Pro fighters risk damage to the brain’s ‘garbage disposal’

Radiological Society of North America

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The brain’s waste-clearing system significantly declines in function with repeated head impacts, according to a new study of cognitively impaired professional boxers and mixed martial arts fighters. Color display of diffusion tensor imaging indicating the distribution of projection fibers (z-axis: blue), association fibers (y-axis: green), and the subcortical fibers (x-axis: red). Three regions of interest are placed in the area with projection fibers (projection area), association fibers (association area), and subcortical fibers (subcortical area) to measure diffusivities of the three directions (x, y, z).

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Credit: Dhanush Amin, M.D., and RSNA.

CHICAGO – The brain’s waste-clearing system significantly declines in function with repeated head impacts, according to a new study of cognitively impaired professional boxers and mixed martial arts fighters. The findings will be presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Sports-related traumatic brain injuries account for up to 30% of all brain injury cases, and boxing and mixed martial arts are major contributors. Repeated head impacts are risk factors for neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders.

The glymphatic system is a network of fluid-filled channels that plays a crucial role in clearing waste products from the brain. It is comparable to the lymphatic system in other parts of the body.  

“The recently discovered glymphatic system is like the brain’s plumbing and garbage disposal system,” said Dhanush Amin, M.D., lead author of the study conducted by researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Cleveland Clinic Nevada. “It’s vital for helping the brain flush out metabolites and toxins.”

Diffusion tensor imaging along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) is a specialized MRI technique that measures and analyzes water movement in and around the spaces that surround the channels of the glymphatic system. These spaces, which serve as drainage pathways, also regulate fluid balance, transport nutrients and immune cells, and protect the brain from damage.

The DTI-derived ALPS index is a non-invasive biomarker that assesses glymphatic function. An impaired DTI-ALPS index can be a marker for cognitive decline and is associated with the progression of conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

“When this system doesn’t work properly, damaging proteins can accumulate, which have been linked to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia,” said Dr. Amin, now an assistant professor of neuroradiology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. “Studying this system gives us a new window into understanding and possibly slowing memory loss.”

The researchers analyzed baseline data from Cleveland Clinic’s Professional Athletes Brain Health Study (PABHS), a longitudinal study of approximately 900 active fighters of which roughly 300 professional fighters have been followed for at least three years. The study included data from 280 fighters, 95 of whom were cognitively impaired at baseline, and 20 demographically matched healthy controls.

DTI-ALPS was computed on the athletes and controls. Using the DTI-ALPS method, the researchers assessed the athletes’ glymphatic activity over time and the correlation between the DTI-derived ALPS index and the number of knockouts experienced. They also measured the difference in glymphatic activity between cognitively impaired and non-impaired athletes.

“We thought repeated head impacts would cause lower ALPS in cognitively impaired fighters compared to non-impaired fighters,” Dr. Amin said. “We also expected the ALPS measurement to be significantly correlated with the total number of knockouts in the impaired fighters.”

Contrary to their hypothesis, the researchers observed a significantly higher glymphatic index among impaired fighters that deteriorated over time with the total number of knockouts. In athletes with continued trauma, glymphatic function significantly declined.

“We believe that the glymphatic index was initially high in the impaired athlete group because the brain initially responds to repeated head injuries by ramping up its cleaning mechanism, but eventually, it becomes overwhelmed,” Dr. Amin said. “After a certain point, the brain just gives up.”

Non-impaired fighters had a significantly lower right and total glymphatic index compared to impaired fighters. The relationship between the glymphatic index and knockout history was significantly different between the two groups.

Dr. Amin said that understanding the impact of repeated head impacts on the glymphatic system is crucial for the early detection and management of neurodegenerative risk in athletes participating in contact sports.

“If we can spot glymphatic changes in the fighters before they develop symptoms, then we might be able to recommend rest or medical care or help them make career decisions to protect their future brain health,” he said.

Co-authors are Gaurav Nitin Rathi, M.S., Charles Bernick, M.D., and Virendra Mishra, Ph.D.

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Note: Copies of RSNA 2025 news releases and electronic images will be available online at RSNA.org/press25.

RSNA is an association of radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Illinois. (RSNA.org)

For patient-friendly information on brain MRI, visit RadiologyInfo.org.

 

Life in balance: Research shines new light on ancient Andean scales

University of St. Andrews

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The principal authority at Casta’s champería  [canal-cleaning ritual] in 2022 holds the wipi

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Credit: Sarah Bennison

New research from the University of St Andrews has discovered how Incas used Andean balance scales and ancient string knot writing known as ‘khipus’, in association with sacred, animate landscapes. 

Published today in the journal RES: Anthropology and Aesthetics, this new research found that both balance scales and khipus (a method of writing using small knots used by the Inca and pre-Inca societies) were tied to Andean notions of wellbeing that prioritise achieving a state of balance and harmony in social, economic and moral affairs. 

Achieving balance was a constant preoccupation in people’s lives. 

