Wellness Articles

Posted on

Dancing for Brain Function

In a small clinical trial with 26 elderly adults, researchers found that patients who engage in a regular dancing routine for 18 months showed greater enlargement of the hippocampus—a brain area critical for memory—and better balance control than patients who are engaged in regular endurance exercise.

This study suggests that dancing may serve as an alternative intervention to exercise for limiting cognitive and physical declines associated with aging.

This study uses brain imaging modalities to study changes in human brain structures associated with lifestyle interventions. It demonstrates the use of a noninvasive strategy to characterize human-relevant effects of a readily implementable intervention.

Rehfeld K, Müller P, Aye N, et al. Dancing or fitness sport? The effects of two training programs on hippocampal plasticity and balance abilities in healthy seniors. Front Hum Neurosci. 2017;11:305. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00305.

 

Posted on

Stem Cell Model Identifies Eating Disorder Gene

Study in a Sentence: Using skin cells isolated from patients with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, researchers created a new stem cell model of this condition and identified a novel gene (tachykinin 1 receptor) involved in this disorder.

Healthy for Humans: The novel gene implicated in anorexia nervosa by this study can serve as a new drug target for this disorder. This gene was previously found to play a role in the regulation of the metabolic system by the brain, suggesting a new molecular insight into this disorder.

Redefining Research: The study provides a new human-based research tool (i.e., stem cell model of anorexia nervosa) for scientist to further investigate other unknown underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in anorexia nervosa.
Image Credit: http://www.dentalmcqs.com/images/Anorexia-PLR.png

Negraes PD, Cugola FR, Herai RH, et al. Modeling anorexia nervosa: transcriptional insights from human iPSC-derived neurons. Transl Psychiatry. 2017;7:e1060. doi: 10.1038/tp.2017.37.

Posted on

Statins

Statins were given pre-market approval in 1987.

Interestingly, deaths attributed to heart failure more than doubled between 1989 and 1997. Interference with the production of Co-Q10 by statin drugs has been proposed as the most likely explanation.

Additionally; drugs that are meant to control cholesterol levels may also be damaging your liver. Several studies indicate that statins cause severe liver damage, especially in dosages higher than 50 milligrams per day. Note; often statin dosages climb up to 80 milligrams per day (prescribed when a person has high cholesterol levels).

Atorvastatin, Simvastatin, Fluvastatin, Lovastatin, and Pravastatin have all been linked to liver injury.

Are you struggling with high cholesterol?

Would you like help in controlling your cholesterol naturally (without medications)?

If the answer is yes: reach out to LisaMarie.
518-603-0326ln

Posted on

Dietary – Prostate Health

Additional studies on prostate health conclude that although some prostate health is genetic and perhaps environmental, the largest component to prostate health is food choice.

“It turns out that a diet that is really emphasizing plant-based foods – fruits, vegetables, grains, beans – that’s going to be your most protective diet. It seems that a diet that is heavy in animal products and simple carbohydrates is probably an increased risk factor for prostate cancer, not to mention a whole host of other diseases.” While nothing is all or nothing, a diet rich in veggies can lower your risks, and slow the progression of the disease if you do have prostate cancer.”

Dr. Sptiz, MD

Posted on

Dietary – Plant-Based Eating on Cardio-Metabolic Health

Studies continue to support the benefits of plant-based eating on cardio-metabolic health.

According to a recent report published in a special edition of Nutrients, plant-based diets help prevent and treat cardio-metabolic diseases such as stroke, heart disease, and obesity.

The authors analyzed research behind the effectiveness of plant-based diets to reduce disease risk including cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes. They concluded that vegetarian and especially vegan diets are effective for weight and glycemic control and provide metabolic and cardiovascular benefits, including reversing atherosclerosis and decreasing blood lipids and blood pressure.

Possible mechanisms include increased fiber, vegetable protein, and antioxidant intake and reductions in saturated fat, cholesterol, and caloric intake.

The authors recommend that future dietary guidelines and other nutrition policies highlight plant-based diets as a tool for prevention and treatment of various health conditions.

Posted on

3-D Human Heart Images Identify Heart Defect

Study in a Sentence: Researchers devised a new method to study donated heart tissues with high-resolution 3-D images down to the single cell level by prepping the tissue in a solution that allows it to be visible using modern X-ray scanners.

