Medtech / devices
Hesperos has been awarded a NIA Phase IIB SBIR grant to study how combinations of medicines raise the risk of drug-induced dementia in older adults. In partnership with GalenusRx, the company will use its Human-on-a-Chip (HoaC) multi-organ systems to examine how certain medicines interact and may drive cognitive decline. The technology uses miniature organ systems [...]
Cairns Health has acquired AI app Together by Renee and will fold its medication tech into Luna to support older adults and people with chronic conditions. Together by Renee uses computer vision (software that reads images) to scan pill labels for reminders and refills, and “agentic” AI (systems that act toward a goal) to automate [...]
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a second blood test to detect Alzheimer's disease, potentially speeding diagnosis for millions of patients. The Elecsys pTau181 test measures protein levels in blood plasma that act as biomarkers for the degenerative brain disorder, offering a simpler alternative to costly brain scans for people aged 55 [...]
Nimacimab significantly enhanced weight loss when combined with GLP-1 therapy without adding side effects, according to mid-stage clinical trial results involving 136 adults. The experimental drug targets the body’s endocannabinoid system differently from existing weight-loss medications, offering a potential new approach to treating obesity when used alongside drugs such as semaglutide. Participants given both drugs [...]
Ultra-fast MRI scans taking under seven minutes could double NHS dementia testing capacity and help boost diagnosis rates across the UK, experts have said. Scientists have developed a way to cut MRI scan times from 20–30 minutes to less than seven minutes, tackling a key bottleneck in dementia diagnosis, where one in three people never [...]
Weight loss jabs such as Mounjaro and Wegovy could make some cancer scans less effective, leading to unnecessary tests and possible delays in treatment, experts suggest. The drugs, collectively known as GLP-1s, have helped millions lose up to a fifth of their body weight but may alter how tissue appears on PET-CT scans used to [...]
Scientists have developed an innovative technique to observe Alzheimer’s disease as it progresses in the brain – a breakthrough that could accelerate the development of new treatments. The new method uses light to detect and measure the build-up of amyloid plaques – sticky protein clumps that are a key characteristic of Alzheimer’s – at different [...]
NeuroClin – formerly known as Glasgow Memory Clinic – has partnered with Advance Tests to launch Scotland’s first commercially available blood biomarker test for early Alzheimer’s detection. Designed for people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) – subtle problems with memory and thinking – the LucentAD Complete test helps determine whether these symptoms are likely due [...]
Ageing alters the brain’s shape in measurable ways that could provide early warning signs of dementia, potentially years before symptoms appear, researchers say. Analysis of more than 2,600 brain scans from adults aged 30 to 97 revealed significant alterations in brain geometry linked to declines in memory, reasoning and other cognitive functions. The inferior and [...]
A new blood test can predict the risk of severe liver disease up to 10 years in advance, raising hopes for earlier detection of cirrhosis and liver cancer. The model, called CORE, combines five factors: age, sex and levels of three common liver enzymes (AST, ALT and GGT), which are routinely measured during health checks. [...]
