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Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on March 3, 2025 at 7:18am

 The Youngest Person Ever Diagnosed With Alzheimer's

In 2023, neurologists at a memory clinic in China diagnosed a 19-year-old with what they believed to be Alzheimer's disease, making him the youngest person ever to be diagnosed with the condition in the world.

The male teenager began experiencing memory decline around age 17, and the cognitive losses only worsened over the years.

Imaging of the patient's brain showed shrinkage in the hippocampus, which is involved in memory, and his cerebrospinal fluid hinted at common markers of this most common form of dementia.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is often thought of as an old person's ailment, and yet early-onset cases, which include patients under the age of 65, account for up to 10 percent of all diagnoses.

Almost all patients under 30 years of age can have their Alzheimer's explained by pathological gene mutations, putting them into the category of familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD). The younger a person is when they receive a diagnosis, the more likely it is the result of a faulty gene they've inherited.

Yet researchers at the Capital Medical University in Beijing couldn't find any of the usual mutations responsible for the early onset of memory loss, nor any suspect genes when they performed a genome-wide search.

Cases like the one in China pose something of a mystery. None of the 19-year-old's family had a history of Alzheimer's or dementia, making it hard to categorize as FAD, yet the teenager had no other diseases, infections, or head trauma that could explain his sudden cognitive decline either.

Two years before being referred to the memory clinic, the teenage patient began struggling to focus in class. Reading also became difficult and his short-term memory declined. Oftentimes, he couldn't remember events from the day before, and he was always misplacing his belongings.

Ultimately, the cognitive decline became so bad, the young man was unable to finish high school, although he could still live independently.

A year after being referred to the memory clinic, he showed losses in immediate recall, short-delay recall after three minutes, and long-delay recall after 30 minutes.

The patient's full-scale memory score was 82 percent lower than that of peers his own age, while his immediate memory score was 87 percent lower.

The case study, published in February 2023, just goes to show that Alzheimer's doesn't follow a single pathway, and is much more complex than we thought, emerging via numerous avenues with varying effects.

https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-alzheimers-disease...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on March 3, 2025 at 7:00am

AI too faces cognitive decline like living beings with brains

It's barely been two years since OpenAI's ChatGPT was released for public use.

Today, the famous large language model (LLM) is just one of several leading programs that appear convincingly human in their responses to basic queries. That uncanny resemblance may extend further than intended, with researchers from Israel now finding LLMs suffer a form of cognitive impairment similar to decline in humans, one that is more severe among earlier models.

The team applied a battery of cognitive assessments to publicly available 'chatbots': versions 4 and 4o of ChatGPT, two versions of Alphabet's Gemini, and version 3.5 of Anthropic's Claude.

Were the LLMs truly intelligent, the results would be concerning.

In their published paper, neurologists and  data scientists  describe a level of "cognitive decline that seems comparable to neurodegenerative processes in the human brain."

ChaptGPT 4o scored the highest on the assessment, with just 26 out of a possible 30 points, indicating mild cognitive impairment. This was followed by 25 points for ChatGPT 4 and Claude, and a mere 16 for Gemini – a score that would be suggestive of severe impairment in humans.

Digging into the results, all of the models performed poorly on visuospatial/executive function measures.

Similarly, a lack of empathy shown by all models in a feature of the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination could be interpreted as a sign of frontotemporal dementia.

As might be expected, earlier versions of LLMs scored lower on the tests than more recent models, indicating each new generation of AI has found ways to overcome the cognitive shortcomings of its predecessors.

The authors acknowledge LLMs aren't human brains, making it impossible to 'diagnose' the models tested with any form of dementia. Yet the tests also challenge assumptions that we're on the verge of an AI revolution in clinical medicine, a field that often relies on interpreting complex visual scenes.

As the pace of innovation in artificial intelligence continues to accelerate, it's possible, even likely we'll see the first LLM score top marks on cognitive assessment tasks in future decades.

Until then, the advice of even the most advanced chatbots ought to be treated with a healthy dose of skepticism.

https://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj-2024-081948

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on February 28, 2025 at 10:46am

The "only possible scenario" was that an ash cloud emitted by Vesuvius delivered an initial hot blast before quickly dissipating, the study said.

This theory is supported by a thin layer of ash that settled in the city shortly before it was smothered.

