THURSDAY, June 20, 2024 (HealthDay News) — A Colombian family’s genetics are shining a spotlight on a gene that might help protect people from the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease. About 1,200 out of 6,000 family members carry a genetic variant called the “Paisa mutation,” which dooms them to early Alzheimer’s,Continue Reading

MONDAY, June 17, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Genetics can play a role in a person’s odds for Alzheimer’s disease, and new research suggests differences in that risk are based on which parent had the illness. In a study of 4,400 people still “cognitively unimpaired,” there was higher buildup of amyloidContinue Reading

MONDAY, June 3, 2024 (HealthDay News) — There’s potential good news for a sizable minority of people battling advanced colon cancer. Doctors in Britain say that an immunotherapy drug, given before surgery, can help many more patients with a specific genetic profile stay cancer-free long term. The finding pertains toContinue Reading

MONDAY, June 3, 2024 — Mutations in a single newly identified gene are responsible for developmental disorders affecting tens of thousands of people worldwide, a new study claims. The gene – RNU4-2 – can cause a collection of developmental symptoms that had not previously been tied to a distinct geneticContinue Reading

MONDAY, April 29, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Researchers have conclusively identified the genetic cause of a rare, progressive movement disorder. A rare extra-long version of a gene appears to cause nerve cells to become poisoned by toxic proteins in people with spinocerebellar ataxia 4 (SCA4), researchers report. SCA4 causes muscleContinue Reading

WEDNESDAY, April 24, 2024 (HealthDay News) — New Jersey native Lisa Pisano was staring down the end of her days. The 54-year-old had heart failure and end-stage kidney disease, but several chronic medical conditions excluded her as a candidate for heart and kidney transplants. “All I want is the opportunityContinue Reading

FRIDAY, March 29, 2024 (HealthDay News) — A genetic mutation that boosts cell function could protect people against Alzheimer’s disease, even if they carry another gene mutation known to boost dementia risk. The newly discovered mutation appears to protect people who carry the APOE4 gene, which increases risk of Alzheimer’s,Continue Reading

THURSDAY, March 28, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Folks with genetically-driven stress are more likely to suffer heart attacks after nerve-wracking events or times of unrest, a new study shows. People with above-average genetic scores linked to neuroticism and stress were 34% more likely to experience a heart attack following stressfulContinue Reading