Early-life nutrition influences lifelong health, and excessive calorie intake in infancy can set the stage for obesity, insulin resistance, and chronic inflammation. However, okra, a vegetable rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, may help counteract these harmful effects. A recent study found that rats overfed during infancy became obese and glucose intolerant, but those fed an okra-enriched diet avoided these issues entirely. Researchers raised a group of rat pups in small litters, where each pup had greater access to milk, and another group in normal-sized litters. After wean... diet inflammation insulin resistance nutrition obesity
Read moreSmoking has numerous harmful effects on health, including increased risks of lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Evidence indicates smoking also contributes to cognitive decline, affecting memory and fluency. A recent study found that smoking accelerates cognitive decline by as much as 17% over time. Researchers examined data from more than 32,000 cognitively healthy adults aged 50 to 104 from 14 European countries. They grouped participants according to whether they smoked, engaged in regular exercise, were socially active, and drank moderately—defined as less than or equal to two alcohol... exercise alzheimer's alcohol dementia
Read moreExposure to environmental toxins can harm brain health, especially in teens and children, who are fundamentally more vulnerable than adults to toxic exposures. Herbicides to control weeds and insect repellents to control vector-borne diseases are prevalent worldwide, but scientists don't fully understand their effects on brain health. A new study shows that exposure to common herbicides impairs teen neurobehavioral performance. Researchers measured urinary concentrations of common herbicides (glyphosate and 2,4-D) and an insect repellent (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, commonly known as DEET) in ... parkinson's development pollution
Read moreA diminished or lost sense of smell is a common feature of the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. But a new study in mice that carry the APOE4 gene variant, the primary genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, shows that DHA – a type of omega-3 fatty acid found in fish – protects against these losses. APOE4-carrying mice that ate a DHA-rich diet retained their sense of smell and the ability to distinguish between objects based on their scent. Researchers fed normal mice and APOE4 carriers a regular diet or one supplemented with DHA. Then, using MRI scans, the... brain alzheimer's aging omega-3 memory genetics
Read moreBreathwork has profound effects on the human brain. A new study shows that breathing through the right nostril versus the left differentially influences brain activity. Whereas right-nostril breathing promoted brain activity in areas related to language and sense of direction, left-nostril breathing promoted activity in areas related to introspection. Scientists monitored the brain activity of 30 healthy adults practicing unilateral nostril breathing (UNB). Participants breathed through a CPAP-like device (like those used by people with sleep apnea) that delivered pressurized air through one... brain breathing technique
Read moreCellular damage incurred by oxidative stress underlies the pathophysiology of many chronic health disorders, including neuropsychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia. Glutathione, an antioxidant compound produced by the body’s cells, helps prevent damage from oxidative stress. Evidence from a 2018 study suggests that sulforaphane increases glutathione in the brain. Scientists typically rely on magnetic resonance spectrometry (MRS) for measuring glutathione levels in brain tissue. Evidence suggests MRS is inadequate, however, and often yields inconsistent results across studies. These incon... brain sulforaphane glutathione nrf2 moringa
Read moreElderly adults, especially those living in nursing homes, often have impaired immune function, which increases their susceptibility to respiratory infections and subsequent pneumonia (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19088525). A 2007 study found that higher zinc status among elderly nursing home patients was associated with reduced incidence and duration of pneumonia. Zinc is an essential mineral that plays critical roles in modulating the body's immune response. It influences T-cell activity, cytokine production, and phagocytosis. Zinc deficiency is associated with poor immune function (... zinc aging immune system antibiotics supplements
Read moreCognitive decline is a common feature of aging, affecting more than 16 million people (https://www.cdc.gov/aging/pdf/cognitive_impairment/cogimp_poilicy_final.pdf) living in the United States. Findings from a new study in mice suggest that reducing inflammation in the brain may slow or reverse cognitive decline. Chronic inflammation is a key element of the aging process and drives many age-related diseases and conditions. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is critical to healthy brain function, but chronic, systemic inflammation may cause changes in the BBB, allowing toxic blood-borne molecules to ... aging protein
Read moreStem cells derived from placenta were able to regenerate healthy heart cells after heart attacks in animals. The placental stem cells traveled to the site of the injury in the heart and formed beating heart cells that helped repair damage. To learn more about stem cells derived from placenta, check out the podcast I did a few years ago with Dr. Frans Kuyper who discovered how the human placenta is a rich source of pluripotent stem cells and yet the placenta is thrown away after delivery. We discuss how his lab has shown that the stem cells from the placenta can be transformed into neuron-like ... heart disease stem cells pregnancy neurons
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