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UMMS scientists tie dietary influences to changes in gene expression and physiology

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Public release date: 28-Mar-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jim Fessenden james.fessenden@umassmed.edu 508-856-2000 University of Massachusetts Medical School

WORCESTER, MA Sometimes you just can't resist a tiny piece of chocolate cake. Even the most health-conscious eaters find themselves indulging in junk foods from time to time. New research by scientists at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) raises the striking possibility that even small amounts of these occasional indulgences may produce significant changes in gene expression that could negatively impact physiology and health.

A pair of papers published in Cell by A.J. Marian Walhout, PhD, co-director of the Program in Systems Biology and professor of molecular medicine at UMMS, describe how metabolism and physiology are connected to diet. Using C. elegans, a transparent roundworm often used as a model organism in genetic studies, Dr. Walhout and colleagues observed how different diets produce differences in gene expression in the worm that can then be linked to crucial physiological changes.

"In short, we found that when C. elegans are fed diets of different types of bacteria, they respond by dramatically changing their gene expression program, leading to important changes in physiology," said Walhout. "Worms fed a natural diet of Comamonas bacteria have fewer offspring, live shorter and develop faster compared to worms fed the standard laboratory diet of E. coli bacteria."

Walhout and colleagues identified at least 87 changes in C. elegans gene expression between the two diets. Surprisingly, these changes were independent of the TOR and insulin signaling pathways, gene expression programs typically active in nutritional control. Instead, the changes occur, at least in part, in a regulator that controls molting, a gene program that determines development and growth in the worm. This connection provided one of the critical links between diet, gene expression and physiology detailed in "Diet-induced Development Acceleration Independent of TOR and Insulin in C. elegans." "Importantly, these same regulators that are influenced by diet in the worms control circadian rhythm in humans," said Lesley MacNeil, PhD, a postdoctoral student in the Walhout Lab and first author on the paper. "We already know that circadian rhythms are affected by diet. This points to the real possibility that we can now use C. elegans to study the complex connections between diet, gene expression and physiology and their relation to human disease."

Strikingly, Walhout and colleagues observed that even when fed a small amount of the Comamonas bacteria in a diet otherwise comprised of E. coli bacteria, C. elegans exhibited dramatic changes in gene expression and physiology. These results provide the tantalizing possibility that different diets are not "healthy" or "unhealthy" but that specific quantities of certain foods may be optimal under different conditions and for promoting different physiological outcomes.

"It's just as true that a small amount of a 'healthy' food in an otherwise unhealthy diet could elicit a beneficial change in gene expression that could have profound physiological effects," said Walhout.

Additional research by the Walhout Lab further explored the possibility of using C. elegans as a model system to answer complex questions about disease and dietary treatment in humans. Detailed in the "Integration of Metabolic and Gene Regulatory Networks Modulates the C. elegans Dietary Response," Walhout and colleagues found that disrupting gene expression involved with C. elegans metabolism lead to metabolic imbalances that interfered with the animal's dietary response; a result that may have a direct correlation to the treatment of a class of human genetic diseases.

"To better understand the molecular mechanisms by which diet effects gene expression in the worm, we performed complimentary genetic screens looking for genes that gave an abnormal response to diet," said Emma Watson, a doctoral student in the Walhout Lab and co-first author on the second Cell study together with Dr. MacNeil. "What we discovered was a large network of metabolic and regulator genes that can integrate internal cellular nutritional needs and imbalances with external availability," said Watson. "This information is then communicated to information processing genes in the worm to illicit the appropriate response in the animal."

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UMMS scientists tie dietary influences to changes in gene expression and physiology

UE's Public Health program to offer new nutrition emphasis

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EVANSVILLE, IN (UE) -

Students interested in studying public health at the University of Evansville now have the opportunity to specialize in nutrition.

The nutrition emphasis was approved last week by UE's curriculum committee and involves the creation of two new courses in the existing public health program: Public Health Nutrition and Food Science.

"With the ongoing cultural shift toward preventive care and wellness, the University of Evansville has seen a significant increase in the number of students interested in studying nutrition," said Payal Patel-Dovlatabadi, DrPH, assistant professor and director of the public health program. "Nutrition is a key part of public health, and the need for trained professionals in this field has never been greater. We're excited to be at the forefront of this effort and prepare students for careers that make a significant impact on individual and community needs."

