Researchers have uncovered a previously underappreciated mechanism involved in Alzheimer’s disease and developed a compound that interrupts it. For decades, Alzheimer’s research has largely focused on amyloid plaques and tau tangles, the protein abnormalities that accumulate in the brain as the disease progresses. Yet despite billions of dollars in research and numerous drug development efforts,…

PFDA, a PFAS “forever chemical,” can cause craniofacial birth defects by disrupting retinoic acid regulation during fetal development, revealing the first clear molecular mechanism behind the link. Researchers have long linked perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called “forever chemicals,” to serious birth defects. However, scientists have struggled to explain exactly how…

Two new tool compounds may help scientists study TAOK proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders. Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia and affects more than seven million people in the United States. Some treatments can slow the disease, but most address symptoms rather than the root biology, and none can [...]

Low doses of psilocybin made aggressive fish calmer without stopping social interaction, revealing a selective effect on escalated conflict behaviors. More than 200 mushroom species contain the psychoactive compound psilocybin, especially gilled mushrooms from the genus Psilocybe. In mammals, psilocybin interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain and can affect mood, appetite, aggression, and…

A popular K-beauty ingredient could become an unexpected weapon against superbugs. Madecassic acid is best known in Korean skincare as a soothing “hero ingredient,” but scientists now believe it could also help combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Researchers at the University of Kent have discovered that this naturally occurring compound may offer a promising new approach in [...]

A naturally derived molecule shows promise in blocking critical behaviors that bacteria rely on to cause disease. Drug-resistant bacteria are quietly reshaping modern medicine, turning once-treatable infections into serious threats. Among the most concerning is Staphylococcus aureus, or “staph,” a microbe that commonly lives on the skin but can trigger dangerous infections if it enters [...]

A newly identified weakness in “zombie” cells may open the door to more precise cancer treatments by turning their own survival strategy against them. A new class of drugs takes advantage of a recently discovered weakness in “zombie-like” or senescent cells, opening the door to potential treatments for cancer and age-related diseases. Researchers from the [...]

A new study links fatty acid metabolism to rheumatoid arthritis treatment, revealing a natural compound that disrupts inflammation by targeting a previously overlooked enzyme. A compound derived from a traditional medicinal plant may offer a new way to treat rheumatoid arthritis by targeting how the body processes fats rather than simply suppressing the immune system. [...]

A common medication may be taking on an unexpected role in cancer care. What if a cheap, everyday painkiller could help keep cancer from coming back after surgery? New clinical trial results suggest that for some patients with colorectal cancer, aspirin may do exactly that. In a study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and [...]

A large international study suggests that a subset of people with Type 2 diabetes carry genetic variants that blunt the effectiveness of widely used GLP-1–based drugs, despite unexpectedly elevated levels of the hormone in their bodies. GLP-1 receptor agonists are now used by more than a quarter of people with Type 2 diabetes, and their [...]

Overlooked plant compounds may quietly hold new clues for treating some of the most challenging forms of pain. Researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences say compounds from Cannabis sativa may help ease two difficult types of pain: fibromyalgia and pain after surgery. Their findings, published in Pharmacological Reports, suggest that terpenes could offer [...]

New research challenges widely held assumptions about medicinal cannabis, particularly in mental health care. A sweeping new analysis published in The Lancet Psychiatry challenges one of the fastest-growing trends in modern medicine: the use of cannabis-based treatments for mental health. After reviewing a vast body of clinical evidence, researchers found no reliable support for using [...]

Researchers have identified a versatile enzyme capable of reshaping peptide-based drugs into more stable, longer-lasting forms. Chemistry researchers at the University of Utah have identified an enzyme called PapB that can “tie off” therapeutic peptides, which are protein-like drugs, into compact ring structures. This process is known as macrocyclization. According to new research, this approach…

A newly studied opioid compound is reshaping assumptions about pain treatment and addiction risk. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have identified a powerful new opioid that could be used to treat both pain and opioid use disorder. In a study published in Nature, the scientists tested the drug in laboratory animals and [...]

A new study raises important questions about widely used NAD+ supplements, suggesting that compounds often taken to boost energy and support healthy aging may have unintended consequences in cancer treatment. Millions of Americans take supplements like nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), nicotinamide riboside (NR), and nicotinamide (NAM) with the goal of boosting energy and supporting healthy…

Scientists have identified molecules that can protect the eye’s cone cells from degeneration, a major cause of vision loss. The discovery points to new drug targets—and even uncovers compounds that may be harmful. Researchers led by Botond Roska at the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB), along with an international team, have uncovered [...]

Researchers have uncovered an early survival response in ovarian cancer cells that may limit the effectiveness of widely used PARP inhibitors. A new study from Mayo Clinic researchers reports that ovarian cancer cells can quickly switch on a survival response after treatment with PARP inhibitors. Blocking this early reaction may help these drugs work more [...]

Scientists turned bacteria into tumor-hunting drug factories—hinting at a bold new way to fight cancer. Millions of people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer each year, yet treating the disease remains challenging due to its complexity. New research published today (March 17) in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Tianyu Jiang at Shandong University in Qingdao, [...]

A naturally occurring compound in rice bran may play an unexpected role in regulating intestinal movement. A team of scientists led by Dr. Keisuke Obara, Dr. Kento Yoshioka, and Professor Yoshio Tanaka from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Toho University has discovered that ferulic acid (FA), a naturally occurring polyphenol found in high amounts [...]

A widely used treatment for rheumatoid arthritis may offer an unexpected cardiovascular benefit. Methotrexate has been a staple treatment for rheumatoid arthritis for decades, valued for its ability to calm an overactive immune system and reduce painful joint inflammation. Now, researchers say it may deliver an unexpected bonus that matters far beyond the joints: lower [...]

The largest review of its kind suggests opioids may offer far less relief for acute pain than commonly believed. The largest analysis ever conducted on opioid pain medications used for acute pain has found that these drugs offer only modest, short-lived relief for certain conditions and do not work at all for others. Researchers at [...]

Psychedelics appear to reshape how the brain builds reality by dampening incoming visual signals and boosting internal memory networks. Psychedelic compounds act on the brain by binding to serotonin receptors. Scientists have identified at least 14 different receptors that respond to the neurotransmitter serotonin. Among them, psychedelics most strongly target the 2A receptor. This receptor [...]

Researchers at Scripps Research have redesigned fentanyl at the molecular level, challenging decades-old assumptions about opioid chemistry. Fentanyl ranks among the most powerful medications available for treating intense pain. However, its benefits come with serious hazards, including a high potential for addiction and respiratory depression, a dangerous slowing of breathing that can be fatal.…

New approaches to obesity treatment are emerging as scientists target underexplored metabolic pathways with the help of artificial intelligence. Demand for better obesity medicines is rising quickly, with the market forecast to reach USD 60.53 billion by 2030. Even so, widely used treatments such as GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) still come with well-known tradeoffs. Patients [...]

Widely used acid-suppressing drugs may have hidden effects beyond the stomach. Researchers in Brazil at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) and the ABC Medical School (FMABC) are drawing attention to a less obvious side of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), a popular group of acid suppressing drugs used for gastric disorders. In their study, [...]

A fast-aging fish revealed how kidneys grow old—and how a common drug slows the damage. A new study published in Kidney International shows that medications known as SGLT2 inhibitors helped prevent age-related damage to kidney structure and function in the African turquoise killifish. This small vertebrate lives its entire life in just a few months, [...]