Congolese Nun Overcomes Blackouts by Becoming Electrician to Create Hydroelectric Plant

Occasionally swapping sandals for wading boots, but keeping their veils tucked under their hard hats, a group of Congolese nuns has been trained in electrical engineering to keep the town’s hydroelectric running smoothly. Powering a convent, a church, two schools, and a clinic, Sister Alphonsine Ciza’s work on the local mini hydroelectric plant is both […]

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Seven hours of sleep is optimal in middle and old age, say researchers

Seven hours is the ideal amount of sleep for people in their middle age and upwards, with too little or too much little sleep associated with poorer cognitive performance and mental health, say researchers.

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Ukrainian Refugees Arriving in Italy Receiving Help from Unlikely Source – A Bunch of Lawyers

Ukrainians fleeing across the border to Poland have found an unlikely yet devoted group of supporters in the form of a north Italian law practice. It’s not a characteristic that one immediately associates with lawyers—free labor—but whether it’s driving through the night to personally bring people to temporary homes or volunteering to legally-represent refugees needing […]

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Japanese population projected to live longer without dementia

A new microsimulation projects that over the next 20 years, Japanese people will live longer without dementia, but older women with a less than high school education will benefit less than men.

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How it works: The protein that stimulates muscle growth

Using genetic approaches, researchers have demonstrated how a certain protein is involved in skeletal muscle growth. The findings open new avenues to develop drug targets for neuromuscular diseases and other pathological conditions.

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Researchers investigate connection between loss of motivation and Alzheimer's disease progression

Researchers are studying why neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as apathy and irritability, appear in most Alzheimer's disease patients before the onset of memory loss.

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Ukrainian Refugees Move Into Medieval Irish Castle Owned by Good Samaritan

From the bombed-out streets of Mariupol to the rustic walls of a 15th-century Irish castle, a group of eleven Ukrainians have found a safe place to stay. Having no space in Madrid where he lives with his Spanish wife Lola, Barry Haughian decided to quickly open up their second home when shells started falling on […]

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New data shows burden of dementia symptoms just as high in community population as nursing home residents

New data shows that the symptoms suffered by people with advanced Alzheimer's disease and related dementias who live in the community occur at a strikingly similar rate to those of dementia patients in a nursing home.

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New research identifies blood biomarker for predicting dementia before symptoms develop

New research has identified a blood biomarker that could help identify people with the earliest signs of dementia, even before the onset of symptoms.

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When it comes to preventing Alzheimer's, women respond better than men

A study is the first to examine if sex significantly affects cognitive outcomes in people who follow individually-tailored, multi-domain clinical interventions. The study also determined whether change in risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), along with blood markers of AD risk, also were affected by sex. Results showed that while care in an Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic setting is equally effective at improving cognitive function in both women and men, the personally-tailored interventions used by the researchers led to greater improvements in women compared to men across AD and CVD disease risk scales, as well blood biomarkers of risk such as blood sugar, LDL cholesterol, and the diabetes test HbA1C. Findings are important because women are disproportionately affected by AD and population-attributable risk models suggest that managing risk factors can prevent up to one-third of dementia cases.

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Scientists identify genetic variants linked to mobility changes in aging

Genetic variants in an enzyme that is important to mitochondrial function may contribute to whether individuals maintain or lose strength and mobility as they age.

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9-Year-old’s Lemonade Stand Raises $2,000 For Shelter Cats After He Saw They Had No Toys

A 9-year-old boy walked into his local animal shelter with a big plastic bag filled with cash, handing over all the proceeds he’d raised at a lemonade stand. Ben Miller from Boise, Idaho, collected a whopping $1,150 in one weekend. It was his third lemonade stand fundraiser since 2019, a year when he was visiting […]

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Teen Finds a Safe Containing Thousands on Bottom of River – Tracks Down Owner Who’d Been Robbed 22 Years ago

A teenage treasure hunter who combs river bottoms with a heavy-duty magnet pulled a safe containing thousands of dollars—and he captured hearts online after returning the money to its rightful owner. George Tindale was scouring the River Witham in Grantham, Lincolnshire, with his dad when he made the incredible discovery three weeks ago. They followed […]

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Watch the Moment a Guy Jumps Out of His Car to Give Umbrella to Couple Stuck in D.C. Downpour

Recently, a random act of kindness in the Nation’s Capital inspired a driver to share the video of a Good Samaritan. Thousands were inspired by the moment that happened on April 14th, after it was shared on Reddit. It may look like the woman, who was being drenched on the sidewalk, began holding the umbrella […]

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Artificial intelligence helps physicians better assess the effectiveness of bladder cancer treatment

In a small but multi-institutional study, an artificial intelligence-based system improved providers' assessments of whether patients with bladder cancer had complete response to chemotherapy before a radical cystectomy (bladder removal surgery).

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People with diabetes and cognitive decline may be at higher risk for heart disease

People with type 2 diabetes who have cognitive impairment could be at greater risk for stroke, heart attack or death than other individuals with diabetes, according to a new study.

