A new study has found that a specific type of body fat might be linked to the abnormal proteins in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease, even up to 20 years before symptoms of dementia appear.

Scientists highlighted that lifestyle changes aimed at reducing visceral fat might lower the chances of developing Alzheimer’s during this research presentation at the Radiological Society of North America RSNA annual meeting.

Dr. Mahsa Dolatshahi from the St. Louis-based Washington University School of Medicine was the lead author of this study. Dr. Dolatshahi noted that studying Alzheimer’s as early as midlife when people are in their 40s and 50s, can be especially helpful.

At this stage, the disease is in its earliest phases, and interventions like losing weight or decreasing visceral fat might delay or prevent its onset.

Close to 7 million Americans who are aged 65 years or more live with the disease according to the Alzheimer’s Association. If significant new advances to prevent or treat Alzheimer’s are not made, then by 2050, the total number of Americans affected could reach 13 million.

The study examined the connection between factors like obesity, body fat distribution, metabolism, and their links to Alzheimer’s. Eighty middle-aged adults with an average age of 49 were part of the research. Most participants were women (62.5%), and over half were obese, with an average body mass index (BMI) of 32.31.

To understand the relationship between fat and Alzheimer’s, researchers used various tools:

• Brain PET scans: These helped identify the proteins linked to Alzheimer’s. namely amyloid plaques and tau tangles.
• Body MRIs: Scans of the abdomen measured subcutaneous fat (just under the skin) and visceral fat (hidden fat around organs).
• Metabolic tests: These included measuring glucose, insulin, and cholesterol levels.

Dr. Dolatshahi explained that the team examined how different types of fat, like visceral and subcutaneous fat, and factors like insulin resistance and good cholesterol (HDL), could lead to the rise in amyloid and tau proteins in the brain.

The research revealed that visceral fat, the deeper fat around internal organs, was closely linked to higher levels of amyloid in the brain. This fat explained 77% of high BMI’s effect on amyloid buildup. Interestingly, other types of fat didn’t show the same connection to Alzheimer ’s-related brain changes.

Lower HDL levels and insulin resistance increased the risk of more amyloid in the brain according to this study. However, individuals with higher HDL showed a weaker link between visceral fat and amyloid buildup.

Dr. Dolatshahi emphasized that these findings are groundbreaking, as the study is one of the first to observe these connections in middle-aged adults who are still far from experiencing dementia symptoms.

Dr. Cyrus A. Raji, a senior author of the study, explained that tackling Alzheimer’s risk in people with obesity involves addressing the metabolic and cholesterol issues that often accompany high body fat. Dr. Dolatshahi pointed out that while previous research showed how high BMI can harm the brain, this study provided more detailed insights by using MRI to study the roles of visceral and subcutaneous fat.

In another related study, the same team showed that blood flow in the brain is reduced by visceral fat. Using MRIs, researchers observed that individuals with higher visceral fat had lower blood flow throughout the brain, while subcutaneous fat showed no significant effect on blood flow.

Dr. Raji remarked that understanding the harmful effects of visceral obesity on the brain could inspire lifestyle changes or weight-loss treatments to improve brain blood flow and reduce Alzheimer’s risk. This work is especially important, given that nearly 75% of Americans are overweight or obese.

By addressing visceral fat and related health issues early, people might have a better chance of protecting their brain health in the long term.

Sleep is often called a “magic pill” for the body. It provides many benefits, like strengthening the immune system, controlling blood sugar, and lowering the risk of heart attacks and strokes. While researchers have observed differences in how men and women sleep, it’s unclear whether these differences serve unique purposes, especially regarding heart health. A recent study set out to explore this connection further.

Over the years, many studies have highlighted sleep’s important role in maintaining heart health. For instance, getting enough sleep is crucial for keeping blood pressure at healthy levels. In 2018, a study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) showed that people sleeping fewer than seven hours had higher blood pressure compared to those who slept at least seven hours.

Dr. Marishka Brown, the director of the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research at NHLBI, stressed the importance of sleep for health and well-being. She explained that researchers are beginning to uncover how different sleep characteristics—like time spent in specific sleep stages or how often someone wakes up during the night—impact blood pressure. However, many questions remain, especially regarding how these factors differ between men and women.

Kristen Knutson, a professor of neurology and preventive medicine at Northwestern University, is among those investigating these issues. She noted that sleep plays a significant role in heart health and that her team is working to understand the connection better. Knutson also pointed out that high blood pressure is more strongly linked to heart attacks in women than in men, which further highlights the need for gender-specific research.

