Scientists say research into Alzheimer’s needs to take a broader view of how the disease affects the brain — whether that’s changes in the cortex or the role of inflammation. Matt York/AP hide caption toggle caption Matt York/AP Scientists say research into Alzheimer’s needs to take a broader view of how the disease affects the brain — whether that’s changes in the cortex or the role of inflammation. Matt York/AP The field of Alzheimer’s research is branching out. After decades of focusing on the sticky amyloid plaques and tangled tau fibers associated with the disease, brain researchers are searching for other […]
Jon Hamilton
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Students wear masks as a teacher instructs them at Freedom Preparatory Academy on Sept. 10, 2020 in Provo, Utah. GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images Students wear masks as a teacher instructs them at Freedom Preparatory Academy on Sept. 10, 2020 in Provo, Utah. GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images Masks can obscure a smile, muffle a voice, and make lip reading impossible. But those are minor obstacles to human interaction, says Lindsay Yazzolino, who is blind. “It’s interesting to me how face-seeing is considered to be the be-all and end-all in so many […]
Following a traumatic brain injury, veteran Michael Schneider found that art and music therapy helped him manage his epilepsy and PTSD. Schneider explains that by playing music, he can prevent a seizure. Madeline Gray for NPR hide caption toggle caption Madeline Gray for NPR Following a traumatic brain injury, veteran Michael Schneider found that art and music therapy helped him manage his epilepsy and PTSD. Schneider explains that by playing music, he can prevent a seizure. Madeline Gray for NPR When Michael Schneider’s anxiety and PTSD flare up, he reaches for the ukulele he keeps next to his computer. “I can’t […]
Paul has lived with Parkinson’s disease for more than a decade. Although he has difficulty rising out of a chair, he was able to leap up to keep his young grandson from falling down a flight of stairs. Scientists are trying to understand how this phenomenon works in the brain. Meredith Rizzo/NPR hide caption toggle caption Meredith Rizzo/NPR Paul has lived with Parkinson’s disease for more than a decade. Although he has difficulty rising out of a chair, he was able to leap up to keep his young grandson from falling down a flight of stairs. Scientists are trying to understand […]
Everyday tasks — such as buttoning a shirt, opening a jar or brushing teeth — can suddenly seem impossible after a stroke that affects the brain’s fine motor control of the hands. New research suggests starting intensive rehab a bit later than typically happens now — and continuing it longer — might improve recovery. PeopleImages/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption PeopleImages/Getty Images Everyday tasks — such as buttoning a shirt, opening a jar or brushing teeth — can suddenly seem impossible after a stroke that affects the brain’s fine motor control of the hands. New research suggests starting intensive rehab a […]
Everyday tasks — such as buttoning a shirt, opening a jar or brushing teeth — can suddenly seem impossible after a stroke that affects the brain’s fine motor control of the hands. New research suggests starting intensive rehab a bit later than typically happens now — and continuing it longer — might improve recovery. PeopleImages/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption PeopleImages/Getty Images Everyday tasks — such as buttoning a shirt, opening a jar or brushing teeth — can suddenly seem impossible after a stroke that affects the brain’s fine motor control of the hands. New research suggests starting intensive rehab a […]
As part of clinical study, Charles Flagg, a patient with Alzheimer’s disease, received an infusion of aducanumab at Butler Hospital in Providence, R.I., in late 2019. Charles Krupa/AP hide caption toggle caption Charles Krupa/AP As part of clinical study, Charles Flagg, a patient with Alzheimer’s disease, received an infusion of aducanumab at Butler Hospital in Providence, R.I., in late 2019. Charles Krupa/AP Nearly two months after the Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm received conditional approval from the Food and Drug Administration, experts are still debating how, and whether, it should be used. A few doctors and medical institutions say they have no plans […]
In a decision that has sparked controversy, the Food and Drug Administration approved Aduhelm, an Alzheimer’s treatment, on June 7. The agency disregarded a recommendation against approval by a panel of independent experts, several of whom resigned in protest. Biogen/AP hide caption toggle caption Biogen/AP In a decision that has sparked controversy, the Food and Drug Administration approved Aduhelm, an Alzheimer’s treatment, on June 7. The agency disregarded a recommendation against approval by a panel of independent experts, several of whom resigned in protest. Biogen/AP Soon after Phillip Lynn got married in 2014, he began to forget things. He’d repeat himself. […]
A woman demonstrates the IpsiHand rehabilitation device for stroke patients. NeuroLutions hide caption toggle caption NeuroLutions A woman demonstrates the IpsiHand rehabilitation device for stroke patients. NeuroLutions People recovering from a stroke will soon have access to a device that can help restore a disabled hand. The Food And Drug Administration has authorized a device called IpsiHand, which uses signals from the uninjured side of a patient’s brain to help rewire circuits controlling the hand, wrist and arm. The device can be used at home and offers stroke patients “an additional treatment option to help them move their hands and arms […]
Dr. William Burke reviews a PET brain scan at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute in Phoenix in 2018. An experimental Alzheimer’s drug from Biogen and Eisai is on the verge of a Food and Drug Administration decision. Matt York/AP hide caption toggle caption Matt York/AP Dr. William Burke reviews a PET brain scan at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute in Phoenix in 2018. An experimental Alzheimer’s drug from Biogen and Eisai is on the verge of a Food and Drug Administration decision. Matt York/AP A drug called aducanumab could become the first approved treatment designed to alter the course of Alzheimer’s disease rather than relieve […]
President Barack Obama bumped fists with Nathan Copeland during a tour of innovation projects at the White House Frontiers Conference at the University of Pittsburgh in 2016. Susan Walsh/AP hide caption toggle caption Susan Walsh/AP President Barack Obama bumped fists with Nathan Copeland during a tour of innovation projects at the White House Frontiers Conference at the University of Pittsburgh in 2016. Susan Walsh/AP A robotic arm with a sense of touch has allowed a man who is paralyzed to quickly perform tasks like pouring water from one cup into another. The robotic arm provides tactile feedback directly to the man’s […]
A man who is paralyzed was able to type with 95% accuracy by imagining that he was handwriting letters on a sheet of paper, a team reported in the journal Nature. Science Photo Library/Pasieka/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Science Photo Library/Pasieka/Getty Images A man who is paralyzed was able to type with 95% accuracy by imagining that he was handwriting letters on a sheet of paper, a team reported in the journal Nature. Science Photo Library/Pasieka/Getty Images An experimental device that turns thoughts into text has allowed a man who was left paralyzed by an accident to construct sentences swiftly […]
Fragile X syndrome involves changes in the X chromosome, seen in the four columns of chromosomes starting on the left. Two normal X chromosomes are shown in the far-right column. Richard J. Green/Science Source An experimental drug intended for Alzheimer’s patients seems to improve both language and learning in adults with Fragile X syndrome. The drug, called BPN14770, increased cognitive scores by about 10% in 30 adult males after 12 weeks, a team reports in the journal Nature Medicine. That is enough to change the lives of many people with Fragile X, says Mark Gurney, CEO of Tetra Therapeutics, developer of […]
A trio of young bonobos play under the watchful eyes of their caregivers.. Ley Uwera for NPR hide caption toggle caption Ley Uwera for NPR A trio of young bonobos play under the watchful eyes of their caregivers.. Ley Uwera for NPR At an animal sanctuary in the Congo, several dozen Congolese schoolchildren are getting a crash course in bonobos. These gentle, endangered apes, who resemble chimpanzees, are “our closest cousins,” educator Blaise Mbwaki tells the students in French. “They have a human character, and they are Congolese.” “So if you eat a bonobo,” Mbwaki says, “you are eating your cousin. […]
Dr. Hansel Tookes made sure his first dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami on Dec. 15. was televised, as a way to combat hesitancy. Eva Marie Uzcategui/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Eva Marie Uzcategui/AFP via Getty Images Dr. Hansel Tookes made sure his first dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami on Dec. 15. was televised, as a way to combat hesitancy. Eva Marie Uzcategui/AFP via Getty Images When COVID-19 vaccines began arriving in Memphis, Tenn., late last year, some Black residents had questions. Did the vaccines cause infertility? […]
Friday marked the busiest day for the nation’s airports since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Above, a passenger wears a face mask as he waits for a Delta Airlines flight at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta on Feb. 18, 2021. Charlie Riedel/AP hide caption toggle caption Charlie Riedel/AP Friday marked the busiest day for the nation’s airports since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Above, a passenger wears a face mask as he waits for a Delta Airlines flight at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta on Feb. 18, 2021. Charlie Riedel/AP As COVID-19 vaccines roll out […]
A pharmacist prepares to administer the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at a community vaccination center in London on Friday. Chris Jackson/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Chris Jackson/Getty Images A pharmacist prepares to administer the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at a community vaccination center in London on Friday. Chris Jackson/Getty Images Ireland has temporarily suspended administration of a COVID-19 vaccine made by AstraZeneca following reports of abnormal blood clotting in several people. The move comes after countries including Italy, Austria, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Latvia suspended, delayed or limited rollout of the vaccine over safety concerns. The AstraZeneca vaccine, made in conjunction with […]
As a researcher at the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle, Alice Mukora says she understands the need to enroll diverse populations in Alzheimer’s research. But that would be more likely to happen, she notes, if people of color had better experiences getting Alzheimer’s care. Siri Stafford/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Siri Stafford/Getty Images As a researcher at the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle, Alice Mukora says she understands the need to enroll diverse populations in Alzheimer’s research. But that would be more likely to happen, she notes, if people of color had better experiences getting Alzheimer’s […]
