Researchers, led by Vivek Tiwari from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Berhampur, recently established ‘Brain age,’ a measure of neuroanatomic health. As we grow older, our brain's age alters, and the researchers have shown that quantifying these alterations would help us understand ageing and its associated cognitive disorders.

A recent study by researchers at the Central University of Punjab found abnormal platelet activity in Parkinson's disease (PD). Using the neurotoxin - rotenone - to simulate PD conditions, researchers shed light on why PD patients have a lower risk of ischaemic strokes and heart attacks, by focusing on the role of platelets in thrombosis.

A recent study led by Partha Chakrabarti, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, explores the therapeutic potential of gut microbiota in preventing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The study found that butyrate, a metabolite produced by gut bacteria, effectively reduces inflammation in liver macrophages, suggesting a potential treatment approach for NAFLD.

A new study performed by a team of researchers from various parts of India, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt shows that citrate-functionalized Mn₃O₄ nanoparticles can effectively treat chronic kidney disease.

A recent study by Rajan Sankaranarayanan’s group from the CSIR-Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology, Hyderabad has found a novel mechanism of lipid metabolism. This opens up new avenues to understand the production of lipid-based bioactive molecules such as antibiotics.

As the world focused on developing coronavirus vaccines, a team of researchers from the National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), Manesar, delved into finding a therapeutic route for COVID-19. They tapped into the rich repository of Ayurvedic herbs and found Mulethi to be a promising candidate. The herb contains an active ingredient that shows potential in alleviating aggressive symptoms of COVID-19. Here is a report on their findings.

The bacterial world contains a treasure trove of potent compounds with biological activities that can be harnessed for human benefit. Researchers from CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune and the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, have recently found that Urdamycin, a compound produced by Streptomyces bacteria, has the ability to induce cell death in cancer cells.