PHOENIX — In a study published in the Liver Transplantation journal by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, Mayo Clinic researchers found that a new proactive treatment protocol for alcohol use disorder after liver transplant resulted in a 0% heavy alcohol relapse rate among patients who followed the protocol, compared with a historical relapse rate of approximately 25%.

"The results were greater than we expected," says Channa Jayasekera, M.D., Mayo Clinic transplant hepatologist and senior author of the study. "Among the 21 patients in the study, none relapsed to heavy alcohol use within one year. Although this was a small cohort, having no relapses is incredibly encouraging that we have found an effective intervention."

Researchers defined heavy alcohol use as binge drinking — five or more drinks for men or four or more drinks for women on a single occasion — or drinking alcohol more than four days per week. This standard definition reflects a level of alcohol consumption associated with damage to the transplanted liver and other negative health outcomes.

New protocol aims to prevent alcohol relapse after liver transplant

Alcohol-associated liver disease is now the leading indication for liver transplantation in the U.S., and many patients requiring urgent transplantation do not have time to complete traditional alcohol treatment programs before surgery. Historically, transplant care has often focused on monitoring patients after transplant and intervening only after relapse occurs.

Patients who relapse after transplant face a higher risk of serious health complications and may not be eligible for another liver transplant, making relapse prevention a critical part of long-term care.

Researchers at Mayo Clinic in Arizona developed and studied preventing alcohol-related complications after transplantation, or PACT, a first-of-its-kind multidisciplinary protocol designed to proactively prevent alcohol relapse after transplant. The protocol combines anticraving medication, frequent patient follow-up, alcohol metabolite testing, and coordinated care from transplant hepatologists, surgeons, addiction counselors, psychiatrists and pharmacists.

Watch: Dr. Channa Jayasekera discusses Mayo Clinic PACT study

Journalists: Broadcast-quality sound bites with Dr. Channa Jayasekera are in the downloads at the end of the post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Name super/CG: Channa Jayasekera, M.D./Transplant Hepatology/Mayo Clinic.

"While a liver transplant can cure alcohol-related liver disease, it does not treat alcohol use disorder," says Dr. Jayasekera. "We increasingly understand alcohol use disorder as a chronic medical condition that deserves proactive treatment, just like other chronic diseases. Our goal is to give patients every possible tool to protect their health and preserve the gift of transplantation."

Researchers say the findings could help reshape how transplant centers nationwide approach addiction treatment after liver transplant and help reduce stigma surrounding alcohol use disorder.

"These patients are often young and have a long future ahead of them after transplant," says Dr. Jayasekera. "If these findings are replicated at other centers, this approach could become a game changer in transplant medicine."

Dr. Jayasekera notes that larger studies and replication at additional transplant centers will be important next steps.

For a complete list of authors and disclosures, review the study.

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

About Mayo Clinic Transplant Center
Mayo Clinic Transplant Center is one of the largest and most comprehensive transplant programs in the world. With programs in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota, Mayo Clinic provides seamless, coordinated care across adult heart, lung, liver, kidney and pancreas transplantation. Guided by a commitment to innovation, research and education, Mayo Clinic Transplant Center delivers world-leading outcomes, compassionate patient care and advances that shape the future of transplantation worldwide.

Media contact:

• Kelley Luckstein, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Mayo Clinic study finds new post-liver transplant protocol results in 0% heavy alcohol relapse rate appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Collaboration aims to expand access to Mayo Clinic’s trusted healthcare expertise and improve patient and clinician experiences

ROCHESTER, Minn., and REDMOND, Wash. — Mayo Clinic and Microsoft today announced a strategic collaboration to develop and deploy a frontier AI model designed specifically for healthcare, making Mayo Clinic’s knowledge, expertise and integrated model of care available to more people when and where they need it. 

The collaboration combines Mayo Clinic’s global healthcare expertise, de-identified clinical health data and longitudinal insights with Microsoft’s advanced AI, cloud, engineering and superintelligence capabilities. Together, the organizations are developing a frontier AI model capable of supporting the broadest scope of clinical reasoning and healthcare use cases.

