Professor Gideon Wasserberg at UNC Greensboro has been awarded a prestigious $3.7 million National Institutes of Health R01 grant to advance his research on controlling sand flies, the vectors of the parasitic disease leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis affects more than 1 million people each year and is found in approximately 90 countries in tropical and arid regions of the world, putting approximately 1 billion people at risk.

A study unveils a novel strategy to combat Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by targeting muscle health. Researchers found that skeletal muscles, through the protein Cathepsin B (Ctsb) released during exercise, can protect cognitive function. In AD-model mice, boosting muscle Ctsb improved memory and motor skills, even without reducing classic brain plaques. The treatment promoted hippocampal cell growth and restored critical protein balance, revealing a powerful muscle-brain connection. This work suggests exercise, gene therapy or drugs that enhance muscle Ctsb could offer a promising new avenue against cognitive decline.