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Reduce the Dementia risk by strict blood pressure control.

Reduce the Dementia risk by strict blood pressure control.

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The effects of intensive versus routine hypertension treatment on brain lesions were examined by researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Centre in San Antonio.

The researchers discovered that intensive therapy that maintains blood pressure within normal bounds is associated with a slowed progression of lesions using data from a previous study.

The study results could influence treatment strategies for hypertensive patients to lower the likelihood of lesions that can result in diminished cognitive performance with further research and trials.

Millions of people have hypertension, which can lead to strokes and brain lesions and compromise brain health.

An aggressive blood pressure regimen can slow the growth of white matter lesions in the brain, according to a recent study headed by UT Health San Antonio.

In contrast to patients with systolic blood pressure readings of 140 mm Hg, the researchers compared the MRI scans of individuals who maintained blood pressure levels below 120 mm Hg.

What is considered hypertension?

Millions of Americans suffer from the medical disease known as hypertension, sometimes known as high blood pressure. Nearly half of American adults have hypertension, which the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention claim contributed to more than 670,000 deaths in 2020.

Blood vessel damage and other health issues can result from high blood pressure. Heart attacks and strokes are two conditions brought on by hypertension.

The following blood pressure ranges are described by the American Heart Association:

For individuals, a normal blood pressure reading is defined as an upper number (systolic) less than 120 over a lower number (diastolic) of 80 mm Hg.

  • Blood pressure that is elevated is 120 to 129 over 80 or less.
  • Hypertension in stage 1 is defined as 130-139 above 80-89.
  • 140 over 90 or higher indicates stage 2 hypertension.

When the systolic and/or diastolic values exceed 180 and 120 respectively, a hypertension crisis ensues.

As the cardiologist, Dr. Kershaw Patel points out in the Houston Methodist podcast On Health, “When we talk about high blood pressure, we must realise it affects not just the heart, but also the brain, the kidneys, and other organs in the body.”

Although doctors frequently prescribe prescription drugs to treat high blood pressure, patients can also try to lower or normalise their blood pressure by making changes to their lifestyle.

Dr. Patel stated that lifestyle changes and then drugs are commonly used to manage high blood pressure. And it really comes down to two-thirds lifestyle and one-third medicine. By adjusting a few aspects of our lifestyle, we can significantly lower our blood pressure.

Blood pressure can be normalised by giving up smoking, consuming less alcohol, exercising, eating a low-sodium diet, and eating more fruits and vegetables.

lowering one’s blood pressure to 120

The American Academy of Family Physicians’ (AAFP) standard of care for hypertensive patients is to lower their systolic blood pressure to 140 mm Hg. This goal lowers the risk of cardiovascular death, according to the AAFP.

To assess the effect on white matter lesions (WMLs), the UT Health San Antonio researchers compared the normal treatment target to a more rigorous therapy. The goal of the rigorous treatment program was to lower participants’ systolic blood pressure to under 120 mm Hg.

The researchers examined data from 458 participants using information from the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), which tracked participants for 4 years. Participants in the study were “aged 50 years or older with hypertension and without diabetes or a history of stroke,” according to the study’s authors.

At the start and conclusion of their trials, the researchers matched each participant’s treatment to their MRI images. They were searching for WMLs, a type of injury to the brain’s white matter that can result in cognitive impairment.

Treatment that is intensive lessens brain damage

According to the study’s findings, the intensive treatment group’s WML volume progression and fractional anisotropy (FA) declines were slower than those of the conventional treatment group.

The FA result is noteworthy since it represents a “measure of connectivity in the brain.” The right splenium, right tapetum, and left anterior corona radiata are a few of the brain areas that saw slower WML growth.

The study also demonstrates that aggressive blood pressure management may be able to maintain some myelin structure, which, according to the scientists, “ultimately slows the progression of injury patterns associated with dementia.”

According to research author Dr. Tanweer Rashid, who works with the Biggs Institute at UT Health San Antonio, “our study shows that specific areas have greater benefit, representing sensitive regions to track in future trials evaluating small-vessel disease.”

How white matter is impacted by blood pressure?

The study’s findings were discussed by Dr. Arun Manmadhan, a cardiovascular disease expert at Columbia University Irving Medical Centre in New York City.

“White matter lesions are abnormally damaged regions of tissue in the white matter of the brain. According to Dr. Manmadhan, they are frequently brought on by anomalies in the tiny blood arteries that provide oxygen and nutrients to the brain.”

Dr. Manmadhan provided more information on the study’s findings, namely how blood pressure may affect WMLs.

“The current report, which is a SPRINT-MIND substudy, examined the impact of stringent blood pressure management on changes in the brain’s white matter as determined by MRI.”

According to Dr. Manmadhan, the results here point to a potential benefit of tight blood pressure control in slowing the development and progression of white matter lesions, which are linked to a higher risk of dementia and cognitive decline.

Overall, according to Dr. Manmadhan, the study is an asset to the field of hypertension.

This study “adds to the already substantial body of literature that managing blood pressure is very important for not only preventing cardiovascular events but also in maintaining memory and cognition,” the author added.

REFERENCES:

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

Can Alzheimer’s be cured with a new genetic therapy?

Can Alzheimer’s be cured with a new genetic therapy?

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There is presently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, which is thought to be the root cause of dementia in 32 million individuals worldwide.

The majority of experts think that aberrant amyloid and tau protein buildups in the brain trigger alterations that lead to Alzheimer’s disease.

An experiment using a brand-new gene silencing treatment for Alzheimer’s disease that aims to reduce the body’s level of tau protein was carried out by a multidisciplinary team of researchers.

The most widely accepted explanation regarding the origins of Alzheimer’s disease is that it results from aberrant accumulations of the proteins amyloid and tau, which alter the brain. However, scientists are still unsure of the exact mechanism by which this disease develops.

Alzheimer’s disease, which is believed to afflict 32 million people worldwide, has no known cure, although doctors can treat its symptoms to enhance a patient’s quality of life.

A new gene silencing therapy for Alzheimer’s disease has now being tested by an international team of experts. The treatment turns off the tau protein-coding gene, which reduces the body’s production of the protein.

What impact does tau protein have on Alzheimer’s?

The core cells of the neurological system, called neurons, are where tau is most frequently found. Tau aids in maintaining the tube-like interior shape of nerve cells in a healthy brain.

Microtubules are structures that resemble tubes that aid in maintaining cell shape and guarantee that other proteins and chemicals move around the entire neuron with ease.

The tau protein in an Alzheimer’s patient’s brain separates from the microtubules and instead binds to other tau proteins inside the brain cell. As a result, the microtubules break down and aberrant tau protein accumulations occur.

These tau protein accumulations come together to form “tangles” within the brain cells. As a result, the neurons are unable to communicate with one another.

We spoke with Dr. David Merrill, an adult, and geriatric psychiatrist and the director of the Pacific Brain Health Centre at Providence Saint John’s Health Centre in Santa Monica, California, who was not involved in this study. “We know that tau tangles track with the progression of Alzheimer’s, meaning the worse that Alzheimer’s gets, the more tau tangles there are throughout more and more of the brain,” he said.

And ultimately, he continued, “those lead to neuron dysfunction and death.”

Blocking the gene that codes for tau

In this investigation, scientists developed a medication intended to silence the tau protein-encoding gene. The microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) gene is the one in question.

