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Consuming strawberries might benefit Your Heart and Brain.

Consuming strawberries might benefit Your Heart and Brain.

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Berries are often regarded as superfoods with a variety of health advantages. Berries have been demonstrated in prior research to reduce inflammation and protect specific bodily systems, including the cardiovascular system and gut microbiome.

According to San Diego State University experts, eating the equivalent of two servings of strawberries every day can boost people’s blood pressure, brain function, and antioxidant capacity.

Berries are typically regarded as a superfood. That is due to the multiple health advantages that all berries, including acai berries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, offer.

Berries can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, which can be disease factors, according to earlier research.

Berry eating has also been related in other research to health benefits and protection for the immune system, neurological system, cardiovascular system, and gut flora.

According to recent research from San Diego State University, eating strawberries daily can help people become more antioxidant-capable. They can Alsop have better cognitive function, and lower their blood pressure.

The California Strawberry Commission supported the study, which was just presented at NUTRITION 2023, the American Society of Nutrition’s annual meeting.

26 grams or two strawberry servings

The idea for this study was inspired by earlier research, according to Dr. Shirin Hooshmand, a professor in the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at San Diego State University and the project’s primary investigator.

She noted that some of the same effects had been observed in animal and human research prior to the clinical investigation, but in various populations and with various study designs.

Dr. Hooshmand and her team recruited 35 healthy men and women between the ages of 66 and 78 for this study. Over eight weeks, participants were given either a control powder or 26 grams of freeze-dried strawberry powder, which is equal to two servings of fresh strawberries.

In comparison to those who took the control powder, those who consumed the strawberries showed an increase in cognitive processing speed of 5.2%, a decrease in systolic blood pressure of 3.6%, and an increase in antioxidant capacity of 10.2%.

In response to their findings, Dr. Hooshmand stated that since strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, they anticipated seeing an enhancement in antioxidant capability. Based on their theory, they also anticipated some improvement in cognitive processing speed.

When asked about the blood pressure results, Dr. Hooshmand remarked, “Previously published research has already shown some of the acute and long-term cardiovascular health benefits of strawberries in different populations, so this is great to confirm some of those findings.”

This study shows that strawberry consumption may enhance cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension and cognitive function. Dr. Shirin Hooshmand said, “We’re pleased that an easy dietary change, like including strawberries in a daily diet, may enhance these outcomes in older persons.”

Why are strawberries so nutritious?

In late 18th-century France, gardens were where strawberries (genus Fragaria) were first cultivated. However, they were discovered in the wild as early as the Roman era.

Strawberries are now grown all over the world, with the majority of the production taking place in Spain, Turkey, and the United States.

Surprisingly, although being referred to as a “berry,” strawberries are actually an accessory or aggregate fruit because of how they develop.

The body needs a variety of vitamins and minerals to keep healthy, including vitamin A, magnesium, potassium, and folate (vitamin B9), all of which are present in strawberries.

Strawberries are also a very good source of vitamin C; eight strawberries will provide you the recommended daily allowance.

Additionally, strawberries are well recognized for having a significant number of antioxidants, such as phytosterols and polyphenols. In addition to their ability to decrease cholesterol, phytosterols, and polyphenols both have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics.

Previous studies have connected strawberry consumption to a reduced risk for heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and even maybe help prevent cancer.

There is much to learn about strawberries.

Dr. Hooshmand responded that the strategy for the research’s following steps will depend on finding additional financing.

But stay tuned, because we have lots of fantastic ideas for follow-up research on some of our recent findings. As part of a multi-fruit experiment, we are also looking into how strawberries affect these and other outcomes, the researcher added.

Allison Tallman, a registered dietitian and the creator of Nourished Routes who was not involved in the study, discussed her wishes for future research on the health benefits of strawberries after reading this study.

The relationship between strawberries and heart health, brain health, and gastrointestinal health has been well investigated. Since strawberries definitely contain antioxidants, I’d love to see further studies on how they help prevent cancer.

the healthiest method to consume strawberries?

Most adults should consume 1 1/2 to 2 cups of fruit daily, according to experts. One cup of fruit is roughly eight big strawberries.

Are you trying to find new ways to eat more strawberries? Consider Tallman’s recommendations:

  • Add strawberries to a protein-rich smoothie to kick off your day.
  • Put strawberries on top of a spinach salad or a grain bowl to add some flavour to your lunch.
  • Yoghurt parfaits taste wonderful with strawberries.
  • Finally, strawberries are good eaten unprocessed!

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate programme also provides a number of nutritious strawberry-centric dishes, such as:

  • Broccoli Strawberry Orzo Salad
  • Pear Kebabs with Strawberry Dipping Sauce
  • Fruit and Yogurt Breakfast Shake
  • Fabulous Fruit Muffins
  • Fruit Salsa
  • Fruit Pizza

REFERENCES:

For Heart disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=77_99

Constipation increases the chance of cognitive downfall.

Constipation increases the chance of cognitive downfall.

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Researchers looked into the relationship between constipation and deteriorating cognitive function in several recent studies.

In addition to various alterations in the gut flora, they discovered that having one bowel movement every three days or less frequently is associated with increased rates of cognitive deterioration.

More research is required to determine how these results might influence cognitive decline prevention and treatment approaches.

Constipation affects approximately 16% of the world’s population. Low levels of physical activity, being a woman, living in an area with high rates of constipation, and certain medical diseases, such as depression, hemorrhoids, and several cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal problems are all risk factors for constipation.

When a person has fewer than one bowel movement every three days or more, they are said to be chronically constipated. It has been connected to several illnesses, including sadness and anxiety.

According to studies, constipation is a frequent consequence of neurological diseases like Parkinson’s disease and is associated with a faster course of Alzheimer’s disease.

The development of treatments and preventative measures for cognitive decline and related disorders may be aided by knowing more about how constipation impacts the neurological system, and consequently, the brain and cognition.

The relationship between constipation and cognitive deterioration has recently been studied by experts. They discovered that a 73% higher likelihood of subjective cognitive deterioration was associated with having bowel movements every three days or less frequently.

Cognition and gut bacteria

Increases and decreases in specific gut flora have been associated with dementia and cognitive decline, according to several studies in this area.

According to Dr. Thomas Gut, an assistant professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell who was not involved in this study, “This research is a first step to investigating whether certain types of bacterial presence within our intestines protects our brains from certain types of cognitive diseases.”

Dr. Thomas Gut stated that although “this research does not even begin to address the question of whether promoting certain types of bacterial colonization could be protective of memory and brain function,” it does raise the issue and open up a new line of inquiry.”

Constipation linked to three additional years of age

The researchers analyzed information from 112,753 men and women for the study. the frequency of their bowel movements between 2012 and 2013, as well as self-reports of their cognitive function between 2014 and 2017.

Under the watchful eye of experts, a portion of 12,696 subjects also undertook neuropsychological testing. The participants also gave stool samples so that the amounts of various germs could be determined.

In the end, the researchers discovered that persons who had a bowel movement every three or more days had much lower cognition than those who had one each day, which is comparable to an additional three years of aging.

