Scientists just discovered bull sharks have friends
Bull sharks may have a reputation as lone hunters, but new research reveals they actually form social bonds and even have preferred “friends.” After six years of observing 184 sharks in Fiji, scientists discovered these animals don’t just mix randomly—they choose companions, swim together, and even …
Why you need to future proof your brain in middle age and how to start
Ages 40 to 65 see a period of turmoil in the brain that has previously been overlooked. But identifying problems during this time can protect your cognitive health for decades to come
Disease Detection Gets Boost from Keck’s New Brain Reference Map
A research team used diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from more than 54,000 people to chart how the brain’s communication pathways develop, mature, and decline across the lifespan. The post Disease Detection Gets Boost from Keck’s New Brain Reference Map appeared first on GEN - Genet…
Scientists stunned as bacteria rewire DNA machinery to shape cells
Cyanobacteria—ancient microbes that oxygenated Earth and made complex life possible—are still revealing surprises billions of years later. Scientists have now discovered that a molecular system once used to separate DNA has been repurposed into something entirely different: a structure that shapes t…
Alzheimer’s may start with inflammation in the skin, lungs or gut
The Alzheimer’s field is being turned on its head as mounting evidence points to the disease beginning outside the brain many years before symptoms start. This may mean we have to totally rethink how we approach preventing and treating the condition
Parkinson's disease may reduce enjoyment of pleasant smells
The "world smells different" for people with Parkinson's disease, a discovery that could help doctors spot the condition sooner
Boosting the blood-brain barrier could avert brain damage in athletes
The neurodegenerative condition chronic traumatic encephalopathy appears to be driven by damage to the blood-brain barrier due to repetitive head injuries, like those that occur in boxing. This suggests that drugs that strengthen this barrier could prevent or slow the condition
The brain's cleaning system can be boosted to rid Alzheimer's proteins
A duo of drugs that boosts our glymphatic system, which clears waste from our brain, also improves the removal of proteins associated with the onset of Alzheimer's disease
Migraines could be treated by ramping up the brain's cleaning system
Amplifying the brain's waste disposal system seems to clear a substance that drives migraines, relieving some of the pain associated with the condition
Mysterious 'compound X' clears toxic Parkinson’s proteins from brain
A drug known only as compound X helped to remove the problematic proteins associated with Parkinson's disease from the brains of mice, and improved their balance and mobility