Knutson’s recent study focused on how different sleep stages and characteristics, rather than just sleep duration, are associated with blood pressure in men and women. The findings were interesting. Women who spent more time in deep sleep, the third and most restorative stage of sleep, were found to have lower blood pressure. However, this same connection was not observed in men. On the other hand, men who woke up more frequently during the night had higher blood pressure, while this pattern was not seen in women.

The study involved over 1,100 adults in Brazil, ranging in age from 18 to 91. The participants did not have moderate to severe sleep apnea, a condition known to affect blood pressure, although some had mild cases. Most participants (64%) were women. The researchers used a diagnostic test called polysomnography to monitor participants’ sleep, measuring brain activity, heart rate, and other functions. The next morning, they recorded blood pressure and collected blood samples to assess cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The data was analyzed both as a whole and separately for men and women.

The researchers found significant differences in blood pressure based on the sleep characteristics of men versus women. However, the study was just a starting point. For example, it only captured one night of sleep and a single blood pressure reading, so it’s unclear whether changes in sleep stages or waking patterns over time directly impact blood pressure. Future studies will need to explore whether improving these aspects of sleep can lead to better heart health outcomes.

Knutson suggested that these findings could guide further research into why deep sleep appears to be especially beneficial for women. Understanding this connection could pave the way for new therapies to enhance women’s deep sleep. She also highlighted the potential for experimental studies to test whether changes in sleep habits can improve blood pressure and heart health in both genders.

Dr. Brown concluded that this study reinforces how important sleep is in managing hypertension. She believes that gaining a deeper understanding of specific sleep patterns could help develop more targeted strategies to protect heart health in both men and women.

A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) highlights the risks associated with spending too much time sitting, reclining, or lying down. The research found that spending over 10.5 hours a day being sedentary could significantly increase the risk of developing heart problems, such as heart failure, and even lead to a higher chance of death due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This link was evident even in people who met the recommended levels of physical activity.

Dr. Shaan Khurshid, a cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and one of the study’s lead authors, emphasized the importance of reducing sedentary behavior to improve heart health. He explained that spending too much time sitting or lying down is harmful, even for otherwise active individuals.

Experts have long known that regular exercise is essential for maintaining a healthy heart. Current guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each week. However, this study points out that exercise makes up only a small portion of daily activity. The majority of the day, for many people, is spent in sedentary activities, which are not directly addressed in the guidelines.

The study sought to determine the amount of sedentary time that poses the highest risk for heart health. It also examined how sitting time and physical activity together influence conditions like atrial fibrillation, heart failure, heart attacks, and cardiovascular mortality.

The study analyzed data from 89,530 participants in the UK Biobank, with an average age of 62 years and women outnumbering men. They wore wrist devices that recorded their movements over seven days. On average, participants spent about 9.4 hours a day being sedentary.

Over the course of eight years, researchers noted the following:

• 3,638 participants (4.9%) developed atrial fibrillation.
• 1,854 (2.1%) experienced heart failure.
• 1,610 (1.84%) suffered a heart attack.
• 846 (0.94%) died from cardiovascular causes.

The risks associated with sedentary time varied depending on the condition. For Atrial Fibrillation and heart attacks, the risk increased steadily as sedentary time rose. However, the risk remained relatively low for heart failure and cardiovascular mortality until sedentary time exceeded 10.6 hours a day, when the risk grew significantly.
Even among those who met the recommended levels of physical activity, prolonged sedentary time continued to increase the risk of heart failure and cardiovascular death.

Dr. Khurshid suggested that public health efforts should emphasize reducing sedentary behavior as part of maintaining good heart health. He noted that keeping daily sedentary time below 10.6 hours could be a realistic goal for many people.

Dr. Charles Eaton from Brown University added that wearable devices, such as accelerometers, have revealed how much people underestimate their sedentary time and overestimate their exercise. He explained that replacing just 30 minutes of sitting each day with physical activity, even light activity, could reduce the risk of heart failure and cardiovascular death. For example, moderate-to-vigorous exercise lowered the risk of heart failure by 15% and cardiovascular death by 10%, while light activity reduced these risks by 6% and 9%, respectively.

While the findings are significant, the study had some limitations. It could not determine why or where participants spent their sedentary time, such as at work, which might affect cardiovascular risk differently. Additionally, wrist-worn devices might inaccurately classify standing time as sedentary. The study also couldn’t directly measure the benefits of replacing sitting time with other activities.

Despite these limitations, Dr. Harlan Krumholz from Yale School of Medicine stated that the study adds to the growing evidence linking sedentary behavior to heart health. He stressed that encouraging people to move more is critical for improving overall health.

In summary, staying active and reducing sedentary time are key steps to better heart health, regardless of how much exercise one gets.

Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s cells that line the joints. This causes stiffness, swelling, and joint pain, making it hard to move them and function.

RA affects millions worldwide and over half a million people in the United Kingdom, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Because RA can be a lifelong condition, scientists have been searching for ways to understand its early development. A major focus of recent research has been on gut bacteria and their role in the beginning of RA.

A recent observational study from the University of Leeds was published in the rheumatology journal The Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. This study has shown that certain changes in the gut microbiome—bacteria in the digestive system—may be connected to the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This research could help scientists understand how RA begins and find new ways to predict or prevent it.

The researchers aimed to resolve unclear findings from past studies about the role of certain gut bacteria, specifically the family known as Prevotellaceae, which might play a part in RA development. They wanted to observe how the gut microbiome changes over time in people who are at risk of developing RA compared to those who are not.

The researchers began by collecting baseline samples from 124 people who tested positive for anti-CCP antibodies, often found in people at risk for RA. These individuals also reported new musculoskeletal symptoms, though they did not yet have any joint swelling.

Over time, 30 of these participants went on to develop RA. For a more detailed look, the study tracked 19 people over a period of 15 months, collecting samples at five different points in time. Out of these 19 people, five eventually developed RA.

In the group that went on to develop RA, the researchers found certain differences in the abundance of Prevotellaceae bacteria at the beginning of the study. The presence of these bacteria seemed to be influenced by various factors, including each person’s unique risk level for RA and the time it took to progress to the disease.

Over the 15-month period, they noticed that people who developed RA experienced a disruption, or instability, in their gut bacteria starting about ten months before they actually showed symptoms of the disease. This pattern was not seen in those who did not develop RA.

The findings suggest that this microbial shift could be a sign of an impending onset of RA. Although Prevotellaceae bacteria played a role, they were not the only factor; other bacterial changes also contributed to this instability.

In people who progressed to RA, there were shifts in the gut microbiome’s structure and an increase in amino acid metabolism—an important process where the body breaks down proteins. Within the Prevotellaceae family, some strains of bacteria became more common, while others declined, depending on each person’s risk level and how close they were to developing RA.

The study’s results might help explain why previous research has shown conflicting results regarding Prevotellaceae bacteria and RA. These mixed findings may be because people at different points along the disease spectrum could have different bacterial patterns. This study suggests that changes in the gut bacteria align with a person’s risk profile and their progression from being at risk to actually developing RA.

Understanding how the gut microbiome changes over time in people at risk for RA could lead to major improvements in RA prediction, prevention, and individualized treatment plans. If further research confirms these results, scientists may eventually develop ways to target the gut microbiome in people who are at high risk for RA, potentially stopping or slowing down the disease before it fully develops.

Also Read: Gut Bacteria Can Be a Potential Game-Changer for Rheumatoid Arthritis

A recent study published in *Neurology*, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology, has found that older adults who feel drowsy during the day or lack motivation may be at higher risk for a syndrome that could eventually lead to dementia. The syndrome, known as motoric cognitive risk (MCR) syndrome, is a condition where people experience slower walking speeds and mild memory concerns. However, these individuals do not yet have dementia or any serious mobility issues.

The study highlights a connection between sleep-related problems, such as excessive daytime sleepiness and a lack of drive to complete tasks, and the likelihood of developing MCR syndrome. However, this research does not confirm that sleep problems cause MCR syndrome; it only shows that there is a link between the two.

Dr. Victoire Leroy, the study’s lead author from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, explained that the study underlines the importance of identifying and addressing sleep issues in older adults. She suggested that receiving help for their sleep-related problems might reduce their risk of cognitive decline as they age.

The research involved 445 participants who were around 76 years old on average and did not have dementia. At the beginning of the study, each person completed a questionnaire on their sleep habits, and their walking speed was measured using a treadmill. Participants also provided information on any memory problems they might have. The assessments were repeated each year for about three years.

In the sleep questionnaire, participants answered questions about their sleep challenges, such as how often they had trouble staying asleep, falling asleep within 30 minutes, or waking up feeling too hot or cold. They were also asked if they used medication to help them sleep. Additional questions assessed how frequently participants felt sleepy during the day, including situations like driving, eating, or socializing. The survey also asked how motivated they felt to accomplish tasks and if they had trouble maintaining enthusiasm.

By the end of the study, researchers classified 177 participants as “poor sleepers” and 268 as “good sleepers.” At the start, 42 people already showed signs of MCR syndrome, while another 36 developed it during the study period.

When the data was analyzed, researchers found that about 35.5% of the people with both excessive daytime sleepiness and low enthusiasm developed MCR syndrome, compared to only 6.7% of those without these sleep issues. After adjusting for other factors that might influence the syndrome, like age, depression, and other health conditions, the study showed that people with excessive daytime sleepiness and low motivation were more than three times as likely to develop MCR syndrome compared to those without these symptoms.