Additionally, they produced 73% less butyrate, a sign of good bacteria that aid in the digestion of dietary fibers, and had a lower overall risk of subjective cognitive decline.

The study’s findings also revealed that those who had more than two bowel movements each day had a somewhat higher risk of cognitive decline and tended to have more pro-inflammatory species in their microbiomes.

The study’s findings suggest that having fewer bowel movements is associated with poorer cognitive function and that this association may be explained by changes in the gut flora.

Certain gut bacteria linked to cognitive decline

Two more recent studies looked more closely at particular gut bacteria associated with an increased risk of dementia as well as those that may be neuroprotective.

In the initial investigation, data from 140 cognitively sound subjects with an average age of 56 years were analyzed. Data included measurements of the Alzheimer’s protein biomarkers amyloid and tau from PET brain scans as well as fecal samples.

They discovered that lower levels of the gut bacteria Butyricicoccus and Ruminococcus and higher levels of Cytophaga and Alistipes were associated with higher levels of amyloid and tau. They mentioned the possibility of neuroprotective benefits from Butyricicoccus and Ruminococcus.

According to a news statement from the researchers, the absence of some bacteria may increase gut permeability and the transport of some metabolites to the brain, which may in turn lead to an increase in amyloid-beta and tau protein formation.

They recommended testing if introducing, boosting, or decreasing particular gut microorganisms could advantageously alter levels of amyloid and tau. If so, this would be useful in locating potential novel Alzheimer’s treatment strategies.

In the second study, experts looked at fecal samples and the results of cognitive tests from 1,014 participants, with a mean age of 52. They divided the cohort into groups based on the results of their cognitive tests and contrasted those scoring in the bottom 20% with those scoring in the top 20%.

To learn more about the potential neuroprotective benefits of these bacteria, the researchers stressed that more study is required. They did, however, add that in the future, it might be able to control their abundance through food and prebiotics to maintain cognitive performance and brain health.

Uncertainty regarding causality

The National Institutes of Health’s Dr. J. Wes Ulm, a bioinformatic scientific resource analyzer and biological data specialist who was not involved in the study, was consulted by experts regarding its drawbacks.

The studies, he claimed, do not prove causation because of their early nature even though they reveal a link between constipation and cognitive deterioration.

It’s also unclear whether certain dietary habits, such consuming fibre or using probiotics or prebiotics, are related to the reported results, the author said.

Additionally, only a relatively small sample of the related patient population underwent objective testing using several methods to more reliably corroborate such a finding, making the majority of the findings of cognitive impairment in the patient group subjective.

Can overcoming constipation promote mental health?

Dr. Ulm highlighted that although the exact causes and processes of chronic constipation are still unknown, other research have demonstrated a connection between inflammation and neuropsychiatric disorders and factors that contribute to chronic constipation, such as inadequate fibre consumption, inadequate hydration intake, and a sedentary lifestyle.

Despite the fact that dietary guidelines regularly change in response to new scientific findings, he continued, strengthening general health practises may lower the risk of cognitive decline in the long run. Increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, fibre, and water, as well as more frequent exercise, are examples of such practises.

Dr. Ulm came to the conclusion that it would be interesting to observe the results of this research, from straightforward methods to ease constipation to focused adjustments to the gut microbiota, and how they can aid in preventing dementia and other forms of cognitive decline.

REFERENCES:

For Constipation related medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=33

Could caffeine-concentrated beverages lower dementia risk?

Could caffeine-concentrated beverages lower dementia risk?

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The question of whether espresso can help lower the incidence of dementia is being investigated in a recent study from the University of Verona in Italy.

An relationship between increased caffeine concentrations and the prevention of tau protein aggregates—a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia—was discovered in the preliminary research, which was carried out in vitro, in the laboratory.

Whether consuming coffee could genuinely delay dementia for a longer period is still unknown.

A study that was published in the ACS Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests that consuming coffee with a high caffeine content, which some might associate with sipping an espresso, may help lower the risk of dementia.

Researchers discovered that espresso chemicals may prevent tau protein aggregation, a process thought to be responsible for the beginning of Alzheimer’s disease, the most prevalent kind of dementia, in preliminary in vitro laboratory testing.

The advantages of coffee and tea

According to medical experts, coffee and tea have additional health advantages besides the obvious one with caffeine.

While caffeine is undoubtedly a significant common factor, Dr. Scott Kaiser, the director of Geriatric Cognitive Health for the Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Centre in Santa Monica, California, noted that both coffee and tea are derived from plants with a wide variety of potentially advantageous chemical compounds, including potent antioxidants.

According to Kaiser for Healthline, “a substantial and expanding body of research demonstrates the benefits of specific foods for brain health, particularly those rich in antioxidants and other “neuroprotective” compounds.” For instance, more flavonoid intake has been linked in multiple studies to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease development.

He said, “These phytonutrients, which are substances that plants make to maintain their health, can really reduce inflammation in our brains, protect brain cells from damage, boost learning and memory, and give other clear benefits for brain health. And coffee and tea are on the list of healthy sources of flavonoids.”

According to the study’s authors, compared to the general population, the UK Biobank represents a healthier sample of people, which may limit the ability to generalize the correlations between coffee and tea and their potential advantages.

Additionally, just a small portion of the sample had dementia or a stroke, which the authors acknowledge makes it challenging to extrapolate rates correctly to wider populations.

On the other hand, “our findings suggested that moderate consumption of coffee and tea, separately or in combination, were associated with lower risk of stroke and dementia,” they concluded.

Coffee may reduce the aggregation of harmful proteins.

First, the researchers extracted espresso shots from pre-purchased beans. After that, they described the chemical composition and picked a few compounds, including caffeine.

Molecular components as well as the entire extract were tested. They spent at least 40 hours incubating with a cut-down version of the tau protein.

Tau fibrils did not grow into larger sheets as the caffeine concentration rose, with the whole extract producing the most striking consequences. The fibrils were ultimately harmless to cells and did not serve as a seed for further aggregation.

“This was an interesting study by a group of scientists in Verona, Italy, who are trying to help change the use of espresso coffee from a potential health risk to a health benefit,” said Clifford Segil, a board-certified neurologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Centre in Santa Monica, CA, who was not involved in the study.

What are the consequences of medicine?

According to Segil, “The researchers found that adding coffee to a protein called tau in test tubes prevented the tau protein from developing into something that has been demonstrated to be present in neurological illnesses that cause memory loss and trembling.”

Patients with Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s dementia both have tau. In the current work, the tau protein’s ability to aggregate, condense, and seed activity was inhibited by adding coffee brew to a basic form of the protein. According to Clifford Segil, the objective is to develop a therapeutic for these disorders utilising a coffee brew extract base.

Segil added that it is uncertain whether the study’s results would result in a fresh approach to treating neurodegenerative diseases.

He said that rather than a buildup that leads to neurological disease, “many contemporary neuroscientists believe these tau proteins may be more akin to freckles, which are typically normal aging pigments.”

