Sci-Ed Update 343

Fascinating fascia, animals' medical wisdom, measles breaks immunity, brain lymphatics and aging, diversity statements, DNA unzip movie, perimenopause effects in brain, more!

Mar 22, 2025

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Teasing out what is perimenopause and what is just life is difficult, but the run-up to menopause can bring some alarming symptoms – not least cognitive ones, such as difficulty recalling names, trouble concentrating and putting keys in the fridge.
“We now know that up to 62 per cent of all perimenopausal and postmenopausal women report these [cognitive symptoms], which can be so severe as to spark fears around early-onset dementia,” says Lisa Mosconi, director of the Women’s Brain Initiative at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York.
Though long ignored or dismissed as inevitable consequences of ageing, the neurological manifestations of menopause are finally drawing scientific interest. It is increasingly clear brain changes occur during this period – and that some can ultimately be positive. More than that, these changes demonstrate that menopause may offer a crucial window for protecting brain health. The question is how.

Immune Amnesia: How the Texas Measles Outbreak Could Promote the Spread of Other Infectious Diseases

hand, photography, leg, finger, arm, lip, mouth, chest, close up, human body, face, nose, children, cheek, eye, skin, organ, infection, virus, disease, abdomen, vaccination, measles, infectious disease, exanthema — Image: PxHere (CC0 Public Domain)

Many of the nastier measles complications were discovered decades ago: Children can die from pneumonia and encephalitis, pregnant people may give birth prematurely, and in extremely rare cases, individuals develop subacute sclerosing panencephalitis seven to 10 years after their initial infection.² This progressive neurological disorder is almost invariably fatal.
Only in the last decade have researchers discovered and characterized another consequence of measles infection that is both common and insidious: immune amnesia. Essentially, the measles virus causes the immune system to “forget” previously acquired immunity, both from vaccinations and infections, leaving children vulnerable to a host of other pathogens for the following two to three years.³

Targeting Brain’s Drainage Pathways Rejuvenates Memory

This shows a brain. — He found that the older mice with rejuvenated lymphatic vessels spent more time with the new object – an indicator of improved memory – compared with the older mice not given the treatment. Credit: Neuroscience News

Rejuvenating the brain’s lymphatic vessels can enhance memory in aging mice by improving the removal of waste products from the brain. This research suggests that targeting the meningeal lymphatics—vessels outside the brain—could be a novel approach to treating age-related cognitive decline without directly crossing the blood-brain barrier.
The treatment reduced levels of the inflammatory protein IL-6 and restored healthy neuronal signaling, alleviating memory loss in older mice. These findings open the door to therapies that enhance brain function by supporting the body’s natural “waste management” system.
Key Facts:
Waste Clearance Pathway: Enhancing meningeal lymphatic drainage improved memory in aged mice.
Inflammatory Link: Treatment reduced IL-6 levels, restoring healthy brain communication.
Therapeutic Potential: Targeting lymphatic vessels outside the brain could offer non-invasive options for age-related cognitive decline.

U of California System Freezes Hiring, Bans Diversity Statement Mandates

applicant, business, businessman, businesswoman, candidate, career, company, consideration, cv, diversity, employee, employer, employment, first, focused, graduate, hire, hr, human, impression, intern, interview, job, man, manager, meeting, negotiations, new, office, people, person, prepared, professional, questions, reading, recruiters, recruiting, resources, resume, seeker, staffing, start, stress, success, team, vacancy, woman, work, worker, outerwear, coat, plant, fashion, houseplant, gesture, smile, white collar worker, suit, event, formal wear, conversation, happy, room, collaboration, management, presentation, ceremony, tie, businessperson, education, student — Image: PxHere (CC0 Public Domain)

Whenever hiring does resume, UC universities and their components will no longer be able to require that applicants submit diversity statements. Janet Reilly, chair of the UC Board of Regents, said in a separate statement Wednesday that the board directed the system to eliminate such mandates.
“While the University has no systemwide policies requiring the submission of diversity statements as part of employment applications, some programs and departments have used this practice,” Reilly said.

Breakthrough molecular movie reveals DNA's unzipping mechanism

Fig. 5 — From: Structural dynamics of DNA unwinding by a replicative helicase

Scientists at the University of Leicester have captured the first detailed "molecular movie" showing DNA being unzipped at the atomic level -- revealing how cells begin the crucial process of copying their genetic material.
The groundbreaking discovery, published in the journal Nature, could have far-reaching implications, helping us to understand how certain viruses and cancers replicate.

Nursery of the blood: How stem cells calm the body's immune response

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Our blood consists of many cell types that develop through different stages from a precursor type -- the blood stem cell. An international research team has now investigated the developmental pathways of blood cells in humans. The results yielded a surprise: Even stem cells possess surface proteins that enable them to suppress the activation of inflammatory and immune responses in the body. This finding is particularly relevant for stem cell transplants, applied for the treatment of e.g. leukemia.

Fascinating Fascia: Kate Oland Galligan Unravels the Ties That Bind

Episode 152 centers on a lively conversation between Kevin and Dr. Kate Oland Galligan as they trace her path from a curious undergrad to a passionate fascia educator and clinician. The duo challenges old perceptions of fascia, recounting stories from early lab experiences where fascia was simply “ripped out,” and contrasting them with new insights on its dynamic, interconnected nature. They reveal how subtle fascial restrictions can cause significant clinical symptoms—linking pelvic imbalances to jaw pain—and explore the emerging field of mind-body connections in fascial therapy.

To listen to this episode, click on the play button above ⏵ (if present) or this link→ theAPprofessor.org/podcast-episode-152.html

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