PROTIME-FITNESS HOLISTIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS

  BRAIN AGING FACTORS SEEN BY RESEARCHERS Most extensive studies on brain aging point to possible connections between diet, inflammation, and brain health         Scientists at the Allen Institute have identified specific cell types in the brains of mice that undergo significant changes as they age, along with one particular  hot spot  where many of those changes occur. The discoveries, published in  Nature , could pave the way for future therapies to slow or manage the brain's aging process. Key findings Sensitive cells:  Scientists discovered dozens of specific cell types, primarily glial cells, known as brain support cells, that underwent significant gene expression changes with age. Those strongly affected included microglia and border-associated macrophages, oligodendrocytes, tanycytes, and ependymal cells. Inflammation and neuron protection:  In aging brains, inflammation-related genes increased activity, while those related to neu...

  ESTROGEN LINKED TO BINGE DRINKING A woman’s  binge drinking  might be related to her hormones. The female hormone estrogen appears to promote binge drinking in women, a new mouse  study  published recently in the journal  Nature Communications  shows. Specifically, estrogen causes women to “pre-game,” or consume large quantities of alcohol within the first half-hour after it’s offered, results show. This study provides what could be the first explanation for sex-related differences in binge drinking, said senior researcher Kristen Pleil, an assistant professor of pharmacology with Weill Cornell Medicine. “Estrogen has such powerful effects on so many behaviors, particularly in females,” Pleil said in a university news release. “So, it makes sense that it would also modulate drinking.” During the pandemic lockdown, women increased their heavy alcohol consumption more than men, recent studies have shown. On top of that, women have more a...

  DRUG ABUSE: BRAIN DAMAGE NOTED         A study of nearly 10,000 adolescents funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has identified distinct differences in the brain structures of those who used substances before age 15 compared to those who did not. Many of these structural brain differences appeared to exist in childhood before any substance use, suggesting they may play a role in the risk of substance use initiation later in life, in tandem with genetic, environmental, and other neurological factors. "This adds to some emerging evidence that an individual's brain structure, alongside their unique genetics, environmental exposures, and interactions among these factors, may impact their level of risk and resilience for substance use and addiction," said Nora Volko,w M.D., director of NIDA. "Understanding the complex interplay between the factors that contribute and that protect against drug use is crucial for informing effective prevention interventi...

  RUNNERS: AIR QUALITY MATTERS         Most runners don’t give air quality much thought when gearing up for a marathon. But maybe they should. New research out of Brown University’s School of Public Health suggests that the air you breathe on race day could be the difference between a personal best and a tough slog. The study, published in Sports Medicine, looked at how tiny airborne particles—known as delicate particulate matter—affect marathon finish times. The results? Runners who compete on more polluted days tend to finish slower. The difference wasn’t huge—an extra 32 seconds for men, 25 for women, for every slight uptick in air pollution—but as any marathoner can tell you, every second counts. “Just think about all the time, money, and sheer effort someone like Eliud Kipchoge spends chasing that sub-two-hour marathon,” said Elvira Fleury, who led the research as a grad student at Brown and is now at Harvard. “Top athletes obsess over shoes, training, nutr...

  WALKING FAST IMPROVES HEALTH A recent study published in Scientific Reports suggests that people with obesity who report walking at a faster pace are less likely to have certain metabolic diseases. The research, led by Yuiko Yamamoto from Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan, looked at thousands of adults who met criteria for obesity either by body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, or both. The study found that those with higher BMIs who said they walked quickly had a noticeably lower risk of developing diabetes and abnormal cholesterol levels, even after accounting for age and sex. When looking at people with larger waistlines, a brisk walking pace was linked to reduced odds of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. The same trend held for those who met both obesity criteria. The takeaway: According to the authors, walking at a fast pace may help lower the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and unhealthy cholesterol—even among those already at higher risk due to obesi...

  MANAGING MENTAL HEALTH REQUIRES HOLISTIC APPROACHES Scientists call for holistic mental health care that combines physical and psychological well-being.         Picture this: you're struggling with anxiety or depression, and the first thing your doctor does is pull out their prescription pad. Sound familiar? It's been the go-to move in mental health care for decades. But some brilliant minds in Brazil say, "Hold up - we're missing something big here." Their groundbreaking research in PLOS Mental Health couldn't come at a better time. Right now, mental health issues are skyrocketing, hitting young people especially hard. The World Health Organization's latest numbers are eye-opening: one in eight people worldwide is wrestling with mental health challenges. That's your neighbors, your coworkers, maybe even you. Here's what's fascinating: these researchers aren't anti-medication. They're just pointing out what we've all secretly susp...

  Proposed FDA Rule Targets Asbestos in Talc Cosmetic Products By India Edwards, HealthDay Reporter FRIDAY, Dec. 27, 2024 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a new rule to require standardized testing of talc-containing cosmetics for asbestos, a known carcinogen linked to serious illnesses such as lung and ovarian cancers. According to an FDA report, the proposed rule would require manufacturers to test each batch of talc-containing cosmetic products using advanced microscopy techniques, such as polarized light and transmission electron microscopy. Failure to comply with these testing or record-keeping requirements would result in the products being classified as adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Asbestos contamination in talc-based cosmetics has been a long-standing health concern. The FDA emphasized there is no safe level of asbestos exposure, and this rule aims to reduce harmful exposure and protect consumers from poten...