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Curcumin shows promise against osteoporosis in preclinical research

Central South University (China), February 10, 2021

According to news reporting originating from Changsha, People’s Republic of China, research stated, “Osteoporosis (OP) behaves in different manners in different parts of the skeleton. This study aims to investigate the effects of curcumin on bone mass of the mandibular and femur from ovariectomized OP rats and to validate whether enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2)/Wnt/b-Catenin pathway is involved in this process.”

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from Central South University, “Curcumin was administered intragastrically into ovariectomized rats for 12 weeks. The bone parameters and the morphology of the trabecular bone of the left mandible and left femur were assessed by micro-computed tomography assay. Morphological changes of the left mandible and left femur were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The mRNA levels of EZH2, b-Catenin, and Runx2 in the right mandible and right femur were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemistry was performed to assess EZH2 expression. Both the mandible and femur exhibited OP-like changes in ovariectomized rats, while the mandible bone resorption was less than the femur bone resorption. Curcumin intragastric administration improved bone microstructure and promoted bone formation in the mandible and femur. Curcumin inhibited EZH2 mRNA level and induced that of b-Catenin and Runx2 in the mandible and femur.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Collectively, curcumin exerts protective effects against OP, possibly by regulating the EZH2/Wnt/b-Catenin pathway.”

Long-term stress linked to increased risk of heart attack

Linkoping University (Sweden), February 11, 2021

Can long-term stress lead to heart attacks? Most people would probably answer in the affirmative, but the scientific evidence of this is scarce. A new study by researchers from Linköping University in Sweden reveals that the levels of the stress hormone cortisol were increased in the months preceding a heart attack. The results, published in Scientific Reports, suggest that long-term stress is a risk factor for heart attacks.

“The levels of the stress hormone cortisol differed between people who have had a heart attack and those not affected. This suggests that cortisol in hair may be a new risk marker for heart attacks. We must take stress seriously,” says Professor Tomas Faresjö from the Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences at Linköping University, principal investigator of the study.

Stress is a natural part of life today, but there is still a lot we don’t know about the effects of long-term stress on our bodies. It is well-known that sudden emotional or physical stress, such as natural disasters or similar serious events, can trigger heart attacks. But what about long-term stress? It has been difficult to measure long-term stress due to a lack of reliable methods. The research group has improved the use of a new biomarker, in which they measure the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in hair. This enables measurements of cortisol levels backwards in time, similar to the growth rings in a tree. This analysis method is at the moment only available in research settings.

“If you ask someone who has suffered a heart attack whether they were stressed before the heart attack, many will answer yes. But that answer may be colored by the cardiac event. We avoid this problem with our method, since we use a biological marker that can measure retrospectively, and objectively show stress levels in the months before the heart attack,” says Tomas Faresjö.

In the present study, “Stressheart,” the researchers used hair samples of length between 1 and 3 centimeters, corresponding to 1-3 months of hair growth. They measured cortisol levels in hair samples from 174 men and women in professional life who had been admitted for myocardial infarction to cardiology clinics in south-eastern Sweden. As control group, the researchers used hair samples from more than 3,000 similarly aged participants in the Swedish SCAPIS study (Swedish CardioPulmonary bioImage Study).

The researchers showed that patients who suffered a heart attack had statistically significant higher levels of cortisol during the month preceding the event. They adjusted for other established cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high levels of blood lipids, smoking, a history of heart attacks, hereditary for heart attacks, and diabetes, and found that high cortisol level remained a strong risk factor for heart attack.

“It’s surprising that this biomarker for long-term stress seems to be strong even compared with traditional cardiovascular risk factors,” says Tomas Faresjö.

A heart attack is damage to the heart muscle due to lack of oxygen supply to a part of the heart. Most often a blood clot forms that prevents blood from flowing through the coronary arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart. The underlying cause of most heart attacks is atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). This can start to arise decades before the first symptoms appear. An important question is whether, and if so how, long-term stress and atherosclerosis are associated.

“We will further investigate mechanisms that can explain how stress levels affect the risk of heart attack. We are particularly interested in various inflammation markers and calcifications in the blood vessels. We want to investigate whether these are related to long-term stress,” says Susanna Strömberg, general practitioner and doctoral student in the Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences at Linköping University.