Dr. Leroy emphasized that further studies are needed better to understand the connection between sleep disturbances and cognitive decline. She also mentioned the importance of studying how MCR syndrome might contribute to or be influenced by sleep-related issues and cognitive decline.

A limitation of this study was that participants reported their own sleep experiences, which might not always be fully accurate. This factor could affect the reliability of some findings.

The National Institute on Aging funded the research, showing the importance of ongoing support for studies investigating factors contributing to dementia and cognitive decline in older adults.

Also Read: Loneliness Can Increase Dementia Risk, Large New Study Shows

A recent study led by researchers from Florida State University College of Medicine explored the connection between dementia and loneliness. Data from more than 600,000 individuals globally was analyzed in this research, making it the largest study for this kind of research. This study, known as a meta-analysis, reviewed 21 different long-term studies to better understand the effects of loneliness on the brain.

The findings showed that due to loneliness, the risk of developing dementia increases by 31%. Dementia is a condition that affects memory and thinking skills, and it tends to get worse over time. The research was published in *Nature Mental Health*. It provides further evidence that loneliness can have serious effects on health. According to the study’s author, Dr. Martina Luchetti, the results are expected, given how many other studies have shown that loneliness can lead to poor health outcomes.

Dementia does not appear suddenly; it develops over many years. The brain goes through changes long before a person shows clear signs of the disease. Dr. Luchetti highlighted the importance of continuing to study how loneliness impacts different aspects of mental functioning since feelings of loneliness could affect how well people think and manage daily tasks. Loneliness, which happens when people are unhappy with their social relationships, might also make it harder for someone to perform everyday activities, which could increase their risk of dementia.

The study revealed that loneliness is a significant risk factor for cognitive decline, regardless of the person’s age or gender. It also found a connection between loneliness and specific types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common type. Additionally, the study suggested that loneliness could cause mental decline even before someone is diagnosed with dementia.

This research was motivated by growing concerns about loneliness, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to increased social isolation due to lockdowns and other restrictions. Both the World Health Organization and the U.S. Surgeon General have recognized loneliness as a major public health problem.

There has been a growing interest in understanding how loneliness affects people’s health, particularly as they age. Dr. Luchetti pointed out that it’s crucial to figure out why and under what conditions loneliness increases the risk of dementia later in life.

While the study included data from people worldwide, most of the data came from wealthier countries in the West. Dr. Luchetti emphasized the need for future research to include data from low-income countries, as cases of dementia are rising in those areas. She explained that studying how loneliness affects people in different countries and cultures is important.

The results of this study offer useful information that could help with future efforts to prevent dementia. Now that researchers have shown a clear connection between loneliness and dementia, the next step is to figure out the causes of loneliness and how it can be managed. Dr. Luchetti mentioned that identifying these causes could help improve older adults’ mental health and well-being.

This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Aging, a part of the National Institutes of Health. The study’s authors included several experts from Florida State University and researchers from Wenzhou Medical University, the University of Montpelier, and the University of Limerick.

Also Read: Study Indicates Daytime Sleepiness in Elderly May Increase Dementia Risk

A new study conducted across five European countries is the largest randomized controlled trial ever done to see how effective a combined hearing and vision rehabilitation program can be for people with dementia living at home. This study, led by experts from Trinity College and the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), has been published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity journal.

The SENSE-Cog trial points out the critical importance of addressing both hearing and vision health in people with dementia. It shows that taking care of hearing and vision problems can improve their quality of life, at least in the short term.

The research was a randomized controlled trial, which means participants were randomly assigned to either receive the intervention or not. It included people with mild to moderate dementia from five different European countries: Cyprus, France, Greece, Ireland, and the UK. The main goal was to see how much a special program called Sensory Support Intervention (SSI), which focused on improving hearing and vision, could affect the quality of life and other health outcomes in people struggling with dementia and sensory issues.

The intervention results showed that participants’ quality of life improved in the short term after receiving the hearing and vision rehabilitation. However, over the longer term, the difference between those who got the intervention and those who didn’t became less noticeable, suggesting that further research is needed. The study also emphasized that hearing and vision problems are common in people with dementia, with up to 70% of them experiencing these issues. If these problems aren’t addressed, they can worsen dementia symptoms and reduce overall well-being.

There have been very few studies like this that look at non-drug treatments for dementia, especially across different countries with varying languages and healthcare systems. As Europe gets ready to introduce new treatments that target amyloid (a protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease), the study’s findings remind us that non-drug interventions remain important, especially for people with more advanced stages of dementia or types of dementia other than Alzheimer’s, who might not benefit from these new treatments.

The lead researcher, Professor Iracema Leroi from Trinity College Dublin, explained that the results are promising because they show that simple, low-cost interventions like providing hearing aids or glasses could improve the quality of life for people with dementia. Leroi believes that these kinds of non-drug treatments should continue to be studied and supported as important areas of dementia care.

Additionally, Leroi stressed the need to focus on the quality of life for people living with dementia. With so much attention being given to treatments that try to prevent or slow down dementia, she highlighted the importance of also focusing on helping the 55 million people who already have dementia to live well.

Professor Brian Lawlor, also from Trinity College Dublin, added that hearing and vision problems are a big issue for people with dementia that often goes unnoticed. He noted that this study was the first large-scale attempt to see if improving hearing and vision could make a difference in the lives of people with dementia. The fact that it was possible to run this study even during the COVID-19 pandemic shows how much potential this type of intervention has. Lawlor emphasized that the early signs of improved quality of life suggest that more research is needed.

This study provides the best evidence so far that these interventions can improve their quality of life in the short term. However, the research team believes that more evidence is needed to understand the effects on other important factors like cognition, behavior, and the role of family caregivers.

The study calls for ongoing efforts to develop and improve non-drug treatments that address the complex needs of people with dementia. It suggests a more holistic approach to their care is necessary to support their well-being.

A recent study from Edith Cowan University (ECU) suggests that people with hip osteoarthritis might struggle to activate their muscles efficiently, and this could be more of a mental issue than a physical one.

Dr. Myles Murphy, a post-doctoral research fellow at ECU, conducted this research. He explored how muscle function is affected in patients with hip osteoarthritis and found that the condition causes difficulties in muscle activation, which goes beyond simple muscle weakness.

Previous studies have shown that how much a joint deteriorates doesn’t always match the level of pain someone with arthritis might feel. In fact, having stronger muscles helps to protect the joints and reduce pain. However, Dr. Murphy’s research revealed that people with hip osteoarthritis can’t activate their muscles properly, even if they have strong muscles. This inability to use muscles effectively is not fully understood, but it plays a crucial role in the rehabilitation of people with this condition.

As part of his study, Dr. Murphy and his team examined the brain function of individuals with hip arthritis. They discovered that the brain might be stopping these individuals from using their muscles correctly. This brain response seems to slow down their recovery process and the proper functioning of their muscles.

Dr. Murphy and his team are unsure of the exact reason why this happens, but they believe it might be related to the brain’s natural way of protecting the body from harm. In normal cases, like when someone twists an ankle or injures a knee, the body uses short-term pain responses to prevent further injury. But in cases of long-term pain, such as in osteoarthritis, the brain’s protective mechanism could backfire, leading to more harm than good.

Hip osteoarthritis is most common in people over 45 years of age, and women are more likely to develop it than men. Those who have had previous joint injuries, whether from sports or accidents, are at a higher risk, as well as individuals with joint abnormalities like hip dysplasia. This condition often affects how a person moves. Many people with hip arthritis struggle to walk normally or perform simple tasks like getting out of a chair or car.

One of the major challenges for people with osteoarthritis is how it affects their daily lives. Dr. Murphy noted that the condition can cause people to miss a lot of work and carry a heavy financial burden. In his study, he found that people with hip arthritis had about 25% disability when performing everyday activities, compared to 0% in healthy individuals.

Dr. Murphy and his team are exploring new methods to help patients overcome this automatic muscle inhibition and recover more effectively. He emphasizes the importance of strength training for those with hip osteoarthritis. While the road to recovery is not easy and requires a lot of effort, it is possible to strengthen the muscles around the joint with proper exercise.

Dr. Murphy encourages people to keep working with trained professionals, like physiotherapists or exercise physiologists, to stay strong. Although it takes time, and there are no quick solutions, maintaining strength is key to managing osteoarthritis effectively.

A recent study from the University of Turku in Finland revealed that reducing the amount of time spent sitting each day can help prevent back pain from worsening over six months. This finding supports the existing knowledge about how staying active can impact back pain and sheds more light on what happens in the body that might lead to back pain.

It might seem obvious that sitting less could help with back pain, but surprisingly, there has been little research to prove this theory. This new study, conducted by the Turku PET Centre and the UKK Institute in Finland, specifically looked at whether reducing sitting time could help overweight or obese adults who spend most of their day sitting.

The participants in the study managed to cut their sitting time by an average of 40 minutes per day over the six months of the study. These individuals were generally middle-aged adults who led sedentary lives, rarely exercised, and had gained some extra weight. These factors, such as sitting for long periods, not being physically active, and being overweight, increase the risk of both heart disease and back pain.

