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Cardiac rehabilitation is a valuable tool in the recovery of those with cardiac conditions across the spectrum. Posters presented at ASPC 2025 Congress on Cardiac Prevention, held in Boston from August 1 to August 3, 2025, confirm the utility of cardiac rehabilitation when it comes to improving physical and mental outcomes as well as improving mid- and long-term prognosis in those with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).1,2
Cardiac rehabilitation is recommended for all ages with heart conditions. Specifically, those who benefit the most from cardiac rehabilitation include those who have had cardiac surgery or a heart procedure, a heart condition such as coronary artery disease or heart failure, or had a heart attack in the past.3 Those who believe themselves to be eligible can ask their primary care physician if they would benefit from participating in it. Rehab involves education on living in a heart-healthy manner, receiving counseling to reduce stress, and exercising in ways that promote heart health.4
Cardiac rehabilitation proved to be effective in improving outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease | Image credit: serafino – stock.adobe.com
According to new research, this cardiac rehabilitation can be beneficial for both mid- and long-term prognoses for survivors of ACS.1 The study used the National Myocardial Infarction Register of Hungary to conduct a retrospective analysis. The register contained data on 66,905 individuals who had early survivor ACS.
Across all participants, 21.2% participated in rehab. Those who participated had a 1-year mortality of 6.3% and a 5-year mortality of 20.1% compared with a 1-year mortality of 12.1% and a 5-year mortality of 30.4% in those who did not participate. Patients who had ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) had a 28.9% participation in rehabilitation, with participants having a 1-year mortality of 4.7% and a 5-year mortality of 16.1% compared with a 1-year mortality of 9.1% and a 5-year mortality of 23.5% in those who did not participate.
Non-STEMI patients had an overall participation of 15.1%. Those who participated had a 1-year mortality of 8.7% and a 5-year mortality of 26.1% compared with a 1-year mortality of 14.1% and a 5-year mortality of 35.1% in those who did not participate.
The researchers concluded that cardiac rehabilitation had a significant survival benefit in those who participated, reducing mortality after both 1 year and 5 years. Low participation in rehab indicates that interventions to encourage participation should be introduced.
Not only is it beneficial for prognosis, but cardiac rehabilitation has also been found to have long-term benefits on both physical and mental health outcomes in those who participate in the process.2 The aim of the study was to assess patients after they participated in cardiac rehabilitation to see if they had fewer symptoms, lower rates of depression, and increased activity levels. All patients were enrolled between May 2019 and November 2020. All participants completed surveys at the beginning of cardiac rehabilitation, and the Duke Activity Status Index was used to measure metabolic equivalents (METs). The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used to measure depressive symptoms. All participants were followed up 1 year after the completion of rehabilitation.
There were 200 participants enrolled initially and 82 who completed follow-up. Patients who graduated from cardiac rehabilitation had higher changes in depressive symptoms, seeing lower scores after a year compared with those who did not graduate. Those who graduated rehabilitation also had higher METs after 1 year compared with those who did not graduate.
A total of 24% of those who graduated returned to work, compared with 15% of those who did not graduate. Only 32% of those who graduated experienced shortness of breath or chest pain compared with 63% of those who did not graduate. Resting chest pain was about equal between those who did graduate (15%) and did not graduate (17%), but the ability to do daily activities was more common in those who graduated compared with those who did not (79% vs 69%).
The researchers concluded that fewer symptoms and a greater gain in METs were found in those who graduated cardiac rehabilitation. This study was done in a single center with low retention due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which limits the study results.
Despite any limitations, this research shows that doctors and patients should continue to prescribe and use cardiac rehabilitation as a resource to both recover from cardiac events on a long-term basis to improve their prognosis after acute coronary syndrome and also improve their mental health alongside physical health.
