Inside the full-body blood swap experiment that’s sparking debate across the anti-aging world
Category: biotech/medical – Page 614
Bright light therapy linked to mood improvements and brain connectivity changes
A new neuroimaging study from China has found that an eight-week course of bright light therapy helped reduce depressive symptoms in individuals with subthreshold depression. The treatment also altered dynamic functional connectivity in several brain regions associated with mood regulation. The study was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
Subthreshold depression refers to the presence of depressive symptoms that are clinically relevant but do not meet the full diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder. Individuals with subthreshold depression may experience persistent sadness, fatigue, sleep disturbances, or concentration problems, but with fewer symptoms or a shorter duration than required for a formal diagnosis.
Despite being “subthreshold,” the condition can impair daily functioning and reduce quality of life. It is also linked to an increased risk of developing major depression in the future. Subthreshold depression is common—especially among adolescents, older adults, and individuals with chronic illnesses—and it often goes undiagnosed and untreated because the symptoms are perceived as mild or situational. However, research shows that even mild depressive symptoms can negatively affect social relationships, job performance, and physical health.
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Candidate drug that boosts protective brain protein in mice has potential to treat Alzheimer’s disease
As researchers work to improve treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, new research by UCLA Health identified a candidate drug that reduces levels of a toxic form of a protein in the brain caused by the disease and improved memory in mice by boosting production of a protective protein.
In a study published in npj Drug Discovery, UCLA Health researchers targeted the protein clusterin (CLU), which is crucial in preventing the build-up of amyloid-beta plaques and tau proteins that disrupt communication between brain cells and lead to memory impairment—a hallmark symptom of Alzheimer’s disease.
More than a decade ago, a variant of the gene that encodes clusterin was identified as the third strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. It was recently reported that increased CLU protein could provide protection against Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline.
A new era of biotech education
In a world shaped by biotechnology, why are so few college students exposed to its possibilities early on in their education? The Biotech Explorers Pathway (BEP) is changing that by immersing students in hands-on, real-world science from day one.
BEP, an interdisciplinary WashU Ampersand Program recently highlighted as a Career Feature in Nature Biotechnology, combines science, entrepreneurship, and teamwork, going beyond lecture-based courses. The program isn’t just about teaching fundamentals—it’s about preparing students to lead the next wave of biotech innovation.
3D-printed device enables precise modeling of complex human tissues in the lab
A new, easily adopted, 3D-printed device will enable scientists to create models of human tissue with even greater control and complexity. An interdisciplinary group of researchers at the University of Washington and UW Medicine led the development of the device.
3D tissue engineering, which recently has undergone other major advances in speed and accuracy, helps biomedical researchers design and test therapies for a range of diseases.
One goal of tissue engineering is to create lab-made environments that recreate the natural habitats of cells.
Fusogenic lipid nanoparticles for rapid delivery of large therapeutic molecules to exosomes
Exosomes have huge potential for drug delivery, but drug loading can be difficult. Here, the authors report on fusogenic lipid nanoparticles which, when mixed with exosomes rapidly fuse, non-destructively loading large drugs without compromising exosome biological functions, and demonstrate neurological application.