Antisense oligonucleotide BIIB080 is the name of the investigational medication. Small bits of RNA or DNA are used in this type of therapy to prevent a particular RNA from carrying out its intended function. In this instance, those are to act as guidelines for the creation of the tau protein.

Researchers included 46 patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease, with an average age of 66 years, in this phase 1 clinical research. The experiment was held between 2017 and 2020.

Throughout a 13-week treatment period, the trial compared four doses of the experimental medication injected into the nervous system through the spinal canal to a placebo.

Researchers discovered that 24 weeks after therapy, levels of both total tau and phosphorylated tau had decreased by more than 50% in trial participants in the treatment groups that had received the highest dose of the medication.

Over 90% of participants finished the post-treatment period, and 94% of those who received the drug and 75% of those who received a placebo reported mild or moderate side effects. The most frequent side effect of the experimental medication was headaches upon injection.

A ‘plausible’ therapy strategy

Dr. Merrill described this study’s ability to mute the expression of the gene that causes tau tangles in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients as “amazing” when asked about it.

Dr. David Merrill stated that this study “is the first step in demonstrating that this is a safe approach with a plausible biologic mechanism that can then be tested to see if it indeed does what we would expect, which is slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and be a disease-modifying therapy that results in people’s cognition being better for longer.”

Non-participant in this study, Dr. Raphi Wald is a board-certified neuropsychologist at the Marcus Neuroscience Institute, established at Baptist Health South Florida’s Boca Raton Regional Hospital.

According to him, “a great deal of research is currently being conducted on preventing or destroying the abnormal proteins that appear on the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.”

“Compared to those without the disease, people with Alzheimer’s tend to have higher levels of the two proteins tau and amyloid in their brains. The majority of Alzheimer’s research has been devoted to preventing these diseases from spreading throughout the brain. This research suggests what might be a useful strategy for doing that,” he said.

The Alzheimer’s Association’s senior director of scientific programs and outreach, Dr. Claire Sexton, commented on this study.

While Alzheimer’s disease anti-amyloid therapies have gotten a lot of attention, the drug development landscape is much bigger, with a variety of targets and approaches being researched, she said. This is a positive report on phase 1 research that targets tau, one of the main indicators of Alzheimer’s disease, using a gene silencing strategy.

What comes next?

Dr. Wald stated that when it comes to the next steps in this research, the most crucial factor with these treatments is how they impact the daily lives of those at risk for or dealing with Alzheimer’s disease.

“Reducing tau is not a guarantee that people will not go on to have worsening cognitive functioning,” he advised. According to Dr. Merrill, the next logical step would be a phase 2 experiment to assess side effect tolerance and safety.

He continued, “And then the actual phase 3 trial would be to really look at treatment efficacy.” “Does memory get better? Does Alzheimer’s patients’ memory deterioration slow down over time? I’d want to see this medication investigated in later-stage clinical trials to determine whether it improves or maintains memory function in Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Sexton emphasized that more research with varied populations will be required to adequately assess the safety, target engagement, and clinical effect in all populations because the study’s subjects were all white.

“However, given the role of tau in not only Alzheimer’s but other dementias — known as tauopathies these results are a significant development and a further cause for optimism in the field,” she continued.

“The therapeutic study aimed against tau is funded by the Alzheimer’s Association Part the Cloud research grant programme, including a project by Dr. Ross Paterson at University College London. According to Dr. Sexton, the subject of his research is a unique substance that is intended to lessen tau formation in Alzheimer’s patients that is associated to dementia.

REFERENCES:

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

Important note on dementia affected by music.

Important note on dementia affected by music.

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There is growing evidence that listening to music helps reduce anxiety and improve happiness in those who are living with dementia. What is it about music, though, that has such a strong impact on our brains? Does this effect last a long time, too?

You may have seen a video of an elderly person with dementia who, while not remembering their family members, starts playing the notes to a tune they used to know on the piano or violin, or who sways to the music while bringing back a flood of memories.

Many people’s questions concerning dementia, a neurological illness, are confused by this phenomenon. How can someone forget their kids’ names but recall something as difficult as a piece of classical music?

Our April podcast “In Conversation: Investigating the Power of Music for Dementia” set out to respond to of questions, including this one. Dr. Kelly Jakubowski, an assistant professor of music psychology at Durham University, and Beatie Wolfe, a musician, and spokesperson for the non-profit organization Music for Dementia, joined the discussion this month.

Health benefits of music

Music is a creative fusion of rhythm, harmony, and emotion expression, whether instrumental or lyrical. Its many health advantages have also been supported by numerous studies.

For instance, a 2013 study discovered that listening to music before stressful situations can assist the nervous system unwind and recover more quickly. In the same year, another study discovered that children in hospitals who were listening to music experienced less pain and anxiety.

In addition to its physiological advantages, research has shown that music has a good effect on cognitive health.

According to a recent study, persons between the ages of 62 and 78 may see a slower deterioration in cognitive function if they actively practice and listen to music. The ability of the brain to rewire itself, which is essential for learning and memory formation, was found to increase with participation in musical activities in particular parts of the brain.

In terms of actively learning music, a study from 2023 revealed that regular music training might offer the brain considerable functional advantages and help keep it young.

These findings suggest that music therapy may be an effective method for treating dementia, a condition that is characterized by a variety of symptoms, including memory loss and issues with thinking, language, and problem-solving.

Being in complete silence

However, the absence of sound and music—silence—has an impact on our health that is at least as great as that of sound and music. Silence can be soothing and restorative, reducing brain wave frequency while also lowering blood pressure, according to a 2020 study.

In fact, studies have shown that excessive noise and loud sounds are harmful to cognitive health. According to a 2022 study, dementia may have a particular risk factor for people who are exposed to loud noises regularly, such as noisy traffic.

Beatie, one of our guests, talked about her experiences recording her “Raw Space” album in the Bell Labs anechoic chamber, which was the world’s quietest room, and how it affected her.

“It was one of the most life-changing events I believe I’ve ever had, and I keep going back to it. Even now, it seems to have almost gained relevance. We are being barraged from every direction with social media and notifications, and all of these things that are hitting us are kind of frazzling us, as the world has simply become noisier, both literally in terms of sound as well as information, she added.

The engineers usually had to take breaks because it was so intense, but I was assured that I’d be able to stay in there for about 15 minutes since you can hear your blood racing through your veins. I ended up working for at least 100 hours, she claimed.

Recognising songs over names

Dr. Guite brought up the issue of persons with dementia remembering song lyrics but not their own children’s names and emphasized repetition and how music can simultaneously activate several brain regions and networks.

We’ve spoken about how music affects the brain globally, but the repeating of a child’s name occurs throughout a lifetime, whereas a song may only be played once a month or once a year. She questioned, “How can we explain that?

According to Dr. Jakubowski, procedural memory is related to the capacity to fill in the words of songs.

The ability to remember motor sequences, such as how to ride a bike, is an example of procedural memory, correct? People still have this kind of memory for the motor sequence of singing along to lyrics even though they may not have this kind of semantic memory for names and locations, she explained. This is likely because they have sung along to that song many times before, or at least have done so in their minds many times.

She said that the brain might preserve some of this form of memory, which might help to explain why some people with dementia are still able to sing along or play an old song on an instrument.

