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Health And Medicine

All articles tagged with #health and medicine

health-and-medicine11 hours ago•7 min saved

Calcium heart scans gain value mainly for middle-risk patients

A Northwestern study of more than 6,000 adults over 10 years finds that coronary artery calcium scans add only modest improvement to the PREVENT risk calculator for predicting heart attack or stroke in the overall population, but they can meaningfully refine risk among people with borderline to intermediate risk (3–9% 10‑year risk), aiding treatment decisions like statin use. The scans are less useful for low-risk individuals and unlikely to change management in high-risk patients, and further research is needed in certain populations.

via Science Daily|

#cardiovascular-risk #coronary-artery-calcium #health-and-medicine

health-and-medicine1 day ago•8 min saved

Aging on two fronts: a 117-year-old's body shows signs of aging and protection

Researchers analyzed Maria Branyas, 117, using multi-omics and found a paradox: signs of extreme aging (short telomeres, pro-inflammatory immune profile) coexisting with protective traits (neuro-/cardioprotection genes, very low inflammation, beneficial gut bacteria, and an epigenetic age younger than her chronological age). The study, on a person without major disease, offers a rare view of aging itself and suggests interventions could target the biology of aging rather than specific diseases.

via Science Daily|

#aging #epigenetics #health-and-medicine

health-and-medicine3 days ago•6 min saved

Hidden bone switch could fortify bones—and muscles—to fight osteoporosis

Researchers at Leipzig University show that activating the adhesion GPCR GPR133 with the compound AP503 strengthens bones and slows bone loss in mice, suggesting a potential new therapy for osteoporosis that may also boost muscle strength in aging populations.

via Science Daily|

#aging #ap503 #bone-formation

health-and-medicine6 days ago•5 min saved

Glioblastoma Achilles heel spotted, hints at stronger therapies

In preclinical models, blocking the SET protein reactivates the tumor-suppressing enzyme PP2A, reducing glioblastoma growth and making cancer cells more sensitive to radiation, offering a potential way to enhance standard therapies; human trials are needed to assess safety and efficacy.

via Science Daily|

#cancer-research #glioblastoma #health-and-medicine

health-and-medicine10 days ago•6 min saved

Tea may strengthen bones in older women; heavy coffee could weaken them

A 10-year study of nearly 10,000 women aged 65+ found tea drinkers had slightly higher hip bone density, while consuming more than five cups of coffee daily was linked to lower bone density; moderate coffee (about 2–3 cups) showed no harm. The effects are small, tea catechins may help bone formation, caffeine can affect calcium metabolism, and calcium/vitamin D remain central to bone health, with no need for drastic daily changes.

via Science Daily|

#bone-density #coffee #elderly-women

health-and-medicine10 days ago•7 min saved

One-Night Pill Cuts Sleep Apnea Breathing Interruptions by 44%

A once-nightly oral pill called AD109 (aroxybutynin plus atomoxetine) reduced the apnea–hypopnea index by about 44% in a six-month phase 3 trial across 646 adults who could not tolerate CPAP, with improvements in nighttime oxygen metrics and overall disease severity (over 40% moved to a less severe category and 18% achieved complete control). Side effects were generally mild (dry mouth, nausea, insomnia, difficulty urinating), with about 21% discontinuing. An NDA has been submitted and FDA Fast Track designation suggests a potential 1Q 2027 action date if accepted for review.

via Science Daily|

#ad109 #cpap-alternative #fda-fast-track

health-and-medicine10 days ago•7 min saved

Eight-Week Mindfulness and Positive Psychology Interventions May Lower Blood Pressure

A review of 18 randomized trials finds that mindfulness, gratitude, and optimism training can improve blood pressure, inflammation, and other heart-health markers within eight to 12 weeks, with the strongest gains when daily practice is reinforced by weekly sessions. For example, eight-week mindfulness programs helped blood-pressure and inflammatory markers in hypertension and post–acute coronary syndrome patients, while a 12-week digital intervention reduced cuff systolic blood pressure by 7.6 points and central systolic pressure by 4.1 points. The most consistent benefits come from high-frequency, supportive programs that encourage healthier behaviors, suggesting mental-wellbeing interventions could become a component of cardiovascular care.