A Bachelor of Science in public health with an emphasis in nutrition will prepare students for diverse employment opportunities with state and local health departments, health and school systems, government agencies, universities and research institutions, wellness centers, and consulting firms, to name a few. The program will also prepare students who wish to pursue advanced degrees in fields including physical therapy, public health, health services administration, dietetics, and health education.

For more information on the public health program and the new nutrition emphasis, visit http://www.evansville.edu/majors/publichealth/.

Copyright 2013 WFIE. All rights reserved.

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UE's Public Health program to offer new nutrition emphasis

Foods Nutrition Experts Can't Live Without

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I find it funny when a patient becomes bored while trying to eat healthy. (By the way, that same patient never complained about eating a plain bagel and cream cheese each morning for years before we met.) For many, there seems to be a strong disconnect between eating healthy and loving what they are eating.

Sure, I love French fries and pizza, but if asked which foods I couldn't live without, they wouldn't be included. Which foods would make my short list? If I narrow down the many foods I love, which would be tough, I'd say: oatmeal, eggs, hummus, and a baked potato. For me, oatmeal is the perfect start to the day because it's high in fiber, so it fills me up. Eggs can be prepared in many different ways and are a great source of protein. Hummus is packed with flavor (but not fat), and goes so well with a variety of foods. And a baked potato is the perfect stand-alone meal; I love it topped with hummus and an egg, or as the perfect compliment to my entree.

I know I'm not alone in my love of food, so I decided to ask my registered dietitian/nutritionist (RDN) pals which foods they couldn't live without. Mind you, it was very hard for them to choose, too.

Karen Ansel, MS, RDN, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

"I absolutely can't live without low-fat ricotta and Greek yogurt. Packed with protein and calcium, they're the ultimate multitasking foods that help you stay full, slim and strong. I put them on everything. Another is Ezekiel 4:9 Flax Sprouted Whole Grain Bread. Just one slice has four grams of fiber, five grams of protein and only 80 calories. "

Elisa Zied, MS, RDN, CDN, author of "Nutrition At Your Fingertips" and fellow Eat + Run blogger

"I love pink grapefruit because of its sweet taste, not to mention the vitamin C punch it packs. Brussels sprouts are delicious and a great way to incorporate veggies into my diet. I love sirloin or strip steak for its high-quality protein, along with its B vitamins, iron and zinc. I really love the taste and texture of lean beef and don't need a big portion to feel satisfied. And I simply adore doughy bread with a little butter or dipped in olive oil--comfort food all the way!

Jackie Newgent, RDN, culinary nutritionist and author of "1,000 Low-Calorie Recipes"

"I'm a pasta fanatic; I never go a week without it. It's a perfect and fast foundation for a nutritious meal. When I'm in the mood for comfort food on the go, I reach for pizza. And frankly, it can be a rather balanced food, nutritionally speaking. At home, you can always find an avocado in my kitchen. It's my better butter, my sandwich condiment of choice and my ideal pairing with eggs. Of course, I can't live without veggies either. I'm a devotee of broccoli; it has so many health promoting properties, but I eat it because I'm obsessed with the flavor!"

Rachel Begun, MS, RDN, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

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Foods Nutrition Experts Can't Live Without

Consumer Reports puts restaurant nutrition claims to the test

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By Herb Weisbaum, TODAY contributor

Most big chain restaurants now put nutrition information calories, fat and sodium on their menus and websites. But just how accurate are these numbers? Does the meal youre served match the nutritional profile promised?

Consumer Reports decided to find out. For its May issue, the magazines secret shoppers went to a dozen well-known restaurants and fast-food chains, from Applebees to Wendys, and ordered 17 different items. They tested the same item from three restaurants in each chain.

The good news: In most cases, the published information was accurate.

We found that you can usually trust the figures you see, said editor Leslie Ware. On average, most of them were telling the truth.

Only two of the 17 dishes Consumer Reports analyzed in the lab had a fat or calorie count that was higher than promised at all three locations.