The researchers cannot fully explain what causes the high cortisol levels seen in participants in the study. This is due to the fact that stress can be a result of either internal factors, such as another disease, or external factors, such as economic difficulties or major life events. They point out that the experience of stress does not always match the biological stress. An individual can feel stressed, without having any objective measures of stress. And the opposite can also be true: the body’s stress systems can be highly active even though the individual does not feel stressed.

Cocoa flavanols may boost memory in older people

Columbia and New York universities, February 15, 2021

A clinical trial has shown that in older people, a diet supplemented with cocoa flavanols– naturally occurring compounds found in cocoa beans—may improve performance on a specific memory task. The study is published on Monday 15 February in the journal Scientific Reports.

Researchers from Columbia University and New York University recruited 211 healthy people aged 50-75 for the trial, which lasted for 12 weeks. At the start and end of the study, participants undertook a series of cognitive tests to assess their thinking and memory and a subset of the participants were given an MRI scan to measure blood flow in the brain. During the trial, the participants were divided into four groups and given different levels of a supplement containing cocoa flavanols:

• Placebo (0 mg of Flavanols per day)
• low intake (260 mg)
• Medium intake (510 mg)
• high intake (770 mg).

Dr. Susan Kohlhass, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:

“This small trial highlights some possible effect of flavanols found in cocoa beansover a short time period, but we’d need to see much longer, large-scale studies to fully understand whether a diet high in these flavanols could boost cognition in old age. We also don’t know how meaningful the improvements measured in the tests used here would be for people in their daily lives.

“While the researchers found that by the end of the study, those on a high-flavanoldiet performed better in a list-learning task compared to the placebo group, they did not find a relationship between flavanol intake and performance on two other cognitive tests, one of which was the primary endpoint for the study. There was no effect of 12 weeks of flavanol supplementation on blood flow to the region of the brain the researchers had identified in advance of the study.

“This study didn’t look at dementia, and we can’t know from this research whether a diet high in cocoa would have any effect in either preventing or delaying the onset of the condition. The study used cocoa flavanol supplements provided to participants in capsule form. While cocoa beans are the basis for chocolate, chocolates are not a reliable source of flavanol compounds and this study does not suggest that eating chocolate is good for our cognitive health.

“The study was partly supported by MARS, Inc. the company that produces Mars bars and a range of other chocolate products.

“Continued investment in research is crucial to find ways to protect the brain and reduce the risk of diseases that cause dementia. Although there’s currently no certain way to prevent dementia, research shows that a healthy lifestyle can help keep our brains health as we age. A healthy diet, regular exercise, not smoking, and keeping blood pressure and weight in check can all help lower the risk of dementia.

“We must do all we can to help people take action in support of their brain health. That’s why Alzheimer’s Research UK has launched the Think Brain Health campaign as an important first step.”

Instant death from heart attack more common in people who do not exercise

Bispebjerg Copenhagen Hospital (Denmark), 12 February 2021

An active lifestyle is linked with a lower chance of dying immediately from a heart attack, according to a study published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).1

Heart disease is the leading cause of death globally and prevention is a major public health priority. The beneficial impact of physical activity in stopping heart disease and sudden death on a population level is well documented. This study focused on the effect of an active versus sedentary lifestyle on the immediate course of a heart attack – an area with little information.

The researchers used data from 10 European observational cohorts including healthy participants with a baseline assessment of physical activity who had a heart attack during follow-up – a total of 28,140 individuals. Participants were categorised according to their weekly level of leisure-time physical activity as sedentary, low, moderate, or high.

The association between activity level and the risk of death due to a heart attack (instantly and within 28 days) was analysed in each cohort separately and then the results were pooled. The analyses were adjusted for age, sex, diabetes, blood pressure, family history of heart disease, smoking, body mass index, blood cholesterol, alcohol consumption, and socioeconomic status.

A total of 4,976 (17.7%) participants died within 28 days of their heart attack – of these, 3,101 (62.3%) died instantly. Overall, a higher level of physical activity was associated with a lower risk of instant and 28-day fatal heart attack, seemingly in a dose-response-like manner. Patients who had engaged in moderate and high levels of leisure-time physical activity had a 33% and 45% lower risk of instant death compared to sedentary individuals. At 28 days these numbers were 36% and 28%, respectively. The relationship with low activity did not reach statistical significance.

Study author Dr. Kim Wadt Hansen of Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark said: “Almost 18% of patients with a heart attack died within 28 days, substantiating the severity of this condition. We found an immediate survival benefit of prior physical activity in the setting of a heart attack, a benefit which seemed preserved at 28 days.”

He noted: “Based on our analyses, even a low amount of leisure-time physical activity may in fact be beneficial against fatal heart attacks, but statistical uncertainty precludes us from drawing any firm conclusions on that point.”

The authors said in the paper: “Our pooled analysis provides strong support for the recommendations on weekly physical activity in healthy adults stated in the 2016 European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice;2 especially as we used cut-off values for physical activity comparable to those used in the guidelines.”

The guidelines recommend that healthy adults of all ages perform at least 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity or an equivalent combination thereof.

Dr. Hansen concluded: “There are many ways to be physically active at little or no cost. Our study provides yet more evidence for the rewards of exercise.”

Study: Coconut Oil Improves Memory and Brain Function

University of Malay (Malaysia)  February 10, 2021 

In our age of science as the new religion and science experts are the high priests, empirical evidence is considered anecdotal and dismissed or marginalized. Coconut oil has a lot of empirical evidence showing how it prevents or reverses dementia, which some consider diabetes 3 or diabetes of the brain.

No matter now many of these stories surface, mainstream media constantly refers to experts who insist on demanding studies only. It seems the medical field needs to know how something works with detailed explanations rather than relying on the observable empirical fact that people using coconut oil can prevent or recover from dementia and other neurological issues.

There are many empirical episodes of improving memory and slowing or reversing dementia with coconut oil that are dismissed as “anecdotal.” Fortunately there are increasing scientific studies that corroborate the many remarkable testimonies of recovering from dementia to perhaps convince naysayers of coconut oil’s health and healing properties.

The in-vivo (animal) study “Enhanced memory in Wistar rats by virgin coconut oil is associated with increased antioxidative, cholinergic activities and reduced oxidative stress” was published in January of 2017.

In case you’re wondering how rodents that don’t read or write or respond to visual cues of symbols can be tested for cognitive capacity and memory, it’s done with the Morris water maze ^[1] (MWM).

But this particular research activity went beyond observing the rats’ ability to learn and remember what they had learned. The researchers wanted those biochemical details and the mechanics of their activities to understand just how virgin coconut oil (VCO) enhances memory.

The rats were randomly assigned into the control group with normal feed and saline only, and three groups with virgin coconut oil (VCO) of varying amounts added to normal feed. The VCO used was comprised of lauric acid (47.03%), myristic acid (18.71%), caprylic acid (7.93%), palmitic acid (8.86%), capric acid (5.84%), oleic acid (5.52%), stearic acid (3.27%), linoleic acid (0.87%) and caproic acid (1.88%).

For 31 days, the control group and VCO groups were fed according to the above proportions and their Morris water maze activities were observed. Although the VCO fed rats displayed superior learning and memory abilities, especially those fed the most VCO.

After 32 days, they were “sacrificed” by “cervical disconnection,” considered a humane euthanizing method that doesn’t pollute their internal biochemical content, allowing an uncontaminated biochemical assay and mechanical analysis of the dynamics involved with their improved memory and cognitive capacity.

The researchers removed the rats’ brains to analyze the biochemical properties enhanced of varying VCO amounts compared to the control group with saline only added. They discovered dose dependent increased cholinergic activity, specifically the neurotransmitter ACh, in rat brains of the VCO groups. ACh plays an important role in effective synaptic transmission during acquiring new information and consolidation of memory.

Also observed were VCO polyphenols and ketones induced changes of antioxidant status and reduced oxidative stress and inflammation in the rat brains whose memory and learning skills were noticeably improved during MWM testing.

The research paper stated as part of its findings:

The promising outcomes of this study strongly imply the possible use of VCO, not only as neuroprotective agents for those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, but also as brain food (supplements for the health populations). (Full study text) ^[2]

A Canadian VCO Study From Around the Same Time

This was an in-vitro (lab culture) study titled “Coconut oil protects cortical neurons from amyloid beta toxicity by enhancing signaling of cell survival pathways” and also published recently (2017).