In previous research, it has been suggested that sitting for too long could be harmful to the back, but the data has been limited. This study aimed to explore whether there was a direct link between reducing sitting time and preventing back pain.

In addition to looking at sitting time, the researchers also examined what might be happening in the body that could cause or prevent back pain. They used advanced methods, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans, to closely study the back muscles of the participants. These scans helped the researchers measure the fat levels in the back muscles and examine how well the body processed glucose (a type of sugar) in those muscles.

Even though the researchers did not find a clear connection between improvements in back pain and changes in the muscle’s fat levels or glucose metabolism, they still found that reducing sitting could help with back pain. People with back pain often have higher fat deposits in their back muscles and poor glucose metabolism, which can increase the risk of pain. However, the study suggested that back pain relief can still occur even if no noticeable change exists in these muscle conditions.

The researchers pointed out that reducing sitting time could be helpful for people who are concerned about their back health. They encouraged individuals who sit for long periods to try and find ways to decrease sitting, whether at work or during free time. Still, they stressed that simply standing up is not enough—engaging in physical activities such as walking or more intense exercise is more beneficial.

In conclusion, the researchers emphasized that changing postures regularly throughout the day is more important than focusing on maintaining a “perfect” posture. Shifting positions and staying active can reduce the risk of back pain and improve overall back health, even without making drastic changes to muscle composition or metabolism.

A recent study has found that reducing ultra-processed foods (UPF) in your diet can significantly lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Conducted by researchers from UCL, the University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London, the study reveals that consuming fewer highly processed foods and opting for minimally processed alternatives can make a difference in diabetes prevention.

Published in The Lancet Regional Health—Europe, the research followed 311,892 individuals across eight European countries for nearly 11 years. During this period, 14,236 participants developed type 2 diabetes. The findings show that for every 10% increase in ultra-processed foods in the diet, the risk of type 2 diabetes rises by 17%. However, by substituting UPF with healthier options, this risk can be significantly reduced.

Savoury snacks, processed meats, ready meals, and sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened beverages were the foods most strongly linked to increased type 2 diabetes risk. These findings suggest that dietary changes should focus on these specific ultra-processed foods to reduce the risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes.

Food processing levels are categorized using the Nova classification, which divides foods into four groups: unprocessed or minimally processed foods (MPF) like fruits, eggs, and milk; processed culinary ingredients (PCI) like salt and oil; processed foods (PF) such as cheese and tinned fish; and ultra-processed foods like sweets, snacks, and ready-to-eat meals.

While the exact link between UPF and type 2 diabetes isn’t entirely understood, weight gain and overconsumption are believed to be significant contributors. In a previous study, body fat accounted for nearly half of the increased risk, a trend that was confirmed in this new research.

Samuel Dicken, the study’s lead author from UCL Division of Medicine, explained, “Ultra-processed foods have been linked to higher risks of type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases. Our findings show that by reducing UPF consumption by just 10% and replacing them with less processed options, individuals can lower their diabetes risk.”

The researchers also examined different types of ultra-processed foods and their varying impacts on diabetes risk. For example, replacing 10% of UPF with minimally processed foods or processed culinary ingredients reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes by 14%. When substituted with processed foods, the risk dropped even further by 18%, possibly due to certain processed foods like nuts, artisan bread, and preserved fruits having a more favourable impact.

Interestingly, not all ultra-processed foods carried the same risk. The study found that UPF categories like bread, biscuits, breakfast cereals, sweets, and plant-based alternatives were associated with a lower incidence of type 2 diabetes compared to items like sugary beverages and savoury snacks.

Professor Rachel Batterham from UCL added, “Our detailed analysis of UPF subgroups has been eye-opening. It shows that not all UPF should be treated equally, and dietary advice should focus more on limiting sugary drinks and savoury snacks while recognizing that some processed foods, like bread and cereals, may pose less risk.”

While this observational study highlights clear associations between UPF and type 2 diabetes, it does not confirm direct causality. The UCL team is currently conducting a trial comparing the effects of ultra-processed and minimally processed diets, with results expected in 2025.

In addition, a report by the UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) in 2023 supported the findings of this study, linking ultra-processed foods to an increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and depression. The report emphasized the need for more research to understand these connections fully.

Professor Marc Gunter from Imperial College London, one of the study’s coordinators, said, “This study adds to growing evidence linking UPF consumption with chronic diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes. Reducing UPF intake and choosing more whole, unprocessed foods could be a key strategy in lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes.”

In summary, by reducing ultra-processed foods and making simple swaps to more natural, whole foods, individuals can actively lower their risk of type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases.