The model is designed to synthesize diverse clinical data to support earlier diagnoses, more personalized treatment decisions and better patient outcomes. By expanding access to actionable insights and supporting care teams in complex decision-making, the collaboration aims to address some of healthcare’s most challenging problems.

The frontier AI model will be owned by Mayo Clinic, reinforcing Mayo’s long-standing commitment to patient trust, clinical rigor, safety and responsible stewardship of clinical data and AI. Microsoft plans to make the model available through Azure Foundry APIs, enabling organizations worldwide to access advanced healthcare AI capabilities designed to better support patients, clinicians and consumers.

“Mayo Clinic is committed to putting patients first, and we have long believed AI can help transform healthcare. Seven years ago, we launched Mayo Clinic Platform to move healthcare from a pipeline to a platform model through a safe, trusted, patient-centric de-identified data foundation designed to accelerate innovation, breakthroughs, and cures,” said Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., president and CEO, Mayo Clinic. “Now, by combining our clinical expertise and data foundation with Microsoft’s engineering and AI capabilities, we are once again building something new in healthcare and bringing more of Mayo Clinic to more patients.”

Unlike general-purpose AI models, healthcare AI requires deep clinical context, longitudinal understanding, rigorous governance, and real-world validation. The model is being purpose-built for healthcare and initially deployed within Mayo Clinic’s trusted clinical environment, where it can be continuously tested, refined and improved through real-world use.

Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, said, “Frontier medical intelligence is around the corner. This is the best collaboration imaginable to help us accelerate towards that future. Mayo has unparalleled clinical expertise, de-identified clinical health data and longitudinal medical insights, and we're thrilled to partner with their world class physicians to build a state-of-the-art foundation model for healthcare.”

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About Mayo Clinic 
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) creates platforms and tools powered by AI to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. The technology company is committed to making AI available broadly and doing so responsibly, with a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

Media contacts:

• Andrea Kalmanovitz, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu
• We.Communications for Microsoft, 425-638-7777, rapidresponse@wecommunications.com

The post Mayo Clinic and Microsoft collaborate to develop a frontier AI model for healthcare appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

PHOENIX — An experimental drug combination may help overcome treatment resistance in advanced kidney cancer, according to early results from a first-in-human clinical trial led by Mayo Clinic researchers.

The study evaluated the investigational drug darlifarnib in combination with the targeted therapy cabozantinib, a standard treatment for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the most common type of kidney cancer. Among patients whose disease had progressed despite prior treatment, 44% responded to the combination therapy, while disease control was achieved in 94% of participants.

"These early findings are encouraging, as more effective treatments are urgently needed for patients with advanced disease," says Yousef Zakharia, M.D., principal investigator of the study and a medical oncologist at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. He presented the findings at the 2026 International Kidney Cancer Symposium: Europe in Paris.

ccRCC accounts for most kidney cancer cases in adults, and many patients eventually experience disease progression despite treatment.

In the phase 1a/b study, researchers evaluated 18 patients who had previously received cabozantinib. About half had undergone at least three prior therapies.

"For many patients, the benefit of cabozantinib can be temporary. Tumors may develop resistance and activate alternative pathways that allow the cancer to continue growing," Dr. Zakharia says.

Researchers investigated whether adding darlifarnib, a next-generation targeted therapy designed to inhibit cancer growth signaling pathways, could help overcome treatment resistance.

The combination produced tumor shrinkage in 7 of 16 evaluable patients, corresponding to an overall response rate of 44%. Disease control, defined as either tumor stability or shrinkage, was achieved in 15 of 16 patients (94%).

"These findings require validation in a larger clinical trial to confirm the efficacy observed thus far; however, the early signal is intriguing," says Dr. Zakharia. "This study represents an important step forward and provides insight into how treatment resistance might be overcome."

The multicenter, international trial will further evaluate the benefit of the combination in a larger group.

