This year, science continued its advances in coronavirus research, as vaccines were authorized and new treatments developed. But scientific advancement also extended beyond the pandemic with giant leaps forward in other areas of health.
Here are three of the most incredible health discoveries of the year, according to Insider:
A blood test that detects 50 types of cancer
New technology from biotech giant Illumina could detect early signs of more than 50 types of cancers with just one blood draw.
The Galleri test looks for DNA fragments in the blood that may indicate cancer. With high accuracy, those fragments can also point to the location of a tumor, giving patients a head start on diagnosis and treatment, Insider reported.
Doctors previously told Insider that “the Galleri test and similar diagnostics need to improve their success rates, but they could make a real difference for individual patients. Early diagnosis has been proven to improve cancer outcomes and may let patients avoid the physical toll of chemotherapy.”
The first progeria treatment
Progeria is a genetic disease that causes premature aging in approximately 400 children worldwide, according to Mayo Clinic. It’s typically fatal after an average of 13 years, and until recently, there was no treatment to slow the progression of the disease.
Zokinvy, a new drug developed this year by Eiger Pharmaceuticals, can extend that lifespan by about two and a half years, according to Insider. It is the first and only FDA-approved treatment for Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome.
The drug works by preventing the accumulation of defective proteins, known as progerin, which usually cause cell death and damage to the heart and bones. Children with progeria usually die of heart failure or stroke, according to Mayo Clinic.
A formula that is similar to human breast milk
This year, two female scientists created the first lab-grown batch of breast milk, which could eventually be a solution for parents who are unable or choose not to breastfeed.
Biomilq is the first cell-cultured milk with the nutritional components and complexity of breast milk, Insider reported. It uses real human mammary cells grown in a lab, unlike others that combine ingredients to make something similar to the real thing.
While Biomilq has a higher nutritional profile than formula, its creators do not claim that it is a perfect replacement for breast milk. It can’t reflect a mother’s diet or pass on vital immune protection from parent to the child, Insider reported. However, it will offer an alternative to formula when it reaches the market in about three years.
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