Youthful Blood Cells Rejuvenate Brain

brain rejuvinationA new study has shown that by transplanting the bone marrow of young lab mice into older lab mice, cognitive decline was prevented. The younger blood cells preserved memory and learning abilities in the senior mice. The findings have supported an emerging model which attributes decline in cognitive skills at least in part to the aging of blood cells which are produced in bone marrow.

Previous studies have shown the results, however, it has not been well understood how it happens. The new research which was conducted by Cedars Sinai Medical Center, suggests that one explanation lies in specific properties of the younger blood cells.

For the study, 18 month old lab mice received bone marrow transplants from either mice their own age or 4 month old mice. At six months, both groups underwent a variety of standard lab tests including activity level and learning and working and spatial memory. The mice that received the young bone marrow transplants outperformed the mice who received the old bone marrow transplant. They also outperformed a control group of older mice that did not get any transplants.

The team then examined the hippocampus, a region in the brain which is associated with memory. The mice who received the young bone marrow transplant retained more synapses (connections) between neurons in the hippocampus than did the recipients of the older bone marrow. Synapses are important to brain health.

Additional tests indicated a possible explanation for the missing synapses. They found that the blood cells made by the young bone marrow reduced the activation of microglia. Microglia are a type of immune cell found in the brain. They support neuron health but can also become overactive and take part in disconnection of synapses. Fewer overactive microglia allows neurons to remain healthy and more synapses to survive.

With the increase in more elderly people in populations and an increase in neurodegenerative diseases, there will be a huge burden on health systems. If continued research confirms similar processes in humans, the findings could provide pathways for creating therapies to slow the progression of these types of diseases. However, translating the results if confirmed in human samples into possible treatment plans is challenging. Currently, bone marrow transplants are not feasible for this use.

The team is currently working on creating personalized young blood stem cells through stem cell technology. It is hoped that these cells might be used to help replace an individuals own aging blood cells to help prevent cognitive decline and even neurodegenerative diseases.

Below is a link to the original scientific study.

Young bone marrow transplantation preserves learning and memory in old mice.

Breakthrough in Measuring Pain through Blood

blood testResearchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine have developed a new test that will objectively measure pain biomarkers in blood. This test is important in that it could help medical professionals treat patients more effectively with precision medicine and help slow down the use of opioids.

The team tracked hundreds of study participants at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis to identify biomarkers in the participants blood. The blood test which is the first of its kind, would give physicians much more accuracy in treating pain. In addition it would help them determine the best long term look at a patient’s medical future.

The prototype for the blood test can objectively show doctors if their patient is in pain and how severe that pain is for them. Pain is a subjective sensation so it is very important to have an objective measure. Until this study, physicians could only rely on their patients self reporting or on their own clinical impression of the patient’s pain level.

The research team looked at biomarkers found in the participants blood which in this case are molecules that reflect the severity of a disease. From there a doctor can assess the severity of pain and provide treatment in a quantifiable and objective manner. With the current opioid epidemic, the team believes there has never been a more critical time to administer drugs in a responsible manner.

The opioid epidemic has occurred due to the addictive medications that have been over prescribed because there has been no objective measure of whether someone is actually in pain and if they are, how severe that pain is. The thought has been, if the patient says there are experiencing pain then prescribe it. The new test recently developed allows doctors to treat people’s pain in a precise manner.

The blood test also helps doctors match a person’s biomarkers in their blood with a variety of potential options for treatment. The researchers use a prescription database to match pain biomarkers with a profile of natural compounds and drugs which have been cataloged in the database.

A person’s blood biomarkers are similar to a fingerprint and they can be matched against the database to see which compound could normalize the signature. Hopefully the best treatment is identified as a non opioid drug or compound. For instance, there are some compounds that have been used for years to treat things other than pain. These might pair best with a person’s blood biomarkers for pain treatment.

The goal in any area of of medicine is to match a patient to the right drug for any health condition and to do so with very little harm. In the area of pain management through the widespread use of opioids, precision health such as the biomarker blood test could now possibly eliminate or reduce opioid use.

Study experts have also discovered that biomarkers not only match with non addictive drugs which treat pain, but can also assist in predicting when someone might experience pain sometime in the future. This helps them determine if a patient is showing chronic, long term pain which could result in emergency room visits in their future.

The team first sought to find markers for pain that are universal and they achieved that. However, based on their data there are some markers which will work better for men and some that work better for women. And there could be markers that will work better for headaches or fibromyalgia and other conditions and diseases.

