Tag

Randomized Controlled Trial

All articles tagged with #randomized controlled trial

health16 days ago•16 min saved

Metformin and cancer: no broad benefit, only niche signals

A review of recent evidence shows metformin does not provide broad cancer prevention or survival benefits. Large trials (MAST in low‑risk prostate cancer; STAMPEDE) and meta-analyses report no overall improvement in progression-free or overall survival, though some small studies hint at preventive effects in select high‑risk precancerous conditions. Observational links are likely biased, and metformin may even blunt exercise‑related longevity gains. The takeaway: metformin is not a universal cancer solution; any benefit is likely limited to poorly defined, narrow contexts that require rigorous, targeted trials.

via Peter Attia MD|

#active-surveillance #cancer #health

health17 days ago•7 min saved

Omega-3 Reaches the Brain, but No Cognitive Benefit in Alzheimer’s Risk Trial

A USC-led trial found that high-dose fish oil increases brain DHA levels by about 17% but does not improve memory, cognition, or hippocampal preservation in older adults at risk for Alzheimer’s, indicating omega-3 supplements are not a standalone preventive measure and that benefits may hinge on diet and overall health patterns rather than supplementation alone.

via SciTechDaily|

#alzheimers-disease #dha #fish-oil

psychology21 days ago•4 min saved

Imagery-Based Memory Therapy Eases Fear of Failure

A 180-participant randomized trial found four imagery-based therapies targeting painful childhood memories significantly reduced fear of failure and related distress, with effects lasting at least six months. Imagery Exposure and Imagery Rescripting (including a delayed version) lowered emotional arousal and negative feelings, with surprise/prediction error enhancing ImRs effectiveness, suggesting old memories can be rewritten to ease present-day challenges.

via SciTechDaily|

#childhood-memories #fear-of-failure #imagery-based-therapy

health25 days ago•11 min saved

Atrasentan offers potential long-term kidney protection in IgA nephropathy

Final 2.5-year ALIGN results show atrasentan may slow eGFR decline in IgA nephropathy vs placebo (−7.5 vs −9.9 ml/min/1.73 m2; difference 2.4 ml/min/1.73 m2; P=0.057), with notable benefit in the SGLT2 subgroup; early data showed no acute eGFR loss after starting atrasentan. Overall, atrasentan appears to offer non-immunosuppressive renoprotection, though long-term safety remains to be fully established.

via Nature|

#atrasentan #endothelin-receptor-antagonist #health

health1 month ago•3 min saved

Daily fruit juice or smoothie linked to lower depression in 5-a-day trial

A four-week randomized trial in adults with low fruit/veg intake found that adding a daily glass of 100% fruit juice or a smoothie to a 5-a-day plan increased overall intake and was associated with lower depression scores (2.52 points on a 27-point scale) without adverse metabolic effects; both groups raised fiber intake by about 8–10 g/day, suggesting such simple additions can support mental well-being and diet adequacy.

via SciTechDaily|

#five-a-day #fruit-juice #health

health1 month ago•9 min saved

A Daily Glass of Juice May Boost Mood While Meeting 5-a-Day

In a 4-week randomized trial with 42 adults who started with low fruit/vegetable intake, adding a daily glass of 100% fruit juice or a smoothie to a plan aimed at reaching 5-a-day increased fiber intake by 8–10 g/day and produced a modest, statistically significant reduction in depression scores (2.52 points on a 27-point scale) compared with a control group, with no adverse metabolic effects and no increase in anxiety or gut symptoms. Financial and educational support helped participants meet targets, suggesting a simple, affordable dietary change can support mental wellbeing while improving diet quality.

via Neuroscience News|

#5-a-day #depression #fruit-juice

science1 month ago•31 min saved

Six Months of One Avocado a Day Does Not Boost Cognitive Health in Overweight Adults

A six-month randomized trial with 251 adults who had central obesity found no significant cognitive improvements from eating one avocado daily compared to a control group. Memory, processing speed, and executive function showed no meaningful gains, with any minor improvements likely due to practice effects rather than the avocado. Age did not alter the outcome, suggesting that a single nutrient-dense food is not a quick fix for brain health and that effects may depend on weight status or require broader dietary changes.

