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B Vitamins & Brain Aging
In 2021, the Journal of Nutrition, Health, & Aging published an analysis of 2 randomized and placebo-controlled clinical trials, which found that supplementation with B vitamins, specifically folic acid, vitamin B12, and, in one of the trials, vitamin B6, improved global cognitive functioning and slowed brain atrophy among older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)…
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Inflammation & Industrialization
The journal Nature Aging recently published the results of a population study evaluating inflammatory markers in four distinct parts of the world, suggesting that inflammation may not be a natural consequence of aging. Two industrialized populations were included in this study, with data drawn from the Italian InCHIANTI study and the Singapore Longitudinal Aging Study…
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African-Based vs Western-Based Diet
The results of a randomized and controlled dietary trial, including a multi-omics analysis of immune and metabolic changes associated with switching between a Western-style dietary pattern and a Kilimanjaro heritage-style pattern, were recently published in Nature Medicine. Male non-overweight participants between the ages of 20 to 40 were recruited from one of two cohorts in…
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Vitamin D & the Inflammatory Response
Research has shown that a healthy inflammatory response is an essential part of the body’s healing process. Yet ongoing inflammation can actually contribute to a wide range of common conditions. Genetic research has now identified low vitamin D levels with high levels of inflammation. This means that low vitamin D could become a key biomarker…
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High Fiber Diet Influences Inflammation
A recent study on the differences between a Western diet versus a fiber-rich, traditional Tanzanian diet shows the latter may lead to the production of fewer inflammatory proteins by the immune system.
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The Connection Between Inflammation and Bone Health
Osteoporosis is one of the most prevalent skeletal system diseases. It causes a decrease in bone mass and microarchitectural changes in bone tissue, resulting in lower bone resistance and susceptibility to fracture. In fact, it is thought to be responsible for approximately 1.5 million fractures annually.
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Curcumin’s Influence on Cytokine Storm
The end stage of virus infections often correlates with the onset of a cytokine storm. This uncontrolled release of proinflammatory cytokines by the body’s immune system involves more than 150 known inflammatory mediators. There are many factors involved in the progression of what begins as a healthy immune response to a state of amplified cytokine…
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Dietary Fiber Reduces Brain Inflammation During Aging
One of the side effects of aging is that chronic systemic inflammation alters neuroinflammation of the brain. A recent study from the University of Illinois demonstrated that supplementing with dietary fiber reduces brain inflammation caused by the aging process.
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Study Links Lack of Motivation to Inflammation
A new study published in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences has established a link between our dopaminergic drive (the motivation to do things) and chronic low-grade inflammation. The hypothesis presented by the researchers from Emory University is that “inflammatory cytokines signal immunometabolic shifts,” which directly impact mesolimbic dopamine (DA). The mesolimbic pathway, also referred…
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AIR POLLUTION CAN SEND OUR DETOX SYSTEMS INTO OVERDRIVE
A team of scientists has uncovered new information about the inflammatory effects of airborne particles from diesel fumes that can worsen asthma symptoms. In recent years, it was shown in a large-scale study that a mutation in the chemical messengers that promote inflammation may be related to asthma. We have also discovered that higher levels…