All articles tagged with #biomarkers
A 104-person study (aged 65–75) found that four weeks of dietary changes, especially plant-forward diets with about 70% plant protein, lowered biological age as judged by 20 health biomarkers in three of four diet groups; a high-fat omnivorous diet showed no meaningful change. The results suggest short-term dietary shifts can affect aging biomarkers, but are preliminary.
Researchers at Westlake University in China have unveiled a handheld cancer-screening device that can detect early-stage cancer biomarkers from a single blood drop. Using a compact 3D metamaterial Bound States-in-the-Continuum sensing chip, the device replaces bulky laboratory equipment with a portable chip, LED, and photodetector, enabling at-home or remote testing. In trials with 171 patient serum samples, it achieved 94.9% accuracy for early cancer detection and 92.1% for post-surgery monitoring—far outperforming the standard ELISA method (74.7%). The team also claims mass production of thousands of identical chips per wafer at about $5 per chip. Findings were published in Nature Photonics and demonstrated 10,000x greater sensitivity than ELISA in spotting lung-cancer biomarkers.
Dunedin Study findings suggest that higher blood levels of pTau181, together with self-reported memory concerns, may reveal Alzheimer's risk as early as age 45, highlighting midlife as a key window for brain health; pTau181 did not correlate with MRI or cognitive tests at 45, and researchers will continue following participants to see how this risk marker evolves.
A Nature Aging study of 108 adults analyzed 135,239 molecular features (RNA, proteins, lipids, microbiome) and found two abrupt aging shifts around ages 44 and 60, affecting metabolism and disease-related pathways across many molecules; these changes occur in both men and women and menopause isn’t the main driver. The authors caution the small sample size and call for broader, more granular follow-up research.
A four-week randomized trial in adults aged 65–75 tested four diets with different protein sources and fat–carbohydrate mixes. The omnivorous high-fat diet (OHF) had little impact on aging biomarkers, while three other diets—omnivorous high-carb (OHC) and two semi-vegetarian regimens (VHF, VHC)—reduced estimated biological age as measured by the Klemera-Doubal Method across 20 biomarkers (e.g., blood pressure, insulin, cholesterol, CRP). Findings are preliminary, with not all changes statistically significant, and longer-term studies are needed to determine durability and potential effects on age-related disease risk.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic used DNA aptamers to selectively bind proteins on senescent cells, tagging these 'zombie' cells in mouse tissues and enabling their identification amid healthy cells. The study suggests aptamers could become a cost-effective tool for detecting senescent cells and may eventually enable targeted therapies, though applicability to humans remains to be shown.
Biogen reported that the Phase 2 CELIA trial of diranersen achieved robust reductions in CSF tau and tau pathology and showed slowing of cognitive decline across doses—most notably at 60 mg every 24 weeks—despite not meeting the primary dose-response endpoint (CDR-SB at Week 76). Safety was generally consistent with prior data, with more serious adverse events at the highest dose. Biogen plans to advance diranersen to registrational development and will present further data at AAIC 2026.
Vitamin B12 is essential for DNA copying and nerve health and is mostly obtained from animal foods, but its link to cancer is complex. Research suggests a U-shaped relationship where both low and very high intakes may associate with cancer risk; high-dose B12 has not shown clear protective effects and could potentially support pre-cancer cells, though proof in humans is lacking. Elevated B12 in cancer patients is often an epiphenomenon (liver release or binding proteins increasing blood levels) and can serve as a cancer marker rather than a cause. For most people, normal dietary intake or modest supplementation suffices; avoid megadoses and focus on balance, healthy habits, and routine screenings.
University of Sydney researchers found that adults aged 65–75 who followed a four‑week diet change—especially a low‑fat, high‑carbohydrate omnivorous plan—showed reductions in estimated biological age based on 20 aging biomarkers; results are preliminary and long‑term effects remain unknown.
Researchers developed an ultrasensitive digital seed amplification assay (dSAA) to detect TDP-43 seeds in cerebrospinal fluid, with seed levels correlating with FTLD-TDP severity, offering a potential diagnostic tool to distinguish this dementia subtype and guide clinical trials, though larger validation is needed.
A Mayo Clinic study finds Alzheimer’s-related changes can begin in people’s late 50s, decades before memory problems, outlining a two-phase timeline where amyloid buildup appears first, followed by other biomarkers and cognitive changes as people age, with blood and imaging signals peaking later. The research warns that averages don’t predict an individual's onset and suggests earlier, smarter screening and planning, while noting limitations in population diversity and the need for clearer clinical guidelines.
Alzheimer’s breakthroughs are advancing scientifically, with drugs like Lecanemab and Donanemab showing amyloid removal and slowed decline, but experts say real progress hinges on better, earlier diagnosis through biomarkers and genetics, plus sustained political investment in dementia services to ensure access and implementation across healthcare systems.
A Stanford-led study of 108 participants aged 25–75 found that aging is marked by two sharp molecular and microbial shifts, occurring precisely at ages 44 and 60. About 81% of the molecules analyzed changed in these windows, affecting cardiovascular and immune-system pathways and suggesting midlife is a critical period for aging. Researchers note lifestyle and genetics may influence these shifts and advise adopting healthier habits in one's 40s and 60s.
A Mayo Clinic study of 2,082 participants found two broad windows where dementia-related changes begin long before diagnosis: cognition and amyloid changes start in the 50s–60s, followed by tau changes and blood biomarkers (GFAP, NfL, p-tau) in the late 60s to early 70s, along with brain atrophy. This could enable earlier detection and screening approaches, even though no single test currently exists.
Researchers built a cross-platform spatial atlas of diabetic kidney disease using CosMx and Xenium, integrated with snRNA-seq to define 11 tissue niches and injury microenvironments. They identify a B cell–predominant immune microenvironment that defines a DKD subset with faster kidney function decline, and develop tissue biomarkers plus a plasma protein panel that improve risk prediction beyond clinical models; findings validated in UK Biobank and supported by plasma proteomics, highlighting biomarker-guided B cell–targeted DKD trials.