markers

A novel therapy designed to clear toxic clumps of a protein thought to be responsible for Parkinson's disease has shown promise in early clinical trials.Produced by the US biotechnology company Vaxxinity, the immunotherapy candidate codenamed UB-312 is the first treatment shown to be capable of reducing concentrations of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) in cerebrospinal fluid, marking a significant step forward in slowing – or even halting – the disorder's progress.Though the results of the trial are yet to be published and peer…

Tiny fragments of plastic aren't only finding their way into animals, remote ice caps, oceans, and even the depths of our bodies. They're also seeping through layers of rock, making the emergence of plastics in the geological record a poor marker for the dawn of the human age.In a new study, sediment samples from three different lakes in Latvia – Seksu, Pinku, and Usmas – were analyzed to see how deep microplastics had sunk. The results showed that smaller particles could travel deeper into the mud, reaching layers laid…

A groundbreaking study has uncovered 1,289 genetic markers linked to Type 2 diabetes, advancing our understanding of its genetic foundation and paving the way for personalized treatment strategies.Researchers identified over a thousand genetic markers for Type 2 diabetes, marking a significant step toward personalized diabetes management.In the largest genome-wide association study to date on Type 2 diabetes, a team of international researchers, co-led by a University of Massachusetts Amherst genetic epidemiologist, has…

In a finding that could have a significant impact on personalized medicine and treatment, scientists have identified blood compounds linked to suicidal ideation.University of California (UC) San Diego researchers have found biomarkers linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, which interrupts how cells ‘talk’ to each other and could be a factor in suicidal ideation. While suicide is complex and includes broad factors such as trauma and stress, being able to identify those most at risk could be a crucial diagnostic tool.“Mental…

ORNL researchers have enabled standard raised pavement markers to transmit GPS information that helps autonomous driving features function better in remote areas or in bad weather. Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy Self-driving electric vehicles still face steep hills on the road to reliability. Researchers from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Western Michigan University are…

Researchers have identified markers that may indicate early-life susceptibility to schizophrenia, potentially allowing for early detection and intervention. The international research team used blood samples drawn shortly after birth and analyzed 24 million methylation marks, validating their findings with transcriptional data from 595 postmortem brain samples. They concluded that certain differences in methylation in newborns indicate an increased risk of developing schizophrenia later in life.The ability to predict the…

A recent study has identified patterns in four biomarkers, measurable through a simple blood test, among individuals suffering or at high risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These biomarkers could potentially predict, diagnose, or monitor treatment responses for PTSD, a disorder currently diagnosed based on symptoms that can overlap with other conditions. The research, involving over 1,000 service members, offers insights into PTSD’s natural history and intervention effectiveness. Improved methods of predicting…

As a white man in America with no discernible regional accent, I can simply assume that modern consumer technologies — virtual assistants like , and my phones’ camera — will work seamlessly out of the box. I assume this because, well, they do. That’s namely because the nerds who design and program these devices overwhelmingly both look and sound just like me — if even a little whiter. Folks with and extra don’t enjoy that same privilege. Tomorrow’s chatbots and visual AIs will only serve to exacerbate this bias unless…

Scientists examined MRI scans from almost 8,000 children and found biomarkers of ADHD. They also think using neuroimaging machine learning technology to analyze scans could help doctors diagnose, plan treatment, and keep track of the disorder.Researchers analyzing the data from MRI exams on nearly 8,000 children have identified biomarkers of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (<span class="glossaryLink" aria-describedby="tt" data-cmtooltip="<div…

Addressing the shortage of dopamine that characterizes Parkinson's disease is a key objective of treatments old and new, but monitoring levels of the neurotransmitter that result from these interventions can be a tricky undertaking. Scientists have developed a promising new tool for this task described as a "fluorescent nanosensor paint," which glows brightly in the presence of dopamine to reveal its concentrations and spread in the brain.The decline in dopamine production seen in Parkinson's is linked to the onset of…