A nationwide study found that low educational levels predict a higher risk of developing or dying from heart disease and stroke. The study also discovered that low income and work stress could explain up to 54% of the increased risk among people with and without cardiovascular diseases.
A new study found that Huntington's disease patients are at risk of therapeutic misconception due to a lack of understanding about clinical trial risks and benefits. Investigators recommend improving patient-doctor communication to address this issue.
A new coral disease has been found to alter the community of microbes on host corals, and measuring these changes may be a useful tool for monitoring coral health. The disease, known as 'grey-patch disease', was characterized by the growth of cyanobacteria, forming a biofilm that overgrew live coral tissue.
A new study has identified a genetic variation in the Mucin 6 gene that may contribute to late-onset Alzheimer disease. The findings suggest a strong association between the genetic variant and the disease, implying a large effect size and opening up possibilities for future therapeutic targets.
A new mechanism has been discovered for the development of Parkinson's disease, which could lead to a more targeted therapy. Researchers have found that excessive calcium influx through specific ion channels, Cav2.3 channels, contribute significantly to the disease.
Researchers developed a retinal hyperspectral imaging technique to detect early signs of Alzheimer's disease. The test scans the retina for biochemical changes associated with the disease, potentially identifying high-risk individuals and facilitating interventions.
A study by Washington State University researchers shows a decline in new cases of heart disease among American Indians over a 25-year period. Fewer Native men are dying from heart-disease-related events, while overall prevalence of heart disease has decreased more in women.
Researchers have developed a non-invasive method to visualize kidney disease in live animals using genetically modified mice. They found that a promising chemical found in citrus fruit, G-Hes, reduces inflammation in the kidneys when fed to mice with kidney disease.
Researchers have identified a new therapeutic target for treating cardiovascular disease by studying the role of the TRIB1 protein in immune cells. The study found that higher levels of TRIB1 increased cholesterol uptake in foam cells, promoting arterial disease.
Chronic kidney disease patients are at an increased risk of heart attacks, congestive heart failure, stroke, and other adverse cardiovascular events. The study found that chronic kidney disease is associated with a 95% higher risk of heart attack during the follow-up period.
A new motor assessment tool, Q-Motor, has shown promise in evaluating Huntington's disease in young children, detecting subtle changes in motor ability. The test measures tapping speed and regularity using force transducers and 3-D position sensors, and can also assess grasping and lifting abilities.
A new rapid assay for Lyme disease uses several biomarkers to detect infection and is more sensitive than current tests when diagnosing early after suspected infection. The research could lead to a practical test for healthcare providers.
A new international study has discovered epigenetic marks in Finnish twin pairs discordant for Alzheimer's disease, which were also found in brain samples of patients. These marks are influenced by environmental factors, age, gender, and APOE genotype, and have potential diagnostic applications.
Adults with tooth loss due to nontraumatic events are more prone to heart attacks and strokes. Researchers analyzed 316,588 US participants aged 40-79, finding a significant association between oral health and cardiovascular disease.
Memantine, a drug used to treat Alzheimer's disease, has been shown to reduce parasite levels by 40% and increase survival rates of mice with Chagas disease. The treatment also lowered parasite levels in the hearts of infected animals, providing a promising alternative therapy for this neglected tropical disease.
A study found that cardiovascular disease risk prediction algorithms may underestimate the risk for people with severe mental illness, often defined as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. The algorithm consistently underestimated cardiovascular disease rates in this group, particularly in women.
Researchers have found clues to Huntington's disease origins in early brain development, using a new technology that manipulates human embryonic stem cells. The study takes the developmental timeframe back further than previous work, revealing dramatic effects on tissue structures.
The proposed framework assesses multiple brain-body interactions contributing to Alzheimer's disease, including environmental and genetic factors. Gene-environment interactions are shown to shift the onset curve of dementia by 10 years in carriers of dominant Alzheimer's genes.
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and cognitive impairments. Scientists listed ways of applying genetic engineering to study and treat the disease, including manipulating mitochondria and iron homeostasis. CRISPR technology holds promise for finding new effective treatments.
A new Northwestern Medicine study finds total heart disease deaths increasing since 2011, with a significant portion of deaths preventable. The study's authors call for a shift in focus towards prevention to combat cardiovascular disease.