Moving forward the research team hopes to secure funding to continue and hopefully accelerate their studies. Their hopes are to be able to personalize the approach even more and also move towards a clinical application. The team’s leader notes that is has been a goal for many researchers to find biomarkers for pain. The work the group has done could now have a significant impact on how physicians around the globe treat pain in the future.

To view the original scientific study click here: Towards precision medicine for pain: diagnostic biomarkers and repurposed drugs.

Another Good Reason to Exercise

exerciseNeed another great reason to exercise? A new study has suggested that the level at which a person exercises and is physically active may have an effect on the bacterial diversity of their gut. And this in turn influences a person’s health.

Exercise has been shown to adjust the balance of the gut microbiome. Our bodies are made up of about as many bacteria and microorganisms as our regular human cells. In the colon alone which contains the largest number of bacterial cells, there are about 38 trillion bacteria. Bacteria affects the state of our health and any loss of the bacterial diversity in the gut has been linked to increased risk of disease.

The researchers from Indiana University Bloomington and the University of Alabama at Birmingham conducted the study. They already knew that the efficiency of our circulatory and respiratory systems in delivering oxygen during exercise was associated with larger bacterial diversity. What they weren’t sure about was whether this was in part due to the physical activity or on the other hand a person’s percentage of body fat.

To explore this more, the team recruited 37 participants who had previously been successfully treated for non metastatic cancer of the breast. They choose these individual due to the fact that treatment for cancer typically has a negative impact on metabolic health which includes cardio respiratory fitness.

The study participants were asked to perform graded exercises for the researchers. This is so they could assess their peak cardio respiratory fitness in addition to their total expenditure of energy. The team also collected fecal samples from these participants which were used to analyze their gut microbiota.

What the team found after all analyses and assessments, was that the participants with higher cardio respiratory fitness also showed more diversity of their bacterial populations in the gut as compared to those with low cardio respiratory fitness.

The researchers also confirmed that cardio respiratory fitness was connected to about 25% of the variance of the bacterial species diversity. They also noted that this effect was not associated with what was produced by a person’s body fat percentage.

This data indicates that exercise with intensity that is adequately high and will boost cardio respiratory effectiveness, will improve the state of overall health through supporting a more adequately balanced gut.

Although this study involved a small group of women, the research teams believes their findings will help them more forward in finding out how best to apply them to improve the health of others not only for those wanting to improve their overall health, but also for those who are at a high risk for a variety diseases and obesity.

The team is also pursuing an interventional study to see how variations in exercise intensity might influence microbiota diversity of the gut under controlled feeding conditions.

Another earlier study from the University of Illinois found that exercise for just a six week period could produce quite an impact on gut microbiome.

This study began by sampling the gut microbiomes from participants whose exercise program consisted of cardiovascular exercises for 30 to 60 minutes three days per week for a period of six weeks. The gut microbiome was sampled at the beginning of the study then at the end of the study.

At the end of the study the team found the microbiomes had changed. Some of the participants showed an increase in certain microbes and others a decrease. Most had an increase in gut microbes whose job is to assist in the production of short chain fatty acids. These fatty acids will reduce the risk of inflammatory diseases as well as obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Following the six weeks of exercise, the participants were then asked to return to their normal sedentary life styles for an additional six weeks. When the gut microbiomes were sampled at the end of this period, the team discovered that the gut microbiomes in the participants had reverted back to their original status before the first six weeks of exercise began.

This finding indicates the kind of impact exercise can have on the microbiome for a relatively short time period of exercise. However, the exercise needs to be done on a regular basis without stopping for the benefits to be realized and to continue. The team hopes to further study their findings by looking at exercise for even longer periods of time to see if this would result in even greater changes in the gut microbiome.

Secrets to Becoming a Centenarian

centenariansAccording to U.S. records, the number of individuals over 100 years of age known as Centenarians is skyrocketing! In the US in 1840 there were 90 centenarians which is 1 for every 189,000 people. Today there are more than 53,000 which is 1 for every 5,800 people. To find out why some people live so long, the world was searched for places where there are an unusually large number of centenarians. Those places became known as “Blue Zones” based on a National Geographic book that was published a few years ago.