References
1. Sári C, Heesch CM, Andréka P. Participation in a comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program improves mid- and long-term prognosis in survivors of acute coronary syndrome. Presented at ASPC 2025 Congress on CVD Prevention; August 1-3, 2025; Boston, MA. Poster S109
2. Bracewell N, Naik D, Simek S, Conti J, Keeley E. Long term physical and mental health outcomes in patients who participate in cardiac rehabilitation. Presented at ASPC 2025 Congress on CVD Prevention; August 1-3, 2025; Boston, MA. Poster S112
3. Am I eligible for cardiac rehab? American Heart Association. Updated April 24, 2024. Accessed July 31, 2025. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cardiac-rehab/am-i-eligible-for-cardiac-rehab
4. What is cardiac rehabilitation? American Heart Association. Updated April 24, 2024. Accessed July 31, 2025. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cardiac-rehab/what-is-cardiac-rehabilitation
A new study published in Frontiers in Psychology reveals that young adults who screen positive for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tend to listen to background music more frequently than their neurotypical peers during both cognitively demanding and less demanding activities. These individuals also show a stronger preference for stimulating music, regardless of the activity.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity. It often begins in childhood and persists into adulthood in a significant proportion of cases. Adults with ADHD, especially those with the inattentive presentation, may struggle with sustained attention, task management, and organization.
The disorder is also commonly associated with emotional challenges such as anxiety or depression. While stimulant medication can help regulate brain arousal and improve performance, researchers have also explored alternative strategies to support individuals with attentional difficulties, including environmental adjustments like background music.
In the new study, doctoral candidates Kelly-Ann Lachance and Pénélope Pelland-Goulet, along with clinical neuropsychologist and full professor Nathalie Gosselin at the University of Montreal, sought to understand how young adults use music in daily life and whether those with ADHD symptoms differ from neurotypical individuals in their listening habits.
“We were interested in how young adults with and without ADHD use background music during daily activities, especially those requiring more cognitive effort, since prior lab studies rarely examine real-world listening habits,” the researchers explained. “Given that individuals with ADHD often struggle with attention, we wanted to understand whether they listen to music differently in everyday contexts. This interest was sparked years ago when a parent of a teenager with attention difficulties once asked Dr. Gosselin if letting their child study with music was a good idea—an unanswered question that stayed with her ever since.”
The research team conducted an online survey with 434 participants between the ages of 17 and 30. Participants answered questions about their music listening habits, musical preferences, and the perceived effects of background music on emotional and cognitive functioning. The survey also included a standardized screening tool for ADHD symptoms. Based on the responses, participants were divided into two groups: those who screened positive for ADHD and those who did not.
The researchers found that most young adults listen to background music during both cognitively demanding tasks—such as studying, problem-solving, and reading—and less demanding ones like cleaning, cooking, and exercising. However, individuals in the ADHD-screened group reported more frequent use of background music while studying and exercising compared to the neurotypical group. They also listened more frequently to music during low-effort activities overall.
“Interestingly, distinct differences emerged between groups,” the researchers told PsyPost. “ADHD-screened participants not only listened to music more often during study tasks but also preferred stimulating music across both more and less cognitively demanding activities.”
“In contrast, neurotypical participants tended to favor relaxing music during cognitively demanding activities and more stimulating music during less demanding ones. This pattern highlights a clear difference in how music is used and perceived—not just casually, but as a strategy to meet stimulation needs. It was interesting to see that these self-regulatory uses of music are already present in everyday life.”
These findings align with existing psychological theories. One of them, the Moderate Brain Arousal model, suggests that individuals with ADHD often experience lower baseline levels of brain arousal. They may use external stimulation—such as music—to help reach an optimal arousal state that supports task engagement.
Stimulating music, by activating the brain’s reward system and releasing dopamine, could help compensate for this baseline deficit and reduce tendencies toward mind-wandering or distraction during tasks like studying. In contrast, neurotypical individuals may seek less stimulation and favor music that is more calming or predictable when engaging in complex work.
The researchers also investigated whether participants believed that background music improved their concentration or mood during cognitive tasks. Using a set of 27 statements, they conducted a factor analysis and identified two distinct dimensions of subjective experience: one related to cognitive functioning and the other to emotional functioning. Most participants reported that music helped with both, citing enhanced concentration and improved mood.
Contrary to expectations, there were no significant differences between groups in how they rated the emotional or cognitive benefits of background music. This suggests that despite listening more often to music in daily life, ADHD-screened individuals do not necessarily perceive stronger effects.