Clinical neurologists like me who treat patients with neurodegenerative disorders like the Alzheimer’s form of dementia or Parkinson’s disease should be aware that no treatment modifying tau structure has demonstrated any clinical advantages.

Antioxidants maybe able to prevent dementia

Because coffee contains antioxidants in the form of polyphenols, some researchers have hypothesized that it may have several positive health effects, such as reducing the incidence of type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. Additionally, it might improve brain health.

That might be as a result of the fact that antioxidants from a person’s diet can assist prevent cellular ageing. Antioxidants, on their alone, are unlikely to provide complete immunity against any illness or medical condition.

According to Segil, “Antioxidant compounds that claim to be neuroprotective are abundant, and in theory, they may even be healthy. However, claims [that a] coffee brew is going to protect someone from getting a neurodegenerative disease is challenging to agree has scientific merit.”

However, the current study’s researchers assert that their initial in vitro results may open the door to discovering or creating additional bioactive chemicals against neurodegenerative illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Joel Salinas, a neurologist at NYU Langone Health who was not involved in the study, emphasised that this is extremely preliminary work and that other lines of inquiry are necessary.

He gave us an example, saying, “Causation has not yet been established, but other studies have linked coffee consumption to an increased risk of dementia.”

Dr. Salinas speculated that it would be necessary to draw boundaries between how much coffee is beneficial and how much is dangerous. Before designing or attempting to construct treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, these questions must be answered.

The function of tau in Parkinson’s and dementia

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, tau helps maintain the internal skeleton of neurons in the brain.

Tau tangles, a defining feature of Alzheimer’s disease, are created when tau proteins stick to one another.

In certain types of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal dementia, this buildup of tau proteins can harm or kill brain cells. The internal skeleton is torn apart by the tangles, which impairs thinking and memory.

The National Institutes of Health state that tau proteins may contribute to disease in addition to Alzheimer’s disease in:

  • Parkinson’s disease
  • frontotemporal dementia
  • Pick’s disease
  • progressive supranuclear palsy
  • corticobasal degeneration.

Researchers are still trying to find a mechanism to slow down or halt tau cells from harming good tissue.

Diagnoses of tau and Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis requires pricey imaging, which patients may not always have access to.

For this reason, researchers are trying to find a mechanism to spot Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages. The University of Pittsburgh developed a test to identify a biomarker known as “brain-derived tau.”

They claim that it performs better than the tests that are currently being used. It examines blood tau levels about the severity of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain and is specifically for Alzheimer’s disease.

Large-scale clinical trials with people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds are planned by the researchers.

REFERENCES:

For Dementia disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=64

Resist age-related cognitive decline with daily probiotics.

Resist age-related cognitive decline with daily probiotics.

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According to the outcomes of a scientific experiment, those with mild cognitive impairment who took a probiotic for 30 days performed better on cognitive tests.

After the trial, those who took probiotics had lower levels of a type of bacteria linked to cognitive impairment in their gut microbiomes.

According to the research, altering gut flora may be a promising strategy for treating chronic illnesses like cognitive impairment.

Probiotic therapy may help persons with moderate cognitive impairment (MCI) regain cognitive function, according to a clinical investigation.

There is an urgent need for more research,” declared Mashael R. Aljumaah, the primary study author and a doctorate candidate in microbiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in light of the global rise in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

People with cognitive impairment were given daily probiotics of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG during the double-blind randomised study. Also, after three months, their cognitive test results improved.

The researchers examined the participants’ stool samples and discovered significant quantities of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, or LGG, as well as a decrease in the quantity of Prevotella, a different family of bacteria frequently detected in individuals with cognitive deterioration.

These alterations imply a favourable change in the microbiota makeup of the subjects.

“Numerous earlier animal investigations, which showed LGG’s beneficial effects on several physiological situations, led to its development as a possible therapeutic probiotic. As a probiotic, LGG is also well-known for its capacity to withstand acidity and stick to intestinal walls,” according to lead researcher Michael R. Aljumaah.

Probiotic’s effects on mild cognitive impairment

To conduct the study, researchers contrasted those who had minor cognitive impairment with those who did not.

They aimed to spot, comprehend, and try to sway the early phases of cognitive deterioration. Finding biomarkers that could indicate the onset of cognitive decline was a part of that endeavor.

The age range of the 169 participants in the clinical trial ranged from 52 to 75 years old. As a control group, those without cognitive disorders were assigned to one group. People with cognitive problems were assigned to another group.

For three months, either LGG or a placebo was given to both groups. There were no negative effects in either group.

Prevotella, one such biomarker, was discovered in adults with cognitive impairment by Aljumaah and her coworkers. The fact that receiving LGG seemed to lessen its presence points to a potential future for microbiome re-balancing.

Aljumaah added, “By developing microbiome-targeted therapies, we may be able to delay the onset of cognitive impairment.”

Prevotella bacteria and long-term illnesses

Aljumaah clarified that while the Prevotella family of bacteria is present in persons with cognitive loss, it is not totally evident that their effect is solely detrimental.

For instance, the bacteria Prevotella has been linked to autoimmune, inflammatory, and cognitive disorders. According to Aljumaah, it is frequently discovered in persons who have Crohn’s disease or inflammatory bowel disorders such rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Additionally, because it originates from plant-based diets, Prevotella bacteria may aid in the processing of fiber and is linked to metabolites that are crucial for maintaining gut health.

This raises the question of whether specific Prevotella species or strains may contribute to these illnesses, or whether a particular genetic characteristic or mechanism may be to blame, Aljumaah observed.

Greater research with LGG bacteria is required.

Board-certified neurologist Dr. Santosh Kesari, director of neuro-oncology at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California, who was not involved in the study, told MNT that he considered the participants’ receiving cognitive advantages “intriguing.”

However, Dr. Kesari urged further investigations to confirm their findings and make sure that adding LGG bacteria doesn’t have any negative side effects.

He also raised concern that an attempt to treat a condition by adding a probiotic to the gut microbiome would upset the bacterial equilibrium, leading to negative effects.

“Focusing on a positive effect on brain health could have a counterproductive effect in another organ system,” Dr. Kesari warned.

Health effects of the gut-brain relationship

It’s crucial to keep in mind that our knowledge of the precise pathways tying the gut microbiome to cognitive function is still in its infancy, according to Aljumaah.

According to Aljumaah, “more specifically, our understanding about which members of the gut [microbiome] are involved remains limited.”

Aljumaah also suggested a number of potential routes for communication between the two dispersed bodily regions, including the vagus nerve and the immune system.

Additionally, metabolites like short-chain fatty acids and even neurotransmitters made by the gut flora may be implicated.

Dr. Kesari proposed that the microbiome’s influence on brain function might be more indirect.

The microbiome is really the doorway for nutrition, nutrients, and how things are metabolized, according to Dr. Kesari, therefore it has a huge impact on overall body health, including brain function. “You are what you eat, as the saying goes, and this is really the scientific proof of that,” said Dr. Kesari.

