Researchers from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed a blood test to detect Alzheimer’s disease (AD) early. They said the test has an accuracy level of over 96% and can also monitor disease progression. This is a new approach to detecting AD compared to the commonly used cognitive tests and invasive methods that detect changes in the brain caused by AD.

Brain-wide genome editing via a single systemic dose of modified adeno-associated virus variants that cross the blood-brain barrier may represent a promising new approach for the development of disease-modifying treatments for familial Alzheimer's disease. This strategy could also be applicable to other central nervous system (CNS) disorders, according to a proof-of-concept (PoC) study led by researchers at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).

The collective findings of a new multicenter Japanese study have demonstrated for the first time that expression of the gene Gem via the activity-dependent transcription factor, neuronal PAS domain protein 4 (Npas4), promotes neuroprotection in the injured brain following ischemic stroke.

PARIS – At some point, scientists reported, it may be possible to quarantine viruses rather than humans. For the last two years, European research consortium Virofight has been working on a form of nanotechnology intended to neutralize viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, HIV, influenza and hepatitis viruses.

LONDON – Relaxing of control measures such as mask wearing and social distancing at a time when most of a population has been vaccinated against COVID-19 greatly increases the probability of the emergence of a vaccine-resistant strain, according to a new modeling study.

Brain-wide genome editing via a single systemic dose of modified adeno-associated virus variants that cross the blood-brain barrier may represent a promising new approach for the development of disease-modifying treatments for familial Alzheimer's disease.

A team of researchers from the University of Cambridge and collaborating institutions hypothesized that the age-related increase in the ratio of C4S/C6S may make perineuronal nets more inhibitory, leading in turn to memory loss associated with diminished inhibitory synapse formation onto GABAergic parvalbumin+ interneurons.

It's a good news, bad news scenario for exhausted T cells in chronic infections. Multiple groups of investigators reported in the July 26, 2021, online issue of Nature Immunology that even after a chronic hepatitis C virus infection was cured, T cells that had become dysfunctional during the infection retained epigenetic "scars" that prevented them from becoming fully functional memory T cells.

Research into how gross chromosomal rearrangements occur may have major implications for the discovery and development of new cancer therapies, according to a Japanese study reported in the July 22, 2021, edition of PLoS Genetics

Researchers from Finland and Italy published a biomarker-based algorithm for the diagnosis of dementia in the journal Diagnostics. The algorithm enables clinicians to distinguish between various neurodegenerative diseases with shared clinical presentations and select appropriate treatment. The algorithm relies primarily on blood biomarker measurements to diagnose the type of dementia much earlier than is possible with the diagnostic tools in use today.