“Our findings suggest that young adults with ADHD symptoms tend to listen to background music more frequently during activities that demand concentration, and they usually prefer more stimulating music, regardless of the activity type (e.g., more and less cognitively demanding),” the researchers said. “Many participants—both young adults with ADHD symptoms and neurotypical—also reported that music helped them stay focused and improved their mood. This suggests that background music might be a way for some people to manage their attention and emotions in everyday life.”
The researchers took care to account for potential confounding factors in their analysis. They controlled for variables such as musical training and mood symptoms and found that group differences in listening habits remained significant. For instance, even after adjusting for emotional distress, participants with ADHD symptoms still reported higher music use while exercising or doing simple tasks. This pattern suggests that the behavior is not solely driven by emotional coping but may also be related to attentional strategies or arousal regulation.
But there are still some limitations to consider. One key limitation was the reliance on self-report data, which may be subject to recall bias or social desirability effects. In addition, the ADHD status of participants was determined through a screening questionnaire rather than a clinical diagnosis. This method may have included individuals with subclinical symptoms.
Despite these limitations, the study adds to a growing body of evidence that music plays a meaningful role in how people manage attention and emotion in daily life. For individuals with attentional challenges, music may serve as a flexible and self-directed tool to help regulate arousal, reduce boredom, and support performance.
Future research could build on these findings by using laboratory experiments or examining how different types of music affect cognitive performance and emotional state in individuals with ADHD. Longitudinal studies might also explore how music habits evolve over time or interact with other coping strategies.
“In the short term, we have just launched a new survey targeting a younger population (ages 12 to 17) to explore their background music listening habits during daily activities,” the researchers said. “In English: https://ls.sondages.umontreal.ca/229667. In French: https://ls.sondages.umontreal.ca/978117.”
“As for long-term goals, a key next step would be to examine how specific musical characteristics—such as tempo, lyrics, or familiarity—influence attention and emotional regulation in real time. Future research should be interested in developing personalized music-based strategies that could help individuals with attentional difficulties in academic or work settings.”
“Our findings reflect what many people may already sense intuitively: music is not just background noise—it plays a role in how we manage our attention, mood, and motivation,” the researchers added. “Understanding these everyday habits could help guide more individualized and practical approaches to supporting mental health and focus, especially in people with ADHD symptoms.”
The study, “Listening habits and subjective effects of background music in young adults with and without ADHD,” was authored by Kelly-Ann Lachance Pénélope Pelland-Goulet, and Nathalie Gosselin.
Key Questions Answered
Q: How does genetic risk for depression affect the brain?
A: Young adults with a higher genetic predisposition to depression showed reduced brain activity in key areas linked to decision-making and emotional regulation during reward and punishment tasks.
Q: Does this occur before symptoms of depression appear?
A: Yes. The study identified these brain activity differences in people with no current depression symptoms, suggesting early neural markers of risk.
Q: Are there differences between men and women?
A: Yes. The research found sex-specific neural response patterns, indicating that men and women may have different biological pathways linking genetic risk to depression.
Summary: A new imaging study reveals that young adults with a higher genetic risk for depression show diminished brain activity when processing rewards and punishments. Using data from nearly 900 healthy twins and siblings, researchers found altered activation in brain regions linked to attention and decision-making—well before any symptoms of depression appeared.
Notably, these changes were sex-specific and included a unique neural marker for punishment sensitivity in the posterior cingulate cortex. The findings point toward the potential for early detection and personalized prevention strategies for depression.
Key Facts:
Source: Elsevier
Novel imaging research indicates that young adults with a higher genetic risk for depression showed less brain activity in several areas when responding to rewards and punishments.
The study also uncovered notable differences between men and women.
The findings from this new study in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging highlight potential early indicators for depression before clinical symptoms fully manifest.
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions, and many people with depression have trouble processing rewards and punishments. It is known that genetics plays a role in depression, but it is not yet clear how genetic risk might affect the brain’s response to positive and negative experiences.
The researchers of the current study explored this connection in young adults before symptoms of depression fully developed.
