A gene editing technique shows promise for lowering LDL cholesterol

 

PHILADELPHIA ­— Ten patients enrolled in the experimental drug trial, and they were the sickest of the sick. 

All had a genetic disorder that cranks up levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood. Known as “bad cholesterol,” LDL cholesterol is infamous for clogging arteries. The patients’ disorder, called heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, can lead to severe heart disease at an early age — and death. 

Their arteries had been bathing in high LDL cholesterol since birth. In several patients, even typical cholesterol-lowering drugs couldn’t get the levels “even remotely under control,” says Andrew Bellinger, a cardiologist and chief scientific officer at Verve Therapeutics, a Boston-based biotechnology company.

Now, his team has tried a new approach: a genetic medicine called VERVE-101 designed to turn off a cholesterol-raising gene. Using a kind of molecular pencil, the medicine erases one DNA letter and writes in another, inactivating the gene. A single genetic change. A single medication. A potential treatment that lasts a lifetime.

That’s the hope, anyway. Bellinger presented the results of a small clinical trial called heart-1 at the American Heart Association meeting in November. VERVE-101 successfully lowered LDL cholesterol, Bellinger reported. It’s the first time anyone has shown that a DNA spelling change made inside a person’s body could have such an effect. “We can achieve clinically meaningful LDL reductions with a single dose,” he said.

Now, his team has tried a new approach: a genetic medicine called VERVE-101 designed to turn off a cholesterol-raising gene. Using a kind of molecular pencil, the medicine erases one DNA letter and writes in another, inactivating the gene. A single genetic change. A single medication. A potential treatment that lasts a lifetime.anyone has shown that a DNA spelling change made inside a person’s body could have such an effect. “We can achieve clinically meaningful LDL reductions with a single dose,” he said.

People with familial hypercholesterolemia have lifelong symptoms, so “this whole concept of ‘one and done’ is really amazing,” says Pam Taub, a cardiologist at the University of California, San Diego who was not involved with the trial. These patients must take medications their entire lives. An infused drug like VERVE-101 — designed to alter a person’s DNA — could change treatment strategy. 

Taub points out questions about VERVE-101’s safety. One trial patient had a heart attack. Another died due to cardiac arrest. But that death was not related to treatment, Bellinger said.

Moving forward, establishing VERVE-101’s safety is crucial, agreed Karol Watson, a cardiologist at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA who wasn’t involved with the new work. Editing people’s DNA to lower their cholesterol “is a strategy that could be revolutionary, but we have to make sure it’s safe,” she said at the meeting. “You are changing the genome forever.”

Here’s what we know about four key aspects of the new medicine and its history.   

VERVE-101 relies on a DNA-modifying protein called a base editor  

The composition of VERVE-101 is simple. It’s just two types of RNA molecules — molecular cousins of DNA — bundled inside a bubble of fat. 

Infused into the bloodstream, the drug travels to the liver and slips into cells. One of the RNA molecules tells cells to build a protein called an adenine base editor. The other acts as a genetic GPS, guiding the editor protein to the correct stretch of DNA

The technology is CRISPR 2.0. First generation CRISPR/Cas9 tools act like molecular scissors and can disrupt genes by snipping through DNA’s strands (SN: 8/14/19). Base editors are more like molecular pencils. They edit DNA by performing chemistry on an individual DNA letter, or base, rewriting for another  creating a new genetic sequence

“Base editors actually change a sequence that you choose into a different sequence of your choosing,” says Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator David Liu, a chemist at Harvard University whose team [nvented technology in 2016 In the case of VERVE-101, that sequence is inside the PCSK9 gene, which encodes instructions for manufacturing a protein that raises blood cholesterol levels. Just one edit in a precise location shuts PCSK9 down.

Editing wraps up less than a week after the infusion, and the drug breaks down rapidly, Bellinger said. Both the fat bubble, called a lipid nanoparticle, and its RNA cargo degrade, and within a few weeks, VERVE-101 vanishes from the body. “The only thing that’s left is the DNA change you made to the PCSK9 gene,” he said.

