Cannabis was domesticated in China around 12,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world, study reveals

University of Lausanne-led experts analysed the 100 whole cannabis genomesThey found that cannabis today can be genetically divided up into four groupsThese are basal cannabis, drug-type, drug-type feral and hemp-type accessorsThe drug…

Continue ReadingCannabis was domesticated in China around 12,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world, study reveals

Scientists create a drug that ‘repairs damage to the brain and spinal cord’ in potential breakthrough for paralysed patients and Alzheimer’s sufferers

Scientists created a synthetic version of a protein known as Cerebellin-1  It links together brain messaging neurons, which can be lost to damage or illnessThe compound, called CPTX, repaired movement and…

Continue ReadingScientists create a drug that ‘repairs damage to the brain and spinal cord’ in potential breakthrough for paralysed patients and Alzheimer’s sufferers

Eating less, exercising more, and quitting alcohol and cigarettes could slash dementia rates by up to 40%, major study finds

Team of 28 world-leading dementia experts conducted the review for the LancetPoor blood circulation is hugely influenced by diet, exercise and drinking habitsEducation also now known to have a protective…

Continue ReadingEating less, exercising more, and quitting alcohol and cigarettes could slash dementia rates by up to 40%, major study finds

HPV could cause prostate cancer: Scientists find firm link between the disease and sexually transmitted virus for the first time

Findings suggest the HPV vaccine might help lower the risk of prostate cancerResearchers based in Australia compiled all the results from 26 previous studiesHPV already causes certain cancers in men,…

Continue ReadingHPV could cause prostate cancer: Scientists find firm link between the disease and sexually transmitted virus for the first time

Treatment that burns fat and stimulates muscle growth in mice could also reverse physical ageing in humans, scientists suggest

German researchers say muscle loss and a fatter stomach are signs of ageingThe team used a chemical to switch fat cell receptors linked to muscle and fatIn mice triggering them…

Continue ReadingTreatment that burns fat and stimulates muscle growth in mice could also reverse physical ageing in humans, scientists suggest

Daily contact with the joys of nature is good for our health and happiness, new survey reveals

People who usually feel little connection to nature benefit the most from nature Major study finds that daily contact with nature is good for health and happinessResearchers used 1,000 survey responses…

Continue ReadingDaily contact with the joys of nature is good for our health and happiness, new survey reveals

Canadian scientists are testing whether compounds in marijuana can prevent coronavirus from ‘hijacking’ human cells

Researchers from the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada looked at 400 cannabis strains and focused on about a dozenThey studied how extracts high in CBD, the main nonpsychoactive ingredient…

Continue ReadingCanadian scientists are testing whether compounds in marijuana can prevent coronavirus from ‘hijacking’ human cells

Scientists discover human gene that can help damaged tissues in the heart repair themselves

Scientists have found a way to repair heart muscles in a medical breakthrough Came after researchers targeted gene that can cause cancerous cells to spreadThey found when it becomes active in…

Continue ReadingScientists discover human gene that can help damaged tissues in the heart repair themselves

Bacteria found in food and water may help to cause type 2 diabetes in obese people by causing inflammation which can make it harder for the body to control blood sugar, scientists claim

A study suggests bacteria in the environment play a role in triggering diabetes  Scientists believe these may include bugs found in food and water A probiotic drink or drug to rebalance bacteria…

Continue ReadingBacteria found in food and water may help to cause type 2 diabetes in obese people by causing inflammation which can make it harder for the body to control blood sugar, scientists claim

Could SCORPION venom treat arthritis? Study finds it ‘reverses joint swelling’ and slashes the side effects of steroids

Testing on mice, scientists found safer method of delivering steroids to the jointsThe found protein within scorpion venom that can act as a 'drug delivery system'It also reversed inflammation without being…

Continue ReadingCould SCORPION venom treat arthritis? Study finds it ‘reverses joint swelling’ and slashes the side effects of steroids

Air pollution is reducing global life expectancy by three years and killing 8.8million people a year – MORE than malaria, HIV, war and smoking, scientists find

Scientists led by Germany fear the world is facing an air pollution 'pandemic'They analysed deaths attributable to breathing toxic air in every countryLife expectancy has been cut by four years…

Continue ReadingAir pollution is reducing global life expectancy by three years and killing 8.8million people a year – MORE than malaria, HIV, war and smoking, scientists find

Broken bones could regrow after injury using a drug cocktail that triggers the release of ‘red alert’ repair cells

Two drugs already available have been combined and tested on ratsThey work together to trigger the release of stem cells from the bone marrowStem cells built new bone in rats'…

Continue ReadingBroken bones could regrow after injury using a drug cocktail that triggers the release of ‘red alert’ repair cells

New Bluetooth sensor ‘can detect heart failure 10 days before it happens even when patients show no symptoms’

Device worn on chest tracks heart rate and rhythm, sleep quality and step countIt pings this data to app which using artificial intelligence to get normal baselineCan then detect when…

Continue ReadingNew Bluetooth sensor ‘can detect heart failure 10 days before it happens even when patients show no symptoms’

Brain cancer treatment for DOGS could offer hope for humans with the rare, aggressive tumor that killed John McCain, study suggests

Researchers compared glioblastoma samples from dog patients and both adult and children patients The rare, aggressive form of brain cancer has a five-year survival rate of only 5% Similarities were seen in the…

Continue ReadingBrain cancer treatment for DOGS could offer hope for humans with the rare, aggressive tumor that killed John McCain, study suggests

Simple urine test could help diagnose bladder cancer TEN YEARS before symptoms appear by detecting genetic mutations

Detection of bladder cancer is usually very poor and tests are invasiveInternational researchers analysed urine samples of 131 people in IranAlmost half who developed bladder cancer could be spotted 10…

Continue ReadingSimple urine test could help diagnose bladder cancer TEN YEARS before symptoms appear by detecting genetic mutations

Foot-and-mouth-disease ‘could help treat pancreatic CANCER’: Scientists completely rid mice of tumours using protein from animal virus

Foot-and-mouth-disease causes mouth blisters in animals such as cowsA protein from the virus was developed into a drug to target pancreatic cancerIt completely killed tumours in mice, research showsScientists hope the…

Continue ReadingFoot-and-mouth-disease ‘could help treat pancreatic CANCER’: Scientists completely rid mice of tumours using protein from animal virus

Alzheimer’s hope as researchers find nine genes that may PROTECT against the memory-robbing disorder

Researchers looked at DNA of 10,000 people, half of whom had Alzheimer'sThose without condition had genes which stop a protein from functioningThe proteins, called tyrosine phosphatases, are involved in cell…

Continue ReadingAlzheimer’s hope as researchers find nine genes that may PROTECT against the memory-robbing disorder

Cancer breakthrough as scientists find tumours give off traceable ‘signals’ up to DECADES before they grow to be malignant

Researchers studied nearly 2,700 tumours and 38 different types of cancerThey were looking for driver mutations - those which will cause cancer Changes 'particularly early' in ovarian cancer and two brain…

Continue ReadingCancer breakthrough as scientists find tumours give off traceable ‘signals’ up to DECADES before they grow to be malignant