This would mean the people of Herculaneum were actually killed by the ash cloud—not the pyroclastic flow as had long been thought.
Giordano hoped the research would lead to more awareness about the threat posed by these hot ash clouds, which remain "very poorly studied" because they leave little trace behind.
And some of the 215 people killed during the 2018 eruption of Guatemala's Fuego volcano were also victims of this phenomenon.
There is a window of survivability" for these hot blasts, he emphasized, adding that fitting houses near volcanoes to withstand high heat could help.

But why did the man with the glass brain uniquely suffer this fate?

Unlike Pompeii, Herculaneum had some time to respond to the eruption. All the other bodies discovered there were clearly trying to flee into the Mediterranean Sea.
However the man, who is thought to have been the guardian of the Collegium building, stayed in bed in the middle of town, so was the first hit.

The answer to the question 'why' is blowing in the wind!

Guido Giordano, Unique formation of organic glass from a human brain in the Vesuvius eruption of 79 CE, Scientific Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-88894-5. www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-88894-5

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on February 28, 2025 at 10:43am

A brain that turned to glass: scientific explanation

A young man was lying in his bed when a viciously hot cloud of ash swept down from the erupting Mount Vesuvius and turned his brain to glass almost 2,000 years ago.

That is the theory Italian scientists proposed this week  to explain the strange case of the ancient Roman's brain, which they said is the only human tissue ever known to have naturally turned to glass.

This unique brain could rewrite the story of one of history's most famous natural disasters—and help protect people against this little-understood phenomenon during future volcanic eruptions, the scientists suggested.

When Mount Vesuvius—near the modern-day Italian city of Naples—erupted in 79 AD, the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were buried in a fast-moving blanket of rock and ash called a pyroclastic flow.

Thousands of bodies have been discovered at the sites effectively frozen in time, offering a glimpse into the daily life of ancient Rome.

In the 1960s, the charred remains of a man aged roughly 20 were found on a wooden bed in a Herculaneum building dedicated to worshiping the Roman Emperor Augustus.

Italian anthropologist Pier Paolo Petrone, a co-author of a new study, noticed something strange in 2018.

He saw that something was shimmery in the shattered skull! What was left of the man's brain had been transformed into fragments of shiny black glass!!

These "chips" are up to a centimeter wide, say the volcanologist Guido Giordano, the lead author of the new study in Scientific Reports.

When scientists studied the glass using an electron microscope, they discovered an "amazing, truly unexpected thing". 

Complex networks of neurons, axons and other identifiable parts of the man's brain and spinal cord were preserved in the glass, according to the study.

How this happened is something of a mystery.

Glass occurs rarely in nature because it requires extremely hot temperatures to cool very rapidly, leaving no time for crystallization. It is usually caused by meteorites, lightning or lava.

This is even more unlikely to happen to human tissues, because they are mostly made out of water.

The Roman's brain being preserved in glass is the "only such occurrence on Earth" ever documented for human or animal tissue, the study said.

The scientists determined that the brain must have been exposed to temperatures soaring above 510 degrees Celsius (950 Fahrenheit).

That is hotter than the pyroclastic flow that buried the city, which topped out at around 465C.

Then the brain needed to rapidly cool down—and all this had to happen before the flow arrived.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on February 28, 2025 at 9:51am

Brain creates 'summaries' while reading, unlike AI models that process full texts

Unlike artificial language models, which process long texts as a whole, the human brain creates a "summary" while reading, helping it understand what comes next.

In recent years, large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and Bard have revolutionized AI-driven text processing, enabling machines to generate text, translate languages, and analyze sentiment. These models are inspired by the human brain, but key differences remain.

A new study, published in Nature Communications, explores these differences by examining how the brain processes spoken texts.

The study analyzed fMRI brain scans of 219 participants while they listened to stories. Researchers compared the brain's activity to predictions made by existing LLMs. They found AI models accurately predicted brain activity for short texts (a few dozen words). However, for longer texts, AI models failed to predict brain activity accurately.

The reason? While both the human brain and LLMs process short texts in parallel (analyzing all words at once), the brain switches strategies for longer texts. Since the brain cannot process all words simultaneously, it stores a contextual summary—a kind of "knowledge reservoir"—which it uses to interpret upcoming words.

In contrast, AI models process all previously heard text at once, so they do not require this summarization mechanism. This fundamental difference explains why AI struggles to predict human brain activity when listening to long texts.