PCSK9 is a tempting target for gene-editing therapy 

PCSK9 has been a hot therapeutic target for the last decade or so, says Parag Joshi, a preventive cardiologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas who was not part of the trial. 

Researchers knew that some people have PCSK9 mutations that switch the gene off. These people tended to have lower levels of LDL cholestrol and drastically have less heart disease geneticist Helen Hobbs, an HHMI investigator at UT Southwestern Medical Center, and colleagues reported in 2006.

That landmark study pushed the field forward, Joshi says. Suddenly, scientists had proof that people could live healthy lives when PCSK9 was inactivated. That made it “a very attractive drug target,” Joshi says. It suggested that disabling PCSK9 would do no harm — and could even help, by lowering the risk of heart disease.  

Typically, the PCSK9 protein breaks down another protein called the LDL receptor. This receptor is one of the good guys; it keeps bad cholesterol in check by snatching it from the blood and transporting it into liver cells for disposal. Without enough LDL receptors, LDL cholesterol levels in the blood ratchet up.

 

Sekar Kathiresan, a cardiologist and Verve’s CEO and cofounder puts it succinctly: PCSK9 causes disease. “If you turn it off, all you get is health.”

Today, a few existing therapies target PCSK9, including injected antibodies or an RNA-based drug that shuts down production of the protein. Patients should take a daily statin pill to lower LDL cholesterol, Joshi says. But it’s often not enough. 

And though the therapies are theoretically effective for people with familial hypercholesterolemia, Kathiresan says, “very few patients are actually on these medications.”

His team thinks that’s because the current approach is just too heavy a burden — asking patients to take daily pills or intermittent injections for decades. “That model doesn’t seem to be working,” Kathiresan says. “And that’s what we’re trying to fix.” 

Early VERVE-101 clinical trial results reveal potential benefits — and risks 

Kathiresan’s team gave a single IV infusion of VERVE-101 to 10 people with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, most of whom had severe heart disease. In those who received the highest drug doses tested, blood levels of LDL cholesterol dropped sharply, by 39 to 55 percent. And the drop appears long-lasting, Bellinger said. For the patient at the highest dose, LDL cholesterol levels held steady for 180 days after VERVE-101 infused into the bloodstream.

Steep reductions

In a clinical trial with 10 participants, people who received the highest doses of VERVE-101 tested (green and purple dots) saw steep reductions in the amount of LDL cholesterol in the blood.

Changes in LDL cholesterol levels for different doses of VERVE-101

Dosage (mg/kg)

0.1

0.3

0.45

0.6

Source: S.B. Vafai et al/American Heart Association meeting 2023 • Visualization: C. Crockett

Bellinger called the results “pretty much what we expected and planned,” given the team’s earlier result in nonhuman primate.   But the new patient data, though preliminary, places the drug on the precipice of something bigger. “This opens the door for an entirely new way to treat heart disease,” Kathiresan says.

VERVE-101’s utility will ultimately depend on its safety. During the trial, the team spotted some potential red flags. Four patients had minor reactions to the IV infusion, including headache and mild fever. But at the heart meeting, attention hummed over something more severe. A day after the infusion, one patient had a heart attack. Five weeks after the infusion, a different patient died when their heart suddenly stopped beating. 

That incident was probably caused by the patients’ underlying heart disease, Kathiresan says. That’s the conclusion reached by an independent data safety monitoring board that investigated the cases, he says. 

The heart attack, however, may have been related to the treatment, because it happened so soon after dosing, the monitoring board determined. Kathiresan notes, though, that the patient had been experiencing chest pains prior to the study, something they didn’t mention to the study’s investigators.

These are “very, very sick patients,” says UCSD cardiologist Taub. For future trials with the drug, she thinks such patients should be excluded.

Kathiresan’s team is now planning to enroll patients with less-advanced disease. They’re also going to check for blockages in patients’ arteries, to try and avoid including people at extremely high risk of heart attack.