There were four areas of the world known as Blue Zones in the original book with a fifth more recently added…Okinawa, Japan; Ikaris, Greece; Loma Linda, California; Nicoya, Costa Rico; and Sardinia, Italy. Experts cite that an active lifestyle and a healthy diet as the keys to a longer life. In Blue Zones people are passionate about retaining close family ties and staying closely connected to their neighbors and community organizations.

Okinawa has the highest number of centenarians in the world. Two thirds of the people who reach 100 in this country are able to continue living independently at age 97. These people are three times more likely to reach the age of 100 than maost Americans. Additionally, they have very low rates of stroke, cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Researchers are convinced that their diet is the key component to their longevity.

The diet of Okinawan is high in vegetables and fruits, high in plant proteins, includes seafood and is also rich in whole grains. Scientists from the Eat Lancet Commission say this diet closely resembles their planetary health diet which is a diet that works well for human health and also for reducing the environmental impact of the foods we choose.

Some of the most widely consumed foods in Okinawa include green leafy and yellow root vegetables, sweet potatoes, bitter melon, tofu with modest amount of seafood, lean meat, tea and fruit. This diet is low calorie and high carbohydrate with moderate protein consumption, includes nutrient rich food choices and sparse amounts of refined grains sugar, dairy and meat. A typical meal will include a vegetable stir fry, miso soup, a side of seaweed and freshly brewed jasmine tea.

In addition to a healthy diet, Okinawans maintain close social ties and networks with a grounded sense of purpose. These people remain true to their traditional culture which emphasizes lifelong connections with social and emotional support.

Another Blue Zone is Ikaris, Greece. The residents in this part of the world nap regularly in the middle of the day. None of them exhibit symptoms of depression which non nappers do according to a 2011 study. One study of Greek adults showed that napping on a regular basis reduced the risk of heart disease by close to 40%.

These people of Greece follow a Mediterranean diet which includes natural products produced and consumed on the island of Ikaris. Their diet includes fruits, a variety of vegetables, olive oil, fish, honey, red wine, small quantities of coffee and a variety of herbal teas. Their daily calorie consumption is not high. They have minimal drug use, live a relaxed pace without anxiety and stress, are full of optimism and have strong family and social ties. All characteristics that are abundant in all five Blue Zones!

In Loma Linda, California the proportion of people age 85 or more is more than double the rest of this state. 4 in 10 residents of this city (about 9,000 members) are 7th Day Adventists whose members live longer than any other religious group in America. 7th Day Adventists are 10 times more likely to live to 100 than other Americans. The average male lives to 89 while the average female lives to 91. Both are averages of 10 years longer than the American average. This group of people believe in taking care of their bodies which they do through exercise, healthy diet habits and their close ties to their religious community.

They avoid smoking and alcohol while encouraging exercise and a life full of activity. Their diet typically includes nuts, green salads, fruits, legumes, whole grain cereals and polyunsaturated fats. Many are vegetarians and those who are not eat a low meat diet. They avoid foods high in sugar, salt and stay away from refined grains.

The next Blue Zone is Nicoya, Costa Rica which is known as one of the happiest places in the world! In this area of the world a man at the age of 60 is twice more likely of hitting 90 as a man living in America, France or Japan and residents frequently reach the age of 100. Once again, their long lives are attributed to their healthy lifestyle.

Their largest meal of the day is typically in the morning with their smallest meal of the day at night. They eat little or no processed foods and their diet is primarily plant based. They consume large amounts of beans, vegetables, corn and antioxidant rich tropical fruits. The consume meat only a few times a week and smoking is not common. They also drink a lot of mineral rich water which is very high in calcium and magnesium and get very healthy doses of sunshine on a daily basis.

These people also have a very strong belief in God, and their faith routines help them relieve anxiety and stress and bring tranquility and peace to their lives. They engage in physical activity as a normal part of their daily lives…walking, bicycling, cooking, keeping up their houses, gardening and taking care of animals are all parts of their very active lives.

These residents of Coats Rice focus on family by tending to live with or near their families. Children and grandchildren provide strong support, purpose and a sense of belonging to their elders. This helps Nicoyan elders retain their active lifestyle and positive outlook on life!

Sardinia, Italy is the fifth Blue Zone. There are 21 centenarians in a population of 10,000. In the U. S. there only about 4 centenarians in 10,000. Here Sardinia men live longer than any other men on earth.

There is a large number of sheep herding and farming communities where daily physical activity is strong. Many of these residents walk up to 5 miles a day across rugged terrain. They tend to walk daily to the grocery store. Many Sardinians still fish, hunt and harvest their own food. And even though they are culturally isolated, they remain close to friends and family throughout their lives. They like to laugh and drink wine together!

