Cholesterol, and its effect on how the brain works

It seems that cholesterol affects more than the heart. It also seems to affect the adenosine receptors in the brain. Understanding how this works may have major ramifications for treating diseases like Alzheimer's and others like it.

Summary:
"A study demonstrates that the cholesterol present in cell membranes can interfere with the function of an important brain membrane protein, through a previously unknown mode of interaction. Specifically, cholesterol is capable of regulating the activity of the adenosine receptor, by invading it and accessing the active site. This will allow new ways of interacting with these proteins to be devised that in the future could lead to drugs for treating diseases like Alzheimer's."
Source:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170223114836.htm

Living Longer: Expectancy at 90

As we now approach longer life expectancies, the true concern now will be how the global economy, production capacity, and healthcare outlook will adapt to this fact.

Source:
http://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2017/02/22.htm

Prosthetic Hands for those who need them: Affordable, 3D-printed

One important factor for prosthetics is cost - so that people from all walks of life can be assisted. new technology can help with that, with 3D-printing as the key.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161209184317.htm

Cancer Research: An old avenue to reexplore

Science, too, should allow for the possibility that some avenues may have been untaken, due to the limitations of the time. Such is the case with cancer research:

"Cancer researchers and drug companies may have been too quick to ignore a promising line of inquiry that targets a specific cell protein, according to a research team."

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161209184821.htm

The road to finding a functional cure for HIV

It's amazing what medical science is doing these days, and none more than in the leaps and bounds in finding a functional (and hopefully affordable) cure for HIV. Can you imagine how it would be if we could pour even more funding into this and other medical lines of research?

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161201114938.htm

Racing to the Cure for Cancer

With cancer cases rising worldwide, the cancer vaccine is the next big thing. A new alliance composed of around thirty organizations is working on it. Let's hope they don't get too many bumps on the road.

https://futurism.com/a-new-alliance-could-give-humanity-the-worlds-first-cancer-vaccine/

Mapping out Healthcare

It looks like we're coming to the point where machine learning as applied to genome data analysis will be able to help us with customized healthcare planning - but I wonder what it means for insurance as well. As with many technologies, there are good and bad sides to this. I like the idea of preventive healthcare through genome data analysis, though.

http://futurism.com/end-to-illness-machine-learning-is-revolutionizing-how-we-prevent-disease/