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Results for search "Genetics".

Health News Results - 177

People who regularly use marijuana experience changes in their brain structure and function, but it’s not clear that cannabis is the cause, a new study finds.

Researchers found specific differences in the brains of people who’d ever used weed, particularly in areas densely packed with cannabinoid receptors. However, genetic analysis couldn’t pin down any specific associa...

Most kids with attention issues won't go on to develop serious psychiatric conditions like psychosis or schizophrenia.

However, a new study finds poor attention spans in childhood, plus certain genes, could play a role in raising the risk for these conditions.

Of course, much more research is needed to pinpoint precursors to psychotic symptoms in a person's teens or 20s, said a t...

DNA analysis of newborns can detect many more preventable or treatable health problems than standard newborn screening does, a new study shows.

Genome sequencing identified 120 babies with serious and treatable health conditions out of 4,000 newborns, researchers reported Oct. 24 in the Journal of the American Medical Association

Folks who struggle to reduce their carb intake might be able to blame ancient DNA still lurking in humans, a new study suggests.

Humans carry multiple copies of the salivary amylase gene (AMY1), which helps begin breaking down starch in the mouth -- the first step in digesting carb-laden foods like bread and pasta, researchers said.

The duplication of this gene might have occurred a...

The key to weight loss could come down to a combination of 14 “skinny genes,” a recent study says.

People with these genes dropped twice as much weight through regular exercise compared to those without the genes, researchers found.

Those with the most of these genetic markers lost up to 11 pounds following eight weeks of

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • October 11, 2024
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  • A pair of American scientists have won the 2024 Nobel Prize in medicine for their discovery of microRNA, tiny genetic molecules that play a crucial role in how genes shape the body.

    The research of Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun “revealed a new dimension to gene regulation, essential f...

    A new test called CheekAge, based on a quick swab of cells in the mouth, might someday be used to predict how long a person has to live, developers report.

    The test tracks what are known as epigenetics: The way in which a person's environment or lifestyle affects how their genes function throughout the life span.

    A key marker of epigenetics is DNA methylation, molecular changes in ...

    Pulling your hair out in frustration with your finicky youngster?

    Don’t blame your parenting style -- genetics likely played a huge role in their eating habits, a new twins study FINDs.

    Fussy eating is mainly influenced by genes, according to findings published Sept. 19 in the Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry<...

    People with rare genetic variants linked to degenerative brain disorders like Parkinson’s disease are at increased risk of developing ALS, a new study finds.

    Further, having these genetic variants increases the risk of a person having faster-progressing ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and dying ...

    Nearly a quarter of all ovarian cancers are fueled by family genetics, so what should you do if your mom or sister are diagnosed?

    According to one expert, knowing whether you are at high risk is the first step toward taking measures that can mitigate that increased danger. Getting a genetic test for yourself is how you find that out.

    What do you do if that test comes back positive?<...

    New research suggests that switching from smoking to vaping won't prevent some dangerous changes to a person's genome.

    A new study conducted in young adults shows similar cancer-linked gene changes in both vapers and smokers.

    “These findings have significant...

    Folks can overcome their genetic risk for type 2 diabetes through healthy diet and regular exercise, a new study says.

    A healthy lifestyle reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes by 70% among a group of people with a high genetic likelihood of developing the metabolic diso...

    Fish oil supplements might help high-risk seniors stave off Alzheimer’s disease, a new study finds.

    Older people with a higher genetic risk of Alzheimer’s experienced slower breakdown of their brain’s nerve cell...

    A single drop of blood might be able to predict the onset of dozens of diseases, a new study claims.

    Analysis of the protein “signatures” in a droplet of blood can predict 67 diseases, including blood cancers, degenerative nerve diseases, lung disease and he...

    In her youth, Shola, an English Shepherd Dog, was a member of the Edale Mountain Rescue Team, a corps of U.K. pooches charged with helping hurt and stranded hikers.

    But Shola was retired as part of the Rescue Team after a rare genetic disease affecting dogs, called progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), robbed her of her sight.

    It's too late for Shola, but new research has led to a ge...

    Many breast cancer patients aren’t getting genetic counseling and testing that could help them get the most effective treatment, a new study finds.

    Only three-quarters of patients eligible for genetic testing after their breast cancer diagnosis actually received it, researchers...

    As good as many genetic tests might be, a deeper look at the DNA of over 44,000 people identified many who carried genes that hike their risks for cancer, researchers said.

    "This study is a wake-up call, showing us that current national guidelines for genetic screenings are missing too many people at high risk of cancer," said lead author

  • Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
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  • July 19, 2024
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  • Pondering a move to a vegetarian or vegan diet? Your heart might be in it, but your genes might not, a new study says.

    Genetics are an important part of whether a person responds well or poorly to a vegetarian diet, researchers said.

