EU-backed scientists are making progress in efforts to give people with impaired motor functions more independence. By MICHAEL ALLEN In 2009, a former US policeman named Richard Marsh suffered a severe stroke that left him completely paralysed but conscious – a condition known as locked-in syndrome. Little more than four months later, in a miracle of … Read more
European researchers are striving to improve the technology that could one day help blind people see again. By ANTHONY KING Berna Gomez, a former science teacher from Spain, became a scientific subject herself in 2021. After being blind for 16 years, she took part in an experiment to restore her ability to perceive light. Gomez, then … Read more
By tracking Covid-19 patients, doctors in Europe are in search of treatments for a lingering sickness that is both debilitating and puzzling. By ANTHONY KING Evelina Tacconelli, an Italian infectious diseases specialist, is seeking cures for a coronavirus-induced illness that’s playing havoc with the lives of millions of people in Europe and elsewhere. Though Covid-19 itself … Read more
Fresh insights into the genes that cause the neurological disorder could open new routes for the prevention and perhaps even reversal of symptoms. By VITTORIA D’ALESSIO Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that has been intensely investigated since the mid-20th century. It’s estimated that ASD affects around 1 in 100 children and mainly boys. Studies suggest … Read more
As Europe’s population ages, understanding the causes of declining birth rates becomes more important. By ANDREW DUNNE When demography expert Daniele Vignoli asked young couples for their thoughts about having children, a theme emerged: uncertainty about the future. In an experiment that Vignoli conducted in Italy and Norway in 2019, he showed a total of 800 … Read more
Meditation can curb the risk of disease and boost general well-being for the old and young, according to researchers. by Alex Whiting Several minutes of meditation a day can improve people’s physical and mental health and even reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease. So say scientists. Nonetheless, a lack of evidence means health … Read more