Internet use can shield caregivers from loneliness

Staying connected through the internet can help older adults who care for their family or friends feel less lonely and cope better with the stress of caregiving, according to a new study.

The research appears in the journal JMIR Aging.

In the United States, 59 million people care for aging adults or those with complex medical conditions. For informal caregivers, who might be caring for a spouse or other family member, this unpaid work can be both physically and emotionally challenging.

“Caregiving can really take a toll on a person’s body and mind, from chronic stress and anxiety to aches and pains from lifting or helping the person they care for,” explained Xiang Qi, assistant professor at the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing and the study’s lead author.

“In fact, a lot of caregivers end up neglecting their own health because they’re so focused on someone else’s needs.”

Caregiving can also be isolating, curbing one’s ability to go out and maintain social connections. Fostering connection using technology—for instance, joining a virtual support group, reading a caregiving forum, or FaceTiming with a friend—offers alternatives to in-person interactions. While there’s a growing consensus that technology is driving isolation among young people, Qi and his colleagues wanted to explore whether internet use could be beneficial for older caregivers, who tend to already have limitations on their time and mobility.

In their study, the researchers analyzed data from the 2019‐2020 California Health Interview Survey, the largest statewide health survey in the United States. They focused on 3,957 participants ages 65 and older who provided unpaid care for a family member or friend.

About 12% of older caregivers reported physical or mental health problems because of their caregiving duties. The researchers found that those who had these health issues tended to feel lonelier—”This makes sense, because caregiving can be tough,” notes Qi.

But importantly, caregivers who used the internet more often felt less lonely overall. In fact, going online frequently seemed to act like a buffer: it reduced the extra loneliness that caregivers with health problems would otherwise experience.

While the study looked at how often caregivers use the internet, it did not capture what they do online. Qi hopes that future research will dig into specific types of online activities and which have the greatest benefit for caregivers’ wellbeing.

“I think the type of internet activity could matter—for example, playing games online might help a caregiver relax and pass the time, but joining a virtual support group or video chatting with friends could do more to ease loneliness because you’re actually interacting with people,” he says.

“My hunch is that activities which involve social interaction or getting support would provide more benefit against loneliness than just passive activities, but we need studies to confirm that.”

Given their findings, the researchers encourage older caregivers to embrace the internet as a tool in their daily lives, one that could help them to stay in touch with others, find support, learn new online skills, and access reliable health information.

“Using the internet to connect with friends, family, or fellow caregivers can really lighten the emotional load of caregiving because it reminds you that you’re not alone,” adds Qi. “Think of it like a bridge that can connect you to people and information, even when you can’t leave home.”

Additional study authors are from NYU and the University of Texas at Austin. Support for the research came, in part, from the National Institutes of Health.

Source: NYU

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How the brain protects against Alzheimer’s

New research digs into how the brain protects itself from Alzheimer’s disease.

High levels of calcium are toxic to cells and contribute to loss of neurons in Alzheimer’s disease. The new JCI Insight study identifies a mechanism through which the young brain protects itself against high calcium levels, and it could help scientists learn how to protect the brain from this devastating neurodegenerative condition.

Glyoxalase 1 (GLO1) is a protein that plays an essential role in getting rid of toxic byproducts in cells. In the study, Yale School of Medicine (YSM) researchers discovered elevated GLO1 levels in the brains of animals with excessive levels of cellular calcium, finding that the brain increased GLO1 expression as a protective mechanism to mitigate the effects of the calcium dysregulation.

However, with advancing age, GLO1 activity declined, the researchers found, which may make the brain less resilient to neurodegeneration. The study could inform the development of therapeutics that target GLO1 and prevent neurodegeneration.

“We discovered how the brain itself deals with calcium leak and uses a resilience factor that erodes with age,” says Amy Arnsten, a professor of neuroscience and the study’s co-principal investigator.

“If we could keep this mechanism going, we’d be protecting the brain in a way that the brain itself has devised.”