Olive Gardens Lasagna Primavera with Grilled Chicken was supposed to have 420 calories and 15 grams of fat. The samples the magazine tested had 508 to 585 calories and 25 to 32 grams of fat. Thats more than the 20 percent variance thats generally considered acceptable with nutrition information.

The company told TODAY it takes great care to provide accurate nutrition information. In an email, Olive Garden explained that an error had been made in the initial testing of the entree when it was introduced last October.

As soon as we caught this error, we retested the dish and updated the nutritional information on our website with the new data in late December, the email said. Unfortunately, though, the information was not updated everywhere and one page on our website still contained the old nutritional data. We have since corrected this, too.

Olive Garden told TODAY that Consumer Reports never contacted them to confirm the numbers and did not give them an opportunity to respond.

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Consumer Reports puts restaurant nutrition claims to the test

Guiding Stars Nutrition Guidance Program Debuts at Seattle's Virginia Mason Medical Center

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PORTLAND, Maine, March 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Guiding Stars, the nation's leading independent nutrition guidance program, today announced the launch of a new partnership with award-winning Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle designed to help hospital staff and guests make more nutritious choices when dining in the medical center's cafeteria.

Virginia Mason is the first foodservice provider on the West Coast to implement the Guiding Stars at-a-glance food rating system that helps diners quickly and easily identify foods that offer a better nutritional value. The program is part of the hospital's comprehensive Health and Sustainable Food Practice Pledge designed to improve the overall health and well-being of patients, staff, visitors and the surrounding community.

As one of the most sophisticated and advanced facilities in the Pacific Northwest, Virginia Mason has been recognized as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades in six clinical areas, including cardiac and gastrointestinal care for the second consecutive year. The medical center was also recognized as a Five-Star Recipient by Healthgrades in 22 categories of care.

"Virginia Mason has been widely recognized as a premiere health care center across many clinical disciplines, and adding Guiding Stars to its foodservice program is a clear indication of the priority the center places on holistic health," said Sue Till, client services manager with Guiding Stars. "We're very pleased to have them as our first West Coast hospital partner and we look forward to working together to help people live healthier."

The Guiding Stars system rates the nutritional value of every item in the Virginia Mason cafeteria, including hot and cold prepared foods, salad bar, grab-and-go items and beverages. Each item is then labeled according to its value: one Guiding Star is good, two Guiding Stars is better and three Guiding Stars is best. All items are evaluated using a patented algorithm based on the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans and other national evidence-based nutrition policies.

"We all know that eating healthy is so important, but when you're pressed for time or concerned about a loved one, it can be difficult to take time to figure out which items are the best choice for you," said Virginia Mason Food & Nutrition Director Jerry Roundy. "While we always make it a priority to provide healthy options, the Guiding Stars program adds an extra layer of user-friendliness, especially for those with specific dietary concerns."

In addition to providing nutritional guidance for cafeteria guests, the Guiding Stars program can also be easily expanded to include patient menus in hospital settings.

For more information about the Guiding Stars program, visit http://www.guidingstars.com.

About Guiding Stars Licensing Co. Since 2006, Guiding Stars has been leading the way in helping consumers make nutritious food choices and has received a U.S. Patent for the Guiding Stars nutrition rating algorithm. The Guiding Stars nutrition guidance program is a simple, easy-to-understand tool for making good nutrition choices and is designed to make a positive and lasting impact on public health. Guiding Stars is currently found in more than 1,700 supermarkets including Hannaford, Food Lion, Sweetbay, Homeland, Marsh, as well as Loblaw's Supermarkets in Ontario. Guiding Stars has also expanded into public schools, colleges and hospitals and appears on the Shopper mobile iPhone application. Additional information can be found atwww.guidingstars.com.

About Virginia Mason Medical Center Virginia Mason Medical Center, founded in 1920, is a nonprofit regional health care system in Seattle that serves the Pacific Northwest. Virginia Mason employs more than 5,300 people and includes a 336-bed acute-care hospital; a primary and specialty care group practice of more than 450 physicians; satellite locations throughout the Puget Sound area; and Bailey-Boushay House, the first skilled-nursing and outpatient chronic care management program in the U.S. designed and built specifically to meet the needs of people with HIV/AIDS. Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason is internationally recognized for its breakthrough autoimmune disease research. Virginia Mason was the first health system to apply lean manufacturing principles to health care delivery to eliminate waste and improve quality and patient safety.

