June 2022

Researchers have identified three mutations of the MINAR2 gene that are linked to deafness. They say that the mutations may hold promise as potential targets for future treatments for deafness. The corresponding study was published in PNAS.  The researchers behind the study have been studying the genetic underpinnings of deafness for over two decades. During […]

Having two or more cardiometabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, may double dementia risk. The corresponding study was published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia.   While cardiometabolic diseases taken individually are known to increase dementia risk, their simultaneous impact has been relatively less studied. In the present study, researchers thus sought to examine

At ENDO 2022, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Atlanta, researchers present positive results from a study exploring acceptability and willingness to take two oral male contraceptive pills that are in clinical trials. The birth control burden Birth control is used to prevent pregnancy that occurs as a result of sexual intercourse purposely. While many

The human brain is lipid rich. Lipids and fatty acids contribute to many important cellular processes. Alpha-synuclein — a protein that plays a critical role in Parkinson’s disease (PD) — is known to interact with and alter the balance of lipids and fatty acids. Investigators from the Brigham and Harvard Medical School are exploring how

A new study published in PLOS Genetics has determined that height may impact the risk of certain health conditions. The study used genetic data from over 250,000 people in the U.S. Veterans Affairs Million Veteran Program. Previous research has suggested a relationship between height and the risk of certain health conditions, but the exact relationship is unclear.

Socially isolated people are 26% more likely than individuals with more active social connections to develop dementia later in life. The corresponding study was published in Neurology.  Professor Edmund Rolls, a neuroscientist from the University of Warwick Department of Computer Science, and one of the study’s authors, said: “There is a difference between social isolation, which

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year. CVDs are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels and include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease and other conditions. More than four out of five CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes, and

Weight loss achieved via bariatric surgery among adults with obesity is linked to a lower risk of developing cancer and cancer-related death compared to adults who do not undergo surgery. The corresponding study was published in JAMA.  “According to the American Cancer Society, obesity is second only to tobacco as a preventable cause of cancer in

A new class of antibiotics has shown promise in preclinical trials against drug-resistant tuberculosis. The corresponding study was published in PLOS Biology.  Each year, around 1.5 million people die from Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Although antibiotics exist to treat the bacteria, multi-drug resistant, extensively drug-resistant, and totally drug-resistant strains have developed, and pose a significant health risk.