Their diet like the other Blue Zones is comprised of homegrown vegetables and fruits, beans, fish and milk and cheese from grass fed sheep and goats. Goats milk has components that are thought to protect against inflammatory diseases of aging. And they like their wine! They typically drink a glass or two daily of red wine. Cannonau wine which is the wine produced in this area from the grape known as Grenache, has three times the levels of artery scrubbing flavonoids as other wines.

These people laugh with friends. They gather each afternoon in the street to talk and laugh and the men of this region are famous for their sardonic sense of humor. And their strong sense and support of family keeps the young looking after their elders with many believing that putting an older family member in a retirement home would dishonor the family!

For Americans and others, following the habits of the people living in the five Blue Zones may help improve daily health and longevity. Taking notes about diet, daily exercise and activity; close ties to family, friends and community; purpose; and a positive outlook and gratitude on life are key. It is known that all these factors play a role in aging and age related diseases.

Fried Food Linked to Early Death

fried foodIt certainly is no secret that fried food is not a healthy type of food. Almost one third of North American adults consume fast food every day. A new study published in The BMJ shows exactly how eating fried foods affects our health over time. It also shows which fried foods are the worse for us. Previously there has been very little scientific evidence related to the risk of death being linked to fried foods.

The researchers analyzed about 20 years of data for close to 107,000 older women in the United States ages 50 to 79. These women were all enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative Study. They were asked to fill out detailed questionnaires in regards to their dietary habits between 1993 and 1998. The health of these women was followed by researchers through 2017. During that period more than 31,500 of the women had died. This included 9,320 deaths related to heart disease, 8,358 related to cancer and 13,880 from a variety of other causes.

The research team looked at the specific and total consumption of a variety of fried foods. These foods included fried chicken, fried fish and fish sandwiches and shellfish, french fries, tacos, tortilla chips and variety of other fried snacks. The team also took into account other potentially influential factors such as overall diet quality, lifestyle, income and education level.

The women who ate one or more servings of a fried food on a daily basis had an 8% higher risk of dying from a heart related disease than those who did not eat fried food. And they also had an 8% higher risk of dying early. Fried chicken and fried fish were most strongly related to early death than other fried foods. These other fried foods were grouped in a separate category so they were not looked at specifically.

What they found was that eating more than one serving of fried chicken per day had the potential of a 13% higher risk of death from any cause. They also found a 12% higher risk of deaths related to heart disease compared with those who did not eat fried food. Similarly, fried fish and shellfish was found to be linked to a 7% higher risk of death from any cause and a 13% higher risk of deaths related to heart disease compared to those who did not eat fried food.

The strength of the fried chicken and fried fish might be simply because people consume more of these food items or because of differences in how these foods are prepared. Many restaurants for example reuse frying oil which they cook foods like fried chicken in. This may increase the number of harmful by products which can be transferred to the food. And meats tend to be more deeply fried than other fried foods. However, this does not absolve the unhealthy affects of other fried foods.

Interestingly, consumption of fried food did not appear to correspond to a higher risk of dying from cancer although previous research had connected the two. What that research found was that diet is important for cancer prevention and survival, but not all dietary components appeared to be equally important.

Since this new study was an observational study, it does not prove cause and effect as it was impossible to rule out other factors that affect health. And it did not reflect how women might have changed their diet over time. However, the scientists believe the findings are very strong and very likely apply to populations other than the older women who participated in the study such as younger women and men.

There are many studies that have linked fried foods to a variety of health issues such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The current study indicates the link between consumption of fried foods and early death. Reducing the consumption of fried foods and especially fried fish and fried chicken indicate clinically meaningful impact across the public health spectrum.

To view the original scientific study click here: Association of fried food consumption with all cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality: prospective cohort study

Chronic Disease and Aging Share Genetic Factors

geneticsThe worldwide population of people age 60 and over is growing faster than all of the younger age groups. The result is a growing occurrence of chronic disease and lower quality of life which is challenging healthcare and economic systems. Scientists from Gero and MIPT have collaborated with researchers from the University of Edinburgh, PolyOmica and other institutions to analyze medical histories and genetic data of more than 300,000 people aged 37 to 73 which was made available by UK Biobank.

