Genetic News and Research

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Shared genetic roots of 14 psychiatric disorders revealed

Researchers from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) report that most genetic influences on mental illness are shared across diagnostic categories, revealing a more interconnected biological landscape than traditional classifications suggest.

11 Dec 2025

Glucose-lowering drugs may reduce risk of developing epilepsy

A preliminary study of people with diabetes suggests that use of glucose-lowering GLP-1 drugs may be linked to a lower risk of developing epilepsy. The study was published on December 10, 2025, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

10 Dec 2025

Disrupted genome architecture drives lymphoma development

Cancer isn't just about broken genes-it's about broken architecture. Imagine a city where roads suddenly vanish, cutting off neighborhoods from essential services.

10 Dec 2025

Expanded donor matching makes stem cell transplants accessible

For years, the search for a stem cell donor has felt like a quest for a rare key-one that fits a lock with eight intricate tumblers, each representing a genetic marker.

10 Dec 2025

Screen time and ADHD: why social media stands out from gaming and TV

Over four years in a large US cohort, greater social media use was associated with small but consistent increases in inattention symptoms in children, while video games and television were not. Genetic risk for ADHD did not modify this inattention association, and analyses supported a directional link from social media use to later attention difficulties.

10 Dec 2025

Antibody therapy clears residual multiple myeloma in early trial

Treatment with an immune and cancer cell-targeting antibody therapy eradicates residual traces of the blood cell cancer multiple myeloma, according to interim results from a clinical trial conducted by researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

10 Dec 2025

Filtered coffee shows a causal link to healthier HbA1c levels

Genetically predicted filtered coffee consumption is causally associated with lower HbA1c levels, while other coffee preparation methods show no such benefit. This effect appears to be partly mediated by increases in propionate producing gut bacteria, particularly Veillonella.

10 Dec 2025

Study offers a unified biological model to explain the causes of autism

A new University of California San Diego School of Medicine study offers a unified biological model to explain how genetic predispositions and environmental exposures converge to cause autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

10 Dec 2025

Surprising new function of immune cells uncovered: Excess weight loss prevention

Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have uncovered a surprising new function for immune cells: preventing excess weight loss.

10 Dec 2025

Study provides new insights into brain signaling during sleep and wakefulness

An international team led by the University of Michigan has introduced new methods that reveal which regions of the brain were active throughout the day with single-cell resolution.

10 Dec 2025

State-funded multidisciplinary model improves care for adults with neurodevelopmental disorders

Adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) often lose access to specialized care once they age out of pediatric services.

9 Dec 2025

Nanoflower-treated stem cells deliver healthier mitochondria to stressed cells

This study shows that vacancy-engineered MoS₂ nanoflowers drive mitochondrial biogenesis in human mesenchymal stem cells by activating SIRT1–PGC-1α signaling and reducing oxidative stress. These treated cells transfer more functional mitochondria to injured recipient cells, restoring energy metabolism and redox balance in multiple in vitro models.

9 Dec 2025

Genetic risk score can guide early screening for type 1 diabetes

A test using genetics to predict who is at the highest risk of developing type 1 diabetes could one day be applied to largescale health studies, to identify adults who could benefit from new drugs, new research shows.

9 Dec 2025

AI-driven method uncovers genetic interactions that fuel cancer progression

University of South Australia scientists have developed a powerful new way to uncover the genetic interactions that fuel cancer progression, paving the way for earlier and more precise treatments.

9 Dec 2025

People exposed to Agent Orange face higher risk of developing myelodysplastic syndrome

A new national study shows for the first time that people exposed to Agent Orange face a higher risk of developing myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), tend to develop it earlier, and often have more aggressive disease that is more likely to progress to acute myeloid leukemia.

9 Dec 2025

Australian researchers pinpoint specific genetic changes linked to severe AMD

Australian researchers have for the first time pinpointed specific genetic changes that increase the risk of severe, sight-threatening forms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

9 Dec 2025

Early RSV infection turns maternal allergy into a powerful driver of childhood asthma

Early-life RSV infection and parental allergy interact to substantially increase childhood asthma risk, supported by population data from more than 1.5 million children and mechanistic mouse experiments. The study shows that viral infection reprograms neonatal immune responses by altering how maternally transferred allergen-specific antibodies are handled, driving long-term allergic airway disease.

8 Dec 2025

Study reveals new genetic insights into reticular pseudodrusen in people with AMD

A study funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has revealed important insights into the genetics of deposits in the eye, known as reticular pseudodrusen (RPD), that are linked to greater risk of vision loss among people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

8 Dec 2025

Industrial and farm chemicals quietly alter the balance of gut microbes

This study systematically screened over 1,000 agricultural and industrial chemicals and found that many can inhibit human gut bacteria in vitro. Beyond antimicrobial effects, these chemicals act as selective pressures that can reshape microbial competition, tolerance mechanisms, and metabolic pathways.

8 Dec 2025

Timing of genetic mutation dictates childhood leukemia aggressiveness

A team of researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has uncovered why children with the same leukemia-causing gene mutation can have dramatically different outcomes: it depends on when in development the mutation first occurs.

8 Dec 2025