The effects of lost sleep on memory may depend partly on how well brain cells control inflammation and maintain their energy supply. Researchers tested whether urolithin A, a compound made by gut microbes from food components, could protect memory in mice when given before sleep deprivation. Researchers randomly assigned 3-month-old and 12-month-old mice to saline control injections or urolithin A injections at 2.5 or 10 mg per kilogram of body weight for seven days before 24 hours of sleep deprivation. An intermittently moving treadmill kept the animals awake, while rested groups receiving th... inflammation mitochondria sleep urolithin a
Read moreFor decades, nutrition debates have often centered on whether people should cut carbohydrates or cut fat. A new study examined how low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets were associated with heart disease risk when the quality and sources of the foods people ate were taken into account. The researchers analyzed data from 198,473 men and women in three long-running health studies in the United States. Participants were free of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer at the start, and completed detailed diet questionnaires about every four years over periods spanning more than 30 years. Rather... cardiovascular diet heart disease carbohydrates fat
Read moreAging often brings about a decline in memory and cognitive skills, making maintaining brain health more challenging. But exercise is a powerful tool that can support brain function and help delay age-related memory loss. A recent study found that older soccer players experienced a 42% increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)—a protein that supports brain growth and memory—after aerobic exercise, suggesting that staying active into old age offers meaningful brain benefits. The study involved 29 male soccer players divided into two groups: young adults aged 19 to 30, and older adults... aerobic aging bdnf exercise memory
Read moreScientists have speculated that regular heat exposure, such as that experienced in a sauna, might help aging muscles adapt in ways that preserve strength and mass. A recent study found that older adults who engaged in infrared sauna sessions regularly experienced a 33% increase in the number of small blood vessels surrounding their muscle fibers. Researchers asked 14 healthy older adults (65 to 85 years old) to sit in an infrared sauna (60°C, 140°F) for 45 minutes, three times weekly, for eight weeks. They collected muscle biopsies before and after the heat exposure to measure capillarization—... aging heat stress muscle sauna protein
Read moreDr. Rhonda Patrick explains how HIIT, circadian-timed eating, and quality sleep improve metabolic health and reduce chronic disease risk. ... metabolism exercise sleep time-restricted eating
Watch nowStroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, claiming the lives of roughly 5 million people and leaving another 5 million permanently disabled every year. A 2013 study demonstrated that sulforaphane protects the brain during ischemic stroke via hormetic preconditioning. Ischemic stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is reduced or interrupted, starving neurons of oxygen and nutrients. Neuronal death occurs in the immediate area of a stroke within the first few hours of the incident, but nearby cells can be rescued with appropriate therapies. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-... brain sulforaphane stroke nrf2
Read moreSeasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that is influenced by seasonal changes in weather and daylight. It commonly occurs in the dark, cool days of winter but can occur during other times of the year, as well. Approximately 10 percent of people worldwide experience SAD. A new study suggests that seasonal variation in the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway regulates winter depression-like behavior in fish. Nrf2 (short for nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) is a cellular protein that regulates the expression of antioxidant and stress response proteins. Nrf2 functions within a... depression sulforaphane nrf2 traditional medicine
Read moreDr. Valter Longo discusses fasting as a means to treat or prevent age-related diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and others. ... fasting cancer obesity aging heart disease diabetes insulin resistance inflammation stem cells immune system tissue repair autophagy apoptosis insulin autoimmunity
Watch nowDr. Ruth Patterson discusses the role of fasting in the prevention and survivorship of breast cancer. ... fasting metabolism breast cancer insulin resistance podcast inflammation video insulin time-restricted eating
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