Depression research often focuses on neurotransmitters, but the brain also depends on a steady supply of energy to function properly. A new study tested whether problems in how creatine moves from the gut to the brain play a role in depression, and whether certain gut bacteria can help restore this process. To examine this, researchers combined human data with experiments in mice and cell models. They compared adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) to healthy controls, and mice that developed depression-like behaviors during chronic stress to unstressed control mice, using metabolite pro... creatine depression microbiome probiotics
Read morePhotodynamic therapy is a widely used treatment for actinic keratoses—rough, scaly patches on the skin that may develop into cancer if not treated. Typically, complete skin healing after photodynamic therapy takes between five and ten days, but a recent study found that healing rates differ markedly between vegans and omnivores. The study involved 60 patients (30 omnivores and 30 vegans) who were treated with photodynamic therapy for actinic keratosis. Researchers compared side effects using a local skin response score at three intervals: three days, seven days, and 30 days post-treatment. Th... nutrition cancer diet vegetarian protein red light therapy
Read moreMitochondrial function declines with aging, driving many age-related conditions, including Alzheimer's disease. A recent study in mice found that urolithin A, a compound derived from pomegranates and walnuts, promotes mitophagy – the targeted destruction of damaged mitochondria – in the brain. Researchers fed older mice urolithin A (200 milligrams per kilogram of body weight) daily for five months. They subjected the animals to various learning and memory tests, assessed their sense of smell, and examined their brains. They found that urolithin A markedly improved the animals' learning, memo... brain alzheimer's diet aging memory mitochondria polyphenol
Read moreIron is an essential mineral, best known for its critical role in cellular oxygen transport. However, having too much iron in the brain drives cognitive deficits. A 2022 study found that alcohol consumption promotes iron deposition in the brain, compromising cognitive function, even among moderate drinkers. The investigation involved nearly 21,000 adults enrolled in the UK Biobank study. Participants provided information about their alcohol intake and completed a battery of cognitive tests. Researchers performed magnetic resonance imaging scans to assess iron levels in the participants' brain... brain alcohol dementia iron
Read moreMitochondrial function and whole-body maximal oxygen uptake – a surrogate measure of metabolic function and health – are closely linked. Exercise boosts mitochondrial function, but some evidence suggests there is an upper limit to exercise's benefits. A new study demonstrates that the benefits of exercise on mitochondrial function peak, after which the benefits plateau or even drop. The study involved 11 healthy adults enrolled in a four-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program. The exercise load and duration gradually increased over the first three weeks of training (scaling up ... exercise metabolism mitochondria
Read moreAlcohol has profound, adverse effects on the human body, compromising liver function and cognitive performance and increasing the risk for various cancers. A recent study demonstrates that alcohol impairs mitochondrial function and cellular metabolism and increases inflammation in heart cells. Researchers grew human-induced pluripotent stem cells into three-dimensional heart cell structures called cardiac spheroids and exposed them to clinically relevant amounts of ethanol (the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages) for five weeks. They then examined various aspects of the heart cells,... heart disease alcohol mitochondria cardiovascular
Read moreTaurine is an amino acid that participates in immune health and neurological function. Findings from a recent study suggest that taurine influences longevity. Mice that received supplemental taurine lived as much as 12 percent longer than those that didn't. Researchers conducted a multi-part experiment in several species. First, they measured blood taurine concentrations in mice, monkeys, and humans at different ages and found that taurine decreased in all three species over time. Notably, taurine concentrations were 80 percent lower in older adult humans than in young children. Then they gav... aging inflammation dna damage mitochondria taurine
Read moreAlzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive memory loss, spatial disorientation, cognitive dysfunction, and behavioral changes. It is the most common form of dementia, affecting nearly 50 million people worldwide. One of the primary pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease is the progressive accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques in the brain. A new study in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease demonstrates that low-dose lithium may halt the progression of the disease by decreasing amyloid-beta plaque accumulation. Lithium is a drug commonly used to tre... alzheimer's depression salt
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