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Risky driving behaviors increase as common sleep disorder worsens

Up to half of older adults may have sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing and sleep are briefly interrupted many times a night. A new study shows that this chronic tiredness can have serious implications for road safety.

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Multiple treatments to slow age-related muscle wasting

Everyone wants to stay fit and healthy as they grow old. But as we age, our body degrades, our muscles shrink and strength declines. Some older people suffer from excessive muscle loss, a condition known as sarcopenia. Researchers show that a combination therapy could delay the onset of sarcopenia.

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Stop the clocks: Brisk walking may slow biological aging process, study shows

A new study of genetic data of more than 400,000 UK adults has revealed a clear link between walking pace and a genetic marker of biological age.

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Miracle Dog Survives 12 Days Trapped in Badger Holes After Owner Refuses to Give Up, Camping in the Woods

A miracle dog survived 12 days trapped down a badger sett after her owner refused to give up hope and camped out in the woods waiting for her safe return. 46-year-old Victoria Hogan was left devastated when her border terrier Freda became trapped underground after darting down the hole during a walk. Victoria carried out […]

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In the race to solve Alzheimer's disease, scientists find more needles in the haystack

The International Genomics of Alzheimer's Project (IGAP) analyzed millions of genetic variants to come up with the latest listing of 75 variations associated with Alzheimer's disease.

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Genetic changes differed, increased in people with Alzheimer's disease

Researchers found that changes accumulated in the brain cells of patients with Alzheimer's disease at a faster rate, potentially explaining why brain cells die and revealing new pathways to target for treatment.

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Unexpected protein could play role in common brain disorder

Scientists report that amyloid fibrils found in people with frontotemporal degeneration contain the little-known protein TMEM106B.

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Bioengineers visualize fat storage in fruit flies

A new visualization technique is being used to untangle often discussed, yet mysterious, links between diet and things like obesity, diabetes and aging.

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Psychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer´s disease

In addition to memory problems and other cognitive symptoms, most people with Alzheimer's disease also suffer from mental health issues. It has long been unclear whether these occur because of tissue changes in the brain, or whether they represent psychological reactions to cognitive symptoms.

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Smoking reduces wealth's tendency to increase life expectancy

A new study finds that the percentage of Americans surviving from age 65 to 85 was 19 percentage points higher for someone with at least $300,000 in wealth than for those with no assets. But there was a 37 percentage point difference between those who never smoked and current smokers.

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Exercise may protect brain volume by keeping insulin and BMI levels low

Studies have shown that exercise helps protect brain cells. A new study looking at the mechanisms involved in this relationship suggests that the role exercise plays in maintaining insulin and body mass index levels may help protect brain volume and thus help stave off dementia.

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Novel root cause of tau-induced neurodegeneration

A newly observed pathway of tau-induced neuron damage is a novel target for drug development in Alzheimer's disease and other disorders, researchers have reported.

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Low-dose lithium may slow kidney aging

Best known therapeutically as a treatment for bipolar disorder, lithium has long intrigued researchers with its potential age-defying properties. New research has found low-dose lithium can block an an enzyme that is associated with cellular aging in the kidney and a decline in kidney function. If validated in pilot studies and eventually large-scale clinical trials, lithium may emerge as an effective anti-aging medication for the kidney.

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Key signaling pathway in immune cells could be new Alzheimer’s target

Inhibiting an important signaling pathway in brain-resident immune cells may calm brain inflammation and thereby slow the disease process in Alzheimer's and some other neurodegenerative diseases, suggests a new study. The findings point to the possibility of new therapeutic strategies against neurodegenerative diseases, which are relatively common in older adults and so far have no effective, disease-modifying treatments.

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Most older adults want to 'age in place' but many haven't taken steps to help them do so

The vast majority of people over 50 say it's important that they keep living in their current homes for as long as possible. But a new poll shows many of them haven't planned or prepared for 'aging in place,' and a sizable percentage might have a hard time paying for in-home help.

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Increased aortic diameter raises risk of heart attack, stroke

The diameter of the thoracic aorta is a biomarker for heart attacks and other adverse cardiovascular events in women and men, according to a new study.

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Sunscreen doesn’t protect as well as it could: Here is what is missing

A new article finds a strong link between the actions of free radicals and free iron in the skin -- a link that causes skin to age prematurely after exposure to the sun. The researchers have also identified antioxidants that can be added to skin products to mop-up the harmful iron, thereby minimizing sun damage.

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Study identifies therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s disease, revealing strategy for preventing or slowing disease progression

A new study suggests a key protein molecule plays a major role in the accumulation of brain cholesterol, triggering the development of Alzheimer's and supporting the use of peptide inhibitors as a therapeutic treatment target. The study found that mice, when treated with the peptide inhibitor, demonstrated 50% restored memory function, based on testing such as navigating mazes.

