The genetic variant APOE4 raises Alzheimer's risk and may also make it harder for some omega-3 fats to reach the brain. A new analysis asked whether this genetic difference shapes the relationship between blood omega-3 levels and early brain imaging markers. The study compared fasting blood omega-3 levels with two kinds of brain scans in 104 cognitively normal older adults. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measured gray matter volume, while positron emission tomography (PET) estimated amyloid-beta deposits, protein buildups that are an early hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Most participants h... alzheimer's blood-brain barrier brain dementia genetics inflammation neurodegeneration neurons omega-3
Read moreCancer treatments often target glucose uptake to impede tumor growth, primarily through pharmaceuticals, many of which exert considerable side effects. However, cold exposure is emerging as a potential alternative to these drug-based therapies. A recent study in mice found that cold exposure reduced tumor growth by 80 percent and increased survival rates twofold. Researchers conducted a two-part study in mice and humans. First, they exposed mice with cancer to cold (4°C, 39°F) or thermoneutral (30°C, 86°F) temperatures for about three weeks. They found that the cold exposure activated the anim... cancer cold stress brown fat
Read moreExposure to air pollution increases the risk of stroke by more than half. Air pollution contains many toxic substances, including chemicals, gases, and particulate matter – a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets that exert neuroinflammatory effects (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2743793/). Exposure to air pollution promotes oxidative stress and increases the risk of developing many chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, hypertension, and diabetes, markedly shortening people's lives (https://academic.oup.com/cardiovascres/article/116/11/1910/5770885)... pollution aneurysm
Read moreAlcohol is a group 1 carcinogen, the highest classification of a substance known to cause cancer in humans – and the same classification as asbestos, formaldehyde, and tobacco smoke. Epidemiological data indicate that nearly three-quarters of a million new cancer cases worldwide are directly attributable to alcohol consumption (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(21)00279-5/fulltext). Findings from a 2015 meta-analysis suggest that alcohol consumption increases the risk of several types of cancer. Scientists do not fully understand how alcohol drives cancer, but ev... cancer alcohol
Read moreExercise training provides a wide range of physiological benefits that help maintain cardiovascular health. Although most people acknowledge the benefits of exercise, many people do not exercise, often due to the time commitment involved in regular training. A recent review describes the cardiovascular benefits associated with short-duration high-intensity interval training. High-intensity interval training, often referred to as HIIT, is a popular form of exercise involving short bursts of intense aerobic exercise interspersed with periods of rest or lower-intensity exercise. A classic exampl... exercise metabolism insulin cardiovascular
Read moreCurrently selected for this coming member's digest (/crowdsponsor) by team member Melisa B. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, stimulates the innate immune system, causing systemic inflammation that damages the lungs. Evidence suggests that those with the most severe cases of COVID are made sicker not by increased viral replication, but by unregulated inflammation. New evidence suggests that high dose intravenous vitamin C decreases inflammation, symptom severity, and death due to COVID-19. Vitamin C is essential for proper immune regulation. White blood cells produce harmful chemical... vitamin c covid-19
Read moreHow well (and how quickly) we age depends on a confluence of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Some lifestyle behaviors, such as alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking, elicit harmful effects on multiple body systems that can accumulate over time to modulate aging. A new study demonstrates that alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking accelerate brain aging, in particular. Research indicates that smoking cigarettes alters multiple structural aspects of the brain. For example, smokers tend to have less gray matter density and volume in the frontal, occipital, and temporal lobe... brain aging alcohol tobacco dairy intelligence
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