The study which has been published in Communications Biology, shows that the most prevalent chronic diseases share the common underlying mechanism which is the process of aging which is a mortality law known as Gompertz. The risk of death from all causes increases exponentially after age 40 and doubles at about every 8 years. Through analyzing the dynamics of the incidence of disease in the clinical data provided, the researchers observed that this dynamic was compatible with the Gompertz Mortality Law.

Health span can be used as a natural proxy for investigating the genetic factors which control the rate of aging which is called the holy grail target for interventions for anti aging. The researchers studied the genomes of the study group to help them understand genetic factors that are associated with human health span.

12 genetic loci (a fixed position on a chromosome) affecting a healthy life expectancy were discovered. A minimum of three genetic loci were found to be associated with the risk of a variety of diseases and health span at the same time and could therefore form the genetic signature for aging. Other genes were also found to be associated with disease and also with parental early survival. Other genetic variants predict death and are also involved in earlier onset of macular degeneration. Another chromosome locus was not seen to be associated with any incidence of disease at its full genome level, however it was affecting the health span of some of the studied individuals.

The team also found a number of genes associated with a number of complex traits of the skin such as the color of skin, eyes and hair, tanning and freckles and a variety of other diseases. Strong genetic correlations were also found between a variety of disease and health span including smoking, education level and parental age at death.

Studying longevity genetics is complicated due to limited availability of data sets containing clinical data of individuals who have been genotyped and have already reached their end of lifespan. Health span as a target phenotype offers a promising way to interrogate human longevity genetics by tapping research potential of large groups of living individuals with important clinical information.

To view the original scientific study click here: Identification of 12 genetic loci associated with human healthspan

Social Jet Lag Affects Mood, Health and Disease

sleepingResults from a new study have suggested that social jet lag may play an important role in circadian markers for health outcomes. Social jet lag occurs when a person goes to bed and wakes up later on weekends than they normally do during the week. Findings suggest this can be associated with worse mood, poorer health and increased fatigue and sleepiness.

Like normal jet lag, social jet lag is a consequence of our bodies being forced between two time zones. One is dictated by work and our social obligations, the other by our circadian clock. Like anyone who has experienced jet lag, social jet lag leads to trouble sleeping. Our bodies take a while to adapt to a new time zone or different sleep patterns at different times during the week.

Almost all of the bodies hormones are on some sort of circadian rhythm and when they are shifting with different sleep times, the entire system will not work as efficiently as it should.

The research team at the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona, Tucson, shows that each hour of social jet lag is associated with an 11 percent increase in the likelihood of diseases of the heart. These outcomes are independent of insomnia symptoms and sleep duration which are both related to health and social jet lag.

The study reveals how important sleep regularity, beyond the length of sleep time alone, plays a significant role in the health of a person. This suggests that sleeping at regular times may be a simple, effective and inexpensive prevention for hearth disease and other health issues.

The study involved analyzing survey responses from 984 adults aged 22 to 60 years which was provided by the community based Sleep and Healthy Activity, Diet, Environmental, and Socialization study.

Social jet lag was analyzed using the Sleep Timing Questionnaire and was figured by subtracting weekday from weekend sleep midpoint. Overall health was self reported via a standardized scale. Questions were also used to asses sleep duration, cardiovascular disease, insomnia, sleepiness and fatigue.

Another study discovered that adults with higher levels of social jet lag had a higher likelihood of being overweight or obese and suffer from metabolic syndrome compared to those who have more regular sleep patterns. This study found that just one hour of social jet lag resulted in an accumulation of about 2 additional kilograms of fat mass on average by the age of 39.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has recommended that adults should get 7 or more hours of sleep per night which should occur on a regular basis for promoting optimal health. In addition to the amount of time spent sleeping, healthy sleep also requires appropriate timing and regularity and good quality.

To view the original scientific study click here: Sociodemographics, Poor Overall Health, Cardiovascular Disease, Depression, Fatigue, and Daytime Sleepiness Associated with Social Jetlag Independent of Sleep Duration and Insomnia

New Discoveries About the Benefits of Fasting

fastingWant to ramp up your metabolism and help reverse some signs of aging? New research has uncovered previous unknown effects of fasting which include increased metabolic activity and newly identified anti-aging benefits.

A study conducted by scientists at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University and Kyoto University suggests that putting the body in “starvation mode” via fasting, leads to fuel substitution, increased mitochondrial activation and altered signal transduction, and anti oxidation.  The research team identified 30 previously unreported substances which increase with fasting.

