Salk Institute

Fat may be a villain of our time, but it’s not fair to paint it all with the same brush. Researchers at the Salk Institute have identified the protein that allows brown fat to expend energy, opening up a new potential avenue for treating obesity and its related diseases.

A drug dubbed J147, developed by the Salk Institute, is a promising candidate to treat Alzheimer’s, but how it worked at the molecular level remained a mystery. Now Salk scientists have figured out the mechanism behind it, which could see J147 used to fight other age-related illnesses as well.

CRISPR-Cas9 shows incredible promise, but the long term effects of cutting DNA in living organisms isn’t known. Now scientists from the Salk Institute have modified it to work without cutting, switching targeted genes on and off instead, and used it to treat diabetes and muscular dystrophy in mice.

Scientists at the Salk Institute found that when they fed sedentary mice a certain chemical compound, they could run seventy percent longer. If a similar treatment works in humans, it could open doors for fitness training.

Salmonella bacteria can cause you to become seriously ill. But new research shows that the stomach-distressing bug has a vested interest in keeping you healthy, and uses a tricky mechanism to do so. In a way, it proves that the old saw about feeding a cold could be pretty good advice.

Scientists at the Salk Institute have used a laboratory mouse model of Alzheimer's to evaluate the effectiveness of a specific protein at breaking up plaques in the brain, that are central to the progression of the condition.

Scientists are reporting that exposure to certain compounds in marijuana can cleanse the brain of harmful amyloid beta cells that give rise to Alzheimer's disease, offering up new clues as to how we might stop the disease in its early stages.

A molecular switch could hold the key to a personalized cell replacement therapy for diabetes. Salk Institute scientists found that activating a protein called ERR-gamma in patient-derived transplanted beta cells results in diabetic mice producing normal amounts of insulin to regulate blood sugar.

A team of researchers has tested an experimental drug on rapidly aging mice, with the treatment designed to combat aspects of aging closely associated with Alzheimer's. The results were very positive, with treated mice exhibiting better memory, cognition and more.

Research into the underlying causes of a genetic disorder that causes premature aging and death has revealed a key driver of aging in all people. Better yet, this mechanism is reversible – and with it, perhaps, scientists may be able to slow or reverse the aging process.

When it comes to dealing with more precarious terrain, like walking on ice, you might think that the exercise requires serious concentration. But new research suggests that even in these moments, our subconsciousness is largely responsible for keeping us from landing on our backsides.

A newly-developed drug could help the obese or diabetic. It triggers the body's "burning fat to make space for incoming calories" response, even when the patient hasn't eaten anything.