In 2024, the company plans to enroll more patients at the two highest doses to determine which dose to move forward. The researchers are also testing a second version of the drug, VERVE-102, which uses a different lipid nanoparticle. Depending on those results, Verve plans to move one of the drugs on to a larger clinical trial in 2025. And if successful in people with familial hypercholesterolemia, the company intends to expand to an even broader group of patients, including those without the genetic disorder.

Developing new medicines is a long road, Kathiresan says. It can take more than a decade for a drug to go from a concept to a medication that doctors can prescribe, he says. Verve started its PCSK9-editing project in 2018. Kathiresan says he hopes to have an approved medication by the end of the decade. 

VERVE-101 is one of several base editing drugs currently in clinical trials

One potential side effect of gene-editing therapies is unintentional tweaks to DNA. VERVE-101 targets PCSK9, but what if it strays to a different spot in the genome, asks Anne Goldberg, an endocrinologist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The technology “looks really interesting,” she says, “but we need more data.”

A DNA change at the wrong spot could put people at risk of developing cancer. With VERVE-101, Bellinger said, “we think that risk is very low.” Most of the company’s work, he said, goes into demonstrating that “we do not make edits elsewhere in the genome.” 

Today’s base editors — including the one in VERVE-101 — are much improved since the early days of the technology, says Harvard’s Liu, who was not involved with the trial. They “have very high on-target editing efficiency while also having minimal off-target editing.” 

Currently, five other base-editing clinical trials targeting other diseases, like sickle-cell disease and leukemia, are ongoing. Liu is hopeful that the gene-editing agents will give patients “a completely new lease on life.” 

Bellinger said his team thinks of VERVE-101 as a one-time procedure for health, like “molecular surgery without a scalpel.” In theory, it’s possible to reverse the edit made by VERVE-101, but it’s not what he and his colleagues envision. 

For cardiologist Donald Lloyd-Jones, who was not involved with the trial, the dream is to offer people with familial hypercholesterolemia a treatment that doesn’t rely on taking a statin pill every single day. A therapy like VERVE-101 “might be something they really consider as an option,” said Lloyd-Jones,

Currently, five other base-editing clinical trials targeting other diseases, like sickle-cell disease and leukemia, are ongoing. Liu is hopeful that the gene-editing agents will give patients “a completely new lease on life.” 

Bellinger said his team thinks of VERVE-101 as a one-time procedure for health, like “molecular surgery without a scalpel.” In theory, it’s possible to reverse the edit made by VERVE-101, but it’s not what he and his colleagues envision. 

For cardiologist Donald Lloyd-Jones, who was not involved with the trial, the dream is to offer people with familial hypercholesterolemia a treatment that doesn’t rely on taking a statin pill every single day. A therapy like VERVE-101 “might be something they really consider as an option,” said Lloyd-Jones, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

“If we get those safety data, if we get those efficacy data,” he said at the meeting, “I think this would be a very interesting approach to a lifetimetoday fix. 

”Source: Science News 

Water Gushes Out of a Mulberry Tree in Europe, Here's the Science Behind it

 The Dinoša mulberry tree, located in the village of Dinoša, Montenegro, continues to captivate social media users with its extraordinary ability to gush water from its trunk. This natural spectacle, which occurs once a year, has left many puzzled as to how such a phenomenon is possible. 

The mulberry trees in Montenegro have gained attention in recent years, as videos of them spewing water have surfaced multiple times. This annual occurrence takes place for a brief period, during which the tree's bark allows water to flow through it. The village of Dinosa, situated in the capital city of Podgorica, is home to these remarkable trees.

 To understand the scientific explanation behind this mysterious process, we must consider the presence of multiple water streams in the village, fostered by a spring. When heavy rainfall or snowmelt causes the spring to overflow, some of the water finds its way beneath the mulberry trees. The resulting pressure causes the water to rise from underneath the tree and into its hollows, providing a release for the overflow and relieving the pressure. While this phenomenon is rare and fleeting, similar occurrences have been observed in other trees, such as the peculiar sight of a tree appearing to bleed when cut.

Information and image source Google

The new science of happiness: Simple, research-backed ways to boost your wellbeing

The emerging field of positive psychology: Effective strategies supported by research to enhance your overall happiness.

Research has shown that our facial expressions can impact our mood and emotions. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville analyzed 138 studies involving over 11,000 volunteers from around the world over a 50-year period. The findings suggest that our facial expressions play a role in influencing our emotions, highlighting the connection between our minds and bodies when it comes to experiencing happiness.

Moreover, while the common saying goes that money can't buy happiness, studies have indicated that the way we spend our money can affect our happiness levels. Research suggests that investing in experiences rather than material possessions can lead to greater feelings of happiness. For instance, a study conducted by psychologists at San Francisco State University asked participants to reflect on how their recent purchases had impacted their overall well-being.

The findings not only indicated that the volunteers derived more happiness from experiences rather than material possessions, but also that this positive effect was not influenced by the amount spent or the income of the individuals making the purchases. Additionally, the researchers discovered that experiences had a lasting impact on happiness. This could be attributed to the ability to reflect on past experiences and recapture the joy felt during those moments.

Furthermore, the freedom to make choices significantly impacts our happiness. When we believe that we have control over our future, not only do we experience greater happiness, but we also perform better in our professional lives and exhibit a more positive attitude. A study conducted with Chinese teenagers revealed that maintaining a strong belief in free will and having the autonomy to make independent choices correlated with heightened feelings of happiness. The researchers even propose that therapy sessions aimed at reinforcing the belief in free will could assist individuals in actively pursuing happiness.

Our connection to nature and the availability of natural green spaces also have a significant impact on our well-being. A recent study conducted at The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology revealed that individuals living in cities with greater access to green spaces reported higher levels of contentment and happiness.

To arrive at this conclusion, the researchers utilized satellite data from cities across 60 different countries to determine the extent of accessible green spaces. They then compared this data with each country's happiness index. Remarkably, the positive correlation between green spaces and happiness persisted regardless of a country's economic status. There are several potential explanations for this phenomenon, including our inherent appreciation for the beauty of natural environments, the promotion of physical and social interaction within green spaces, and the positive impact of nature on our physical health, such as reducing blood pressure and stress levels.

However, while we have a general understanding of the activities and behaviors that can enhance our happiness, scientific research also advises us to approach its pursuit mindfully. A study conducted at Rutgers Business School discovered that when we view happiness as an achievement or believe that we must actively engage in certain actions to experience happiness, it can lead to a sense of time scarcity. Consequently, this perception can undermine and diminish our overall feelings of happiness.

According to scientific research, it is possible to increase our happiness by following a few straightforward steps. However, it is important to keep in mind that happiness should not be seen as a goal to be achieved, but rather as an experience to be savored.

Information from Science Focus

A new drug lowers levels of a protein related to ‘bad’ cholesterol

 Routine blood tests in the not-too-distant future may feature a new line item: lipoprotein(a).

High levels of this fat- and cholesterol-carrying protein increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, research suggests. But there has been little anyone can do about it. How much lipoprotein(a) a person produces is largely locked in by genetics, and the level remains relatively steady throughout life. That’s in contrast to “bad” LDL — low-density lipoprotein — cholesterol, which changes depending on diet and exercise.

Because lipoprotein(a) is genetically determined, “these people who have high levels have had it since birth, and so they can get heart disease earlier,” says Erin Michos, a preventive cardiologist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who was not involved with the clinical trial.

Now, a therapy that specifically targets lipoprotein(a) levels is on the horizon. In a clinical trial, the drug, which blocks the body’s ability to make the protein, reduced people’s levels of lipoprotein(a) by as much as 80 percent, researchers report in the Jan. 16 New England Journal of Medicine. The trial also found the drug to be safe.

Another clinical trial is now under way to determine whether drastically lowering levels of lipoprotein(a) in people who already have cardiovascular disease lessens their risk of heart attack and stroke (SN: 3/15/19).

Lipoprotein(a) is made up of a particle of LDL plus a protein called apolipoprotein(a). The relationship between LDL cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risk is well-established: When there is too much LDL cholesterol in the blood, it can get into the walls of arteries, stoking an inflammatory immune response that leads to thickened walls and narrowed arteries (SN: 5/3/17).

