Scientists have speculated that regular heat exposure, such as that experienced in a sauna, might help aging muscles adapt in ways that preserve strength and mass. A recent study found that older adults who engaged in infrared sauna sessions regularly experienced a 33% increase in the number of small blood vessels surrounding their muscle fibers. Researchers asked 14 healthy older adults (65 to 85 years old) to sit in an infrared sauna (60°C, 140°F) for 45 minutes, three times weekly, for eight weeks. They collected muscle biopsies before and after the heat exposure to measure capillarization—... aging heat stress muscle sauna protein
Read moreIf you're struggling to remember things, a robust workout might help. Scientists have discovered that exercise can increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that supports learning and memory. A recent study in rats found that low-speed uphill exercise raises blood lactate levels, increasing lactate and BDNF in key brain regions involved in cognition. Researchers divided rats into three groups: One remained inactive, another walked on a flat treadmill, and a third walked uphill at a 40% incline. The exercise sessions lasted either 30 or 90 minutes. To see if lactate... exercise brain memory bdnf lactate
Read moreCOVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has infected more than 13 million people worldwide (https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html). Identifying strategies to prevent or treat the disease is a priority for disease specialists. Findings from a new study indicate that zinc might be beneficial against COVID-19. Zinc is a mineral, first recognized for its influence on growth and development and now widely understood to play critical roles in immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and cell division. Deficiency of this essential nutrient can cause... covid-19
Read moreFrom the article: > Effective neuronal plasticity also depends on neurotrophins, which are regulatory factors that promote development and survival of brain cells. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is the neurotrophin mostly found in the brain. It has been extensively investigated in bipolar disorder patients and has been suggested as a hallmark of bipolar disorder. Indeed, some studies have shown that the levels of BDNF in the serum of bipolar disorder patients are reduced whenever patients undergo a period of depression, hypomania, or mania. Other studies have shown that regardless... brain depression stress bdnf
Read moreCOVID-19 Q&A Part 2: Rhonda Patrick, Ph.D. answers subscriber questions in a multi-part series. ... covid-19 vitamin d nutrition exercise microbiome sleep vitamin c omega-3 inflammation immune system virus micronutrients vitamin e vaccine genetics testosterone estrogen zinc fiber autoimmunity
Watch nowHealthy brain activity is achieved by maintaining a balance between neural excitation and inhibition. Impairment in this balance is related to many neurological and neurodegenerative disorders, including epilepsy, autism, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and schizophrenia. In Caenorhabditis elegans, a model organism for studying both the nervous system and aging, neural excitation increases with age and age-related cognitive decline, but lifespan increases with inhibition. A recent study demonstrates that extended longevity in humans is associated with lower levels of genes related to neural excitati... brain aging stress protein
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