People at increased risk for heart disease also seem to develop dementia more often. A study led by the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) has uncovered new links between different blood lipid, or fat, levels and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia worldwide. The findings mean that blood fat profiles could help better understand, predict, and possibly even prevent the disease in the future. In more than 800 older adults who participated in the long-running Framingham Heart Study, researchers found that higher levels of small, dense cholesterol particles – known to increase the risk of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease – were linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s. However, higher levels of a marker for small fat-carrying particles involved in transporting dietary fats from the gut through the blood to other body tissues after eating were associated with a lower…

Joint Declaration by FORTHEM Alliance Universities Reaffirms Shared Responsibility to Protect Autonomy and Integrity of Higher Education and Research in Europe and Beyond: In recent months, we have witnessed growing threats to the autonomy and integrity of higher education and scientific research worldwide. In a number of countries, state actors have begun to question the standards of scientific truth, seeking to pursue political or commercial interests at the expense of rigorous, independent research. This pressure manifests in attempts to restrict academic freedom by cutting research funding for certain topics, for example in the social sciences and humanities, or by discontinuing established protocols for longitudinal research, particularly on environmental topics. Initiatives to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion have been specifically attacked and delegitimized. This occurs within a broader societal, political, and media landscape characterized by widespread disinformation, where…

Corruption in Germany is no longer a fringe phenomenon. It permeates public administration, the economy, and increasingly, the research landscape. Official data, case files, and current scandals prove it: the Federal Republic faces a structural problem with grave economic and social consequences. The following report highlights the facts, key cases, and weaknesses in the system for combating corruption. Definition and Dimensions: What is Corruption? The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and criminological research define corruption as "the abuse of a public office, a position in business, or a political mandate for the benefit of another, at their instigation or on their own initiative, to obtain an advantage for oneself or a third party, with the occurrence or in anticipation of damage or disadvantage to the public (in an official or political capacity) or to a company (concerning perpetrators as office holders in business)"[9]. This definition forms the basis for statistical... 

Berlin, May 31, 2025 – Friedrich Merz, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany since May 6, 2025, is at the center of a controversial debate about possible connections between his political measures and the interests of BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, where he served as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the German subsidiary from 2016 to 2020. Critics accuse him of pursuing policies – from tax relief and deregulation to foreign policy decisions such as military aid to Ukraine – that serve the interests of financial giants like BlackRock. This report examines specific measures by the Merz government that could benefit BlackRock, including military aid to Ukraine, and relies exclusively on verified sources with precise figures and examples. 1. Tax Policy: Relief for the Wealthy and Corporations The Merz government has announced the abolition of the solidarity surcharge for top earners and higher inheritance tax allowances, as enshrined in the CDU election program. According to Campact, the...