Getting enough sleep is a central part of sleep advice, but the day-to-day consistency of sleep and wake times may also matter for long-term health. To test that idea, a study examined whether sleep regularity is linked to the risk of premature death. The study analyzed data from more than 60,000 UK Biobank participants who were about 63 years old on average and wore an activity tracker for one week. Using those records, researchers calculated a sleep regularity score, estimating how often participants were asleep or awake at similar times from one day to the next, and compared it with averag... cancer cardiovascular metabolism mortality sleep
Read moreLong hours of sitting in office jobs contribute to metabolic dysfunction, but practical and evidence-based strategies to counter this within daily routines remain limited. In a new randomized trial, researchers tested whether brief bodyweight exercises built into each work hour could improve metabolic health over 12 weeks. The study enrolled 86 adults aged 25–55 from three desk-based workplaces who sat more than six hours per day and reported fewer than 150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Researchers focused on fasting blood glucose, blood glucose two hours ... blood pressure blood sugar cholesterol exercise metabolism
Read moreStrength training is a cornerstone of type 2 diabetes care, yet heavy lifting is not feasible for all patients. Researchers recently tested whether a modified approach, called blood-flow restriction training (BFRT), could deliver similar strength and metabolic benefits using much lighter weights. The randomized study involved 20 inactive adults with type 2 diabetes who trained three times per week for 12 weeks. One group performed BFRT using about 30% of their one-repetition maximum (1RM, the heaviest weight a person can lift once). During each set, inflatable cuffs placed around the upper le... diabetes exercise metabolism strength
Read moreThe spread of microplastics through the environment has become a global concern, and growing evidence suggests that they may also pose serious risks to human health. Microplastics, small particles measuring 5 millimeters or less, have been detected in various human tissues, including the brain, reproductive organs, and even bones. A new review in Osteoporosis International explored what these findings could mean for bone and bone marrow health, drawing on a range of studies involving cells, animals, and early human data. The findings across models tell a consistent story: Microplastics were ... bone pollution Microplastics
Read moreAs brain cells age, their cleanup systems lose efficiency, allowing damaged parts and sticky proteins to build up. To address this, a new study tried to restore guanosine triphosphate (GTP), which fuels cargo transport and recycling inside cells, to see if this could slow or even reverse the decline in aging neurons. In neurons from healthy older mice and from a strain that develops Alzheimer-like changes, researchers tested whether a 24-hour treatment could restore GTP levels and improve waste processing. The treatment used two bioactive compounds: nicotinamide, a vitamin B3 derivative, and e... alzheimer's autophagy brain green tea neuron supplements
Read moreNSAIDs may promote a paradoxical pro-inflammatory effect, increasing the risk of blood clots and cardiovascular events. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, are among the most widely used drugs worldwide, available in both prescription and over-the-counter forms, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and others. Despite the drugs' anti-inflammatory effects, their chronic use is associated with a higher risk of acute clot-related cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, stroke, or deep-vein thrombosis. Authors of a 2005 article posited that NSAIDs induce a rebound effect that ... heart disease inflammation nsaid cardiovascular
Read moreEating twice a day, without restricting calories, may prevent metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of medical conditions that includes high blood pressure, high blood glucose, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and excess abdominal fat. Having metabolic syndrome increases a person's risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Findings from a 2017 study suggest that eating two meals per day, without caloric restriction, induces inter-meal autophagy, potentially preventing metabolic syndrome. Calorie restriction is the practice of long-term reduced dietary intake, typically c... fasting autophagy
Read moreBreastfeeding during early childhood is associated with positive life outcomes, ranging from improved metabolic health to greater cognitive ability. Researchers believe this effect stems from human breast milk being particularly rich in indigestible sugars (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1014881913541), many of which are exclusive to the human species and known as human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). Now, a new study reports that a particular class of HMOs may be uniquely crucial – at least when it comes to cognitive development. The researchers conducted their study in piglets, wh... nutrition development breast milk
Read moreScientists have identified an emerging pattern of associations between SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and Parkinson's disease. For example, the loss of smell is one of the most common symptoms reported in SARS-CoV-2 infection, but it is also an early symptom of Parkinson's disease, often preceding diagnosis by many years (https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2020.00043/full). In addition, some recent case reports describe patients who presented with probable Parkinson's disease after recovering from severe SARS-CoV-2 infection (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lane... parkinson's covid-19
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