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Guiding Stars Nutrition Guidance Program Debuts at Seattle's Virginia Mason Medical Center

Eatery nutrition info put to test

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By Herb Weisbaum, TODAY contributor

Most big chain restaurants now put nutrition information calories, fat and sodium on their menus and websites. But just how accurate are these numbers? Does the meal youre served match the nutritional profile promised?

Consumer Reports decided to find out. For its May issue, the magazines secret shoppers went to a dozen well-known restaurants and fast-food chains, from Applebees to Wendys, and ordered 17 different items. They tested the same item from three restaurants in each chain.

The good news: In most cases, the published information was accurate.

We found that you can usually trust the figures you see, said editor Leslie Ware. On average, most of them were telling the truth.

Only two of the 17 dishes Consumer Reports analyzed in the lab had a fat or calorie count that was higher than promised at all three locations.

Olive Gardens Lasagna Primavera with Grilled Chicken was supposed to have 420 calories and 15 grams of fat. The samples the magazine tested had 508 to 585 calories and 25 to 32 grams of fat. Thats more than the 20 percent variance thats generally considered acceptable with nutrition information.

The company told TODAY it takes great care to provide accurate nutrition information. In an email, Olive Garden explained that an error had been made in the initial testing of the entree when it was introduced last October.

As soon as we caught this error, we retested the dish and updated the nutritional information on our website with the new data in late December, the email said. Unfortunately, though, the information was not updated everywhere and one page on our website still contained the old nutritional data. We have since corrected this, too.

Olive Garden told TODAY that Consumer Reports never contacted them to confirm the numbers and did not give them an opportunity to respond.

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Eatery nutrition info put to test

Adia Nutrition (ADIA.PK) Announces Integrated Marketing Campaign

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NEWPORT BEACH, CA--(Marketwire - Mar 27, 2013) - ADIA Nutrition, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: ADIA) announces integrated marketing campaign in support of our recent retail initiatives.

In addition to the launch of our new radio marketing campaign on Clear Channel's KOST 103.5 in Southern California, ADIA is developing a newly revamped website.

"With the initial success we've had with our radio marketing campaign on KOST 103.5 FM in support of our Adia retail presence at 196 Albertsons Grocery Stores in California. We noticed a huge spike in traffic to our website, and therefore we decided it was time to revamp our website to provide consumers more information about Adia and its unique benefits to them and their families. We felt this was critical to helping support our retail partners," says April Nugent, co-founder, Adia Nutrition.

"Based on our recent radio campaign and our presence at retailers like Whole Foods and Albertsons, we are being approached by other large retailers about them carrying Adia Nutrition and offering their customers the health benefits of Adia Nutrition's 'On- the-Go' Flavored Probiotics," said Wen Peng, CEO of Adia Nutrition."Integrated marketing campaigns are essential in creating awareness and our sell through at retail. Stay tuned for news on new retail partners."

"Now available in Albertsons in Southern California, our family-friendly line of probiotic drink sticks and individually wrapped probiotic chews are low calorie, low sugar and gluten-free,"says April Nugent, co-founder of Adia Nutrition."Adia is packed full of billions of LIVE probiotics that require NO refrigeration. We're a welcomed alternative to more traditional pill form probiotics or high calorie yogurt brands. We're a probiotic that fits into your lifestyle -- easy to take and tastes great.Simply pop one of our five powdered flavor sticks in your water bottle, shake, and go!Each drink delivers 10 billion LIVE probiotics and vitamins straight to your digestive tract.Plus, our individually wrapped Adia Nutrition Probiotic Chews are not only a big hit with kids, but appreciated by moms!Each chew offers the equivalent of 1 serving of yogurt worth of digestive benefits, and is a tasty treat or pre and post workout energizer."

About KOST: KOST 103.5FM is one of the top radio stations in Los Angeles, and it is one of the top revenue billing radio stations in the United States.

