Off the Top...

A Test for Parkinson’s Could Offer Hope to Millions. A Funding Freeze May Stall It.

Neurologist Laurie Sanders’ research to develop a blood test to detect early Parkinson’s disease offers hope to millions, including her own mother, who lives with the illness. But Sanders’ NIH grant ends in August, and the current funding freeze has stalled reviews of future work. This promising effort — and the next generation of scientists she trains in her lab — could face an uncertain future.

Fragile Future of American Science

Federally Funded Research at Duke...

Duke Scientists Unlock Brain Signals That Could Better Treat Neurological Disorders

New research from Duke University neuroscientist Richard Mooney and his team could be a game-changer for the treatment of neurological conditions like Parkinson’s and schizophrenia. By studying how zebra finches learn to sing, scientists have uncovered how dopamine and acetylcholine play a crucial role in motivating and guiding learning, even without external rewards. These findings have major implications for understanding how humans learn motor skills, such as speaking or playing an instrument. This information could pave the way for new treatments that target brain signaling, improving motor function and learning abilities for those affected by these conditions.

This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Bird Brain

Duke Researchers Point out Error in U.S. Estimates of Dementia

A new study from Duke researchers has identified a critical flaw in previous U.S. dementia projections, which failed to account for generational differences in dementia rates. P.J. Eric Stallard, Svetlana Ukraintseva and Murali Doraiswamy explain that each successive generation has lower dementia rates than the one before, meaning the future dementia epidemic may not be as severe as previously estimated. While dementia rates will still rise due to factors like longer life expectancies and emerging health risks such as obesity, the researchers emphasize that up to 40 percent of dementia risk is modifiable.

This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Dementia Rates

More from Duke...

Educating The Next Generation of Durham's Health Care Providers

Duke’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities in Durham is exemplified by the opening of the Durham Early College of Health Sciences (DECHS), a new school that will train high school students in healthcare careers. The 100 inaugural students will earn high school diplomas and associate degrees in healthcare fields such as nursing, surgical tech and clinical research, with a direct path to jobs at Duke Health. The school is the result of a partnership between Duke Health, Durham Tech and Durham Public Schools, with a $29.5 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies. DECHS aims to equip students with both academic and practical experience, empowering them to make a lasting impact on healthcare in the community.

High Schoolers in Healthcare

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