From their observations of adding coconut oil to cultures with rat brain neurons they observed:

Coconut oil and its medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) protect against amyloid beta (Aβ) induced neurotoxicity in primary rat cortical neurons.

Amyloid beta is a protein fragment precursor to amyloid plaque and brain tangles that manifest dementia. Coconut oil also stimulated Akt protein enzyme pathways, which play a key role in multiple cellular processes such as glucose metabolism, apoptosis, cell proliferation, transcription and cell migration.

The researchers also observed coconut oil’s medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) or medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) ketone body influence as energy for a brain that is glucose impaired by insulin resistance, considered brain diabetes or type 3 diabetes.

The complete coconut oil proved more effective than lauric acid, and neurons treated 24 hours prior to amyloid beta introduction was most beneficial, implying the protective aspect of coconut oil against neuro-degenenerative disease. (Abstract source) ^[3]

This is yet more science to confirm what many report from their personal experience by consuming coconut oil at two to four tablespoons daily. Even senior moment memory issues and brain fog has been resolved by ingesting coconut oil at the lower amounts while higher amounts have been known to lower serious Alzheimer’s symptoms.

Drinking more coffee associated with decreased heart failure risk

University of Colorado, February 9, 2021

Dietary information from three large, well-known heart disease studies suggests drinking one or more cups of caffeinated coffee may reduce heart failure risk, according to research published today in Circulation: Heart Failure, an American Heart Association journal.

Coronary artery disease, heart failure and stroke are among the top causes of death from heart disease in the U.S. “While smoking, age and high blood pressure are among the most well-known heart disease risk factors, unidentified risk factors for heart disease remain,” according to David P. Kao, M.D., senior author of the study, assistant professor of cardiology and medical director at the Colorado Center for Personalized Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, Colorado.

“The risks and benefits of drinking coffee have been topics of ongoing scientific interest due to the popularity and frequency of consumption worldwide,” said Linda Van Horn, Ph.D., R.D., professor and Chief of the Department of Preventive Medicine’s Nutrition Division at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, and member of the American Heart Association’s Nutrition Committee. “Studies reporting associations with outcomes remain relatively limited due to inconsistencies in diet assessment and analytical methodologies, as well as inherent problems with self-reported dietary intake.”

Kao and colleagues used machine learning through the American Heart Association’s Precision Medicine Platform to examine data from the original cohort of the Framingham Heart Study and referenced it against data from both the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study and the Cardiovascular Health Study to help confirm their findings. Each study included at least 10 years of follow-up, and, collectively, the studies provided information on more than 21,000 U.S. adult participants.

To analyze the outcomes of drinking caffeinated coffee, researchers categorized consumption as 0 cups per day, 1 cup per day, 2 cups per day and ?3 cups per day. Across the three studies, coffee consumption was self-reported, and no standard unit of measure were available.

The analysis revealed:

• In all three studies, people who reported drinking one or more cups of caffeinated coffee had an associated decreased long-term heart failure risk.
• In the Framingham Heart and the Cardiovascular Health studies, the risk of heart failure over the course of decades decreased by 5-to-12% per cup per day of coffee, compared with no coffee consumption.
• In the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, the risk of heart failure did not change between 0 to 1 cup per day of coffee; however, it was about 30% lower in people who drank at least 2 cups a day.
• Drinking decaffeinated coffee appeared to have an opposite effect on heart failure risk – significantly increasing the risk of heart failure in the Framingham Heart Study. In the Cardiovascular Health Study however; there was no increase or decrease in risk of heart failure associated with drinking decaffeinated coffee. When the researchers examined this further, they found caffeine consumption from any source appeared to be associated with decreased heart failure risk, and caffeine was at least part of the reason for the apparent benefit from drinking more coffee.

“The association between caffeine and heart failure risk reduction was surprising. Coffee and caffeine are often considered by the general population to be ‘bad’ for the heart because people associate them with palpitations, high blood pressure, etc. The consistent relationship between increasing caffeine consumption and decreasing heart failure risk turns that assumption on its head,” Kao said. “However, there is not yet enough clear evidence to recommend increasing coffee consumption to decrease risk of heart disease with the same strength and certainty as stopping smoking, losing weight or exercising.”

According to the federal dietary guidelines, three to five 8-ounce cups of coffee per day can be part of a healthy diet, but that only refers to plain black coffee. The American Heart Association warns that popular coffee-based drinks such as lattes and macchiatos are often high in calories, added sugar and fat. In addition, despite its benefits, research has shown that caffeine also can be dangerous if consumed in excess. Additionally, children should avoid caffeine. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that, in general, kids avoid beverages with caffeine.

“While unable to prove causality, it is intriguing that these three studies suggest that drinking coffee is associated with a decreased risk of heart failure and that coffee can be part of a healthy dietary pattern if consumed plain, without added sugar and high fat dairy products such as cream,” said Penny M. Kris-Etherton, Ph.D., R.D.N., immediate past chairperson of the American Heart Association’s Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Council Leadership Committee, Evan Pugh University Professor of Nutritional Sciences and distinguished professor of nutrition at The Pennsylvania State University, College of Health and Human Development in University Park. “The bottom line: enjoy coffee in moderation as part of an overall heart-healthy dietary pattern that meets recommendations for fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat/non-fat dairy products, and that also is low in sodium, saturated fat and added sugars. Also, it is important to be mindful that caffeine is a stimulant and consuming too much may be problematic – causing jitteriness and sleep problems.”

Study limitations that may have impacted the results of the analysis included differences in the way coffee drinking was recorded and the type of coffee consumed. For example, drip, percolated, French press or espresso coffee types; origin of the coffee beans; and filtered or unfiltered coffee were details not specified. There also may have been variability regarding the unit measurement for 1 cup of coffee (i.e., how many ounces per cup). These factors could result in different caffeine levels. In addition, researchers caution that the original studies detailed only caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee, therefore these findings may not apply to energy drinks, caffeinated teas, soda and other food items with caffeine including chocolate.

Nightly sleep of five hours, less, may increase risk of dementia, death among older adults

Brigham and Women’s Hospital, February 12, 2021

Sleep and health are inextricably connected. New research from investigators at Brigham and Women’s Hospital explores the connection between sleep disturbances and deficiencies among older adults and risk of dementia and death, finding that risk of dementia was double among participants who reported getting less than five hours of sleep compared to those who reported 7-8 hours of sleep per night. The team also found associations between sleep disturbance and sleep deficiency with overall risk of death. Results are published in Aging.

“Our findings illuminate a connection between sleep deficiency and risk of dementia and confirm the importance of efforts to help older individuals obtain sufficient sleep each night,” said lead author, Rebecca Robbins, Ph.D., of the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders.

To investigate the connection between quality and quantity of sleep and risk of dementia and death, Robbins and colleagues used nationally representative data collected from older adults participating in the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS). NHATS is a longitudinal study of Medicare beneficiaries 65 years and older. Survey data from NHATS participants has been collected annually since 2011.

A sample of 2,610 participants answered sleep questionnaires in 2013 and 2014. The researchers examined participants’ answers about several characteristics of sleep disturbance and deficiency, including alertness, nap frequency, how long it took participants to fall asleep, sleep quality (good/very good, fair, very poor/poor), sleep duration and snoring. They also collected information (from health care proxies as needed) about patient outcomes such as dementia and death from any cause for up to five years after the survey.

Overall, they found a strong relationship between several sleep disturbance and deficiency variables and incident dementia over time. Routinely taking 30 minutes or longer to fall asleep was associated with a 45 percent greater risk for incident dementia. Routinely experiencing a difficulty in maintaining alertness, routinely napping, reporting poor sleep quality, and sleeping five or fewer hours per night was also associated with increased risk of death.

“This prospective study reveals that sleep deficiency at baseline, when the average age of participants was 76 years old, was associated with double the risk of incident dementia and all-cause mortality over the next 4 to 5 years,” said senior author, Charles Czeisler, MD, Ph.D., FRCP, FAPS, chief of the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders. “These data add to the evidence that sleep is important for brain health and highlight the need for further research on the efficacy of improving sleep and treating sleep disorders on the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and mortality.”

The authors call for further study of the causal relationship between sleep and dementia and death, as insights may lead to a new lens through which to view sleep among older adults.

“Our study demonstrates that very short sleep durations and poor-quality sleep in the elderly increase the risk of developing dementia and earlier death. There should be increased focus on obtaining healthy sleep in older adults,” said second author Stuart Quan, MD, of the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders.