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Proteins are complex molecules that are made up of amino acids. They can be found in every cell in the body, and carry out vital processes that keep human beings alive. Mutations in proteins can lead to a multitude of diseases, the most common being cancer.

Finger-prick blood test shows promise for detecting Alzheimer’s disease biology

Finger-prick dried blood sampling can accurately measure key Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers, including p-tau217, GFAP, and NfL, showing strong concordance with venous plasma and meaningful associations with CSF pathology. While analytical limitations remain, this minimally invasive approach shows promise as a scalable research and screening tool within biomarker-based diagnostic pathways.

6 Jan 2026

AI-designed molecular sensors could enable early detection of cancer

Detecting cancer in the earliest stages could dramatically reduce cancer deaths because cancers are usually easier to treat when caught early.

6 Jan 2026

Unveiling genetic links between schizophrenia and osteoporosis

A comprehensive genetic investigation led by Dr. Feng Liu at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital has uncovered striking molecular connections between schizophrenia and bone health, identifying 195 shared genetic loci that may explain why psychiatric patients face elevated fracture risks.

6 Jan 2026

TAAR1 mutation impairs brain signaling in schizophrenia

A genetic mutation passed from mother to children in families affected by schizophrenia has now been shown to completely silence a brain receptor that pharmaceutical companies are racing to target with new drugs.

6 Jan 2026

Two isoforms of a cellular energy sensor play distinct, opposing roles in Alzheimer's disease

A comprehensive mini-review published today after peer review in Brain Medicine by Dr. Tao Ma and colleagues at Wake Forest University School of Medicine synthesizes emerging evidence that two isoforms of a critical cellular energy sensor play distinct, and sometimes opposing, roles in Alzheimer's disease.

6 Jan 2026

Neighborhood deprivation predicts poorer lower-limb strength

Neighborhood-level disadvantages are linked to reduced lower limb strength and mobility in older adults, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions.

6 Jan 2026

New exercise-sensing pathway offers hope for osteoporosis treatment

A research team from the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) has uncovered a key biological mechanism that explains how exercise maintain strong bones, paving the way for novel treatments for osteoporosis and bone loss in people who are unable to engage.

6 Jan 2026

Understanding sevoflurane-induced neurogenesis inhibition and cognitive dysfunction in children

Every year, millions of infants and children undergo surgery under general anesthesia in the world. Sevoflurane is a commonly used pediatric anesthetic. Its exposure during brain development has been shown to inhibit neurogenesis and cause cognitive dysfunction in animal models.

5 Jan 2026

Can ketogenic diets help PCOS? New analysis points to weight and insulin gains

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 studies found that ketogenic diets were associated with short-term reductions in body weight, waist circumference, insulin resistance, and some reproductive hormones in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, primarily among those with overweight or obesity. However, substantial heterogeneity, low certainty of evidence, limited safety reporting, and short follow-up periods mean the clinical effectiveness and long-term sustainability of ketogenic diets in PCOS remain uncertain.

5 Jan 2026

COVID-19 immunity stays specific and barely boosts protection against common cold coronaviruses

This study shows that SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination generate strong, highly specific spike-binding immune responses with only modest effects on immunity to endemic common cold coronaviruses. Pre-existing coronavirus immunity patterns remain largely intact, indicating that SARS-CoV-2 has integrated into the human viral landscape without broadly reshaping cross-reactive protection.

5 Jan 2026

RNA splicing and processing genes emerge as central drivers of aging across tissues

A new research paper featured as the cover of Volume 17, Issue 12 of Aging-US was published on December 22, 2025, titled "A combination of differential expression and network connectivity analyses identifies a common set of RNA splicing and processing genes altered with age across human tissues."

5 Jan 2026

Greenland shark eyesight offers clues to longevity, vision, and healthy aging

Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk sits in her office, eyes fixed on the computer monitor in front of her.

5 Jan 2026

Muscle loss may persist after weight recovery in anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric condition characterized by a fear of weight gain and reduced calorie consumption that can result in dangerous weight loss.

5 Jan 2026

Inhalable nanotherapy can activate the immune system against checkpoint-resistant melanoma

Immune checkpoint molecules play a crucial role in keeping the immune system in balance and preventing an attack on the body's own cells.

5 Jan 2026

RSV prevention: A new era for infant protection

Globally, RSV causes millions of respiratory infections each year and is responsible for a large proportion of hospitalizations and deaths among children under five years, with the highest risk concentrated in infants under six months.

5 Jan 2026

Study uncovers a possible biomarker linked to MS disease progression

A new University of Toronto-led study has discovered a possible biomarker linked to multiple sclerosis (MS) disease progression that could help identify patients most likely to benefit from new drugs.

2 Jan 2026

A mathematical solution for precise control of cellular “noise”

Why does cancer sometimes recur after chemotherapy? Why do some bacteria survive antibiotic treatment? In many cases, the answer appears to lie not in genetic differences, but in biological noise - random fluctuations in molecular activity that occur even among genetically identical cells.

2 Jan 2026