In the News
International research breakthrough for remote Alzheimer’s testing
Large patient population study finds weight gain increases risk for low back pain
UNRIVALED NAMES THORNE AS OFFICIAL SPORTS NUTRITION PARTNER
Simple supplement mix shows remarkable results in brain cancer
International research breakthrough for remote Alzheimer’s testing
A groundbreaking international study has demonstrated that Alzheimer's disease biomarkers can be accurately detected using simple finger-prick blood samples that can be collected at home and mailed to laboratories without refrigeration or prior processing.
The research, led by US institute Banner Health working with the University of Exeter Medical School and supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) publishes today in Nature Medicine. It represents the first large-scale validation of this accessible testing approach that removes geographic barriers and opens brain disease research to global populations without requiring specialised healthcare infrastructure.
The DROP-AD project, conducted across seven European medical centers including the University of Gothenburg and University of Exeter, successfully tested 337 participants and proved that finger-prick blood collection can accurately measure key markers of Alzheimer's pathology and brain damage. This breakthrough enables worldwide research participation by eliminating the logistical constraints that have historically limited biomarker studies to well-resourced medical facilities.
Alzheimer's disease is usually confirmed through brain scans or spinal fluid tests, which are invasive and expensive. Blood tests that measure biomarkers, such as p-tau217, are emerging as accurate and accessible tools for detecting Alzheimer's disease. Although drawing blood through venipuncture (inserting a needle into a vein) is much simpler than procedures such as spinal taps or brain scans, practical hurdles remain outside of clinics, including how samples are handled and stored and whether people have access to trained staff to collect them.
Professor Nicholas Ashton, senior director of Banner's Fluid Biomarker Program and lead investigator of the study, said: "This breakthrough could fundamentally change how we conduct Alzheimer's research by proving that the same biomarkers doctors use to detect Alzheimer's pathology can be measured from a simple finger prick collected at home or in more remote community settings. While we're still years away from clinical use, we're opening doors to research that was previously impossible – studying diverse populations, conducting large-scale screening studies, and including communities that have been historically underrepresented in Alzheimer's studies.
“Ultimately, we are moving toward a pathway of treating people for Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms emerge. If this trajectory continues, we will need innovative ways to identify eligible individuals who are not routinely presenting in clinical settings. This work represents one such approach in that direction and further validation remains.”
The researchers tested a new method for detecting Alzheimer's disease using a few drops of blood obtained from the fingertip and then dried on a card. This process was used to find proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease and other brain changes in the 337 participants.
The study found that levels of p-tau217 in finger-prick samples closely matched results from standard blood tests and were able to identify Alzheimer's disease-related changes in spinal fluid with an accuracy of 86 per cent. Two other markers, GFAP and NfL, were also successfully measured and showed strong agreement with traditional tests.
The University of Exeter Medical School played a pivotal role, recruiting participants from the PROTECT-UK study and serving as the only site to test self-collection capabilities. Participants successfully collected their own finger-prick samples without the guidance of study personnel after watching trained staff and receiving written instructions.
While not ready for clinical use, this breakthrough addresses critical barriers in Alzheimer's research by enabling remote participation in studies, clinical trial recruitment and monitoring, broader population sampling for epidemiological research, and inclusion of underrepresented communities and regions with limited healthcare infrastructure.
The findings suggest that this simple technique could make large-scale studies and remote testing possible, including for people with Down syndrome, who face a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease and for other underserved populations.
Anne Corbett Professor in Dementia Research at the University of Exeter, said: "What excites me most is that this work makes this type of research far more accessible. We're moving toward a future where anyone, anywhere, can contribute to advancing our understanding of brain diseases. This isn't just a technical advancement – it's a paradigm shift in how we conduct neuroscience research.”
Co-author Clive Ballard, Professor of Age-Related Diseases at the University of Exeter Medical School, added: “Our ongoing work will determine whether this could also be a valuable way of identifying people in the community who would benefit from more detailed diagnostic tests for Alzheimer’s disease.”
The method also shows promise for research applications beyond Alzheimer's, including studies of Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS, and brain injuries by the detection and accurate measurement of neurofilament light (NfL), a key biomarker of neurodegeneration.
The researchers emphasize that significant additional research and validation is required before any clinical application and caution that the method is not ready for clinical use yet.
The UK research was supported by the NIHR Exeter Biomedical Research Centre and the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Brain Health, and the Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula.
Professor Marian Knight, Scientific Director for NIHR Infrastructure, said: “This type of research – with the potential to transform diagnosis and care for people with Alzheimer’s disease – showcases the importance of NIHR infrastructure funding and the expertise of its researchers supporting internationally collaborative commercial research. The future potential to enable testing in different settings outside of hospital clinics is hugely exciting.”
The paper is titled ‘’ A minimally invasive dried blood spot biomarker test for the detection of 28 Alzheimer’s disease pathology’ ’ and is published in Nature Medicine.
Large patient population study finds weight gain increases risk for low back pain
Low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent condition associated with disability, work loss and economic burden to healthcare. Significant risk factors include poor sleep, physical and psychological stress, inactivity, advanced age and smoking. The contribution of greater weight and body mass index (BMI) to risk of LBP is less clear. Many past clinical studies have been small (fewer than 1,000 patients) or in specific patient groups, such as young men or patients who come to a subspecialty pain clinic, making those results more specific to those populations.
In a new study from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, researchers have found individuals who are overweight or obese have a significantly higher risk of developing LBP compared to those with a normal BMI.
“Low back pain is one of the most common complaints patients have for their medical providers. While medications, formal physical therapy and other treatments can help, correcting risk factors, such as smoking or deconditioning, also help LBP. The current study suggests weight control and maintaining a lower BMI in the healthy range, can be beneficial for LBP symptoms as well,” said corresponding author Michael D. Perloff, MD, PhD, assistant professor of neurology at the school.
Using computer analysis, the researchers reviewed the medical records of more than 110,000 patients, 18 years or older who had visited an urban teaching hospital for outpatient care over the course of one year. Patient demographics including age, sex at birth, height, weight, BMI and whether a complaint of low back pain was reported at the visit was recorded.
The researchers found the prevalence of patients reporting low back pain increased with weight from a low healthy weight or BMI of 18 (or 90 pounds) up to an obese weight of BMI 35 (or 240 pounds). For BMI’s beyond 35, the prevalence of low back pain did not continue to increase but stayed the same. For the range of 18-35 BMI, researchers found that every increased unit of BMI (or 10 pounds), the prevalence of low back pain increased by 7%.
While not everyone with higher BMI’s will experience back pain, the researchers documented the increased risk of it occurring. “Our study strongly suggest that maintaining a healthy weight or BMI is likely helpful at avoiding low back pain,” adds Perloff, who also is director of pain medicine at Boston Medical Center.
These findings appear online in the journal Pain Medicine.
UNRIVALED NAMES THORNE AS OFFICIAL SPORTS NUTRITION PARTNER
Unrivaled presented by Samsung Galaxy today announced a multiyear partnership with Thorne, a leader in science-backed health and wellness solutions for athletes, in a move that makes Thorne both the Official Sports Nutrition partner of the league and the jersey patch partner of Breeze BC. It marks Thorne’s first official women’s sports partnership, reflecting the brand’s ongoing commitment to supporting women athletes. Thorne will now also be the second club-specific jersey patch partner across Unrivaled.
Founded in 1984, Thorne develops products with high-quality ingredients, guided by clinical research and an in-house team of doctors, researchers, and scientists to ensure every formula meets rigorous standards for purity, potency, and efficacy. With one of the largest NSF Certified for Sport product suites available, Thorne is a trusted resource for countless professional athletes underscoring its commitment to athlete performance, wellness, and development. Thorne will elevate Unrivaled’s on-site nutrition resources by providing NSF Certified for Sport products – including Whey Protein Isolate, Magnesium Bisglycinate, Creatine, and more – to enhance fueling and recovery options for athletes. Additionally, Thorne and Unrivaled will together build an innovation platform that pioneers research and product development in the underserved women’s sports science space.
“Unrivaled has redefined the standard of support elite female athletes deserve. Thorne shares in that vision, and the synergy is natural,” said Susan Borchardt, Director of Performance and Recovery at Unrivaled. “Their incredibly clean, research-backed products will enhance our player care—together we’ll elevate performance, optimize recovery and promote overall wellness for the women of this league.”
In addition to their placement on the left shoulder of Breeze BC jerseys this season, Thorne will have naming rights for the expanded player’s lounge at Sephora Arena. Built around player needs and feedback, the redesigned player lounge directly addresses what players have asked for and need when it comes to post-workout and post-game health, with Thorne products at the center of a new refueling station in the space. Thorne will also appear in-arena through displays with broadcast-visible signage.
“Unrivaled is raising the bar for women’s sports, and we’re proud to support that momentum,” said Colin Watts, Thorne CEO. “Thorne is committed to providing athletes with science, innovation, and resources they need to perform and recover at the highest level. Our NSF Certified for Sport products are rigorously tested for purity, potency, and efficacy, giving athletes supplements they can trust. By investing in Unrivaled players today and in their futures, we’re helping advance women’s sports performance and supporting athletes in reaching new heights, backed by the highest level of science and innovation.”
During the offseason, Unrivaled expanded with two new clubs – Breeze BC and Hive BC – with the Breeze featuring standout athletes Paige Bueckers, Cameron Brink, and Dominique Malonga. Unrivaled’s second season will tip off on January 5, 2026. For more information and to stay up to date with league news, visit unrivaled.basketball and follow @UnrivaledBasketball. To learn more about Thorne and its product offerings, visit Thorne.com and follow @thornehealth.
About Unrivaled:
Unrivaled is a professional women's basketball league innovating the women's professional sports landscape with a groundbreaking model centered on investing in its athletes. Co-Founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, Unrivaled is player-owned, providing participating players equity opportunities for a vested interest in the league's success. Launched in January 2025, Unrivaled features the current top women's basketball stars in the world across eight clubs for a 3-on-3, compressed full court style of play. To learn more, visit unrivaled.basketball or contact info@unrivaled.com.
About Thorne:
Thorne is the leader in science-backed health and wellness solutions built to connect the science of performance with the science of people. As the top recommended clinical brand by health-care practitioners, Thorne offers a comprehensive range of nutritional supplements and innovative technology tools including Taia – Thorne’s AI-powered wellness advisor – empowering individuals to take control of their health and wellness journey with confidence. Founded in 1984, Thorne develops products with high-quality ingredients, guided by clinical research and an in-house team of doctors, researchers, and scientists to ensure every formula meets rigorous standards for purity, potency, and efficacy. Thorne maintains a vertically integrated model, setting the industry standard for supplement manufacturing at its owned facility in South Carolina. Trusted by tens of thousands of health-care professionals, thousands of professional athletes, 100+ professional sports teams and multiple U.S. National Teams, and over seven million consumers, Thorne is a trusted partner bringing scientific rigor to everyday health and wellness. For more information, visit Thorne.com.
Simple supplement mix shows remarkable results in brain cancer
Most cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy, are designed to attack and destroy cancer cells. A growing group of researchers is now asking whether this long-standing approach may be missing something important. What if the real path to a cure is not to damage cancer, but to coax it into healing instead?
That provocative idea is at the heart of work led by Professor Indraneel Mittra at the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer in Mumbai, India.
The concept is not completely new. In 1986, an article in the New Journal of Medicine by Dr. Harold Dvorak suggested that cancer behaves very much like a wound that never heals. Cancer and chronic wounds share many biological features, and Professor Mittra argues that, rather than always trying to destroy tumors, medicine should explore ways to help them move toward a healed, less aggressive state.
In a recent study involving people with glioblastoma, one of the most feared brain cancers, his team reports that a simple combination of two low-cost nutraceuticals appears to support exactly this kind of healing process.
Testing a Gentle Strategy in Glioblastoma
Glioblastoma is a fast-growing, highly aggressive brain tumor. Even with modern treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, used alone or together, patients typically survive a median of only about 15 months.
In the new study, published in BJC Reports, Professor Mittra and colleagues enrolled ten patients with glioblastoma and asked them to take a tablet containing small amounts of two nutraceuticals, resveratrol and copper. They took this tablet four times a day for an average of 11.6 days before their scheduled brain surgery.
Another group of ten patients, whose tumors were similarly aggressive but who did not receive resveratrol and copper, served as the control group.
During surgery, the team collected brain tumor samples from both groups. These samples were then examined in detail using microscopy, immune-staining, immunofluorescence and transcriptome analysis to see how the tumors differed.
The analyses showed that the nutraceutical tablets had a striking effect on tumor biology.
Dramatic Changes Inside the Tumors
Several key cancer markers shifted in a favorable direction in patients who received the resveratrol and copper tablets:
Average levels of the protein Ki-67, a widely used indicator of how quickly glioblastoma cells are dividing, were almost one third lower in treated tumors than in untreated ones. This suggests the cancer was growing less aggressively.
Biomarkers associated with nine major "hallmarks of cancer" were present in 57% fewer cells in the treated samples.
Levels of six immune checkpoints, proteins that normally prevent the immune system from attacking cancer cells, were on average 41% lower in the treated tumors.
Three markers linked to stem cells, which may help tumors spread and resist treatment, were 56% lower in the treated group.
Crucially, the patients who took the nutraceutical tablets did not experience any side-effects.
"These results suggest that a simple, inexpensive and non-toxic nutraceutical tablet potentially has the power to heal glioblastoma," said Professor Mittra.
Targeting Cell-Free Chromatin Particles (cfChPs)
So how might this apparent healing happen at the cellular level?
According to Professor Mittra, the key action involves resveratrol and copper acting on cell-free chromatin particles (cfChPs) (cfChPs) that circulate in the body. These are fragments of DNA released from dying cancer cells that can worsen the behavior of surviving cancer cells.
Earlier work from his group showed that when resveratrol and copper are combined, they generate oxygen radicals that deactivate or destroy cfChPs.
In the current study, the researchers found that cfChPs were abundant in tissue taken from untreated tumors, but were almost completely absent from tissue taken from tumors in patients who had received the nutraceutical tablets.
The findings suggest that dead cancer cells in the treated group were removed through apoptosis, a controlled cell death process, before they could release cfChPs into the surrounding environment.
Professor Mittra explains: "The cell-free chromatin particles, fragments of DNA released by dying cancer cells, inflame the surviving cancer cells. This makes the disease more aggressive.
"If you eliminate the cell-free chromatin, which is what the resveratrol-copper tablets do, the cancer is subdued."
He adds that with longer-term use, this approach might possibly lead to complete healing of the cancer, effectively turning a malignant tumor into a benign one.
Immune Checkpoints and a Low Cost Alternative
One of the most notable findings from the study is that the resveratrol-copper tablets reduced the activity of several immune checkpoints. Immune checkpoint inhibition has been hailed as a breakthrough in cancer therapy, because blocking these proteins can unleash the immune system against tumors. However, current immune checkpoint inhibitor drugs are extremely expensive and can cause significant side-effects.
In contrast, the nutraceutical combination used in this study is simple, non-toxic and inexpensive, yet still appears to downregulate multiple immune checkpoints. This raises the possibility of a more accessible way to influence some of the same pathways targeted by costly cancer drugs.
A Potential Shift in Cancer Treatment
A new approach to treating cancer has begun to emerge from these observations.
"We have been trying to kill cancer cells for 2,500 years, since the time of the ancient Greeks, without success," says Professor Mittra.
"Maybe it is time to look at cancer treatment differently and work towards healing tumors, rather than annihilating them.
"Of course, the number of patients in this study was rather small. However, the results were so striking that I'd fully expect them to be replicated in a larger sample of patients.
"I believe that we may be on the brink of transforming the way cancer is treated."
Professor Indraneel Mittra is Dr. Ernest Borges Chair in Translational Research and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Surgical Oncology at the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai.
This study was supported by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, through its grant CTCTMC to the Tata Memorial Centre awarded to Indraneel Mittra.
Story Source: Cactus Communications.