Research suggests that certain kinds of balance scales (wooden unequal-arm balances known as ‘wipis’) were used in the precolonial Andes to support the exchange of highly prized goods between different ethnic groups: highland herder communities who produced raw wool and yarn, and lowland cultivators of coca leaf. 

The new work suggests that red tassels found on some ancient khipus and balance scales could have served a ‘supernatural’ function by certifying that the information recorded or displayed on the object was trustworthy. 

In Andean society, the colour red is associated with ideas of wholeness and power, where bright red hues are deemed to preserve the integrity of an object and any vital energy contained within it. 

The research also emphasizes that Andean balances were not necessarily used within a context of exactitude. In many interactions, the scale achieving balance is not the central priority, but that the product being supplied or traded is deemed sufficient based on the degree of tilt and an agreement by the individuals involved. 

This work reveals an intimate relationship between measuring instruments, like balance scales and khipus, and ideas of social responsibility and community. 

Wipi  scales appear to have been used exclusively for weighing coca leaf and wool, which tells us that in pre-Hispanic Andean society, including the Inca Era, these scales would have been used to facilitate access to highly prized goods grown outside of (and perhaps also within) a community’s lands. This new research sheds light on how pre-Hispanic equal-arm balances were used. 

The study emphasizes thinking of khipus as registers that were part of dynamic interactions, where the sacred ancestors believed to own and control water were considered in the production and use of these registers. 

Sarah Bennison, an interdisciplinary Andean studies researcher at The University of St Andrews who co-authored the paper, said: “The study emphasizes thinking of khipus as registers that were part of dynamic interactions, where the sacred ancestors believed to own and control water were considered in the production and use of these registers. We could cast our gaze more broadly and explore the wider context of customs geared at achieving balance, of which khipus played a part. And in turn, the study of Inca balance scales holds promise for deepening our understandings of khipus.” 

This new work represents the most in-depth research into unequal-arm balances known as ‘wipis’ to date. Although wipis can be found in some museum collections today, references to these small, wooden balances seemed to fade away from the ethnographic literature in the 1980s. It wasn’t clear if wipi use had died out or not. However, paper co-author Bennison discovered them still in use as late as 2022. 

These new insights unite archaeological, historical, and ethnographic research to understand the diverse uses of scales, exploring how the uses of wipis are embedded in perceptions of what it means for an individual and their community to be ‘in balance’. 

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Journal

Res Anthropology and Aesthetics

DOI

10.1086/737143 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

In balance: Understanding the use of scales in Andean life'

Article Publication Date

24-Nov-2025

 

HBNU researchers propose novel sensor-integrated wrapper for food quality monitoring and preservation

Researchers develop a novel wrapper that facilitates real-time, non-destructive detection of nutritional components in food

Hanbat National University Industry–University Cooperation Foundation

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Researchers propose a novel nanostructured SERS sensor integrated into a stretchable and antimicrobial wrapper for food quality monitoring and preservation.

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Credit: Prof. Ji-Hwan Ha from Hanbat National University, Republic of Korea

Food quality and safety are crucial. However, conventional food-monitoring methods, including ribotyping and polymerase chain reaction, tend to be destructive and lengthy. These shortcomings limit their potential for broad applications. In this regard, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing, with real-time, non-destructive, and high sensitivity capabilities, is a highly promising alternative.

In a new breakthrough, a team of researchers, led by Associate Professor Ji-Hwan Ha from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hanbat National University, Republic of Korea, has developed a two-in-one nanostructured SERS sensor integrated into a stretchable and antimicrobial wrapper (NSSAW) that not only monitors food directly on the surface but also actively preserves it. Their novel findings were made available online on 29 May 2025 and have been published in Volume 21, Issue 38 of the journal Small on 25 September 2025 (Back Cover).

The proposed wrapper incorporates a nanostructured SERS sensor—Au nano-arrays loaded with Ag nanoparticles—that delivers up to 30.11-fold Raman enhancement, enabling real-time, non-destructive detection of nutritional components, including purines, proteins, lipids, and carotenoids, and even the pesticide thiram on meats, fish, and fruit. At the same time, the curcumin-thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) electrospun wrapper shows strong antimicrobial efficacy of 99.99% against S. aureus and 99.9% against E. coli, helping extend shelf life.

Notably, NSSAW is highly stretchable and conformal, withstanding elongation of 716% and maximum stress of 52.3 MPa. The SERS layer is spontaneously integrated into it during fabrication via nanoimprint lithography, e-beam slanted deposition, and electrospinning with nanotransfer printing, indicating a practical route to scalable packaging.

“In cold-chain logistics and storage, the wrapper can help distributors decide when to ship and sell food by continuously tracking freshness and spoilage chemistry. In retail smart packaging, its stretchable, conformal, and biocompatible nature enables non-destructive, on-package checks of quality and nutrition markers—without any damage to food—supporting point-of-sale quality automation and transparent date labeling. Thus, the real-world uses of our technology span the entire farm-to-fork chain,” says Prof. Ha.

Furthermore, NSSAW tracks spoilage progression over time by following the bacterial emission marker dimethyl disulfide, linking chemistry to freshness in a way that consumers and industry can interpret. This research is thus expected to open new horizons in monitoring the freshness and composition of human food.

