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A legal loophole means some promising drugs are already available as food or cosmetics. Is that a good idea?

For the first time, gene therapy has treated a common genetic disorder

As we age, some systems in the body don’t work as well. Eyesight weakens, there can be some minor age related memory loss and many people move a little slower and don’t stay as active. Sleep disturbances are common as well, but recent research shows that sleeping patterns could be an indicator of another problem seen in the elderly: dementia. Currently estimates put the number of people dealing with some form of dementia at about 46 million globally. In the United States, there are approxima...

A new gene therapy technique has been used to successfully reverse sickle cell disease for the first time, scientists report.

(Minds) Bioquark, a biotech company based in the United States, has been given the go-ahead to begin research on 20 brain-dead patients, in an attempt to stimulate and regrow neurons and, literally, bring the patients back from the dead.

In a recent study, Rochester scientists made two important contributions to DNA damage research. First, though scientists could previously point to an association between DNA damage and aging, the Rochester group has demonstrated a causal relationship between reduced DNA damage and extended lifespan. Second, the researchers have identified a cellular factor—an enzyme called topoisomerase 2, or Top2, implicated in DNA damage—that can be targeted to reduce that damage. The findings are published...

Early work suggests nanoparticles may help rewarm cryopreserved tissue

A product of digesting a micronutrient found in soy may hold the key to why some people seem to derive a heart-protective benefit from eating soy foods, while others do not.

Artificial mouse embryos grown from stem cells in a dish could help unlock secrets of early development and infertility that have until now evaded us.

Aging is characterized by a progressive loss of physiological integrity, leading to impaired function and increased vulnerability to death. This deterioration is the primary risk factor for major human pathologies, including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. Aging research has experienced an unprecedented advance over recent years, particularly with the discovery that the rate of aging is controlled, at least to some extent, by genetic pathways and bioch...