UCSF

A rare genetic disease that renders children without a functioning immune system from birth has been effectively cured by an experimental gene therapy. A study has reported on the first 10 children treated with the therapy, all of whom are now healthy.

Researchers have created a synthetic “cellular glue” that bonds cells together to different degrees. The technique could speed up wound healing, even in tissues that don’t heal well naturally, and eventually allow scientists to build better organs.

A pair of new studies have revealed evidence corticosteroid injections can hasten progression of knee osteoarthritis. The research, yet to be peer-reviewed and published, indicates hyaluronic acid injections may be a better pain relief option.

Senescent cells are blamed for many effects of aging and as such, they’re targeted by a range of anti-aging therapies. But we might not want to wipe them all out, as a new study suggests that some senescent cells play positive roles in healing.

A new study has shed light on how an experimental drug can reverse some of the damage associated with traumatic brain injury. The findings lay the groundwork for a drug that could prevent the cognitive deficits that follow on from concussion.

Scientists at the University of California San Francisco have found a way to fight one of the most common cancer-causing mutations. The new drug puts up an “eat me” marker that can help the immune system or other drugs find and kill the cancer.

Scientists have identified two molecules that could help treat leukemia, in a way that’s far less damaging to healthy cells than existing chemotherapy. The compounds work using a different mechanism that’s more selective for cancerous cells.

Napping for more than an hour a day could be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease according to new research. It’s suggested excessive daytime napping shares a bidirectional relationship with dementia, reflecting and shaping changes in the brain.

Do you thrive on between four and six hours of sleep per night? You may be an “elite sleeper,” and a new study reports the same genes associated with short sleep patterns may also slow the onset of brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

A new study has built on evidence indicating long COVID symptoms may be linked to immune system activity. The research found markers of inflammation in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients experiencing brain fog months following a mild case of COVID-19.

A post-mortem brain tissue study is offering clues as to how exercise in old age can prevent cognitive decline. The research found late-life physical activity was linked to high levels of presynaptic proteins, known to support healthy brain functions.

Scientists have successfully used CRISPR and phages to edit the genome of bacteria in the gut microbiome of live mice for the first time. The breakthrough could help manipulate the ratio between different species to treat a range of health problems.