To test their theory, the researchers developed an improved AI model that mimics the brain's summarization process. Instead of processing the entire text at once, the model created dynamic summaries and used them to interpret future text. This significantly improved AI predictions of brain activity, supporting the idea that the human brain is constantly summarizing past information to make sense of new input.

This ability allows us to process vast amounts of information over time, whether in a lecture, a book, or a podcast. Further analysis mapped brain regions involved in both short-term and long-term text processing, highlighting the brain areas responsible for context accumulation, which enables us to understand ongoing narratives.

Refael Tikochinski et al, Incremental accumulation of linguistic context in artificial and biological neural networks, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56162-9

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on February 28, 2025 at 9:29am

Robot Headbutting Woman Raises Safety Questions

Humanoid robots are supposed to be our loyal assistants, but we saw another side to them the other day.

Chinese robot manufacturer Unitree was demonstrating its latest H1 robots at a lantern festival in the city of Taishan, Guangdong province, when one walked up to the crowd barrier and seemed to lunge at an elderly woman, nearly headbutting her.

Experts are now demanding these things to reduce the danger:

Robots that looks sleek and can dance and flip are fun to watch, but how safe are the audiences?

Safe designs should consider everything from reducing cavities where fingers could get caught, to waterproofing internal components.

Protective barriers or exoskeletons should be added to further reduce unintended contact, while cushioning mechanisms could reduce the effect of an impact.

Robots should be designed to signal their intent through lights, sounds and gestures. For example, they should arguably make a noise when entering a room so as not to surprise anyone.

Operators should be trained well and the public should be educated appropriately.

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on February 28, 2025 at 8:56am

Experts call for ban on toxic chemicals in plastics

Researchers are calling for a substantial reduction in the number of chemicals used in plastics manufacturing, and a complete ban of chemicals known to be detrimental to both human health and the environment—in a new paper published by Cambridge University Press in Cambridge Prisms: Plastics.

Plastics pollution is a major threat to human well-being and planetary health. While plastics recycling is often presented as the answer to plastics pollution, the presence of toxic chemicals in plastics, which enter plastics at various stages of the manufacturing process intentionally and otherwise, means that this is not a viable solution. To address the plastics pollution crisis, the safety and sustainability of plastics manufacturing must be improved.

Policymakers need to make changes to global, regional, and national policies to reduce the toxicity present in the plastics life cycle and address chemicals at each stage of manufacturing.

The researchers identified five policy strategies to support a transition to safer, more sustainable plastics:

Improving reporting, transparency and traceability of chemicals in plastics throughout their full life cycle

Advocating for chemical simplification and group-based approaches to regulating hazardous chemicals

Implementing chemical monitoring, testing and quality control

Creating economic incentives that follow the waste hierarchy

Generating support for a just transition to protect people, including waste pickers, impacted throughout the plastics life cycle.

Plastics contain a vast range of chemicals, including monomers, polymers, processing agents, fillers, antioxidants, plasticizers, pigments, microbiocides and stabilizers—and plastics production has already reached levels that threaten the stability of the Earth's functions. Moreover, the amounts and types of chemicals in plastics products varies, and there are few requirements for transparency and reporting.

We need a compulsory, globally standardized mandate that ensures transparent reporting regarding the chemicals used in plastics, to facilitate a safer and more sustainable reuse, refill, repurpose and recycling market, say the experts.

 Bethanie Carney Almroth et al, Addressing the toxic chemicals problem in plastics recycling, Cambridge Prisms: Plastics (2025). DOI: 10.1017/plc.2025.1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on February 28, 2025 at 8:52am

High microplastic levels in bird lungs suggest widespread air pollution impact

Microscopic plastic pollutants drifting through the air are lodging in the lungs of birds, a new study finds. Researchers worldwide are increasingly alarmed by how pervasive these harmful particles are in the air humans breathe and the food they eat.

Birds were chosen for the study because they are found in almost every corner of the world and often share environments with humans. Birds serve as important indicators of environmental conditions. They help us understand the state of the environment and make informed decisions about conservation and pollution control.

The researchers  studied 56 different wild birds from 51 distinct species, all sampled from the Tianfu airport in western China. They collected lung samples from each bird and performed two types of chemical analyses.

They used laser direct infrared technology to detect and count microplastics in the birds' lungs. Pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass-spectrometry helped identify even smaller nanoplastics, which can enter the lungs through the bloodstream. Together, the tests allowed scientists to measure the amount of plastic in the birds' lungs and determine the specific types of plastics present.

