Day: May 8, 2025

Categories : PaediatricsTags :

Scientists Discover the Genes that Influence When Babies Start Walking

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Chayene Rafaela on Unsplash

In the first study of its kind, scientists analysed the genetic information of more than 70 000 infants. They identified 11 genetic markers influencing when babies start walking, thus offering multiple targets for future in-depth biological investigation. 

In a paper published in Nature Human Behaviour, the study found that genetics accounts for about a quarter of the differences in when children take their first steps.

For years, researchers knew that environmental factors could influence when babies begin to walk, but this new finding shows that genetics also has a major impact. It suggests that, just like with other traits such as height, some children may naturally start walking earlier or later because of their genetic propensity. 

Professor Angelica Ronald, Professor of Psychology and Genetics, said: “Most babies take their first step sometime between ages 8 months and 24 months, so it is a wide window in which this exciting milestone happens. It is a big moment for both parents and baby; it symbolises a new phase in a child’s life.”

Dr Anna Gui, an author of the study and a researcher at the University of Rome Tor Vergata and Birkbeck, University of London said: “Until now, we didn’t understand what causes the wide differences between children in when they take their first step. Parents might often worry that walking early or late is a bad sign or that they have done something wrong. We see that genetics play a considerable role in influencing the timing of this milestone.“

Walking isn’t just a key milestone in the development of a child, but it is connected in terms of genetic influences with many other important aspects of human development. The study found that the genetic factors influencing when children take their first step are partly the same genetic factors that influence brain development including the amount of folding and ridges in the outer surface of the brain (the “cortex”). Moreover, walking later within the typical range was linked genetically with less chance of developing ADHD. Finally, the study showed that relatively later onset of walking was influenced by some of the same genes involved in higher educational attainment.  

Prof Ronald added: “It is exciting to be able to discover the genes that influence when children learn to walk. Starting to walk independently is a major milestone for young children. We hope these new genetic findings can advance fundamental understanding about the causes of walking and be used to better support children with motor disorders and learning disabilities.”

She added that parents should still see a GP if there was concern, there is a lot of variety in when children take their first unaided step,

Led by scientists in the UK, the study was made possible through a large collaboration with scientists in the UK, Netherlands and Norway, and through UK and international funding including from the Simons Foundation for Autism Research Initiative.  

Categories : TransplantsTags :

A Natural ‘Brake’ Could Help Prevent Organ Transplant Rejection

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Photo by Natanael Melchor on Unsplash

Current treatments to prevent organ transplant rejection focus mainly on suppressing T cells, part of the adaptive immune system. However, the innate immune system – the body’s first line of defence that triggers early inflammation after transplantation – has largely remained untargeted by modern therapies.

In a new study, researchers from Mass General Brigham identified a natural “brake” within the innate immune system: the inhibitory receptor Siglec-E (SigE) and its human counterparts, Siglec-7 and Siglec-9. This receptor helps prevent overactivation of immune cells that drive rejection. When this brake is missing, inflammation worsens, leading to faster rejection in preclinical models. Importantly, transplant patients with higher levels of Siglec-7 and Siglec-9 showed better graft survival, highlighting this pathway as a promising target for new therapies. Results are published in Science Translational Medicine.

“For decades, we’ve focused almost exclusively on controlling T cells to prevent rejection,” said Leonardo Riella, MD, PhD, medical director of Kidney Transplantation at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). Riella is also the Chair in Transplantation at Harvard Medical School. “Our research shows that the innate immune system plays a pivotal role. By harnessing natural inhibitory pathways like Siglec-E, we can develop safer, more precise therapies that protect transplanted organs without compromising overall immune health.”

To conduct their studies, the researchers, led by first author Thiago J. Borges, PhD, of the Center for Transplantation Sciences at MGH, used mouse models of heart, kidney, and skin transplantation to study the roles of SigE, the murine equivalent of Siglec-7 and Siglec-9.  Recipients deficient in SigE had accelerated acute rejection and increased inflammation. The researchers also looked at the levels of the receptors in samples from human transplant biopsies, finding that higher levels of the receptors were associated with improved allograft survival, suggesting that the findings in mice will be translatable to organ transplants in humans.