Improving health outcomes by changing the microbiome

Undoubtedly, the microbiome is medicine’s most challenging and exciting frontier in terms of human health. Prevotella serves as an illustration of how the microbiome is likewise a challenging field of research.

Whether or not researchers can ever fully comprehend the microbiome to control or rebalance its residents, Dr. Kesari said, “I think it has to get there.”

We are aware that nutrition and obesity are the main causes of morbidities in the United States. Many of these conditions are preventable, and the microbiome plays a role in some of them. There is no chance that our eating patterns will change very soon. So, in my opinion, the only solution to lessen the cost pressures of healthcare is if we can obtain a probiotic that may help us stay healthier, said neurologist Dr. Santosh Kesari.

REFERENCES;

For Mental disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=77_478

How can olive oil help to improve brain health?

How can olive oil help to improve brain health?

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According to a recent study, choosing olive oil may lower your risk of developing deadly dementia.

Participants who consumed half a tablespoon of olive oil daily had a 28% lower risk of passing away from dementia.

The incidence of fatal dementia was shown to be lowered by 8–14% by substituting one teaspoon of olive oil for one teaspoon of margarine or mayonnaise, according to the study’s authors.

Instead of using margarine or mayonnaise, researchers have found a link between daily olive oil consumption and a lower risk of dementia-related death.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that over 55 million individuals worldwide suffer from dementia. Dementia is the fifth biggest cause of death for senior citizens, with an estimated 10 million new cases per year.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common type of dementia, is thought to affect 6.7 million Americans over the age of 65.

According to a news release, the new study discovered that those who used olive oil on a regular basis had a 28% lower risk of passing away from dementia than those who did not.

The study looked at health records from 1990 to 2018 for 31,801 men and 60,582 women who were cancer and cardiovascular disease free. We monitored their health for 28 years.

According to the study’s authors, swapping just one teaspoon of margarine or mayonnaise for olive oil was linked to an 8–14% lower risk of dementia-related death.

How olive oil can reduce the risk of dementia?

Researchers have been looking into dietary and lifestyle changes as potential treatments for dementia symptoms.

Researchers looked at mortality records and food questionnaires from more than 90,000 Americans over a 30-year period in the new study. Dementia claimed the lives of 4,749 persons in the past three decades.

According to the research, those who ate more than half a tablespoon of olive oil daily had a 28% lower risk of passing away from dementia than those who never or infrequently ate it.

According to Anne-Julie Tessier, study author and research fellow of nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan, “typically, people who use olive oil for cooking or as a dressing have a better overall diet quality, but interestingly, we found the association to be regardless of this factor.”

Our research helps to validate the current dietary recommendations that urge people to choose vegetable oils like olive oil. Beyond heart health, our findings broaden the scope of the present guidelines to include cognitive health, according to Tessier.

Additionally, they discovered that replacing one teaspoon of mayonnaise and margarine with olive oil each day reduced the incidence of dementia-related death by 8–14%.

Tessier outlined the further steps in the research and said that intervention studies are required to shed light on the biological processes that might underlie the potential effects of olive oil on brain function.

Health benefits of olive oil

“Olive oil is a powerhouse when it comes to flavour and nutrients,” said Mackenzie Burgess, RDN, registered dietitian nutritionist, and recipe creator at Cheerful Choices.

Olive oil contains 7% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin K and 13% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin E. A good source of monounsaturated fats, or fats that can lower LDL or “bad” cholesterol, is olive oil. To properly absorb nutrients from our food, we need to consume enough fats, which can also make us feel satiated for longer.

According to research, consuming olive oil may help reduce blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and the risk of heart disease. Burgess further noted that this new observational study provides encouraging data for brain health.

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) has the largest percentage of monounsaturated fats when compared to other vegetable oils, which lowers the risk of atherosclerosis, colon cancer, and cancer, according to Dolores Woods, RDN, a nutritionist with the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health.

Overall, EVOO has a lot of fat-soluble vitamins and antioxidants, which support longevity and excellent health, according to Woods.

The relationship between olive oil and brain health

“Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats and contains compounds with antioxidant activity that may play a protective role for the brain,” Tessier said. Some of these may be able to pass the blood-brain barrier and potentially affect the brain directly. The improvement of cardiovascular health by olive oil may potentially have a direct impact on brain health.

Even though we already know olive oil has many health advantages, more study is still required to pinpoint how it affects the brain particularly.

According to Dr. Nate Wood, an instructor of medicine and medical education fellow in the division of general internal medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, “the precise reasons for this connection between olive oil consumption and brain health are not yet known.” Olive oil may protect brain blood vessels in a similar way to how it protects heart blood vessels.

Additionally, it’s likely that the antioxidants in olive oil penetrate the brain and safeguard the cells there just as they do everywhere in the body. Wood stated that more studies will be required to determine the precise causes.

How to increase your use of olive oil?

You can use olive oil in a variety of ways in your regular diet. According to Burgess, do the following:

  • Try roasting or sautéing colorful vegetables in olive oil when cooking.
  • Salads – Add olive oil to homemade vinaigrettes or drizzle it over Caprese salads.
  • Dips – For a simple dip for crusty bread, blend premium extra virgin olive oil with Italian seasoning. Additionally, you may include it in homemade bean dips like hummus and serve it with crudités.
  • Proteins – Add olive oil to other proteins, like morning scrambled eggs, or use it as a marinade for meats.
  • Baking: Olive oil may lend a delicious richness and depth of flavor to baked items. Replace vegetable oils or a portion of the butter in recipes for muffins, cakes, and cookies with olive oil.

Woods advises preparing your own vinaigrettes with oil. This straightforward vinaigrette can also be used to marinade fish or chicken:

Your favorite fresh herbs, shallots that have been minced, salt, and pepper should be added along with 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar (balsamic, red wine, white wine, or lemon juice).

Additionally, make sure the EVOO you use to prepare sauces and spreads like chutney, pesto, salsa verde, and chimichurri is of high quality and flavor. These are excellent choices to serve as dips or to mix with grilled meats and vegetables.

The ideal summer appetizer for these warm days is gazpacho. A strong EVOO that packs a flavorful punch is a crucial element. Toss cooked pasta with EVOO, lemon zest, and parmesan cheese for a simple supper.

Intake of olive oil per day

Two tablespoons of olive oil per day, as recommended by Dr. Pratic, is a healthy serving.

Kirkpatrick noted that research has ranged from 1 to 5 tablespoons per day, adding, “I advise my patients to aim for at least 3 tablespoons a day for brain health.”

Dr. Tessier responded when asked if a person might consume too much olive oil on a daily basis:

Dr. Tessier stated, “We did not notice a level at which there was no longer an association, but it is important to remember that few individuals consumed beyond 15 g/day that is, 15,000 mg/day of olive oil.”

“We found a clear linear dose-response association between higher daily intake of olive oil and lower risk of fatal dementia,” said Dr. Tessier.

Summary

According to a recent study, increasing your intake of olive oil may reduce your risk of passing away from dementia.