The study was a collaboration between Arnsten’s laboratory and the laboratory of Lauren Hachmann Sansing, professor of neurology at YSM.

Arnsten’s laboratory focuses on calcium dysregulation at a channel known as ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2), which releases calcium from storage within a cell’s smooth endoplasmic reticulum.

“This channel is like a faucet that you can turn on and off,” says Elizabeth Woo, an MD-PhD student at YSM and the study’s first author.

“It can cause calcium to come out into the neuron, which has many downstream effects.”

Previous research has shown that RyR2 can become altered with age so that the faucet is constantly “on,” and that these changes are associated with Alzheimer’s disease and even Long COVID. In their new study, the researchers explored how the brain responds to this unregulated influx of calcium.

The team used an animal model in which RyR2 was genetically altered to always be “on,” causing chronic calcium leakage in the brain. They observed elevated GLO1 expression and activity in both the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, two regions that are important for cognition and memory. GLO1 expression initially increased with age, peaking at 12 months in mice, but then declined in older animals.

Then, the researchers introduced the older animals to a T-shaped maze designed to test their memory. They found that those with genetically modified RyR2 receptors who no longer had elevated GLO1 had worse memory compared to their healthy counterparts.

The findings confirmed that calcium dysfunction is associated with worsened cognition.

The study points to GLO1 expression as a potential mechanism in the brain to compensate for chronic calcium dysregulation. “Calcium is a very powerful mediator in the brain,” says Woo. “GLO1 has detoxifying properties that can help the brain counter the changes in calcium over time.”

The researchers are hopeful that uncovering the processes preceding Alzheimer’s disease could one day lead to new therapies.

“There’s a lot of important parallel research looking into how to treat Alzheimer’s disease once it’s developed,” Woo says. “But as the upstream biology becomes clearer, we can also develop preventative therapeutics to target the disease before it becomes an issue.”

Support for the research reported in this news article came from the National Institutes of Health and Yale University. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Source: Yale

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Watch: Do aliens actually exist?

Are aliens real? Do aliens exist?

A NASA grant enables astrophysicist Adam Frank to search for traces of advanced technology on exoplanets.

In 1995, a pair of scientists discovered a planet outside our solar system orbiting a solar-type star. Since that finding—which won the scientists a portion of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics—researchers have discovered more than 4,000 exoplanets, including some Earth-like planets that may have the potential to harbor life.

These planets may be the key to answering the questions, are aliens real, and do aliens exist?

In order to detect if planets are harboring life, however, scientists must first determine what features indicate that life is (or once was) present.

Over the last decade, astronomers have expended great effort trying to find what traces of simple forms of life—known as “biosignatures”—might exist elsewhere in the universe. But what if an alien planet hosted intelligent life that built a technological civilization? Could there be “technosignatures” that civilization on another world would create that could be seen from Earth? And, could these technosignatures be even easier to detect than biosignatures?

In this video, Frank digs into these questions and more:

Source: University of Rochester

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New method could transform battery recycling

New research could transform the recovery of critical battery materials.

Researchers have developed a two-step flash Joule heating-chlorination and oxidation (FJH-ClO) process that rapidly separates lithium and transition metals from spent lithium-ion batteries.

The method provides an acid-free, energy-saving alternative to conventional recycling techniques, a breakthrough that aligns with the surging global demand for batteries used in electric vehicles and portable electronics.

The research appears in Advanced Materials.

Traditional recycling methods are often energy intensive, generate wastewater, and frequently require harsh chemicals. In contrast, the FJH-ClO process achieves high yields and purity of lithium, cobalt, and graphite while reducing energy consumption, chemical usage, and costs.

“We designed the FJH-ClO process to challenge the notion that battery recycling must rely on acid leaching,” says James Tour, a professor of chemistry and professor of materials science and nanoengineering at Rice University.

“FJH-ClO is a fast, precise way to extract valuable materials without damaging them or harming the environment.”