For a complete list of trial and funding information, review the study.

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

About Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center
Designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center is defining the cancer center of the future, focused on delivering the world's most exceptional patient-centered cancer care for everyone. At Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, a culture of innovation and collaboration is driving research breakthroughs in cancer detection, prevention and treatment to change lives.

Media contact:

• Julie Ferris-Tilman, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Experimental drug combination shows early effectiveness in advanced kidney cancer appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Hormone therapy use among women in the U.S. remains low, even though it's an effective treatment for many menopause symptoms, according to a new Mayo Clinic study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Menopause affects more than 1 million women each year in the U.S., and up to 75% experience symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats that can last for years. Yet researchers found that use of menopausal hormone therapy has steadily declined over time.

The study found that hormone therapy use dropped from 4.4% in 2007 to 1.7% in 2023. Even among women most likely to benefit — those ages 50 to 59 — only about 3.5% were using hormone therapy in 2023.

"We have strong evidence that hormone therapy is safe and effective for many women, but that hasn't translated into how it's used in clinical practice," says Stephanie Faubion, M.D., director of Mayo Clinic's Center for Women's Health and study author.

Researchers expected hormone therapy use to rebound in recent years as awareness of menopause has increased. Instead, rates remain at their lowest level since the early 2000s, following concerns raised after the Women's Health Initiative trial.  

The new study analyzed nationwide trends in hormone therapy use among women 40 and older between 2007 and 2023 using a large U.S. health database. Hormone therapy use was defined as having at least 180 days of filled prescriptions within a given year.

In addition to the overall decline, researchers found differences across racial and ethnic groups. Use was consistently higher among white women compared with Black, Hispanic and Asian American women. Oral therapies remained the most common, although both oral and transdermal treatments declined over time.

Despite growing public conversation about menopause, the findings suggest that increased awareness has not translated into greater use of the effective treatment.

Researchers say several factors may have contributed to the findings, including ongoing misconceptions about risks, limited menopause training among clinicians, and patient concerns or lack of awareness.

"The abundance of misinformation around hormone therapy is one reason some women are not getting treatment," says Dr. Faubion. "Many are seeking care for symptoms but aren't receiving therapies that could help."

Watch: A recent hormone therapy study for women entering menopause

Journalists: Broadcast-quality sound bites are available in the downloads at the end of the post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Name super/CG: Stephanie Faubion, M.D./ Women's Health /Mayo Clinic.

Hormone therapy is not appropriate for every patient. However, for many women — particularly those younger than 60 or within 10 years of menopause — it remains a safe and effective option for symptom relief. Even low-dose vaginal estrogen, which has a favorable safety profile, remains underused.

Untreated menopause symptoms can affect sleep, mood and overall quality of life. Some women may seek care from multiple specialists without a clear diagnosis or treatment plan. Symptoms also may affect workplace productivity.

Researchers say the next step is to better understand and address the barriers preventing women from receiving appropriate care.

"Despite increased attention on menopause, we still have a long way to go," says Dr. Faubion. "Improving education for both patients and clinicians will be key to closing this gap."

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:

• Tia Ford, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Hormone therapy use for menopause declines despite proven benefits, study finds appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Stroke remains a leading cause of serious disability and death in the U.S., but recognizing symptoms quickly and seeking immediate medical attention can dramatically improve outcomes. Mayo Clinic experts emphasize that knowing the warning signs of stroke and acting fast can save brain function and lives.

"Time is brain when it comes to stroke treatment," says Josephine Huang M.D., a Mayo Clinic neurologist. "The sooner a person receives medical care, the greater the chance of reducing long-term disability and improving recovery."

Stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted, either by a blockage in an artery or by bleeding in the brain. Mayo Clinic experts say both types of stroke require immediate medical evaluation because prompt treatment can significantly improve recovery and reduce long-term disability.