But LDL doesn’t appear to be the whole story, says cardiologist Michelle O’Donoghue of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, who was not part of the new study. “There are people who have very well-controlled LDL cholesterol levels who do go on to have heart attacks.” As a result, “there’s been a tremendous amount of interest in lipoprotein(a) and its possible role in progression of heart disease,” she says.

The LDL component is part of the reason that cardiovascular disease risk is higher with elevated levels of lipoprotein(a). But the apolipoprotein(a) component adds to the risk, says Sotirios Tsimikas, a cardiologist at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine in La Jolla. That protein appears to provoke a stronger inflammatory reaction than LDL does, hastening plaque development in artery walls. And apolipoprotein(a) has the potential to prevent blood clots from breaking up — bad news if an artery-blocking clot forms when a plaque ruptures.

“So in a way, it’s kind of a triple hit,” Tsimikas says. “You get all the bad things from LDL, but then you get two other things that are not good for you.”

To directly target the production of lipoprotein(a), Tsimikas and colleagues tested a drug called APO(a)-LRx, developed by Ionis Pharmaceuticals in Carlsbad, Calif., in a phase II clinical trial designed to determine the effectiveness and best dose of the treatment. The drug blocks the messenger RNA that provides genetic instructions to make the protein.

The researchers tested different drug doses in 286 patients with cardiovascular disease whose levels of lipoprotein(a) were at least 60 milligrams per deciliter of blood. Epidemiological data suggest that people with lipoprotein(a) levels between 50 and 100 mg/dL have a modest increase in the risk of cardiovascular problems, Tsimikas says. Those with levels above 100 mg/dL are at high risk. It’s estimated that about 20 percent of the population has lipoprotein(a) levels above 50 mg/dL, he says.  

At the highest dose of the drug, trial participants’ lipoprotein(a) levels dropped by an average of 80 percent by the end of the experiment.

To determine if the drug is effective at reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke, a phase III clinical trial, run by Novartis Pharmaceuticals of Basel, Switzerland, has begun recruiting participants. Researchers will test the drug or a placebo over about four years in more than 7,500 people with cardiovascular disease and lipoprotein(a) levels of 70 mg/dL or higher.

If that trial is successful, further research will be needed to see if the drug also helps people with high levels of lipoprotein(a) avoid developing cardiovascular disease in the first place.

What are the northern lights?

What are northern lights?

The northern lights, one of several astronomical phenomena called polar lights (aurora polaris), are shafts or curtains of colored light visible on occasion in the night sky.Polar lights (aurora polaris) are a natural phenomenon found in both the northern and southern hemispheres that can be truly awe inspiring. Northern lights are also called by their scientific name, aurora borealis, and southern lights are called aurora australis.Sten Odenwald, author of The 23rd Cycle: learning to live with a stormy star (New York, Columbia University Press, c2001), provides insight into how northern lights are generated:

The origin of the aurora begins on the surface of the sun when solar activity ejects a cloud of gas. Scientists call this a coronal mass ejection (CME). If one of these reaches earth, taking about 2 to 3 days, it collides with the Earth’s magnetic field. This field is invisible, and if you could see its shape, it would make Earth look like a comet with a long magnetic ‘tail’ stretching a million miles behind Earth in the opposite direction of the sun.When a coronal mass ejection collides with the magnetic field, it causes complex changes to happen to the magnetic tail region. These changes generate currents of charged particles, which then flow along lines of magnetic force into the Polar Regions. 

These particles are boosted in energy in Earth’s upper atmosphere, and when they collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms, they produce dazzling auroral light.Odenwald further tells us “Aurora are beautiful, but the invisible flows of particles and magnetism that go on at the same time can damage our electrical power grid and satellites operating in space. This is why scientists are so keen to understand the physics of aurora and solar storms, so we can predict when our technologies may be affected.Can I see them anywhere?Yes, although they are more frequent at higher latitudes and places like Alaska, Canada, and Antarctica, closer to the Earth’s poles. 

