The pathophysiological mechanisms associated with the onset and progression of age-related diseases, and potential impacts of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) on aging, are not completely understood. Uncovering these mechanisms could lead to new clinical methods capable of reducing the development of age-related disease. Supported by a three-year grant from the National Institutes of Health, Aric F. Logsdon, Ph.D., from the TTUHSC School of Medicine will study how brain endothelial cells handle the stressors of neuroinflammation.

What we eat goes a long way in preserving our health and preventing diseases. While many studies have assessed the diversity and frequency of food consumption, few address gender- and age-specific variations in dietary patterns. In a new study, researchers from Fujita Health University, Japan, have used specific statistical tools to understand variations in dietary preferences and food intake across different gender and age groups. Their findings can aid tailored nutritional management through dietary modifications.

Long COVID continues to affect millions, with symptoms that mirror those of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). This research highlight reveals that both conditions share common roots in cellular oxidative stress and immune dysfunction, potentially leading to long-term brain damage. It proposes that ME/CFS is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and could serve as a useful model for understanding brain aging, energy failure, and the lasting neurological effects of viral pandemics.

Human eggs are some of the most patient cells in the body, lying dormant for decades until needed. A study published today in The EMBO Journal shows that the cells deliberately slow the activity of their internal waste disposal systems as they mature, most likely an evolutionary design which keeps metabolism low and damage at bay. The research is the largest-scale study of healthy human eggs collected directly from women and could lead to new strategies to improve success rates for the millions of IVF cycles attempted worldwide each year.