July 21, 2025

3D-printed magnetoelastic smart pen may help diagnose Parkinson’s

July 21, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / parkinson

Posted Yesterday Researchers led by Jun Chen, an associate professor of bioengineering at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, have developed a seemingly simple yet effective tool: a smart, self-powered magnetoelastic pen that could help detect early signs of Parkinson’s disease by analyzing a person’s handwriting. The highly sensitive diagnostic pen features a soft, silicon magnetoelastic […]

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Chemical shield stops stressed DNA from triggering disease

July 21, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / DNA

New molecule halts mitochondrial DNA loss before it triggers inflammation Peer-Reviewed Publication University of California – Riverside image: The developed probe exclusively reacts with mitochondrial DNA repair intermediates and modulates the DNA repair and degradation processes, reducing mitochondrial DNA loss. view moreCredit: Linlin Zhao/UCR When environmental stress harms DNA, it can set off a cascade of failures linked

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Focus in flashes: How the brain handles overload

July 21, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / flashes

Peer-Reviewed Publication The Hebrew University of Jerusalem FacebookXLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail Recent research shows that your brain doesn’t pay attention in one smooth stream—instead, it switches focus in quick bursts, about 8 times per second. This process, called “attentional sampling,” helps your brain deal with too much information by jumping back and forth between different things you’re seeing. It’s kind of like

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Bitter melon for diabetes? Fenugreek for cholesterol? The research behind ancient remedies

July 21, 2025 / Patient education / InnovateMed Author / diabetes

by Dipa Kamdar, The Conversation edited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Herbs like ashwagandha and turmeric are now widely recognized as part of the global wellness lexicon. But ayurveda, India’s traditional system of medicine with a history spanning more than 3,000 years, encompasses a much broader range of therapeutic plants. Grounded in principles of balance between body,

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Single-food ‘mono diets’: Are they effective, pointless, or just plain dangerous?

July 21, 2025 / Patient education / InnovateMed Author / mono diet

by Ana Montero Bravo, The Conversation edited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain With summer in full swing, many people will be tempted by supposedly miraculous dieting tricks to lose those excess kilos that prevent them from enjoying the perfect physique. Among them are so-called “mono diets”: restrictive regimens that consist of exclusively eating one

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Global study links early smartphone ownership with poorer mental health in young adults

July 21, 2025 / Mental Health, Patient education / InnovateMed Author / mental health

by Taylor & Francis edited by Stephanie Baum, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Owning a smartphone before age 13 is associated with poorer mental health and well-being in early adulthood, according to a global study of more than 100,000 young people. Published today in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, the study found that 18- to

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Paper-based device detects immune defects in 10 minutes with high accuracy

July 21, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / immune defects

by National Taiwan University edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Andrew Zinin (A) Schematic illustration of the one-step gold deposition-induced signal amplification process for detecting anti-interferon-γ autoantibodies, highlighting the time-sequenced fluid flow and automated reagent release. (B) 3D-osPAD and colorimetric results shows the layout of the control and test wells on the 3D printed holder. (C) Real testing

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Study reveals how inhibitory neurons and astrocytes control brain blood flow

July 21, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / brain blood flow

by Institute for Basic Science edited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Schematic summary of vascular control during neural activation. Credit: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61771-5 Researchers at the Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) have uncovered a two-step mechanism by which the brain regulates blood volume—a breakthrough with significant implications for how

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Gecko-inspired cancer therapy could lead to fewer side-effects, better patient outcomes

July 21, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / cancer therapy

by Lisa Marshall, University of Colorado at Boulder edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Soft dendritic particles (SDPs) can be infused with chemotherapy drugs and embedded in a gel that can be applied to tumors for sustained medication release. Jin Gyun Lee/CU Boulder As far back as the 4th Century B.C., Aristotle marveled at the nimble

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Predicting kidney disease trajectories with a simple blood test

July 21, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / Blood test

by Anna Euteneuer, University of Cologne edited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Validation of the combined model. Credit: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61887-8 Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common inherited condition that can lead to kidney failure. Being able to accurately predict how the disease will progress is very important for selecting the right

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