Latest News

  • Atrogi starts muscle-preserving drug trial

    Atrogi has dosed the first volunteers in a human trial of ATR-258, a muscle-preserving drug designed to help people lose fat without losing muscle. The eight-week study is examining how ATR-258 affects muscle in overweight male volunteers. Atrogi describes it as a first-in-class oral therapy designed to mimic some of the metabolic and muscle-related effects [...]

  • Agetech world investment, research and technology round-up

    MINNESOTA-based Medtronic has agreed to acquire neurovascular technology company Scientia Vascular for US$550m. Scientia’s neurovascular access devices are used to navigate the brain's complex vasculature, helping prevent cognitive decline by treating conditions such as strokes and aneurysms. The Scientia proposal is Medtronic’s second deal of the year, after the company announced an acquisition of CathWorks [...]

  • Menstruation costs £20,359 a lifetime, sparking calls for Government action

    A new report by Clue has revealed the ‘Cost of Bleeding’ - a deep dive into the true cost of menstruation and the impact of related expenses adding up year after year. The consumer research reveals that, on average, respondents spend an estimated £41 on their cycle each month, amounting to an astounding £20,359 across [...]

  • Osteoporosis drugs could reduce dementia risk, study suggests

    Osteoporosis drugs may lower dementia risk, with a study suggesting one widely used treatment could help prevent Alzheimer’s and related dementias. The research found that nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates, drugs widely used to treat osteoporosis, may significantly reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in older adults with osteoporosis or fragility fractures. Osteoporosis and dementia [...]

  • Blood pressure readings could predict future dementia risk

    Routine blood pressure checks could help flag dementia risk, according to two studies tracking changes in blood vessel stiffness over time. The findings add to growing evidence that uncontrolled high blood pressure may contribute to dementia by speeding up the ageing and stiffening of blood vessels. Dr Newton Nyirenda is an epidemiologist at Georgetown University [...]

  • Gut health supplement relieves arthritis pain, research finds

    A prebiotic fibre supplement may ease arthritis pain and improve grip strength in people with knee osteoarthritis, a study suggests. The daily supplement, made from inulin, a dietary fibre found in chicory root, Jerusalem artichokes and other vegetables, also lowered pain sensitivity and saw fewer people drop out than a digital physiotherapy programme tested alongside [...]

  • Cheap diabetes drug could slash prostate cancer risk

    An NHS diabetes drug costing as little as 2p a tablet could cut prostate cancer risk by more than a third, a study suggests. Metformin is already taken by millions to control blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes. One of the biggest studies of its anti-cancer effects has found it could also work against [...]

  • Phone-like device gives hope to dementia patients

    MemoryAid, a phone-like device for dementia care, has shown positive trial results and is due to launch to the public this year. Developed by a team from Western Sydney University and Deakin University, the home assistance device resembles a traditional telephone and is designed to help people living with dementia maintain their independence for as [...]

  • Agetech World finance & investment round-up

    Vision-restoration company Science Corp has closed a US$230m Series C financing round which will allow it to complete the commercialisation of its brain-computer interface, retinal implant, known as PRIMA. The deal, which was oversubscribed, secured participation from pre-existing investors Khosla Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Y Combinator, IQT, and Quiet Capital amongst others. It raised the [...]

  • Alzheimer’s mutation may delay disease onset

    An Alzheimer's mutation may delay disease onset by about 20 years in people otherwise expected to develop memory loss in their mid-40s. The mutation affects a protein called reelin, which directs brain cells to break down amyloid plaques and tau tangles, harmful protein build-ups linked to Alzheimer's. New research suggests the mutation makes reelin work [...]