Subtle molecular changes in brain cells may be linked to autism and schizophrenia

Sunglasses are an important accessory—not only for fashion, but more importantly, for protection. This summer, focus on wearing sunglasses while spending time outdoors. A Baylor College of Medicine ophthalmologist explains the benefits of sunglasses in the summertime and year-round.

Mouse models are central to drug development, including treatments for neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease. Such diseases often affect movement, and treatments may need to relieve symptoms such as tremors. To be able to model these diseases effectively in animal studies, we need to be able to track even the smallest of movements with accuracy and precision. Now, researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) have turned to Hollywood for inspiration.

With more than 1 in 10 Americans suffering from obstructive sleep apnea putting them at increased risk of heart problems and other health ills, a new study conducted by the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) carefully analyzed the toll that this sleep disorder takes on U.S. active-duty military members, and their analysis was alarming.

The delicate balance between cell death and regeneration is crucial for human health and longevity. Most mechanisms involved in programmed cell death (PCD) play a key role in normal tissue renewal and repair after injury. At the same time, PCD can also disrupt regenerative processes, contributing to the development of pathological conditions such as cancer, fibrosis, neurodegenerative diseases, and other age-related disorders.

A new study by the University of Vienna shows that particularly long periods of parental leave around the birth of a child are associated with a higher risk of unhealthy behavior—specifically smoking—in the long term.

A new international study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that simply replacing regular bread with a specially formulated oat β-glucan-enriched bread does not significantly improve long-term blood sugar control in individuals at risk of type 2 diabetes.

How do we determine how healthy our food is? We know now that our nutrition shouldn't just be measured in calories, or even in just macronutrients (the balance of fats, protein, and carbohydrates). An emerging body of research is instead demonstrating that the unique interplay between nutrients and components and how they connect to each other to form a holistic food matrix all play a role in the nutritional value that foods deliver.

By 2030, every baby born in the UK could have their entire genome sequenced under a new NHS initiative to "predict and prevent illness." This would dramatically expand the current heel-prick test, which checks for nine rare genetic conditions, into a far more extensive screen of hundreds of potential risks.

In a clinical report issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics and published online June 23 in Pediatrics, guidance is provided for pediatricians regarding the genetic evaluation of developmental delay/intellectual disability.

Going to bed earlier than usual may help to optimize physical activity the following day, Monash University-led research has found. Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , the study examined whether sleep duration and sleep timing were associated with the duration of moderate-to-vigorous and overall physical activity the following day.

Gaiser's European Style Provisions Inc. is recalling almost 150,000 pounds of ready-to-eat bologna due to mislabeling.

Inflammation, long considered a hallmark of aging, may not be a universal human experience, according to a new study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. The research suggests that "inflammaging"—chronic, low-grade inflammation associated with aging—appears to be a byproduct of industrialized lifestyles and varies significantly across global populations.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative condition that affects a significant proportion of older people worldwide. Synapses are points of communication between neural cells that are malleable to change based on our experiences. By adding, removing, strengthening, or weakening synaptic contacts, our brain encodes new events or forgets previous ones.

Researchers at the Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Tel Aviv University have developed a model that accurately replicates an extremely rare and sometimes fatal genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the GRIN2D gene. This mouse model allows the research team to study the disease's characteristics and test a variety of drugs and genetic therapies, offering hope to affected children and their families.

TikTok is one of the fastest-growing and most popular social media platforms in the world—especially among college-age individuals. In the United States alone, there are over 136 million TikTok users aged 18 and older, with approximately 45 million falling within the college-age demographic. And college students aren't just using the platform to watch viral videos. They're also turning to it as a source of information, with around 40% of Americans using TikTok as a search engine.

A simple blood test taken in the first trimester of pregnancy could accurately identify women at risk of developing preeclampsia five months before clinical diagnosis, according to new research presented at the 41st Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).

For the first time, the gut microbiota has been shown to play a pivotal role in the risk of disordered eating behavior stemming from yo-yo dieting. Researchers conducted a preclinical study showing that repeated dieting leads to binge-eating behavior, which can be passed on directly by the microbiota. The results are published in Advanced Science.

For the first time, the extreme variability in dengue fever has been linked to a biological mechanism, potentially opening doors to new treatments and vaccines for the most common mosquito-borne disease worldwide.