WashU Medicine researchers developed a model to estimate when Alzheimer's disease symptoms will begin based on the accumulation of amyloid and tau proteins in the brain. These proteins build up predictably over time, like tree rings, providing scientists with a clock for Alzheimer's symptoms.

Scientists at Nagoya University in Japan have found two gut bacteria working together that contribute to chronic constipation. The duo, Akkermansia muciniphila and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, destroy the intestinal mucus coating essential for keeping the colon lubricated and feces hydrated. Their excess degradation leaves patients with dry, immobile stool. This discovery, published in Gut Microbes, finally explains why standard treatments often fail for millions of people with chronic constipation. Notably, the study shows that Parkinson's disease patients, who suffer from constipation decades before developing tremors, have higher levels of these mucus-degrading bacteria. While constipation in Parkinson’s disease has traditionally been attributed to nerve degradation, these findings suggest that bacterial activity also plays a crucial role in the development of their symptoms. 

A newly discovered cellular mechanism that shows promise for treating painful lymphoedema