Blame junk food or a lack of exercise. But long before the modern obesity epidemic, evolution made us fat too. “We’re the fat primates,” said Devi Swain-Lenz, a postdoctoral associate in biology at Duke University. The fact that humans are chubbier than chimpanzees isn’t news to scientists. But new evidence could help explain how we […] Read more
In this Spotlight, we introduce the glymphatic system: the brain’s dedicated waste clearance system. Now implicated in various conditions, it is high time that we became acquainted. Astroglia (illustrated above) play a pivotal role in the brain’s trash collection service. Many of us are relatively familiar with the lymphatic system; it performs a number of […] Read more
There are two major stumbling blocks to developing effective drugs for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other diseases that destroy the brain. The first is overcoming the blood-brain barrier, and the second is delivering the drug to a precise location and ensuring that it does not spread to the rest of the brain. New research finds a […] Read more
In southeast England, patients discharged from a group of hospitals serving 500,000 people are being fitted with a Wi-Fi-enabled armband that remotely monitors vital signs such as respiratory rate, oxygen levels, pulse, blood pressure, and body temperature. Under a National Health Service pilot program that now incorporates artificial intelligence to analyze all that patient data […] Read more
Health at Scale, a startup with founders who have both medical and engineering expertise, wants to bring machine learning to bear on healthcare treatment options to produce outcomes with better results and less aftercare. Today the company announced a $16 million Series A. Optum, which is part of the UnitedHealth Group, was the sole investor. […] Read more
Some researchers argue that there may be a direct link between having diabetes and exposure to an increased risk of metastasis in cancer. New research validates this idea, explaining how diabetes can elevate this risk. New research investigates how diabetes may promote the spread of cancer. Hundreds of millions of people across the globe live […] Read more
An international working group of experts has agreed on guidelines to help increase scientific and public awareness about a brain condition that mimics Alzheimer’s disease. The condition is not new but has come to light in recent research and clinical trials. Researchers have identified a misfolded protein in the brain that may be ‘a possible […] Read more
Anyone above a certain age who has drawn a blank on the name of a favourite uncle, a friend’s phone number or the location of a house key understands how fragile memory is. Its speed and accuracy begin to slip in one’s 20s and keep slipping. This is particularly true for working memory, the mental […] Read more
It is a well-known fact that sunscreen protects us against sunburn and reduces the risk of skin cancer. According to a recent study, sunscreen might also help our blood vessels maintain function. According to a new study, sunscreen might offer benefits beyond protecting against skin cancer. Scientists have known for many years that ultraviolet radiation […] Read more
Feeling low and anxious? Suffering from disrupted sleep? Could Brexit be damaging your mental health? A Britain Thinks poll of more than 2,000 people, the results of which were released this week, found that 83% of those surveyed were sick of hearing about Brexit, while 64% thought it was damaging their mental health. The poll […] Read more