“This discovery paves the way for next-generation treatments that address both arms of the immune system, offering hope for longer-lasting transplant success and reducing the need for lifelong immunosuppression,” said Riella.

Source: Mass General Brigham

Categories : Metabolic DisordersTags :

Dual-action Approach Targeting Inflammation Shows Potential as Type 1 Diabetes Treatment

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich on Pexels

A study co-led by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers presents a potential new strategy to prevent or slow the progression of Type 1 diabetes by targeting an inflammation-related protein known to drive the disease. The findings, recently published in eBioMedicine, may help inform clinical trials of a drug that is already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for psoriasis as a treatment for Type 1 diabetes.

In laboratory studies using human cells and mouse models, the researchers found that applying a molecular method to block inflammation signalling through the tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) protein reduced harmful inflammation in the pancreas. This strategy not only protected the beta cells in the pancreas but also reduced the immune system’s attack on those cells. A medication that inhibits TYK2 is already approved for the treatment of psoriasis, an autoimmune condition that causes skin inflammation.

“Our study showed that targeting TYK2 could be a powerful way to protect insulin-producing beta cells while calming inflammation in the immune system at the same time,” said Carmella Evans-Molina, MD, PhD, co-author of the study and director of the Indiana Diabetes Research Center and the Eli Lilly and Company Professor of Pediatric Diabetes at the IU School of Medicine. “This finding is exciting because there is already a drug on the market that does this for psoriasis, which could help us move more quickly toward testing it for Type 1 diabetes.”

Past genetic studies have already shown that people with naturally lower TYK2 activity are less likely to develop Type 1 diabetes, further supporting the group’s approach for future treatments using this TYK2 inhibitor approach.

“Our preclinical models suggest that the treatment might work in people as well,” said Farooq Syed, PhD, lead author of the study and assistant professor in the Department of Diabetes-Immunology at the Arthur-Riggs Diabetes and Metabolic Research Institute of the City of Hope. “The next step is to initiate translational studies to evaluate the impact of TYK2 inhibition alone or in combination with other already approved drugs in individuals at-risk or with recent onset Type 1 diabetes.”

Source: Indiana University

Categories : Mental HealthTags :

Setting and Mental Health Shape Ayahuasca’s Longer-term Psychological Effects

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Some acute post-ayahuasca “adverse effects” like visual distortions and hallucinations were associated with better reported mental health at a later date, while other adverse effects like feeling isolated or energetically attacked were associated with worse mental health later on

Ayahuasca being gathered. ICEERS, CC-BY 4.0

Mounting evidence supports ayahuasca’s potential to improve mental health, but its long-term effects are shaped by both individual mental health history and the context in which the psychedelic is used, according to a study published on April 30, 2025 in the open-access journal PLOS Mental Health by Óscar Andión from Research Sherpas, Spain; José Carlos Bouso from the International Centre for Ethnobotanical Education, Research, and Services (ICEERS) and the University of Rovira i Virgili, Spain; Daniel Perkins from the University of Melbourne and Swinburne University; and colleagues.

Ayahuasca, a psychedelic medicine traditionally used by Indigenous communities in South America, has received increasing interest from Western researchers and clinicians for its potential mental health benefits, but its potential risks and adverse effects remain understudied. In a previous review of adverse effects reported in a global survey of ayahuasca ceremony participants, José Carlos Bouso, Andión, and colleagues found that over half reported adverse mental states after ayahuasca use, with greater adverse experiences associated with a history of mental illness and using the drug in non-traditional settings. Importantly, potential adverse effects reported ranged from visual distortions or hallucinations to “feeling down, depressed, or hopeless”, “feeling disconnected or alone”, and “feeling energetically attacked”. 

In their new analysis, the authors applied machine learning and classical statistical approaches to the same dataset to better understand the mediating factors shaping the relationship between adverse events and mental health outcomes in ayahuasca users. The survey included 10 836 participants, of whom 5400 with complete data were included in the final analysis. Among these, 14.2% had a prior anxiety disorder and 19.7% a prior depressive disorder.. Although the Global Ayahuasca Survey reflects a large, diverse population of users, it was voluntary and administered potentially years after an individual’s ayahuasca experience, introducing self-selection and recall biases. 

The researchers found that participants with a history of anxiety or depression, as well as those using ayahuasca in non-traditional settings, were more likely to report adverse mental states after use. Some “adverse effects” like visual distortions, however, were associated with significantly better mental health outcomes reported in the present. Adverse effects like “feeling down”, “feeling disconnected”, and “feeling energetically attacked” however, were associated with poorer mental health in participants in the longer term. The authors suggest that the context in which ayahuasca is used, as well as factors like age and mental health history, influence whether an individual experiences psychological benefits following an ayahuasca experience, and note that “adverse” effects of ayahuasca may be subjective. 

Their findings appear to indicate that it would be more beneficial to use ayahuasca under the supervision of experienced users who can provide additional support to those with a history of depression, who may otherwise face a higher risk of negative outcomes. They propose that, while psychedelics are becoming increasingly medicalised, ayahuasca is most often consumed in group or community settings. Therefore, future studies should examine the effects of ayahuasca use in these real-life communal contexts. 

Dr José Carlos Bouso notes: “What stood out most to us was the significant difference in mental health outcomes between users who had supportive environments [during their use] and those who didn’t. This emphasises the importance of a responsible and well-prepared setting for those seeking healing through ayahuasca.”

On the role of spirituality, Dr Buoso says: “Our research also highlights that the spiritual significance of ayahuasca ceremonies plays a protective role, reducing adverse emotional states like anxiety, depression, and disconnection, thus contributing to overall mental health improvement.

 The authors add: “Our study reveals that the post-ayahuasca mental states, traditionally seen as adverse, can contribute to improved mental health, especially in individuals with previous anxiety and depressive disorders. This suggests the need for a more nuanced understanding of these states as potentially beneficial experiences.”

Provided by PLOS

Categories : GenderTags :

Males Are More Likely to Get Sick and Less Likely to Seek Care for Three Common Diseases

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A global analysis finds sex-based health disparities for hypertension, diabetes and HIV and AIDS

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

In many countries, males are more likely than females to get sick and die from three common conditions, and less likely to get medical care, according to a new study by Angela Chang of the University of Southern Denmark, and colleagues, published May 1st in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine.

Many health policies are the same for males and females, even though there is strong evidence that sex and gender can substantially influence a person’s health outcomes. In the new study, researchers gathered global health data for people of different sexes and ages for three conditions, hypertension, diabetes, and HIV and AIDS. By comparing rates of diseases between males and females and differences in diagnosis and treatment, the researchers sought to illuminate and reduce health inequities between the sexes.

The analysis identified significant differences between the sexes at each step in the “health pathway,” which includes exposure to a risk factor, development of the condition, diagnosis, treatment and death. Males and females received different care for hypertension, diabetes and HIV and AIDS in 200, 39, and 76 countries, respectively. Males had higher rates of disease and higher rates of death compared to females, and in some countries, were less likely to seek out health care and adhere to treatment. In most countries, males were also more likely to smoke, while females were more like to be obese and engage in unsafe sex.

Overall, the study suggests that public health professionals need to develop strategies to encourage males to participate in preventive and health care services. The researchers also highlight the importance of examining health data by sex to understand health inequities and guide appropriate interventions at multiple points along the health pathway. They conclude that we need more comprehensive datasets for these and other conditions so that we can monitor for sex differences and implement equitable health care policies.

Professors Kent Buse and Sarah Hawkes, co-founders and co-CEOs of Global 50/50 say, “We have long advocated the benefits of publishing sex disaggregated data.  As our Gendered Health Pathways demonstrates, such data can reveal where the health journeys of men and women diverge be it in relation to the risk factors they are exposed to, their health care seeking behaviors or their experiences in health care systems. That is an important first step towards health equity. Most of these differences are not explained by sex (biology) alone, but by socially-constructed gender – highlighting the importance of taking a gender justice approach to reducing health inequities.  A gender analysis can help to shape systems of health for all.”

Angela Chang, senior author, adds, “The evidence is clear: sex differences persist at nearly every point along the health pathway, from higher smoking rates in men to higher obesity prevalence in women, yet interventions rarely reflect this. Without sex-disaggregated cascade data, we’re flying blind – unable to detect who is falling through the cracks in prevention, diagnosis, and care.”

Provided by PLOS