In one of the first studies to show how genetic risk for depression might affect how the brain responds to good and bad outcomes in everyday decision-making, researchers explored how neural markers of reward and punishment processing reflect the overall genetic risks for depression, whether these markers are distinct from those associated with depression severity, and whether men and women show differences in these genetically informed neural markers.
“The study’s focus on individuals who are not yet diagnosed with depression paves the way for a better understanding of how genetic predisposition interacts with brain function in the context of reward and punishment, opening up new avenues for early detection and targeted therapies for depression,” comments Editor-in-Chief of Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging Cameron S. Carter, MD, University of California Irvine.
Researchers evaluated functional MRI brain scans and genotyping data from nearly 900 healthy twins or siblings (ages 22-35) in the Human Connectome Project (HCP) while they played a gambling game that involved winning or losing money. They looked at how the participants’ brains responded during wins and losses, and how that related to their genetic risk for depression.
Lead investigator Chiang-Shan R. Li, MD, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, and Inter-department Neuroscience Program and Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, reports, “We found that individuals with higher genetic risk for depression showed less activity in brain areas linked to attention and decision-making like the frontal, parietal, and occipital cortical regions of the brain.
“One area, the posterior cingulate cortex, was strongly associated with punishment but not reward processing. This potential punishment-specific region opens up interesting new questions. We also observed sex-dependent neural responses that suggest potentially sex-specific neurobiological pathways linking genetic risk to depression.”
Lead author of the article Yu Chen, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, concludes, “This research shows that genetic risk for depression can quietly influence how the brain reacts to everyday rewards and setbacks—even before someone feels depressed.
“These early brain markers could help us detect who is at risk and find better ways to intervene before symptoms appear. The gender differences identified make this work exceptionally timely, as the field moves toward more personalized mental healthcare.”
Author: Eileen Leahy
Source: Elsevier
Contact: Eileen Leahy – Elsevier
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“Polygenic Risks for Depression and Neural Responses to Reward and Punishment in Young Adults” by Yu Chen et al. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging
Abstract
Polygenic Risks for Depression and Neural Responses to Reward and Punishment in Young Adults
Extensive research has shown aberrant reward and punishment processing in people with depression. Genetic risks contribute to depression, but whether or how these risks of depression may affect behavioral and neural responses to reward and punishment remains unclear.
We curated the data of 879 young adults performing a gambling task during brain imaging from the Human Connectome Project. Depression severity was assessed with the Achenbach Adult Self Report. Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for depression were computed for all participants.
With published routines and at a corrected threshold, we evaluated how brain responses to reward and punishment were associated with depression scores and PRSs in a linear regression in all, male, and female participants, with age, sex (for all), race, and drinking severity as covariates.
The results showed broad frontal, parietal, and occipital cortical activation in negative correlation with PRSs during both reward and punishment processing. Notably, posterior cingulate cortical activation was specifically associated with PRS-related punishment processing. In addition, men and women displayed both shared and distinct neural responses to PRS-related reward and punishment processing.
These findings highlight the influence of genetic risks for depression on neural responses to reward and punishment and provide insights into genetically informed markers of depression.
Olaris will highlight data demonstrating the power of its myOLARIS™-KTdx urine-based diagnostic to detect and differentiate kidney graft injury with high accuracy. These findings represent a major step toward enabling non-invasive, real-time monitoring to improve long-term outcomes for transplant recipients.
FRAMINGHAM, Mass., Aug. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Olaris, Inc., a precision medicine company leveraging metabolomics and machine learning for the discovery and development of its myOLARIS™ diagnostics products, which aim to optimize treatments and outcomes for individual patients, is pleased to announce that the company has been selected for an oral presentation and 2 posters at the World Transplant Congress (WTC) to be held August 2-6, 2025 in San Franciso, USA.
Dr. Elizabeth O’Day, CEO & CSO of Olaris, will give an oral presentation, “Development and Validation of a Non-Invasive Urinary Metabolite Signature to Differentiate Graft from Graft Injury in Large Scale Multi-Center Study” scheduled for 5:26pm, Sunday August 3. The presentation will unveil validation data from over 675 kidney transplant samples with matched biopsies from multiple centers collected at time points ranging from 6 days to 5 years post-transplant.
