Medical Xpress
Simple blood test could catch Alzheimer's and Parkinson's early by spotting misfolded proteins
A new blood test capable of detecting misfolded proteins may enable early diagnosis of both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease — potentially before symptoms even emerge. The development is particularly timely as effective treatments for Alzheimer's have recently become available, making early detection more clinically meaningful than ever. Identifying patients at the pre-symptomatic stage could significantly improve treatment outcomes for millions at risk.
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Common food preservatives linked to high blood pressure and heart disease
New research published in the European Heart Journal suggests that common food preservatives may raise the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. The findings add to growing scrutiny of ultra-processed foods and the additives used to extend their shelf life. For the millions who rely heavily on packaged and preserved foods, the implications for long-term heart health are significant.
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Rollback of PFAS drinking water standards raises safety fears
The EPA has announced plans to roll back 2024 regulations targeting PFAS — so-called "forever chemicals" — in drinking water. The move signals a significant shift in federal environmental policy, loosening protections that were designed to limit exposure to a class of synthetic compounds linked to serious health risks. Critics warn the rollback leaves millions of Americans more vulnerable to contaminated water supplies.
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Scientists uncover protein that could help failing hearts
A protein discovered by researchers studying heart failure patients could unlock the mystery of why some damaged hearts bounce back while others don't. The finding emerged from analyzing patients fitted with left ventricular assist devices — mechanical pumps that offload strain and give the heart a chance to heal. Pinpointing this protein opens a potential new target for therapies aimed at actively restoring heart function rather than simply managing decline.
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China's health care use has not fully recovered after Zero-COVID policy, with rural regions lagging most
China's healthcare utilization has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels following the country's strict Zero-COVID policies, with rural populations bearing the greatest burden of disruption, according to new PLOS Medicine research from Fred Hutch Cancer Center. The study leveraged China's unique position as both the first nation to impose pandemic-era health restrictions and among the last to lift them, offering rare insight into the long-term effects of prolonged infection control measures. The findings raise urgent questions about systemic gaps in rural healthcare access that pandemic policies exposed and deepened.
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