About Adia Nutrition, Inc. Adia Nutrition is a publicly traded company (PINKSHEETS: ADIA) specializing in great tasting and shelf stable probiotics. Probiotics are live beneficial microorganisms that are found in the digestive tract. Adia offers five flavors of probiotic drink mixes and two flavors of probiotic chews. The drink powders come in a convenient and easy-to-use stick pack that is mixed with water. Flavors include Lemon Lime, Berry, Raspberry Lemonade, Orange Mango, and Unsweetened Green Tea. They offer significantly more probiotics and significantly less sugar and calories than the more traditional yogurts and dairy-based drinks. Adia sells their product across the country and can be found in health clubs, independent pharmacies and health food stores. According to a market research report titled 'Probiotics Market,' published by Markets and Markets (www.marketsandmarkets.com), the global probiotics market is expected to be worth US $32.6 billion by 2014. Moreover, the global market is expected to record a CAGR of 12.6%. For more information, visit our website at http://www.adianutrition.com.

Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "expect," "should," "intend," "estimate," and "projects," variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not a forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements are risks that are detailed in the Company's filings, which are on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

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Adia Nutrition (ADIA.PK) Announces Integrated Marketing Campaign

Research and Markets: 2013 UK Hospital Microbiology Testing Market

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fzjwh6/2013_uk_hospital) has announced the addition of the "2013 UK Hospital Microbiology Testing Market" report to their offering.

This new report from Venture Planning Group contains 886 pages, 67 tables, and presents a comprehensive analysis of the UK hospital infectious disease testing market, including:

- Major issues pertaining to the UK hospital laboratory practice, as well as key economic, regulatory, demographic, social and technological trends with significant market impact during the next ten years.

- Current scientific views on definition, epidemiology, and etiology of major infectious diseases and microorganisms.

- Volume and sales forecasts for 80 infectious disease tests performed in UK hospital laboratories.

- Instrumentation technologies and feature comparison of leading analyzers.

- Sales and market shares of leading suppliers.

- Emerging diagnostic technologies and their potential market applications.

- Product development opportunities.

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Research and Markets: 2013 UK Hospital Microbiology Testing Market

Research and Markets: 2013 US Hospital Microbiology Testing Market Gives Volume and Sales Forecasts for 80 …

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/tkznzp/2013_us_hospital) has announced the addition of the "2013 US Hospital Microbiology Testing Market" report to their offering.

This new report from Venture Planning Group contains 997 pages, 87 tables, and presents a comprehensive analysis of the US hospital microbiology testing market, including:

Major issues pertaining to the US hospital laboratory practice, as well as key economic, regulatory, demographic, social and technological trends with significant market impact during the next ten years. Current scientific views on the definition, epidemiology, and etiology of major infectious diseases and microorganisms. Volume and sales forecasts for 80 microbiology tests performed in US hospital laboratories. Instrumentation technologies and feature comparison of leading analyzers. Sales and market shares of leading suppliers by test. Emerging diagnostic technologies and their potential market applications. Product development opportunities. Profiles of current and emerging suppliers, including their sales, market shares, product portfolios, marketing tactics, technological know-how, new products in R&D, collaborative arrangements and business strategies. Business opportunities and strategic recommendations for suppliers.

Companies Mentioned:

- Abbott

- Affymetrix

- Beckman Coulter/Danaher

- Becton Dickinson

- bioMerieux

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Research and Markets: 2013 US Hospital Microbiology Testing Market Gives Volume and Sales Forecasts for 80 ...

Suspension of longevity pay passes first reading

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PARKERSBURG - Parkersburg City Council Tuesday approved the first reading of an ordinance to indefinitely suspend longevity pay for city employees.

Council unanimously approved the first reading but not until a debate over whether the automatic raises should be done away with entirely.

Last year, council did not include the automatic longevity raises for city employees in its 2012-13 budget. The longevity pay would have increased employee pay by 30 cents an hour each year of service. Council later voted to suspend the increases for a year.

At Tuesday's meeting, Councilman John Kelly argued members needed to take a more definitive approach.

"We need to quit suspending it from year to year," he said. "Eventually there needs to be something done with this."

Mayor Bob Newell said he believed longevity pay should not be eliminated entirely, only suspended.

"This is a tool in the toolbox," he said. "Down the road I suspect we may want to bring this back in some form or fashion. I'm against doing away with it entirely."