According to the research, people who drank more than half a tablespoon of olive oil daily had a 28% lower risk of passing away from dementia than those who never or infrequently ate it.

The study also revealed a relationship between daily substitution of one teaspoon of olive oil for margarine and mayonnaise and a reduction in dementia-related death risk of 8–14%.

Although olive oil has several health advantages, additional investigation is required to understand how it affects the brain.

You can use olive oil as a cooking oil, a salad dressing ingredient, and a dip base to increase the amount of it in your diet.

REFERENCES:

For Mental health medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=77_478

Is Alzheimer’s Disease Detectable by Finger Prick Test?

Is Alzheimer’s Disease Detectable by Finger Prick Test?

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The ability to diagnose and monitor Alzheimer’s disease remotely may be possible with finger prick tests, according to research.

In contrast to primary care physicians, who only have about 55% accuracy, a different study indicated that blood tests have over 85% accuracy in diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease.

The accuracy and accessibility of diagnosing and managing Alzheimer’s disease may potentially be improved by blood tests.

The number of Americans who have Alzheimer’s disease is currently at 6 million. This number is expected to rise to about 13 million by the year 2050.

Even though there is presently no cure for Alzheimer’s, research have shown that early detection and treatment are essential for postponing the disease’s onset.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cognitive testing, and physical examinations are currently used as diagnostic techniques. However, access to them is limited because it calls for going to a clinic with knowledgeable staff and involved sample delivery and storage processes.

These tests’ degree of accuracy vary as well. According to a research, almost 25% of people who received a lifetime clinical diagnosis of likely Alzheimer’s had no signs of the disease when they were autopsied.

Furthermore, according to research, up to 50% of dementia sufferers never receive a formal diagnosis while they are still living.

The capacity to detect Alzheimer’s disease earlier and administer treatments that may slow disease development could be aided by increasing the reliability and accessibility of Alzheimer’s testing.

A method for analysing finger prick tests for Alzheimer’s that may be performed at home without a doctor’s supervision was recently developed by researchers.

In contrast to conventional physical examinations, which only accurately diagnose patients with Alzheimer’s disease about 55% of the time, blood tests can detect the disease with a rate of over 85% accuracy.

Alzheimer’s blood tests you can do at home

77 patients from a Barcelona, Spain, memory clinic were involved in the study. All participants gave blood samples from their veins and finger pricks, as well as taking cognitive tests.

For overnight delivery to the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, blood samples were either spotted and dried on “dry blood spot” (DBS) cards or preserved using an anticoagulant called ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA).

DBS cards are simpler to carry than EDTA blood samples because they just need to be protected from humidity and moisture. Additionally, centrifugation—the mechanical separation of fluids based on their density—must be performed on EDTA samples before they can be studied, but not on DBS samples.

The blood samples were then examined in Sweden for indicators of Alzheimer’s disease, such as phosphorylated tau, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light (NfL).

They noticed that all of the blood samples contained indicators for Alzheimer’s disease. As a result, they claimed, Alzheimer’s biomarkers may be measured with finger prick collection, and DBS might facilitate routine monitoring of patients with possible neurological problems.

How precise are Alzheimer’s blood tests?

Dr. Sebastian Palqvist, Ph.D., associate professor at Lund University in Sweden, and colleagues compared the effectiveness of blood-based biomarkers for detecting Alzheimer’s disease with examinations from primary care physicians in a second study that will also be presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.

They had 307 patients, ranging in age from middle-aged to old, with a mean age of 76. Cognitive evaluations and a CT or MRI scan were part of primary care examinations. Additionally, participants donated a sample of venous blood, which was examined to evaluate the levels of beta-amyloid and phosphorylated tau.

Blood tests accurately detected Alzheimer’s more than 85% of the time, whereas primary care doctors only correctly identified alterations associated with Alzheimer’s 55% of the time.

According to a news release from Dr. Palmqvist, primary care physicians may find it challenging to diagnose Alzheimer’s due to a lack of precise diagnostic equipment.

This too frequently results in misdiagnosis and ineffective therapy. Alzheimer’s blood tests have enormous promise for increasing diagnostic precision and providing patients with the best care possible. In the near future, as new medications that slow the disease in its early stages become more widely accessible, these tests might become even more crucial.

A faster, less expensive method of diagnosis

“We see these new tools improving our ability to recognise the earliest changes of Alzheimer’s and ultimately speeding our ability to prevent or delay the onset of memory decline,” said Dr. Jeffrey Burns, neurologist and co-director of the University of Kansas Medical Center’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centre, who was not involved in the study.

“The general public will soon have access to these instruments. We anticipate the FDA approving blood tests for Alzheimer’s within the next one to two years”. Dr. Jeffrey Burns stated, “We are entering a new and exciting era of Alzheimer’s disease with novel diagnostic and treatment options that will significantly alter how we practise.“

Psychiatrist and director of the Pacific Brain Health Centre at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California, Dr. David Merrill, Ph.D., who was not involved in the study, said that there is currently a shortage of specialists who can perform the extensive testing required to diagnose Alzheimer’s.

“Lumbar puncture tests and radioactive brain scans are riskier, more expensive, and require specialised medical care. Even today’s blood tests require specialist processing and handling to prevent results from being tainted,” he said.

“If this method is validated, it could increase the number of patients screened for Alzheimer’s and may help catch the disease early, when interventions can have a greater impact,” said Dr. Jennifer Bramen, Ph.D., a senior research scientist at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California, who was also not involved in the study.

“A simple finger prick of blood put onto a card that can be shipped directly from a patient’s home at room temperature simplifies the process of getting tested for Alzheimer’s,” explained Dr. David Merrill.

Why only a blood test may not be sufficient?

Dr. Bramen pointed out that the findings were limited by the fact that it was a tiny pilot study and that the research procedures and conclusions had not yet undergone peer review.

Detecting amyloid is not the same as diagnosing Alzheimer’s, Dr. Burns continued. It will be crucial to discover the optimal ways to use these technologies in clinical practise, he added.

A neuropsychologist at Baptist Health Marcus Neuroscience Institute named Dr. Raphael Wald, Psy.D., who was not engaged in the study, was also consulted by experts. Although the test may be helpful in corroboration of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, he pointed out that it does not reveal the severity of an individual’s impairment.

“Some persons can manage their daily lives quite well despite having Alzheimer’s disease as determined by other testing. Others are severely damaged and show no indications of Alzheimer’s,” he said.

Dr. Merrill added that while blood testing might be more accurate than just gathering medical histories, physicians must also think about the care that would follow.

Will confirmatory testing be easily accessible? Who will pay for the test’s repeatability and how often can or should it be performed? Will blood spot testing be recognised as a starting point for therapies, or will additional testing be necessary? How will newly diagnosed patients be supported? Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis can be a heartbreaking event. Before making this test available to the entire public, there are still many details to be resolved,” he said.

REFERENCES:

For Alzheimer’s disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=31

Alzheimer’s disease and protein imbalance in middle age.

Alzheimer’s disease and protein imbalance in middle age.

