To determine the underlying causes of neuronal vulnerability at the earliest stages of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a research team from the UC San Francisco’s Memory & Aging Center made use of brain tissue samples from two brain regions with differing susceptibility to AD. By examining differences in gene expression in the two specific brain areas, they were able to determine that that the brain's cholesterol regulation mechanisms may be a factor underlying selective vulnerability to AD.

Researchers at City of Hope have found that cell mutations are necessary but not always sufficient for tumors to form. Instead, they suggest that additional risk factors that promote tumor growth, like chronic inflammation, are a key trigger for tumor formation. The study findings, published this month in Cancer Discovery, answer a question that scientists have long asked: Are cell mutations alone — whether genetically inherited or acquired through lifestyle choices — enough to cause cancer?

The free Understanding Packaging (UP) Scorecard tool allows anyone to compare the environmental and human health impacts of their foodware and food packaging choices

Messenger RNA can travel between different types of stem cells through tunnel-like structures, as revealed by a new study. By studying interactions between mouse and human stem cells, they discovered that this RNA transfer can reprogram human cells to an earlier developmental state. This groundbreaking finding not only sheds light on an underexplored form of cellular communication but also suggests promising applications in regenerative medicine without using artificial genetic modifications or external chemicals.