The rapid increase in the use of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles and consumer electronics has intensified the need for sustainable recycling technologies. Existing recycling methods are often costly and inefficient while producing significant amounts of wastewater.

To tackle these challenges, the research team developed a two-step process that uses brief bursts of heat and air instead of harsh chemicals. First, the battery materials are briefly heated with chlorine gas, which breaks them down. They then undergo a second heating in air, transforming most of the metals into forms that can be separated from lithium. Because lithium does not form an oxide as easily as other metals, it remains as the chloride, which can be easily extracted using water.

Previous methods required lengthy processes and strong acids. The FJH-ClO approach, however, uses fast, controlled heating and simple reactions to make the separation process cleaner and faster.

Tests have shown that the new process can recover nearly all valuable materials from used batteries, including lithium, cobalt, and graphite, with high purity. Early analyses suggest that even at a small scale, it may require about half as much energy, 95% fewer chemicals, and significantly lower costs compared to existing methods.

These results establish a scalable, acid-free approach for the comprehensive recovery of lithium-ion battery materials, offering both environmental and economic advantages while setting a new standard for sustainable battery recycling.

“It’s rewarding to see a process that’s both scientifically sound and practically useful,” says Shichen Xu, the study’s first author and a Rice postdoctoral researcher. “That balance is what makes real-world impact possible.”

This process paves the way for large-scale implementation and integration into the battery supply chain. It provides a foundation for recovering valuable materials while reducing the need for virgin mining.

With the FJH-ClO process already proven at the laboratory scale, the researchers plan to scale the process through their startup, Flash Metals USA, a division of Metallium Ltd.

“This is more than just a lab experiment,” Tour says. “It’s a blueprint for how the industry can meet the demand for battery materials without further straining the planet.”

Support for this research came from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Source: Rice University

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College is still an investment that pays off

Even after factoring in student loan payments, completing a college degree continues to pay off, according to new research.

The study, published by the Brookings Institution, finds that degree holders earn on average $8,000 more per year than similar individuals who attended college but did not complete a degree—even after accounting for student loan payments.

Without factoring in debt, the earnings premium rises to $10,400 per year.

“Despite concerns about rising tuition costs and growing debt, the data show that higher education remains a worthwhile financial investment,” says Jason Jabbari, an assistant professor at Washington University in St. Louis’ Center for Social Development (CSD) at the Brown School, faculty director of the Clark-Fox Policy Institute and coauthor of the report.

“Our findings highlight not only the continued value of a college degree, but also the importance of supporting students through to completion.”

The research team—which includes Guangli Zhang, Xueying Mei, Yung Chun, and Stephen Roll of the CSD, along with Mathieu Despard of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill—used linked data from a national credit bureau and the National Student Clearinghouse to produce one of the most detailed looks yet at the economic return on higher education.

Unlike traditional earnings analyses, the team developed a “debt-adjusted earnings” measure that accounts for student loan payments. This approach provides a more complete picture of how debt affects the financial returns of completing a postsecondary credential.

Their results show that while student debt reduces the immediate financial gains from earning a degree, the long-term benefits remain substantial:

• Associate degree holders spend about 9% of their extra earnings on loan payments.
• Bachelor’s degree holders spend 19%.
• Master’s degree holders spend 57%, though their faster salary growth narrows this gap over time.
• Students completing undergraduate certificates also saw meaningful benefits, with debt-adjusted earnings roughly $5,000 higher than those who did not complete them.

“The message here is clear,” says Zhang, a CSD data analyst. “Higher education pays off, but debt burdens vary considerably across degree levels. Policies that promote college completion and reduce financial barriers can maximize these returns.”

The researchers says that pending federal policy changes, such as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, could limit access to these opportunities. The bill will impose new borrowing caps for graduate students and expand “gainful employment” rules that could restrict federal aid for some programs.

“Our evidence shows that most graduates more than meet federal standards for gainful employment,” Jabbari says.

