Credit: Josselin Nespoux, created with Grok You may have heard the phrase "the eyes are windows to the soul”.Recent research has revealed that our eyes may also be windows to our kidneys. At Edinburgh Kidney, we are investigating how subtle changes in the tiny blood vessels of the eye, known as the retinal vasculature, can … Continue reading The Eye Is a Window to the Kidney
Disease Risk
Understanding the Link Between Oral Health and Dementia
Credit: iStock/simarik Dementia is a brain disorder that affects memory, thinking and cognitive functioning. It is the seventh leading cause of death in older people and affects more than 57 million people worldwide. In recent years, research on this topic has expanded, meaning you may have seen more recommendations (such as healthy eating and exercising) … Continue reading Understanding the Link Between Oral Health and Dementia
How Blood Flow Reveals Our Cardiovascular Future
Credit: iStock/Jurgute Imagine you are watering a beautiful flowerbed with a garden hose. The water flows smoothly, nourishing each plant. Now, imagine if the hose gets kinked, causing a weak trickle of water. The flowers start to wilt, unable to receive the sustenance they need. In many ways, the blood vessels in our bodies work … Continue reading How Blood Flow Reveals Our Cardiovascular Future
GLP-1 Agonists: More Than Just Weight Loss
Conference attendees listen to a scientific session at the 2025 American Physiology Summit. Originally developed to treat diabetes, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists have recently dominated media coverage due to their potent effects on weight loss. Preliminary research has also suggested that these drugs may also have a protective role in other body systems and improve … Continue reading GLP-1 Agonists: More Than Just Weight Loss
What You Need to Know About the Gut Microbiota and High Blood Pressure
Credit: iStock The gut microbiome is an ecosystem of microbiota (microscopic organisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi) in the intestine or gut. There are trillions of microbiota living in our guts. During disease or under unfavorable conditions, harmful bacteria in our digestive tract overgrow, and a balance between beneficial and harmful bacteria is lost. … Continue reading What You Need to Know About the Gut Microbiota and High Blood Pressure
Artificial Intelligence and Physiology: The Future is Now
Credit: iStock/Pongsak Sakapdee Can you imagine (or remember) a world without cell phones and the internet? In a few years it may be tough to imagine a world without artificial intelligence (AI). AI is the re-creation of human intelligence in machines, complete with the ability to learn, reason and solve problems. AI can be quite … Continue reading Artificial Intelligence and Physiology: The Future is Now
The Vascular Clock: Understanding Female Vascular Aging
Credit: iStock/FatCamera Many of us fear wrinkles, gray hair and other signs of aging. But not as many people seem to worry about aging associated with our vascular system, the network of vessels that circulate blood throughout our body. Years of blood flowing to and from the heart can lead to some consequential changes that … Continue reading The Vascular Clock: Understanding Female Vascular Aging
Cancer and Heart Health: A Surprising Connection You Need to Know
Credit: iStock/SDI Productions Cancer and heart disease—one affects cells, the other affects blood flow. You might not think they are connected at all. But these two conditions share more than you might expect. Your heart health and your risk of cancer go hand in hand. Taking care of your heart could also help protect you … Continue reading Cancer and Heart Health: A Surprising Connection You Need to Know
Using Physical Activity Levels as a Health Vital Sign
Credit: iStock/money business images Think back to the last time you had a checkup with your health care provider. They likely weighed you, asked your height and measured your blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and breathing. The medical team probably also asked questions about your health history, current medications and if you had any pain. … Continue reading Using Physical Activity Levels as a Health Vital Sign
Spotlight On: Autoimmune Disease
Credit: iStock/mohd izzuan Your immune system is a powerful defense network that protects you from harmful invaders such as bacteria and viruses (called pathogens). The immune system helps your body identify foreign substances called antigens that may harm you and launches an attack to neutralize them. You need this complex system for survival—but what happens … Continue reading Spotlight On: Autoimmune Disease