UK Biobank News and Research

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Long-term exposure to polluted air weakens the health benefits of exercise

Long-term exposure to toxic air can substantially weaken the health benefits of regular exercise, suggests a new study by an international team including UCL (University College London) researchers.

28 Nov 2025

Shared genetic roots between delirium and Alzheimer’s disease

This study reveals genetic and proteomic risk factors for delirium, offering insights into its etiology and potential biomarkers for prediction and prevention.

26 Nov 2025

Researchers discover new mutation hotspot in the human genome

Researchers have discovered new regions of the human genome particularly vulnerable to mutations. These altered stretches of DNA can be passed down to future generations and are important for how we study genetics and disease.

26 Nov 2025

Daily walking patterns help flag early Parkinson’s signs in large UK study

Accelerometer data from nearly 95,000 adults show that higher daily step counts predict lower short-term Parkinson’s disease risk. But as follow-up extends, the association fades, indicating that reduced steps are more likely an early marker than a cause.

25 Nov 2025

Sex-specific changes in gluteus maximus shape linked to aging and metabolic health

The shape of the gluteus maximus muscle in the buttocks changes in different ways with aging, lifestyle, frailty, osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes, and these changes differ between women and men, according to new research being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

25 Nov 2025

Elevated levels of five blood proteins can help predict mortality risk

Elevated levels of five proteins in our blood can help predict risk of mortality, a new study from the University of Surrey finds.

24 Nov 2025

UK Biobank releases the world’s largest metabolomic dataset for disease research

UK Biobank has today [Thursday 20 November] released the final set of data on nearly 250 metabolites – the molecules in our blood produced by our bodies as we go about our lives – in half a million volunteers.

20 Nov 2025

Study develops highly accurate polygenic risk models tailored for Han Chinese populations

Researchers at Academia Sinica have developed the first population-specific polygenic risk score (PRS) models for people of Han Chinese ancestry, achieving unprecedented accuracy in predicting risks for common diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disorders.

20 Nov 2025

Acute and chronic depression involve different mechanisms in the brain

A new study investigating neuroinflammation in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the brain, a small, midbrain dopaminergic region, has found that acute and chronic depression are associated with distinct pathophysiological mechanisms.

18 Nov 2025

Why early- and late-onset depression are fundamentally different

Genetic differences in early- and late-onset depression highlight distinct risk profiles, informing targeted strategies for improved clinical outcomes.

17 Nov 2025

Chronic pain in adults linked to increased risk of developing high blood pressure

Chronic pain in adults may increase their risk of high blood pressure, and the location and extent of pain and if they also had depression were contributing factors, according to new research published today in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal.

17 Nov 2025

Whole genome sequencing reveals how much human heritability we can finally explain

Whole genome sequencing in nearly 500,000 UK Biobank participants shows that observed rare and common variants now explain about 88% of family based heritability for many human traits. By partitioning heritability into rare versus common and coding versus non-coding components, the study narrows where missing heritability still hides and highlights traits that remain only partly understood.

13 Nov 2025

Two main methods for discovering disease genes reveal distinct aspects of biology

The two main approaches for discovering disease genes reveal distinct aspects of biology, a new study shows. While both methods are widely used, the research found that they identify different genes, with major implications for drug development.

6 Nov 2025

World’s largest eye imaging and data resource expands across the UK

The world's largest collection of curated eye imaging and linked clinical data is expanding across the country, in an initiative led out of Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL (University College London).

5 Nov 2025

USC researchers map genetic architecture of the human corpus callosum

For the first time, a research team led by the Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (Stevens INI) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC has mapped the genetic architecture of a crucial part of the human brain known as the corpus callosum-the thick band of nerve fibers that connects the brain's left and right hemispheres.

4 Nov 2025

Combined analysis of three blood tests enhances heart attack risk prediction

A combined analysis of blood tests to measure three biomarkers linked to higher risk of cardiovascular disease-lipoprotein a (Lp(a)), remnant cholesterol and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP)-may help identify high-risk individuals earlier and guide more personalized prevention strategies, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025.

3 Nov 2025

Massive cross-ancestry study explains why obesity risks differ around the world

A massive cross-ancestry genetic study involving over 839,000 adults identified 13 genes linked to obesity, including five never before associated with the condition. The findings highlight how global genetic diversity can uncover new biological pathways and potential treatment targets for obesity.

31 Oct 2025

AI-powered LifeClock forecasts diseases years before symptoms appear

Researchers have developed LifeClock, an AI-driven biological clock trained on over 24 million electronic health records to estimate biological age across the human lifespan. The model accurately predicts disease risk years in advance, revealing distinct developmental and aging processes.

28 Oct 2025

Electronic health record data reveals trends in cardiovascular diseases before and after COVID-19

The electronic health record data analyzed in this study is anonymized and never leaves a secure data environment, which is only accessible by approved researchers working on approved projects.

28 Oct 2025

New research highlights crucial role of continuous walking patterns for cardiovascular benefit

An international study led by experts at the University of Sydney and the Universidad Europea in Spain has found that longer periods of continuous walking are more beneficial to cardiovascular health than walking the same number of steps in shorter, more sporadic bouts.

28 Oct 2025

UK Biobank News and Research

Long-term exposure to polluted air weakens the health benefits of exercise

Shared genetic roots between delirium and Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers discover new mutation hotspot in the human genome

Daily walking patterns help flag early Parkinson’s signs in large UK study

Sex-specific changes in gluteus maximus shape linked to aging and metabolic health

Elevated levels of five blood proteins can help predict mortality risk

UK Biobank releases the world’s largest metabolomic dataset for disease research

Study develops highly accurate polygenic risk models tailored for Han Chinese populations

Acute and chronic depression involve different mechanisms in the brain

Why early- and late-onset depression are fundamentally different

Chronic pain in adults linked to increased risk of developing high blood pressure

Whole genome sequencing reveals how much human heritability we can finally explain

Two main methods for discovering disease genes reveal distinct aspects of biology

World’s largest eye imaging and data resource expands across the UK

USC researchers map genetic architecture of the human corpus callosum

Combined analysis of three blood tests enhances heart attack risk prediction

Massive cross-ancestry study explains why obesity risks differ around the world

AI-powered LifeClock forecasts diseases years before symptoms appear

Electronic health record data reveals trends in cardiovascular diseases before and after COVID-19

New research highlights crucial role of continuous walking patterns for cardiovascular benefit

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