Study finds that Alzheimer’s damage allows toxins to enter the brain, further harming neurons. Beta-amyloid plaques, the protein aggregates that form in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, disrupt many brain functions and can kill neurons. They can also damage the blood-brain barrier — the normally tight border that prevents harmful molecules in the bloodstream from
New research reveals a structural model for amyloid fibrils that could aid in future medicinal interventions for Alzheimer’s, CTE, and more. The microtubule-binding protein tau in neurons of the central nervous system can misfold into filamentous aggregates under certain conditions. These filaments are found in many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy
An international collaborative led by Ludwig Cancer Research and Cancer Research UK has identified key areas that are central to uncovering the complex relationship between nutrition and cancer. Advancing research on these core areas using a holistic, cross-disciplinary approach could catalyze progress urgently needed to prevent cancer and improve public health globally. Their main observations
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has secured marketing authorisation from the European Commission (EC) for two new administration options of Nucala (mepolizumab) to treat patients with severe eosinophilic asthma. Nucala, a pre-filled pen and a pre-filled safety syringe, is claimed to be the only monthly anti-IL5 biologic approved in Europe to treat patients with severe eosinophilic asthma at
Researchers hope the system can zero in on the right patients to enroll in clinical trials, to speed discovery of drug treatments. A new model developed at MIT can help predict if patients at risk for Alzheimer’s disease will experience clinically significant cognitive decline due to the disease, by predicting their cognition test scores up
Source STAT For millions of Americans, including health professionals, the resurgence of measles is a confounding and frightening development. How can a disease declared eliminated nearly two decades ago come back when it can be prevented with a vaccine proven to be safe and effective? But that’s not the reality for those getting their health information from
Source JAMA When it comes to living longer, reaching the oft-repeated goal of 10 000 steps per day may not be necessary. Older women who walked more than their peers had lower death rates in a recent observational study in JAMA Internal Medicine, and the mortality benefit was seen with as few as 4400 steps. Why This Matters Most
A new bioinspired adhesive made from a temperature-responsive hydrogel appears to speed up wound healing and so could find use in a wide range of application areas, including regenerative medicine and soft robotics. The material, which works like embryonic skin in that it draws wound edges together by contracting, has already been tested on the
At a Glance Calorie restriction for two years led to weight loss and a substantial reduction in risk factors for heart disease and diabetes in healthy adults 50 or younger. The findings suggest that a sustained restriction of caloric intake may reduce the risk for heart disease and diabetes. Calorie restriction is a type of
Using the tendency of circulating cancer cells to adhere to carbon nanotubes, the easily mass-produced chip captures living cells and cell clusters of multiple types and sizes with high reliability and makes them available for analysis. The chip could be used to detect tumors at the earliest stages, before they can metastasize Researchers at Worcester
