[toc] Alcohol is one of the most heavily used and abused drugs. It's also a very controversial topic, in part because alcohol plays such a large role in societies and cultures around the world. For many, it's a normal part of daily life. There is also a lot of confusion about alcohol. There's no doubt that alcohol can have a personal and public health impact. On the other hand, research in the last few decades suggests that not only may a moderate intake of alcohol not be harmful, but it might also be protective against certain diseases. This idea is heavily debated, and conflicting evidence h... cancer cardiovascular alcohol brain alzheimer's diabetes breast cancer
Read more[toc position='left'] Introduction Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that play critical roles in human health, participating in a wide range of biochemical pathways and processes and modulating the expression of genes throughout the lifespan. Omega-3 fatty acids include plant-derived alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and marine-derived eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), among others. A growing body of evidence indicates that omega-3 fatty acids may prevent or ameliorate symptoms associated with chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease,[ref doi='10.3... cancer depression mortality omega-3 nutrition brain diet aging immune system mental health development intelligence
Read more[toc position='left'] Small vessel disease is a condition causing blood vessel dysfunction that occurs with aging and contributes to the development of cardiovascular disease, dementia, and stroke. As a consequence of the profound effects of small vessel disease on the functioning of the brain and blood-brain barrier (/topics/blood-brain-barrier), for the purposes of this article, we will focus predominantly on cerebral aspects of small vessel disease, called cerebral small vessel disease. Small vessel disease in the brain contributes to approximately 50 percent of dementia cases worldwide, in... small vessel disease brain alzheimer's vitamin d omega-3 parkinson's inflammation cardiovascular blood-brain barrier
Read more[toc position='left'] Polyphenols comprise a group of antioxidant compounds found in a variety of plants consumed as foods and beverages. Polyphenols are one of the most common classes of bioactive compounds found in plants, along with alkaloids (e.g., berberine (https://www.foundmyfitness.com/topics/berberine)), organosulfur compounds (e.g., sulforaphane), and terpenoids (e.g., beta carotene). A growing body of evidence suggests that polyphenols have disease-fighting properties, although the evidence to support these claims varies in quality. Research has demonstrated some degree of efficacy ... polyphenol brain cancer heart disease green tea gut diet microbiome microbes
Read moreAmyloid-beta is a toxic protein that aggregates (clumps together) and forms plaques in the brain with age. Amyloid-beta aggregation is associated with Alzheimer's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes dementia. Findings from a recent study suggest that defensive compounds present in plants protect against amyloid-beta aggregation in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease. Plants produce vast arsenals of defensive compounds to protect them from pathogenic attack and herbivore consumption. Evidence suggests that these compounds exert protective effects in humans, reducing ... nutrition alzheimer's
Read more[toc position='left'] Introduction Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored in the liver and fatty tissues of the body. Perhaps best known for its role in maintaining calcium balance and bone health, vitamin D is critical in many physiological processes, such as blood pressure regulation, immune function, and cell growth. Poor vitamin D status is implicated in the pathogenesis of many acute and chronic diseases, including rickets, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, and cancer. Vitamin D is a controversial topic in the scientific community and has contributed to much debate regarding t... gut blood pressure vitamin d aging vitamin k calcium
Read more[toc position='left'] Background Zinc is an essential nutrient that participates in numerous biological processes and modulates the activity of more than 300 enzymes and 2,000 transcription factors.[ref doi='10.1136/bmj.326.7386.409'] First identified for its influence on growth and development, zinc is now understood to play critical roles in immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and cell division. History The importance of zinc in the human diet first became apparent in the early 1960s, after a patient with a rare syndrome presented to Dr. Ananda Prasad, a physic... nutrition interesting zinc
Read more[toc position='left'] > Epigenetic clocks are a subset of the broader subject of biological aging clocks, which you can read a full write-up on here (/topics/biological-age-clocks). Epigenetic clocks are predictors of biological age based on alterations in an individual's DNA methylation profile. Methylations – biochemical processes that modify the activity of a DNA segment without changing its sequence – occur naturally and regulate gene expression to control normal growth and development. With age, the methylation state of various genes may change. These changes are quantifiable and gauge... aging interesting epigenetics dna damage
Read more[toc position='left'] Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a cofactor (a molecule that assists enzymes in chemical reactions) that plays an essential role in multiple physiological processes, such as energy metabolism, DNA repair, and immune activation. It is necessary for the activity of sirtuins, a class of enzymes involved in longevity, and poly-ADP-ribose polymerases (PARPs), a family of DNA-repair enzymes. Cellular NAD+ production declines with age, however, and its depletion likely drives the onset and progression of multiple age-related conditions such as metabolic dysregulation ... metabolism mitochondria aging dna damage circadian rhythm nad+
Read more[toc position='left'] Depression is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by negative mood, loss of interest in doing things, and metabolic, hormonal, and immune disturbances that can degrade a person's quality of life and increase their risk of disease and death. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 322 million people – more than 4 percent of the global population – currently live with depression,[ref doi='10.1001/jama.2017.3826'] the most common mental health disorder worldwide. Between 2005 and 2015 (the most recent years for which robust meta-analyses are availabl... inflammation probiotics circadian rhythm meditation behavior heat stress depression metabolism neurotransmitter nutrition exercise brain microbiome interesting omega-3 menopause
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