Nature Medicine

A California-developed brain implant has enabled a man with ALS to communicate independently, browse the internet, and work from home for nearly two years, as reported in a study published in Nature Medicine.

Casey Harrell, a man with ALS, has used a brain-computer interface (BCI) for over 3,800 hours to communicate, surf the web, and work independently. The implant, developed by a UC Davis research team, decodes neural activity into speech and was detailed in a study published in Nature Medicine.

A study in Nature Medicine found that pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila MucT, a gut bacterium, helped overweight and obese adults regain less weight after dieting compared to a placebo. Participants taking the bacterium regained an average of 2.6 pounds versus 7.1 pounds in the placebo group, though researchers noted limitations like a small sample size and short duration. Dr. Peter Balazs highlighted the treatment's potential to support weight maintenance by reducing biological signals that promote fat regain.

In 2025, a study published in Nature Medicine had no cost despite being NIH-funded. In 2026, a similar NIH-funded study required a $12,850 open-access fee due to the 2024 NIH Public Access Policy. Both studies were results of years of work by Johns Hopkins teams.

A study led by University College London found that specific gut bacteria can predict Parkinson’s disease risk years before symptoms appear. The research, involving 271 Parkinson’s patients and 43 carriers of the GBA1 genetic variant, revealed distinct microbial patterns linked to the disease, with non-symptomatic carriers showing intermediate changes. Dietary diversity was associated with lower Parkinson’s risk.