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Category: biotech/medical – Page 1,634

A Common ADHD Drug Shows Promise in Treating Some Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

The search for a way to treat Alzheimer’s disease has puzzled scientists for decades. This may be why some researchers are shifting their focus slightly, investigating whether treating the systems affected by Alzheimer’s (as opposed to the causes) may better help them find a treatment.

This is exactly what researchers of a new study have shown – finding that drugs normally used to treat ADHD may actually show promise in managing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

The researchers conducted a systematic review which looked at how noradrenergic drugs (commonly used for ADHD) work for managing Alzheimer’s disease symptoms. The review found that taking these drugs improved certain brain functions and other symptoms, such as apathy, in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

Biological Immortality

Is longevity desirable? Review of biological immortality in storytelling.

And what the prospects are to achieve it in the near future.

The quest for longer lifespan and healthspan.

Since the dawn of human civilization we were inspired by the quest for immortality and eternal youth.

But now, with new advances in medical science, this quest is on the verge of becoming a reality.

Continue reading “Biological Immortality” | >

Rare Brain-eating amoeba puts Missouri resident; 1st in 35 years

Although rare, people become infected by Naegleria fowleri when water containing the amoeba enters the body through the nose. It then travels to the brain, where it destroys brain tissue. This infection cannot spread from one person to another, and it cannot be contracted by swallowing contaminated water.

“These situations are extremely rare in the United States and in Missouri specifically, but it’s important for people to know that the infection is a possibility so they can seek medical care in a timely manner if related symptoms present,” Dr. George Turabelidze, Missouri’s state epidemiologist, said in a statement.

Symptoms can include severe headaches, fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, seizures, altered mental state and hallucinations. Anyone who experiences these symptoms after swimming in a warm body of water should contact their health care provider immediately.

What is a Thought? How the Brain Creates New Ideas | Henning Beck | TEDxHHL

How does the human brain work and how is it different from computers? If you think this is too complex to explain in a few minutes, you will be surprised. In this energetic and insightful talk, neuro-scientist Dr. Henning Beck gives insights into thought processes and tells you how you can create new ideas.

Dr. Henning Beck, neuroscientist and author, supports businesses to use brain-based approaches in order to develop innovative and efficient workflows. He studied biochemistry in Tübingen from 2003 to 2008. After his diploma thesis, he started his research at the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and intensified his work at the Institute of Physiological Chemistry at the University of Ulm. Supported by a PhD scholarship granted by the Hertie Foundation he did his doctorate at the Graduate School of Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience in Tübingen. He expanded his scientific expertise by an International Diploma in Project Management at the University of California, Berkeley in 2013. Until 2014, he worked for start-ups in the San Francisco Bay Area to develop creative workspace designs and advanced communication styles based on neuroscientific principles.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.

Molecular machines of the future | Hendrik Dietz | TEDxTUMSalon

Evolution has developed very efficient molecular machines, for example for producing energy through rotation. Hendrik Dietz would like to harness these concepts to build his own molecular motors. His group has successfully demonstrated that they can encode and synthesize complex shapes using DNA origami, and have recently discovered how to reduce the cost for mass use and production. With his research, Dietz gets closer to his goal of revolutionizing nanotechnology with the capabilities of molecular motors, just like industry was revolutionized by electric and diesel motors.

. Can you remember playing with legos? Now imagine doing that with molecules. Prof. Hendrik Dietz, professor for experimental biophysics at TUM, runs a lab which does just that. Inspired by the rich functionalities of natural macromolecular assemblies such as enzymes, molecular motors, and viruses, the Dietz lab investigates how to build increasingly complex molecular structures. The goal is to build molecular devices and machines that can execute user-defined tasks. DNA origami in particular enables building nanodevices that can already be employed for making new discoveries in biomolecular physics and protein science. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.

One in 13 US adults report long COVID symptoms

One in five U.S. adults (19 percent) who report having had COVID-19 say they have long COVID symptoms, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.

Beginning June 1, the Household Pulse Survey, administered in partnership between the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Health Statistics, began asking questions to assess the prevalence of post-COVID-19 conditions. Data were collected from June 1 to June 13, 2022.

The newly collected data show that one in 13 U.S. adults overall (7.5 percent) have long COVID symptoms, defined as symptoms not present prior to COVID-19 infection and lasting three or more months after first contracting the virus. Long COVID is less likely among than younger adults, with nearly three times as many adults ages 50 to 59 years reporting long COVID than those aged 80 years or older. Long COVID is more likely among women than men (9.4 versus 5.5 percent), and it is highest among Hispanic adults (9 percent) versus non-Hispanic White (7.5 percent) or Black (6.8 percent) adults.

13 percent of U.S. adults report serious psychological distress during COVID-19

Serious psychological distress among U.S. adults remained fairly steady between April and July 2020, according to a research letter published online Nov. 23 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Emma E. McGinty, Ph.D., from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, and colleagues conducted two waves of the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Civic Life and Public Health Survey (April 7 to April 13, 2020, and July 7 to July 22, 2020). Changes in during the COVID-19 pandemic was evaluated among 1,337 U.S. adults.

The researchers found that 13 percent of respondents reported serious in July 2020 versus 14.2 percent in April 2020, with 72 percent of adults reporting serious distress in both waves. The prevalence of serious distress was highest among adults aged 18 to 29 years (25.4 percent in April versus 26.5 percent in July), those with income less than $35,000 (20.2 percent in April versus 21.2 percent in July), and Hispanic individuals (17.9 percent in April versus 19.2 percent in July) at both time points. Among those with serious distress, the most common stressors were concerns about contracting COVID-19 (65.9 percent) and pandemic effects on employment (65.1 percent) and finances (60.6 percent). Educational interruptions were a stressor among adults with serious distress attending college and/or with (69 percent).

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