Researchers from The Westmead Institute for Medical Research have discovered how fatty liver disease develops in lean people. Lean patients tend to have worse outcomes due to an 'obesity-resistant' profile, despite having higher levels of bile acids and FGF19, which increase energy expenditure.
A Mayo Clinic study found that 44% of screened first-degree relatives had celiac disease, with 94% displaying no classic symptoms. The study advocates for proactive screening among family members to prevent malabsorption, nutritional deficiencies and autoimmune conditions.
Consuming more gluten during early childhood is associated with higher risk of celiac disease and autoimmunity among genetically predisposed children. The study found a significant increase in risk for every 1-gram per day increase in gluten consumption.
Research finds heart disease and stroke mortality rates are barely declining or increasing in 12 high-income countries since 2000. Obesity levels may be a significant contributor to the slowdown.
A new study found that cigarette smoking significantly increases the risk of peripheral artery disease, which can persist for up to 30 years after quitting. Compared to never-smokers, smokers had a fourfold increased risk of developing peripheral artery disease.
A new study suggests that larger drug trials are necessary for Alzheimer's disease due to the limitations of current trials. The researchers analyzed data from over 1,120 people with no cognitive difficulties and found a consistent pattern of cognitive development in those who had beta-amyloid in the brain.
The Cleveland Alzheimer's Disease Research Center will accelerate research for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, supporting a wide range of studies and educating scientists and the public on dementia causes and treatment.
A study found that increased educational attainment during childhood is associated with reduced heart disease and improved cardiovascular risk factors in adulthood. The authors suggest that policies to increase educational attainment could help reduce the burden of heart disease at a population level.
Researchers at King's College London have identified the earliest signs of Parkinson's disease in the brain, many years before symptoms appear. The study found changes to the serotonin system as a key early warning signal for the disease.
Research highlights the impact of obesity on disease severity and impact in patients with psoriatic arthritis, emphasizing the need for weight loss interventions alongside symptomatic treatment. The study also explores the relationship between adipokines and predicting rheumatoid arthritis onset in overweight subjects.
A new research study uses polygenic risk scores to predict heart disease risk in French Canadians, with high accuracy and sensitivity, similar to other populations. The score can identify individuals at high risk for cardiac disease, allowing for early detection and effective therapeutic interventions.
Researchers found that smarter, more educated people have a 'cognitive reserve' that helps them perform better at baseline, but this doesn't affect their actual decline rate. Higher education levels are associated with lower rates of Alzheimer's disease in midlife, regardless of age or brain amyloid beta protein levels.
Researchers identified a panel of genetic markers that reliably predict which animals are most vulnerable to chronic wasting disease in Northeastern deer. The study found that deer with the more susceptible genotypes are in the majority, particularly in the Mid-Atlantic region where an outbreak is occurring.
Research suggests that leaving school earlier may increase the risk of heart disease in later life. Studies found that higher levels of BMI, blood pressure, and smoking partly explain this association. Interventions targeting these risk factors could lead to reductions in cardiovascular disease.
A national Taiwanese health database study found people with bipolar disorder were nearly seven times as likely to develop Parkinson's disease as those without the condition. The risk was higher for those hospitalized more frequently, developing the disease at a younger age.
Scientists at Scripps Research have discovered that the Rhes protein creates tunnel-like nanotubes that enable the toxic Huntington's protein to travel between neurons, contributing to brain cell destruction and disease progression. This finding improves understanding of how Huntington's disease attacks certain brain cells.
Researchers used protein sequence-based methods to diagnose an ancient and atypical form of Paget's disease in medieval skeletons. The study found extensive pathological changes, high disease prevalence, and low age-at-death estimations for affected skeletons.
Researchers discover that disrupting the interaction between amyloid precursor protein and cholesterol leads to neurodegeneration, swelling of synapses, and fragmentation of axons. This finding suggests a new theory on Alzheimer's disease, where amyloid precursor protein may be an accomplice to cholesterol deficiency.
Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center discovered a group of 17 inflammatory proteins associated with diabetic kidney disease progression. These Kidney Risk Inflammatory Signature (KRIS) proteins, including TNF receptors, are indicative of systemic inflammation and may serve as drug targets to prevent and treat end-stage renal disease.
Researchers identified unique genetic signatures in patients with active celiac disease and those in remission, revealing differences in gene expressions. The study uncovered potential targets for therapeutic intervention and shed light on the underlying mechanisms of celiac disease.
A new study has uncovered important differences in the biological pathways that lead to cancer for alcoholic fatty liver disease compared to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The findings could benefit the more than 3 million people diagnosed with fatty liver disease each year, potentially leading to new cancer prevention strategies.
A researcher at Children's National Hospital has received a $2 million NIH grant to study new approaches to treating kidney disease linked to the APOL1 risk allele. The team plans to use a Drosophila model to identify potential therapeutic targets and test compounds for effective treatment.
A study led by Queen Mary University of London found that shorter stature is associated with higher risk of heart disease, primarily due to impaired lung function. The researchers suggest assessing lung function alongside height to better predict heart disease risk.
A breakthrough study has revealed that the building blocks of sickle cell disease are much less efficient at organizing than previously thought. This finding could lead to new treatments, including medicines prescribed at lower doses, and improve outcomes for approximately 20 million people worldwide who suffer from the lifelong disease.
Researchers at MUSC have shown that restoring the enzyme's ability to produce nitric oxide can help protect against heart disease in lupus patients. The study suggests that this approach could also be relevant to heart disease more broadly, by promoting endothelial cell function and reducing inflammation.
Researchers discover Malassezia yeasts in gut of patients with Crohn's disease, exacerbating intestinal inflammation. Genetic variation associated with immune response to fungi links to disease progression.
A new study by Loyola Medicine and colleagues reveals that only 21.8% of non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease patients use statins, despite being at high risk for cardiovascular disease.
A small study published in The BMJ found a link between enterovirus infections and later coeliac disease in genetically susceptible children. Enterovirus was significantly more frequent in stool samples collected before development of coeliac disease antibodies, suggesting it may be the trigger for the disease.
Researchers at the University of Helsinki have identified a genetic defect in dogs that causes a rare metabolic bone disease similar to human hypophosphatasia. The study provides the first spontaneous animal model of the disease and may lead to the development of new therapies.
New guidelines developed by an international expert panel emphasize the importance of treating neuropsychiatric disorders in HD patients. The guidelines provide general, behavioral, and pharmacologic recommendations for managing symptoms such as agitation, anxiety, apathy, psychosis, and sleep disorders, and highlight the need for regu...
A recent grant award of $5.9 million will focus on identifying sex-specific mechanisms driving Alzheimer's disease and developing novel therapeutics for women and men. The study, led by Dr. Roberta Diaz Brinton, seeks to define biochemical pathways leading to sex differences in the disease.
Researchers have found a bacterial signature associated with intestinal disease, including Crohn's and ulcerative colitis. The study identified 18 new species of bacteria that can affect disease outcome, highlighting the importance of individualized approaches to treatment.
A longitudinal study of 2,256 participants found that moderate to high financial stress increased the risk of developing heart disease in African Americans. The study suggests a possible relationship between financial stress and heart disease, which clinicians should be aware of.
Researchers created a viable mouse model of Hirschsprung's disease to study its development and progression. The new model revealed that mucin-producing goblet cells may be a target for preventative treatment and that reduced expression of GFRa1 contributes to susceptibility to the disease.
A new study found that genes cause about 1 in 10 cases of chronic kidney disease in adults, and identifying the responsible gene has a direct impact on treatment. DNA testing reclassified the cause of kidney disease in 1 out of 5 individuals with a genetic diagnosis.
A 20-year study from Northwestern Medicine found men with inflammatory bowel disease have four to five times higher risk of prostate cancer and elevated PSA values. Researchers are now investigating the mechanism behind gut inflammation leading to prostate cancer.
A comprehensive review highlights novel approaches to slow or prevent Alzheimer's disease, focusing on the effects of aging on the brain. Combination therapy is deemed necessary for better treatment outcomes, similar to other major diseases.
The burden of chronic kidney disease is increasing substantially over the past 15 years in all 50 US states, with rates accelerating faster than other noninfectious diseases. The condition is particularly concerning for younger adults, who are experiencing a significant increase in deaths due to kidney disease.
A major soil organic matter compound, humic acid, has been found to degrade chronic wasting disease prions and reduce their infectivity in mice. The findings suggest that soil organic material can break down the prions, making them less infectious.
Researchers identified 90 genetic points associated with increased risk for both cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's, including genes involved in lipid metabolism. The study found that targeting these genes may help lower Alzheimer's risk by managing cholesterol and triglyceride levels.