Occasionally, they have been seen closer to the equator, and even as far  south as Mexico. To view them, look in the direction of the closest pole (the northern horizon in the northern hemisphere, the southern horizon in the southern hemisphere).

Can I see them at any time of the year?

Yes. In some areas, such as Alaska or Greenland, they may be visible most nights of the year. And they occur at any time of the day, but we can’t see them with the naked eye unless it’s dark.

What causes the colors and patterns?Colors and patterns are from the types of ions or atoms being energized as they collide with the atmosphere and are affected by lines of magnetic force. Displays may take many forms, including rippling curtains, pulsating globs, traveling pulses, or steady glows. Altitude affects the colors. Blue violet/reds occur below 60 miles (100 km), with bright green strongest between 60-150 miles (100-240 km). Above 150 miles (240 km) ruby reds appear.

Fun Facts about northern lights.According to Neil Bone (The Aurora: sun-earth interactions, 1996), the term aurora borealis–northern dawn–is jointly credited to have first been used by Pierre Gassendi (1592-1655) and Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), who both witnessed a light display on Sept. 12, 1621. However, Bone also includes a description of the northern lights made 1,000 years prior by Gregory of Tours (538-594.) It included the phrase, “… so bright that you might have thought that day was about to dawn.

Auroras have been observed since ancient times.The height of the displays can occur up to 1000 km (620 miles), although most are between 80-120 km.Auroras tend to be more frequent and spectacular during high solar sunspot activity, which cycles over approximately eleven years.Some displays are particularly spectacular and widespread and have been highlighted in news accounts. Examples include auroral storms of August-September, 1859, Feb 11, 1958, (lights 1250 miles wide circled the Arctic from Oregon to New Hampshire) and March 13, 1989, (the whole sky turned a vivid red and the aurora was seen in Europe and North America as far south as Cuba).

Legends abound in northern cultures to explain the northern lights. Some North American Inuit call the aurora aqsarniit (“football players”) and say the spirits of the dead are playing football with the head of a walrus. Often legends warn children that the lights might come down and snatch them away.

June 1896, Norwegian Kristian Birkeland, the “father of modern auroral science,” suggested the theory that electrons from sunspots triggered auroras.

Yellowknife (Northwest Territories, Canada) is the capital for aurora tourism.The earliest known account of northern lights appears to be from a Babylonian clay tablet from observations made by the official astronomers of King Nebuchadnezzar II, 568/567 BC.Some people claim to hear noises associated with the northern lights, but documenting this phenomenon has been difficult.Northern Lights, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, shines above Bear Lake. The lights are the result of solar particles colliding with gases in Earth’s atmosphere. 

Early Eskimos and Indians believed different legends about the Northern Lights, such as that they were the souls of animals dancing in the sky or the souls of fallen enemies trying to rise again

North light seen today 05.11.2024

Enjoy looking at the images.

Source: Loc.gov

 

Approaches to Confirm the Trustworthiness of a Website

 a good indicator of a secure website, but it's not foolproof. To further verify a website's legitimacy, you can investigate its SSL certificate. Look for a padlock icon in the address bar, indicating that the website has a valid SSL certificate. You can click on the padlock icon to view more details about the certificate. Pay attention to the information provided, such as the issuer and expiration date. If the certificate seems suspicious or doesn't match the website you're visiting, it could be a sign of a scam.

 1.Check the website for poor grammar or spelling

Scammers often make mistakes in their content, so be on the lookout for poor grammar or spelling errors on the website. Legitimate websites usually have professional and well-written content, while scam websites may have obvious mistakes. If you notice multiple errors or sentences that don't make sense, it's a red flag that the website may not be trustworthy.

2. Verify the domain

Take a closer look at the domain name of the website. Scammers may use slight variations or misspellings of popular domains to trick users. For example, instead of "amazon.com," they might use "amaz0n.com" or "amaz0n-deals.com." Always double-check the domain to ensure it matches the legitimate website you intend to visit.

 3.Check the contact page

Legitimate websites usually provide clear and accessible contact information. Look for a contact page or section on the website and verify if it includes a physical address, phone number, and email address. If the website lacks any contact information or only provides generic email addresses like Gmail or Yahoo, it could be a sign of a scam.

