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Excess belly fat may lead to a reduction in gray matter

A new study has found that excess abdominal fat is associated with a lower volume of gray matter in the brain, resulting in a smaller brain size.

11 Jan 2019

Researchers compile atlas of genetic influences on osteoporosis

A ground-breaking new study led by researchers from the Lady Davis Institute (LDI) at the Jewish General Hospital (JGH) has succeeded in compiling an atlas of genetic factors associated with estimated bone mineral density (BMD), one of the most clinically relevant factors in diagnosing osteoporosis.

2 Jan 2019

Genetic study reveals new insights into underlying causes of moderate-to-severe asthma

The largest-ever genetic study of people with moderate-to-severe asthma has revealed new insights into the underlying causes of the disease which could help improve its diagnosis and treatment.

13 Dec 2018

Genes play a role in physical activity and sleep

Time spent sitting, sleeping and moving is determined in part by our genes, University of Oxford researchers have shown.

10 Dec 2018

Women with sleep apnea show higher risk of heart damage

A new study has found that a common but dangerous sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) poses more of a cardiac risk to women than men.

29 Nov 2018

A love of coffee and tea is mostly genetic

The morning coffee or tea can perk one up for the day, however, for some of us these beverages are too bitter. Researchers have now found that the bitter taste experienced is all down to genes. The new study titled, “Understanding the role of bitter taste perception in coffee, tea and alcohol consumption through Mendelian randomization,” was published in the latest issue of the journal Nature Scientific Reports.

25 Nov 2018

Higher body mass index could cause depression even without health problems

A largescale genomic analysis has found the strongest evidence yet that being overweight causes depression, even in the absence of other health problems.

13 Nov 2018

Research finds strongest evidence yet that obesity causes depression

New research released today from the University of South Australia and University of Exeter in the UK has found the strongest evidence yet that obesity causes depression, even in the absence of other health problems.

12 Nov 2018

Cardiovascular and Alzheimer's disease share common genetics in some individuals, study shows

Genetics may predispose some people to both Alzheimer's disease and high levels of blood lipids such as cholesterol, a common feature of cardiovascular disease, according to a new study by an international team of researchers led by scientists at UC San Francisco and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

9 Nov 2018

Female smokers at greater risk of heart attacks, finds study

According to a large population study from the United Kingdom, women who smoke or those who have high blood pressure or diabetes are at a greater risk of heart attacks than men with same risks. The study results were published in the latest issue of the journal British Medical Journal.

8 Nov 2018

Study uses data from 500,000 people to elucidate risks of obesity

Elevated body mass index - a measure of weight accounting for a person's height - has been shown to be a likely causal contributor to population patterns in mortality, according to a new study led by the University of Bristol using measurements and mortality data from 500,000 people.

25 Oct 2018

UK Biobank provides wealth of information for further genetic studies

There are 3.2 billion positions on the human genome and it requires a study of huge number of genetic variations in the populations to estimate the associations between genetic disorders and mutations. Two new studies have been published in the journal Nature.

11 Oct 2018

New DNA test can predict adult heart attack risk much earlier in life

People at high risk of a heart attack in adulthood could be spotted much earlier in life with a one-off DNA test, according to new research part-funded by the British Heart Foundation and published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

9 Oct 2018

Researchers find specific place in the genome linked to increased risk of erectile dysfunction

For the first time, a team of researchers has found a specific place in the human genome that raises a person's risk of erectile dysfunction. The discovery is a significant advancement in the understanding of the genetics underlying erectile dysfunction.

8 Oct 2018

New DNA tool can predict people's height and potentially assess risk for serious illnesses

A new DNA tool created by Michigan State University can accurately predict people's height, and more importantly, could potentially assess their risk for serious illnesses, such as heart disease and cancer.

5 Oct 2018

Genes predicting person's height may provide clues about causes of varicose veins

A person's height and certain genes that predict height are associated with varicose veins and may provide clues about what causes this condition and ways to prevent and treat it, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.

24 Sep 2018

New study finds height as possible risk factor for developing varicose veins

The taller you are, the more likely you are to develop varicose veins, according to a study led by Stanford University School of Medicine researchers that examined the genes of more than 400,000 people in search of clues to what causes this common but little understood condition.

24 Sep 2018

Genome-wide association study reveals potential genes behind diverticular disease

More than half of adults in the Western hemisphere over the age of 40 have small bulging pouches inside their intestine known as diverticula. Caused by weakening of the outer lining of the intestine, these pouches are typically harmless.

5 Sep 2018

Cannabis use and mental illness link found

A large new study has found that people with mental ailments such as schizophrenia are more genetically inclined to use cannabis.

29 Aug 2018

New genome analysis could identify people at higher risk of common deadly diseases

A research team at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and Harvard Medical School reports a new kind of genome analysis that could identify large fractions of the population who have a much higher risk of developing serious common diseases, including coronary artery disease, breast cancer, or type 2 diabetes.

13 Aug 2018