Here you can find a selection of the latest research news stories and medical breakthroughs. Take a look below to learn more!
Exercise Stimulates Brain Function Due to its Effect on Muscles
Some evidence suggests that exercise can reverse or delay the cognitive decline associated with aging.
Exercise plays a role in brain health by triggering molecules involved in cognitive function to be released by muscles, a recent study has shown.
The study shows that when nerves that stimulate muscles are activated, they also send signals to the brain by secreting bioactive molecules and nanoparticles that enhance brain function.
The findings illustrate the importance of maintaining musculoskeletal health, not just for cardiovascular health or mobility, but also to counteract neurological degeneration.
Read more and learn what exercise is best for the brain:
Low Testosterone Can Affect Heart Health and Increase Mortality Risk
Researchers are reporting that low baseline testosterone levels are associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality.
Focussing on 11 studies and 24,000 subjects, researchers concluded that low baseline levels of testosterone in men are associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality and very low levels are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular death.
Men with a testosterone concentration below 7.4 nmol/L had higher risk for all-cause mortality and men with a testosterone concentration below 5.3 nmol/L had an increased risk of cardiovascular death.
Learn about the associations of sex hormones with mortality and how to manage low testosterone levels:
Can Olive Oil Help Lower the Risk of Dementia-related Death?
Researchers are reporting that consuming about half a tablespoon per day of olive oil might reduce the risk of dementia-related death.
In a study of over 92,000 participants, those who had at least 7 grams of olive oil every day were associated with a 28% lower risk of dementia-related death.
Furthermore, Substituting 5 grams/day of margarine and mayonnaise with the equivalent amount of olive oil was associated with an 8% to 14% lower risk of dementia-related deaths.
Other studies have shown olive oil helps lower the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and respiratory disease.
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Getting Too Little Sleep Linked to High Blood Pressure
Researchers are reporting that the fewer hours a person sleeps, the higher their risk of high blood pressure.
Sleeping fewer than 7 hours a night is associated with a 7% increased risk of developing high blood pressure. That number increased to 11% when sleep duration was less than 5 hours.
Getting too little sleep also appears to be riskier in females.
To learn more about the importance of sleep, as well as remedies to improve sleep, click the link below:
Fasting May Improve Gut Microbiome Balance in People with Obesity
Studies have shown that people with obesity often have a less diverse microbiome than those of a healthy weight.
The microbiome consists of bacteria, archaea, viruses and eukaryotic microbes that live in and on our bodies. A healthy adult will house around 1000 different species of bacteria, the majority of which are in the gut.
Evidence is building that a healthy, diverse gut microbiome can benefit health.
A recent study has suggested that intermittent energy restriction (IER), not only helps people with obesity to lose weight, but it also may alter their gut microbiota.
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Swapping Meat for Plant-Based Foods May Lower Diabetes and Heart Disease Risk
Researchers found that swapping meats for plant-based alternatives may drastically reduce risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and all-cause mortality.
In a recent study from institutions in Germany, they found that substituting processed meats was associated with a 21% lower risk of death from any cause.
Other improvements were found when eggs were replaced with nuts, butter with olive oil and red meat was replaced with nuts.
Evidence showed that replacing 50 grams (1.8 ounces) of processed meat with plant-based foods on a daily basis lowered cardiovascular disease risk by 25%!
The findings suggest that plant-based foods are ‘vital’ for overall health.
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How Sleep Loss May Lead to Heightened Pain Sensitivity
A specific neurotransmitter decreases during insufficient sleep, leaving the body more sensitised to pain.
Researchers found that a lack of sleep causes low levels of a neurotransmitter, NADA, within an area of the brain called the thalamic reticular. This results in heightened pain sensitivity, medically known as hyperalgesia.
About two-thirds of all adults occasionally experience insomnia symptoms. Those who do not get enough sleep also frequently experience body pain, such as headaches, migraines, lower back pain, and chronic pain.
Take a look below for more information and ways to improve your sleep hygiene:
Regularly Adding Table Salt to Food Linked to 41% Higher Risk of Gastric Cancer
Gastric cancer, also known as stomach cancer, can be serious and is related to several risk factors, including dietary choices.
The authors of a recent study involving 471,144 participants found that participants who always added salt to food were at a higher risk for gastric cancer than participants who rarely or never added salt to food at the table.
This data continues to support the idea that excess salt intake is associated with an increase in gastric cancer risk. However, there are many other reasons to limit salt intake, for example, consuming too much sodium can also increase the risk of high blood pressure and kidney problems.
People can work towards making wiser choices regarding salt consumption to reduce their overall salt intake. Learn more: