Research supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that repeated head impacts from contact sports can cause early and lasting changes in the brains of young- to middle-aged athletes. The findings show that these changes may occur years before chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) develops its hallmark disease features, which can now only be detected by examining brain tissue after death. 

When brain development gets off to a bad start, the consequences are lifelong.  

One example is a condition called SCN2A haploinsufficiency, in which children are born with just one functioning copy of the SCN2A gene — instead of the normal two. They develop defects in the connections, or synapses, between some of their brain cells; they do not learn to speak; and many of them experience seizures. 

Research measured fetal movements in 51 pregnant women and found that higher frequencies were strongly linked to greater maternal attachment. Paying conscious attention to these signals may be a non-invasive and effective strategy for strengthening prenatal attachment and promoting more attentive and sensitive caregiving after birth.

Tulane University researchers have developed an enhanced CRISPR-based tuberculosis test that works with a simple tongue swab, a potential breakthrough that could allow easier, community-based screenings for the world’s deadliest infectious disease. The test amplifies detection of TB in low-concentration samples and can deliver results in 45 minutes. This research comes after the WHO issued a call to researchers to explore tongue swabs as a way to boost testing access.