Symptoms

Stroke symptoms often appear suddenly and may include facial drooping, arm or leg weakness, slurred speech, language difficulty, vision problems, dizziness or loss of balance. Mayo Clinic experts encourage the public to remember the acronym BE FAST:

 • B — Balance: Sudden onset of loss of balance or coordination.
 • E — Eyes: Sudden vision problems or loss of vision in one or both eyes.
 • F — Face drooping: One side of the face appears uneven or numb.
 • A — Arm weakness: Sudden weakness or numbness in one arm.
 • S — Speech difficulty: Trouble speaking or understanding speech.
 • T — Time to call 911: Immediate medical attention is critical.

Treatment

Rapid treatment can restore blood flow to the brain and reduce permanent damage. Mayo Clinic experts stress that emergency evaluation should begin as soon as symptoms appear, not after they worsen or disappear. If a stroke is caused by a blood clot, doctors may use clot-busting medications or perform minimally invasive procedures to remove the clot and reopen blocked blood vessels in the brain.

"These are what we call endovascular procedures," says Dr. Huang. "Doctors thread a guidewire through a blood vessel to remove the clot and restore blood flow to the brain."

For hemorrhagic strokes caused by bleeding in the brain, treatment focuses on controlling blood pressure, reversing blood-thinning medications if needed, and sometimes relieving pressure on the brain surgically.

Prevention

Certain risk factors can increase stroke risk, including high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity, high cholesterol, sedentary lifestyle and atrial fibrillation. Mayo Clinic experts note that nearly 90% of strokes may be preventable through risk factor management and healthy lifestyle changes.

Experts encourage regular health screenings, physical activity and healthy eating habits to help lower stroke risk. "Identifying these risk factors and making sure they are treated appropriately goes a long way toward preventing stroke from happening in the first place," says Dr. Huang.

Additional Resources

• Mayo Clinic Minute: Recognize the sudden warning signs of stroke
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Know the risk factors to prevent stroke
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Lifesaving treatments for stroke

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:

• Tia Ford, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Recognize the sudden warning signs of stroke — and BE FAST appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers will present more than 30 studies at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, highlighting advances in precision oncology, early cancer detection, artificial intelligence (AI) and personalized cancer care. The meeting will be held May 29–June 2 at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago.

Featured research includes biomarker-driven treatments for bladder and lung cancers, new approaches for triple-negative breast cancer, multicancer early detection testing, and AI-enabled analysis of the tumor microenvironment in colon cancer.

Highlighted presentations include:

Education Session: Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in 2026: Translating New Data into Clinical Decisions
Presentation time: May 30, 4:45–5 p.m. CDT
Presentation title: Stage 1 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Who Needs What Treatment?
Presenter: Roberto Leon-Ferre, M.D., associate professor of oncology

Poster Session: Gastrointestinal Cancer — Colorectal and Anal
Presentation time: May 30, 9 a.m.–Noon CDT
Presentation title: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in the phase 3 trial of standard chemotherapy alone or combined with atezolizumab as adjuvant therapy for patients with stage 3 deficient DNA mismatch repair (dMMR) colon cancer (Alliance A021502, ATOMIC) (Abstract 2636)
Presenter: Amylou Dueck, Ph.D., professor of biostatistics

Poster Session: Gastrointestinal Cancer — Colorectal and Anal
Presentation time: May 30, 9 a.m.–Noon CDT
Presentation title: A deep learning approach to quantify tumor microenvironment features associated with postoperative ctDNA status and outcomes in a phase 3 FOLFOX-based adjuvant colon cancer trial (N0147; Alliance) (Abstract 3525)
Presenter: Frank Sinicrope, M.D., professor of medicine and oncology

Poster Session: Care Delivery/Models of Care
Presentation time: May 30, 9 a.m.–Noon CDT
Presentation title: Fertility concerns, counseling and preservation in AYA females with early-stage breast cancer: Chemotherapy receipt and timing (Abstract 1564)
Presenter: Bolun Liu, M.D., assistant professor of medicine

Education Session: It's 2026: Updates in Small Cell Lung Cancer — No Longer Too Small to Ignore
Presentation time: May 31, 8–8:15 a.m. CDT
Presentation title: Systemic Therapy for Small Cell Lung Cancer: Standard of Care and Recent Therapeutic Advances
Presenter: Rami Manochakian, M.D., associate professor of medicine

Case-Based Panel Session: Biomarker Treatment Strategies for Bladder Cancer: Putting the Patient at the Center
Presentation time: May 31, 8–9 a.m. CDT
Presentation title: Surgical Oncologist Perspective
Presenter: Mark Tyson II, M.D., professor of urology

Oral Abstract Session: Prevention, Risk Reduction and Genetics
Presentation time: May 31, 9:45–9:51 a.m. CDT
Presentation title: Safety and performance results from PATHFINDER 2, a registrational study of a multicancer early detection (MCED) test in an intended-use population (Abstract LBA10509)
Presenter: Karthik Giridhar, M.D., assistant professor of oncology

Poster Session: Gynecologic Cancer
Presentation time: June 1, 9 a.m.–Noon CDT
Presentation title: Development of an endometrial cancer test from a vaginal swab (Abstract 5624)
Presenter: Jamie Bakkum-Gamez, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology

Poster Session: Breast Cancer — Local/Regional/Adjuvant
Presentation time: June 1, 1:30–4:30 p.m. CDT
Presentation title: A randomized phase 2 trial of folate receptor alpha peptide vaccine in early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (Abstract 536)
Presenter: Kathryn Ruddy, M.D., professor of oncology, Keith Knutson, Ph.D., professor of immunology, and co-author Saranya Chumsri, M.D., professor of oncology

Poster Session: Breast Cancer — Metastatic
Presentation time: June 1, 1:30–4:30 p.m. CDT
Presentation title: Quality of life and treatment tolerability of Bria-IMT + CPI in metastatic breast cancer (Abstract 1107)
Presenter: Saranya Chumsri, M.D., professor of oncology

Oral Abstract Session: Hematologic Malignancies — Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, and Allotransplant
Presentation time: June 2, 9:57–10:09 a.m. CDT
Presentation title: RALLY-MF: Initial efficacy of a phase 2 study of DISC-0974, an anti-hemojuvelin antibody, to treat anemia in myelofibrosis (Abstract 6501)
Presenter: Naseema Gangat, M.B.B.S., professor of medicine and co-author Ayalew Tefferi, M.D., professor of medicine and Barbara Woodward Lips Professor II

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

About Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center
Designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center is defining the cancer center of the future, focused on delivering the world's most exceptional patient-centered cancer care for everyone. At Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, a culture of innovation and collaboration is driving research breakthroughs in cancer detection, prevention and treatment to change lives.

Media contact:

• Julie Ferris-Tillman, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Mayo Clinic presents oncology breakthroughs spanning data science, early detection, targeted therapies at ASCO 2026 appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Inspired by the memory of their infant son and Mayo Clinic’s vision for the future of healthcare, Paula and Randy Ringhaver of St. Augustine, Florida, have made a $75 million gift to Mayo Clinic in Florida. The gift will support Bold. Forward. Unbound., Mayo Clinic’s investment across the organization to transform healthcare through integrated digital and physical spaces.

In 1980, the Ringhavers’ son, Randal “Lee” Ringhaver, Jr., passed away at 8 1/2 months old from an aggressive form of leukemia. Their daughter, Bree, was 2 1/2 years old at the time of Lee’s passing. To honor his memory, the family has chosen to name the newly expanded hospital tower at Mayo Clinic in Florida the Lee Ringhaver Tower.

“When we walk into the tower, we feel optimism and confidence,” says Paula Ringhaver. “It symbolizes growth and progress. We believe in what Mayo Clinic is building here, and we trust that Lee’s legacy will live on through the care and hope this tower represents.”

The Ringhavers’ connection to Mayo Clinic spans generations. Randy Ringhaver’s father, L.C. “Ring” Ringhaver, received care at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and became an ardent advocate. Over the years, other members of the Ringhaver family and employees of Ring Power — the family-founded heavy equipment company — have received life-changing care at Mayo Clinic in Florida.

