Depression may shape how much children pay attention to emotional expressions – sad or happy faces – and those changes appear to depend on whether the child has a family history of depression, according to a first-of-its-kind study from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

A new review published in Biogerontology challenges the idea that ageing can be explained by a single biological mechanism. According to Dr. Piotr Chmielewski of Wroclaw Medical University, ageing is more likely to emerge from dynamic interactions among multiple biological processes operating across cells, tissues and organs.

The article examines current theories of ageing, discusses the limitations of popular biomarkers such as epigenetic clocks, and argues that future research may increasingly focus on understanding how organisms maintain resilience, adaptability and functionality despite ongoing biological damage.

Researchers at the University of Houston’s College of Pharmacy have discovered an unexpected simple strategy to improve the performance of mRNA vaccines and gene therapeutics: adding salt. The findings address one of the biggest challenges facing modern gene medicine — getting fragile therapeutic material to the right place inside cells. 

For patients with diabetic macular edema, vision loss is only part of the burden. Repeated intravitreal injections can also create financial pressure, frequent clinic visits, and treatment anxiety, all of which may affect long-term adherence. A new short-term observational study published in Eye Discovery by researchers from the Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, the Primasia International Eye Research Institute of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and collaborating institutions asks whether treatment burden can be reduced without clearly compromising early visual and anatomical outcomes.

After identifying significant differences in stroke care and outcomes for patients on different Medicare plans, a UVA Health doctor is launching an ambitious effort to better understand the sources of those differences and ensure patients get the best care possible.