Tag

Biomarkers

All articles tagged with #biomarkers

science3 days ago•6 min saved

Blood Clues Map Organ-Specific Biological Ages

A Nature Medicine study trained AI on 25,712 tissue images from 983 donors to create organ-specific 'tissue clocks' that judge whether an organ looks older or younger than expected; a blood-based model then predicts these age gaps from gene activity, with larger gaps linked to conditions like stroke, Crohn's disease, and Alzheimer's. The approach is not yet clinical, faces limitations (mostly post-mortem samples, non-prospective data) and would require years to regulatory approval.

via ScienceAlert|

#aging #ai #biomarkers

health5 days ago•7 min saved

Vitamin B12: High Blood Levels Linked to Worse Cancer Outcomes, But Causality Remains Unclear

Elevated blood B12 is linked to poorer survival and more advanced disease in cancers (notably colon cancer), but researchers caution the association is likely not causal; tumors can disrupt B12 storage/transport and drive higher levels, while high dietary intake shows a U‑shaped link with cancer risk. Overall evidence is inconsistent, suggesting B12 may be a disease biomarker rather than a driver.

via ScienceAlert|

#b12 #biomarkers #cancer

health12 days ago•5 min saved

estrogen-only therapy linked to lower dementia signals in menopause women

A retrospective analysis across two datasets (21,462 records, including nearly 3,000 brain donors) found that estrogen-only hormone therapy for menopause was associated with fewer memory problems and lower Alzheimer’s biomarkers in brains. The study shows association, not causation, and could be influenced by confounding factors or missing data (e.g., hysterectomy status); more long-term randomized trials are needed to determine any protective effect.

via Scientific American|

#alzheimers-disease #biomarkers #dementia

science14 days ago•5 min saved

Gut Microbiome Signals Tied to Psychopathic Traits in Early Study

In an early Translational Psychiatry study, researchers analyzed 200 healthy adults and found that higher levels of certain gut and oral bacteria (Allisonella, Prevotella, Cloacibacillus evryensis) correlated with stronger psychopathic traits, while Treponema vincentii showed a negative association. The work does not show causation and is not yet peer-reviewed, but suggests microbiota could serve as biomarkers for psychopathic traits and potentially influence behavior via inflammation or neurotransmitter pathways like GABA.

via ScienceAlert|

#biomarkers #gut-brain-axis #microbiome

health17 days ago•16 min saved

Longevity World Cup Winners Slashed Biological Age by Up to 22 Years

Winners of the Longevity World Cup reduced their estimated biological ages (PhenoAge) by 20.1–22.1 years through a data-driven approach: careful diet, regular exercise, sleep optimization, and extensive biomarker tracking. Experts caution that PhenoAge is an estimate and can swing with short-term changes, but the winners emphasize consistent habits and monitoring health data over pills or quick fixes.

via businessinsider.com|

#aging #biomarkers #health

science20 days ago•41 min saved

Non-linear aging: identifying critical transition windows for healthspan interventions

This Perspective argues that human aging is non-linear, featuring distinct developmental and life-stage transitions that may be optimal windows for interventions; while linear models capture some age-related effects, non-linear approaches (e.g., broken-stick/ sliding-window analyses, GAMs, dynamic models) better reveal when systems shift states; recognizing and studying these transitions across omics and tissues could guide timing of therapies to slow aging and curb age-related disease.

via Nature|

#aging #biomarkers #epigenetics

health26 days ago•5 min saved

A Decade Ahead: Blood Marker Flags Alzheimer’s Risk, But No Cure Yet

A large study of 2,684 older adults found that higher levels of the blood protein p-tau217 may predict Alzheimer’s risk up to a decade before symptoms, with about a 38% chance of cognitive impairment in five years and up to 78% in ten years for those with the highest levels. However, FDA clearance for p-tau217 tests currently covers only 55+ individuals with existing memory problems, and the test is used as a research tool rather than a clinical predictor for healthy people. While it can help identify candidates for drug trials and accelerate prevention research, there is no proven treatment to prevent Alzheimer’s yet; in the meantime, lifestyle factors like exercise, diet, sleep, and mental engagement remain the best available defense.

via Money Talks News|

#alzheimers #biomarkers #early-detection

health1 month ago•5 min saved

Blood test signals Alzheimer’s risk up to a decade early

A Harvard-led study of nearly 2,700 cognitively healthy older adults found that a simple blood test measuring the p-tau217 biomarker can predict future cognitive decline up to 10 years before symptoms; very high levels were linked to about a 78% chance of impairment within a decade, and moderate elevations still carried roughly a 45% risk, suggesting the test could aid risk assessment and trial recruitment while recognizing that results must be confirmed across diverse groups and longer follow-up.

