AI-designed drugs could open a new path toward treatments that slow or reverse aspects of human aging. Researchers investigated whether rentosertib, developed to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (a lung-scarring disease), could also affect age-related biological changes. Researchers analyzed blood samples from 42 adults with an average age of 67 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who completed a randomized, double-blind trial. Participants received rentosertib at 30 mg once daily, 30 mg twice daily, or 60 mg once daily, or placebo, for 12 weeks alongside usual treatment. Six "aging clocks" c... aging drug
Read moreCalorie restriction does more than reduce body fat; it also changes how cells maintain and repair themselves. Researchers investigated whether semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist widely used for weight loss, could reproduce some of those effects when given late in life. The experiments began in female mice at 20 months of age. One randomized comparison followed 40 mice receiving daily semaglutide and 39 receiving inactive saline injections until their death. Separate mice underwent three months of treatment before tests of memory, physical abilities and glucose control, alongside cellular s... cognition diabetes exercise GLP-1 inflammation neurodegeneration neurogenesis neurons weight loss
Read moreHair loss affects self-image and mental well-being, yet evidence on whether diet can prevent or improve it has been inconsistent. To clarify the picture, researchers systematically reviewed human studies examining how individual foods, nutrients, and supplements influence hair health. They analyzed 17 studies involving over 61,000 participants, mostly women, spanning childhood to older age. Only studies on specific foods or nutrients were included, not whole-diet patterns. The studies examined a range of hair-related conditions, including alopecia areata (a patchy, autoimmune form of hair loss... diet micronutrients protein supplements vitamin d Hair
Read moreIn small doses, stress can sharpen focus and improve resilience, but chronic stress gradually erodes emotional stability, increasing the risk of major depressive disorder. A recent study found that autophagy—the brain's recycling and housekeeping system—helps maintain emotional stability by removing old or damaged proteins. Researchers explored how short-term and long-term stress influenced autophagy in mice and investigated whether antidepressant drugs could restore this process. Employing genetic techniques, the researchers selectively inhibited or enhanced autophagy in a region of the brain... brain depression stress autophagy
Read moreAccording to some estimates, Alzheimer's disease will affect nearly 14 million Americans by 2060, with women comprising two-thirds of those cases. Research indicates that this disparity arises from the buildup of tau, a protein linked to cognitive decline, which occurs earlier and progresses more rapidly in women. A recent study found that menopausal hormone therapy accelerates tau accumulation in older women, potentially contributing to this heightened risk. The study involved 146 cognitively healthy women between the ages of 51 and 89. Researchers used brain scans to measure the accumulati... brain alzheimer's hormones dementia
Read moreCognitive function typically declines with aging, but evidence suggests physical activity can help mitigate some of these declines. A recent study in mice found that exercise improves memory and spatial learning by inhibiting neuroinflammation, primarily via the actions of irisin, a myokine, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a growth factor and signaling protein. Researchers conducted a two-part study to investigate the effects of regular, low-intensity exercise on cognitive function in mouse models of inflammation-driven memory impairment and microglia (brain immune cell) degener... exercise brain inflammation memory dementia nrf2
Read moreOmega-3 fatty acids are essential for human health. They participate in pathways involved in the biosynthesis of hormones that regulate blood clotting, contraction and relaxation of artery walls, and inflammation. They have been shown to help prevent heart disease and stroke; may help control lupus, eczema, and rheumatoid arthritis; and may play protective roles in cancer and other conditions. Findings from a new study suggest that omega-3 fatty acids slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive memory loss and... nutrition alzheimer's omega-3 neurodegeneration
Read moreDr. Satchidananda Panda discusses circadian rhythms, the day-night cycles that drive the multifaceted activities of the human body. ... circadian rhythm exercise brain diet sleep behavior melatonin blood sugar
Watch nowFrom the article: > Scientists have found that six weeks of intense exercise -- short bouts of interval training over the course of 20 minutes -- showed significant improvements in what is known as high-interference memory, which, for example, allows us to distinguish our car from another of the same make and model. [...] > They also found that participants who experienced greater fitness gains also experienced greater increases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that supports the growth, function and survival of brain cells. > "Improvements in this type of memory ... brain performance memory aerobic bdnf
Read moreFrom the article: > Korley and collaborators around the country wanted to know if a blood test could better predict which patients would have ongoing brain injury-related problems, to provide better treatment for them. So they measured the levels of three proteins that they suspected play a role in brain cell activity in more than 300 patients with a TBI and 150 patients without brain injuries. Then, they followed those with a TBI for the next six months. > Levels of one protein, called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), taken within 24 hours of someone's head injury, could predic... brain bdnf
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