SAN FRANCISCO—Certain brain cells are responsible for coordinating smooth, controlled movements of the body. But when those cells are constantly overactivated for weeks on end, they degenerate and ultimately die. This new observation made by scientists at Gladstone Institutes may help explain what goes awry in the brains of people with Parkinson’s disease. Researchers have long known that a particular subset of neurons die as Parkinson’s disease progresses, but they aren’t sure why. The new work, published in the scientific journal eLife, shows that in mice, chronic activation of these neurons can directly cause their demise. The scientists hypothesize ...

Bariatric surgery is usually effective on its own for weight loss, but an increasing proportion of patients who undergo bariatric surgery start taking one of the new glucagon-like 1 peptide receptor agonist (GLP-1) weight-loss drugs in the years after their surgery, according to a new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The researchers analyzed de-identified national electronic health records covering 112,858 individuals who underwent bariatric surgery from January 2015 to May 2023. They found that 14% of those patients used a GLP-1 such ...

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a disorder that primarily affects older women who have experienced multiple vaginal childbirths.  Repeated vaginal deliveries can cause the muscles and connective tissue that hold the pelvic organs—the vagina, bladder, uterus, urethra, and rectum—to weaken, causing one or more of the organs to drop out of position and bulge or extrude outside the body.  “There’s a breakdown and loss of the elastic matrix which contributes to tissue elasticity, similar to how a rubber band can stretch and recoil,” says Lehigh University ...

We have all been familiar since childhood with the fact that our left and right hands are identical in structure but not in shape. They are mirror images of each other. In everyday life, this means that a left-handed glove does not fit on the right hand. This “handedness” is also a fundamental property of matter: similar to our hands, many molecules exist in two mirror-image versions, which, despite looking confusingly similar, are actually not identical. Chemists call this chirality. The distinction between right- and left-handed chiral molecules ...

(MEMPHIS, Tenn. – August 27, 2025) A study looking at the biophysical properties of an abnormal protein driving cancer cells is giving scientists new therapeutic clues for how to treat ependymoma, the third most common childhood brain tumor. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital scientists were studying how the fusion protein ZFTA–RELA, implicated in 95% of ependymomas in the brain cortex, drives disease. Results of the study demonstrate that disordered regions of the fusion protein cause the formation of droplets within cells called condensates. The researchers revealed that these “membraneless organelles” are essential for ependymoma ...

"Thus, our studies revealed regulatory mechanisms of glycolysis-driven cellular senescence by AUF1-mediated decay of PGAM1 and PDP2 mRNAs.” BUFFALO, NY — August 27, 2025 — A new research paper was published in Volume 17, Issue 7 of Aging (Aging-US) on July 24, 2025, titled “RNA-binding protein AUF1 suppresses cellular senescence and glycolysis by targeting PDP2 and PGAM1 mRNAs.” In this study, Hyejin Mun, Chang Hoon Shin, Mercy Kim, Jeong Ho Chang, and Je-Hyun Yoon from the University of Oklahoma and Kyungpook National University investigated how changes in cellular metabolism contribute to aging. ...

What do the rumblings of Iceland’s volcanoes have in common with the now peaceful volcanic islands off Scotland’s western coast and the spectacular basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland? About sixty million years ago, the Icelandic mantle plume—a fountain of hot rock that rises from Earth’s core-mantle boundary—unleashed volcanic activity across a vast area of the North Atlantic, extending from Scotland and Ireland to Greenland. For decades, scientists have puzzled over why this burst of volcanism was so extensive. Now, research led by the University of Cambridge ...

When faced with advanced cancer, many patients must make deeply personal decisions about their care plan. Some may pursue more aggressive treatment with the primary aim of extending life, while others may wish to prioritize comfort and quality of life.  But according to a new study led by researchers at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and the UCLA Palliative Care Research Center, many people with advanced cancer report that their treatment does not align with their personal care goals. The findings, published in the journal Cancer, reveal that 37% of patients with advanced ...

Every living species on Earth has a unique geographical range, with some being widespread and others being very narrow. Several factors shape a species’ range size – and one of them is the evolutionary age of a species. To investigate how evolutionary age is related to present-day range size, a research team led by scientists from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig University and Naturalis Biodiversity Center compared over 26,000 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, reef fishes, and palms. More than 40,000 species are facing extinction worldwide. Species with narrow geographical ranges are ...

From mushrooms that cast a soft green glow to plankton that glimmers sparkling blue, glowing plants are nothing new for nature. Now, scientists are bringing that light to houseplants.  Reporting in the Cell Press journal Matter on August 27, researchers crafted glow-in-the-dark succulents that recharge in sunlight. Injected with light-emitting compounds, the plants can shine in various colors and rival a small night light at their brightest. The simple, low-cost method may help lay the foundation for sustainable, plant-based lighting systems.  “Picture the world of Avatar, where glowing plants light ...

Chemists at UCL have shown how two of biology’s most fundamental ingredients, RNA (ribonucleic acid) and amino acids, could have spontaneously joined together at the origin of life four billion years ago. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, the “workhorses” of life essential to nearly every living process. But proteins cannot replicate or produce themselves – they require instructions. These instructions are provided by RNA, a close chemical cousin of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). In a new study, published in Nature, researchers chemically linked life’s amino acids to RNA in conditions that could ...

About The Study: In this case series, 19 patients underwent partial heart transplant, which appears to be a safe and feasible procedure that enables valve growth, representing a promising solution to overcome the limitations of current nongrowing valve replacement options. Careful follow-up and monitoring are crucial to support the continued expansion of this novel technique. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Joseph W. Turek, MD, PhD, MBA, email joseph.turek@duke.edu, To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jama.2025.13580) Editor’s ...

