Genetics and Genetic Disorders

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Genetics and Genetic Disorders

Could Cholesterol Help Drive Alzheimer’s Disease?

Cholesterol made in the brain may spur development of Alzheimer’s disease, a new study suggests. Cholesterol...
Do Your Genes Up Your Odds for Alcoholism? One Factor Cuts the Risk

Even when genetics and personality are working against you, having a strong network of supportive friends...
Multigenerational Study Finds Links Between ADHD, Dementia Risk

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) appears to be somehow linked to risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, a...

More Genetics and Genetic Disorders News

Fur Find: Genes Uncovered Behind Cats’ Spots & Stripes
Your favorite tabby cat may seem to have little similarity to her relatives in...
- Posted September 14, 2021
- 16
Child Cancers Are Rare, But Here Are Signs to Look For
Most parents want their children to live carefree lives, so a diagnosis of childhood...
- Posted September 11, 2021
- 8
Insights Into Genes Driving Epilepsy Could Help With Treatment
Danish researchers have found genetic causes for epilepsy in half of children they studied...
- Posted September 6, 2021
- 4
New ‘Mu’ Coronavirus Variant Being Watched Closely: Fauci
A new coronavirus variant called Mu that may be able to evade existing antibodies,...
- Posted September 3, 2021
- 17
Blood Test Spots Biological Markers for Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a debilitating disease that can make navigating daily life a massive challenge,...
- Posted August 12, 2021
- 0
CAR T-Cell Immunotherapy Rids Woman of Tough-to-Treat Lupus
In a first, researchers have used genetically tweaked immune system cells to send a...
- Posted August 5, 2021
- 5
Cats Might Be Purrfect Model for Human Genetics Research
Dogs may be man’s best friend, but cats may hold critical keys to humans’...
- Posted July 29, 2021
- 12
Daylight Saving Time Change Toughest on Night Owls
If you struggle with the spring time change, your genes may be to blame,...
- Posted July 26, 2021
- 17
Geneticists Probe Origins of Painful Cluster Headaches
The causes of a type of excruciating headache known as cluster headaches aren’t clear,...
- Posted July 19, 2021
- 12
A Better Test to Help Spot Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss in older people, and early detection...
- Posted July 16, 2021
- 16
WHO Calls for Global Registry of Human Genome Editing
New recommendations on human genome editing issued by the World Health Organization include a...
- Posted July 12, 2021
- 7

Are You Living with Psoriasis?

A growing knowledge of the skin disease called psoriasis is leading to greater treatment choices, including personalized therapies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports.

Psoriasis is an immune system disorder that causes overproduction of skin cells, resulting in scaling, pain, swelling, redness and heat. The condition affects about 7.5 million Americans.

“As we better understand the disease, researchers know more about what specific factors to target in order to develop effective treatments,” FDA dermatologist Dr. Melinda McCord said in an agency news release.

There is no cure for psoriasis, so the main goals of treatments are to stop skin cell overproduction and reduce inflammation. Current therapies include medicines applied to the skin (topical), light treatment (phototherapy), or drugs taken by mouth or given by injection.

Doctors used to take a step-by-step approach, starting patients with mild to moderate psoriasis on topical therapy. If that was ineffective, doctors moved on to phototherapy or drug treatment.