The results demonstrate that the non-invasive myOLARIS™-KTdx urine assay accurately distinguishes between stable graft and various types of graft injury including borderline rejection, rejection and over-immunosuppression due to polyomavirus associated nephropathy (PVAN). Notably, over 85% of the samples were part of a protocol biopsy, wherein standard tests failed to detect the graft injury, underscoring the added clinical value of myOLARIS -KTdx in guiding clinical management decisions to maintain graft health and improve long-term patient outcomes.
In a separate poster presentation, Dr. Jifang Zhao, Manager of Statistical Science & Biomarkers at Olaris, will present “Analytical Validation of myOLARIS -KTdx, a Non-Invasive Urine Assay for Detecting and Differentiating Graft Injury in Kidney Transplant Recipients”. This study which analyzed prospectively collected urine from over 439 individuals, confirms the assay’s accuracy, precision, and reliability for clinical use. This result supports the use of myOLARIS -KTdx as a laboratory developed test (LDT) at the CLIA-certified Olaris laboratory in Framingham, MA.
A second poster by Chen Dong, Director of Data Science and Product Development at Olaris, will feature “Easy-to-Use Assay for The Direct Measurement of MMF Medication Adherence in Kidney Transplant Recipients”. Medication nonadherence (MNA) is a leading cause of graft loss, and existing monitoring methods are limited. Leveraging over 695 patient samples, Olaris developed an NMR-based urine test to directly measure adherence to mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), a key immunosuppressive drug. This new capability is now integrated into the myOLARIS -KTdx test to further support comprehensive post-transplant care.
Both posters will be on display Sunday August 3, 3:30-4:30 pm.
For more information on the WTC 2025 meeting or to view the most up-to-date schedule of Olaris presentations during the conference, visit https://wtc2025.org/.
About Olaris
Olaris, Inc., is working to fundamentally change how diseases are treated and diagnosed. By leveraging our myOLARIS™ toolbox which combines metabolomics, machine learning and biology we uncover clinically impactful biomarkers. To learn more visit https://myolaris.com.
Media Contact
Tom Burke, Olaris, Inc, 1 6179814784, [email protected], Olaris, Inc
SOURCE Olaris, Inc
A new study finds that high consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is associated with a 41% increased risk of lung cancer, including both NSCLC and SCLC subtypes. The large-scale analysis of over 101,000 US adults over 12 years showed the link was independent of smoking and overall diet quality.
Eating a lot of ultra-processed foods—like packaged snacks, sodas, and ready meals—may raise your risk of lung cancer by up to 41%, even if you don’t smoke or eat healthy otherwise, the study shows.
The new study published in Thorax reveals that high consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) is linked to a significantly increased risk of lung cancer — including both non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) subtypes. This association was found to be independent of other risk factors, such as smoking status and overall diet quality.
The study, based on more than 100,000 US adults followed over 12 years, found a 41% increased risk of lung cancer among those who consumed the most UPFs.
UPFs are industrial formulations made predominantly from substances extracted from foods or synthesized chemically, containing additives, preservatives, and flavor enhancers, with minimal or no intact whole foods. Their widespread consumption, particularly in Western diets—where over half of the daily caloric intake comprises UPFs—raises concerns about their long-term health impacts.
In a large-scale study, researchers have found a significant link between higher consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and an increased risk of developing lung cancer. This association was found to be independent of other risk factors, such as smoking status and overall diet quality.
The research, which analysed data from over 101,000 adults over a mean follow-up period of 12.2 years, revealed the following statistics:
There were a total of 1,706 new cases of lung cancer identified during the study period.
Individuals in the highest quarter for UPF consumption had a 41% higher risk of developing lung cancer compared to those in the lowest quarter. This finding was statistically significant and held true even after adjusting for a wide range of variables.
