In people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic experiences can resurface as vivid flashbacks and intense avoidance, often lasting months or even years. While therapy and medications can help, many people don't respond fully. A recent study in mice found that exercise enhances the brain's natural ability to forget, reducing trauma-related behaviors. Researchers used a mouse model of PTSD to test whether increasing neurogenesis—the process of forming new neurons—could weaken fear-based memories. They focused on the hippocampus, a brain region that links memories to specific plac... anxiety exercise
Read moreBreakfast is often touted as the most important meal of the day. But for teenagers, the composition of that breakfast may be more critical than previously thought. A recent study found that eating a high-protein breakfast increases gene expression associated with cardiovascular health, potentially protecting teens against heart disease later in life. The study included 30 teens who routinely skipped breakfast. For six months, 10 of the teens ate a normal-protein breakfast (10 grams of protein) daily, 10 ate a high-protein breakfast (30 grams of protein), and 10 continued skipping breakfast. T... diet development cardiovascular
Read moreSmoking has numerous harmful effects on health, including increased risks of lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Evidence indicates smoking also contributes to cognitive decline, affecting memory and fluency. A recent study found that smoking accelerates cognitive decline by as much as 17% over time. Researchers examined data from more than 32,000 cognitively healthy adults aged 50 to 104 from 14 European countries. They grouped participants according to whether they smoked, engaged in regular exercise, were socially active, and drank moderately—defined as less than or equal to two alcohol... exercise alzheimer's alcohol dementia
Read moreThe blood-brain barrier is a collection of membranes that separate the central nervous system from the peripheral circulation, facilitating the passage of nutrients and signaling compounds while excluding harmful substances. Loss of blood-brain barrier integrity increases the risk of many neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia and Alzheimer's. A 2021 study found that having a higher omega-3 index preserves the blood-brain barrier and maintains cognitive function in older adults. Researchers assessed the cognitive performance of 45 healthy older adults. They measured the participants' r... brain omega-3 dementia blood-brain barrier
Read moreOral health is intricately linked to overall well-being, with emerging research identifying associations between poor oral health and an increased risk of many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. A recent study found that oral diseases associated with tooth loss more than tripled the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Researchers assessed Alzheimer's disease risk among more than 32 million people. They categorized the participants as having normal or poor oral health and assessed serum biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's, including blood glucose, ... alzheimer's dementia dental
Read more[toc position='left'] Thymic involution is the process by which the thymus shrinks with age and produces fewer T cells, impairing immunity and increasing the risk of infection in older adults. In addition, thymic involution increases the risk of cancer and autoimmunity with age. However, research has identified some of the mechanisms of thymic involution and highlighted possible strategies to improve immunity: By activating PPAR-gamma, a protein that regulates fat metabolism, caloric restriction reduced the rate of thymic involution in mice and increased the number and diversity of circulatin... thymic involution immune system thymus autoimmunity
Read more[toc position='left'] Background Quercetin is a bioactive compound that exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.[ref pmid='26393898'] Research indicates that quercetin may alleviate chronic health conditions such as hypertension, neurodegenerative disease, arthritis, and lung and kidney diseases and may be beneficial in combating aging-related diseases. Although much of the quercetin research has been performed in animals, some clinical trials have been conducted, and others are ongoing. A naturally occurring member of the flavonoid class of plant polyphenol (https://www.foundmyfi... aging antioxidant nutrition inflammation
Read moreExercise reduces the risk of developing cancer and improves the quality of life among cancer survivors. A recent study shows that exercise reduces the harmful effects observed among men about to undergo androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer among men living in the United States. The first line of treatment for prostate cancer is commonly ADT, which involves the surgical or pharmaceutical suppression of serum testosterone levels. Side effects of ADT include body fat increases, muscle mass losses, and changes in cardiopulmonary... exercise cancer aerobic
Read more[toc position='left'] Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is a precursor molecule for the biosynthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD+, a coenzyme that participates in the production of cellular energy and DNA repair. NAD+ can also be synthesized from other precursors including nicotinamide (NAM, also called niacinamide), nicotinic acid (NA), and nicotinamide riboside (NR), which are often collectively referred to as niacin (vitamin B3) or niacin equivalents.[ref doi='10.12688/f1000research.12120.1'] These precursors are not equally allocated throughout the body; rather, they exhib... aging obesity neurodegeneration exercise cancer dna damage mitochondria nad+ cardiovascular
Read moreFOXO proteins are members of the FOX family of highly conserved transcriptional regulators. They play essential roles in human lifespan and healthy aging, influenced by environmental and genetic factors. The genetic contribution to lifespan and aging increases with time, suggesting that people who live long lives might carry so-called "protective genes." Run the longevity report to learn more about genetic polymorphisms influencing the expression of FOXO (/genetics) Background FOX proteins are named for a gene found in fruit flies that causes the insects to have forked structures on their head... aging fasting nutrition diet
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