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Even though Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent form of dementia, it is not a natural part of ageing and affects an increasing number of people.

The hunt for early disease markers is ongoing because early diagnosis and treatments help both dementia patients and their carers.

Now, 32 proteins have been related to the later development of Alzheimer’s disease in middle-aged persons after a lengthy investigation. The researchers advise more investigation into these proteins as potential indicators of Alzheimer’s disease.

The most prevalent type of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, affects more than 6 million people in the United States. According to the World Health Organisation, Alzheimer’s disease is to blame for 70 percent of the 55 million cases of dementia globally.

Alzheimer’s symptoms can be treated, but there is currently no known cure for the condition. Trials of new drugs, however, are encouraging.

Donanemab, lecanemab, and aducanumab, novel monoclonal antibody medications that remove amyloid proteins from the brain, appear in clinical trials to delay the onset of disease symptoms.

Early diagnosis is essential to successful therapy because studies have shown that these drugs work best when administered during the early stages of the disease. Donanemab trial data recently made public indicate that the medication dramatically slows the clinical course of Alzheimer’s when taken soon after symptoms first occur.

Proteins that are connected to the later development of Alzheimer’s have been found in a recent study of adults between the ages of 45 and 65.

What is the disease Alzheimer’s?

A form of dementia that progresses is Alzheimer’s disease. A condition that adversely impacts memory, thinking, and behavior is referred to as dementia. The modifications make daily life more difficult. There are numerous possible causes of dementia, including diseases and brain traumas. Sometimes there is no known cause.

The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases are caused by Alzheimer’s disease. The condition is typically diagnosed in patients over the age of 65. Alzheimer’s disease is typically described as having an “early onset” or “younger onset” if it is discovered earlier.

Alzheimer’s has no known cure, but some medications can halt the disease’s growth.

A 32 protein biomarker imbalance

The goal of this study was to find proteins that are improperly expressed in middle-aged persons (defined as those between the ages of 45 and 65) who later experience dementia.

Researchers collected blood samples from 10,981 individuals with a mean age of 60 at the beginning of the trial, between 1993 and 1995. Then, using the blood samples, they examined more than 4,800 plasma proteins.

1,874 patients (17%) had dementia diagnoses over the course of the 25-year follow-up period.

32 plasma proteins were discovered by the researchers to be linked to dementia risk. GDF15, a protein involved in inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic and immunoregulatory regulation, showed the highest correlation.

They next looked into whether proteins were linked to dementia risk in the short-term (within 15 years of protein measurement) and long-term (beyond 15 years following protein measurement).

Seven midlife proteins, including GDF15 and others related in immunology, growth factor binding, protein breakdown, and nerve and synaptic function, were linked to a higher chance of developing near-term dementia.

Along with six other proteins that were not prominent at the 15-year mark, GDF15 was also linked to a risk of long-term dementia, indicating that the molecular pathways underlying the risk of dementia evolve with time.

Early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease

The proteins were also discovered in some of the brain tissue. However, GDF15, which was linked to both short- and long-term risks of dementia, was not found by the researchers in the brain tissue.

They contend that rather than being an Alzheimer’s disease-specific protein, it is connected to the neuroinflammation that is linked to aging-related disease.

However, they think they have “identified several pathway-specific plasma proteins that may be relevant in the earliest phase of Alzheimer’s and related dementias.” The researchers did not discover any direct causal links between proteins and Alzheimer’s.

Do new Alzheimer’s tests result from this?

“Although the dementia-associated proteins alone did not provide a highly accurate prediction of 25-year dementia risk, these proteins, in combination, did add modest predictive value to a group of demographic and clinical variables which are themselves strong predictors of dementia risk,” the study’s authors stated.

The proteins that have been discovered, according to the researchers, ought to serve as the starting point for additional study because they might be dementia risk factors.

Additionally, they assert that their findings might shed light on pertinent biological pathways and make it easier to uncover illness early signs and molecular triggers.

Therefore, with more study, these proteins might be helpful in determining a person’s risk of dementia. We will have to wait and see if they contribute to the development of new dementia diagnostic tests.

REFERENCES:

For Alzheimer’s disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=31

Superagers: Why resistant to age-related memory decline?

Superagers: Why resistant to age-related memory decline?

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An observational study investigated whether age-related memory decline may not affect superagers, or those 80 years and older who possess the cognitive abilities of people who are decades younger.

In comparison to older persons with cognitive deterioration, the octogenarians with strong memory retention moved more quickly and experienced lower levels of worry and depression. Additionally, MRI scans revealed that certain memory-related brain regions had increased grey matter in super-agers.

Superagers are people over the age of 80 whose recollections of their past are just as clear as those of others who are 20 or 30 years younger. Scientific research is becoming increasingly interested in the mechanisms of superaging.

According to a recent study, older persons with cognitive decline had higher rates of anxiety and despair compared to octogenarians with strong memory retention. They also do better on movement tests.

The researchers speculate that such superagers may also have more grey matter in their brains.

In a press release, the study’s first author Marta Garo-Pascual, a Ph.D. candidate at the Technical University of Madrid in Spain who studies healthy memory ageing, stated:

“We are now getting closer to answering one of the most important outstanding concerns about superchargers: whether they are actually resistant to age-related memory decline or whether they have coping mechanisms that allow them to outperform their contemporaries in overcoming this decline. Although the specific causes of super agers resistance to these processes are still unknown, our data suggest they do. We may be able to learn vital information about the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of memory function well into old life by investigating the connections between superaging and movement speed in more detail.”

Superagers: Exercise promotes the health of the brain

For the study, 55 typical older persons and 64 superagers who were identified by a memory test used in a prior study on Alzheimer’s disease were compared. The average age of research participants was 79.5 years or higher.

The Timed Up and Go Test, which assesses mobility, and a finger-tapping test, which gauges fine motor function, revealed that the superagers outperformed the general population.

Even when super agers reported no appreciable change in exercise levels from the older people in the control group, the findings persisted.

The study’s principal author, Dr. Bryan Strange, a neurologist at the Technical University of Denmark, noted that although superagers report similar activity levels to average older adults, it’s possible that they engage in more physically taxing hobbies like gardening or stair climbing.

“There are many direct and indirect benefits of being physically active that may contribute to improved cognitive abilities in old age, from lower blood pressure and obesity levels to increased blood flow to the brain,” stated Dr. Bryan Strange.

It’s also plausible that the reason superagers move more quickly is because their brains are in greater health to begin with, according to Strange.

The amount of grey matter in superagers brains is higher.

The results also supported earlier studies that found super-agers have more grey matter in the brain regions linked to memory.

Researchers Dr. Alexandra Touroutoglous, Dr. Bonnie Wong, and Dr. Joseph M Andreano of Harvard Medical School wrote in an editorial statement that accompanied the article that this discovery predominantly focused on the medial temporal lobe of the brain, “which is consistent with previous research.”

The comments pointed out that previous studies on the anterior mid-cingulate cortex, another crucial area of the brain, reported more cortical thickness and stronger functional connectivity among super-agers, who in turn had greater memory performance.

