitigate dementia risk, highlighting the gut-brain connection.

1 Apr 2026

Allele News and Research

Longer activity bouts link to lower future dementia and mental health risks

Tailored gene therapy dramatically reduces childhood epilepsy seizures in trial

Blood p-tau217 levels signal cognitive impairment risk years before symptoms emerge

Weill Cornell Medicine receives federal grant to study new gene therapy for Alzheimer's disease

Psychological traits may uncover why Alzheimer’s biology differs between patients

Cancer-driving genetic mutation does not always cause disease

Australia’s diphtheria outbreak shows why boosters, antibiotics, and better housing all matter

Favorable lifestyle factors reduce dementia risk across key genetic profiles

Antibody fragment offers safer alternative for Alzheimer disease treatment

Higher genetic pulse pressure risk associated with dementia-related mortality

Poor sleep may flag early Alzheimer’s risk in genetically vulnerable older women

New gene editing approach improves survival in epileptic mice

Study explains how APOE2 gene protects the brain against Alzheimer's disease

Faster biological aging linked to higher dementia risk

New genomic study tracks rare blood disease in children

How the immune system may influence Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and related diseases

Genetic variants may help explain who loses more weight and who gets side effects on GLP-1 drugs

Study identifies a common hidden genetic cause of neurodevelopmental disorder in children

AEGIS tool helps scientists study evolution of aging and lifespan

Gut microbiome changes improve memory in early cognitive decline

Industry Focus eBook - Cell biology (5th edition) eBook

The Critical Role of Sample Storage in Drug Discovery and Development

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

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