via Science Daily|

#blood-pressure #cardiovascular-health #health-and-medicine

health-and-medicine14 days ago•10 min saved

Chronic Melatonin Use Linked to Elevated Heart Failure Risk

A large, observational study using de-identified health records found that adults with chronic insomnia who used melatonin for at least 12 months had about a 90% higher five-year risk of developing heart failure (4.6% vs 2.7%), plus higher rates of heart-failure-related hospitalization (19.0% vs 6.6%) and all-cause death (7.8% vs 4.3%). The results do not prove causation and could be influenced by unmeasured factors or misclassification of OTC melatonin use; researchers call for more research and cautious discussion of long-term melatonin use with patients.

via Science Daily|

#cardiovascular-risk #health-and-medicine #heart-failure

health-and-medicine14 days ago•6 min saved

Ketogenic Diet Slashes Liver Fat by 67% in Obesity Trial

In a randomized trial, a very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet reduced liver fat by 67%—the largest improvement among three diets—while about half of keto participants no longer met prediabetes criteria after 4–5 months; all groups lost roughly 10% body weight and showed metabolic benefits.

via Science Daily|

#health-and-medicine #ketogenic-diet #liver-fat

health-and-medicine16 days ago•7 min saved

Tiny childhood sugar exposure linked to healthier aging and lower cancer risk

Using Britain’s postwar sugar rationing as a natural experiment, researchers found that lower sugar exposure before age 2 is associated with a lower incidence of several cancers (notably a 69% reduction in liver cancer) and about 2.2 years slower biological aging, as well as healthier, lower-sugar diets in midlife, suggesting early-life sweetness exposure can influence health and taste preferences for decades.

via ScienceDaily|

#aging #cancer #early-life-nutrition

health-and-medicine18 days ago•6 min saved

Shingrix May Cut Dementia Risk by Nearly a Quarter in Seniors

A Brown University–led analysis of more than 500,000 adults aged 66+ in skilled nursing facilities found that receiving at least one Shingrix dose was associated with a 24% lower risk of a dementia diagnosis over four years, compared with unvaccinated peers (18.8% vs 24.6%). Using Medicare claims and electronic health records with target trial emulation, the study cannot prove causation and may reflect healthier baseline status among vaccine recipients; more research, including trials, is needed. Funding from GlaxoSmithKline was disclosed, though the sponsor had no control over study design or publication.

via Science Daily|

#aging #dementia-risk #health-and-medicine

health-and-medicine18 days ago•8 min saved

Depression May Stop New Brain Cells From Forming in Adults, Altering Memory

A large Columbia-led study shows major depressive disorder disrupts neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus, potentially impairing pattern separation and the ability to store distinct memories. The researchers mapped widespread molecular and epigenetic changes across the hippocampal network, linking inflammation and altered gene programs to depression and suggesting new targets for treatments that classify depression by molecular subtype rather than brain region.

via Science Daily|

#depression #health-and-medicine #hippocampus

health-and-medicine19 days ago•7 min saved

Right-Sized Sleep Linked to Slower Biological Aging Across Organs

A large study analyzing 23 organ-specific aging clocks from about half a million UK Biobank participants finds a U-shaped relationship between sleep duration and biological aging: both short (<6 hours) and long (>8 hours) sleep are associated with faster aging across the brain, heart, lungs, and other organs, while the healthiest aging pattern occurs with 6.4–7.8 hours of sleep per night. Short sleep also aligns with depressive symptoms, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, COPD, asthma, and digestive disorders. The study emphasizes associations rather than causation and suggests different biological pathways for short versus long sleep related to late-life depression. The organ-specific aging clocks could help tailor sleep-related interventions in the future.

via Science Daily|

#aging #biological-aging #health-and-medicine

health-and-medicine19 days ago•6 min saved

Gut microbes convert veggie nitrates into heart-protecting molecules

Researchers show gut bacteria transform nitrate and plant-based iron from vegetables into dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) that travel to the liver and kidneys; in animal models, higher DNIC levels were linked to lower blood pressure, better blood sugar control, improved vascular function, and reduced liver fat, offering a possible mechanism for vegetables' protective effects—though human studies are needed.

via Science Daily|

#cardiovascular-disease #dnics #gut-microbiota

health-and-medicine19 days ago•5 min saved

Fresh Mint, Fresh Data: Peppermint Oil Lowers Mild Hypertension in 20 Days

In a randomized trial, 40 adults with prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension took 100 microliters of peppermint oil twice daily for 20 days, reducing systolic blood pressure by an average of 8.5 mmHg versus placebo, suggesting peppermint oil could be a low-cost, well-tolerated option for mildly elevated blood pressure.

via Science Daily|

#blood-pressure #health-and-medicine #hypertension