The biology associated with dementia extends beyond the brain to inflammation, metabolism, and blood-vessel health. Researchers investigated whether semaglutide could alter a blood-protein pattern linked to future dementia. Researchers analyzed stored blood samples from 2,970 adults aged 65 or older who had participated in the randomized SELECT trial. All were overweight or obese and had established cardiovascular disease, but not diabetes. Participants received weekly semaglutide injections or matched placebo alongside standard care. Blood collected at the start and after 104 weeks was asses... alzheimer's cardiovascular dementia GLP-1 insulin obesity
Read moreMuscle, fat, the liver, and other organs must coordinate their responses when the body exercises. Researchers tested how increasing exercise intensity reshapes the network of circulating signals that may support this cross-organ communication. The study compared blood responses in 19 healthy young men assigned to six 30-second all-out cycling sprints or 90 minutes of moderate cycling. Blood samples taken before, immediately after, and three hours after exercise were analyzed for signaling proteins and metabolites, small molecules produced as the body processes fuel. In 13 participants, the sa... exercise metabolism
Read morePrevious studies have linked flavanols, a group of naturally occurring compounds produced by plants, to cardiovascular benefits. However, it is less clear whether following standard dietary advice is enough to reach levels associated with these benefits (about 500 mg per day). To answer that question, researchers turned to data from two studies in the United States and the United Kingdom. The analysis included more than 30,000 adults. Participants reported what they ate, and urine samples were used to estimate flavanol intake. The researchers then compared people with different levels of fruit... cardiovascular diet heart disease polyphenol cocoa
Read moreModern life keeps most people indoors, often under artificial lighting that differs greatly from natural daylight. Because light is the main signal that sets the body's internal clock, limited daylight exposure could affect metabolism. A new study tested whether working by a window, rather than under typical office lighting, changes blood sugar control and how the body uses energy in people with type 2 diabetes. The study involved 13 older adults with type 2 diabetes who completed two tightly controlled, 4.5-day stays in a research facility. During office hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), parti... circadian rhythm diabetes
Read moreThe time of day at which cancer treatments are administered is often set by clinic logistics, yet the body operates on its own biological clock. A team in China examined whether the time of day of first-line immunochemotherapy for an advanced stage of small cell lung cancer is associated with treatment outcomes. Researchers retrospectively analyzed records from 397 adults treated for an advanced stage of small cell lung cancer. All patients received a programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) blocking antibody, either atezolizumab or durvalumab, plus platinum chemotherapy. The median start time of ea... cancer circadian rhythm immune system
Read moreDr. Rhonda Patrick discusses protein needs, choline in pregnancy, urolithin A, melatonin's benefits and risks, and creatine's effects on liver health. ... rhonda pregnancy omega-3 melatonin fatty liver urolithin a creatine choline menopause
Watch nowSince the introduction of high fructose corn syrup in the 1960s, fructose consumption has tripled worldwide. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22922366/) Excess sugar consumption degrades health by contributing to obesity and promoting cancer initiation and progression. Findings of a recent report elucidate the mechanisms by which fructose improves survival of and nutrient absorption by intestinal cells. Fructose absorption begins in the epithelium (i.e., skin-like cells) of the small intestine, which measures approximately 320 square feet in surface area (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/246942... cancer obesity sugar
Read moreA Western dietary pattern, characterized by a low intake of fruits and vegetables and a high intake of red and processed meats and added sugars, promotes chronic diseases, including obesity. It also increases low-grade inflammation by directly reprogramming immune cells to become pro-inflammatory (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29328911/). Authors of a recent report investigated the impact of a ketogenic diet on immunity. Glucose is the primary energy source for most cells in the body. However, when a person fasts or restricts carbohydrate intake, the body produces ketones from dietary and bo... ketosis covid-19 ketogenic diet
Read moreAs the global COVID-19 pandemic continues, new ways of battling SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease, are needed, especially in areas where vaccine distribution is low. Sunlight is an inexpensive and widely-available tool for disinfection, but may require too much time to be effective. Researchers have discovered a discrepancy between the expected and actual rates of ultraviolet (UV) sterilization for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, although the reason for this discrepancy is unknown. Sunlight contains a spectrum of wavelengths of UV radiation including UVA and UVB light, which directly damage ... covid-19
Read moreScientists are learning more about how people respond to SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus responsible for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Findings from a recent study suggest that prior exposure to "common cold" coronaviruses may generate the production of SARS-CoV-2 specific T cells. SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the Coronaviridae family of RNA viruses. There are four coronaviruses known to circulate among the world's population and transmit the "common cold." A healthy person's response to a viral infection involves a coordinated effort between the innate and adaptive immune systems. Whereas the inna... immune system covid-19
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