Scientists discover robust evidence that chronic fatigue syndrome is a biological illness – Immune signatures in blood point to distinct disease stages, open door to better diagnosis and treatment – Researchers identified distinct immune changes in patients diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, known medically as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) or systemic exertion intolerance disease.
Lower systolic blood pressure reduces risk of stroke – Older people with systolic blood pressure lower than 140 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) have a lower risk of stroke, revealed in a study study presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2015.
Dietary flavanols reverse age-related memory decline — Findings strengthen link between specific brain region and normal memory decline – Dietary cocoa flavanols—naturally occurring bioactives found in cocoa—reversed age-related memory decline in healthy older adults, revealed by researchers in Nature Neuroscience.
FDA-approved drug restores hair in patients with alopecia areata — Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune disease that causes disfiguring hair loss – Researchers have identified the immune cells responsible for destroying hair follicles in people with alopecia areata, a common autoimmune disease that causes hair loss, and have tested an FDA-approved drug that eliminated these immune cells and restored hair growth in a small number of patients.
A Major Cause of Age-Related Memory Loss Identified — Study points to possible treatments and confirms distinction between memory loss due to aging and that of Alzheimer’s – The researchers have identified a protein-RbAp48-that, when increased in aged wild-type mice, improves memory back to that of young wild-type mice. They have found that deficiency of a protein called RbAp48 in the hippocampus is a significant contributor to age-related memory loss and that this form of memory loss is reversible.
Folic acid supplements early in pregnancy may reduce child’s risk of autism by 40 percent — Large study in Norway finds early timing of folic acid supplements is critical – Prenatal folic acid supplements appear to reduce the risk for autistic spectrum disorders. It is estimated that about 1 in 88 children in the U.S. have been identified with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Statins appear associated with reduced risk of recurrent cardiovascular events in men, women – Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs appear to be associated with reduced risk of recurrent cardiovascular events in men and women, but do not appear to be associated with reduced all-cause mortality or stroke in women. Statins have been used to lower cholesterol levels for the last 20 years.
Brain cancer vaccine proves effective — With help of patient groups, phase 2 clinical trial paves way for testing therapy that combines cancer vaccine with the drug Avastin – A new brain cancer vaccine tailored to individual patients by using material from their own tumors has proven effective in a multicenter phase 2 clinical trial at extending their lives by several months or longer. The patients suffered from recurrent glioblastoma multiforme-which kills thousands of Americans every year.
Magnetic stimulation of brain may help some stroke patients recover – Imagine waking up and being unable to see or recognize anything on the left side of your body. This condition, called hemispatial neglect, is common after a stroke that occurs on the right side of the brain.
Nicotine primes brain for cocaine use: Molecular basis of gateway sequence of drug use – Cigarettes and alcohol serve as gateway drugs, which people use before progressing to the use of marijuana and then to cocaine and other illicit substances; this progression is called the “gateway sequence” of drug use.
