Behind The Labs

Behind The Labs

A podcast where we explore new studies in the world, relating to biological advancements and more, and we also speak to experts on these topics. Get ready to learn more about what goes on Behind The Labs!

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    Behind The Labs - Episode 50 - Periodontal Disease, ADHD Medication vs CBT, and AI in the ER!

    This week on Behind the Labs, we’re diving into five studies that challenge what we think we know about the brain, the body, and even what makes us human. Let’s start with something almost philosophical. Researchers showed that a bonobo named Kanzi can track imaginary objects in controlled experiments — like pretend juice being poured into a cup. He consistently identified where the “imaginary” object was, even after the cups were moved. That’s a big deal because imagination — the ability to mentally represent something that isn’t physically there — has long been considered uniquely human. If apes share even part of that ability, it suggests imagination may have evolutionary roots going back millions of years. Next, shifting to human health — a large U.S. study found that people with the highest intake of ultra-processed foods had a 47% higher risk of cardiovascular disease. These foods now make up about 60% of adult diets in the U.S. The concern isn’t just calories — it’s how heavily altered these foods are and how they may drive inflammation and metabolic dysfunction. It raises the question: are we engineering convenience at the cost of long-term cardiovascular health? On a more specific nutrition note, another study found that older adults who don’t consume enough lycopene — the antioxidant found in tomatoes — have significantly higher odds of severe gum disease. What’s interesting is that the protective effect varied by race and sex, pointing to deeper health disparities that diet alone may not fully explain. In mental health research, the most comprehensive review ever conducted on ADHD treatments confirmed that medication remains the most evidence-supported intervention for both children and adults, with cognitive behavioral therapy strongly supported for adults. Many alternative approaches showed weaker evidence. The researchers even launched an interactive platform to help patients and clinicians navigate treatment options more transparently — which speaks to how overwhelming and contradictory mental health advice can feel. Then there’s AI in medicine. A new system called Prima can analyze brain MRIs in seconds with up to 97.5% accuracy, automatically flagging urgent conditions like stroke. It integrates imaging with patient history — almost like a radiologist co-pilot. In a health system strained by backlogs and specialist shortages, that kind of speed could genuinely change outcomes. And finally — jet lag might someday be solved at the genetic level. Scientists discovered a compound called Mic-628 that directly activates a core circadian gene, effectively pushing the body’s internal clock forward. In animal models, it cut jet lag recovery nearly in half. Unlike melatonin, it doesn’t depend on precise timing. It works through the molecular mechanics of the clock itself. Across all these studies, there’s a common thread: we’re moving from observing biology to directly understanding and influencing its underlying mechanisms — whether that’s imagination in apes, inflammation from food, neural attention systems, real-time medical imaging, or the genes that keep time inside our cells. And that’s what we love about science — it keeps pushing the boundary of what we thought was uniquely human, uniquely biological, or simply impossible.

    54 min
  2. 23 JAN

    Behind The Labs - Episode 49 - Preventing Crohn's Disease in Advance, Ibuprofen as a Preventative Measure to Cancer, and Exercise's Best Effects!

    In this episode, we dive into a series of powerful new studies showing how early detection, lifestyle choices, and cutting-edge therapies are reshaping the future of medicine. We begin with groundbreaking research from Sinai Health revealing a blood test that may predict the risk of Crohn’s disease years before symptoms appear—opening the door to prevention rather than damage control. From there, we explore work from the AdventHealth Research Institute showing that consistent aerobic exercise can make the brain appear biologically younger, highlighting how everyday habits in midlife may protect long-term cognitive health. We then turn to transformative findings from Stanford Medicine, where scientists successfully regenerated joint cartilage in aging and injured mice by blocking an aging-related enzyme—raising real hope for disease-modifying treatments for osteoarthritis that could reduce the need for joint replacement. The episode also covers long-term results from the RECOVER trial led by Washington University School of Medicine, where vagus nerve stimulation produced sustained, life-changing improvements for people with the most severe forms of treatment-resistant depression. Finally, we unpack emerging (and controversial) evidence suggesting that ibuprofen’s anti-inflammatory effects may influence cancer risk—while emphasizing why self-medication is not the answer. Together, these studies paint a compelling picture: medicine is moving earlier, deeper, and more personalized—shifting from managing symptoms to predicting risk, restoring function, and improving quality of life over the long term.

    28 min
  3. 24/12/2025

    Behind The Labs - Episode 48 - Alzheimer's Early Prevention, CBD+THC's Defence Against Alzheimers', and Alcohol's Correlation with Cancer!

    In this episode of Behind the Labs, we zoom out and connect the dots across some of the most compelling recent research shaping how we think about health, disease, and prevention. We explore how scientists are uncovering the earliest biological triggers of Alzheimer’s disease, from toxic amyloid subtypes and reactive astrocytes to experimental drugs that may stop damage before memory loss begins. We also dive into breakthrough work on mitochondria and healthy aging, where boosting cellular energy production extended both lifespan and healthspan in animal models—improving metabolism, endurance, and reducing markers of cellular aging. We then turn to the often-overlooked parts of our genome, discussing how researchers are mapping hidden DNA switches in astrocytes that regulate brain genes linked to Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders, and how AI models are now being trained on this data. Finally, we tackle real-world prevention, breaking down large-scale evidence on alcohol use and cancer risk, and emerging research on cannabis-derived compounds as potential cancer therapies. From molecular mechanisms to public health implications, this episode ties together how early intervention, gene regulation, metabolism, and lifestyle intersect—offering a big-picture view of where modern biomedical research is heading, and what it could mean for the future of medicine. 🧠🧬🔬

    36 min

About

A podcast where we explore new studies in the world, relating to biological advancements and more, and we also speak to experts on these topics. Get ready to learn more about what goes on Behind The Labs!