The attention, memory, executive function, and motivation are just a few of the processes that the anterior mid-cingulate cortex is involved in.

The researchers concluded that “[the] greater performance of super agers relative to typical older adults may not only reflect differences in motivation, executive function, and persistence in the face of difficulty, which suggests that super-agers have a higher level of tenacity than typical older adults.”

Compared to other older individuals, superagers age differently.

According to the University of Madrid study, there were no discernible differences between superagers and other adults of a similar age in terms of biomarkers or genetic risk factors for neurological illness. This suggests that another protective mechanism may be at play.

Similar levels of dementia blood biomarkers were found in both the superager and standard older adult groups, the researchers said, “suggesting that group differences reflect inherent superager resistance to typical age-related memory loss.”

The study’s large sample size, according to Dr. S. Jay Olshansky, a professor in the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, makes the results an essential addition to the field of “geroscience,” the research of mechanisms that cause aging.

Dr. Olshansky stated, “We do a lot of things to shorten our lives by adopting unhealthy lifestyles,” and many superchargers and centenarians people who live past 100 live longer and have better cognitive health because they age differently from the general population.

Do super-agers have a hereditary propensity for aging?

The appearance of some children of superchargers, Dr. Olshansky recalled, supported the idea that some people’s “biological time clock ticks at a slower rate” due to genetic factors. This is said to also explain why the superchargers in the Spanish study also performed better on movement tests.

Even though they have completed 80 orbits around the sun, he claimed that they are not biologically 80 years old.

“Asking superagers for their key to longevity is therefore ludicrous because they have no idea. They recently emerged as the birth genetic lottery winner.

The latest study, according to Dr. Olshansky, attempts to better understand why some people age differently than others and determine whether the process may be changed.

He said, “Start with not shortening your life,” in the meanwhile. “We will still age and pass away, even if you control all the risk factors,” he stated. We are at the mercy of our genes, but we have some power over those genes.

REFERENCES:

For Mental disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=77_478

Hearing aids may almost 50% lower the risk of dementia.

Hearing aids may almost 50% lower the risk of dementia.

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The effect of hearing aids on slowing cognitive decline was studied in the largest clinical research to date.

Researchers discovered a 48% decrease in risk among those who were at an increased risk of dementia. The findings contribute to the body of knowledge on the relationship between hearing loss and cognitive decline.

According to the National Institute on Ageing, someone worldwide gets dementia, a group of illnesses that damage the brain. Also, result in cognitive decline and memory loss, every three seconds.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia.

Dementia can occur for a variety of reasons, and there are a number of risk factors for dementia as well. Hearing loss is one of them. Hearing loss and a higher risk of dementia have been linked in previous studies.

The largest clinical experiment to look into whether a hearing loss therapy intervention can lessen a person’s risk for cognitive decline has now been completed. The results have been published by researchers from the Ageing and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders (ACHIEVE) study.

Researchers showed that using a hearing aid and getting support and counselling from an audiologist significantly reduced cognitive deterioration in individuals in a higher-risk subgroup by 48%.

Recognising those who use hearing aids

The study discovered differences in hearing aid usage based on geography, gender, and ethnicity.

Nearly 115,000 adults over the age of 66 who had hearing loss and insurance coverage from a significant. Also, private insurance firm between 2008 and 2016 were studied using data from these individuals.

Participants were followed up on by the team 3 years after their diagnosis and one year prior.

Men were more likely to use hearing aids if they had hearing loss. In actuality, 13.3 percent of men and 11.3 percent of women purchased hearing aids.

Additionally, 13.6% of white persons, 9.8% of African Americans, and 6.5 % of those of Latino descent received a hearing aid.

Nearly 37% of hearing-impaired Americans who wore hearing aids resided in the north-central region of the nation, compared to 5.9% of persons in the mountain states.

Those who wore hearing aids had an 18% decreased chance of receiving a dementia diagnosis within three years of a hearing loss diagnosis (including Alzheimer’s disease).

Hearing aid users had a 13 percent lower likelihood of receiving treatment for injuries sustained from falls and an 11 percent lower risk of receiving a diagnosis of depression or anxiety by the end of the three-year period.

The study’s findings, ACHIEVE

Participants in the ACHIEVE study range in age from 70 to 84, have mild to moderate hearing loss that is untreated, and do not have significant cognitive impairment. Four American locations were used to carry out the study.

977 individuals in all were recruited for the study. About 740 of them were recently recruited healthy community participants. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study has about 240 participants.

Researchers found that participants in the ARIC group had more cognitive risk factors, poorer baseline cognitive scores, and a faster rate of cognitive deterioration over the course of the study’s three years than the other participants.

One group of participants underwent a three-year intervention that included receiving hearing aids, a self-management “toolkit” for hearing loss, and regular training and counselling with an audiologist.

Only speaking sessions with a health educator to address the prevention of chronic diseases were provided to the control group.

After three years, researchers discovered that ARIC study participants who received hearing aids and intervention had decreased the rate of their cognitive loss by 48%.

The ACHIEVE study’s co-principal investigator, Dr. Frank Lin, a professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said, “A 48% reduction in cognitive deterioration is significant, and we were happy to learn that the benefit was so big.”

How are hearing loss and cognitive deterioration related?

Dr. Lin claims that it has been well established for more than ten years by researchers that hearing loss significantly increases the risk of dementia and cognitive decline.

But he continued, “We didn’t know if treating hearing loss may actually slow cognitive deterioration and perhaps even cut the likelihood of dementia.”

Dr. Lin outlined three key factors that shed light on why dementia and hearing loss may be linked:

“First, hearing loss causes speech and sound to be muddled before they reach the brain, which makes it harder for the brain to understand the signals coming from the ear. The brain’s capacity to sustain thinking and memory is therefore reduced.”

Second, hearing loss depletes the areas of the brain that are normally activated by speech and sound, which can result in atrophy and modifications to the brain’s structure and function.

Thirdly, communication difficulties brought on by hearing loss might result in social isolation, another dementia risk factor, according to Dr. Frank Lin, co-principal investigator of the ACHIEVE project.

This is not the first study to look into the relationship between dementia, hearing loss, and hearing aids.

According to a 2022 study, wearing hearing aids may slow the cognitive impairment brought on by hearing loss.

Additionally, an observational study released in April 2023 discovered hearing loss was linked to a higher risk of dementia, and that utilising hearing aids may potentially help reduce that risk.

Additional proof that treating hearing loss enhances cognitive

Dr. Courtney Voelker, a board-certified neurotologist and the director of the Adult & Paediatric Cochlear Implant Programme at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Centre in Santa Monica, California, commented on the study after reading it and said that it is an exciting study that provides additional proof that not only is hearing loss connected to cognitive decline as we age, but that we can also take action to prevent it.

According to her, there is growing evidence, which includes this study, that treating hearing loss aggressively can enhance cognition. This treatment may include cochlear implants or hearing aids, depending on the severity of the hearing loss. And it’s really exciting.

