A novel blood test that detects a key biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) could help physicians more accurately determine the presence and track disease progression. The test measures levels of the protein MTBR-tau243 — microtubule-binding region of tau containing the residue 243 — a biomarker of tau tangles in the brain that may be a … Read more
TOPLINE: Low levels of soluble neuropilin-1 (sNRP-1) were associated with depression in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D), with the association remaining consistent across all age groups. METHODOLOGY: The NRP-1 receptor is an essential transmembrane glycoprotein involved in the development of the nervous and cardiovascular systems, as well as immune regulation, and may … Read more
A study published in Brain Communications revealed new insights into early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers have used noninvasive techniques, including near-infrared spectroscopy and electroencephalography, to examine functioning of the neurovascular unit in this disease. The study compared 19 patients with Alzheimer’s disease with 20 control individuals, revealing a significant decrease in cerebral oxygenation oscillations … Read more
How long will vaccine protection last? A simple blood test may have the answer. Researchers at Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California, have identified a molecular signature in the blood that appears days after vaccination and predicts the durability of the immune response. Published in Nature Immunology in January, this discovery could transform vaccine development, … Read more
Subtle signs of neurodegeneration can be detected in blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and through neuroimaging, up to two decades before motor symptoms in Huntington’s disease (HD) present, new research showed. Investigators believe these early biomarkers could pave the way for novel interventions that could improve outcomes for individuals at risk for HD. Sarah Tabrizi, PhD … Read more
TOPLINE: Dysbiosis of the oral microbiome is associated with various upper gastrointestinal (UGI) disorders and precancerous lesions, with specific microbial signatures varying by disease and oral site, research shows. METHODOLOGY: Emerging evidence suggests that the oral microbiota may contribute to the development of gastrointestinal malignancies, leading to efforts to identify biomarkers for early detection and … Read more
International researchers have uncovered potentially diagnostic gut microbiome signatures and metabolic pathways associated specifically with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). Targeted droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR)‒based quantification of bacterial species led to convenient inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) diagnostic assays that “are sufficiently robust, sensitive and cost-effective for clinical application,” the investigators wrote … Read more