The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has conducted a comprehensive analysis of cancer statistics for different age groups in the United States. The study reveals that between 2010 and 2019, the incidence rates of 14 cancer types increased among people under the age of 50. These cancer types include breast cancer, colorectal cancer, kidney cancer, uterine cancer, and others.

Lead investigator Meredith Shiels, Ph.D., notes that this study provides a starting point for understanding which cancers are increasing among individuals under 50. The causes of these increases are likely to be specific to each type of cancer, including changes in cancer risk factors, screening or detection methods, and clinical diagnosis or coding.

The researchers analyzed incidence and mortality trends for 33 cancer types using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s United States Cancer Statistics database and national death certificate data. They examined six age groups: three early-onset (15-29 years, 20-39 years, and 40-49 years) and three older-onset (50-59 years, 60-69 years, and 70-79 years).

The study found that the incidence of nine cancer types increased in at least one of the younger age groups, including female breast, colorectal, kidney, testicular, uterine, pancreatic, and three types of lymphoma. Although death rates did not increase in early-onset age groups for most of these cancers, researchers observed concerning increases in rates of colorectal and uterine cancer deaths at younger ages.

Only five cancer types increased in incidence among one of the younger age groups but not among any of the older age groups: melanoma, cervical cancer, stomach cancer, myeloma, and cancers of the bones and joints.

To better understand the magnitude of these increases, researchers estimated how many additional people were diagnosed with early-onset cancers in 2019 compared to expected diagnoses based on rates in 2010. The largest absolute increases were seen for female breast cancer (4,800 additional cases), followed by colorectal (2,100), kidney (1,800), uterine (1,200), and pancreatic cancers (500).

The researchers speculate that risk factors such as increasing obesity may have contributed to some of the increases in early-onset cancer incidence. Changes in cancer screening guidelines, advances in imaging technologies, and increased surveillance of high-risk individuals may also have led to earlier cancer diagnoses, potentially contributing to rising rates among younger age groups.

To more fully understand and address these increasing rates, future studies should examine trends in early-onset cancers across demographics and geography in the U.S. and internationally. Additional research is also needed to better understand the risk factors that are particularly relevant to younger people.

Sleep apnea, a condition that causes repeated disruptions to breathing during sleep, has been linked to cognitive decline and memory-related brain changes in older adults. A study published online in Neurology found that the severity of drops in oxygen levels during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep was strongly associated with degeneration of brain regions associated with memory.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when throat muscles relax during sleep, blocking the airway and causing a person to wake up repeatedly to breathe. This disrupted sleep pattern can lower oxygen levels, which in turn can damage small blood vessels in the brain.

The study included 37 people with an average age of 73 who did not have cognitive impairment. Researchers measured their oxygen levels throughout the night during all stages of sleep, including REM sleep. Participants also had brain scans to measure brain structure and took a memory test before and after sleep.

The results showed that lower oxygen levels during REM sleep were associated with higher levels of white matter hyperintensities in the brain, which can be caused by injury to small blood vessels. Having a blood oxygen level of 90% or lower is cause for concern. The study also found that having more white matter hyperintensities was linked to decreased volume and reduced thickness in areas associated with memory.

“This study may partially explain how obstructive sleep apnea contributes to cognitive decline associated with aging and Alzheimer’s disease,” said study author Bryce A. Mander, PhD. “It highlights the importance of addressing sleep disorders as a potential risk factor for cognitive decline.”

The study has some limitations, including that participants were primarily white and Asian people, so results may not be the same for other populations.

Overall, the findings suggest that sleep apnea is associated with cognitive decline and memory-related brain changes in older adults. Addressing sleep disorders and maintaining good sleep hygiene can help mitigate these risks.

The development of an iontronic pipette at Linköping University has opened up new avenues for neurological research. This innovative tool allows researchers to deliver ions directly to individual neurons without affecting the surrounding extracellular milieu. By controlling the concentration of various ions, scientists can gain valuable insights into how brain cells respond to different stimuli and interact with each other.

The human brain consists of approximately 85-100 billion neurons, supported by a similar number of glial cells that provide essential functions such as nutrition, oxygenation, and healing. The extracellular milieu, a fluid-filled space between the cells, plays a crucial role in maintaining cell function. Changes in ion concentration within this environment can activate or inhibit neuronal activity, making it essential to study how local changes affect individual brain cells.

Previous attempts to manipulate the extracellular environment involved pumping liquid into the area, disrupting the delicate biochemical balance and making it difficult to determine whether the substances themselves or the changed pressure were responsible for the observed effects. To overcome this challenge, researchers at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics developed an iontronic micropipette measuring only 2 micrometers in diameter.

This tiny pipette can deliver ions such as potassium and sodium directly into the extracellular milieu, allowing scientists to study how individual neurons respond to these changes. Glial cell activity is also monitored, providing a more comprehensive understanding of brain function.

Theresia Arbring Sjöström, an assistant professor at LOE, highlighted that glial cells are critical components of the brain’s chemical environment and can be precisely activated using this technology. In experiments conducted on mouse hippocampus tissue slices, it was observed that neurons responded dynamically to changes in ion concentration only after glial cell activity had saturated.

This research has significant implications for neurological disease treatment. The iontronic pipette could potentially be used to develop extremely precise treatments for conditions such as epilepsy, where brain function can be disrupted by localized imbalances in ion concentrations.

Researchers are now continuing their studies on chemical signaling in healthy and diseased brain tissue using the iontronic pipette. They also aim to adapt this technology to deliver medical drugs directly to affected areas of the brain, paving the way for more targeted treatments for neurological disorders.