Birth Defects News
August 5, 2025
Top Headlines
Aug. 4, 2025 — Scientists at Johns Hopkins have grown a first-of-its-kind organoid mimicking an entire human brain, complete with rudimentary blood vessels and neural activity. This new "multi-region brain ...
Aug. 1, 2025 — Ape behavior just got a name upgrade — “scrumping” — and it might help explain why humans can handle alcohol so well. Researchers discovered that African apes regularly eat overripe, ...
Aug. 1, 2025 — Women who drank heavily, even though they strongly wished to avoid pregnancy, were 50% more likely to become pregnant than those who drank little or not at all, according to new research. Surprisingly, cannabis use didn t show the same ...
July 31, 2025 — In an exciting breakthrough, researchers have identified cancer drugs that might reverse the effects of Alzheimer's disease in the brain. By analyzing gene expression in brain cells, they discovered that some FDA-approved cancer medications could ...
July 25, 2025 — A virus from humble black-eyed peas is showing extraordinary promise in the fight against cancer. Unlike other plant viruses, the cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) can awaken the human immune system and transform it into a cancer-fighting powerhouse, ...
July 24, 2025 — Scientists at Princeton and the Simons Foundation have identified four biologically distinct subtypes of autism, using data from over 5,000 children and a powerful new computational method. These ...
July 24, 2025 — A massive global survey has revealed that people with eating disorders often turn to cannabis and psychedelics like magic mushrooms and LSD to ease their symptoms, rating them more effective than ...
July 18, 2025 — In a groundbreaking UK first, eight healthy babies have been born using an IVF technique that includes DNA from three people—two parents and a female donor. The process, known as pronuclear ...
July 17, 2025 — Premature menopause isn t just a hormonal issue it s a deeply emotional one for many women. A new study reveals that almost 30% experience depression, and it s not just about hormone loss but also grief, identity, and support ...
July 13, 2025 — Movement helps your mood, but it's not one-size-fits-all. Exercising for fun, with friends, or in enjoyable settings brings greater mental health benefits than simply moving for chores or obligations. Researchers emphasize that context — who ...
July 6, 2025 — A group of scientists studying pregnancy across six different mammals—from humans to marsupials—uncovered how certain cells at the mother-baby boundary have been working together for over 100 ...
July 3, 2025 — Stanford researchers discovered that dialing down an overactive enzyme, LRRK2, can regrow lost cellular “antennae” in key brain cells, restoring vital dopamine communication and neuroprotective signals in a mouse model of genetic Parkinson’s. ...
Latest Headlines
updated 11:24am EDT
July 3, 2025 — An advanced Johns Hopkins AI model called MAARS combs through underused heart MRI scans and complete medical records to spot hidden scar patterns that signal sudden cardiac death, dramatically ...
June 29, 2025 — Deleting a gene called PTEN in certain brain cells disrupts the brain’s fear circuitry and triggers anxiety-like behavior in mice — key traits seen in autism. Researchers mapped how this genetic ...
June 29, 2025 — Researchers are using an advanced brain imaging method called MEG to understand why Parkinson’s drug levodopa doesn’t work equally well for everyone. By mapping patients’ brain signals before ...
June 21, 2025 — USC researchers have uncovered a hidden driver behind the early and severe onset of Alzheimer's in people with Down syndrome: iron overload in the ...
June 14, 2025 — A team at Kobe University has created a game-changing resource for autism research: 63 mouse embryonic stem cell lines, each carrying a genetic mutation strongly associated with the disorder. By ...
June 8, 2025 — Genetic research in Sweden has unveiled three new gene variants that dramatically increase the risk of venous blood clots, sometimes by up to 180%. These discoveries build on existing knowledge of ...
June 3, 2025 — A new study found exposure to specific tiny particles in air pollution during pregnancy are associated with increased risk of various negative birth ...
June 3, 2025 — According to a recent study, in patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), epileptic seizures are significantly more common than previously known. ...
June 2, 2025 — Chronic inflammatory bowel disease is challenging to treat and carries a risk of complications, including the development of bowel cancer. Young people are particularly affected: when genetic ...
May 30, 2025 — Researchers have discovered two genes, RNF144B and ENPP1, that cause calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease in Americans of European and ...
Earlier Headlines
May 29, 2025 — Humans and mice share persistent brain-activity patterns in response to adverse sensory experience, scientists find, opening a window to our emotions and, perhaps, neuropsychiatric ...
May 28, 2025 — Close to five million smuggled seahorses worth an estimated CAD$29 million were seized by authorities over a 10-year span, according to a new study that warns the scale of the trade is far larger ...
May 28, 2025 — Researchers have developed a way to edit the genetic sequences at the root of Huntington's disease and Friedreich's ataxia. If longer than a certain threshold length, these sequences grow ...
May 27, 2025 — A new study reveals the biological secret to the Zika virus's infectious success: Zika uses host cells' own 'self-care' system of clearing away useless molecules to suppress the ...
May 27, 2025 — Becoming a new mother brings more than just joyful chaos it delivers a profound and persistent sleep shock. A new study reveals that first-time moms lose not just total sleep, but crucial ...
May 27, 2025 — How come you can't tickle yourself? And why can some people handle tickling perfectly fine while others scream their heads off? Neuroscientists argue that we should take tickle research more ...
May 27, 2025 — A new study reveals a concerning decline in self-reported mental health among mothers in the United States between 2016 and 2023. The study also found modest but measurable declines in self-reported ...
May 21, 2025 — People who have been taking antidepressants for more than two years are substantially more likely to experience withdrawal symptoms compared to short-term users when they come off the medication, ...
May 21, 2025 — There's good news for people with migraine who take common drugs before or during pregnancy -- a new study found no increase in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and ADHD in their ...
May 21, 2025 — A new risk calculator accurately identified participants who had calcium buildup in their heart arteries and those who had a higher future heart attack risk, in an analysis of about 7,000 adults in ...
May 21, 2025 — Researchers have shown that gonadotrophs, cells in the pituitary gland with a key role in puberty and reproduction, come from two different populations, with the majority produced after birth rather ...
May 21, 2025 — High birth weight is the main risk factor for birth injuries to the anal sphincter muscles of the person giving birth, according to a new study. This new method for predicting the risks could improve ...
May 21, 2025 — A new study confirms that children of people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder have a higher risk of developing psychopathology compared to children whose parents do not have these conditions. ...
May 21, 2025 — A study has found that implementing robust air pollution control measures could mean Southeast Asian countries prevent as many as 36,000 ozone-related premature deaths each year by ...
May 20, 2025 — The study explores how social influences, particularly peer pressure, impact substance use -- and misuse -- among young adults. A confidential online survey on alcohol use was given to 524 students ...
May 20, 2025 — Middle-aged and older adults who experience pain are more likely to have had worsening symptoms of depression up to eight years before the pain began, according to a new ...
May 20, 2025 — Higher maternal selenium levels during pregnancy were associated with a lower risk of streptococcal infections in children, suggesting a potential protective ...
May 20, 2025 — Controlling blood pressure is not the only way to treat hypertension. A new study identified eight associated risk factors. Each risk factor addressed was associated with a 13% lower risk of ...
May 19, 2025 — People who were less active, with a daily average of more than 14 hours of sedentary behavior, were more than twice as likely to have another cardiac event, including heart attack, surgery to treat ...
May 16, 2025 — Researchers have created over 3,800 anatomically accurate digital hearts to investigate how age, sex and lifestyle factors influence heart disease and electrical ...
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
- Nearly Five Million Seized Seahorses Just 'tip of the Iceberg' In Global Wildlife Smuggling
- Gene Editing Disrupts Huntington's Mutation in Mice
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
- Zika Virus Uses Cells' 'self-Care' System to Turn Against Host
- Study Quantifies the Sleep Loss and Disruption Experienced by New Mothers
- Why After 2000 Years We Still Don't Know How Tickling Works
- Significant Declines in Maternal Mental Health Across US
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
- Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms More Common Among Long-Term Users
- Good News for People With Migraine Who Take Drugs Before or During Pregnancy
- PREVENT Equation Accurately Estimated 10-Year CVD Risk and Those With Calcium Buildup
- Researchers Identify a Dual Origin of Cells Controlling Puberty and Reproduction
- New Method Paves Way for Fewer Severe Birth Injuries
- Increased Risk of Psychopathology Found in Offspring of People With Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder
- Southeast Asia Could Prevent Up to 36,000 Ozone-Related Early Deaths a Year by 2050 With Stricter Air Pollution Controls
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
- Thinking Peers Drink More Drives Risky Behavior
- Depression Linked to Physical Pain Years Later
- Selenium Exposure During Pregnancy May Reduce Childhood Streptococcal Infections
- Controlling These 8 Risk Factors May Eliminate Early Death Risk for Those With High Blood Pressure
Monday, May 19, 2025
Friday, May 16, 2025
Thursday, May 15, 2025
- New Gene Editor Enables Greater Precision
- Key Player in Childhood Food Allergies Identified: Thetis Cells
- The Effect of Physical Fitness on Mortality Is Overestimated
- People With Critical Cardiovascular Disease May Benefit from Palliative Care
- Recessive Genes Are Subject to Darwinian Selection
- Marfan Syndrome Increases Risk of Brain Alterations
- Improved Model System Allows Researchers to Study Embryo Development
- New Stem Cell Model Sheds Light on Human Amniotic Sac Development
- Study Reveals Why Women Tend to Have Faster Heartbeats, Men More Irregular Rhythms
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
- Too Much Sleep Can Hurt Cognitive Performance, Especially for Those With Depression
- People With Lupus Who Have Certain Antibodies Are More Likely to Experience Blood Clots, Researchers Find
- Marsupial Research Reveals How Mammalian Embryos Form
- MRI Scans Could Help Detect Life-Threatening Heart Disease
- A Step Forward in Treating Serious Genetic Disorders Prenatally
- The Risk of Death or Complications from Broken Heart Syndrome Was High from 2016 to 2020
- Study Sheds Light on How Autistic People Communicate
- Postpartum Depression and Bonding: Long-Term Effects on School-Age Children
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Monday, May 12, 2025
- Drug to Slow Alzheimer's Well Tolerated Outside of Clinical Trial Setting
- ChatGPT Helps Pinpoint Precise Locations of Seizures in the Brain, Aiding Neurosurgeons
Friday, May 9, 2025
- Researchers Map 7,000-Year-Old Genetic Mutation That Protects Against HIV
- Fatty Liver in Pregnancy May Increase Risk of Preterm Birth
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Monday, May 5, 2025
- Evidence Review Raises Concern About Cannabis Use in Pregnancy
- Study Finds One Protein That Mitigates Huntington's Disease, and One That Exacerbates It
- How Individuals Grasp an Object May Offer Simpler Diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Certain Traits in Romantic Partners Can Amplify the Impact of a Person's Genetic Risk for Alcohol Problems
- How Is Handedness Linked to Neurological Disorders?
- Teens With Mental Health Conditions Use Social Media Differently Than Their Peers, Study Suggests
Friday, May 2, 2025
- The All-Female Korean Haenyeo Divers Show Genetic Adaptions to Cold Water Diving
- Scientists Engineer Precision Tool for Mitochondrial DNA Manipulation
Thursday, May 1, 2025
- Is your Heart Aging Too Fast?
- A Digestive 'treasure Chest' Shows Promise for Targeted Drug Treatment in the Gut
- Link Between Mental Health and Personality Traits Uncovered
- Designer Microbe Shows Promise for Reducing Mercury Absorption from Seafood
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
- Engineers Develop Wearable Heart Attack Detection Tech
- Depression and Other Mental Health Conditions Linked With Immune Response, Study Finds
- Seasonal Changes Affect Alcohol Tolerance and Your Waistline
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Monday, April 28, 2025
- Global Study Links Consumption of Ultraprocessed Foods to Preventable Premature Deaths
- Gene Circuits Enable More Precise Control of Gene Therapy
- First Synthetic 'mini Prion' Shows How Protein Misfolding Multiplies
- High Blood Sugar in Adolescence Tripled the Risk of Premature Heart Damage Affecting Females Worse Than Males
Friday, April 25, 2025
- Chimpanzee Stem Cells Offer New Insights Into Early Embryonic Development
- In Down Syndrome Mice, 40Hz Light and Sound Improve Cognition, Neurogenesis, Connectivity
- Immune Cells Drive Congenital Paralysis Disease
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
- Metabolic Syndrome Linked to Increased Risk of Young-Onset Dementia
- Newborns Living Near Trees Tend to Be Healthier: New Data Suggests It's Not Because Healthier People Reside Near Parks
- Link Between Heart Attack Severity and Circadian Rhythm Unveiled
- Parts of Our DNA May Evolve Much Faster Than Previously Thought
- How DNA Self-Organizes in the Early Embryo
- Micro-Nano-Plastics Found in Artery-Clogging Plaque in the Neck
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
- A Repurposed Anti-Inflammatory Drug May Help Treat Alcohol Use Disorder and Related Pain
- Evidence of Potential Bed Bug Insecticide Resistance in Gene Mutation
Monday, April 21, 2025
Friday, April 18, 2025
Thursday, April 17, 2025
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
- How Disturbed Signaling Pathways Could Promote Epileptic Seizures
- Metabolism Shapes Life
- Supercharged Mitochondria Spark Aging-Related Blood Disorders
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
- Common Genetic Variants Linked to Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
- Heart Valve Abnormality Is Associated With Malignant Arrhythmias
Monday, April 14, 2025
- Researchers May Have Solved Decades-Old Mystery Behind Benzodiazepine Side Effects
- Sleep Matters: Duration, Timing, Quality and More May Affect Cardiovascular Disease Risk
- Stress, Depression Factor Into Link Between Insomnia, Heavy Drinking
- Combination of Drugs Could Prevent Thousands of Heart Attacks
- Study Sheds Light on How Inherited Cancer Mutations Drive Tumor Growth
- Gestational Diabetes Linked to ADHD in Children
Friday, April 11, 2025
Thursday, April 10, 2025
- New Genetic Cause of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Guinea Pigs: Promising Animal Model to Study the Human Embryo
- Simultaneous Alcohol, Cannabis Use May Fuel More Drinking
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
- Eight or More Drinks Per Week Linked to Signs of Injury in the Brain
- By Re-Creating Neural Pathway in Dish, Stanford Medicine Research May Speed Pain Treatment
- Researchers Identify Growing List of Genetic Disorders Treatable Before or Immediately After Birth
- Engineering Smart Delivery for Gene Editors