“Policymakers should focus on expanding—not constraining—access to higher education financing, especially for students most likely to benefit from completing a degree.”

The study also suggests expanding student loan programs to include non-degree credential programs, which can lead to strong financial returns for many workers.

Source: Washington University in St. Louis

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Patch could repair damage after a heart attack

A new patch may offer a way to help the heart heal after a heart attack.

The patch uses a unique microneedle system to deliver a therapeutic molecule directly to damaged heart tissue, promoting repair and improving heart function without affecting the rest of the body.

Each tiny needle in this biodegradable patch contains microscopic particles loaded with interleukin-4 (IL-4), a molecule known to help regulate the immune system.

When applied to the surface of the heart, the needles dissolve and release IL-4 directly into the injured area, creating a healing-friendly environment.

The findings appear in Cell Biomaterials.

“This patch acts like a bridge,” says Huang, assistant professor in the pharmaceutical sciences department at Texas A&M University. “The microneedles penetrate the outer layer of the heart and allow the drug to reach the damaged muscle underneath, which is normally very hard to access.”

After a heart attack, the heart muscle loses oxygen and nutrients, causing cells to die. The body responds by forming scar tissue, which helps stabilize the heart but cannot contract like healthy muscle. Over time, the remaining heart muscle has to work harder to compensate, often leading to heart failure.

Huang’s patch aims to interrupt that cycle. By delivering IL-4 directly to the site of injury, the patch encourages immune cells called “macrophages” to switch from a pro-inflammatory state to a healing state. This shift helps reduce scar formation and promotes the final prognosis.

“Macrophages are the key,” Huang explains. “They can either make inflammation worse or help the heart heal. IL-4 helps turn them into helpers.”

Previous attempts to use IL-4 for heart repair involved injecting it into the bloodstream, but that approach caused unwanted side effects in other organs. Huang’s patch solves that problem by keeping the treatment local.

“Systemic delivery affects the whole body,” he says. “We wanted to target just the heart.”

One of the most surprising findings was a change in the “state” of heart muscle cells after treatment. Huang says the cells became more communicative and responsive to signals from surrounding tissues, especially endothelial cells, which line blood vessels. This enhanced communication may be key to long-term healing.

“The cardiomyocytes weren’t just surviving, they were interacting with other cells in ways that support recovery,” he says.

The patch also quieted inflammatory signals from endothelial cells, which can otherwise worsen damage after a heart attack. Huang’s team observed increased signaling through a pathway called NPR1, which helps maintain blood vessel health and supports heart function.

While the current version of the patch requires open-chest surgery, Huang hopes to develop a minimally invasive delivery method in the future. He envisions a version that could be inserted through a small tube, making it more practical for clinical use.

“This is just the beginning,” he says. “We’ve proven the concept. Now we want to optimize the design and delivery.”

Huang is collaborating with Xiaoqing (Jade) Wang, assistant professor of statistics in the College of Arts and Sciences, to develop an AI model aimed at mapping immune responses and guiding future immunomodulatory therapeutic delivery.

Support for the work came from the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association.

Source: Texas A&M University

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Listen: How wearable tech will change your life

On this episode of the Big Brains podcast, a computer scientist explores the potential of human-computer integration and haptics to help us move and learn.

Can you imagine a world in which a wearable device, like a smartwatch, could move your fingers to strum the guitar or play the drums?

That kind of technology is part of the innovative research coming out of the Human Computer Integration Lab at the University of Chicago, led by renowned computer scientist Pedro Lopes. His lab is developing a new generation of gadgets that use haptics (or tactile sensations like the buzz of your smartphone) to move your body, replicate your sense of smell, and even make you feel things.

In this episode, Lopes explores the potential of wearable devices to transform our future as well as brain-computer interfaces that are being developed by companies like Elon Musk’s Neuralink that directly into the body:

Read the transcript of this episode.

Source: University of Chicago

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