“We’ve seen firsthand the value of having Mayo Clinic’s expertise close to home for our family and for Ring Power employees,” says Randy Ringhaver. “This gift reflects the values our company was built on, including giving back to the communities we serve, and it demonstrates our confidence in Mayo Clinic’s future.”

Lee Ringhaver Tower is a central component of Bold. Forward. Unbound. in Florida, the initiative the Ringhavers’ gift supports. A five-story expansion of the tower began serving patients in 2025, adding 121 new rooms and integrating digital technologies that empower patients and support more personalized care. The tower also includes shell space for future growth and capacity for three additional stories.

“Philanthropy makes it possible for us to build the future of healthcare,” says Kent Thielen, M.D., CEO of Mayo Clinic in Florida. “We are deeply grateful to Paula and Randy for their extraordinary generosity and trust. Their gift will change lives — now and for generations to come — in our community and around the world.”

Including the Lee Ringhaver Tower expansion, Bold. Forward. Unbound. in Florida encompasses more than 725,000 square feet of new clinical, research and education space. It includes the Duan Family Building, which contains the Americas’ first carbon ion therapy system; a biomanufacturing expansion; and a soon-to-be-constructed research and education building. Along with adding more capacity, these facilities feature innovative digital technologies that help them function like members of the care team. Across Mayo Clinic, Bold. Forward. Unbound. will add more than 4 million square feet of transformative spaces to the campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota.

Together, these investments advance Mayo Clinic’s Bold. Forward. strategy to transform healthcare through cures, data and new care delivery models that enable patients to access Mayo Clinic’s expertise anytime, anywhere.

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:  

• Tia Ford, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Paula and Randy Ringhaver give $75 million to Mayo Clinic in Florida appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

A new era of medicine is emerging at Mayo Clinic — one that finds disease before symptoms appear 

ROCHESTER, Minn. — When Mayo Clinic researchers sequenced the genomes of 484 seemingly healthy adults, they found that about 13% carried a serious, previously unrecognized genomic risk — conditions those patients did not know about and that standard care would likely miss.

Nearly all participants, 98.6%, had at least one genetic finding, and for most, the results called for monitoring. The study, published in Genetics in Medicine, also takes a closer look at what it takes to turn those findings into the proper follow-up care.

Among the 13%, the actionable findings pointed to serious risks, including hereditary breast and ovarian cancer; Lynch syndrome, linked to colorectal cancer; cardiomyopathy; long QT syndrome; and amyloidosis.

"These are people traditional testing based on symptoms or family history would not identify," says Dr. Konstantinos Lazaridis, the Carlson and Nelson Endowed Executive Director of the Center for Individualized Medicine and senior author of the study. "This study helps define the blueprint for integrating genomic insight into care at scale — turning information into decisions that can change the trajectory of disease."

From discovery to care

Identifying the risk, it turns out, is the easiest part. Acting on it is far more complex. Nearly every case required clinical interpretation, documentation and communication. This work fell largely to genetic counselors, who reviewed results, prepared individualized summaries and helped guide next steps for patients and care teams.

"Genetic counselors are often the first people to share this kind of information with patients," says Jessa Bidwell, a certified research genetic counselor and first author of the study. "There can be surprise, anxiety, devastation, and at times relief at finally having an explanation. Our role is to meet people in that moment and help them understand what their health risks might be, based on the genetic finding, and their personal and family history."

Most participants with actionable findings followed through, completing referrals and connecting with primary care specialists. Yet fewer than half had a documented conversation with a primary care professional after receiving results — underscoring how difficult it remains to integrate genomic findings into routine care.

The study positions predictive genomic screening as both a clinical opportunity and a systems challenge. The science exists. Researchers and clinicians are still building the infrastructure to act on it consistently.

At Mayo Clinic, that infrastructure is beginning to take shape through an initiative called Precure. Genomic screening is one part of that initiative, which aims to detect disease earlier by combining genetic data with other biological signals.

