Go with your gut. Researchers at University College London have isolated a “microbial signature” in the gut that could help predict Parkinson’s disease in patients who aren’t yet showing symptoms. The potential breakthrough can’t come fast enough, as global cases of this neurodegenerative disease continue to ramp up at record speed. Up to 1.5 million … Read more
Sherrone Moore’s affair with Paige Shiver didn’t just cost him his job — it also led to a pregnancy, and now Shiver is opening up about the painful decision to abort the baby. The 32-year-old former assistant to the disgraced ex-University of Michigan football coach, 40, said in a Friday interview that she initially wanted … Read more
You might like the sound of this news. In a landmark move, the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved the first gene therapy for a rare, inherited form of hearing loss. And while these treatments often come with million-dollar price tags, Regeneron — the maker of Otarmeni — said it will be free for … Read more
A beauty crackdown is underway across the Atlantic — but don’t expect it stateside. Starting next week, manufacturers and retailers in the European Union will be forced to scrap any existing stock and cease production of future cosmetic products that contain 15 newly banned chemicals. In the US, however, the same substances flagged as potentially … Read more
The whole world could soon be seeing red. Instead of being the punchline, redheads will be having the last laugh, as a new study reports that humans have been constantly evolving to have flame-colored hair. The finding has challenged previously held ideas about how much natural selection has influenced our DNA over hundreds of thousands … Read more
The age-old fixation. Hitting 100 rotations around the sun is no small feat, with just an estimated 101,000 centenarians, representing 0.03% of the US population. New research, though, may have cracked the code for why some live to triple digits, and others don’t. While very few live to 100, a new study has found a … Read more
This news isn’t hard to swallow. Researchers at Yale University have identified a low-cost prescription drug already on the market that could help ease symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in some people. And if you’re thinking it’s leucovorin — a vitamin B–derived drug hyped as a possible remedy — you’d be wrong. Approximately 1 … Read more
Blame it on the X factor. Research has long shown that boys are over three times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls. In fact, about 1 in 20 US boys are diagnosed with autism by age 8. For girls, the rate ranges from about 1 in 70 to 1 in 100. The … Read more
After getting engaged, the only words journalist Mrinali Dhembla expected to hear were “I do.” Instead, she was told, “You have cancer.” “When I first heard the words, ‘You have cancer,’ I was obviously very shaken because when you’re in your 20s, you just think that a little disturbance in your bowels isn’t a big … Read more
What to expect… when you’re expecting to expect? Social media mamas-to-be are abuzz about “trimester zero,” a pre-pregnancy plan that some experts say is seriously misguided. “Trimester zero is a ‘hot new topic’ in the world of OB and fertility that suggests there’s a critical three-month window before conception where you need to optimize everything — diet, … Read more
The start of a reproductive revolution? A novel technique to “rejuvenate” human eggs may dramatically improve IVF success rates in older women, scientists say. “We have been able to achieve the first rejuvenation of a human egg in vitro. What this means is we could reduce the fraction of eggs with genetic defects,” Dr. Agata … Read more
The news just keeps getting worse for “forever chemicals.” These man-made substances — designed to repel oil, water and stains — can be found in thousands of everyday items, from nonstick pans and fast-food wrappers to waterproof jackets. Scientists have already linked them to a laundry list of health problems, including liver damage, high cholesterol, … Read more
New research indicates that a long-maligned menopausal treatment is safer than previously thought, showing that it doesn’t increase breast cancer risk in women with inherited mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is considered a first-line treatment for menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness. However, many … Read more
A dad found out he has been living with a rare incurable disease for 35 years when he put his son through genetic testing — after dismissing his aches and pains for aging. Robin Schultz, 35, and his wife, Brooke, 33, realized their son Noah, now two, wasn’t hitting his milestones and discovered he had … Read more
For most Aussie kids, summer means freedom – long afternoons in the sun, backyard cricket, beach trips and pool parties. But for sisters Amielle, 12, and Taya, 7, sunlight is life-threatening. The Sydney girls live with Xeroderman Pigmentosum (XP), an incredibly rare genetic condition that leaves them unable to repair UV-induced DNA damage. Even the … Read more
They say money doesn’t buy happiness. And for some, it also can’t buy skin health. One persistent, inflammatory skin disease has become a growing problem across the globe, especially in wealthier areas, according to a new analysis of 236 countries. In JAMA Dermatology last week, researchers in China warned that the incidence rate of psoriasis … Read more
Tatiana Schlossberg, the youngest granddaughter of President John F. Kennedy, recently revealed she was diagnosed with terminal acute myeloid leukemia (AML) due to a rare genetic anomaly. In a personal essay published Saturday in The New Yorker, the 35-year-old mother of two wrote that she has an inversion of chromosome 3, which significantly worsens AML survival rates. AML … Read more
A California toddler is the first person in the world to receive gene therapy to treat his devastating disease. Three-year-old Oliver Chu was born with a rare, genetic condition called Hunter syndrome. Also known as mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II), Hunter syndrome is a disorder where the body cannot break down specific sugar molecules. As … Read more
The gene-ie is out of the bottle. A fertility startup that offers embryo screening to predict a baby’s height and intelligence has sparked controversy with a series of provocative new ads. Nucleus Genomics blanketed Big Apple subway stations with billboards this week as part of their “Have Your Best Baby” campaign, encouraging prospective parents to … Read more
If you’re looking for another reason to appreciate your sister, here’s one with a scientific twist. Research suggests brothers may live longer when their sisters can pull off something extraordinary later in life. But that longevity boost doesn’t seem to extend to spouses — a sign, scientists say, that the benefit comes from genes rather … Read more