News Roundup: Super-Ager Brains, Cancer’s Link to Obesity, and More

Lots of news this week, and I couldn’t narrow it down to a single story to highlight. So let’s do a roundup!

My, What Young Neurons You Have

For years now, scientists have been eagerly studying so-called super-agers: those who reach 80 years or older while retaining the memory and physical capabilities of much younger people. Among other findings published in a new report this week, they discovered that these super-agers may get their resilience from unique brain activity. While the rest of us are descending into senility, these super-agers’ brains continue to pump out new neurons as though they were spring chickens. The rate of new neuron development is much higher than their contemporaries, and higher still than people with dementia. This molecular signature could shed light on aging in the brain, and might one day lead to anti-aging treatments based on real science. For a more detailed civilian-friendly description of the research, check out this article from the New York Times.

Exploring Obesity’s Link to Cancer

There are plenty of well-known and specific contributing factors to cancer: smoking and lung cancer, HPV infection and cervical cancer, excessive drinking and liver cancer. But there are several other factors that are highly associated with cancer where the connection hasn’t yet been fully resolved. For example, did you know that being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes after age 50 puts a person at increased risk of pancreatic cancer? There are plenty of links like that where scientists are still trying to make sense of the underlying biology.

That’s why I was glad to read about a novel program launched by the University of Kansas Cancer Center to study the association between cancer and obesity. According to program co-lead Kristy Brown, “There is strong epidemiological data linking obesity to the development of at least 13 different types of cancer. And it’s expected that that number will grow as we have a better understanding of not only the types of cancer that are influenced, but also the different populations that potentially are affected differently, as well as the different subtypes of cancer.”

A New Look at Cell Biology

As the resolution of molecular biology tools has improved over the years, scientists have gotten to see an unexpected world inside our cells. They’re teeming with protein complexes and other components that were never appreciated before. A great read from Quanta magazine puts it this way: “If you were trapped inside a cell, you would feel like a dancer in a thronged nightclub, constantly jostled by neighbors.” The article offers a nice look at why the discovery of all these new players in each cell is challenging long-held scientific views of how cells function.

Long Covid Still Lingers

Some 400 million people have been affected by long Covid, that constellation of symptoms that plague people long after the acute infection is over. Scientists have theorized that other infections might be driving this, and a new paper out this week offers an in-depth look based on a study of mice. The new work compared Covid and flu infections in mice, where scientists can track biological responses in key tissues and organs over time. What they saw nicely mirrored what human patients experience from long Covid. For mice infected with Covid, but not those infected with flu, researchers spotted microhemorrhaging in the brain, indicating a persistent inflammatory response. While more studies will be needed, the discovery could suggest new ways to understand what’s happening in patients with long Covid — and maybe offer clues about how to help.

Door-to-Door Service: Inroads in HIV Prevention

This was good to see: a large-scale study of 80,000 people in Africa demonstrated a more effective approach for reducing HIV infections. Community health workers in Kenya and Uganda rolled out a program through which HIV test results and medications were delivered directly to patients, rather than having people visit clinics. That simple change slashed new infection rates by 70% and led to four times more people taking anti-HIV medications.

Catch up on the latest from Salisbury’s Take:

• Today’s Assault on Vaccines Threatens Tomorrow’s Miracle Cures

• Pharmas Look to Rein in Drug Costs with Lab Automation

• New Studies Link Our Microbiome to Cancer Treatment Response and Tooth Decay

• Cancer Survival Stats Reach Highest Rate Since Analysis Began

• Study: To Increase Genetic Literacy, Boost Confidence