Dr. Voelker claimed that when discussing cognitive decline with her patients, she emphasises the significance of maintaining brain neuron activation and stimulation.

“And it’s very interesting patients really respond to this,” she added. “People who may have initially been reluctant to adopt hearing aids take the possibility of developing cognitive dementia very seriously when making their choice.” He also explains to patients why we allow people to go without hearing aids even though we would never allow someone to go without glasses if they had vision problems. Additionally, patients appear to connect with that parallel. According to neurotologist Dr. Courtney Voelker, “We want our hearing to be as crisp and clear as our vision is with glasses.”

Understanding hearing loss

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 20% of people worldwide have some form of hearing loss.

There are several reasons why someone could lose their hearing, including:

  • exposure over time to loud noises
  • hearing loss
  • destruction of the inner ear
  • a torn eardrum
  • a history of hearing loss in the family
  • some diseases, such meningitis, that raise the body’s temperature
  • a few medicines

Furthermore, hearing loss becomes more prevalent as we age, with the majority of cases typically happening beyond the age of 60.

Hearing loss can be either temporary or permanent, depending on the circumstances. There is currently no solution for age-related hearing loss, and it may get worse with time.

REFERENCES:

For Alzheimer’s disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=77_478

Sleeping well is incredibly important for lowering anxiety.

Sleeping well is incredibly important for lowering anxiety.

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Chronic stress can make some mental diseases, such as anxiety and depression, more likely.

According to a new study, sleep and adaptive emotion regulation techniques both have a significant impact on lowering the risk of anxiety and depression in those who are under a lot of chronic stress.

This study made use of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a lot of chronic stress in the population. Regardless of the cause, managing chronic stress is important.

The COVID-19 epidemic created a rare circumstance in which many people went through a period of prolonged stress. Researchers want to know how long-term stress like this affects mental illness and what elements can help mental health.

The relationship between adaptive emotion regulation techniques, also known as positive coping mechanisms, and sleep quality was investigated in a study that was published in the journal Cortex.

Both elements are beneficial in lowering rates of anxiety and sadness, according to scientists. In contrast to their premise, they discovered that the quality of sleep did not significantly affect how well emotion management strategies worked.

What function does sleep quality have?

In this study, sleep and mental health data gathered from the spring of 2020 through the autumn of 2020’s COVID-19 pandemic were analysed secondarily.

The initial goal of the study was to determine whether adaptive emotion management techniques are related to greater mental health.

Long-term mental health is enhanced through thought processes known as adaptive cognitive emotion control techniques. A good illustration would be “positive reappraisal,” which is the process of looking for the positive aspects of an event or circumstance.

Second, scientists wanted to know if the efficiency of adaptive emotion management techniques was affected by the calibre of sleep. The COVID-19 pandemic was used as a naturally occurring and persistent stressor while they examined these factors.

Strategies for emotional management are crucial.

There were 1,600 adult participants in the study. The participants filled out online forms to submit information, including crucial demographic data. They also answered questions about general anxiety, despair, and sleep hygiene, as well as techniques for controlling emotions.

Based on data analysis, the researchers discovered that lower scores for anxiety and sadness were connected with greater usage of adaptive cognitive emotion control techniques.

Additionally, they discovered a link between claims of better sleep quality and lower anxiety and depressive disorder scores.

In terms of the connection between adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and sleep quality, they discovered that persons who reported getting more restful sleep used these strategies more frequently.

Their final model, which took into account the quality of the sleep, revealed that employing adaptive cognitive emotion control techniques did not significantly predict the consequences of anxiety.

In other words, the quality of sleep did not seem to affect how successfully positive coping techniques reduced depression and anxiety. Regardless of the quality of sleep, the positive control techniques still demonstrated benefits for mental health.

Sullivan provided a nuanced explanation of these findings:

We did discover that using positive coping mechanisms more frequently was linked to fewer depressive and anxious symptoms. Additionally, fewer signs of anxiety and despair were linked to higher sleep quality. However, contrary to what we had anticipated, employing healthy coping mechanisms to lessen sadness and anxiety symptoms did not rely on getting enough sleep.

Findings are not as unexpected as they may appear

Dr. Lindsay Oberleitner, a licenced clinical psychologist and the education director of SimplePractice, who was not engaged in this study, offered her thoughts on the findings.

Contrary to expectations, she said, “cognitive emotion regulation strategies and sleep quality did not interact in their relationship to depression and anxiety.”

However, she added, this might not be as shocking as it initially appears to be.

“If we take a step back from the current study, this might not come as much of a surprise. We are aware that different people experience depression and anxiety in different ways due to complicated circumstances”. According to Dr. Lindsay Oberleitner, only a small part of emotion management techniques use adaptive cognitive strategies, and sleep is only one physical health factor that affects mental health.

Limitations of the study and future research

It is nonetheless important to be aware of this study’s limitations. Participants’ self-reporting, which is not always reliable, was used by researchers.

They observe that subjectively evaluated sleep quality is frequently poorer than what people report. They could only test sleep quality and adaptive cognitive emotion regulation technique once, thus they were unable to track changes that might have taken place over the course of the study.

Additionally, the authors had more data on depression than anxiety. The study lacked the capacity to detect any potential minor interaction effects.

They were unable to determine which cognitive emotion control method or combination was more effective due to the measurements they employed, as well as how these strategies worked together.

The majority of the white, educated female participants in the study were from the United States. Specific confounders could not be accounted for, and data was gathered online. All of these characteristics limit how broadly the study’s findings can be applied and point to the need for more diverse research in the future.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented a unique form of stress, therefore it is challenging to relate this study to other types of persistent stress and the ensuing mental health results, according to the study authors.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic was undoubtedly a particularly stressful circumstance, she said, “it would be beneficial to replicate these results in the context of other protracted stressful events.”

Additionally, she continued, “as we examined a variety of positive coping mechanisms together, it may be crucial in the future to see how particular mechanisms, like positive reappraisal (rethinking the circumstance in a positive light) and putting into perspective (i.e. considering the bigger picture), are related to both sleep quality and depressive and anxiety symptoms.”

How to deal with persistent stress?

Regardless of what causes it, managing stress requires action.For mental wellness, a trusted source is essential. This may entail making efforts to live a healthy lifestyle, asking friends for aid, and knowing when to seek the assistance of a mental health professional.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) adds that keeping a daily schedule and limiting time spent on social media can both help with stress management.

In Phoenix, Arizona, at Cora Health Solutions, Betsy Serrano, a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who was also not engaged in the latest study, provided the following advice for productive stress management:

“There are some straightforward exercises that can help reduce mild tension and anxiety. By releasing feel-good endorphins, physical activity releases stress-relieving hormones that help to calm the mind.” When feeling anxious, eating well, limiting caffeine intake, practicing yoga and meditation, as well some smartphone apps like Calm, are all quite beneficial. However, if your stress levels are so high that they’re interfering with your daily activities, you should think about seeking counselling and, if necessary, medication, according to mental health nurse practitioner Betsy Serrano.

REFERENCES:

For Anxiety medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=31