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Study addresses barriers to kidney disease screening among black Americans

A study of Black Americans found that participant factors such as knowledge of kidney disease and spiritual/religious beliefs, as well as logistical factors like convenience and awareness of scheduling, were identified as barriers to screening. The research aims to guide efforts to address important kidney-related disparities in the US.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateMar 15, 2018

Study finds that genes play a role in empathy

A new study found that genetics contribute to individual differences in empathy, with genetic variants associated with lower empathy linked to higher autism risk. Women are also more empathetic than men, but this difference is not due to DNA, suggesting non-genetic factors at play.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalTranslational Psychiatry·DateMar 11, 2018

Brain aging may begin earlier than expected

Researchers at Lancaster University have developed a new non-invasive technique to study brain function and its relation to aging. Preliminary results suggest that brain aging may begin earlier than expected, with declines in coherence between cerebrospinal fluid oscillations observed in participants over 25.

SourceLancaster University·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 20, 2018

Computer-aided facial analysis helps diagnosis

Researchers used AI-powered image analysis to help diagnose GPI anchor deficiencies, a group of rare diseases affecting mental retardation and distinctive facial features. The study suggests that computer-aided evaluation of patient portraits can facilitate improved diagnosis and potentially be applied to other diseases.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalGenome Medicine·DateJan 16, 2018

People with and without mental health conditions receive preventive care at similar rates

A recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder received similar or higher rates of preventive health screenings compared to those without mental illnesses. The study examined over 800,000 patients in the Kaiser Permanente Northwest health system and foun...

SourceKaiser Permanente·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateOct 19, 2017

Parkinson's severity assessed through drawing

A team of researchers in Australia developed an automatic system to diagnose Parkinson's disease severity from drawing speed and pen pressure measurements. The system combines these metrics into a single measurement, the Composite Index of Speed and Pen-pressure score, allowing for accurate diagnosis and monitoring of treatment effects.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Neurology·DateSep 6, 2017

Study points to path for better diagnosis of eating disorders, the deadliest of mental illnesses

Researchers developed a new diagnostic system, HiTOP, which predicts 68% of psychological and social functioning issues related to eating disorders. In contrast, the traditional DSM-5 approach predicts only slightly less than 10%. The study used a hierarchical taxonomy of psychopathology, combining symptoms into dimensions and sub-fact...

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalComprehensive Psychiatry·DateSep 6, 2017

Bowel cancer diagnosis delayed by other illness

A new study found that patients with pre-existing serious health conditions, such as heart disease or Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), may experience a delay of up to 26 days in receiving a bowel cancer diagnosis. This can lead to more severe outcomes and poorer treatment options.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalBritish Journal of Cancer·DateJul 5, 2017

Mapping genes could improve cancer diagnosis

Researchers have developed a new method to detect genetic changes in cancer cells using Hi-C, which can identify major genome rearrangements and copy number variations with high accuracy. This approach has the potential to aid targeted treatments and enhance cancer diagnosis.

SourceBabraham Institute·JournalGenome Biology·DateJul 4, 2017