Beyond Mendel: FinnGen study sheds new light on well- established theories of genetic inheritance

A large-scale biobank-based study performed in Finland has discovered several new disease genes as well as new insights on how known genetic factors affect disease. The study highlights an under-appreciated complexity in the dosage effects of genetic variants.

Large international study uncovers genes involved in heart disease

Over the past 15 years, more than 200 sites in the human genome have been linked to risk for coronary artery disease (CAD), the leading cause of death worldwide. Still, researchers don’t fully understand how those genomic variations alter the function of proteins, cells, or tissues to cause illness — knowledge that could inform the […]

Breakthrough study shows anti-ageing gene reverses heart age

An anti-ageing gene discovered in a population of centenarians has been shown to rewind the heart’s biological age by 10 years. The breakthrough, published in Cardiovascular Research and led by scientists at the University of Bristol and the MultiMedica Group in Italy, offers a potential target for patients with heart failure.

Infection prevention and high-quality pulmonary care in operating theatres

Infection prevention and control are crucial for guaranteeing patient safety in operating theatres. When it comes to endoscopy, meticulous cleaning and high-level disinfection is needed to ensure clean and safe use of endoscopes, on subsequent patients.

Deep brain stimulation algorithm equivalent to standard of care treatment for Parkinson’s

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established treatment option for patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease. In a neurosurgical pro-cedure two electrodes are implanted in the brain to permanently stimulate specific brain regions. Setting the stimulation parameters, however, is a complex process. A research team at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin has developed an algorithm that may […]

New research detects potential hidden cause of dementia that can be cured

A Cedars-Sinai study suggests physicians treating dementia should look for cerebrospinal fluid leak – a treatable cause of an otherwise incurable condition.

Healthy lifestyle linked to slower memory decline in older adults

A healthy lifestyle, in particular a healthy diet, is associated with slower memory decline, finds a decade-long study of older adults in China, published in The BMJ [1].  

Breakthrough: Researchers develop novel biomarker to detect Alzheimer’s in blood

A group of neuroscientists led by a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researcher developed a test to detect a novel marker of Alzheimer’s disease neurodegeneration in a blood sample. A study on their results was published 27 December 2022 in Brain [1].

Poor glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes can be predicted from patient information systems with the help of machine learning

The risk for poor glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes can be predicted with confidence by using machine learning methods, a new study from Finland finds. The most important factors predicting glycaemic control include prior glucose levels, duration of type 2 diabetes, and the patient’s existing anti-diabetic medicines.

AI-triggered reminders improve end-of-life care for patients with cancer

Electronic nudges delivered to healthcare clinicians based on a machine-learning algorithm that predicts mortality risk quadrupled rates of conversations with patients about their end-of-life care preferences, according to the long-term results of a randomized clinical trial published by Penn Medicine investigators in JAMA Oncology. The study also found that the machine learning-triggered reminders significantly decreased […]