If a person had previously played the piano, they frequently could still play those well-known compositions rather late in the condition, according to the expert.

Observing how music affects dementia

In 2014, Beatie started a study called “The Power of Music” in a chain of care facilities run by the Priory Group in the UK.

The video and photos from that encounter make it clear how the dementia patients in such care homes begin to tap their feet, clap their hands, and sing along—some with their eyes gleaming.

She explained to us how it all began after she performed original English songs in a Portuguese elderly home. “In the case of my father-in-law, I was going to play just for him, but I wound up playing to this whole ward of about 100 people with dementia and Alzheimer’s, who were all sitting around the table listening to me play,”

Except for this relative, none of them were fluent in English. And I was playing brand-new English tunes that they had no prior familiarity with. People were clapping, waking up, and singing along as much as they could, she continued.

Beatie was inspired by this to investigate the claim that music, whether you were familiar with it or not, had strong emotional effects. She was motivated by the neuroscientist Oliver Sacks, who wrote in his book Musicophilia that music appreciation was not necessary for its influence.

One particular song’s impact on the audience stood out when she performed original songs for residents of care homes in the U.K.

How long does music have an impact?

Dr. Jakubowski pointed out that while the acute health benefits of music are pretty clear, sustained exposure is required to discuss long-term benefits.

“You can’t anticipate that listening to music will always be beneficial years from now just because you listened to one song three years ago. It is more advantageous to engage with music more frequently than to hear it once and then never again”, according to her.

She also emphasized the different ways in which listeners might interact with music.

“Even listening to recorded music regularly offers long-term advantages for people with dementia—reducing agitation, decreasing apathy, boosting mood, occasionally enhancing [a] feeling of identity, etc. So, in my opinion, there are various ways to interact with music,” she said.

REFERENCES:

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

The Risk of Depression May Rise If You Eat French Fries.

The Risk of Depression May Rise If You Eat French Fries.

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According to a recent study, eating fried meals frequently is associated with greater rates of anxiety and sadness.

According to the study, eating fried foods frequently—especially fried potatoes—increases your risk of developing anxiety and depression by 12% and 7%, respectively.

This, according to experts, is due to a number of factors, such as disruption of the lipid metabolism, an increase in inflammation, and gut disruption.

Try boiling, poaching, or grilling your meal as an alternative to frying it to limit your intake of fried foods.

The two mental illnesses that are most common worldwide are anxiety and depression.

Fried foods make up a large portion of the Western diet and are becoming more popular everywhere. Consuming processed or fried foods, sweet goods, and alcoholic beverages have been related to an increased risk of depression, according to prior research.

Additionally, studies suggest that frying may alter the nutritious makeup of food and release toxic compounds. Acrylamide is produced when carbohydrates are fried, such as potatoes, and it has been connected to neurological problems, metabolic syndrome, and obesity.

Few research have looked into how acrylamide might impact anxiety and depression up until this point. Additional research into this connection may help shape public health initiatives and dietary treatments for mental health issues.

Researchers have recently looked into the relationship between eating fried meals and depression and anxiety. They discovered that eating fried food, particularly fried potatoes, is associated with a higher risk of developing anxiety and depression.

How the research was carried out?

The study, which covered 140,728 participants, found that eating regularly unhealthy fried foods increases one’s risk of anxiety and depression by 12% and 7%, respectively.

The pollutant known as acrylamide found in fried foods, according to the researchers, is “strongly associated” with an increased risk of anxiety and depression.

It has been established that this pollutant causes neuroinflammation and perturbs lipid metabolism, both of which have an impact on mental health.

Even though many who enjoy fried food may be disappointed by these findings, there is a positive aspect to them. We may be able to lower our risk of developing some mood disorders by paying closer attention to what we eat.

Examination of the impact of fried food

The researchers started by looking at data from 140,728 individuals in the UK Biobank. During an average follow-up period of 11.3 years, data on fried food consumption and the prevalence of anxiety and depression were collected.

The researchers found 12,735 cases of depression and 8,294 cases of anxiety towards the end of the study period. Overall, they discovered that compared to non-consumers, those who had more than one dish of fried food daily had a 12% higher risk of anxiety and a 7% higher risk of depression.

Males, younger people, and active smokers were most likely to consume fried food frequently. The researchers next looked into potential mechanisms explaining the association between fried foods and depression and anxiety.

They did this by watching how zebrafish were impacted over time by persistent exposure to acrylamide. They discovered that fish exhibited anxiety- and depression-like behaviour when exposed to low amounts of acrylamide.

Following additional tests, the researchers discovered that acrylamide decreased lipid metabolism, caused neuroinflammation, and decreased the blood-brain barrier’s permeability.

Relationship between food and mood

“As opposed to what is frequently portrayed, the relationship between food and mood is far more nuanced. However, there are undoubtedly dietary habits that seem to offer protection, according to Rohini Bajekal, a nutritionist and board-certified specialist in lifestyle medicine at Plant-Based Health Professionals.

“The results of this study are in line with what we would expect to see and are further confirmation of decades of research showing that fried and unhealthy foods in the typical Western diet increase the risk of common chronic diseases and mental health conditions,” says Rohini.

Fried meals contribute to inflammation in the body, which is linked to symptoms of anxiety and depression. This is one of the reasons why fried foods are linked to greater rates of anxiety and depression.

A 2017 study called the SMILES Trial, which Megan Hilbert, a registered dietitian at Top Nutrition Coaching, cites, shows that mental health outcomes were significantly better when a control group adhered to a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods for 12 weeks.

Inflammation effects on body and brain

Because fried foods contain molecules called advanced glycation end products that stick to tissue, harm it, and promote inflammation, Hilbert claims that a diet high in fried foods contributes to neuroinflammation, or inflammation in the brain.

Although further research is needed on this subject, Hilbert points out that it is hypothesised that inflammation may reduce the release of dopamine and weaken the regions of the brain connected to rewards.

Fried meals also frequently lack fibre, phytonutrients, and healthy fats, all of which have been found to improve brain function. Your digestive system may then be impacted by this.

According to Hilbert, “a deficiency in these compounds can result in a breakdown in the communication between the gut and the brain.” The production of these neurotransmitters is thought to be influenced by abnormalities in our gut microbiota because upwards of 90 to 95% of our serotonin is created there. As a result, it is thought that these imbalances have a negative impact on our mood.

The primary toxin that may be harming mental health, according to the study’s authors, is acrylamide.

Hilbert says that when certain starchy foods are roasted, fried, or baked at high temperatures, a chemical called acrylamide can naturally occur. “Studies have shown that acrylamide is carcinogenic to animals and may be carcinogenic to humans.”

Hilbert emphasises the need of keeping in mind that the acrylamide concentrations utilised in animal experiments were at extremely high dosages.

Foods that promote mental wellness

We discussed whether there are any foods that can help or prevent depression and anxiety with Dr. Kelly Johnson-Arbor, Medical Toxicologist, Co-Medical Director, and Interim Executive Director at the National Capital Poison Centre, who was not involved in the study.

According to Dr. Johnson-Arbor, “There are no specific foods that have been proven to treat or prevent depression or anxiety.” However, compared to the “Western” diet, the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes the consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, is linked to lower levels of C-reactive protein.

Lower levels of C-reactive protein may help prevent the onset of depression, anxiety, and other illnesses impacted by inflammation because they are linked to inflammation, the author continued.

