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DURHAM, N.C. – Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of people worldwide, yet the illness is hardest to catch at the very beginning, when new treatments may work best.

In a new study, Duke Health researchers show that a quick, outpatient nasal swab can pick up early biological changes linked to Alzheimer’s, even before thinking and memory problems appear.

The study, published March 18 in Nature Communications, used a gentle swab placed high inside the nose to collect nerve and immune cells. When researchers analyzed these cells, they found clear patterns that separated people with early or diagnosed Alzheimer’s from those without the disease.

“We want to be able to confirm Alzheimer’s very early, before damage has a chance to build up in the brain,” said Bradley J. Goldstein, M.D., Ph.D., corresponding author and professor in the departments of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, Cell Biology and Neurobiology at Duke University School of Medicine.

“If we can diagnose people early enough, we might be able to start therapies that prevent them from ever developing clinical Alzheimer’s,” Goldstein said.

The procedure to collect nasal cells took just a few minutes. After applying a numbing spray, a clinician guides a tiny brush into the upper part of the nose where smell-detecting nerve cells live. Researchers then study the collected cells to see which genes are active, a sign of what’s happening inside the brain. 

The study compared samples from 22 participants, measuring the activity of thousands of genes across hundreds of thousands of individual cells, amounting to millions of data points. The nasal swab was able to pick up early shifts in nerve and immune cells. This includes people who showed lab-based signs of Alzheimer’s but had no symptoms yet.

A combined nose tissue gene score correctly separated early and clinical Alzheimer’s from healthy controls about 81% of the time.

Mary Umstead, a voluntary participant in the study, said she felt moved to join the research in honor of her late sister, Mariah Umstead. 

“When the opportunity came along to be part of a research study, I just jumped at it because I would never want any family to have to go through that kind of loss that we went through with Mariah,” Mary said. “I would never want any patient to go through what she went through either.”

Mary said Mariah was 57 years old when she was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s, but her family started noticing signs of the disease long before she was diagnosed.

Current blood tests for Alzheimer’s detect markers that appear later in the disease process. By contrast, this nasal swab captures living nerve and immune activity and may provide an earlier, more direct look at disease‑related changes, helping identify people at risk sooner.

“Much of what we know about Alzheimer’s comes from autopsy tissue,” said Vincent M. D’Anniballe, the study’s first author and student in the Medical Scientist Training Program at Duke. “Now we can study living neural tissue, opening new possibilities for diagnosis and treatment.”

The Duke team, in collaboration with the Duke & UNC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, is now expanding the research to larger groups and exploring whether the swab could help track how well treatments are working over time. Duke has filed a U.S. patent related to this approach. 

In addition to Goldstein and D’Anniballe, study authors include Sarah Kim, John B. Finlay, Michael Wang, Tiffany Ko, Sheng Luo, Heather E. Whitson, and Kim G. Johnson.

New Delhi, Mar  18th: AWE India Network, facilitated by ACCESS Development Services, today launched the ‘Mai Bhi Lakhpati: Women Rewriting India’s Future’ compendium, bringing together 50 powerful, real-life stories of women entrepreneurs from across India capturing their journeys from financial exclusion to building sustainable enterprises and becoming key economic contributors within their communities.

Mr K. Moses Chalai, Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Finance, Government of India graced the inauguration of the compendium. Launched at Le Méridien, New Delhi, the compendium serves as both a knowledge resource and a call to action. The compendium also aligns with the national vision of creating ‘Lakhpati Didis’ – financially empowered rural women entrepreneurs and contributes to the broader ambition of enabling 5 million women entrepreneurs in India by 2030. It brings together on-ground insights, successful models, and emerging best practices that demonstrate what it takes to enable women to transition into higher income brackets.

It highlights scalable pathways, identifies key enablers, and underscores the importance of convergence between policy, finance, and capacity building making a compelling case for collective action to support many more women in achieving aspirational incomes.

Speaking at the launch, Mr K. Moses Chalai, Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Finance, Government of India emphasized the critical role of women-led enterprises in driving inclusive growth and aligning with India’s broader vision of economic development. He said, “Women’s empowerment is not just a policy priority, it is a national movement that has gained undeniable momentum over the past decade. From increased participation in education, with more women excelling in fields like engineering, medicine, and even topping the UPSC Civil Services, to stronger access to economic opportunities and safer workplaces, India is steadily moving in the right direction. States today are actively competing to design more progressive schemes for women, reflecting this shift in intent and action. However, gaps still remain, particularly across the value chain where women entrepreneurs often struggle to scale and access markets. This is where organizations like ACCESS Development Services play a critical role in bridging these gaps and enabling women to move forward with confidence. The Government’s focus on initiatives such as ‘Lakhpati Didis’, along with a growing push for women-led enterprises, is already showing results. Public procurement from women-led MSMEs has risen significantly, reaching approximately ₹93,000 crore in 2025 and expected to touch closer to ₹1 lakh crore this financial year. It is important to understand that empowering women is a shared responsibility. We must ensure that every woman has access to her rights, be it in health, nutrition, education, or dignified livelihoods so that she can participate fully and equally in India’s growth story.”

