Exercise is known to support brain health, but the biological link between fitness and brain function is still being clarified. A new study tested whether improving cardiorespiratory fitness changes the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF, a protein involved in brain signaling) response to hard exercise and alters brain activity during cognitive tasks. In this randomized study, 49 sedentary adults aged 18 to 55 were enrolled, but the final analyses included only 20 to 23 participants due to dropouts and missing data. They were assigned to either a 12-week cycling program or to a control g... bdnf cognition exercise
Read moreHow muscles respond to exercise largely depends on intensity, and researchers are testing whether targeted nutrients can influence that process. A new study examined whether an olive leaf extract rich in the polyphenol oleuropein could alter muscle responses to moderate cycling or sprint interval exercise. The crossover trial included 22 healthy, physically active young men who were not following a structured training program. Participants were assigned to either moderate-intensity continuous exercise (1 hour of cycling at 50% maximal aerobic power) or sprint interval exercise (six 30-second ... exercise mitochondria muscle polyphenol supplements
Read moreLife expectancy gains have slowed in recent years, and diet remains a major, modifiable driver of chronic disease risk. Researchers used a large cohort from the United Kingdom (UK) to test whether people who more closely follow evidence-based "healthy diet" patterns live longer, and whether inherited differences related to longevity alter those links. In 103,649 UK Biobank adults, the researchers analyzed reported food intake from repeated 24-hour recalls, calculated diet-quality scores for each participant based on how closely their diet aligned with five established healthy eating patterns,... diet mortality
Read morePrediabetes affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, and growing evidence suggests that its different subtypes do not respond uniformly to the same interventions. In a new study, researchers focused on impaired glucose tolerance, a common form of prediabetes marked by high blood sugar after meals, and tested whether a supplement rich in anthocyanins (polyphenols found in berries and other deeply colored fruits) could help the body handle sugar more effectively. A total of 68 Chinese adults aged 30 to 60 with isolated impaired glucose tolerance took part in this randomized, double-bli... diabetes metabolism polyphenol
Read moreAge-related decline in muscle strength and function is accompanied by changes in how genes are controlled (epigenetic changes), yet it is unclear whether starting exercise late in life can meaningfully shift this trajectory. In a controlled mouse study, researchers tested whether a demanding training program could make old skeletal muscle look epigenetically younger. The experiment included young and aged mice. Older animals either remained sedentary or completed eight weeks of voluntary progressive weighted-wheel running, a protocol that combines endurance and resistance-like loading. Resear... epigenetics exercise muscle
Read moreDr. Andrew Huberman discusses the role of dopamine in driving motivation and offers practical tools for enhancing mood and focus. ... brain exercise diet performance alcohol adhd cold stress dopamine supplements
Watch nowKetogenic diet and beta-hydroxybutyrate improve gene transcription and reduce intellectual disability in Kabuki syndrome. Kabuki syndrome is a debilitating inherited disorder caused by mutations in two genes involved in the regulation of chromatin remodeling, one of the first steps in DNA transcription. Ketones such as beta-hydroxybutyrate have been shown to enhance DNA transcription and gene expression. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25127866/) Findings from one group of researchers show that a ketogenic diet can alleviate some of the neurological deficits of Kabuki syndrome and improve me... brain epigenetics ketosis intelligence hdac inhibitor ketogenic diet
Read moreGlobal climate change is driving an increase in wildfire activity characterized by larger fires and longer fire seasons. Wildfire smoke, which can spread over immense geographical areas, often contains a variety of pollutants and exerts a wide range of adverse effects on human health. Evidence from a new rodent study suggests that particulate matter in wildfires drives neuroinflammation, increasing the risk for neurodegenerative diseases. Particulate matter in air pollution is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets. It is present in fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are ... pollution neurodegeneration
Read moreCurrent approved treatment protocols for COVID-19 involve provision of supportive care, such as supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation, and administration of remdesivir, an antiviral drug. Results of a recent phase 3 clinical trial demonstrate that REGEN-COV, a combination of the monoclonal antibodies casirivimab and imdevimab, improves outcomes in people who have COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies are proteins that mimic the body's natural antibodies. They are mass-produced in a laboratory setting and help the body combat harmful pathogens such as viruses. In late 2020, the Food and Drug... covid-19
Read moreNew podcast! I speak with Dr. Gordon Lithgow, professor of gerontology at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. Gordon uses the tiny nematode worm, C. elegans, to interrogate questions involving the aging process and lifespan extension. In this podcast, Gordon and I discuss... • The role that protein aggregation plays in the aging process and neurodegenerative diseases, how heat stress activates genetic pathways, including heat shock proteins, in worms and humans that lower protein aggregation and extend lifespan in worms. • How too much iron can lead to protein aggregation and how vitami...
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