Details behind a new phase 2 proof-of-concept study, dubbed PRIMUS-AD (NCT06182085), testing investigational PRI-002 (PRInnovation), an oral small-molecule anti-amyloid-ß (Aß) oligomer disaggregator, were unveiled at the 2025 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC), held July 27-31, in Toronto, Canada. The double-blind, placebo-controlled trial includes around 300 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia caused by Alzheimer disease (AD), with data expected in mid-2026.1
Spanning across 40 study sites in Europe, PRIMUS-AD tests the therapeutic efficacy and safety of 2 doses of PRI-002 (300 mg, 600 mg), an all-D-enantiomeric peptide, against placebo. The study employs an adaptive design for 48 to 96 weeks of treatment duration, using change in Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes score at week 48 as the primary efficacy outcome. In the trial, a follow-up assessment is planned 12 weeks after the end of treatment.
Lead investigator Dagmar Jürgens, PhD, director of Clinical Development at Priavoid, and colleagues recorded a screening failure rate of 42% from the 540 original patients screened. The study will primarily assess the safety of PRI-002, which is not expected to induce amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), according to study authors. During the first 24 weeks of the study, investigators will closely monitor for ARIA in the initial 90 patients enrolled.
READ MORE: Innovative Phase 1b/2a Trial to Test Anti-Tau Agent BIIB080 in Corticobasal Syndrome
Eligible participants for this study include males and females aged 55 to 80 years with a body mass index between 18.5 and 30.0 kg/m², who have been diagnosed with MCI or mild dementia due to AD based on NIA-AA criteria. Participants must have Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) scores between 22–30, RBANS-DMI scores of 85 or less, and a CDR global score of 0.5 or 1. Confirmation of AD must be supported by either CSF biomarkers or prior positive amyloid PET imaging. Fluency in the local language, adequate cognitive function, and the presence of a reliable caregiver are also required.2
Individuals with moderate or severe AD, other neurological or psychiatric conditions, recent seizures, strokes, or MRI abnormalities are excluded. Additional exclusions include unstable medical conditions, significant hepatic or renal impairment, bleeding disorders, or infections such as HIV or hepatitis B/C. Patients must not have used certain medications or participated in trials involving active immunization against Aβ or tau. Use of anti-Aβ monoclonal antibodies or recent changes in AD medications are also disqualifying factors.
Unlike monoclonal antibodies that clear Aß plaques, PRI-002 is designed to directly target and destabilize toxic Aß oligomers, which are believed to play a central role in neuronal damage and cognitive decline in AD. Prior to PRIMUS-AD, the agent was tested in several preclinical proof-of-concept studies and a phase 1 single- (SAD) and multiple-ascending (MAD) trial.3
Published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia in 2020, the SAD (EUDRA-CT: 2017-000396-93; n = 40) tested doses of 4, 12, 36, 108, and 320 mg of PRI-002 vs placebo while the MAD (2018-002500-14; n = 24) tested 160 mg PRI-002 for 14 days or 320 mg for 28 days. All told, PRI-002 was considered safe and well tolerated in both cohorts, with rapid drug exposure that increased proportional to dose. Overall, plasma levels seen in tested humans after a single oral dose were in the same range as those observed in the highest dosed transgenic mice in successful proof-of-concept studies.
Click here for more AAIC 2025 coverage.
Hibernating mammals rely on particular genes to adjust their metabolisms as they enter that unique, low-energy state — and humans actually carry that same hibernation-related DNA.
Now, early research hints that leveraging this particular DNA could help treat medical conditions in people, scientists say.
Hibernation offers “a whole bunch of different biometrically important superpowers,” senior study author Christopher Gregg, a human genetics professor at the University of Utah, told Live Science.
For example, ground squirrels can develop reversible insulin resistance that helps them rapidly gain weight before they hibernate but starts fading as hibernation gets underway. A better understanding of how hibernators flip this switch could be useful for tackling the insulin resistance that characterizes type 2 diabetes, Gregg suggested.
Hibernating animals also protect their nervous systems from damage that could be caused by sudden changes in blood flow. “When they come out of hibernation, their brain is reperfused with blood,” Gregg said. “Often that would cause a lot of damage, like a stroke, but they’ve developed ways to prevent that damage from happening.”
Gregg and his colleagues think tapping into hibernation-related genes in people could unlock similar benefits.
