Although results have been inconsistent, several studies indicate an inverse relationship between physical activity levels and cognitive decline, dementia, and/or Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Therefore, in order to examine the association of physical activity with the risk of incident dementia and subclinical brain MRI markers of dementia, researchers followed an older, community-based cohort for over a…

Prolonged anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use has been associated with psychiatric symptoms and cognitive deficits. Researchers investigated the association between long-term AAS exposure and brain morphometry, including subcortical neuroanatomical volumes and regional cortical thickness. Using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging, they compared 82 weightlifters who had used AASs for longer than one year with 68 weightlifters who…

According to recent research, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is commonly misdiagnosed. To investigate the frequency and nature of misdiagnoses, researchers used data from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center Database on autopsies of nearly 1,100 patients with confirmed AD, including neuropathological and clinical diagnoses. 10.8 % were false positives, with clinical presentation of AD that was not…

Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is linked to cognitive dysfunction, hippocampal atrophy and an increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Less is known of the role of cortisol levels in the prediction of cognitive decline or in moderating the effect of beta-amyloid in preclinical AD. Researchers evaluated 401 cognitively normal adults enrolled in the…

According to researchers with the UC Davis Alzheimer’s Disease Center and Rutgers University, vitamin D insufficiency among the elderly is highly correlated with accelerated cognitive decline and impaired performance, especially as it relates to memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia. The large, longitudinal study was conducted on just under 400 diverse men…

Recent evidence suggests the long term use of chondroitin and glucosamine supplements may be linked to reduced risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Researchers evaluated the association between the use of these compounds and the risk of CRC in two prospective cohorts; the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Regular use of these…

Giardia is a neglected parasite that produces diarrhea and different degrees of malabsorption. The drugs used for treatment (such as 5-nitroimidazoles, benzimidazoles, nitrofuranes, acridine and nitrotiazoles) produce undesirable secondary effects including genetic damage and the selection of resistant strains(1). A fraction of oregano was tested against two strains of Giardia. In-vitro testing demonstrated it to…

Herbs and culinary spices have been used for centuries to slow the spoilage of food, due to their antimicrobial properties. Recent research has documented the use of oil of oregano against antibiotic resistant Salmonella enterica on leafy greens(1). The use of oil of oregano has been documented for a variety of candida species including Candida…

In neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or mild cognitive impairment (pre-dementia phase of AD) changes in cognitive function and memory decline occur quicker than in normal aging. In this study, researchers looked at the effects of 2,200 mg of Omega-3 (n3) fatty acids (FA) taken daily for six months on memory function. Using…

Osteoarthritis (OA), a chronic articular disease characterized by cartilage degradation and osteophyte formation, involves mechanical and hereditary factors. French researchers investigated pro inflammatory paracrine interactions between human primary chondrocytes and macrophages following interleukin 1-β (IL-1β) treatment, to evaluate the molecular mechanism responsible for the inhibitory effect of resveratrol. They found that the activation of NF-kB…