    People with a specific genetic variant can see increased calci...

    A girl's genetics can indirectly influence the age when she has her first period, by accelerating her weight gain in childhood, a new study finds.

    A number of other genes also can directly affect the age of puberty, some with profound effects, researchers added.

    More than 1,000 genetic variants are tied to the age of a girl's first menstrual period, researchers discovered by analyzi...

    A Colombian family's genetics are shining a spotlight on a gene that might help protect people from the ravages of Alzheimer's disease.

    About 1,200 out of 6,000 family members carry a genetic variant called the "Paisa mutation,"which dooms them to early Alzheimer's, researchers said.

    But 28 family members with the Paisa mutation dodged early Alzheimer's, apparently because they carr...

    Genetics can play a role in a person's odds for Alzheimer's disease, and new research suggests differences in that risk are based on which parent had the illness.

    In a study of 4,400 people still "cognitively unimpaired," there was higher buildup of am...

    There's potential good news for a sizable minority of people battling advanced colon cancer.

    Doctors in Britain say that an immunotherapy drug, given before surgery, can help many more patients with a specific genetic profile stay cancer-free long term.

    The finding pertains to people with stage 2 or 3 colon tumors with a genetic profile known as MMR deficient/MSI-High.

    About ...

    MONDAY, June 3, 2024 -- Mutations in a single newly identified gene are responsible for developmental disorders affecting tens of thousands of people worldwide, a new study claims.

    The gene"RNU4-2"can cause a collection of developmental symptoms that had not previously been tied to a distinct genetic disorder, researchers report.

    The discovery is significant because it represents on...

    People who carry two copies of the gene mutation most strongly implicated in Alzheimer's disease are almost certain to develop brain changes related to the degenerative disorder, a new study says.

    A single mutated APOE4 gene has been found to pose the strongest genetics-driven risk factor for late-onset

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • May 7, 2024
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  • Doctors argue that genetics aren't destiny when it comes to a person's health, and a study appears to support that notion.

    A healthy lifestyle can offset the effects of life-shortening genes by more than 60%, researchers found.

    People at high genetic risk of a curtailed lifespan could extend their life expectancy by nearly 5.5 years if they've adopted a healthy lifestyle by age 40, ...

    Researchers have conclusively identified the genetic cause of a rare, progressive movement disorder.

    A rare extra-long version of a gene appears to cause nerve cells to become poisoned by toxic proteins in people with spinocerebellar ataxia 4 (SCA4), researchers report.

    SCA4 causes muscle weakness and difficulty coordinating body movement, most notably resulting in a jerky and unste...

    New Jersey native Lisa Pisano was staring down the end of her days.

    The 54-year-old had heart failure and end-stage kidney disease, but several chronic medical conditions excluded her as a candidate for heart and kidney transplants.

    "All I want is the opportunity to have a better ...

    Two newly discovered genetic variations can have a powerful effect on a person's risk for obesity, a new report says.

    Variants in the gene BSN, also known as Bassoon, can increase risk of obesity as much as sixfold, researchers report April 4 in the journal Nature Genetics.

    These variants affect about 1 in every 6,500...

    A genetic mutation that boosts cell function could protect people against Alzheimer's disease, even if they carry another gene mutation known to boost dementia risk.

    The newly discovered mutation appears to protect people who...

    Folks with genetically-driven stress are more likely to suffer heart attacks after nerve-wracking events or times of unrest, a new study shows.

    People with above-average genetic scores linked to neuroticism and stress were 34% more likely to experience a heart attack followi...

    THURSDAY, March 21, 2024 (HealthDay news) -- For the first time ever, doctors have transplanted a genetically edited pig kidney into a human suffering from advanced kidney failure.

    Such pig kidneys, altered to lower the risk of rejection and disease, have been successfully placed into monkeys and brain-dead human donor bodies.

    But Rick Slayman, 62, is the first living patient to rec...

    It only appears to work until age 74, but a new study has identified a gene variant that protects men from from severe illness and death when COVID lands them in the hospital.

    The protective gene appears to help tamp down inflammation, researchers say. It is an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (1L1RN) variant. 

    While inflammation is a normal response to infection, if left unch...

    Folks worried about becoming flabby in middle age should check out what their parents looked like when they were that age, a new study says.

    People are six times more likely to become obese in middle age if both their parents were chubby during that time of their lives, according to research to be present...

    Nearly a quarter of Labrador retrievers are more likely to be obese due to a genetic "double-whammy,"a new study finds.

    This gene mutation causes Labradors to both feel hungry all the time and also burn fewer calories, British researchers report.

    The mutation involves a gene called POMC, which plays a critical role in hunger and energy use among Labs.

    About 25% of Labradors an...

