Division of Epidemiology Archives
Breast cancer genetics: new insights
Feb. 16, 2023—Largest genetic study of breast cancer to date identifies 222 genetic risk loci, 137 genes and multiple signaling pathways associated with risk, providing important new insights.
Study finds chronically disrupted sleep may increase risk for heart disease
Feb. 15, 2023—Vanderbilt research found that sleep irregularity — chronically disrupted sleep and highly variable sleep durations night after night — may increase the risk for atherosclerosis.
Study finds heart failure risk higher in rural areas
Jan. 25, 2023—A study co-led by Vanderbilt researchers found heart failure risk is 19% higher for adults living in rural areas of the U.S., as compared to urban areas, and 34% higher for Black men living in rural areas.
Novel lung cancer biomarker
Jan. 9, 2023—Autoantibodies against the p53 tumor suppressor protein may be a novel biomarker for identifying people, especially African Americans, at high risk for lung cancer.
MicroRNAs linked to lipid damage
Jan. 6, 2023—VUMC researchers have linked microRNAs with systemic lipid peroxidation, a discovery that could point to new therapeutic targets for a variety of diseases.
New approach outperforms existing cancer susceptibility models
Jan. 5, 2023—A new approach for conducting gene-based analyses for cancer susceptibility created at Vanderbilt outperforms existing models.
A marker for mortality
Nov. 17, 2022—A urine biomarker of inflammation was associated with increased mortality and multiple lifestyle factors, suggesting that modifications could help reduce premature mortality.
Metabolic signatures of Type 2 diabetes risk
Oct. 24, 2022—Vanderbilt epidemiologists found 32 blood metabolites associated with obesity and showed that adding these to traditional disease prediction models improves accuracy of determining Type 2 diabetes risk.
Colon cancer researchers awarded NCI grant for study of early lesions
Sep. 22, 2022—Vanderbilt researchers are studying precancerous lesions and early cancers in the colon, with the goal of developing new ways to prevent colorectal cancer, the nation’s second leading cancer killer.
H. pylori and lung cancer
Aug. 1, 2022—Specific biomarkers for H. pylori — a bacterium that infects the stomach — were associated with increased risk of lung cancer, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered.
Ginseng intake and mortality
Jun. 20, 2022—Regular ginseng intake, particularly over a long duration, is associated with decreased risk of death from all causes, Vanderbilt researchers discovered in a large epidemiological study.
Study measures Alzheimer’s risk reductions associated with healthy lifestyles
Jun. 13, 2022—Reported June 13 in Neurology, an Alzheimer’s disease risk study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center measures significantly reduced risk associated with healthy lifestyles, including non-smoking, leisure-time exercise, low-to-moderate alcohol consumption, adequate sleep and healthy diet.