"Precure is one example of a moonshot for human health at Mayo Clinic," says Dr. Lazaridis, who leads the initiative. "It reflects Mayo Clinic's commitment to move medicine beyond treatment and toward lasting wellness." - Dr. Lazaridis

Predicting disease before it begins 

Most diseases don't arrive without warning. They begin with small shifts in genes, molecules, proteins and immune signals that develop over time, often years before symptoms appear.

Precure is Mayo Clinic's enterprise-wide effort to detect those early signals and intervene sooner. Powered by advanced computing and artificial intelligence (AI), the initiative currently focuses on five organ systems — the brain, heart, kidneys, liver and lungs — studying conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, heart failure and chronic liver disease to better understand how they emerge and progress.

The work draws on expertise from across Mayo Clinic and is supported by Mayo Clinic Platform, which brings together large-scale patient data and advanced computing to enable scientists to study disease across populations.

"Precure is one example of a moonshot for human health at Mayo Clinic," says Dr. Lazaridis, who leads the initiative. "It reflects Mayo Clinic's commitment to move medicine beyond treatment and toward lasting wellness."

Precure is part of Mayo Clinic's Bold. Forward. strategy to Cure, Connect and Transform healthcare. The genomic screening study is an early demonstration of what that looks like in practice: science that doesn't wait for disease to announce itself, and a system already being built to act on what it finds.

For a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding information, review the study. 

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:

• Julie Ferris-Tillman, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Mayo Clinic study finds 1 in 8 adults carries hidden genetic risk — and reveals what it takes to act on it  appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

May is Hypertension Awareness Month

LONDON — High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can occur at any age. Its prevalence in people in early to mid-adulthood has been rising globally. Bianca Bandarra, M.B.B.S., a general practitioner and executive health physician at Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London, describes lifestyle factors that can influence risk and explains why treating high blood pressure early matters.

High blood pressure is a common condition that affects the body's arteries. If you have high blood pressure, the force of blood pushing against the artery walls is consistently too high. The heart has to work harder to pump blood.

If untreated, high blood pressure raises the risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke and other serious health problems, including kidney and eye problems, dementia, and metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions that increases the risk of diabetes.

Hypertension usually develops with no symptoms

High blood pressure can be a silent disease; people can have it without realizing it, Dr. Bandarra says.

"If high blood pressure isn't treated, it can damage blood vessels and organs over many years," she explains. "Because of that, we need to be proactive about prevention and early diagnosis. A simple blood pressure check is an important screening tool. People with conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease or a family history of hypertension may need more frequent monitoring."

If you have a family history of hypertension — for example, if one or both of your parents have it — it is sensible to be proactive and discuss with your healthcare team whether additional steps, such as monitoring your blood pressure at home, are appropriate.

While hypertension usually develops without symptoms, some people may notice warning signs if blood pressure becomes severely elevated, Dr. Bandarra says.

"Very high readings can sometimes be associated with headaches, especially in a hypertensive crisis," she says. "Some people may also feel pressure or discomfort behind their eyes."

Blurred vision, chest pain, palpitations, nosebleeds, shortness of breath and feeling tired and generally unwell can also occur, though these symptoms are not specific to hypertension and can have other causes. If you experience these symptoms, especially if they are new or severe, seek medical attention promptly, Dr. Bandarra says.

Lifestyle plays a role

Several lifestyle factors can influence the risk of developing hypertension, Dr. Bandarra says.

Factors that can raise the risk include having obesity or being overweight, tobacco use, alcohol use, high stress levels, eating too much salt, not consuming enough potassium and not moving enough.

Factors that can lower the risk include exercising, achieving a healthy weight, following a heart-healthy diet with fruits, vegetables and whole grains, exercising regularly, managing stress, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, and getting enough sleep.

"Some people may do all the right things and still develop hypertension," Dr. Bandarra says. "That's because genetics also play a role. We can take steps to prevent it from getting worse."

