Dr. Rhonda Patrick examines how one cup of blueberries daily may support vascular function, cognitive aging, metabolic health, and the gut microbiome. ... nutrition exercise brain gut aging microbiome insulin resistance inflammation memory rhonda polyphenol cardiovascular
Watch nowFungi drive many chronic health conditions, including asthma, skin problems, gut disorders, and others. Recent research has highlighted potential links between the fungus Candida albicans and Alzheimer's disease. A recent study in mice found that C. albicans triggers a dual-pronged defense system involving both the brain and the immune system; however, when elements of this system fail, the fungi can impair the blood-brain barrier and drive amyloid plaque formation. Researchers injected mice with different strains of C. albicans and measured fungal levels in the animals' brains. They assessed ... brain alzheimer's blood-brain barrier
Read moreOmega-3 fatty acids may protect against COVID-19, a new study shows. People with higher levels of omega-3s in their red blood cells were less likely to contract COVID-19 or require hospitalization if infected. Researchers calculated the concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a type of omega-3 derived from fatty fish, in the blood of more than 110,000 people enrolled in the UK Biobank (https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk) study. They also calculated the participants' Omega-3 Index – a measure of total omega-3 fatty acid concentrations in red blood cells. They reviewed the participants' medical ... omega-3 inflammation immune system covid-19
Read moreCurrent vaccines against COVID-19 provide powerful protection against the disease. Some evidence suggests that when people who have been infected with the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) are vaccinated against the disease, they develop unusually robust immunity, a phenomenon known as "hybrid immunity (https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.abj2258)." However, a recent report describes findings that suggest many people infected with SARS-CoV-2 do not develop antibodies to the virus. The study involved 72 people who had tested positive for COVID-19 but w... covid-19
Read moreSulforaphane is a bioactive compound derived from certain cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and broccoli sprouts. It exerts potent anti-inflammatory properties and switches on the activity of a vast array of cellular protective proteins. A new study in mice demonstrates that sulforaphane inhibits activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in mice microglia cells via inhibition of the NF-kB pathway and altered gene expression. Inflammasomes are large, intracellular complexes that detect and respond to internal and external threats. Activation of inflammasomes has been implicated in a host of ... inflammation sulforaphane nrf2 nlrp3
Read moreSARS-CoV-2 is the virus responsible for COVID-19. As SARS-CoV-2 infection rates climb, scientists continue to search for drugs that could be repurposed for COVID-19 treatment. Authors of a new multiomics study report that melatonin use dramatically reduced the likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially for African Americans. Multiomics is an approach to data analysis that incorporates multiple levels of cellular biology, including the genome (DNA), transcriptome (RNA), and proteome (protein). The network of interactions between these multiple “omes” and a virus and its host is referred to ... melatonin covid-19
Read moreCellular damage incurred by oxidative stress underlies the pathophysiology of many chronic health disorders, including neuropsychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia. Glutathione, an antioxidant compound produced by the body’s cells, helps prevent damage from oxidative stress. Evidence from a 2018 study suggests that sulforaphane increases glutathione in the brain. Scientists typically rely on magnetic resonance spectrometry (MRS) for measuring glutathione levels in brain tissue. Evidence suggests MRS is inadequate, however, and often yields inconsistent results across studies. These incon... brain sulforaphane glutathione nrf2 moringa
Read moreDNA damage, a major contributor to aging, occurs from exposure to byproducts of cellular metabolism, environmental chemicals, and radiation from sunlight. If not repaired, DNA damage can be detrimental and is associated with diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. A new study suggests that higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids are associated with lower DNA damage in children and adolescents. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential because the body cannot make them, and they must be obtained from the diet. They include eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. EPA an... omega-3 dna damage
Read moreEarly life nutrition is critical to a child's development and eventual lifelong health. New research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids might have long-term neurodevelopmental effects in children that ultimately reduce antisocial and aggressive behavior problems. Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that are essential for human health. They influence cell membrane integrity, affect membrane-bound cellular receptor functions, and participate in pathways involved in the biosynthesis of hormones that regulate blood clotting, contraction and relaxation of artery walls, and inflammation. Ome... omega-3
Read moreSauna use promotes mild hyperthermia, which, in turn, induces a wide array of physiological responses. These responses reduce oxidative stress and inflammation and activate cellular defense systems that provide protection against many diseases. Data from a 2017 study suggest that sauna use reduces the risk of developing certain chronic or acute respiratory illnesses, including pneumonia. Pneumonia is an acute respiratory illness characterized by cough, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. It is a common complication of influenza and other viral infections (including the newly emerging cor... immune system sauna protein
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