A large-scale study from the University of Michigan and University of Minnesota finds no evidence for a long-believed association between musical training and enhanced neural processing of sounds at the early stages of auditory processing.

Researchers found that complement factor I (CFI) deficiency, an ultra-rare genetic disorder that can cause debilitating neuroinflammation, is more than 4500 times more likely to be found in individuals of Old Order Amish ancestry than the rest of the global population. These findings could help clinicians better recognize the disease and develop a standard-of-care, particularly for Amish patients affected by this disease.

Brain tissue studies reveal more beta amyloid and tau accumulation in women with Down syndrome than in men.

Findings emphasize the importance of considering sex in the design of Alzheimer’s research and treatment.

The National Institutes of Health supported the study.