Alzheimer's Drug Shows Promise in Small Trial
A new drug trial that some researchers are calling the most promising yet in the fight against Alzheimer’s suggests it may be possible to clear the brain of the amyloid protein that is characteristic of the disease. The study was small and researchers caution that it’s far too soon to declare victory against a fatal disease that robs people of their memories and ability to function in daily life. But despite repeated failures of Alzheimer’s drugs in the past, there was room f
The arms belonged to someone else. Grueling work made them his own
BOSTON — In the lobby of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a young boy stares at Will Lautzenheiser in his wheelchair. He tugs on his mom’s arm, pointing at Lautzenheiser’s metal legs. But the observant boy misses what is truly remarkable about Lautzenheiser. It’s the arms and hands he uses to move the joystick on his wheelchair, snap on his leg prosthetics, and hug his friends. These limbs used to belong to someone else. A series of tragedies, medical triumphs, and hard work has
Giant coral reef shows new signs of life
In 2003, researchers declared Coral Castles dead.On the floor of a remote island lagoon halfway between Hawaii and Fiji, the giant reef site had been devastated by unusually warm water. Its remains looked like a pile of drab dinner plates tossed into the sea. Research dives in 2009 and 2012 had shown little improvement in the coral colonies. Then in 2015, a team of marine biologists was stunned and overjoyed to find Coral Castles, genus Acropora, once again teeming with life.
