PROTIME-FITNESS HOLISTIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS

  SPINAL CORD REPAIR IN THE LAB Fluorescent micrographs showing increased neurite outgrowth from a human spinal cord organoid treated with fast-moving “dancing molecules” (left) compared to one treated with slow-moving molecules (right) containing the same bioactive signals. Credit: Samuel I. Stupp/Northwestern University Scientists at Northwestern University have just pulled off something that, until recently, would’ve sounded like pure science fiction: they grew a mini human spinal cord in the lab, smashed it up (in the name of research), and then coaxed it to heal itself using a fascinating new molecular therapy. The team built these tiny spinal cords—organoids, to use the technical term—from human stem cells. Think of them as miniaturized, simplified versions of the real thing. But what’s remarkable is how closely these organoids copy what happens to actual spinal cords when they’re injured. The researchers simulated trauma, and sure enough, the organoids responded with all the...

  MEN'S HEART DISEASE: RISKS INCREASE AROUND AGE 35 Most guys don’t start thinking about heart disease until they’re well into their forties or fifties—if ever. But new research from Northwestern University is sounding the alarm: for men, the risk of heart disease starts climbing much earlier, with a sharp uptick beginning around age 35. That’s years before most men set foot in a doctor’s office for a heart health screening. A decades-long study following thousands of adults found that men reach a 5% risk of cardiovascular disease about seven years earlier than women. The main culprit? Coronary heart disease is the same condition behind most heart attacks. By their mid-30s, men’s risk starts to pull ahead of women’s and continues to rise through middle age. And here’s the kicker: this early surge isn’t explained by smoking, high blood pressure, or diabetes alone. There’s something else at play—likely a mix of biology and lifestyle. So why does this gap stubbornly persist, even as m...

  Night Owls Face Higher Heart Risks If you’re the kind of person who gets a second wind at midnight, you might want to pay extra attention to your heart. A massive new study suggests that burning the midnight oil could be quietly putting your heart at risk—especially as you get older. The research, which tracked over 300,000 adults, found that people who naturally stay up late (a.k.a. night owls) had worse heart health and a higher chance of heart attack or stroke than those who thrive in the morning. The difference was especially stark for women. What’s behind this risk? A lot comes down to habits. Night owls were more likely to smoke, get less sleep, and eat poorly—three things that are well-known enemies of a healthy heart. The study used the American Heart Association’s “Life’s Essential 8” checklist (think: diet, exercise, sleep, blood pressure, and so on) to measure overall heart health. The results were precise: late-night types had a tougher time checking those boxes. A Cl...

EXERCISE RECOVERY AS YOU AGE   Exercise Recovery in Your Forties, Fifties, and Sixties: What Really Happens, and How to Help Your Body Bounce Back Staying active as you hit your forties, fifties, and sixties is one of the best gifts you can give yourself, but let’s be honest: recovering from a brutal workout doesn’t feel the same as it did in your twenties. The basics—rest, good food, and sleep—still matter, but the science says your body changes up the recovery playbook as you get older. Muscle repair slows down, inflammation can linger longer, and you might find yourself craving an extra day or two before your next session. The good news? With a few clever tweaks, you can keep moving, keep making progress, and actually feel better doing it. Why Recovery Changes with Age Here’s what’s going on under the hood: As we age, our muscles don’t bounce back as quickly. The cellular machinery that repairs muscle fibers after a workout isn’t as snappy, thanks in part to changes in hormone l...

DEPRESSION IMPROVED WITH EXERCISE If you’re struggling with depression, you might not need a prescription to start feeling better—just a good pair of sneakers. A sweeping review of clinical trials suggests that regular Exercise can ease depression almost as well as traditional therapy, and maybe even antidepressants, with fewer side effects. Researchers from the University of Lancashire dug into 73 randomized controlled trials, covering nearly 5,000 adults with depression. What they found was simple but powerful: people who got moving—whether it was walking, cycling, or lifting weights—experienced real, meaningful improvements in their mood. In fact, the benefits of Exercise matched closely what’s typically seen in psychological therapy. And when compared to antidepressant medication, Exercise held its own, though the evidence there isn’t as ironclad. Here’s why this matters: depression affects more than 280 million people worldwide, and it’s one of the leading causes of disability. Th...

  CANCER FIGHTER: EXERCISE FOR JUST TEN MINUTES Ever wish you could do something for your health that actually makes a difference—without spending hours at the gym? New research out of Newcastle University says you can. Scientists have found that just ten minutes of intense exercise might help your body fight off cancer at the genetic level. Here’s the kicker: That quick burst of activity doesn’t just get your heart pumping. It actually triggers a flood of powerful molecules in your blood—molecules that start flipping switches inside your DNA, ramping up repair mechanisms and shutting down signals that help cancer cells grow. In the lab, when researchers exposed bowel cancer cells to blood from people who’d just worked out, those cells showed changes in hundreds of genes, including many involved in cancer growth and DNA repair. Why does this matter for you? Because it’s more proof that moving your body isn’t just about burning calories or building muscle. Every time you get your he...