A healthcare worker processes people in line at a United Memorial Medical Center COVID-19 testing site on Nov. 19, in Houston. Texas is rushing thousands of additional medical staff to overworked hospitals as the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients increases. David J. Phillip/AP hide caption toggle caption David J. Phillip/AP A healthcare worker processes people in line at a United Memorial Medical Center COVID-19 testing site on Nov. 19, in Houston. Texas is rushing thousands of additional medical staff to overworked hospitals as the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients increases. David J. Phillip/AP The actual number of coronavirus infections in the […]
The hallucinogenic chemical psilocybin produced in some mushrooms helped people with major depression in a study that also included supportive psychotherapy. Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images The hallucinogenic chemical psilocybin produced in some mushrooms helped people with major depression in a study that also included supportive psychotherapy. Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images The substance that makes some mushrooms “magic” also appears to help people with major depressive disorder. A study of 27 people found that a treatment featuring the hallucinogen psilocybin worked better than the usual […]
Recruiting patients for medical studies has been challenging during the pandemic, especially older people who are more vulnerable to COVID-19. Dra_Schwartz/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Dra_Schwartz/Getty Images Recruiting patients for medical studies has been challenging during the pandemic, especially older people who are more vulnerable to COVID-19. Dra_Schwartz/Getty Images Medical research was an early casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic. After cases began emerging worldwide, thousands of clinical trials unrelated to COVID-19 were paused or canceled amid fears that participants would be infected. But now, some researchers are finding ways to carry on in spite of the coronavirus. “It’s been a […]
Brain cells that monitor liquid, mineral and salt levels in the body influence what types of drinks we crave when thirsty. Krisanapong Detraphiphat/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Krisanapong Detraphiphat/Getty Images Brain cells that monitor liquid, mineral and salt levels in the body influence what types of drinks we crave when thirsty. Krisanapong Detraphiphat/Getty Images Researchers appear to have shown how the brain creates two different kinds of thirst. The process involves two types of brain cells, one that responds to a decline in fluid in our bodies, while the other monitors levels of salt and other minerals, a team reports […]
Scientists used light to control the firing of specific cells to artificially create a rhythm in the brain, which acted like the mind- bending drug Ketamine enjoynz/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption enjoynz/Getty Images Scientists used light to control the firing of specific cells to artificially create a rhythm in the brain, which acted like the mind- bending drug Ketamine enjoynz/Getty Images Out-of-body experiences are all about rhythm, a team reported Wednesday in the journal Nature. In mice and one person, scientists were able to reproduce the altered state often associated with ketamine by inducing certain brain cells to fire together […]
Patients with a fast-progressing form of ALS who got daily doses of an experimental two-drug combination called AMX0035 scored higher on a standard measure of function than patients who didn’t get the drug. Zephyr/Science Source hide caption toggle caption Zephyr/Science Source Patients with a fast-progressing form of ALS who got daily doses of an experimental two-drug combination called AMX0035 scored higher on a standard measure of function than patients who didn’t get the drug. Zephyr/Science Source A combination of two experimental drugs appears to slow the decline of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, an illness often known as ALS or Lou […]
Conner Curran, 9 (right), and his brother Will, 7, at their home in Ridgefield, Conn., this week. The gene therapy treatment that stopped the muscle wasting of Conner’s muscular dystrophy two years ago took more than 30 years of research to develop. Kholood Eid for NPR hide caption toggle caption Kholood Eid for NPR Conner Curran, 9 (right), and his brother Will, 7, at their home in Ridgefield, Conn., this week. The gene therapy treatment that stopped the muscle wasting of Conner’s muscular dystrophy two years ago took more than 30 years of research to develop. Kholood Eid for NPR This […]
Several lines of evidence now suggest that two common vaccines against respiratory illnesses can help protect against Alzheimer’s, too. How much brain protection they offer will require more intensive study to quantify, scientists say. Themba Hadebe/AP hide caption toggle caption Themba Hadebe/AP Several lines of evidence now suggest that two common vaccines against respiratory illnesses can help protect against Alzheimer’s, too. How much brain protection they offer will require more intensive study to quantify, scientists say. Themba Hadebe/AP For years, public health officials have been trying to dispel the myth that people who get a flu shot are more likely to […]
Internationally, scientists now have on file the genomes of more than 47,000 different samples of the virus that causes COVID-19 — up from just one in January. Here’s a transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (orange) isolated from a patient. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/National Institutes of Health hide caption toggle caption National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/National Institutes of Health Internationally, scientists now have on file the genomes of more than 47,000 different samples of the virus that causes COVID-19 — up from just one in January. Here’s a transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles […]