Author: Leslie Gibson McCarthy

Doctors may one day be able to gauge a patient’s risk of dementia with an MRI scan, according to a new study from the School of Medicine. Using a new technique for analyzing MRI data, researchers were able to predict who would experience cognitive decline with 89 percent accuracy.

School of Medicine scientists have identified rogue cells – namely brain and muscle cells – lurking in kidney organoids, an indication that the “recipes” used to coax stem cells into becoming kidney cells inadvertently are churning out other cell types. The researchers also demonstrated they could prevent most of those wayward cells from forming, an approach that could be adopted by scientists working with other organoids, such as those of the brain, lung or heart.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated its concussion recommendations to support children and teens engaging in light physical activity and returning to school as they recover. The School of Medicine’s Mark Halstead, MD, was lead author of the report, which also advises against complete removal of electronic devices.

In the largest genetic study of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers at the School of Medicine and the University of California, San Francisco, have found that genes that increase risk of cardiovascular disease also heighten the risk for Alzheimer’s.

School of Medicine researchers are beginning to understand the link between autoimmune disease and the cardiovascular system. A new study in mice shows that immune cells that arise during autoimmune disease cause cholesterol to become trapped inside blood vessels.

Extending its standing as one of the top leukemia programs in the U.S., the School of Medicine has been awarded an $11.5 million NIH grant to further high-level investigations into leukemia and related blood cancers. The grant funds a prestigious Specialized Program in Research Excellence (SPORE) in leukemia.

A new School of Medicine study finds that formula and breast milk encourage the growth of similar kinds of bacteria in babies’ digestive tracts, but the bacteria work differently. The health implications are unclear.

A new study demonstrates that patients can safely use skin creams before undergoing radiation therapy. This contradicts common advice from radiation oncologists, according to researchers at the School of Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania.

A recent two-week crash course on global health helped prepare medical students, residents and fellows for clinical rotations and long-term careers in developing countries. Caring for such patients requires a different mindset for trainees accustomed to working in modern medical centers with updated technology and no shortage of supplies or medications.

On Sept. 28, Washington University — the site of the 1904 Olympic Games — was honored with an Olympic Ring ‘Spectacular.’ Law school alumnus Michael Loynd led efforts to bring Olympic recognition to the university and St. Louis.