Tiny plastic particles are now found in food, water, and even inside the human body, raising concerns about how they affect health. In a new study, scientists explored whether food-derived bacteria could help capture nanoplastics and promote their removal from the body. The researchers examined two lactic acid bacteria isolated from kimchi: Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656 and Latilactobacillus sakei CBA3608. They exposed these bacteria to polystyrene nanoplastics (extremely small plastic particles under 1 micrometer in size) and measured how effectively the bacteria could bind and remove the... microbes microbiome pollution Microplastics
Read moreLaboratory and animal studies suggest lithium could protect the brain from cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease, but results from human trials have been mixed. To clarify the picture, researchers combined data from multiple clinical trials to test whether pharmaceutical lithium salts have meaningful benefits for brain health. The authors systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed six randomized, placebo-controlled trials (435 participants) that compared lithium supplementation with placebo in studies lasting roughly 10 weeks to 24 months. All participants had either mild cognitive impairm... cognition dementia lithium
Read moreDental cavities form when bacteria living on teeth repeatedly turn sugar into acid, lowering the local pH and, over time, leading to mineral loss in the tooth. Scientists have suspected that some nutrients might help counter this process, but it has been unclear whether they can make dental plaque less harmful by changing how it behaves rather than simply removing bacteria. The study involved ten adults with active tooth decay, each wearing a custom lower-jaw splint that held small glass surfaces with a texture similar to enamel (the protective outer covering of teeth), where plaque could gro... microbes sugar dental
Read moreWhen people struggle with major goals, such as finishing a degree or pursuing a career path, they often reach a moment of deep uncertainty about whether to continue. A new study asked whether the critical ingredient in these moments is not doubt itself, but the degree of trust people place in their doubts. The researchers ran two experiments, each focused on a personally important long-term goal. First, all participants completed a short questionnaire measuring how conflicted they felt about their goal, a state psychologists call an action crisis, meaning they were weighing whether to persist... behavior
Read moreModern diets are often dominated by ultra-processed foods (UPFs), yet scientists still debate whether their harm arises mainly from their tendency to drive excess calorie intake or also from other aspects of industrial processing. To test this, researchers at the University of Copenhagen conducted a tightly controlled crossover study in healthy men. The study enrolled 43 men aged 20 to 35, each randomized to two 3-week diet phases with a 12-week break between them. Both meal plans were matched for calories and macronutrients, but differed sharply in composition: the ultra-processed version su... diet inflammation metabolism obesity ultra-processed foods reproductive health
Read moreScientific interest in the therapeutic potential of psilocybin – the active ingredient of “magic mushrooms” (which remain illegal in much of the United States, with some exceptions (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/detroit-just-decriminalized-psychedelics-and-magic-mushrooms-heres-what-that-means)) has increased in recent years. Now, findings presented in a press release from a pharmaceutical maker indicate the compound might be a promising therapy for treatment-resistant depression – albeit with some serious side effects. The findings add to a growing, though uncertain, body of research... depression mushroom drug psychedelic
Read moreThe color of fat tissue – white, brown, or beige – dictates the role the tissue plays in the body. Whereas white fat is involved in lipid storage and the release of free fatty acids for energy, brown fat is involved primarily in thermogenesis – the production of heat. Beige fat, which is typically co-located with white fat, can exhibit either storage or thermogenic properties, depending on environmental conditions. It also exerts anti-inflammatory properties via induction of interleukin 4, an anti-inflammatory molecule. White fat can convert to beige fat, a process known as "beiging." Findings... brain dementia cold stress visceral fat
Read moreA wide range of beneficial health effects have been ascribed to consumption of chocolate, especially dark chocolate, which is rich in bioactive compounds that exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective properties. Consumption of milk chocolate, however, is widely associated with harmful effects (such as weight gain) due to its high caloric content. Findings from a recent study suggest that milk chocolate exerts differential health effects, depending on the timing of consumption. A growing body of evidence suggests that the timing of food intake plays important roles in metabol... metabolism menopause microbiome sleep circadian rhythm dairy blood sugar
Read moreAging impairs the body’s ability to fight infection due to chronic low-grade inflammation and a decrease in antibody-producing T cells. Consequently, 80 percent of deaths due to COVID-19 in the United States have been among adults 65 years of age and older. Researchers investigated the use of a ketogenic diet in mice as a strategy for treating COVID-19. A ketogenic diet is a high fat, low carbohydrate diet. Adherence to a ketogenic diet reduces blood glucose levels, which are associated with increased inflammation. Adopting a ketogenic diet may be an effective strategy for limiting excessive i... diet immune system ketogenic diet
Read moreRoughly half of the world's population lives in urban areas, far removed from the natural environment. Evidence indicates that people who live in urban areas are at greater risk for mental health disorders, such as depression. Findings from a new study suggest that walking in nature reduces ruminative thinking and decreases activity in parts of the brain associated with mental illness. Ruminative thinking – dwelling on ideas (especially stressors) to excess – is a common feature of mental illness (https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2000-05424-015). Rumination can set in motion a cascade of hormon... brain mental health
Read more