via Fox News|

#alzheimers #biomarkers #blood-test

health1 month ago•11 min saved

Blood Biomarker Signals Alzheimer’s Risk Years Before Symptoms

A multi-cohort study shows baseline blood levels of p-tau217 predict future cognitive impairment in cognitively unimpaired older adults, with a 38% absolute risk at 5 years and 78% at 10 years, independent of amyloid PET or APOE4 status; current guidance cautions against routine use in asymptomatic individuals since no disease-modifying therapies exist, but the test can rapidly identify high-risk candidates for prevention trials and could eventually become a standard screening tool like cholesterol tests.

via Neuroscience News|

#alzheimers-disease #biomarkers #health

health1 month ago•5 min saved

Blood Biomarker Signals Alzheimer’s Risk in Healthy Older Adults

A study using a p-tau217 blood test found that symptom-free older adults with very high levels have a 38% five-year and 78% ten-year risk of developing cognitive impairment, suggesting a potential way to speed Alzheimer’s drug trials, but experts warn it isn’t precise enough for individual prognosis and testing should be approached cautiously.

via New York Post|

#aging #alzheimers-disease #biomarkers

health1 month ago•82 min saved

Daily Probiotic Yogurt Shown to Slow Biological Aging in Men, Study Finds

A 12-week trial in Japan published in Aging found that overweight men aged 50–74 who ate daily plain yogurt containing the probiotic BB536, along with dietary counseling and regular exercise, slowed biological aging by about 2.2% as measured by DunedinPACE. The effect occurred independently of weight loss or BMI changes, with improvements also seen in a kidney-function DNA marker. Researchers note the benefit may come from the combination of probiotics, diet, and exercise and call for larger, long-term trials to confirm.

via inc.com|

#aging #biomarkers #diet

health1 month ago•65 min saved

Beyond Memory Loss: Spotting Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Signs That Aren’t Chalked Up to Forgetfulness

Memory loss isn’t always the first sign of early-onset Alzheimer’s; many patients first show executive-function, language, vision, or personality changes, which can delay diagnosis. Most cases before 65 aren’t genetic, though about 5% involve gene mutations; roughly 360,000 Americans are affected. Advances in biomarkers—amyloid and tau PET scans, spinal fluid tests, and increasingly blood tests like p-tau217—now allow diagnosis in living patients and could democratize access. Clinicians use detailed histories, MRI, and biomarker results to diagnose and discuss treatments, including monoclonal antibodies targeting amyloid and emerging tau therapies, moving toward biology-based classification and personalized, combination therapies. The LEADS study aids early-onset diagnosis and trial access, underscoring a shift to earlier, biology-driven care for younger patients.

via Being Patient|

#alzheimers #biomarkers #blood-tests

health1 month ago•7 min saved

Are Younger Cancers Fueled by Faster Biological Aging?

Young adults are seeing rising colorectal and other cancers even as overall rates fall. Research from Team Prospect and Yin Cao links accelerated aging—measured with aging clocks like Horvath’s epigenetic clock and GrimAge—to a higher risk of cancer in those born after 1965. The work suggests biology may age faster in some people, potentially driving earlier, more aggressive cancers, and it highlights efforts to slow aging with therapies targeting senescent cells, NAD+, and other approaches. Meanwhile, cancer screening is evolving, with earlier colonoscopy recommendations (start at 45 for average risk) and new blood-based or imaging screening methods supplementing traditional tests.

via Men's Health|

#aging #biomarkers #cancer

health1 month ago•4 min saved

One-Hour Brush Test Flags Early Oral Cancer with 95% Accuracy

Researchers tested qMIDS, a painless brush-swab test that analyzes four cancer-linked gene mRNA (plus a control sample) to distinguish oral cancer from benign lesions. In 545 patients, the test achieved 95.5% overall accuracy with false-positive/false-negative rates under 5%, delivering results in about an hour. This non-invasive method could reduce the need for biopsies and enable repeated monitoring, with commercialization anticipated within two years and the study published in Biomarker Research (2026).

via ScienceAlert|

#biomarkers #early-detection #health

health1 month ago•194 min saved

Anti-inflammatory eating linked to lower dementia risk, new study finds

A Swedish study of over 1,800 people aged 60+ followed for up to 15 years found that diets with lower inflammatory potential—rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes and whole grains and lower in ultraprocessed foods, sugary drinks and red meat—were linked to a reduced dementia risk, including among participants with higher Alzheimer’s biomarkers like p-tau217. While observational and not proof of causation, the findings support a broader brain-health pattern: pair a whole, minimally processed diet with lifestyle factors like physical activity and vascular health, leaning toward Mediterranean-style eating for potential cognitive benefits.

via CNN|

#alzheimers #anti-inflammatory-diet #biomarkers