The study presented an analysis of whole human blood, red blood cells and plasma which was drawn from the four individuals who were fasting for the study. Fasting induced metabolic activation. The scientists observed changing levels of metabolites which are substances that are formed during the chemical processes that give organisms energy which allows them to grow.

The team’s results showed the discovery of 44 metabolites which included 30 which had not previously been identified. These metabolites increased among the subjects between 1.5 and 60 fold within 58 hours of fasting.

In previous studies, various metabolites had been identified whose quantities declined with age. These included three metabolites known as isoleucine, leucine, and ophthalmic acid. With fasting, these metabolites increased in levels which suggested a mechanism that could help increase longevity in fasting individuals. These are important metabolites for maintenance of muscle and antioxidant activity respectively. These results suggest there could be a possibility of a rejuvenating effect realized by fasting.

The human body utilizes carbohydrates for immediate energy when they are available. When the body is starved of carbs, it will begin looting its other energy stores. This act of energy substitution leaves a trail of metabolites known as carnitines, butyrates and branched chain amino acids. These metabolites have been shown to accumulate during fasting.

Fasting appears to elicit additional effects beyond the energy substitution. From their analysis of human blood, the scientists have noted both established fasting markers and many more. They found a global increase in substances which are produced by the citric acid cycle which is a process where organisms release energy that is stored in the chemical bonds of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids. The marked increase suggests that these tiny powerhouses running every cell are thrown into overdrive during fasting.

It appears fasting also enhances the metabolism of pyrimidine and purine which are chemical substances that play key roles in protein synthesis and gene expression. This finding suggests that fasting might reprogram which protein cells build at what time which alters their function. This change might promote homeostasis in cells or edit their gene expression as a response to environmental influences.

When these two substances are metabolized, they also boost the production of antioxidants. Several antioxidants were found to significantly increase over the 58 hour study period. Antioxidants help protect cells from free radicals which are produced during metabolism. Products of a metabolic pathway referred to as pentose phosphate pathway, also stay the harmful effects of oxidation and were seen to increase during fasting however only in plasma.

The researchers believe these antioxidant effects may serve as the body’s principal response to fasting. Starvation can foster a dangerously oxidative internal environment. This study shows the first evidence of antioxidants as a fasting marker. The study introduces the novel thought that fasting may boost production of a variety of age related metabolites which are abundant in youth but depleted with aging.

A variety of studies show that caloric restriction and fasting have a prolonged effect on lifespan in model animals but the detailed mechanism is still a mystery. The researchers believe it might be possible to verify effects of anti-aging from a variety of viewpoints by developing drugs or exercise programs which would be capable of causing a metabolic reaction which would be similar to fasting.

The next step would be to replicate the results in a larger study and investigate how the metabolic changes might be triggered by other methods. It is hoped that by understanding these changes greater wisdom will be attained about fasting for maintaining health and longer lifespan.

To view the original scientific study click here: Diverse metabolic reactions activated during 58-hr fasting are revealed by non-targeted metabolomic analysis of human blood.

How Lifespan of Men and Women is Different

man and womanAccording to research from the Netherlands Cohort Study (NLCS), men’s and women’s lifespans differ. Weight and body size may influence the lifespan of women more than it does the lifespan of men. The thought is factors such as genes, hormones and/or lifestyle are how the two different sexes are influenced.

Physical activity is linked to longer lifespans in both men and women, however it seems that the more time men spend physically active every day the greater their chances are for reaching old age. However per the findings, 60 minutes per day was associated with the best chances of women reaching old age.

The average life expectancy has increased over the past few decades, however recently there is the start of a plateau in some developed nations. Increasing levels of physical inactivity and obesity are thought to be responsible for the trend.

Early research has studied the associations between weight (body mass index or BMI), physical activity and reaching old age, however most studies have combined both men and women or focused just on men.

To research the differences, the current study by NLCS analyzed data from more than 120,000 women and men between the ages of 55 and 69 when it started in 1986. The goal was to see if there were links between weight, height, physical activity, leisure time and the likelihood of the participants reaching 90 and if there were differences between women and men.

Approximately 4161 women and 3646 men between the ages of 68 and 70 provided detailed information in 1986 about their current height, weight, weight when 20 years old and their leisure time and physical activity. This included activities such as dog walking, home improvements, gardening, cycling, walking and recreational sports. The physical activity was grouped in daily quotas of less than 30 minutes, 30 to 60 minutes and 90 minutes or more.