Councilman John Rockhold and City Attorney Joe Santer said the ordinance as written would not eliminate longevity pay but also would not require an annual vote.

"This suspends it until further action from city council," Rockhold said.

"It will come back if council chooses to bring it back," Santer said.

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Suspension of longevity pay passes first reading

Longevity Global Inc. Now Offers Most Innovative Welding Machines and Accessories

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Longevity Global Inc. offers affordable and economic welding machines and accessories like MIG, TIG, welders and welding helmets, other supplies. Their welders are equipped with exceptional quality and durability achieved through R and D department and rigorous testing procedures led by their able engineers.

Hayward, Ca (PRWEB) March 27, 2013

Longevity Global Inc. has been creating innovative welding equipment for all types of welding applications. Their line of welding equipment offers welders an array of welding technology to simplify and improve the welding experience. They have a wide variety of affordable welders for arc-welding applications, such as stick welding, TIG welding and MIG welding. There are many benefits and technologies available in their selection of innovative welders.

Longevity welders are a proven industry leader with years of design experience. They are committed to provide the most innovative, cost-effective, quality welders and their cutting edge solutions has guided the company among some of the most reputed manufacturer and supplier of welding equipment.

Its technological advances and worldwide manufacturing and distribution resources, that enable Longevity to provide great welding machines for a variety of jobs. Longevity welders are excellent machines, good for a variety of welding jobs. They also sample products to the top welders in the United States to receive crucial feedback, which drives their innovation.

Their welding, cutting, and power generating products are sold all over the world with distributors in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, United Kingdom, and multiple other countries. Thus, with global supplier network, they are the best in the category of the services.

About Longevity Global Inc.

Since they started in 2001 Longevity Global Inc. is recognized worldwide for providing reliable wielding, cutting, and power generating equipment. Most of their equipment comes with an unmatched warranty of five-years on both parts and labor. They provide customer with affordable and reliable welding machines in all ranges of production from the garage users, to pipe welders, and ship builders.

For further information on their offerings visit http://www.longevity-inc.com

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Longevity Global Inc. Now Offers Most Innovative Welding Machines and Accessories

New technique detecting ‘sugar-coated’ proteins could identify diseases earlier

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Marta Pereira Morais.

(Phys.org) Scientists from our Departments of Biology & Biochemistry and Chemistry have developed a new technique that could be used in blood tests to detect a range of age-related conditions such as diabetes, dementia and Alzheimer's.

In the process of ageing, proteins in the body react with sugars in a process called glycation. This damages the protein's function which in some diseases can trigger complications such as inflammation and premature aging.

The team of chemists and biochemists at Bath have developed a technique that detects levels of glycated proteins in blood and tissue samples, which can be used to assess the damage caused by sugars in age-related diseases.

The technique, published today in the Nature Group journal Scientific Reports, is based on gel electrophoresis, where samples are put into a thin gel layer and an electric current is applied. The gel acts like a molecular sieve, sorting proteins from the samples according to their size and shape, allowing scientists to identify whether specific proteins are present in the sample.

The system, patented by the research team, uses boronic acid labelled with a fluorescent tag to distinguish between the glycated and unmodified proteins. The method also, allows them to distinguish glycated proteins from proteins that have been glycosylated; a normal process in healthy cells where sugars are added using enzymes.

Researchers are now looking for industrial partners to collaborate and develop the system to detect levels of glycated proteins in human blood samples, leading to a simple test for a variety of age-related diseases.

Dr Jean Van Den Elsen, from the University's Department of Biology & Biochemistry, explained: "We are currently using our technique to understand how these age-related diseases work, by identifying new biomarkers for diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and testing how new treatments affect levels of glycated proteins.

Marta Pereira Morais, the post-doctoral researcher on the project added: "So far we've proven this test is able to detect glycated proteins in blood and in a caterpillar model for diabetes. We have also been able to distinguish between brain material from healthy mice and those with AD pathology.

"We hope in the future to develop this technology into a simple blood test for diseases such as AD, so that patients with the condition can be diagnosed and treated earlier."

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New technique detecting 'sugar-coated' proteins could identify diseases earlier