Stem cell-based therapies show promise as treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's. However, transplanting stem cells into the brain carries considerable risks. A recent study found that a nasal spray that delivered neural stem cell extracellular vesicles—tiny particles that carry proteins and genetic material—reduced inflammation and improved brain function in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, offering a safer, less risky approach. Researchers used neural stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles created from induced pluripotent stem cells (https://stemcell.ucla.ed... brain alzheimer's inflammation stem cells memory
Read moreThe connection between physical exercise and enhanced cognitive function is well-established. However, the extent of benefit varies markedly depending on the intensity of the physical activity. A recent study found that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) boosted reaction time and cognitive flexibility better than moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE). The study involved 28 elite male boxers in their mid-twenties. The participants underwent cognitive performance tests and provided blood samples in five scenarios: after an hour of rest, immediately after HIIT, one hour after HIIT, ... exercise brain dementia bdnf
Read moreFrom the article: > It was known that the protein PGC-1a1 (pronounced PGC-1alpha1) increases in skeletal muscle with exercise, and mediates the beneficial muscle conditioning in connection with physical activity. In this study researchers used a genetically modified mouse with high levels of PGC-1a1 in skeletal muscle that shows many characteristics of well-trained muscles (even without exercising). > These mice, and normal control mice, were exposed to a stressful environment, such as loud noises, flashing lights and reversed circadian rhythm at irregular intervals. After five weeks of ... exercise brain depression mitochondria
Read moreAge-related changes in the brain drive cognitive impairment, which in turn alters memory formation and promotes mitochondrial dysfunction. A recent study demonstrates that spermidine improves cognitive function in humans. Spermidine is a dietary compound found in a number of foods, including wheat germ, cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms, amaranth, a variety of cheeses (especially aged cheeses), and soybean products, such as natto. First identified in semen, spermidine demonstrates anti-aging properties in animal studies, likely due to its capacity to induce autophagy – the process by which the... brain autophagy
Read moreThe gut-brain axis, a bidirectional signaling pathway between the gastrointestinal tract and the nervous system, plays key roles in human health. Key elements of this pathway are the tens of trillions of microbes that comprise the intestinal microbiota, the composition of which likely changes with age. A new study suggests that transplanting fecal microbiota from aged mice donors impairs cognitive function in younger mice recipients. Aging is the collective physiological, functional, and mental changes that accrue in a biological organism over time. It is the primary risk factor for many chro... microbiome
Read moreFrom the article: > Mice on these three diets were given a neurotoxin called kainate, which damages nerve cells in a brain region called the hippocampus that is critical for learning and memory. (In humans, nerve cells in the hippocampus are destroyed by Alzheimer's disease). Dr. Mattson's team found that nerve cells of the meal-skipping mice were more resistant to neurotoxin injury or death than nerve cells of the mice on either of the other diets. [...] > Previous studies by Dr. Mattson and his colleagues suggested that nerve cells in the brains of rodents on a meal-skipping diet are ... brain fasting bdnf
Read moreFrom the article: > "When we treated brain tissue from mice suffering from Alzheimer's disease with vitamin C, we could see that the toxic protein aggregates were dissolved. Our results show a previously unknown model for how vitamin C affects the amyloid plaques," says Katrin Mani, reader in Molecular Medicine at Lund University. Publication (http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M111.243345) ... brain alzheimer's aging vitamin c dementia
Read moreOlive oil, the principal fat consumed in the Mediterranean diet, is widely consumed for its flavor, versatility, and health-promoting attributes. A recent study demonstrates that the monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) in olive oil may extend lifespan by switching on the activity of key cellular proteins called sirtuins. Monounsaturated fats are dietary fats found in plant foods, such as nuts, avocados, and vegetable oils, especially olive oil, which contains approximately 75 percent of the MUFA known as oleic acid. The body stores MUFAs in lipid droplets – intracellular fat storage depots that facil... aging insulin monounsaturated fat protein
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