Barcelona, Spain: New research presented on Wednesday at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum 2026 [1] has discovered some of the genetic changes in brain cells that may help to explain why more men than women develop Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively […]
Category: Genetics
New research helps understand how a long, healthy lifespan may be passed down across generations
Gothenburg, Sweden: Understanding why some people stay healthy without developing disease until late in life (have an increased healthspan*), whereas others become infirm at a much younger age has important implications for the health of today’s ageing population. Life expectancy has significantly increased in the last two centuries, but healthspan has not kept pace. Survival […]
Large-scale European study shows that prevention in patients with inherited cancer risks produces substantial cost benefits
Gothenburg, Sweden: Screening people with the rare, inherited cancer-causing condition Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) brings both medical and economic benefits to patients and healthcare systems, according to research presented to the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics. The study, the first of its kind to look at these benefits Europe-wide, makes a convincing […]
Creating mini-brains from stem cells reveals a new, promising treatment for a devastating childhood disease
Gothenburg, Sweden: Variants in the DHDDS gene cause a severe neurodegenerative condition, characterised by tremors, seizures, coordination and learning difficulties, usually manifesting in early childhood. This Parkinson’s-like condition is extremely rare, and until recently, parents were told that there was nothing that could be done to slow down its progression. But now, researchers from The […]
Integrating genetic origin data with tumour analyses enables better prediction of survival
Gothenburg, Sweden: New research to be presented at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics shows that a cancer patient’s genetic ancestry can have a significant effect both on how their disease progresses and their survival. In the largest study of its kind, researchers examined nearly 1,900 specific genetic changes in tumours […]
Adding genetic data to steroid prescribing can help predict side effects
Gothenburg, Sweden: Oral corticosteroids (OCSs) are widely used and effective in the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, asthma, and autoimmune diseases. They work by reducing inflammation, relieving pain, and calming the immune system. However, over one in ten patients develop side effects, particularly if they use steroids over a long period. Until […]
New non-invasive prenatal testing technique gives results comparable to invasive methods, with advantages in both safety and cost
Gothenburg, Sweden: While non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) has revolutionised prenatal diagnostics by allowing the detection of a number of genetic problems in a foetus, it is currently limited and thus misses many genetic causes of abnormalities. But a new technique, presented to the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics, introduces a technology […]
Molecular study of world’s oldest living person reveals new secrets of healthy ageing
When the oldest living person in the world died at just under 117 and a half years of age in August 2024, her own account of how she had managed to live for so long was already enough to inform practical interventions that can help ensure healthy ageing. But now, an international team of researchers […]
Integrating pharmacogenomic-guided prescribing into routine clinical practice: promising results from the NHS PROGRESS study
Milan, Italy: Pharmacogenomics studies how individuals respond to drugs based on their genetic code. Using that knowledge to guide prescribing in routine care could lead to better outcomes for patients and save money for health systems. Generating pharmacogenomic data in the laboratory is relatively straightforward, but a major challenge is making that information available to […]
Genetic investigations reveal reason for severe neuropathy after infection
Milan, Italy: Neuropathy, a disorder in which damage to nerves can impair sensation and movement, has many causes, including infection1. Now, researchers from the UK have identified distinct genetic changes in a newly-discovered neuropathy and believe that their work will provide insights into the causal mechanism and why some previously healthy people develop neuropathies after […]