Getting enough sleep is a central part of sleep advice, but the day-to-day consistency of sleep and wake times may also matter for long-term health. To test that idea, a study examined whether sleep regularity is linked to the risk of premature death. The study analyzed data from more than 60,000 UK Biobank participants who were about 63 years old on average and wore an activity tracker for one week. Using those records, researchers calculated a sleep regularity score, estimating how often participants were asleep or awake at similar times from one day to the next, and compared it with averag... cancer cardiovascular metabolism mortality sleep
Read moreWhat if deafness could be treated with a single injection instead of a lifelong device? A new clinical trial tested whether gene therapy could improve hearing in people born with mutations in a key hearing gene. The study included 10 participants aged 1.5 to 23.9 with a condition called OTOF-related hearing loss. The OTOF gene provides instructions for making otoferlin, a protein that allows inner ear cells to send signals to the auditory nerve. When otoferlin is missing or not working properly, sound can still be detected by the ear, but the signal is not properly transmitted to the brain. To... genetic engineering hearing
Read moreGene therapy treats transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia. Gene therapy is a technique that modifies a person’s genes to prevent, treat, or cure a disease. Gene therapies work by a variety of mechanisms (https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/cellular-gene-therapy-products/what-gene-therapy), including replacing a disease-causing gene with a healthy version of the gene, inactivating a disease-causing gene, or introducing a new or modified gene or genes into the body. Findings from a phase 3 clinical trial suggest that beti-cel gene therapy successfully treats transfusion-dependent beta... genetic engineering genome
Read morePrebiotic supplements can compensate for low fiber intake. Dietary fiber refers to the indigestible components of plant-based foods. A growing body of evidence indicates that eating a fiber-rich diet decreases the risks of many chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension (https://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f6879.full), diabetes (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10654-013-9876-x), and some types of cancer, including breast cancer (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0923753419387320) and colon cancer (https://www.bmj.com/content/343/bmj.d6... gut microbiome fiber supplements
Read moreImmune function declines with age, putting older adults at increased risk of infections such as pneumonia. Zinc is an essential nutrient that has been shown to regulate the function of white blood cells and increase immunity (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9227444/). Findings of a study in older adults demonstrate a link between low serum zinc and an increased incidence of pneumonia and antibiotic use. T cells are white blood cells that mature in the thymus, a gland located in the chest that decreases in size and function after adolescence. Zinc deficiency has been shown to accelerate thymic ... immune system zinc
Read moreA healthy gut microbiota is important for cognitive function at any age, but especially during development. Poor dietary quality in early life (i.e., consuming excess sugar) negatively impacts the composition of the gut microbiota and impairs cognitive functioning; however, the mechanisms that drive these changes are unclear. Authors of a new report detail the functional relationship between detrimental gut microbes and hippocampal memory in rats exposed to excess sugar during adolescence. Germ-free mice, which are born and raised in a sterile environment, demonstrate impaired brain developmen... brain diet microbiome memory development
Read moreColitis is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by inflammation of the colon, accompanied by diarrhea and weight loss. It is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors and is more common among people who adhere to a Western dietary pattern high in simple sugars. New research demonstrates how consumption of simple sugars may alter the composition of the gut microbiota in a way that promotes inflammation and disease. Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) is a bacterial species commonly found in the human gut. It degrades mucin, a type of gelatinous protein produced by... gut
Read moreInsulin resistance and poor blood glucose control – defining characteristics of type 2 diabetes – drive changes associated with brain aging and cognitive decline. A growing body of evidence suggests that dementia is the manifestation of insulin resistance and altered metabolism in the brain (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/193229680800200619). A recent study suggests that dietary patterns that promote ketosis improve brain metabolism and function. Ketosis is a metabolic state that results in the body’s production and use of ketones (byproducts of fatty acid metabolism). It occurs... brain aging ketosis insulin time-restricted eating carbohydrates ketogenic diet
Read moreDepression is the most common mental health disorder worldwide. Data indicate that more than 11 percent of adolescents (https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/138/6/e20161878.short) living in the United States may have depression. Findings from a recent study suggest that low physical activity and high sedentary behavior may be risk factors for depression in adolescents. Symptoms of depression often first occur during adolescence, so identifying ways to prevent the condition is important. Physical activity reduces inflammation (a driver of depression) and promotes a wide range of neur... depression exercise
Read more[toc position='left'] Nutrition in the first year of life is crucial to an infant's development and lifelong health. Early nutritional deficits are intrinsically linked to impaired mental and physical growth. Consequently, the risk of developing metabolic and cardiovascular diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension in childhood and later life is likely determined by early feeding and nutritional status. Breastfeeding is the biologically superior way to feed an infant. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant's life ... cancer breast cancer circadian rhythm nutrition brain microbiome heart disease diabetes inflammation alcohol stem cells immune system development intelligence
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