The world of autism is a diverse one—autism and autism spectrum disorder are general terms for a group of complex and extremely heterogenous life-long neurodevelopmental conditions. Autism is also one of medicine’s greatest challenges. The current general consensus is that autism has multiple causes, and these causes can be as varied as the types of […]
Memory can be defined as the capacity of a system (usually the brain) to store and recall information on previously encountered events. Immunological memory—which can be induced by either natural infection or by a vaccine—refers to the ability of the immune system to respond more rapidly and effectively to an infectious microbe that has been […]
Cancer can spread from where it started (the primary site) to other areas of the body, forming metastasis. But how do cancer cells spread from the primary site to other areas of the body? When cancer cells break away from a tumor, they travel through either the bloodstream or the lymph system to reach other […]
Parasitic worms infect over 2 billion people, especially children, in the poorest and most deprived communities across the world. Although most infected individuals have no symptoms, these parasites — also called helminths or intestinal worms — may cause nutritional impairment, leading to a significant impact on growth and physical development. However, there is more to […]
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions — increased blood pressure, a high blood sugar level, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels — that occur together, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Metabolic syndrome is closely linked to obesity, which is now viewed by many scientists as an […]
In 2007, the Human Microbiome Project — an international effort to characterize the microbial communities found in the human body and to identify each microorganism’s role in health and disease — was launched. As a result of this effort, our understanding of the human microbiome expanded appreciably and, in the past few years, we’ve come […]
Candida yeasts — the most common of which is Candida albicans — normally live in and on the body, without causing any symptoms. However, Candida can overgrow, and cause “thrush” and “yeast infections”. In addition, it can enter the bloodstream and cause candidemia — althougha extremely rare in people without risk factors, candidemia is the fourth […]
During an immune response to infectious pathogens, we generate antibodies. Antibodies first bind the pathogens, and then shuttle these pathogens to cells that can destroy them. Sometimes we develop antibodies that do not bind infectious pathogens — instead, they bind self-antigens. Self-antigens are molecules present in our own cells — the interactions of antibodies with […]
“What’s it like to live in a bubble? For some, this means living a sheltered life. But David Vetter, a young boy from Texas, lived out in the real world — in a plastic bubble.” Born in 1971 with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), David was nicknamed “Bubble Boy” — from birth, he lived in a […]
Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is characterized by a gradual and then quickening and irreversible loss of memory and cognitive functioning, with associated behavioral changes. Gerontologist Laura Wayman says: “I tell family caregivers that they need to start thinking of a loved one’s brain like a piece of Swiss cheese, which has […]