1. Could a new molecule prevent blood clots without increasing the risk of bleeding?
Blood clots can form when substances in the blood clump together. If they block blood vessels, they can prevent blood from flowing to important organs. Blood thinners help prevent clots from forming and growing larger, but they can also cause bleeding. Researchers wanted to see whether a new compound, called MPI 8, could help prevent blood clots without bleeding. While the research was done in mice, with further study, MPI 8 could one day also be used to treat patients.
Learn more about this and other blood clot research here.
2. Air pollution rates increase along neighborhood racial segregation lines
Communities of color often have the highest exposure to chemicals in the air they breathe. This disparity is linked to racial residential segregation—when people of different races live in separate areas, often due to social, economic, or discriminatory factors. When these areas are exposed to more pollution, it can increase health risks for the people who live there. A study found a link between outdoor air pollution and asthma attacks in children and teenagers living in those areas.
Learn more about this research and other environmental health findings here.
3. Staying hydrated can lower your chances of developing chronic diseases
A study found that people who stay hydrated throughout their lives are less likely to develop chronic diseases. They may even live longer, healthier lives. Researchers tracked the health of more than 11,000 adults for 30 years. They measured levels of blood sodium, which rise when we’re dehydrated. Researchers found that people with higher sodium levels were more likely to develop chronic diseases later in life. These included heart failure, diabetes, and dementia. They also showed more signs of advanced biological aging.
Learn more about the study and tips for staying hydrated here.
4. Better screening before and after birth could reduce maternal sepsis and save lives
Pregnant people and infants are at higher risk for sepsis—the body’s extreme response to an infection. It can be fatal, and unfortunately, screening for maternal sepsis can be challenging. That’s because common pregnancy-related changes in the body, such as a faster heart rate, can mask signs of sepsis. Researchers looked at existing screening tools that health care providers use to check for maternal sepsis. They found that screenings done between 20 weeks (about five months) of pregnancy and three days after delivery were more accurate when the provider adjusted the tool for pregnancy. This means the provider accounted for specific changes that occur in the body during pregnancy when they screened a patient.
Learn more about the risks of maternal sepsis and what’s being done about it here.
NIH-supported scientists collaborate on research for all areas of human health.
5. Making HIV treatment more convenient for people with limited resources
While there is no cure for HIV, it can be managed with antiretroviral therapy (ART). People with HIV need to take ART for the rest of their lives, but this can be hard for those who can’t afford or otherwise access health care. A study tested how well long-acting ART injections worked for people with limited access to health care. The study participants got regular injections, reminders from pharmacy staff, and frequent health checks by researchers. For most people whose HIV was not suppressed when they enrolled, the virus was suppressed by the end of the study.
Learn more about this and other ART delivery approaches here.
6. Gut bacteria may affect your desire to exercise
Can gut microbes influence our motivation to exercise? To answer that question, researchers studied exercise performance in mice. They found that mice ran on a wheel less and got tired faster when they had fewer gut microbiomes. For mice with healthy gut microbiomes, exercise increased dopamine—a brain chemical associated with pleasure, motivation, and reward (like a “runner’s high”). This motivated them to keep moving. The researchers learned that during exercise, bacteria in the gut produce a certain chemical that tells the brain to release more dopamine.
Learn more about this research here.
7. A quick skin biopsy could help spot major brain disorders
Researchers are trying new ways to detect brain disorders. One study developed a simple skin biopsy that may identify people with Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and related disorders. This quick, nearly painless test looks for a protein that’s associated with certain neurodegenerative diseases. Using these skin samples, researchers found the key protein in more than 90% of people with one of these disorders. This could lead to faster, more accurate diagnoses and earlier treatments for patients.
Learn more about this and other studies on the brain here.
