Hydrogen sulfide is a small signaling molecule that the body produces using sulfur-containing compounds. It helps cells respond to stress, generate energy, and regulate how proteins function. Researchers wanted to know whether increasing production of this molecule over time could promote healthy aging. The study included a long-term lifespan experiment in healthy male mice starting at 20 weeks of age. Their diet was supplemented with a garlic-derived mixture of diallyl sulfur compounds (molecules with two small carbon-containing "arms" linked by sulfur atoms). To isolate the role of individu... aging metabolism
Read moreThe skin is the body's first line of defense against environmental exposures. However, the skin changes considerably as we age, reducing its defense capacity. A 2021 study in mice found that sulforaphane, a bioactive compound derived from broccoli, mitigates age-related skin changes by activating Nrf2, a protein that participates in the body's antioxidant defense system. Researchers fed young and old mice regular mouse chow or chow supplemented with sulforaphane for three months. They assessed the antioxidant capacity and protein expression levels in the animals' skin. They also measured level... aging skin sulforaphane nrf2 oxidative stress
Read moreAlzheimer's disease affects more than 24 million people worldwide, with numbers expected to grow as the population ages. A growing body of evidence links mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress to the development of Alzheimer's disease. A recent study in mice found that sulforaphane, a bioactive compound derived from broccoli and broccoli sprouts, boosts memory, improves mitochondrial function, and reduces oxidative stress. Researchers studied normal mice and mice prone to developing a condition similar to Alzheimer's. They fed half of each type of mice standard mouse chow. They fed th... brain alzheimer's mitochondria dementia sulforaphane oxidative stress
Read moreAlzheimer's disease disproportionally affects women, who account for nearly two-thirds of all cases worldwide. Some evidence suggests female sex hormones influence the pathology and progression of Alzheimer's disease. A recent study in mice shows that the brains of male and female mice with Alzheimer's regulate amyloid-beta protein differently, with the hormone estradiol playing a critical role. Researchers measured amyloid-beta accumulation in male and female mice when exposed to differing levels of cholinergic tone (acetylcholine release). Then, they examined the effects of removing the ova... brain alzheimer's hormones heat stress estrogen acetylcholine
Read moreCurcumin is the principal bioactive compound present in the yellow spice turmeric. An abundance of scientific evidence indicates that curcumin has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and neuroprotective properties (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5664031/) in humans. Findings from a 2019 study suggest that curcumin improves exercise tolerance in mice with heart failure via its activation of Nrf2. Heart failure, commonly referred to as the end stage of heart disease, affects more than 26 million people worldwide (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5494150/). Exer... exercise heart disease curcumin antioxidant nrf2
Read moreTau is a protein found in the brain. It plays critical roles in nerve axon stability and the transport of mitochondria, lipids, and cellular metabolites in the brain. New evidence suggests that high dietary salt intake increases the formation of tau tangles. Tau tangles are abnormal aggregates of tau protein that form when tau undergoes hyperphosphorylation. The formation of tau tangles is an early event in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. The authors of the study fed mice either a normal diet or a high salt diet ...
Read moreMaintaining a healthy weight requires balancing energy intake with expenditure. A variety of elements influence how physically active we are, including genetic, cultural, and environmental factors. Evidence from a new study suggests that epigenetic changes in agouti-related proteins may regulate voluntary exercise behavior in mice. Agouti-related proteins are neuropeptides produced primarily in the hypothalamus. They regulate appetite, metabolism, and energy expenditure. Epigenetic changes are biological mechanisms that regulate gene expression (how and when certain genes are turned on or of... exercise epigenetics protein
Read moreAging is the primary risk factor for many chronic diseases in humans, including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and cardiovascular disease. Individuals age at different rates, however, a phenomenon observed across sexes, ethnic groups, and races. A recent study has identified a group of proteins in human plasma that predicts both chronological and biological age. Proteins regulate key cellular pathways. The overall composition of proteins in the body changes with time, reflecting the effects of aging. Blood is the primary vehicle for most of the body's proteins, and some studies have shown that ... aging protein
Read more