Stopping hypertension from progressing

Treatment typically includes following a healthy lifestyle — even for people whose hypertension has a genetic component — and medication. Tests such as blood tests, urine tests and an electrocardiogram may be needed to assess overall health and look for organ damage or related conditions.

Whatever your risk level, checking your blood pressure at home in addition to routine health checkups can be a safe and useful way to track your cardiovascular health.

"Use a validated device with the correct cuff size and follow proper technique," Dr. Bandarra says. "Raising awareness about high blood pressure for yourself, your friends and your family can make a real difference."

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About Mayo Clinic Healthcare
Mayo Clinic Healthcare, located in London, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit academic medical center. Mayo Clinic is top ranked by U.S. News & World Report in more specialties than any other hospital for a reason: quality of care. Mayo Clinic Healthcare is the U.K.'s front door to that unparalleled experience. Visit Mayo Clinic Healthcare for more information.

Media contact:

• Sharon Theimer, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic researchers have identified an immune-regulating molecule that may help explain why some patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, do not respond to commonly used therapies. The findings, published in Cell Reports, describe a previously uncharacterized role for the molecule ST8Sia6 in regulating immune activity in the gut.

In preclinical models, researchers found that the absence of ST8Sia6 led to a marked increase in inflammatory immune cells in the intestines. The results suggest the molecule plays a key role in maintaining immune balance and may represent a distinct biological pathway from those targeted by existing treatments.

IBD affects nearly 3 million people in the United States, and its prevalence continues to rise. While the source of IBD is not known, researchers believe it may occur due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Recently introduced medications target a pro-inflammatory molecule known as TNF-alpha to reduce the autoimmune response in the intestines and help with symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating and bloody stools, but the treatment is not effective in all patients.

Discovering the role of the enzyme ST8Sia6 has provided the research team with a new view of IBD. "The normal function of ST8Sia6 in the gut had not been previously described," says Mayo Clinic immunology researcher Virginia Shapiro, Ph.D., principal investigator of the study. "We found ST8Sia6 regulates the abundance of immune cells and keeps them in the steady state of homeostasis. When the molecule is not present or even is reduced, the presence of inflammatory immune cells increases dramatically."

An intriguing enzyme in the immune system

The study of ST8Sia6 and its interactions with the immune system extend recent discoveries in Dr. Shapiro's research lab. Her team previously showed that ST8Sia6, an enzyme that adds sugar molecules to cell surfaces, enables a tumor to evade destruction by the immune system. The lab also found that ST8Sia6 can be used as a tool to help reduce the body's autoimmune attack on insulin-producing beta cells, as occurs in diabetes.

The leap to gastrointestinal disease occurred when the team noticed on an international database that a single mutation in the gene for ST8Sia6 turns up with greater frequency in people with Crohn's disease.

"The ST8Sia6 molecule is expressed pretty widely in different immune cells, but we weren't sure of its connection to this disease which involves chronic inflammation," says Sydney Crotts, a graduate student at Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and first author of the study.

The team looked at preclinical models that lacked the ST8Sia6 gene. In the models, an abundance of immune cells gathered in the small intestine. The team also found that lower ST8Sia6 led to increased levels of messenger molecules that prompt an immune response. Together, the attributes increased susceptibility to intestinal inflammation.

"We think this might be a model of what's happening in patients with Crohn's disease who have a baseline of immune cells and are basically fine until they encounter a trigger and have a flare," says Crotts. She notes that the inflammation did not abate with TNF-alpha medication, suggesting this pathway may be distinct.

The study illuminates yet another action of ST8Sia6 on the immune system and presents a new avenue that may help IBD treatment. Further studies will be necessary to move the discovery toward the clinic.

"These findings mean researchers have an approach to better understand the source of TNF-resistant Crohn's disease, the pathways and molecules involved, and now may be able to develop additional ways to intervene to treat this disease," Crotts says.

For a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding, review the study.

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Media contact:

• Julie Ferris-Tillman, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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