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
THURSDAY, April 4, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Two newly discovered genetic variations can have a powerful effect on a person’s risk for obesity, a new report says. Variants in the gene BSN, also known as Bassoon, can increase risk of obesity as much as sixfold, researchers report April 4 inContinue 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
THURSDAY, March 21, 2024 (HealthDay news) — For the first time ever, doctors have transplanted a genetically edited pig kidney into a human suffering from advanced kidney failure. Such pig kidneys, altered to lower the risk of rejection and disease, have been successfully placed into monkeys and brain-dead human donorContinue Reading
THURSDAY, March 14, 2024 (HealthDay News) — It only appears to work until age 74, but a new study has identified a gene variant that protects men from from severe illness and death when COVID lands them in the hospital. The protective gene appears to help tamp down inflammation, researchersContinue Reading
FRIDAY, March 8, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Folks worried about becoming flabby in middle age should check out what their parents looked like when they were that age, a new study says. People are six times more likely to become obese in middle age if both their parents were chubbyContinue Reading
THURSDAY, March 7, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Nearly a quarter of Labrador retrievers are more likely to be obese due to a genetic “double-whammy,” a new study finds. This gene mutation causes Labradors to both feel hungry all the time and also burn fewer calories, British researchers report. The mutationContinue Reading
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 21, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Rare gene-driven defects such as Down syndrome have occurred among human beings for many thousands of years, a new analysis of ancient DNA has revealed. Not only did the birth defects exist, but these infants were often buried with care by their community.Continue Reading
TUESDAY, Feb. 20, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Women who carry certain mutations in their BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes know they are at heightened odds for breast cancer. Now, Canadian research suggests that for some patients a “risk-reducing” preventive mastectomy may cut the odds of dying from breast cancer later. “TheContinue Reading
TUESDAY, Feb. 20, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Accurate genetic tests for 10 common diseases are nearly ready for everyday use in doctor’s offices, a new study says. Gene scans for 10 common illnesses have been honed to the point that they now are being road-tested in clinical research, according toContinue Reading
FRIDAY, Feb. 2, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Everyone knows someone who gets COVID-19 repeatedly, and they probably also have that annoying friend who’s never had the illness. What gives? According to new research, over the long-term it’s probably genetics that drives an individual’s level of susceptibility to SARS-Cov-2. “Our resultsContinue Reading
TUESDAY, Jan. 23, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Black people are five times as likely as others to develop glaucoma and up to 15 times more likely to be blinded by the degenerative eye disease. Now, a new study reports that genetics appears to be at least one factor contributing toContinue Reading