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Clinical genetics news
DNA changes in Alzheimer's disease: What they mean to patients, families
Scientists know that age is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, but aging alone doesn't explain why some people develop the condition while others do not. Genetics, lifestyle factors and environmental influences ...
2 hours ago
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An extremely old giant tortoise named Jonathan may hold the secret to a long, healthy life
An international collaboration led by a neurologist and experts in advanced genomics at Vanderbilt Health has coaxed one of the secrets of extreme longevity from a 194-year-old giant tortoise named Jonathan.
Oct 11, 2026
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Physical activity weakens link between genetic risk and depression severity, long-term data suggest
Major depressive disorder (MDD), one type of depression, is one of the most common psychiatric conditions worldwide. It is characterized by persistent low mood and a loss of interest in everyday activities, along with changes ...
New genetic candidates help explain why autism affects males more often than females
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, the Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) at Texas Children's Hospital and collaborating institutions have identified new genetic candidates that help explain why autism ...
Oct 10, 2026
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Aspirin rarely used for colorectal cancer prevention
People with Lynch syndrome have a significantly increased risk of developing colorectal cancer and other types of cancer due to a hereditary predisposition. The CAPP2 study had already shown in this high-risk group that acetylsalicylic ...
Oct 10, 2026
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Blood cells from 80-year-old donor become stem cells with molecular age under 20
Researchers from the University Hospital of Bonn and the University of Bonn have succeeded in dramatically rejuvenating human cells in a test tube. To do so, they directly reprogrammed red blood cell precursors into stem ...
Oct 9, 2026
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Lab-grown blood vessels reveal roles of different cells in rapid-aging disease
Biomedical engineers at Duke University have developed a three-layer model of human blood vessels that enables researchers to better understand how Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), a rare genetic disorder that ...
Oct 9, 2026
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Polynesian wayfinding is written in the genomes of island populations
For centuries, Polynesian navigators crossed thousands of miles of open ocean, using their knowledge of stars, currents, birds, clouds and the sea to settle islands across the Pacific. Now, a new University of California ...
Oct 8, 2026
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Fat-storing gene emerges as possible contributor to anorexia risk
A gene primarily active in fat and muscles could make a person more susceptible to anorexia nervosa, a deadly eating disorder with one of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric disease.
Oct 8, 2026
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Distinct malaria parasites may help explain sickle cell trait's protection against disease
Malaria is one of the deadliest infectious diseases on the planet, afflicting people throughout recorded history. In places where malaria is most common, it's shaped human evolution by driving higher rates of a paradoxically ...
Oct 8, 2026
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New genetic insights could help detect hearing loss earlier
A team of hearing specialists at Vanderbilt Health analyzed thousands of data samples in the institution's BioVU biobank to understand genetic susceptibility of sensorineural hearing loss, which is caused by damage to the ...
Oct 8, 2026
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Current age-based genetic testing in patients with cancer may miss the majority of inherited gene variants
Germline genetic screening can identify whether a patient with cancer has inherited genetic alterations in a gene or genes that are implicated in cancer. These inherited genetic alterations, known as germline pathogenic variants, ...
Oct 8, 2026
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IVF-conceived children show more 'jumping gene' DNA, study finds
Infertility affects more than 15% of couples worldwide. Thanks to medical science, infertility treatments have come a long way over the past few years. For millions of people, in vitro fertilization (IVF) has opened a medical ...
Scientists identify gene signatures in children with severe COVID-19 infection
Researchers have identified patterns of gene activity associated with severe COVID-19 in children that are shared with other serious respiratory infections.
Oct 7, 2026
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Health records link ADHD to more than fourfold higher risk of later cognitive impairment
A new study led by University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers finds that adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) face a significantly higher risk of developing dementia or mild cognitive impairment ...
Oct 7, 2026
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First single-cell DNA analysis reveals mitochondrial damage in vulnerable Parkinson's brainstem neurons
Researchers have carried out the first single-cell analysis of mitochondrial DNA in a population of brainstem neurons that are particularly vulnerable to degeneration in Parkinson's disease.
Oct 7, 2026
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We may need a new map to properly interpret our genome
Genetic information may play an increasingly important role in the personalized preventive medicine of the future. Whole-genome sequencing could open up new possibilities for identifying susceptibility to and risk of specific ...
Oct 7, 2026
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NHS labs fail to share data vital for diagnosis and care of rare diseases, investigation finds
Three of England's seven NHS genetics laboratories are failing to routinely share vital information about genetic variants in public databases that helps patients with rare diseases access diagnosis and care, an investigation ...
Oct 7, 2026
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International study validates less invasive approach to diagnosing mitochondrial disease
Researchers at Children's Hospital Colorado (Children's Colorado) and the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine have published one of the largest studies to date evaluating advanced laboratory testing for mitochondrial ...
Oct 6, 2026
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Unexpected link identified between rare metabolic disease gene and inherited blindness
Researchers at the Greenwood Genetic Center (GGC) led the discovery of an unexpected connection between inherited blindness and a gene known for causing a rare metabolic disorder.
Oct 6, 2026
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New HPV selection method could help develop more stable, easier-to-produce vaccines
It's recommended that all adolescents get vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV), as the infection can cause cancer. HPV causes nearly all cases of cervical cancer and about 70% of some forms of head and neck cancers. ...
Oct 6, 2026
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Abnormal lymph vessels show heightened growth signaling regardless of key gene mutation
Lymphatic malformations are rare disorders in which lymph vessels develop abnormally, often beginning in childhood and sometimes causing swelling, infection, bleeding, pain or airway obstruction.
Oct 6, 2026
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Inherited lupus can begin early—and continue silently
A multicenter study led by researchers at Sultan Qaboos University has found that patients with a rare inherited form of lupus may continue to accumulate organ damage even when conventional measures indicate that their disease ...
Oct 6, 2026
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Brain stimulation timing may shape memory outcomes in Parkinson's patients with GBA1 mutations
The timing of deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery is a critical factor in preserving cognitive function for Parkinson's disease patients with a specific genetic mutation, according to a new study by an international team ...
Oct 6, 2026
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Rare genetic variants linked to lower cognitive test scores in expanded analysis
The largest genetic study of cognition to date has been published, involving nearly half a million people of European ancestry. This provides a new understanding of the genetic factors that shape cognitive differences and ...
Oct 5, 2026
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