S&S: Health & Disease
- Attacking the systemNext‐generation auto‐immune therapies target pathways rather than symptoms
Next‐generation auto‐immune therapies target pathways rather than symptoms
- Philip Hunter (ph{at}philiphunter.com) 1
The prevalence of auto‐immune diseases is an increasing burden for patients and healthcare systems. A new generation of drugs that modify specific signaling pathways of the immune system promises to substantially alleviate the impact of many of these diseases.
- © 2015 The Author
- Changing the future, not the past: a translational paradigm shift in treating anxiety
Understanding how long‐term memories are enshrined at the molecular level has led to new drug targets for treating anxiety disorders. But drugs do not provide lasting effects and we need to find ways to better couple them with therapy to help patients cope with traumatic experiences.
- © 2015 The Authors
- Medicinal use of cannabis in EuropeThe fact that more countries legalize the medicinal use of cannabis should not become an argument for unfettered and uncontrolled use
The fact that more countries legalize the medicinal use of cannabis should not become an argument for unfettered and uncontrolled use
The use of cannabis to treat chronic pain from cancer or neurological diseases is now legal in many countries. However, the uncontrolled smoking of cannabis leads to neurological harm and cannabis should be treated like any prescription drug to achieve the best effect for patients and safety for the public.
- © 2015 The Authors
- Do we understand the personalized medicine paradigm?Personalized medicine marks the beginning of a new attitude in medicine
Personalized medicine marks the beginning of a new attitude in medicine
Personalized medicine is a new, holistic view of health focused on the individual. Social scientists will need to help handle the inevitable societal, ethical and legal challenges created by these new applications of science and medicine.
- © 2014 The Authors
- Living too longThe current focus of medical research on increasing the quantity, rather than the quality, of life is damaging our health and harming the economy
The current focus of medical research on increasing the quantity, rather than the quality, of life is damaging our health and harming the economy
- Guy C Brown (gcb3{at}cam.ac.uk) 1
Longer lifespans, often ending with multiple diseases, threaten the viability of social and health systems. Rather than prolonging life further, research and funding should focus on increasing the quality of life in old age.
- © 2014 The Author
- Lifestyle in the spermThere is growing evidence that epigenetic marks can be inherited. But what is the nature of the information they store and over how many generations do they prevail?
There is growing evidence that epigenetic marks can be inherited. But what is the nature of the information they store and over how many generations do they prevail?
- Katrin Weigmann, Freelance Journalist (mail{at}k-weigmann.de) 1
Observations of epigenetic inheritance challenge classical genetics and imply that Lamarck might have been right—sort of. The jury is still out, as the mechanisms and scope of epigenetic inheritance are not yet fully understood.
- © 2014 The Author
- Reawakening anaesthesia researchAnaesthesia—one of the greatest achievements of medicine—remains unexplained, but a slew of new studies may help to solve the mystery
Anaesthesia—one of the greatest achievements of medicine—remains unexplained, but a slew of new studies may help to solve the mystery
- Andrea Rinaldi, Freelance science writer (rinaldi.ac{at}gmail.com) 1
An explosion of studies on the molecular mechanism of anaesthetics and their effect on neural circuits is bringing us closer to solving the long‐standing scientific puzzle of how anaesthesia actually works.
- © 2014 The Author
- The genetics of human migrationsOur ancestors migration out of Africa has left traces in our genomes that explain how they adapted to new environments
Our ancestors migration out of Africa has left traces in our genomes that explain how they adapted to new environments
- Philip Hunter (ph{at}philiphunter.com) 1
Genomics is unraveling the migratory history of modern humans. Knowledge about how they adapted to new environments and pathogens has implications for human health today and may also help to counter the toxic notion of “races”.
- © 2014 The Author
- The Babylonian benefitNeurological research shows that being bilingual enhances mental performance and may protect from Alzheimer's disease
Neurological research shows that being bilingual enhances mental performance and may protect from Alzheimer's disease
- Katrin Weigmann, Freelance Journalist (mail{at}k-weigmann.de) 1
Speaking two languages has a positive effect on cognition and might even delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. Researchers are just beginning to unravel the neurological underpinnings of this bilingual advantage.
- © 2014 The Author
- Pulling teeth from historyDNA from ancient teeth can help to yield information about our ancestors' health, diet and diseases
DNA from ancient teeth can help to yield information about our ancestors' health, diet and diseases
- Philip Hunter (ph{at}philiphunter.com) 1
Teeth have proven to be an excellence source of ancient DNA. New analytical tools are helping to exploit this treasure trove to address questions about the link between diet and health, and the impact of historical epidemics with clear relevance for human health today.
- © 2014 The Author
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