Speaking on the occasion, Vipin Sharma, CEO, ACCESS Development Services said, “The compendium is not just a documentation effort but a call to action for policymakers, funders, and practitioners to invest in scalable, women-led livelihood models. It shows that with the right access to finance, markets, and support, women can build scalable enterprises and drive inclusive growth. As India advances its vision of women-led development, there is a clear need for policymakers, funders, and practitioners to invest in models that can be expanded and sustained at scale.”

The compendium highlights how grassroots women entrepreneurs are:

• Generating consistent aspirational monthly incomes, often doubling or tripling household earnings
• Creating local employment, with several enterprises engaging 10–15 women at the community level
• Reducing distress migration, with families now able to sustain livelihoods within their villages
• Driving sectoral diversity, spanning agriculture, food processing, handicrafts, circular economy, and services
• Strengthening household outcomes, with increased spending on children’s education, health, and nutrition

Importantly, the stories showcase a larger systemic shift, women are not just participating in the economy, but leading enterprises, navigating formal financial systems, and accessing government schemes such as DAY-NRLM, MUDRA, and PMFME to scale their businesses.

New Delhi, March 18: India is steadily moving toward becoming the world’s third-largest economy by 2030, driven by strong growth, rising investments, and a large domestic market. However, experts believe that expanding the country’s manufacturing sector will be crucial to sustaining this momentum and achieving long-term economic strength.

India’s economy has shown consistent growth in recent years, supported by increasing consumer demand, digital expansion, and infrastructure development. While the services sector continues to play a dominant role, the next phase of growth is expected to depend more on industrial development and production capacity.

Why Manufacturing Matters

A stronger manufacturing base can significantly boost the economy by creating jobs, increasing exports, and reducing dependence on imports. It also supports other sectors such as logistics, trade, and services, creating a multiplier effect across the economy.

At present, manufacturing contributes a smaller share to India’s overall economy compared to leading industrial nations. Expanding this sector will help India move up the global economic ladder and compete more effectively on the world stage.

Growth Drivers and Opportunities

India has several advantages that can support manufacturing growth:

• A large and young workforce

• Expanding infrastructure and industrial corridors

• Rising demand for goods both domestically and globally

• Increasing focus on technology and innovation

Key sectors such as electronics, automobiles, renewable energy, and semiconductors are expected to play a major role in this transformation.

Government Efforts and Policy Support

The government has introduced various measures to encourage manufacturing, including incentives for production, improvements in ease of doing business, and investments in infrastructure. These steps are aimed at attracting both domestic and foreign investment and building a stronger industrial ecosystem.

Efforts to improve logistics, reduce costs, and simplify regulations are also helping businesses expand more easily.

The Road Ahead

As India continues to grow, the focus is gradually shifting toward building a more balanced economy that combines strong consumption with robust industrial output. Scaling up manufacturing will be essential to creating jobs, boosting exports, and maintaining high growth rates.

With continued policy support and investment, India is well positioned to strengthen its manufacturing sector and achieve its goal of becoming one of the world’s largest economies.

New Delhi, March 18: The Union Cabinet has approved a new scheme aimed at promoting small hydro power projects across the country, with a total financial outlay of Rs 2,584.60 crore. The initiative is expected to strengthen India’s renewable energy capacity while supporting sustainable and decentralized power generation.

The scheme focuses on the development, modernization, and revival of small hydro projects, which are typically defined as plants with a capacity of up to 25 MW. These projects are considered environmentally friendly and play a crucial role in providing reliable electricity, especially in remote and hilly regions.

According to official sources, the programme will support both new and existing projects. It includes provisions for upgrading old plants to improve efficiency, as well as incentives to encourage fresh investments in the sector. By addressing issues such as ageing infrastructure and financial viability, the scheme aims to unlock the untapped potential of small hydro energy in India.

Small hydro projects are particularly significant for states with abundant water resources, including those in the Himalayan and northeastern regions. These projects not only contribute to clean energy generation but also help in local employment and regional development.

The government’s decision comes at a time when India is accelerating its push toward renewable energy to meet its climate goals and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. By promoting small hydro alongside solar and wind energy, the country is adopting a more diversified approach to clean power generation.

Industry experts believe that the scheme could revive investor interest in the sector, which has faced challenges in recent years due to high initial costs and regulatory hurdles. With financial support and policy backing, small hydro projects are expected to play a more prominent role in India’s renewable energy mix.

The initiative also aligns with the broader objective of ensuring energy access in underserved areas while maintaining environmental sustainability. As implementation begins, the scheme is likely to contribute to both green energy expansion and rural development, reinforcing India’s long-term energy strategy.

Hyderabad, Mar 18: Apis India Limited’s MISK has launched its newest innovation – Masala Dates in Hyderabad. It’s a savoury spin on a traditional superfood-on-the-go that brings three punchy Indian masala profiles – Achari, Imli (tamarind) and Chilli-Lime to deseeded, sliced dates. 

