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Genetic risk scores fail to predict survival after diagnosis

Research indicates that disease susceptibility genetics poorly predict survival, while longevity PGSs offer stronger associations with post-diagnosis mortality.

2 Oct 2025

Calcium-induced release identified as key driver of dangerous muscle disorders

Researchers engineered mice with a mutation (E3896A) in the RyR1 calcium-binding site, eliminating calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) without affecting depolarization-induced calcium release.

25 Sep 2025

Study explains how genetics and lifestyle combined to keep a 117-year-old healthy

Scientists conducted a multiomics study of the world’s oldest verified person (117 years), uncovering protective genetic, immune, metabolic, microbiome, and epigenetic traits that supported her exceptional longevity. These findings highlight how aging and disease may, under rare circumstances, be decoupled.

25 Sep 2025

Two-step blood and scan strategy delivers near-perfect accuracy for early Alzheimer's signs

Plasma p-tau217 testing can help detect preclinical Alzheimer disease in cognitively unimpaired adults. Using it as a first-line screen followed by positron emission tomography or cerebrospinal fluid testing boosts accuracy, reduces false positives, and streamlines recruitment.

16 Sep 2025

Genetic study shows dual GIPR/GLP1R action curbs binge alcohol use

Researchers used drug-target Mendelian randomization to test whether genetically proxied activation of GLP1R and GIPR influences alcohol-related behaviors. They found that GIPR, especially when combined with GLP1R, was linked to lower binge and heavy drinking, healthier food preferences, improved liver markers, and reduced coronary artery disease risk.

15 Sep 2025

Genetic variant disrupts brain’s cleanup crew increasing Alzheimer’s risk

A Nature study published today and led by researchers at the University of South Florida's USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute pinpoints how a genetic variant disrupts microglia - the brain's "cleanup crew" - increasing the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

3 Sep 2025

New mouse models reveal mechanisms of RP59 retinal degeneration

Retinitis pigmentosa retinal degeneration is caused by a family of hereditary mutations in nearly 100 genes that slowly lead to blindness over years or decades.

29 Aug 2025

Genetic variants influencing vitamin D synthesis, metabolism, and transport

A Canadian review synthesizes genetic factors that influence vitamin D synthesis, metabolism, and transport, highlighting how polymorphisms affect circulating levels. It also explores how gene-environment interactions shape individual responses to supplementation and sunlight.

20 Aug 2025

Alzheimer’s gene risks differ by ancestry, major study reveals 133 new variants

Researchers used whole-genome sequencing from diverse populations to identify 156 variants, including 133 novel ones, linked to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The study highlights ancestry-specific genetic risk and protective factors, challenging one-size-fits-all approaches to dementia genetics.

17 Aug 2025

Researchers uncover dozens of traits driven by maternal versus paternal genes

Researchers developed a high-accuracy method to infer whether genetic variants come from the mother or father without needing parental genomes, analysing 286,666 UK Biobank participants. They uncovered over 30 parent-of-origin effects on traits from growth and metabolism to diabetes, many showing opposite effects depending on parental source.

7 Aug 2025

Scientists map the genes behind diet and dementia risk

Researchers established a high-quality genetic dataset from the MIND diet trial, enabling new studies of gene–diet interactions in cognitive health. This resource allows deeper investigation into why individuals respond differently to dietary interventions targeting dementia risk.

6 Aug 2025

Gene-edited mosquitoes slash malaria spread 93% using self-propagating shield

Scientists engineered a naturally occurring genetic variant (Q224) in Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes, making them highly resistant to malaria parasites without affecting fitness. A novel gene-drive system rapidly spread this protective trait through lab mosquito populations, offering a potential breakthrough for malaria control.

24 Jul 2025

Scientists open new atlas of genetic diversity with advanced sequencing

A global team mapped over 100,000 structural variants in human genomes by applying Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing and a novel graph-based analytical approach to samples from 26 populations. The study reveals the extraordinary complexity and diversity of human DNA, providing an open-access atlas that will accelerate discoveries in genetic disease and human evolution.

24 Jul 2025

New method genetically blocks mosquitoes from transmitting malaria

Mosquitoes kill more people each year than any other animal. In 2023, the blood-sucking insects infected a reported 263 million people with malaria, leading to nearly 600,000 deaths, 80% of which were children.

23 Jul 2025

Van Andel Institute scientists develop improved technique to profile DNA methylation in single cells

Van Andel Institute scientists have developed an improved technique to comprehensively profile DNA methylation in single cells, an advance that will help researchers better study the role of epigenetics in cancer and other diseases.

16 Jul 2025

How a simple blood test can forecast future health risks

Plasma proteomics reveals that the biological ages of key organs, especially the brain and immune system, strongly predict the risk of future disease and early death. These organ-specific “clocks” provide a new tool for identifying those at highest risk and personalizing preventive care.

10 Jul 2025

Researchers develop blood test panel for early Alzheimer’s detection

Researchers at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, are developing a panel of biomarkers for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease and for distinguishing it from other types of dementia using blood tests.

9 Jul 2025

Study reveals hidden cause of treatment failure in acute promyelocytic leukemia

Researchers at Zhejiang University School of Medicine have identified a single point mutation in the normal PML gene that can block the effect of arsenic trioxide, a frontline drug for acute promyelocytic leukemia.

4 Jul 2025

Breakthrough study reveals killing power of CD4 T cells against cancer

In the fight against cancer, immunotherapy - which aims to boost the body's natural defences against cancer - is experiencing remarkable growth. Most of these treatments are based on CD8 T lymphocytes, ''killer cells'' able to eliminate diseased cells.

1 Jul 2025

Why Alzheimer’s DNA tests don’t treat all populations equally

A major global study tested whether European-derived polygenic risk scores (PGS) for Alzheimer’s disease can predict risk across diverse populations. While PGS performed well in many groups, it was less accurate in individuals of sub-Saharan African and Indian ancestry, highlighting the urgent need for more inclusive genetic data.

19 Jun 2025