    Rare gene-driven defects such as Down syndrome have occurred among human beings for many thousands of years, a new analysis of ancient DNA has revealed.

    Not only did the birth defects exist, but these infants were often buried with care by their community. That suggests they were included as part of the community despite their differences, researchers said.

    Six cases of Down syndrom...

    Women who carry certain mutations in their BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes know they are at heightened odds for breast cancer.

    Now, Canadian research suggests that for some patients a "risk-reducing" preventive mastectomy may cut the odds of dying from breast cancer later.

    "The decision to have a risk-reducing mastectomy is often difficult for a woman to make, and the more evidence we are able...

    Accurate genetic tests for 10 common diseases are nearly ready for everyday use in doctor's offices, a new study says.

    Gene scans for 10 common illnesses have been honed to the point that they now are being road-tested in clinical research, according to a team at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

    The tests evaluate a person's specific genetic risk for conditions like atrial fi...

    Everyone knows someone who gets COVID-19 repeatedly, and they probably also have that annoying friend who's never had the illness. What gives?

    According to new research, over the long-term it's probably genetics that drives an individual's level of susceptibility to SARS-Cov-2.

    "Our results suggest that initially, differences in shared home environment influenced who was infected wi...

    Black people are five times as likely as others to develop glaucoma and up to 15 times more likely to be blinded by the degenerative eye disease.

    Now, a new study reports that genetics appears to be at least one factor contributing to this increased risk.

    Researchers have identified three gene variants that could be fueling Black people's higher glaucoma risk, according to findings ...

    DNA locked in the bones and teeth of more than 5,000 humans who lived in Asia and Europe up to 34,000 years ago are providing vital clues to a myriad of present-day medical conditions.

    The descendants of these ancient peoples are living now in Europe and throughout the world. But their forebearers' genetic legacy lingers, according to researchers who presented their findings in four studi...

    A rare genetic mutation found in 1% of people of European descent appears to cut their odds for Parkinson's disease in half, a new study finds.

    A better understanding of how this bit of DNA works might lead to better prevention and treatment of Parkinson's generally, researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) said.

    "This study advances our understanding of why people...

    Folks with a family history of heart disease might benefit from eating more oily fish like salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines, a new study finds.

    Oily fish contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained from the diet.

    People's risk of heart disease increased by more than 40% if they had low levels of omega-3 fatty acids plus...

    MONDAY, Nov. 13, 2023 (Healthday News) -- Two new gene-editing treatments that target dangerously high levels of cholesterol in people with a genetic predisposition to the condition were found safe and effective in new, groundbreaking research.

    While powerful drugs like statins can help manage cholesterol in most people, they can't treat those who have genes that predispose them to heart ...

    Everyone knows smoking to be a major cause of cancer.

    Now, exactly how tobacco smoke triggers tumor development just got a bit clearer, thanks to new Canadian research.

    According to a team at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) in Toronto, smoking appears to prevent the formation of proteins that work to keep runaway cell development in check.

    According t...

    Scientists have discovered two genes that may trigger Raynaud's phenomenon, a condition that can cause fingers and toes to go cold and numb because of the constriction of tiny blood vessels under the skin.

    "We identify two distinct genes that point to two distinct mechanisms,"lead researcher Maik Pi...

    Researchers have developed an antibody that can reduce Alzheimer's-like brain damage in lab mice -- inspired by the case of one woman with remarkable resistance to the disease.

    The work, by researchers at Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School in Boston, and elsewhere, began a few years ago, with the case of a woman in Colombia who had shown "extreme protection" from Alzheimer's dis...

    Going vegetarian is trendy and popular, along with being a healthy choice, but a large portion of those who say they want to stick with a plant-based diet don't.

    It might come down to your DNA, suggests new research that has uncovered three genes that seem to be strongly linked to vegetarianism.

    "It seems there are more people who would like to be vegetarian than actually are, and ...

    New research has discovered 12 gene variants that may be tied to an increased risk of attempting suicide.

    These genes also may have links with physical and mental health woes, including chronic pain, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), lung conditions and heart disease.

    The researchers hope this finding, published online Oct. 1 in the

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • October 4, 2023
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  • Researchers have found a gene mutation linked to esophageal cancer, which could lead to better prevention and treatment strategies.

    Investigators from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio found the mutation, potentially helping those at risk of what is a highly lethal cancer. Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is a cancer of your food pipe.

    "With this discovery, we will be able to ...

    Women who carry mutations in genes known as BRCA have an elevated risk of breast cancer. But a large, new study suggests that risk may be lower than generally believed -- especially if a woman has no close relative with the disease.

    The study, of more than 400,000 British adults, found that women who carried mutations in either of two genes -- BRCA1 or BRCA2 -- had a higher-than-average r...