Consequences

We discussed the ramifications of the study with Dr. Spiegel. He stated:

The results of this study suggest that eating more fried food, particularly potatoes, raises the level of acrylamides in the blood. Depression and anxiety may be brought on by the greater levels of this toxin, which affects how different types of nerve cells in the brain function. Among younger people, the effects are more obvious.

The key takeaway is to limit your intake of fried foods like French fries, hash browns, bacon, and others to special occasions. No more than one dish should be consumed per month, in my opinion. Consuming alcohol frequently may increase anxiety and depression as well as cause a number of other health issues, he said.

REFERENCES:

For Depression medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=6

How and why does exercise improve cognitive function?

How and why does exercise improve cognitive function?

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The molecular mechanisms by which exercise enhances cognition were studied. They discovered that muscular contractions emit chemical signals that promote neuronal development and activation.

They also discovered that astrocytes, which act as support cells, protect neurons from excessive electrical signalling when they are exposed to chemical signals from muscle cells.

To determine whether these findings hold true for humans, more research is required. The maintenance of both physical and mental health requires exercise. Even if it is started later in life, according to studies, it has a good impact on health.

Some people believe that exercise enhances cognition by causing long-term alterations in the hippocampus, such as increased volume and faster pace of neuron production. However, it is still unclear exactly how exercise affects the hippocampus.

Researchers may be able to reverse-engineer treatments for cognitive diseases like dementia if they have a better understanding of how exercise increases hippocampus size and functionality.

In order to comprehend how exercise alters hippocampus cells, researchers have conducted a number of in vitro tests, or investigations in cell cultures.

They discovered that hippocampus cells grew and fired more electrical signals as a result of chemical signals generated by muscles that were contracting. Additionally, they discovered that astrocytes, which are support cells, control neuronal activity and growth for optimal brain function.

According to Ryan Glatt, senior brain health coach and director of the FitBrain Programme at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California, who was not involved in the study, “the implications support prior findings from other studies, which is that exercise, including muscle-strengthening exercises like resistance training, can have a positive impact on brain function.”

How muscles may ‘speak’ to the brain

The tiny muscle progenitor cells were taken from mice and grown in Petri dishes for the investigation. They started to contract and release chemical signals into the cell culture once they reached adulthood.

The scientists then transferred the substances that had been in the mature muscle cell culture to astrocytes and hippocampus neurons in a separate dish.

They monitored cell proliferation using immunofluorescence and calcium imaging, and they recorded neural activity using multi-electrode arrays. In the end, they discovered that hippocampal neurons and astrocyte numbers grew by 1.4 and 4.4 times, respectively, in response to chemical signals from the muscle cells.

The development of mature hippocampal neural networks, which are composed of cells that fire synchronously, was hastened by the addition of muscle cell cultures.

The next step was to investigate the impact of astrocytes on the combination. They did this by observing what happened when astrocytes were removed from cell cultures containing mature muscle and hippocampus cells.

They observed that the neurons fired even more electrical signals as a result, indicating that astrocytes may assist regulate and coordinate neural activation patterns. Further studies revealed that the observed alterations in hippocampus cultures required muscular contractions.

Hippocampal cells no longer showed the same amounts of neuronal firing when muscle cells were stopped from contracting, but synchronous firing was intact.

The study authors remarked that this indicates that muscle contractions or exercise release substances that are not released by stationary cells. They came to the conclusion that their research offers fresh perspectives on how exercise might help hippocampus function.

Dementia risk and exercise

We enquired about how exercise can lower the incidence of dementia from Dr. Rong Zhang, a neurologist from the O’Donnell Brain Institute at UT Southwestern who was not involved in the study.

He pointed out that extensive clinical trials are still needed to determine whether this is the case, and that additional study should look at the underlying molecular mechanisms as well.

Meanwhile, Dr. Bennett pointed out that earlier studies demonstrate that exercise lowers the risk of dementia by:

We also had a conversation with Dr. Romnesh de Souza, an interventional and consulting neurologist at Health City Cayman Islands who was not associated with the study.

He stated, regular aerobic exercise, such as walking, power walking, swimming, or riding an exercise bike, should be done for 20 to 30 minutes each day. 70% of your maximum heart rate should be your target. Subtract your age from 220 to get a ballpark idea of your maximal age-related heart rate. It has been demonstrated that this practice reduces dementia by 30–35%.

Non verified finding in humans

“Rats were used in an in vitro study that used cell culture. If these findings apply to individuals, more research will be necessary to determine,” Dr. Zhang said in response to the study.

Although she was not involved in the study, Dr. Lauren Bennett, director of neuropsychology at the Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, noted that the research “was only conducted for a short period of time, and it is not clear whether the findings would be the same over a longer period of time.”

Ways to fight rising cases of dementia

Among the largest risks to the country’s public health are Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.

This study focused on assisting persons with mild cognitive impairment rather than directly addressing Alzheimer’s disease. It has been demonstrated that dementia brought on by Alzheimer’s disease or other neurological diseases is more likely to occur in people with mild cognitive impairment.

The prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia has been a focus of research. Right now, there is no remedy. The need for this research has increased as the population of America ages quickly. Every day, more than 10,000 people reach the age of 65.

Alzheimer’s disease and associated dementias cause one in three senior deaths and claim more lives than breast and prostate cancers put together. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that about 13 million Americans over 65 will have Alzheimer’s disease by the year 2050, up from the current total of more than 6 million.

Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related fatalities increased by 16% during the pandemic.

Upcoming applications

In spite of this, Dr. Bennett stated that “the results of this study provide further evidence of the importance of exercise, at any point in life, in supporting hippocampal plasticity to combat hippocampal atrophy, which is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.”

In the future, she said, “studies like this could play a crucial role in aiding us in optimizing exercise programs to support cognitive health.” Dr. de Souza continued by saying that the results may also help in the creation of fresh therapies for cognitive impairment.

These results suggest that it may someday be possible to’reverse engineer treatments to mimic pro-cognitive effects of exercise in the absence of physical activity.’ The possibility of using this to slow or stop the process of cognitive deterioration in dementia patients is also intriguing, he added.

REFERENCES:

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

Talk therapy for depression may lower heart disease risk.

Talk therapy for depression may lower heart disease risk.

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The benefits of talk therapy may go beyond the treatment of mental disease, however, they are crucial in the management of depression. Researchers are still trying to figure out how depression and cardiovascular disease are related.

According to a study, those with depression who had relief from their symptoms following psychotherapy also had a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

One of the most prevalent mental illnesses, depression can have negative effects on other aspects of health. Researchers are still trying to figure out how depression treatment affects the outcomes of cardiovascular disease and how the two are related to one another.

In a recent study, published in the European Heart Journal, it was investigated how the use of psychotherapies to treat depression affected the progression of cardiovascular disease.

The researchers discovered that people who experienced reduced depression following psychotherapy also experienced a decreased risk for developing new cardiovascular illnesses, coronary heart disease, stroke, and all-cause death.

Talk Therapy

Mental health experts interact with their patients through talk therapy, sometimes called psychotherapy. Talk therapy is meant to aid in the identification of problems that are generating emotional pain.

Everybody experiences emotional ups and downs. Some people’s issues are transient, therefore no therapy is required. However, for some people, attending talk therapy can significantly improve their mood and even alter their attitude on life.