Traditionally consumed in their whole form, dates often require preparation such as deseeding or cutting before consumption. Recognising this friction and the growing consumer interest in flavour experimentation, Apis India has introduced Masala Dates as a value-added, sweet-savoury innovation in the category. The range is designed for immediate consumption and flavour exploration, offering an alternative to sugary and fried snacks. 

Unlike conventional date products that largely remain in their natural sweet format, Masala Dates is an innovation that introduces a differentiated flavour dimension. It combines the natural sweetness of dates with bold Indian spice blends to create a snack that stands apart from typical offerings in the segment.

Masala Dates pairs the natural energy and nutritional profile of dates with bold spice blends created for snacking, topping and quick recipe uses. The product is seedless, pre-sliced and ready to eat, making it easy to add to breakfast bowls, chaat, salads, or to enjoy straight from the pack as an on-the-go savoury bite.

The launch expands the company’s clean-nutrition and value-added portfolio and is aimed at  consumers who are curious about flavour, time-pressed, or looking for healthier substitutes to conventional snacks. The de-seeded format is intended to reduce handling time and broaden usage occasions across households and on the move.

Commenting on the launch, Mr Amit Anand, Managing Director, Apis India, said:

“We are excited to present this latest innovation to consumers. We developed Masala Dates to address everyday convenience and healthy choices without moving away from familiar Indian flavour profiles. The range is intended for consumers who want ready-to-use options that fit into modern routines while offering distinct taste choices.”

Masala Dates will be rolled out PAN India through retail shops, leading modern trade stores and major e-commerce platforms in coming weeks.

Mumbai, Mar 18: Rubix Data Sciences has released its latest report, “State of the States; Assessing State-level Performance: Driving India’s Economic Transition,” revealing that 10 states account for nearly 70% of India’s total economic output, underscoring the concentration of growth across key regions.

The decadal analysis, covering FY15 to FY25, evaluates state performance across multiple indicators including GDP contribution, per capita income, capital expenditure, exports, credit flows, social sector spending, and tourism.

South Emerges as Leading Growth Engine

According to the report, India’s southern region leads national GDP contribution with a 31% share in FY25, marginally ahead of the northern region at 30%. Key southern states—Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh—collectively increased their share of national GDP from 25% in FY15 to 27% in FY25.

These states also recorded strong growth:

• Karnataka: 7.8% average real growth

• Telangana: 7.1%

• Andhra Pradesh: 6.9%

• Tamil Nadu: 6.8%

Maharashtra Remains Top Contributor; Gujarat Leads Growth

While Maharashtra continues as India’s largest contributor to GDP, its share moderated from 15% in FY15 to 13% in FY25. Meanwhile, Gujarat emerged as one of the fastest-growing major economies, posting a 7.9% average growth rate.

Investment and Credit Remain Concentrated

The report highlights that capital expenditure remains concentrated:

• Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat together account for nearly 30% of India’s capex

• The top 10 states contribute ~67% of total capex

Industrial credit is similarly concentrated, with the West and North accounting for 34% each, capturing two-thirds of total industrial credit.

Exports Driven by West and South

India’s goods exports remain dominated by a few states:

• Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu together contribute ~61% of total exports

• The West holds ~48% share, while the South has increased from ~26% to ~33%, reflecting growing manufacturing strength

Per Capita Prosperity Led by Southern States

Southern states also lead in per capita income:

• Telangana: ₹3.88 lakh

• Karnataka: ₹3.81 lakh

• Tamil Nadu: ₹3.62 lakh

These figures surpass larger states like Maharashtra and Haryana, indicating that growth in the South is translating into higher individual prosperity.

Shifting Investment Trends

India’s investment landscape is gradually evolving:

• Fixed capital remains concentrated in the West (33%)

• However, new investments are diversifying toward Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh

Karnataka and Telangana have demonstrated high capital efficiency, with capital-to-invested ratios exceeding 100%.

Northeast Leads in Social Sector Spending

The Northeast region recorded the highest social sector spending as a share of GDP, rising to ~16.4% in FY25. States like Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh led with significant allocations toward education, healthcare, and welfare.

Tourism Growth Highlights Regional Trends

India recorded:

• 20.9 million foreign tourist arrivals

• 2.9 billion domestic visits in 2024

The North led tourism, with Uttar Pradesh emerging as the top domestic destination (22% share), driven by events like the Ram Temple inauguration and the Maha Kumbh Mela.

BIMARU States Show Strong Transformation

Traditionally lagging states—Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh—have demonstrated notable progress:

• GSDP nearly tripled in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh

• Per capita income rose ~2.5 times across all four states

These states are increasingly becoming significant contributors to India’s economic landscape.

Leadership Perspective

Commenting on the findings, Mohan Ramaswamy said:
“India’s growth story is fundamentally a state-level story. While growth is broadening beyond traditional anchors, concentration risks remain. The ability of emerging states to convert investment momentum into sustainable industrial capacity will define the next phase of India’s growth.”

Conclusion: Need for Balanced Growth

The report emphasizes that while leading states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana continue to anchor India’s economy, long-term resilience will depend on broader regional participation.

A more balanced distribution of investment, credit, and industrial growth will be crucial in shaping India’s next phase of economic development.