Older adults often experience cognitive decline as part of the aging process, and about 10% of those with mild cognitive impairment progress to Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia annually. While certain activities like jigsaw puzzles have been suggested to slow cognitive aging, the extent of their benefits remains uncertain.

However, a new Texas A&M University School of Public Health study reveals promising results. According to the research, older adults with mild cognitive impairment who frequently engage in mentally stimulating activities like word games, reading, and hobbies exhibit better memory, attention, and processing speed than those who do not.

“Currently, nearly six million people in the U.S. live with dementia, and this figure could rise to 14 million by 2060, with minority groups disproportionately affected,” explained Dr. Junhyoung “Paul” Kim, associate professor of health behavior at Texas A&M. “Our goal was to address gaps in understanding how cognitive decline can be mitigated.”

The study, published in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, used data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), analyzing 5,932 individuals aged 50 and older with mild cognitive impairment from 2012 to 2020. Participants were surveyed about how often they engaged in activities like reading and game-playing, and their responses were categorized into low, mid, and high levels of participation. The research team then examined the relationship between these activities and cognitive function over time.

Results showed that those in the high participation group consistently had higher memory, working memory, attention, and processing speed than those in the mid- and low-level groups. The mid-level group also outperformed the low-level group in working memory and attention.

Dr. Kim noted that while overall cognitive function did decline with time, individuals who frequently engaged in mentally stimulating activities maintained better cognitive health than those who did not. This suggests that even older adults with mild cognitive impairment could benefit from regular engagement in such activities.

The study’s findings highlight the potential for healthcare providers to recommend games, reading, or other stimulating activities to their patients at least three to four times per week. Additionally, the researchers emphasized the need to address barriers like caregiver support and financial constraints to ensure more seniors can access these benefits.

Promoting consistent cognitive engagement can slow the progression of cognitive decline, offering a better quality of life for older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

A recent study has found that acute kidney injury (AKI) is linked to a higher risk of developing dementia. This research, published in the journal Neurology, was conducted by scientists from the Karolinska Institutet along with other collaborators.

Acute kidney injury is a sudden and severe decline in kidney function. It is quite common among older adults and is known to increase the chances of illness and death. Previous research has hinted that there might be some connection between brain injury and AKI, but this new study specifically looked at how AKI might be related to different types of dementia.

The researchers examined data from over 300,000 individuals aged 65 and older. This data was taken from the Sweden-based SCREAM (Stockholm CREAtinine Measurement) project. Over an average period of 12 years, about one in four of these individuals experienced at least one episode of AKI, and 16 percent of them were diagnosed with some form of dementia.

The study found that people who had suffered from acute kidney injury were 49 percent more likely to develop any form of dementia compared to those who had not. When the researchers looked at specific types of dementia, they found that the risk for dementia caused by Parkinson’s disease or Lewy body dementia was 88 percent higher.

They also found that for vascular dementia, it was 47 percent higher, and for Alzheimer’s disease, it was 31 percent higher. The risk of developing dementia was even more significant for those who had severe kidney damage that required hospitalization.

Assistant Professor Hong Xu from the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society at Karolinska Institutet, along with Professor Juan Jesus Carrero from the Karolinska Institutet’s Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, suggested that AKI might not only affect kidney function but could also have broader impacts on brain health.

They believe that identifying AKI as a risk factor for dementia could lead to earlier interventions, preventive treatments, and improved patient care. This could potentially help in slowing down or preventing the development of dementia in those who have experienced acute kidney injury.

The next step for the researchers is to explore how AKI and dementia are connected at the biological level. They also plan to study whether certain medications, changes in lifestyle, and careful monitoring after an episode of AKI can lower the chances of developing dementia.

Several organizations, including StratNeuro, CIMED, KI foundations, and the Swedish Research Council supported the study. Additionally, Yang Xu, a researcher at Peking University Health Science Center and Karolinska Institutet, received funding from the Young Scientists Fund and the National Natural Science Foundation of China to support this research.

A recent study found that when veterans no longer meet the diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), they are at a lower risk for poor diabetes outcomes, especially if they are younger. This research, led by Jeffrey F. Scherrer, Ph.D., from the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, was published online on August 13 in JAMA Network Open.

The study looked at 10,002 veterans, 65.3% being 50 or older and 87.2% being men. The researchers aimed to understand how PTSD affects the health of veterans who also have type 2 diabetes. They specifically compared the diabetes-related health outcomes of veterans whose PTSD symptoms improved to those whose symptoms remained the same.

The study analyzed several key health outcomes related to diabetes. These included the need to start insulin treatment, the control of blood sugar levels, the occurrence of complications in small blood vessels (known as microvascular complications), and the overall mortality rate.

