March 11, 2025
For people with a certain sleep disorder, a simple blood test could help predict the development of dementia years before symptoms appear, a new study indicates. Idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) causes people to physically act out their dreams while sleeping. The disorder is also associated with a very high risk of Parkinson's disease and a related condition called Dementia with Lewy Bodies. This is a form of dementia that often causes memory and cognitive loss, as well as vivid visual hallucinations and movement difficulties similar to Parkinson's.
March 10, 2025
Researchers found new insights on the timing of prenatal stress and its effect on infant stress reactivity and temperament -- including differences between genders.
Study pinpoints the impact of prenatal stress across 27 weeks of pregnancy
March 6, 2025
Higher levels of the minerals copper and manganese in pregnant women were associated with lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of developing high blood pressure decades later, according to a long-term study.
Levels of select vitamins and minerals in pregnancy may be linked to lower midlife BP risk
March 6, 2025
More than 120 million Americans suffer from diabetes or pre-diabetes. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive form of breast cancer, and TNBC patients with obesity-driven diabetes often have worse outcomes. A new study helps explain why this happens and suggests a potential way to improve treatment for these patients.
March 6, 2025
A landmark study reveals that bacterial vaginosis (BV), a condition affecting nearly a third of women worldwide and causing infertility, premature births and newborn deaths, is in fact an STI, paving the way for a revolution in how it is treated.
New STI impacts 1 in 3 women: Landmark study reveals men are the missing link
March 5, 2025
Oxytocin, a hormone already known for its role in childbirth, milk release, and mother-infant bonding, may have a newfound purpose in mammalian reproduction. In times of maternal stress, the hormone can delay an embryo's development for days to weeks after conception, a new study in rodents shows. According to the authors, the findings about so-called 'diapause' may offer new insights into pregnancy and fertility issues faced by humans.
Findings may advance understanding of infertility in mothers
March 4, 2025
New research reveals that a mother's diet during pregnancy -- characterized by a Western dietary pattern high in fat and sugar and low in fresh ingredients -- may increase the risk of neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD and autism in children. Researchers see potential for targeted dietary interventions during pregnancy to reduce this risk.
March 4, 2025
New research from kinesiologists is challenging the internet belief that timing resistance training to specific phases of the menstrual cycle boosts the body's ability to build muscle and strength.
Researchers debunk common belief that women get better muscles by timing their workouts to their menstrual cycles
February 27, 2025
Using an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS), researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have created a four-dimensional brain map that reveals how lesions similar to those seen in human MS form. These findings, published in Science, provide a window into the early disease state and could help identify potential targets for MS treatments and brain tissue repair.
New 4D Brain Map reveals potential early warning signs of multiple sclerosis
February 19, 2025
Despite decades of research, understanding the precise biological mechanisms behind the disease has remained a challenge. Now, an interdisciplinary team of researchers at Purdue University, led by Professor of Biological Sciences, Peristera Paschou, has made significant strides in uncovering genetic and biological factors that contribute to Alzheimer’s—particularly in women. Their work, published in Acta Neuropathologica Communications, provides new insights that could pave the way for more personalized treatment approaches.
Purdue News: Tackling Alzheimer’s: Purdue scientists map genetic risks for women