 4.Look up and review the company's social media presence

Search for the company or website on social media platforms and review their presence. Legitimate businesses often have active social media accounts with regular updates and engagement with customers. Check for verified accounts, a significant number of followers, and positive reviews or feedback from other users. If the website has no social media presence or the accounts seem suspicious or inactive, it's worth being cautious.

5.Check for the website's privacy policy

Legitimate websites typically have a privacy policy that outlines how they handle and protect user data. Look for a link to the privacy policy, usually located in the footer or at the bottom of the website. Take the time to read through the policy and ensure it aligns with your expectations. If the website lacks a privacy policy or the policy raises concerns about data handling, it's advisable to avoid sharing personal information.

6.Look for questionable links within an email

a .Take caution when examining links in emails, as scammers may not only try to direct you to a fake website, but also prompt you to click another link within that site. This secondary link could potentially contain malware or request your personal information, so it's important to be vigilant. b. It is generally advisable to be skeptical of links in text messages or emails that you were not anticipating. To ensure that you are not being redirected to a fraudulent website, always visit the official website directly. It can be helpful to do this on a separate device so that you can compare the legitimacy of the sites. c While many legitimate companies communicate digitally, it is important to note that updating or providing personal information should typically require a sign-in or some form of verification. If you receive an email with a link from a company you do not do business with, such as PayPal when you have never had an account, exercise caution and refrain from clicking on the link. d. Providing sensitive information on illegitimate websites can have serious consequences, including identity theft. It is crucial to be aware of the potential risks and avoid sharing personal data on suspicious or untrustworthy websites. e. If you have any doubts or suspicions about a website's authenticity, it is advisable to leave the site. Online thieves are becoming increasingly adept at creating deceptive websites and sending fraudulent emails and text messages. Even if a website appears polished at first glance, be cautious and consider leaving if anything seems off. Look out for errors, misspellings, or inconsistencies in the site's content or web address. f. Remember to keep the above tips in mind when practicing credit card safety. It is important to be proactive in protecting your financial information and to choose a credit card that suits your needs and offers appropriate security measures.

Summary: 

 Discovering the authenticity of a website is an essential task. To ensure you are dealing with a genuine website, there are several steps you can take. Firstly, examine the website's URL carefully. Legitimate websites often have a secure connection indicated by "https" at the beginning of the URL, along with a padlock symbol. Secondly, verify the website's contact information, such as a physical address and phone number. Reputable websites usually provide this information to establish trust. Additionally, you can search for reviews or feedback from other users to gauge the website's credibility. Lastly, be cautious of websites that request sensitive information or seem too good to be true. Trust your instincts and exercise caution when navigating the online realm.

Source: Google

Brain Atrophy & Hearing Loss:

 Brain Atrophy & Hearing Loss:

Dr. Frank Lin, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, conducted a study that suggests a link between hearing loss, particularly in older individuals, and accelerated brain shrinkage. It has long been observed that older adults with hearing impairment experience faster declines in cognitive abilities and memory, but the underlying reasons remained a mystery until now.

This research discovered that older adults with hearing loss lose brain volume at a faster rate compared to their peers of the same age who have normal hearing. The exact reasons for this phenomenon and its implications for daily life remain unclear. However, it does raise an important question: Could treating hearing loss potentially slow down these brain changes and even mitigate the risk of dementia?

The study followed 126 adults between the ages of 56 and 86 over a 10-year period, subjecting each participant to annual MRI scans to track brain tissue loss. Nearly half of the participants had mild hearing loss at the beginning of the study.

The results indicated that individuals with hearing loss experienced a more rapid decline in brain volume compared to those with normal hearing. Notably, the areas of the brain responsible for processing speech and sound were the most affected.

Whilst the exact relationship between hearing loss and cognitive decline remains unclear, it is evident that hearing loss can impede social interaction and the brain's exposure to auditory stimuli. Therefore, even without concrete proof of causation, addressing hearing loss can enhance the quality of life, not only for the affected individual but also for those around them.

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