“NSSAW can act as an on-food freshness indicator during consumer storage for home use and meal-kit delivery, linking chemical changes to easy-to-interpret signals over time. In addition, for high-value seafood and meats, quantitative tracking of purines such as hypoxanthine supports premium-grade verification and shelf-life decisions. Moreover, as active packaging, the curcumin-TPU, with its antimicrobial properties, complements sensing with preservation to extend shelf life in distribution and retail,” says Prof. Ha.

Over the next 5–10 years, packaging that both preserves food and continuously verifies its quality could move from pilot to mainstream. Leveraging the innovative technology presented in this study, retailers and consumers could rely on real-time, non-destructive quality signals instead of coarse date estimates—cutting waste, improving safety, and enabling smarter pricing and recalls.

 

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About the institute

Established in 1927, Hanbat National University (HBNU) is a university in Daejeon, South Korea. As a leading national university in the region, HBNU strives to take the lead in solving problems in the local community and solidifying its cooperation with industries. The university’s vision is to become “an Innovation Platform University integrating local community, industry, academia, and research.” With its focus on practical education and regional impact, HBNU continually advances technological solutions grounded in creative thinking and real-world relevance.

Website: https://www.hanbat.ac.kr/eng/

About the author

Dr. Ji-Hwan Ha is an Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hanbat National University, Republic of Korea. His group is developing approaches to fabricate various composite nano/micro fiber using electrospinning process for wearable healthcare system and textile-based sensor. This research was conducted in collaboration with Professor Junseong Ahn’s group, Professor Sunae So’s group at Korea University, and Principal Researcher Jun-Ho Jeong's group at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials.

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Journal

Small

DOI

10.1002/smll.202501808 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

SERS Sensor Integrated in Stretchable and Antimicrobial Wrapper for Food Quality Monitoring and Preservation

 

Most people struggle to spot pain in horses - study

Research highlights the need for better training to promote horse welfare

Anglia Ruskin University

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Rosa Verwijs, Senior Lecturer in Equine Behaviour and Nutrition at ARU Writtle and co-author of the study.

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Credit: Anglia Ruskin University

New research from ARU Writtle, part of Anglia Ruskin University, has found that most people struggle to recognise when a horse is in pain – a finding that could have serious implications for animal welfare.

The study, published in the journal Anthrozoös, is the first research to investigate how well people can spot discomfort in horses compared to in humans.

The researchers asked 100 participants to judge whether faces – 30 photographs of humans and 30 photographs of horses – showed signs of pain. The participants ranged from those with no experience of horse care to seasoned equestrians, and their responses were compared against ratings from equine behaviour experts.

The study found that while participants were generally good at detecting pain in humans, overall they were far less accurate with horses.

However, having more years of horse-care experience was associated with a higher accuracy in detecting horse pain, with these participants more likely to recognise subtle cues such as changes in ear position, eye angulation and muscle tension – all key indicators of discomfort in horses.

The research team, which included experts from Bournemouth University and São Paulo University, as well as ARU Writtle, also explored whether psychological traits in humans, such as social anxiety, influenced pain recognition.

Interestingly, the study found that participants with higher levels of social anxiety had superior pain recognition abilities compared with those who were less anxious, but this only applied to judging pain in humans.

Rosa Verwijs, Senior Lecturer in Equine Behaviour and Nutrition at ARU Writtle, said: “Horses are very good at hiding their pain, which is an evolutionary trait to disguise their vulnerability and avoid predators, but this makes it harder for us to spot discomfort.

“Many people might not realise a horse is in pain until the animal’s behaviour escalates to potentially dangerous levels. Therefore, helping to promote early recognition of pain by owners could mean quicker vet care and better welfare for horses.

“An interesting finding from our study was that people with social anxiety were accurate at identifying pain in human faces, but not in horses, often scoring horses as being in pain when they were not. This shows how human psychology may affect our interpretation of body language, highlighting that education and training on recognising pain in horses would benefit anyone with horses in their care.”

Nicola J. Gregory, lead author of the study and Principal Academic in Psychology at Bournemouth University, said: “Humans depend on horses as work animals and are used in leisure and sport across the world. But the extent to which we can recognise pain in horses has never been studied. We showed that people are generally very poor at seeing pain in horses, but people who have a lot of horse experience were a great deal better at recognising these subtle signs of pain.”

The researchers hope their findings will inform training programmes and raise awareness among horse owners and professionals to help improve equine welfare.

ARU Writtle, part of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), is one of the UK’s leading providers of equine education. Alongside equine courses at college, undergraduate and postgraduate level, ARU Writtle has a number of indoor and outdoor riding arenas, an Equine Academy for talented riders and livery facilities for students’ horses, with around 70 horses on campus at any one time.

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Journal

Anthrozoös

DOI

10.1080/08927936.2025.2551433 

Article Title

Reading Pain in Horse and Human Faces: The Influence of Horse Experience, Social Anxiety, and Empathy