In small doses, stress can sharpen focus and improve resilience, but chronic stress gradually erodes emotional stability, increasing the risk of major depressive disorder. A recent study found that autophagy—the brain's recycling and housekeeping system—helps maintain emotional stability by removing old or damaged proteins. Researchers explored how short-term and long-term stress influenced autophagy in mice and investigated whether antidepressant drugs could restore this process. Employing genetic techniques, the researchers selectively inhibited or enhanced autophagy in a region of the brain... brain depression stress autophagy
Read moreThe brain doesn't just rest during sleep—it actively clears out waste that can damage brain cells. This crucial process, known as glymphatic clearance, relies on the movement of cerebrospinal fluid to wash away harmful proteins linked to neurodegenerative diseases. A recent study found that synchronized fluctuations in norepinephrine, blood volume, and cerebrospinal fluid are key drivers of glymphatic clearance during deep sleep, but some popular sleeping pills disrupt this process. The researchers tracked blood and cerebrospinal fluid dynamics while mice slept naturally. Then, they examined h... brain sleep norepinephrine neurodegeneration
Read moreIn this episode, we’re taking a deep dive into alcohol. We’ll explore the science, misconceptions, controversies, and health effects of this widely used drug. ... alcohol exercise brain alzheimer's cancer aging microbiome sleep heart disease
Watch nowAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurobehavioral condition observed in children and adults. A recent study in mice suggests that a ketogenic diet reduces symptoms of ADHD via alterations in the gut microbiota. Researchers conducted experiments using two groups of rats: one with ADHD-like symptoms and another without. They further divided each group into three subgroups: those fed a standard diet, those treated with methylphenidate (an ADHD drug commonly sold as Ritalin, Concerta, or others), and those fed a ketogenic diet. They found that both the methylphenidate an... microbiome adhd neurotransmitter ketogenic diet
Read moreGlucosamine plays important roles in brain function. Glucosamine is a type of sugar found in the muscles, cartilage, and other soft tissues of the body. It is commonly marketed as a dietary supplement used for joint pain and stiffness. Evidence from a 2021 study suggests that glucosamine is prevalent in brain glycogen, where it plays important roles in glycosylation. Glycogen is a multi-branched polysaccharide that serves as the stored form of glucose in the human body. Most of the body's glycogen stores are found in the muscles and liver, but some glycogen is found in the brain, primarily in... brain metabolism
Read moreImpaired transport of DHA disrupts the blood-brain barrier. Lipid rafts – cholesterol-filled “bubbles” found in the cell membrane – serve as staging areas for many cellular activities. One type of lipid raft, called caveolae, facilitates the transport of substances across the membrane of endothelial cells. Findings from a 2017 study demonstrate that suppression of caveolae-mediated transport in brain endothelial cells protects the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier is a highly selective semi-permeable barrier made up of endothelial cells connected via tight junctio... brain cancer aging omega-3 blood-brain barrier
Read moreKetogenic 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 moreSince the 1980’s, clinicians and researchers have been puzzled by the “French paradox”: the observation that residents of France have a surprisingly low incidence (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1768013/) of cardiovascular disease given their high rates of smoking, intakes of saturated fat, and hypercholesterolemia (https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2020/12110/prevalence_and_management_of_hypercholesterolemia.57.aspx) (i.e. abnormally high serum levels of harmful low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol). A recent study now offers evidence that the negative health imp... brain cholesterol inflammation alcohol
Read moreA common type of fungus, Candida albicans, was shown to cross the blood-brain barrier and trigger an inflammatory response in the brain that results in memory impairment (mouse study). These findings raise the possibility that fungal infections may play a role in the development of chronic neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Dale Bredesen talks about this is the recent podcast episode I did with him. Check that out here: https://www.foundmyfitness.com/episodes/dale-bredesen From the article: > "We thought that yeast would not enter the brain, but it does," Corry sa... brain alzheimer's parkinson's aging microbiome blood-brain barrier
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