The researchers found that before adjusting for other influencing factors, there was little difference in these health outcomes between veterans whose PTSD had improved and those who still met the criteria for PTSD. For example, the rates of starting insulin were 22.4 per 1,000 person-years for those with improved PTSD and 24.4 per 1,000 person-years for those with persistent PTSD. Similarly, poor blood sugar control rates were 137.1 versus 133.7 per 1,000 person-years.

However, once the researchers adjusted for other factors that could affect the results, they noticed that veterans who no longer met the criteria for PTSD had a slightly lower risk of microvascular complications. This means that their risk of developing complications in small blood vessels was reduced compared to those with ongoing PTSD.

For younger veterans aged 18 to 49, the study found an even more significant reduction in health risks. These veterans had a lower chance of needing insulin and a much lower risk of dying from any cause. Additionally, among veterans who did not have depression, those who no longer met the PTSD criteria were less likely to start insulin treatment.

The authors of the study suggested that PTSD could be a changeable risk factor that impacts some adverse health outcomes in veterans who have both PTSD and type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Scherrer shared that the results of the study were somewhat unexpected, as he anticipated seeing better control of blood sugar levels in those whose PTSD symptoms had improved. He also thought that veterans with less improvement in their PTSD would have higher mortality rates. He suggested that the study might not have observed significant differences in blood sugar control because this aspect of diabetes is already well-managed within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, leading to little variation in outcomes over time.

Dr. Scherrer also pointed out several areas for future research. He mentioned that in previous studies, individuals who showed significant improvements in PTSD symptoms were more likely to engage in healthier behaviors, such as taking their medications regularly or quitting smoking. However, it is still unclear if these positive behaviors significantly impact diabetes outcomes.

He emphasized that primary care providers should be aware that mental health conditions, including PTSD, can complicate the management of diabetes. Therefore, for patients with both PTSD and diabetes, it is crucial to ensure that the PTSD is well-controlled. Doing so might be the best strategy for improving their diabetes outcomes.

A recent Swedish study suggests that following a healthy diet that reduces inflammation in the body could lower the chances of developing dementia, especially for individuals with heart-related health issues. These diets are often called anti-inflammatory diets. They focus on foods like fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains, and beans, which are also part of well-known heart-healthy eating plans like the Mediterranean diet.

The study, which tracked over 84,000 older adults for more than 12 years, found that those who followed an anti-inflammatory diet had a 21% lower chance of developing dementia. This was compared to people who ate a diet high in inflammation-causing foods such as eggs, dairy, red meats, and processed items.

The benefits were even more pronounced for older adults who already had health conditions like heart disease or diabetes. For these individuals, the risk of dementia dropped by 31% when they followed an anti-inflammatory eating plan, according to a team of researchers led by Abigail Dove from the Karolinska Institute’s Aging Research Center in Stockholm.

A closer look at the brain scans of more than 9,000 of the participants revealed noticeable improvements in brain health. Dr. Liron Sinvani, who is the director of geriatric hospital services at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y., observed that these healthier diets were linked to “positive changes within the brain.”

While Sinvani was not a part of the study, she explained that people who followed an anti-inflammatory diet had larger volumes of gray matter in their brains and fewer white matter hyperintensities. Gray matter is essential for processing information, and having more of it is considered a good sign for brain health. On the other hand, white matter hyperintensities are associated with a higher risk of dementia, so seeing less of it in individuals who ate anti-inflammatory foods was a promising indicator.

In addition to the reduced risk of dementia, there were signs of healthier brain changes observable in MRI scans. People who ate pro-inflammatory diets, which are rich in processed foods and animal-based products, had more brain changes that could lead to dementia, as noted in the study.

The researchers behind this study, which was published on August 12 in the journal *JAMA Network Open*, believe that one reason an anti-inflammatory diet could lower the chances of developing dementia is because it helps reduce overall inflammation in the body. This is especially important for people who have heart or metabolic conditions like diabetes.

Sinvani emphasized the importance of a healthy diet for maintaining brain health, noting that this study reinforces the benefits of eating right. However, for those who find it difficult to fit enough fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into their diets, she warned against relying on supplements.

Even though many antioxidant supplements are on the market, Sinvani pointed out that past studies haven’t shown much evidence that they are effective replacements for a healthy diet. In fact, she suggested that the best way to benefit from anti-inflammatory foods is to get them directly from what you eat, not from pills.

In summary, this research suggests that eating a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods may help lower the risk of dementia, especially for those with pre-existing health conditions like heart disease. While supplements might seem like an easy fix, the best results come from a well-rounded, healthy diet.