Keeping a regular daily schedule is often recommended as part of good sleep hygiene, but its relevance may extend beyond sleep itself. Researchers tested whether more consistent timing of everyday activities was associated with pain, depressive symptoms, and body mass index (BMI) among older adults with and without insomnia. The analysis included data from 37 older adults with insomnia and 30 good sleepers who had participated in an earlier sleep study. Participants recorded when they got out of bed, first interacted with someone, began work or housework, ate dinner, and went to bed for seven... circadian rhythm depression mental health sleep weight loss
Read moreSleep problems are common among people with diabetes and place an additional burden on daily life. Because minerals play important roles in sleep regulation and disrupted mineral levels are common in diabetes, researchers examined whether magnesium and potassium could improve sleep in people with diabetes and insomnia. In this study, 320 participants were assigned to placebo tablets, magnesium gluconate tablets (2 x 250 mg), potassium chloride tablets (2 x 250 mg), or one magnesium plus one potassium tablet for 2 months. Researchers assessed insomnia using the Insomnia Severity Index, a quest... diabetes magnesium sleep
Read moreAlthough many older adults can successfully lose weight through diet and exercise, most eventually regain it, partly due to changes in metabolism and appetite that happen after weight loss. However, gravitational loading—the physical force the body applies during movement—may have a surprising influence on long-term weight management. A recent study found that older adults who wore a weighted vest during a six-month weight loss program were less likely to regain the weight they lost, possibly because their metabolism remained more stable. Researchers enrolled 18 older adults with obesity in a ... diet exercise weight loss
Read moreScientists have speculated that regular heat exposure, such as that experienced in a sauna, might help aging muscles adapt in ways that preserve strength and mass. A recent study found that older adults who engaged in infrared sauna sessions regularly experienced a 33% increase in the number of small blood vessels surrounding their muscle fibers. Researchers asked 14 healthy older adults (65 to 85 years old) to sit in an infrared sauna (60°C, 140°F) for 45 minutes, three times weekly, for eight weeks. They collected muscle biopsies before and after the heat exposure to measure capillarization—... aging heat stress muscle sauna protein
Read moreDr. Rhonda Patrick covers lithium microdosing, reducing homocysteine, aluminum's link to cancer, and beta-alanine and alpha-lipoic acid supplements. ... exercise biomarkers vitamin e genetics eyes caffeine folate sulforaphane sauna antioxidant dairy polyphenol supplements wearable technology rhonda
Watch nowHow fit you are may matter more than how much you weigh when it comes to your risk of dying early. A recent review and meta-analysis found that poor cardiorespiratory fitness increases the risk of early death from cardiovascular disease and other causes, regardless of body weight. Researchers analyzed the findings of 20 studies investigating the effects of cardiorespiratory fitness and body weight on the rates of early death from cardiovascular disease and all other causes. The various studies included nearly 400,000 participants and compared the risks among people who were overweight or obese... exercise obesity cardiovascular
Read moreTobacco use remains a primary contributor to disease, disability, and premature death across the globe. A recent editorial summarizes data demonstrating that smoking reduces life expectancy by approximately 20 minutes per cigarette smoked—17 minutes for men and 22 minutes for women. The estimate, which drew on data from long-term studies such as the British Doctors Study (https://www.ctsu.ox.ac.uk/research/british-doctors-study) and the Million Women Study (https://www.ceu.ox.ac.uk/research/the-million-women-study), accounts for factors like smoking rates and early death outcomes over several... mortality tobacco
Read moreA high-protein diet may increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and increased body fat, especially in sedentary people. However, a new study in mice demonstrates that resistance training may counter these effects. Mice that ate a high-protein diet and performed resistance exercises gained muscle – not fat – and were more metabolically healthy than sedentary mice on the same diet. Researchers fed one group of mice a low-protein diet (7 percent of total calories) and another a high-protein diet (36 percent of total calories). Half of each group performed resistance exercises three times we... exercise diet metabolism protein
Read moreKombucha is a fermented beverage made from tea, sugar, bacteria, and yeast. Some evidence suggests that kombucha exerts antimicrobial, antioxidant, detoxifying, and liver-protective effects (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212429221004570). A new study has found that kombucha lowers blood glucose levels by nearly 30 percent in people with type 2 diabetes. Researchers conducted a small trial involving 12 adults with type 2 diabetes. The participants drank approximately 8 ounces of either kombucha or a placebo beverage daily for four weeks. Eight weeks later, they switch... nutrition gut diet microbiome diabetes
Read moreHip fractures can lead to a decline in self-reliance, diminished quality of life, and feelings of depression. However, some research suggests that consuming fish and omega-3 fatty acids influences a person's risk of experiencing a hip fracture. A 2019 meta-analysis and systematic review found that higher fish and omega-3 intake reduces the risk of hip fracture by as much as 12 percent. Researchers reviewed the findings of 10 studies involving nearly 300,000 people. Seven of the studies followed people over time (prospective), and three compared groups with and without fractures (case-control).... diet aging omega-3 bone
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