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How to rejuvenate the immune system of elderly people and reduce their risk of infectious disease

A new study identifies a reason for why older adults are significantly more susceptible to infectious diseases than younger people, a critical societal issue most recently exemplified by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Man Wins €200 Million on the European Lottery and Donates Almost All of It to Save the Earth

€200,000,000: That’s how much an anonymous Frenchman won in the Euromillions jackpot lottery last week, and almost the sum total of how much he gave towards the preservation of tropical rainforest in West Africa, and forests in his native country. The lucky winner established the Anyama Endowment Fund, named after a town in Côte d’Ivoire […]

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‘Drumroll, Please’… The Top 10 Happiest Countries in the World Ranked in 2022 Global Happiness Report

In our troubled times of war and pandemic, the World Happiness Report 2022 comes just in time for Spring. And, a bright light from the pandemic was the increased rate in social support and benevolence. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the World Happiness Report, which uses global survey data to report on how people […]

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Old skins cells reprogrammed to regain youthful function

Scientists have developed a new technique for rejuvenating skin cells. This technique has allowed researchers to rewind the cellular biological clock by around 30 years according to molecular measures, significantly longer than previous reprogramming methods. The partially rejuvenated cells showed signs of behaving more like youthful cells in experiments simulating a skin wound. This research, although in early stages, could eventually have implications for regenerative medicine, especially if it can be replicated in other cell types.

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Chemical compound promotes healthy aging, study finds

A recently discovered chemical compound helped elderly mice with obesity lose fat and weight, add muscle and strength, reduce age-related inflammation and increase physical activity, a new study shows.

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Brain charts map the rapid growth and slow decline of the human brain over our lifetime

An international team of researchers has created a series of brain charts spanning our entire lifespan -- from a 15 week old fetus to 100 year old adult -- that show how our brains expand rapidly in early life and slowly shrink as we age. The charts are the result of a research project spanning six continents and bringing together possibly the largest ever MRI datasets ever aggregated -- almost 125,000 brain scans from over a 100 different studies. Although not currently intended for clinical use, the team hopes the charts will become a routine clinical tool similar to how standardised paediatric growth charts are used.

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Vancouver Couple Converts Their Huge Resort Property into a Ukrainian Refugee Home for Dozens

Owners of a nature resort in British Colombia have put renovations on hold to open up the stunning 81-acre property exclusively for housing Ukrainian refugees. With their goal of hosting 100 people, the owners and operators of The Grouse Nest on Vancouver Island see the fleeing masses as equivalent to their own people, since Brian’s […]

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Reproductive factors and dementia risk

Pregnancy, long reproductive span, and older age at menopause are associated with a lower risk of dementia in women, according to a new study. Inversely, hysterectomy, younger age of first birth, and younger or older than average age at first period were associated with greater dementia risk.

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Genetic 'hotspots' that speed up and slow down brain aging could provide new targets for Alzheimer's drugs

Researchers have discovered 15 'hotspots' in the genome that either speed up brain aging or slow it down -- a finding that could provide new drug targets to resist Alzheimer's disease and other degenerative brain disorders, as well as developmental delays.

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Video Gamers Doing a World of Good: Fortnite Raised $144 Million for Ukraine Relief

Who says video games are a waste of time? Game developers are raising money for Ukrainians both inside and outside of the besieged company, with donations rivaling the grants from the U.S. government. Ahead of the release of their new gaming season, Fortnite developers Epic Games announced that all the proceeds would go to a […]

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Late-onset alcohol abuse can be a presenting symptom of dementia

Clinical awareness of connection between alcohol and dementia is paramount to providing the best patient care management.

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Loss of neurons, not lack of sleep, makes Alzheimer’s patients drowsy

The lethargy that many Alzheimer's patients experience is caused not by a lack of sleep, but rather by the degeneration of a type of neuron that keeps us awake, according to a study that also confirms the tau protein is behind that neurodegeneration.

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In Tribute to His First Love, Man Constructs a Wetland Home for Beavers and Frogs

We’re often told to follow our dreams, well one person in Nova Scotia has done just that after building a wetland paradise for animals in the spirit of his lost love. In his own backyard no less, the eight water features which Robert Perkins dug into the ground are now a sanctuary for herons, frogs, […]

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Combination of biomarkers can identify common cognitive disease

In recent years, subcortical small-vessel disease has become an increasingly common cognitive diagnosis. Researchers have now shown that it is possible to identify patients with the disease by combining two biomarkers that are measured in spinal fluid and blood, increasing the potential for both treatment and development of medication.

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Half of older adults now die with a dementia diagnosis, up sharply

Nearly half of all older adults now die with a diagnosis of dementia listed on their medical record, up 36% from two decades ago, a new study shows. But that sharp rise may have more to do with better public awareness, more detailed medical records and Medicare billing practices than an actual rise in the condition, the researchers say.

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The Worse The Pandemic, The More Generously Americans Donated to Others – to Record Level

Individuals in the USA showed greater financial generosity when under threat from COVID-19, according to new research. The researchers used the world’s largest tracker of financial charity from the years leading up to and then proceeding into the pandemic, while also conducting controlled experimental games. Both inquiries found that the pandemic made Americans more generous […]

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