Waves that clear waste from the brain during sleep are impaired in older adults
Researchers now hope to investigate whether increasing the flow of cerebrospinal fluid during sleep could improve brain health.
Symposium highlights MIT’s wide range of innovations for aging brain health
In six talks, researchers from across MIT described projects aimed at advancing the understanding of and interventions against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS.
Unmasking “zombie cells” in aging tissue with an AI-powered barcode
Tracking down senescent cells, which accumulate as we age, could help diagnose age-related disorders and guide researchers working on new treatments.
Language skills stay strong in older adults, even while other cognitive abilities decline
MIT researchers find that activity in the brain’s language network is nearly identical in young and old people.
Personalized physical therapy: Stroke rehabilitation powered by AI
MIT engineers introduce an adaptive physical therapy system that uses generative AI to learn from physical therapists and interactively support stroke patients.
After 16 years leading Picower Institute, Li-Huei Tsai will sharpen focus on research, teaching
Tsai, who has grown the MIT neuroscience institute, will increase focus on research including Alzheimer’s disease and Down syndrome.
W.M. Keck Foundation to support research on healthy aging at MIT
Assistant Professor Alison Ringel will investigate the intersection of immunology and aging biology, aiming to define mechanisms that underlie aging-related decline, thanks to a grant from the foundation.
SMART launches new Wearable Imaging for Transforming Elderly Care research group
WITEC is working to develop the first wearable ultrasound imaging system to monitor chronic conditions in real-time, with the goal of enabling earlier detection and timely intervention.
Chemists determine the structure of the fuzzy coat that surrounds Tau proteins
Learning more about this structure could help scientists find ways to block Tau from forming tangles in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients.
Immune-informed brain aging research offers new treatment possibilities, speakers say
Speakers at MIT’s Aging Brain Initiative symposium described how immune system factors during aging contribute to Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other conditions. The field is leveraging that knowledge to develop new therapies.
Building a lifeline for family caregivers across the US
Ianacare, co-founded by Steven Lee ’97, MEng ’98, equips caregivers with the resources, networks, and tools they need to support loved ones.
MIT engineers uncover a surprising reason why tissues are flexible or rigid
Watery fluid between cells plays a major role, offering new insights into how organs and tissues adapt to aging, diabetes, cancer, and more.
Eldercare robot helps people sit and stand, and catches them if they fall
The new design could assist the elderly as they age in place at home.
The age-old problem of long-term care
Informal help is a huge share of elder care in the U.S., a burden that is only set to expand. A new book explores different countries’ solutions.
A brief history of expansion microscopy
Since an MIT team introduced expansion microscopy in 2015, the technique has powered the science behind kidney disease, plant seeds, the microbiome, Alzheimer’s, viruses, and more.