Tau is a protein abundant in nerve cells, and its abnormal forms are linked to brain deterioration in Alzheimer's disease and other neurological conditions. Researchers investigated how tau affects mitochondria, the cell's energy-producing structures, and whether interrupting that interaction could protect neurons. The study combined animal models, human neurons grown from stem cells, and brain tissue collected after death from people with and without tau-related disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. In animal and cell experiments, researchers altered tau and examined whether reverse elect... alzheimer's dementia mitochondria neurodegeneration neurons
Read moreIncreasing workout intensity can stimulate muscle cells to build and improve their mitochondria, but exercise scientists are also looking for ways to strengthen that adaptation without making workouts harder. A new study tested whether blood flow restriction (BFR), a technique that temporarily reduces blood flow to the limbs, could amplify the muscle's adaptation to sprint training. The study included 20 healthy, physically active men with at least one year of cycling experience, who were divided into two groups with similar starting fitness levels. Both groups completed the same six-week tra... exercise mitochondria
Read moreCreatine is best known as a muscle supplement, but a new study examined whether it can also support immune cells involved in cancer defense. The researchers focused on dendritic cells, a type of immune cell that helps alert the immune system by presenting antigen fragments from viruses, bacteria, and tumors to T cells, which can then mount responses against infected or abnormal cells. The work combined cell experiments with an animal tumor model. In mouse dendritic cells, the researchers tested whether the ability to take up creatine affected cell survival, immune signaling, and the activatio... cancer creatine
Read moreAlzheimer's disease gradually erodes memory, language, and independence, leaving few treatment options once the condition becomes severe. Researchers explored whether psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound in certain mushrooms, could affect abilities that had been severely impaired for years. The case report focused on one Japanese-American woman in her 80s with a clinical diagnosis of advanced Alzheimer's disease and about 10 years of progressive decline. For about five years before the intervention, she had mostly one-word replies, long-term loss of bladder control, difficul... alzheimer's dementia psychedelic
Read moreHigh doses of creatine have recently been shown to help preserve cognitive performance during acute sleep deprivation, but it is less clear whether a lower dose can provide similar benefits. A new study included 29 healthy adults aged 20 to 40 in a crossover trial. Each participant completed two separate sleepless nights in random order, receiving a single dose of 0.2 grams of creatine monohydrate per kilogram of body weight (0.2 g/kg; about 14 grams on average) on one night and a placebo on the other. Participants stayed awake from about 7 a.m. until around 4:30 a.m. the next morning. Cogniti... cognition creatine sleep
Read moreAfter exercise, many people reach for a protein-rich meal to help muscles recover and grow. But foods with the same protein amount do not always trigger the same muscle-building effect. A new study from the University of Illinois tested whether the amount of fat in pork affects how the body uses the food's protein to rebuild muscle after strength training. Sixteen healthy, active adults (12 men and 4 women, average age 25) completed two experimental trials, each consisting of a resistance exercise session followed by one of three post-workout meals: a lean ground-pork patty (20 grams of prote... exercise muscle protein
Read moreAutism – often referred to as autism spectrum disorder, or ASD – is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, as well as restrictive, repetitive patterns of behavior. The disorder typically manifests in early childhood and is slightly more common among boys than girls. Roughly one in 54 people living in the United States has ASD (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5919599/). Findings from a recent clinical trial suggest that sulforaphane improves behavioral symptoms associated with autism. Sulforaphane is a bioactive compound derive... autism sulforaphane nrf2 myrosinase glucoraphanin
Read moreObesity is a strong independent risk factor for COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Previous research has shown that people with obesity generate fewer antibodies in response to viral infection (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16790384/) or vaccination (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22024641/); however, whether antibody quality is also affected by obesity is unknown. Findings published in a new report show that the majority of the antibodies found in people with obesity are autoimmune and not able to neutralize the SAR-CoV-2 virus, putting individuals with obesity at greate... obesity immune system covid-19 autoimmunity
Read moreA diet rich in plant foods, lean protein, and healthy fat is associated with a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all causes (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4018951/); however, many of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of these relationships are unknown. One of the mechanisms that controls a person’s response to diet and risk of disease is epigenetic modification. Findings of a new investigation detail the relationship between healthy eating and epigenetic and biological age. While a person’s genetic code does not change over time, the pattern of e... diet epigenetics aging
Read moreDNA damage occurs with normal metabolism and upon exposure to toxic environmental factors. It is associated with the development of some cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel diseases. Coffee contains a number of compounds with antioxidant properties, and previous research has shown that coffee and coffee extracts may reduce DNA damage in colon cells (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/mnfr.201000147) and white blood cells (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691507000609?via%3Dihub). Findings of this randomized controlled trial deta... dna damage coffee antioxidant
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