Related: Best-ever map of the human genome sheds light on ‘jumping genes,’ ‘junk DNA’ and more
In a pair of studies published Thursday (July 31) in the journal Science, Gregg and his team pinpointed key levers that control genes related to hibernation, showing how they differ between animals that hibernate and those that don’t. Then, in the lab experiments, they delved into the effects of deleting these levers in lab mice.
Although mice don’t hibernate, they can enter torpor — a lethargic state of decreased metabolism, movement and body temperature that typically lasts for less than a day — after fasting for at least six hours. This made mice a suitable genetic model for studying these effects.
Using the gene-editing technique CRISPR, the scientists engineered mice with one of five conserved noncoding cis elements (CREs) deactivated, or “knocked out.” These CREs act as levers to control genes that, in turn, code for proteins that carry out biological functions.
The CREs targeted in the study lie near a gene cluster called the “fat mass and obesity-related locus,” or the FTO locus, which is also found in humans. Gene variants found within the cluster have been tied to an elevated risk of obesity and related conditions. Broadly speaking, the FTO locus is known to be important for controlling metabolism, energy expenditure and body mass.
By knocking out the CREs, the researchers were able to change the mice’s weights, metabolic rates and foraging behaviors. Some deletions sped up or slowed down weight gain, others turned metabolic rate up or down, and some affected how quickly the mice’s body temperatures recovered after torpor, the researchers said in a statement.
This finding is “highly promising,” particularly given the FTO locus plays a well-known role in human obesity, Kelly Drew, a specialist on hibernation biology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, told Live Science in an email.
Knocking out one CRE — called E1 — in female mice caused them to gain more weight on a high-fat diet than did a comparison group with all of their DNA intact. Deleting a different CRE, called E3, changed the foraging behavior of both male and female mice, specifically changing how they searched for food hidden in an arena.
“This suggests that important differences in foraging and decision processes may exist between hibernators and non-hibernators and the elements we uncovered might be involved,” Gregg said.
The study authors said their results could be relevant to humans, since the underlying genes don’t differ much between mammals. “It’s how [the mammals] turn those genes on and off at different times and then for different durations and in different combinations that shape different species,” Gregg said.
However, “it’s definitely not as simple as introducing the same changes in human DNA,” Joanna Kelley, a professor who specialises in functional genomics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, told Live Science in an email. “Humans are not capable of fasting-induced torpor, which is the reason why mice are used in these studies,” said Kelley, who was not involved in the work.
She suggested that future work include animals incapable of torpor, and focus on unpacking all the downstream effects of the deleted CREs. As is, the current study “definitely points the field in a new direction” in terms of how scientists understand the genetic controls driving changes in hibernators throughout the year, she added.
Drew also highlighted that torpor in mice is triggered by fasting, while true hibernation is triggered by hormonal and seasonal changes and internal clocks. So while the CREs and genes the study identified are likely critical parts of a metabolic “toolkit” that responds to fasting, they may not be a “master switch” that turns hibernation on or off.
“Nevertheless, uncovering these fundamental mechanisms in a tractable model like the mouse is an invaluable stepping stone for future research,” Drew said.
Gregg emphasized that much remains unknown, including why the effects of some deletions differed in female mice versus male mice or how the changes in foraging behavior seen in mice might manifest in humans. The team also plans to research what would happen if they deleted more than one hibernation-linked CRE at a time in mice.
Down the line, Gregg thinks it could be possible to tweak the activity of humans’ “hibernation hub genes” with drugs. The idea would be that this approach could yield the benefits of that gene activity — like neuroprotection — without patients having to actually hibernate, he said.
A 34-year-old woman working at construction sites in the New Reclamation Zone A has been diagnosed with chikungunya fever, marking the second locally transmitted case in Macau, the Health Bureau has confirmed. The patient is reported to be in a stable condition.
Investigations suggest a link between this case and the first local case of chikungunya, also detected at construction sites in Zone A, as well as with several imported cases.
Since the beginning of the year, Macau has reported eight cases of chikungunya—six imported and two local. Five of the cases were identified in Zone A.
In response, authorities have ordered the suspension of operations at the affected construction sites to carry out disinfestation measures. Zone A and its surrounding areas have been designated as potential high-risk zones.