Strength 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 morePeople with panic disorder often avoid physical exertion because its bodily effects resemble the onset of an attack. Scientists examined whether repeated, carefully monitored sprint bursts could harness those feared sensations therapeutically. Researchers in Brazil enrolled sedentary adults diagnosed with panic disorder, a condition marked by sudden episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms such as palpitations and shortness of breath. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two 12-week programs: brief intermittent intense exercise, which combined walking with repeated ... anxiety depression exercise mental health
Read moreScientists have long suspected that certain pesticides may affect brain development, but direct evidence in humans has been limited. A new study tracked children whose mothers were exposed during pregnancy to chlorpyrifos, a widely used insecticide, to see whether that early contact left a lasting imprint on brain and behavior. The researchers followed 270 children and adolescents from a long-running New York City pregnancy study. Exposure was estimated from chlorpyrifos measured in umbilical cord plasma at birth or in maternal plasma within a day after delivery. When the children were between... brain development pollution pregnancy
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 moreMild cognitive impairment is often a precursor to Alzheimer's disease, marking the initial stages of cognitive decline that precede more severe dementia. Evidence suggests lifestyle factors mediate the progression of mild cognitive impairment. A recent study found that intensive lifestyle modification improves cognitive and functional performance and slows disease progression in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 49 participants aged 45-90 with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. Half of... exercise alzheimer's diet omega-3 probiotics stress meditation magnesium dementia supplements
Read moreAlzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia, has been the subject of a large body of research in recent decades. However, the number of effective therapies for the disease is small, demonstrating the need for additional research into the mechanisms of dementia. Findings from a group of scientists researching the gut microbiota suggest the microbiota-gut-brain axis may contribute to Alzheimer's pathology. The microbiota-gut-brain axis is a recently developed way to understand the relationship between the behavior of microbes in the gut and behaviors generated by the brain. This bidir... brain alzheimer's microbiome
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 moreEpidemiological studies have identified links between coffee consumption and a variety of health outcomes. For instance, evidence suggests that drinking five to six cups of coffee a day reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14706966/), while drinking three to five cups may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20182054/), compared to drinking none at all. A new study suggests that high caffeinated coffee consumption increases a person's risk for developing dementia. The authors of the study dre... brain coffee
Read moreAvocados are a nutritious food rich in unsaturated fats, fiber, and many bioactive plant compounds, including avocatin B, an enzyme that prevents fatty acids from being oxidized and becoming rancid. In people with obesity, free fatty acid concentrations in the blood are elevated (called lipotoxicity), a condition that impairs insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle and contributes to the development of diabetes. Authors of a recent study detail their findings regarding the effects of avocatin B in carbohydrate and fat metabolism. Diet-induced obesity causes insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, ...
Read moreInsulin resistance and poor blood glucose control – defining characteristics of type 2 diabetes – drive changes associated with brain aging and cognitive decline. A growing body of evidence suggests that dementia is the manifestation of insulin resistance and altered metabolism in the brain (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/193229680800200619). A recent study suggests that dietary patterns that promote ketosis improve brain metabolism and function. Ketosis is a metabolic state that results in the body’s production and use of ketones (byproducts of fatty acid metabolism). It occurs... brain aging ketosis insulin time-restricted eating carbohydrates ketogenic diet
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