Author: healthadmin

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have discovered that the human brain can continue to perform surprisingly sophisticated language tasks even when completely unconscious under general anesthesia. The survey results are naturechallenges long-held assumptions about the relationship between consciousness and cognition. They also provide new insights that may shape future research on memory, language, and brain-computer interfaces. “Our findings show that the unconscious brain is much more active and capable than previously thought,” said Dr. Sameer Sheth, professor, Cullen Foundation Endowed Chair in Neurosurgery, and McNair Scholar at Baylor University. “Even when a patient is fully anesthetized, the brain continues…

From tickling monkeys to laughing children, a new study traces how the rhythms of laughter reveal the deep evolutionary roots of human speech. Research: The rhythm and timing of laughter reveals that human vocal plasticity belongs to the hominid continuum. Image credit: Andrea Izzotti / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal Communications Biology, researchers conducted a comparative analysis of laughter among representatives of the major living ape lineages, including humans. Because sounds do not fossilize, it remains difficult to trace the audio origins of languages, voices, and songs. Although the major lineages of hominids have distinct repertoires…

New research suggests that decreased grip strength alone is not a reliable predictor of increased risk of prostate cancer in older men.The relationship between handgrip strength weakness (HGS) and prostate cancer has long remained unclear in the scientific literature. When clinicians consider grip strength as an indicator, they often extrapolate from broader cancer research rather than relying on direct evidence.In a study published in a journal maturethe authors present detailed data and analysis that challenges this assumption. ”Low HGS (handgrip strength) does not independently predict prostate cancer risk in older men in Europe” they wrote.Although HGS is a valuable marker…

background Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of hematopoietic disorders characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis, manifested by cytopenias in one, two, or three lineages. CD34+ micromegakaryocytes and giant platelets are extremely rare in MDS patients but may lead to unnecessary treatment. Therefore, we report and follow up an MDS case with such unusual findings. Case study A 57-year-old male veteran with a history of MDS, alcoholic cirrhosis, and portal hypertension presented to the emergency department in 2020 for evaluation following a power outage, during which a peripheral blood sample and bone marrow biopsy were obtained. Flow cytometry analysis of his peripheral…

Women with Parkinson’s disease may be more vulnerable to brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease than men, according to new research presented at the 2026 European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress. Although Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease frequently co-occur in older adults, sex differences in Alzheimer’s disease-related pathology in Parkinson’s disease patients remain unclear. To address this knowledge gap, researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona analyzed data from 230 autopsy-confirmed cases of Parkinson’s disease enrolled in the Arizona Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease Research and Brain and Body Donation Program. Participants underwent annual clinical evaluation before death and comprehensive neuropathological…

Multiple sclerosis (MS) can have a significant impact on many aspects of life beyond physical health, with 51% of people reporting that the disease affects their social life and 48% affecting their work, according to new research presented at the 2026 European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress. While the physical effects of MS are well known, less is known about how the disease affects broader social determinants of health. Previous research has often focused on individual areas, such as employment or economic well-being, in isolation. However, few studies have investigated how multiple social determinants are influenced simultaneously and how they…

A simple bedside vision test may help predict recovery of consciousness in patients with severe brain injuries, according to new research presented at the 2026 European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress. The study found that a previously overlooked phase of the pupillary response to light, known as the late lights-out response (LOR), predicted improvement in consciousness seven days later in acute brain injury patients. In contrast, standard pupillary measurements already widely used in intensive care units (ICUs), such as neurological pupillary index (NPi) and pupillary light reflex (PLR) latency, did not predict subsequent recovery of consciousness. Predicting whether a patient…

Researchers have discovered an unexpected natural ally that could help farmers tackle one of agriculture’s fastest-growing challenges: saline soils. A team including scientists from the University of East Anglia (UEA), led by Chinese researcher Dr Yanfeng Zheng, has discovered that naturally occurring soil bacteria can significantly improve the ability of plants to survive under saline conditions. The study also revealed previously unknown ways in which these microbes protect crops such as corn, tomatoes and rapeseed from salinity stress. The discovery could eventually help farmers grow food on land that is too saline for conventional farming. Soil salinity threatens global agriculture…

A new in vitro study reveals how melatonin can quell inflammation of fetal membranes caused by infection, providing new clues for future strategies against inflammation-related preterm birth. Study: Melatonin modulates inflammation in human fetal membranes: an ex vivo approach. Image credit: Pikovit / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal scientific reportA group of researchers evaluated whether melatonin reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in human fetal membranes in an in vitro model and determined whether the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway is involved in this effect. background Preterm birth is one of the leading causes of infant mortality and morbidity. Inflammation of…

A large-scale drug repurposing screen of more than 5,000 compounds reveals unexpected antiviral power in a common antibiotic, providing a rapid pipeline to treat life-threatening orthohantavirus infections. Research: Drug repurposing screening identifies antiviral compounds against Puumara orthohantavirus. Image credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal scientific reportresearchers conducted a high-throughput phenotypic drug screen using live Puumara virus (PUUV) to speed the discovery of treatments for diseases caused by orthohantaviruses. In this study, we screened 5,256 compounds and identified 70 validated host-directed therapies that successfully inhibited viral infection across human lung and endothelial cells. The…