It could be appropriate to think about talk therapy if you’re dealing with a medical condition, losing a loved one, or experiencing anxiety, stress, or depression.

For some people, talk therapy can provide a secure setting to talk about feelings and emotions brought on by everyday stressors, a medical condition, interpersonal conflict, bereavement, or the effects of a particular event.

Other people may experience the same problems in a complex way, leading to a diagnosis of a mental illness like depression or anxiety.

Once the problems are located, a therapist will work with you to comprehend how these pressures affect your life and will assist you come up with solutions and techniques to lessen the severity of the symptoms.

A talk therapy session typically lasts for 50 minutes to an hour. The frequency and duration of therapy sessions depend on the severity of your symptoms and your treatment plan.

You might anticipate going to counselling once a week at first. Attending weekly appointments provides you the chance to get to know your therapist and become accustomed to the process, even though it may feel like a big commitment.

As you learn coping mechanisms and start to exhibit signs of progress, the number of meetings may increase to twice a month.

Talk therapy is used to treat depression.

A frequent mental ailment that affects people all around the world is depression. It can be crippling and challenging to control. Depression and other health issues can have complicated relationships.

For instance, those who have certain chronic conditions may be more susceptible to depression. People with depression may also be more susceptible to other health issues like pain and type 2 diabetes.

Individuals’ mental and physical health depend on receiving prompt treatment for depression.

One often-used element of depression treatment is psychotherapy. Talk therapy is a frequent abbreviation for psychotherapy. There are various forms of psychotherapy, but they can all concentrate on addressing issues, spotting negative thought patterns, and controlling actions and emotions.

Talk therapy is used to treat depression, according to Dr. Sarah-Nicole Bostan, a clinical health psychologist and director of behaviour change strategy at Signos who was not involved in the study.

Psychotherapy is frequently suggested as a first-line treatment for depression because of its well-known efficacy and minimal to no side effects, except for brief discomfort during therapy. One of the most successful evidence-based forms of treatment for depression is cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), which includes behavioral activation. In CBT, patients learn more constructive ways to view themselves as well as how to put new behaviors and routines into practice to help them feel better.

“Effectiveness of therapy can be measured throughout treatment through validated assessments, but at a bare minimum should be assessed at the beginning and end of a course of treatment,” she said. The indirect effects of psychotherapy on other aspects of health are still a subject of research.

Psychotherapy reduces the risk of CVD

Heart and blood vessel issues fall under the broad area of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Heart attack, stroke, and heart failure are a few examples of cardiovascular ailments.

This retrospective cohort study’s researchers sought to comprehend the connection between the risk for cardiovascular disease and the efficacy of treating depression.

In their investigation, researchers used 636,955 participants. Each participant had finished a term of treatment and met certain threshold requirements for depression. Additionally, none of the participants in the Improving Access to Psychological Therapy programme had cardiovascular illness prior to utilising it.

Researchers checked in on individuals on average three years later to see how often cardiovascular events and all-cause deaths occurred.

Researchers discovered that the greatest benefit was experienced by those whose depression improved after psychotherapy. According to what they discovered, “those whose depression symptoms improved after therapy were 12% less likely to experience a cardiovascular event than those who did not.”

They also discovered a link between reduced risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, and all-cause mortality and improved depression following medication. People under the age of 60 had a larger reduced risk of cardiovascular disease than people beyond the age of 60.

Study restrictions

This study contributes to our understanding of the effects of psychotherapy on other aspects of health. To have a deeper grasp in this area, more research is required.

There were some important restrictions on the study. First, participant self-reporting is used in the assessments of improved depression, which has several drawbacks. Examining every item that might have helped with the improvement of depressed symptoms is also difficult.

Additionally, the study is unable to demonstrate that treating depression lowers the chance of developing cardiovascular disease. It’s likely that individuals made further lifestyle adjustments that decreased risk.

Researchers are aware that reverse causality is a possibility, and the findings of the study cannot be applied to those who do not seek treatment for depression. The study had a short follow-up period as well, so future research may use longer time periods.

Finally, data on a number of possible confounders, such as participant social support, alcohol consumption, or tobacco use, were lacking. These unaccounted-for variables might have affected the effectiveness of depression treatment and cardiovascular risk.

Next steps in research

Overall, the research shows that psychotherapy has a big impact on other health outcomes.

Dr. Sarah-Nicole Bostan said, “This research confirms what we’ve known for quite some time, which is that even a small number of sessions lasting anywhere between 30 minutes and an hour over a few short months can not only significantly ameliorate depression symptoms, but can also set someone on a healthier trajectory for years to come by providing patients with the tools to address their future stressors.”

More investigation is required in this field, but the study shows the value of psychological therapy, according to Celine El Baou.

“This study is a preliminary step towards understanding this link. To establish causation or comprehend specific behavioral or biological factors, more study is required. It does, however, highlight how crucial it is to ensure that psychological therapies are widely available, she added.

REFERENCES:

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

Can stress really cause biological aging and reverse it?

Can stress really cause biological aging and reverse it?

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According to a study that was published in the journal Cell Metabolism, biological age rises when under stress but falls back to its normal level once the stress has subsided.

According to experts, stress can speed up ageing by causing inflammation and damage to cells’ DNA.

A lower biological age is associated with a lower risk of immunological dysfunction, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, and other age-related illnesses.

Your biological age can be slowed down by eating a nutritious diet, exercising frequently, managing your stress, and getting enough sleep. Your age is always represented by the number of candles on your birthday cake. But exactly how old are you?

The number of years you have lived is your chronological age. That one is simple. On the other hand, your biological age is what determines how old your body feels and behaves. It is frequently regarded as a sign of general health and is susceptible to lifestyle influences.

According to a recent study that was published in the journal Cell Metabolism, people’s biological ages rapidly rise in response to various types of stress. However, it also discovered that after a time of stress recuperation, this ageing can be stopped.

James White, a co-senior study author from Duke University School of Medicine, commented on the findings, stating that “previous reports have hinted at the possibility of short-term fluctuations in biological age, but the question of whether such changes are reversible has, until now, remained unexplored.”

Studies on biological age and stress revealed

In one experiment, the researchers underwent heterochronic parabiosis, a surgical technique in which they connected pairs of mice aged 3 and 20 months to share a common circulation.

The heterochronic parabiosis, a stressful circumstance, the researchers claimed, might cause the biological age of the younger mice to rise relatively quickly. The younger mice’s biological age was restored once the mice were divided, though.

The researchers then proposed the hypothesis that naturally occurring instances of physical or emotional tension would result in the same response, causing reversible changes in biological age.

They reported that following emergency surgery, the biological age increase returned to normal within a few days. Postpartum recovery followed the same pattern, though women recovered at different speeds. Immunosuppressive medications improved the biological clock recovery in COVID-19.

The researchers found that the following factors could affect biological age in both human and animal models:

  • disease
  • addiction recovery
  • alterations in way of life
  • ecological exposures

According to them, the study’s findings challenge the widespread belief that age advances only in one direction by showing that biological age may be fluid, changing, and flexible.

According to senior study author Vadim Gladyshev, Ph.D., a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and the director of redox medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, “the findings imply that severe stress increases mortality, at least in part, by increasing biological age.”