By Kermit Pattison / Harvard Staff Writer  The pelvis is often called the keystone of upright locomotion. More than any other part of our lower body, it has been radically altered over millions of years to allow us to accomplish our bizarre habit of walking on two legs. But just how evolution accomplished this extreme makeover has remained a mystery. Now a new study [LINK WILL GO LIVE WHEN EMBARGO LIFTS] led by Harvard scientists reveals two key genetic shifts that remodeled the pelvis and allowed our ancestors to become the upright bipeds who trekked all over the planet. "What ...

About The Study: In this retrospective cohort study using a nationwide database, among a cohort of U.S. adults undergoing bariatric surgery, approximately 1 in 10 initiated a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist. Initiation was greater among women, those undergoing sleeve gastrectomy, and individuals with larger body mass index regain than among their counterparts.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Hemalkumar B. Mehta, MS, PhD, email hbmehta@jhu.edu. To ...

About The Study: This cross-sectional study found that HbA1c levels were associated with the accessibility of modern diabetes technologies and insulin. Efforts to ensure universal accessibility are required to reduce global inequities and glycemic outcomes for children with type 1 diabetes. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Zdenek Sumnik, MD, PhD, email zdenek.sumnik@lfmotol.cuni.cz. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.28933) Editor’s ...

The world’s most unusual dinosaur is even stranger than first realised... Today, research published in Nature [link] reports that Spicomellus afer had a tail weapon more than 30 million years before any other ankylosaur, as well as a unique bony collar ringed with metre-long spikes sticking out from either side of its neck. Spicomellus is the world’s oldest ankylosaur, having lived more than 165 million years ago in the Middle Jurassic near what is now the Moroccan town of Boulemane. It was the ...

A UCLA study has mapped a critical brain hub in mice that regulates stress responses and social behavior, shedding new light on the neural roots of psychiatric conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. The study, published in the journal Nature, reveals how a region of the medial prefrontal cortex, which has long been linked to personality and emotional regulation, integrates information across the brain to coordinate physiological and behavioral responses. The findings help explain classic cases of personality changes and open new paths toward understanding and treating complex neuropsychiatric ...

Government housing assistance was associated with a nearly seven-percentage point lower risk of experiencing financial hardship related to medical expenses among US renters with a history of cancer, new research finds. The findings, described in a research letter published August 27 in JAMA Network Open, demonstrate that this assistance not only alleviates housing insecurity, but is associated with improvement in the overall financial security of renters with cancer. This leads to improved quality of life and a reduction in the risk of ...

Investigators at Mass General Brigham and the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Center for Outcomes Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have uncovered how patients’ healthcare spending has changed following the implementation of the No Surprises Act in 2022, a bipartisan law prohibiting unexpected or “surprise” bills after patients receive out-of-network medical care. The team found that the law dramatically reduced out-of-pocket costs, with an average annual savings of ...

Background and objectives Skin cancer, the most common global malignancy, is linked to ultraviolet (UV)-driven serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D)synthesis, with its controversial role possibly reflecting cumulative UV exposure. This study aimed to assess the association and causality between 25(OH)D levels and skin cancer risk using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2018) data and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses, evaluating 25(OH)D as a screening biomarker. Methods We integrated data ...

Lugano, Switzerland, 27 August 2025 – The Molecular Analysis for Precision Oncology Congress 2025 (MAP) will bring together leading experts to explore the latest advances in cancer research, with a focus on deepening the understanding of disease mechanism and enhancing strategies for prevention and interception. Key topics will include the integration of AI in diagnostics and therapy, alongside advances in immunotherapy and emerging developments in aging, cellular senescence, the microbiome, and cancer metabolism — all contributing to the evolving landscape of precision oncology.  The congress will be held ...

Background and objectives Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition with significant health implications worldwide. In Nigeria, data on its prevalence and characteristics are limited, highlighting the need for comprehensive studies to better understand its epidemiology and clinical features in the region. This study aimed to assess the clinical presentation, endoscopic findings, and management challenges of IBD among patients undergoing colonoscopy in Nigeria. Methods Over five years (2019–2024), ...

(WASHINGTON — August 27, 2025) – Treatment with exagamglogene autotemcel (exa-cel) led to robust and sustained improvements in quality of life for patients with severe sickle cell disease (SCD) or transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia, according to two studies published in Blood Advances.   “This is the first time we’ve been able to measure improvements in quality of life after treatment with gene editing technology,” said Josu de la Fuente, PhD, director of the Paediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation Programme at Imperial College London Healthcare NHS Trust, professor of practice (Cell & Gene Therapy) at Imperial ...

Background and objectives Immunization against human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly with a single-dose vaccine, offers a cost-effective strategy for cervical cancer prevention. This study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence following a single-dose bivalent HPV vaccine among adolescent girls in Bangladesh and to examine its association with sociodemographic characteristics. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 648 adolescent girls (aged nine to fifteen years) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, who received a single dose of the bivalent HPV vaccine in November 2019. Participants were recruited from ten local schools. ...

Media Contact: Karen Addis, APR,karen@addispr.com, 301-787-2394 Alexandria, Va. (Aug. 27, 2025) — While the employment landscape for Black women continues to shift in 2025, Black women with disabilities are actively pursuing self-employment as a viable career option, according to new research published in the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, a publication of the American Counseling Association. The report, Breaking Barriers: The Economic Realities of Self-Employed Black Women With Disabilities,” is part of a special issue focusing on Black Americans with disabilities. The study captures a ...