Healthy for Humans: The imaging technique can allow the heart electrical conduction system to be precisely localized and visualized to identify defects leading to abnormal heart contractions. Surgeons armed with this new knowledge can refine repair of heart problems without damaging too much healthy tissue. The improved 3-D images can be used to educate medical trainees as well as provide more informative discussions on heart related problems among medical teams and patients.

Redefining Research: This new 3-D model of the human heart provides a more accurate framework of the electrical conduction system and the micro-anatomical relationships within the heart than previous computer models and mathematical models. Researchers can use it to archive real human heart pathology and study it in detail virtually. The technique may be adopted to provide better 3-D images of other soft tissue human organs.

Stephenson RS, Atkinson A, Kottas P, et al. High resolution 3-cimensional imaging of the human cardiac conduction system from microanatomy to mathematical modeling. Scientific Reports. 2017;7. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-07694-8. Published online August 3, 2017.

Posted on

Dietary – Children Consuming Too Much Cow’s Milk

 

Children who were part of the Melbourne Infant Feeding Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT) Program consumed two to three times more protein than considered age-appropriate, according to results published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Researchers followed 542 mothers and their children’s first 5 years and tracked protein intake and food sources. The primary sources of protein after 9 months of age were cow’s milk and milk products. These sources resulted in excess protein consumption by the majority of participants with respect to current Australian daily recommendations. The authors caution that such high intakes of animal protein sources, particularly cow’s milk, provide poor sources of iron and predict unhealthful body composition later in life.

Campbell KJ, Abbott G, Zheng M, McNaughton SA. Early life protein intake: food sources, correlates, and tracking across the first 5 years of life. J Acad Nutr Diet.2017;117:1188-1197.

Posted on

Dietary – Decreasing Colorectal Cancer Risk

“Whole grain consumption decreases colorectal cancer risk and processed meat consumption increases the risk, according to a new report published by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research.

As part of their Continuous Update Project, an expert panel reviewed the evidence on dietary habits and risk for colorectal cancer and found strong links between processed and red meat and increased cancer risk. Possible mechanisms include heterocyclic amines as a result of cooking meat at high temperatures and heme iron.

Three servings of whole grains per day, which provide dietary fiber and various vitamins and anti-carcinogenic compounds, reduce cancer risk by 17 percent.”

~World Cancer Research Fund International/American Institute for Cancer Research. American Institute for Cancer Research. Published September 7, 2017 ~

Like help in making healthy dietary and lifestyle changes? Call LisaMarie at: 518-603-0326.

Posted on

Human Imaging Study

Human Imaging Study Identifies Target for Treating Mild Cognitive Impairment

By using a chemical agent that can detect proteins that shuttle serotonin (a neurotransmitter regulating appetite, sleep, and mood), researchers found the level of these serotonin transporter proteins is lower in 28 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a risk factor for developing dementia, relative to 28 healthy control subjects.

As the reduction in serotonin transporter proteins was greater than the reductions in brain blood flow or grey matter in the brain (two previously known imaging signs of dementia), detection of serotonin transporter proteins on brain imaging may serve as a novel early biomarker for detecting patients at risk for developing dementia. The study also suggests that the serotonin system may be a new therapeutic target for preventing or treating dementia.

This study shows how human-focused research studies can identify new human-relevant insights into the etiology of human diseases. It also directs scientists to study a new molecular pathway that may affect the onset or progression of dementia.

Smith GS, Barrett FS, Joo JH, et al. Molecular imaging of serotonin degeneration in mild cognitive impairment. Neurobiol Dis. 2017;105:33-41. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2017.05.007.

Posted on

Dietary Study – Diabetes

Diabetes Risk Increases with Meat Intake

Researchers followed the diets and disease risk of 63,257 participants from the Singapore Chinese Health Study and found that those who consumed the most red meat (e.g., pork, beef, lamb), poultry, and fish had an increased risk for type 2 diabetes by 23, 15, and 7 percent, respectively, compared with those who consumed the least. Meat consumption is associated with risk for developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

In a separate analysis, the authors found that as heme iron increased, so did the risk for diabetes. Other studies have published similar findings, including the Adventist Health Study-2, which showed that as more animal products, such as red meat and fish, are included in the diet, increase for diabetes risk follows.

Talaei M, Wang Y, Yuan J, Pan A, Koh W. Meat, dietary heme Iron, and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: the Singapore Chinese Health Study. Am J Epid. Published online August 22, 2017.

September 14, 2017.
Tonstad S, Butler T, Yan R, Fraser GE. Type of vegetarian diet, body weight and prevalence of type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2009;32:791-796.