The study found high concentrations of microplastics in bird lungs, with an average of 221 particles per species and 416 particles per gram of lung tissue. The most common types identified were chlorinated polyethylene, used for insulating pipes and wires, and butadiene rubber, a synthetic material in tires.

While no official "safe" level of plastic particles in lung tissue exists, high levels of microplastics have been linked to serious health conditions, including heart disease, cancer, respiratory problems and fertility issues.

The research highlights an urgent need to address plastic pollution in our environments, as these contaminants can have far-reaching impacts on ecosystem health, as well as human health.

 Mengzhu Wang et al, Assessing microplastic and nanoplastic contamination in bird lungs: evidence of ecological risks and bioindicator potential, Journal of Hazardous Materials (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137274

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on February 28, 2025 at 8:37am

Their key findings were that aged smoke is more toxic:

The study found that 4-nitrocatechol was significantly more toxic to lung cells than levoglucosan. At relatively low doses, 4-nitrocatechol reduced cell survival and caused oxidative stress—an imbalance that damages cells and can lead to lung diseases.
Exposure to 4-nitrocatechol disrupted the function of mitochondria in lung cells, leading to a process called apoptosis, or programmed cell death. This damage could contribute to long-term lung problems.
While levoglucosan exposure also led to cellular stress, its effects were much less severe compared to 4-nitrocatechol. Cells exposed to levoglucosan showed signs of mitochondrial stress, but they were able to recover over time.
Since 4-nitrocatechol forms when biomass smoke reacts with urban air pollutants like nitrogen oxides, areas affected by both wildfires and traffic pollution may be particularly at risk.
While wearing an N95 or P100 mask can help filter out fine particles, it may not fully protect against toxic gases and chemicals present in aged smoke. Here are some steps individuals can take:

Use HEPA air purifiers to remove fine particles from indoor air, and keeping windows and doors closed can help minimize smoke infiltration.
Ensure that homes are properly sealed to prevent smoke from entering through cracks, vents or poorly fitted windows and doors; avoid using candles, gas stoves or burning wood indoors, as these can add to indoor air pollution;
In extreme conditions, individuals with respiratory issues or prolonged exposure may consider investing in gas masks with activated carbon filters, which can help remove both particles and harmful gases.
If air quality levels are hazardous and exposure is prolonged, relocating to an area with cleaner air—either indoors with filtered ventilation or to a different location—might be the safest option.
This study reinforces concerns that exposure to biomass smoke—especially aged smoke containing 4-nitrocatechol—can have serious health consequences.
Long-term exposure to these pollutants has been linked to respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. People who live in wildfire-prone areas or who frequently burn wood for heating should take extra precautions, say the researchers.

Faria Khan et al, Evidence for cytotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction in human lung cells exposed to biomass burning aerosol constituents: Levoglucosan and 4-nitrocatechol, Environmental Pollution (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125173

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on February 28, 2025 at 8:35am

Aged biomass emissions could pose greater risk to lungs than fresh wildfire smoke

Biomass burning—whether from wildfires, wood stoves or agricultural fires—sends massive amounts of tiny particles and chemicals into the air. These emissions are not just an environmental issue; they pose serious health risks, especially for our lungs.

An Environmental Pollution study reveals how two key components of biomass smoke—levoglucosan and 4-nitrocatechol—affect human lung cells. Their findings suggest that aged smoke, which has undergone chemical changes in the atmosphere, could be even more dangerous than fresh smoke.

Biomass burning refers to the combustion of organic materials like wood, leaves and crop residues. This process releases large amounts of carbon-based aerosols, which contribute to air pollution. Among the many chemicals produced in the smoke, levoglucosan and 4-nitrocatechol serve as important markers.

Levoglucosan is a sugar-like compound released when wood burns, while 4-nitrocatechol forms when smoke interacts with nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere, a process known as chemical aging. While scientists have long studied the environmental effects of biomass burning, less is known about how these compounds directly impact human health.

Researchers used two different types of lung cells: BEAS-2B cells, which represent normal lung-lining cells, and A549 cells, which come from lung cancer tissue and are commonly used in respiratory studies. The researchers exposed these cells to different concentrations of levoglucosan and 4-nitrocatechol over 24 and 48 hours. They then measured cell survival, stress levels and signs of damage to the cells' mitochondria—the "power plants" of cells that generate energy.

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