Brain atrophy occurs naturally with aging, but certain factors such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and inflammation can accelerate this process, increasing the risk of cognitive decline. However, eating a healthy diet may help slow brain aging. A recent study found that two versions of the Mediterranean diet reduced markers of brain atrophy by 50% over 18 months compared to general healthy eating guidelines. Researchers assigned participants aged 50 or older with abdominal obesity or abnormal blood lipids to one of three diets: one that followed standard healthy dietary guidelines,... brain diet aging polyphenol
Read moreEating a Mediterranean-style diet, which is abundant in polyphenol-rich fruits, vegetables, olive oil, legumes, and nuts, helps reduce abdominal fat, a 2022 study found. People who followed a Mediterranean-style diet supplemented with a polyphenol-rich shake for 18 months lost twice as much abdominal fat as those who consumed a lower-polyphenol diet. Researchers assigned nearly 300 people to follow one of three diets plus exercise: a Mediterranean-style diet that included walnuts; a Mediterranean-style diet that included walnuts, green tea, and a shake that contained duckweed (a polyphenol-ri... diet polyphenol visceral fat
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 moreDr. Morgan Levine discusses epigenetics and the application of epigenetic aging clocks in quantifying human aging. ... epigenetics cancer aging inflammation senescence
Watch nowPancreatic cancer is a rare, aggressive cancer, expected to claim the lives of more than 48,000 people this year. The lack of reliable screening tests and the vague, non-specific symptoms associated with pancreatic cancer make diagnosing the disease difficult and often late. Even when diagnosed early, pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis, with only about 8 percent of people who develop the disease surviving longer than five years. Findings from a 2015 study suggest that magnesium reduces the risk of pancreatic cancer. Magnesium is an essential mineral and a cofactor for hundreds of enzymes.... cancer magnesium
Read moreDNA damage, a major contributor to aging, occurs from exposure to byproducts of cellular metabolism, environmental chemicals, and radiation from sunlight. If not repaired, DNA damage can be detrimental and is associated with diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. A new study suggests that higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids are associated with lower DNA damage in children and adolescents. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential because the body cannot make them, and they must be obtained from the diet. They include eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. EPA an... omega-3 dna damage
Read moreFrailty is a syndrome that commonly manifests in older adults. It carries an increased risk for poor health outcomes including falls, disability, hospitalization, and death. A key driver in the development of frailty is inflammation, which often accompanies diet-induced changes in the gut microbiota. Findings from a recent study suggest that eating a Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish, and fiber, and low in saturated fat and red meat, alters the gut microbiome in older adults to reduce the risk of frailty. The intervention study involved more than 600 older... diet aging saturated fat vitamin a protein metabolic syndrome
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