The participants were monitored until age 90 or death, whichever came first. The research team considered potentially influential factors such as smokers, former smokes, educational levels and their usual energy intake.

Approximately 944 women and 433 men lived to age 90. Women who survived to this age were on the average taller, had weighed less at the beginning of the study and had put on less weight since they were 20 than those who were heavier and shorter. Additionally, women who were more than 5’ 9” in height were 31% more likely to reach the age of 90 than women who were less than 5’3”. No similar associations were seen among the male participants.

When physical activity was analyzed, men who were over 90 minutes active per day were 39% more likely to reach the age of 90 over those men who did less than 30 minutes of daily physical activity. Every additional 30 minutes of physical activity per day was associated with a 5% increase in their chances of reaching age 90.

This was not the case for the women. Those who were physically active 30-60 minutes per day were 21% more likely to reach the age of 90 than those whose physical activity was less than 30 minutes per day. However, there was an optimal threshold for the women. About 60 minutes of physical activity per day was associated with the best chance of them reaching the age of 90.

Although this was an observational study and actual cause can’t be established, the findings based on the large number of participants all of whom were of similar age, strengthens the results. This study is just one of a few to differentiate factors of lifestyle which could be associated with longer lifespan between women and men.

The researchers point out that there may be an association between body size and reaching old age in men, however behavior and illness history did appear to influence the correlations found and also there were differences between non-smokers and smokers.

To view the original scientific study click here: Body size, non-occupational physical activity and the chance of reaching longevity in men and women: findings from the Netherlands Cohort Study. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 2019 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2018-211410

Common Food Additives Impact Health

additives

Emulsifiers which are common ingredients found in a variety of foods have come under scrutiny for their negative impact on health. Manufacturers use emulsifiers which are chemicals to extend the shelf life of certain foods and to alter a food’s texture. They have generated quite a bit of attention lately, and studies in mice have shown they can produce both behavioral and physiological changes.

Previous studies have shown that emulsifiers have the ability to alter the microbiome of mice which causes low grade inflammation and the increased risk of metabolic disorders and obesity. A study in humans also concluded that gut bacteria are directly impacted by these common food additives which subsequently leads to intestinal inflammation.

A group of researchers at Georgia State University in Atlanta took these findings to a new level. They set out to investigate whether two of the most common emulsifiers, carboxymethylcelluose (CMC) and polysorbate-80 (P80) might also have an influence on mental well being.

Scientists have shown that there is a clear, two way connection between the gut and the brain. Gut health and the health of gut bacteria have a significant influence on mental health. A study from 2011 discovered that treating mice with Lactobacillus rhamnosus which is a type of good bacteria, led to measurable changes in the brain and reduced anxiety related behaviors.

Another study conducted on mice that had no gut bacteria, showed higher levels of anxiety type behaviors when compared with controls. A recent study showed that mice given antibiotics early in life significantly alter the microbiome, social behavior and anxiety levels in the mice long term.

The most recent study using CMC and P80 investigated whether these two emulsifiers might alter the mental state of the mice. The researchers added CMC and P80 to the drinking water of the mice for a period of 12 weeks. They then measured their behavior, any changes in their microbiome and a variety of physiological parameters. They found that the emulsifiers effects on general systemic inflammation could be extended to the brain and also to behavior.

Interestingly, they found that the two emulsifiers did impact gut bacteria but in different ways between female and male mice. And they showed the changes in behavior were also different between the two sexes.

They saw an increase in anxious behavior more prominently in the male mice. In the female mice there was reduced social behavior. It is somewhat of a mystery why the differences occur, however the scientists know there are certain differences in the way the female and male immune systems work so this might offer some answers.

The next step for the researchers is to move from the mouse model to larger animals. How the results in mice are relevant to humans is inherently difficult particularly with behavioral disorders. In recent years it has been observed that there is a rise in anxiety in Western society. At the same time, there has been a marked increase in inflammatory bowel disease which leads researchers wondering if food additives might be playing a role in these shifts.

The scientists are now investigating the mechanisms behind dietary emulsifiers impacting the intestinal microbiota in addition to the relevance to humans. Science does show that our microbiome play a significant part in our health and there is a very strong need to assess food additives on food safety.

To view the original scientific study click here: Dietary emulsifiers consumption alters anxiety-like and social-related behaviors in mice in a sex-dependent manner.