via PsyPost|

#avocado #brain-health #cognitive-performance

health1 month ago•3 min saved

Maitake Mushrooms May Sharpen Memory in Older Adults, Study Finds

An 18-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 47 adults aged 60+ found daily intake of maitake mushroom paste (Y10M strain) improved overall MoCA scores and memory, with a rise in natural killer (NK) cell activity that correlated with cognitive gains; a second strain (C5304) showed no such improvement. The results hint at an immune-mediated mechanism linking maitake polysaccharides to cognitive preservation, but the study's small size and variability call for larger trials before changing dietary guidance.

via MycoStories|

#cognition #health #maitake-mushrooms

health1 month ago•6 min saved

Personalized gait tweaks ease knee osteoarthritis pain, study finds

A yearlong randomized trial found that individualized gait retraining—adjusting foot angle by a personalized amount to reduce knee loading—significantly reduced knee pain and slowed cartilage deterioration in medial knee osteoarthritis, with results comparable to pain medications. The six-week training used vibration feedback to help participants maintain their new walking pattern, and after a year participants stayed close to their prescribed angles. While promising, the approach requires specialized gait assessment and is not yet ready for wide clinical use; future delivery could involve wearable sensors or clinic-based PT.

via ScienceDaily|

#biomechanics #foot-progression-angle #gait-retraining

health2 months ago•8 min saved

Peppermint Oil Shows Potential to Lower Mild Hypertension in 20-Day Trial

A 20-day randomized, placebo-controlled study by researchers at the University of Lancashire found that taking 100 microliters of peppermint oil twice daily lowered systolic blood pressure by about 8.5 mmHg in adults with prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension, suggesting peppermint oil as a low-cost, well-tolerated option to help manage mild hypertension; the authors call for further research.

via SciTechDaily|

#blood-pressure #health #hypertension

health2 months ago•8 min saved

Align Your Workout With Your Body Clock for Bigger Health Gains

A randomized controlled trial found that scheduling exercise to fit an individual's chronotype—morning types at 8–11am, evening types at 6–9pm—improved blood pressure, aerobic fitness, blood glucose, cholesterol and sleep in people at risk of cardiovascular disease, compared with workouts at the opposite time; even when misaligned, exercise offers benefits, and intermediate chronotypes may be less sensitive to timing. Other factors like afternoon body temperature peaks and sleep pressure also shape performance, so while timing can help, regular activity and good sleep remain fundamental.

via ScienceAlert|

#cardiovascular-health #chronotype #circadian-rhythm

health2 months ago•7 min saved

Joy-Rewiring Therapy Shows Promise Against Depression

A randomized trial of 98 adults with severe anhedonia, depression, and anxiety found Positive Affect Treatment (PAT)—a 15-session therapy designed to boost positive emotions and retrain the brain’s reward system—outperformed a conventional negative-emotion-focused therapy, with improvements in overall clinical status persisting at one-month follow-up and notable reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms. PAT targets the brain’s positive pathways (anticipation, response to reward, and reward learning) and may reduce key depression risks by enhancing meaningful activity, gratitude, savoring, and social connection.

via SciTechDaily|

#anhedonia #depression #health

science2 months ago•5 min saved

Brief Brain Stimulation Improves Social Communication in Young Children With Autism

A BMJ-published randomized trial tested brief theta-burst magnetic stimulation in 194 children with autism (average age ~6.5), including many with intellectual disability. Over five days, real stimulation improved social communication and language vs. sham, with effects persisting at one month and few side effects. While promising and potentially convenient compared with long-term therapies, the durability of benefits is uncertain, the optimal treatment duration unknown, and access/cost could limit use; it is not a replacement for behavioral supports.

via ScienceAlert|

#autism #brain-stimulation #pediatrics

health-and-medicine2 months ago•6 min saved

10-Year Trial Upends Common Knee Surgery: No Benefit, Potential Harm

A 10-year randomized trial (FIDELITY) across Finnish hospitals shows partial meniscectomy for degenerative knee tears offers no advantage over placebo/sham surgery and may worsen symptoms, function, and progression of osteoarthritis, challenging the continued use of the procedure.

via ScienceDaily|

#degenerative-meniscal-tear #health-and-medicine #knee-osteoarthritis

health4 months ago•5 min saved

Ten Minutes to a Brighter Mood: Brief Online Interventions Cut Depression After One Month

Researchers tested 12 self-guided, under-10-minute online interventions with 7,505 adults; while most participants felt hopeful immediately after, only two—Interactive Cognitive Reappraisal and Finding Focus—produced a small, ~4% greater reduction in depressive symptoms after one month compared with a control, suggesting brief, scalable tools can provide modest, accessible support but are not a substitute for therapy.

via ScienceAlert|

#depression #health #mental-health