This idea instantly implies that lowering biological age may reduce mortality and that the capacity to bounce back from stress may be a key factor in successful aging and longevity. Finally, biological age may be a helpful metric in evaluating physiological stress and its alleviation, the author continued.

How the body responds to stress?

According to Harvard Health, there is a fight-or-flight reaction when presented with a stressor, whether it is actual event perceived.

The body responds to instructions from the brain by getting ready to either fight or run from the threat.

Some physical responses include:

  • Blood pressure and heart rate rise.
  • Breathing accelerates
  • Diffuse pain response
  • pupils widen
  • Increased awareness and observation
  • You experience an increase in energy and power as adrenaline is pumped through your body.

To support sustained awareness in the face of a threat, the body produces cortisol.

“The flight or fight response is a psychological reaction when we are experiencing something dangerous or terrifying — mentally or physically,” explained Babita Spinelli, LP, a private practice psychotherapist and workplace mental health specialist. It is brought on by the hormones that are released when one is in danger or running from it.

“Although this behaviour is designed to survive a situation that feels ‘dangerous’ and may be helpful [short-term], a continuous, unaddressed flight or fight can create a negative physical reaction in the body,” Spinelli continued. “When in a state of flight or fight, everything is briefly stopped. Constantly being in flight or fight mode can lead to chronic stress, which can cause brain changes, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, high blood pressure, and other health problems.

Chronic stress is when a person’s response to stress cannot be slowed down and they continue to be hyperalert even after the stressor has subsided.

Long-term exposure to high cortisol levels can cause the following:

  • increased appetite and fat tissue accumulation
  • elevated blood pressure
  • Heart and lungs under strain
  • inhibiting the immune system
  • Insomnia
  • Anxiety
  • tense muscles
  • Headaches

Your body and health may be negatively impacted by all of this. The new study comes to the conclusion that it can also shorten your life.

How to delay biological ageing?

A younger biological age has several advantages. It is associated with a decreased chance of acquiring metabolic diseases, immunological dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, and other age-related problems.

You might be wondering how to determine your biological age since it is a significant predictor of general health and longevity.

Officially, you’ll require a biological age test that evaluates blood and urine samples, DNA methylation, and telomere length. You can also assess your biological health by taking a close look at your daily routine.

It’s probably safe to assume that your biological age is a few years younger than your chronological age if you maintain a healthy weight range, get enough sleep, manage stress well, and don’t lead a sedentary lifestyle.

You may be wondering if there is any way to slow down or even reverse biological ageing. You won’t be surprised to learn that leading a healthy lifestyle is important.

A nutritious diet, moderate alcohol use, and quitting smoking are all excellent strategies to raise your general health and, thus, reduce your biological age.

Because stress seems to have such a significant impact on biological age, it’s important to learn appropriate stress management techniques. Because we fast while we sleep, relaxation and sleep are crucial for the body’s ability to cope with stressors. This activates the body’s natural process of removing cellular waste, which slows down the aging process, according to Noble.

Any activity that makes you happy and excited—singing, dancing, walking—is a fantastic idea. Activating the vagus nerve, which is connected to all the main organs and tells them to rest, relax, and repair, is another advantage of singing, according to him.

Lessening the negative effects of stress

Incorporating a healthy mental and physical lifestyle, Spinelli remarked, “I have found that stress increases one’s biological age and can be positively impacted or restored.” “Paying attention to one’s mindset is also extremely powerful in reducing stress, which ultimately positively impacts the body.”

“Experiences like trauma and other significant life stresses have an impact on ageing. One’s mental and physical health suffer as a result of trauma, Spinelli continued. Regardless of age, the effects of illness, surgery, and other traumatic events have an impact on how people feel and navigate their lives. When faced with obstacles and problems, people in their twenties may feel older.

It does catch up physically and speeds up ageing if a person doesn’t make time to heal and move through those traumas. However, there are reversals in the biological ageing process through restoration, which I regard as paying and devoting active attention to recovery, both physical and mental. One can manage and control stress by incorporating good habits into their daily lives as opposed to letting stress rule their lives.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claim that even 10 minutes of exercise a day can help lower stress.

Results of the new study

The findings of this research are not shocking to Tunc Tiryaki. According to scientific data, it is generally known that stress has negative impacts on our physical and mental health and can quicken the aging process.

The discovery that biological age is recovered following stress, according to Tiryaki, is also intriguing but not altogether surprising.

He pointed out that numerous research indicate that stress-relieving practises including mindfulness meditation, regular exercise, and sound sleep help enhance a number of molecular indicators linked to ageing.

Tiryaki reasoned that since our bodies are capable of recovering from harm brought on by stress, it stands to reason that this process of recovery may also bring back our biological age.

Stress is not always harmful to your health.

Noble shares Tiryaki’s perspective, but asserts that the most recent study’s findings do not provide the “full picture.”

He pointed out that some types of stress, such as those you encounter while in a hot sauna, an ice bath, or while engaging in vigorous exercise, might really be beneficial for you.

“Stress can, of course, kill organisms that are not resistant to it. However, how organisms handle stress is the secret to good health. Or, to put it another way, how quickly they can bounce back and return to being “on top,” he said.

Noble pointed out that the fact that humans adapt and learn is one of the reasons biological age is restored after recovery.

He noted that “athletes are well aware of this phenomenon.” “High-performance gymnasts and runners, under the direction of their coaches, push their tolerance of stress to increase levels, which leads to improvements in muscle strength and function.”

Although this type of stress may result in physical improvements, cumulative stress, a type of chronic, emotional stress, may cause the most harm.

An rise in cumulative stress was linked to faster ageing, according to a study published in Translational Psychiatry in 2021, and emotional management decreased it.

REFERENCES:

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

Detect the Cognitive ability by a test before its arrival.

Detect the Cognitive ability by a test before its arrival.

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According to researchers, a quick card memory test can identify cognitive decline years before symptoms appear. According to experts, the test would make it possible for those who are more likely to develop dementia to receive treatment and preventative measures sooner.

One specialist advocates administering the test to everyone over 45. Researchers claim to have created an easy test that can forecast a person’s future risk of developing cognitive impairment.

The test only applies to persons without pre-existing cognitive and memory impairments, the researchers write in their study, which was just published in the journal Neurology.

The study’s lead author and clinical professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, Ellen Grober, Ph.D., said in a statement that there is “increasing evidence” that some people who appear to be healthy and have no cognitive or memory issues may fact be displaying very mild indicators of early cognitive impairment. In our study, a quick and accurate memory test indicated the likelihood that individualsnormally thought to have normal cognition will experience cognitive impairment.

Cognitive impairment study

969 participants in the study, whose average age was 69, took a basic memory test and then underwent follow-up exams over ten years.

There were two phases of the test.

The participants were first instructed to examine four cards, each of which had four drawings of various objects.

Then, the respondents were required to identify each item as a member of a specific category. For instance, when asked to name a fruit, participants might respond “grape.”

In the following stage, participants were required to recall the things to gauge their memory capacity. They were given category cues, which calculated the amount of memory storage, for the items they couldn’t recall.

Result of the tests for cognitive impairment

Using the Stages of Objective Memory Impairment (SOMI) approach, researchers categorized the participants into five groups with stages zero through four based on their test results.

Stage 0 was for patients with no memory issues (47% of cases).

Memory retrieval problems, which researchers noted can occur five to eight years before dementia, were more difficult to recall in stages one (35%) and two (13%) of the disease. When given indications, these participants could recall information.

The individuals in the third and fourth stages (5% overall) had trouble remembering all the objects, even with hints. These stages, according to the researchers, occur 1 to 3 years before dementia.

234 of the 969 subjects experienced cognitive impairment in the end.

Subjects at stages one and two were twice as likely to experience cognitive impairment compared to those at SOMI stage zero, even after accounting for factors such as age, gender, education level, and the APOE4 gene, which affects a person’s chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Cognitive impairment was three times as likely to develop in those in stages three and four.

The significance of testing for cognitive impairment

The SOMI method continues to forecast an elevated risk of cognitive impairment even after accounting for indicators of Alzheimer’s disease including amyloid plaques and tau protein tangles.

According to research, 72% of people in the third and fourth stages will have cognitive impairment after ten years, compared to 57% of people in the second stage, 35% of people in the first stage, and 21% of people in stage zero.

Our findings confirm the SOMI system’s application in locating those most at risk for cognitive decline, according to Grober. “Researchers looking for remedies can benefit from spotting cognitive impairment early on. By working with their doctor and implementing strategies to support healthy brain aging, those persons who are discovered to be at elevated risk may also benefit.

Neura Health’s virtual headache and migraine clinic’s medical director, Dr. Thomas Berk, a neurologist, pointed out that present testing only reflect the brain’s current condition.

“Predicting neurological change years later is very difficult,” said Berk. When someone has neurological testing, “we are getting a snapshot of their current brain function, not what their brain will look like years later,”

“This does give some evidence for being able to assess the future risks of developing memory issues,” he continued.

There is unquestionably a need for “a simple and fairly rapid test,” particularly in light of the growing body of evidence that early intervention can have a positive impact, according to Dr. Dale Bredesen, head of the University of California Los Angeles’ Easton Centre for Alzheimer’s Disease Research.

Standard neurocognitive tests can take hours, making them impractical for screening, and common quick tests like the MMSE aren’t sensitive enough to catch these early alterations, according to Bredesen.

Using fresh memory tests

According to Bredesen, the subjects of present testing are those who already have cognitive problems.

“Simple tests like the one described in this report should be included for everyone over the age of 45, to identify those who should be evaluated further, and potentially treated,” he advised.

One physician claimed that the SOMI system made him think of a well-known kid’s game.

According to Dr. Clifford Segil, a neurologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Centre in California, “I advise my patients to make a mental image of a scene with all three words to help in their recall when they have to recall the three words.” “I would suggest the same for this proposed card cognition exam. Currently used cognitive exams include additional memory tests.“

“Go Fish,” which is utilised as a learning tool for children rather than a cognitive exam for senior people, is similar to the suggested test to be employed in my elderly population, which interests me as a parent and a practising adult neurologist, Segil added.

“When you start to worry that you might be losing your memory, you should be evaluated by a neurologist to see if your complaints are generally age-appropriate normal or something else,” he said.

REFERENCES:

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

Atrial fibrillation catheter therapy and dementia risk.

Atrial fibrillation catheter therapy and dementia risk.

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Researchers looked into how medications and catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation affected people’s risk of developing dementia.

They discovered that catheter ablation therapy lowered the risk of dementia more effectively than medicine alone.

For the correlation to be verified and the cause of it to be understood, more research is required.

Atrial fibrillation (Afib)

A cardiac disorder called atrial fibrillation (Afib) is characterised by erratic beating in the upper chambers of the heart, which restricts blood flow to the lower chambers. Patients who have afib may experience discomfort and have a five-fold increased risk of stroke.

183,321 death certificates in the US in 2019 listed AFib as a cause of death. By 2030, 12.1 million persons in the United States are predicted to be affected by the illness.

AFib has been linked in studies to dementia and cognitive decline. Additionally, studies have shown that patients with dementia and cognitive impairment who also have AFib suffer from a greater rate of cognitive decline than those who do not.

Understanding whether treating Afib patients lowers their likelihood of developing dementia may improve patient outcomes.

Recent studies evaluated the effects of Afib medication versus catheter-based therapy on the risk of dementia. They discovered that compared to medicine alone, catheter-based Afib therapy was associated with improved cognitive function.

“Despite having negative brain imaging results, I have encountered multiple patients with long-term persistent atrial fibrillation who had cognitive impairment, decreased swallowing capacity, and slower motor performance.

Based on this, I do not find [the results] surprising,” Dr. Vicken Zeitjian, a San Antonio, Texas-based cardiologist board-certified in nuclear cardiology and echocardiography who was not involved in the study, told.

He went on to say that “these results further demonstrate that catheter ablation is a superior method of atrial fibrillation management than medical management alone.” The research will be presented at the 75th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology.

Medicine versus catheter ablation

887 Afib patients with an average age of 75 were included in the study by the researcher. Before enrollment, 193, or 21.8%, of the participants got catheter ablation, whereas the remaining patients just received Afib medication.

Catheter ablation is the process of utilising radiofrequency to remove tiny patches of cardiac tissue that may be the source of an irregular heartbeat.

The individuals’ cognitive function was evaluated at baseline, one year later, and two years later. Out of a possible 30, a 23 or below score indicated cognitive impairment.

The study’s findings showed that those who underwent catheter ablation had an average cognitive score of 25, compared to those who did not, who had a score of 23.

The researchers discovered that those who received catheter ablation were 36% less likely to experience cognitive impairment than those who were just given medication after controlling for conditions like heart disease, kidney disease, and sleep apnea.

However, they pointed out that there were no appreciable variations in the incidence of heart attacks between patients who underwent catheter ablation or medication alone.

They also discovered that using warfarin and other anticoagulants had no appreciable impact on cognitive deterioration.

The risk of dementia and catheter ablation

We enquired about how catheter ablation might lower the risk of dementia from Dr. Aaron Ritter, director of the Memory & Cognitive Disorders Programme at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, California, who was not involved in the study. Although the study doesn’t say how, he pointed out that there could be a number of causes.

“For me, ablation may be a more conclusive or long-lasting therapy than pharmaceutical management, which necessitates a commitment to a daily prescription schedule, perhaps twice daily. We have to wonder if the compliance issue is important to the outcome in those with memory issues, he said.

“Furthermore, we may also hypothesise that ablation may be more a successful treatment for atrial fibrillation, and as a result, individuals may have fewer blood clots or better consistent delivery of blood and oxygen to the brain,” he added.

Future research should, he hoped, incorporate measurements of blood flow, which would help researchers understand why ablation performed better in this trial.

less cognitive impairment overall

In the recent study, data for 887 older persons with AFib were analysed. Participants were 75 years old on average, about half were women, and more than 87% were white.

Approximately 22% of patients underwent catheter ablation. Compared to those who just received medicine for their AFib, these individuals were more likely to have both a persistent AFib and an implantable cardiac device.

Before the study began, participants performed cognitive function tests that evaluated their short-term memory, attention, concentration, and language skills. One and two years later, they conducted similar tests once more.

These tests merely evaluated whether a person had problems completing particular mental activities; they did not determine whether a person had dementia.

In contrast to individuals who only received pharmacological treatment during the two-year research, those who underwent catheter ablation had a 36% lower chance of experiencing cognitive impairment.

Dementia is caused by many things.

The results of the current study should not be taken too seriously because they have not yet undergone peer review, said Dr. Keith Vossel, a neurologist and the director of UCLA’s Mary S. Easton Centre for Alzheimer’s Research and Care in Los Angeles.

Additionally, the study must be published before its influence on clinical practise can be evaluated, the researcher added.

However, “it does this add to other research supporting the possible use of certain treatments for reducing dementia risk,” he said to Healthline.

The fact that blood flow to the brain was not measured in the present study’s limitations to determine if patients treated with catheter ablation or medication had different blood flow patterns to the brain.

Limitations

Additionally not engaged in the study, Dr. Fanny Elahi, a physician-scientist who is an assistant professor of neurology, neuroscience, pathology, molecular, and cellular-based medicine at Mount Sinai, stated:

“Although these findings are intriguing, more investigation is required to determine the connection between catheter ablation (CA) and dementia. With cognition as a co-primary endpoint and the study appearing to be observational rather than randomised, I wonder if the study is tainted by the baseline health of individuals who receive CA.

The main drawback is that cerebral blood flow measurements were not provided to go along with the cognitive testing. The authors’ use of a 30-point cognitive test, a somewhat constrained measure of cognition, is another drawback, says Dr. Ritter added.

Implications

cardiologist at Staten Island University Hospital, Dr. Rina Shah, who was not involved in the study, stated:

“It is significant to note that dementia and the prevalence of AFib both rise with ageing. AFib, however, can result in a variety of other medical issues, including hemodynamic deterioration and cardiomyopathies if rates are difficult to manage. We can assist prevent or delay the harmful effects of AFib by administering catheter ablation to patients earlier.

The study, according to Dr. Elahi, emphasises the significance of connections between the brain and the body.

“We must care for the whole person if we want to increase brain health. Implementing molecular and imaging biomarkers may help to further define the impact if there is one, she said.

“I am a strong believer in knowing the biological impacts of such therapies since we probably need several shots on goal to battle brain ageing and cognitive loss. Finding out why something works allows us to use synergistic methods to enhance the intervention, she added.

REFERENCES:

For Cardiovascular medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=11

Researchers identify potential new stroke treatment targets

Researchers identify potential new stroke treatment targets

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When blood flow to a portion of the brain is stopped or reduced by a hemorrhage or obstruction, a stroke results. Although some stroke survivors recover completely, many still struggle with long-term repercussions and are at increased risk of having another stroke.

Brain damage following a stroke is thought to be a result of changes in small blood arteries that exist in addition to the blockage.

In the injured small blood arteries in the brain, a recent study identified multiple changes in gene activity that may serve as targets for pharmacological therapy to enhance stroke recovery.

An artery in the brain becomes clogged or bursts, resulting in a stroke. Beyond the blockage or bleeding, the brain cells are starved of oxygen and nutrients and suffer damage or degeneration. Researchers have been looking for strategies to lessen damage after a stroke and hasten recovery.

Researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine have now discovered alterations in gene activity in small blood arteries after a stroke. The results imply that these alterations could be targeted with current or upcoming medications to lessen brain damage or enhance stroke recovery.

The research was released in PNAS. Weill Cornell Medicine assistant professor of pathology and laboratory medicine and the lead author, Dr. Teresa Sanchez, told:

“By providing a knowledge platform of the molecular alterations in the cerebral microvasculature, our study has improved our understanding of the pathophysiology of stroke. This is critical to developing novel therapeutic strategies for this devastating condition.”

Stroke symptoms

The majority of strokes are ischemic strokes, in which a blood clot obstructs a blood vessel leading to the brain. This prevents nutrition and oxygen from reaching brain cells.

Immediate signs could be:

  • bewilderment and difficulty speaking
  • Headache, maybe accompanied by dizziness or nausea
  • numbness or a lack of movement in certain body areas, especially on one side
  • vision issues
  • Walking difficulties, a loss of coordination, and vertigo.

It’s crucial to get therapy and a diagnosis right away to reduce long-term damage. Many stroke victims, however, continue to experience physical and psychological after effects.

Over 795,000 people experience a stroke each year in the United States. Also, the condition is one of the main causes of long-term disability. This is according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Long-term damage from a stroke

Despite the fact that only 10% of stroke survivors experience a near-complete recovery, survivors frequently experience a variety of symptoms, such as:

  • weakness or paralysis on one side of the body.
  • thinking, memory, and speaking issues.
  • difficulty swallowing and chewing.
  • issues controlling one’s bowels and bladder.
  • Depression.

Inflammation and long-term alterations in the brain’s small blood arteries, result in constrained blood flow to brain cells and leaking over the blood-brain barrier. They are the root of many of these symptoms.

In a recent study, gene activity in mouse cerebral microvasculature after a stroke was observed to vary. Similar modifications were found in stroke patients from people as well.

Gene activity changes following a stroke

The researchers discovered 541 genes whose activity was altered similarly in mice and people after stroke, and they also discovered many clusters of genes with various roles.

According to Dr. Teresa Sanchez, “Our work has also clarified the shared transcript alterations between human and mouse stroke and identified common changes in pathways associated with vascular/endothelial dysfunction, sphingolipid metabolism, and signalling.“

They discovered genes linked to vascular disease, general inflammation, brain inflammation, and the specific form of vascular malfunction. This results in leaky cerebral microvessels. The blood-brain barrier, which controls the flow of chemicals between the blood and brain cells, is weakened as a result of these leaky arteries.

The activity of molecules that regulate the blood-brain barrier was shown to vary after stroke, according to the researchers.

Dr. Sanchez stated that a stroke causes “robust changes in the genes regulating the blood-brain barrier and endothelial activation, i.e. upregulation of genes causing blood-brain barrier leakage and downregulation of genes protecting the blood-brain barrier.“

Additionally, they found that after a stroke, there was a disruption in the activity of genes that regulate sphingolipid levels, which are fat molecules involved in a broad variety of biological activities, including inflammation.

Potential therapeutic routes

Some of these molecular alterations, according to the researchers, might make for fresh medication therapy targets. They draw attention to the elevated sphingolipid concentrations in the cerebral microvasculature and hypothesize that sphingolipid targeting may be therapeutic after stroke.

We questioned Dr. Sanchez on the possibility of using medicines to either prevent these changes or undo the harm already done.

“Since endothelial dysfunction is a major contributor to stroke and, concurrently, stroke-induced cerebral ischemia causes additional injury to the endothelium, which further compromises cerebral blood flow and exacerbates brain injury,” she said.

According to Dr. Allder, the discoveries could influence research into other neurological conditions:

“I can see how it might make post-stroke treatments more accessible, but I also see how it might open up new treatment options for dementia and post-brain injuries, particularly repetitive brain injuries.”

More research is required

Therefore, the results may possibly suggest novel therapeutic avenues, but Dr. Iyer emphasised the need for more study:

The key drawback of this research is that human genome and transcriptome models aren’t usually transferable from mouse models. However, this study reveals a hitherto unrecognised cellular signalling route that is unquestionably ready for further study.

Preclinical research is currently being conducted by Dr. Sanchez and her team to see whether it would be advantageous for stroke patients to reverse some of the specific microvascular abnormalities that were observed in their study. They are doing this by employing candidate medications or genetic techniques.

REFERENCES:

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