Osteoarthritis is a progressive and degenerative joint disease. It causes a great deal of pain and disability for millions of people. It commonly affects older people and we used to think it was caused by wear and tear. But, scientists now think there might be other causes. One such cause involves a link between gut health and osteoarthritis. I will explain how. [Read more…] about The role of ageing in gut health and osteoarthritis
Healthy Ageing
Can eating mushrooms reduce dementia risk and save your brain?
The number of people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is expected to rise at an alarming rate. Currently the World Health Organisation (WHO) believes there are 50 million people around the world with dementia. But this number is expected to triple in the next thirty years.
Yet scientists believe that we can reduce our risk of developing cognitive decline and dementia, and the WHO began a Global Action Plan in 2017, gathering the evidence needed. The WHO published new guidelines this week intended to provide the knowledge needed by healthcare providers and others, to help people reduce their risk of cognitive decline and dementia. It may not come as a surprise that these guidelines favour dietary and lifestyle changes over supplements such as multivitamins. Though vitamins of course have their uses, there is a much wider range of nutrients in wholefoods. [Read more…] about Can eating mushrooms reduce dementia risk and save your brain?
Antibiotics and heart health
A recent study published in the European Heart Journal suggests a significant association between antibiotic use and an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. As the authors point out, previous studies have reported similar results. However, this particular study added some new details as it focussed on antibiotic use by women only and participants were assessed by duration of antibiotic use, as well as by their age group.
The researchers say that antibiotic use in mid-life and older adulthood, but not by young women, was significantly linked with the development of cardiovascular disease in later life. They also suggest that cumulative use of antibiotics in different stages of life might be associated with the incidence of cardiovascular disease in elderly women. [Read more…] about Antibiotics and heart health
Sniffing out Alzheimer’s disease
Scientists have discovered that one of the earliest symptoms related to the development of Alzheimer’s disease is a problem with the sense of smell.
The number of people with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia, is increasing rapidly. It is one of the most dreaded of diseases and yet modern medicine seems capable of only slowing progression not reversing it.
With the sheer numbers of cases we are likely to see as worldwide life expectancy rises, this disease is a tragedy in the making. With a huge potential burden both personally and globally. [Read more…] about Sniffing out Alzheimer’s disease
Can gardening reverse cognitive decline?
We know that genetics can play an important role in the risk of developing certain forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Well, we can’t do anything about our genes. But, are there other modifiable factors that might help us avoid this life changing disease? Or, even reverse the mild cognitive impairment that precedes such a diagnosis? While scientists believe that healthy nutrition such as the Mediterranean diet may be an important piece of the puzzle, there is evidence that our daily activities can also have an effect. This recent study looked at the lifestyle activities of people with mild cognitive impairment and found that some activities were more likely to be associated with a potential to reverse cognitive decline. [Read more…] about Can gardening reverse cognitive decline?
Meditation for brain preservation
With an ageing UK population it is imperative that we find ways to delay or prevent an age-related decline in brain health. Imperative, not just on an individual basis but as a population, to try and prevent the burden of cognitive decline on individuals, family members, care givers and society as a whole. So, there is a great deal of ongoing research trying to find out what, if anything, we can do to prevent an age related decline in brain health. This study from 2018 suggests that there may be something that we can all do, and that is… meditation.
People in the UK are living longer than ever before, which is increasing the average age of our population. But even though life expectancy is improving, healthy life expectancy may not be. With more years of life, that can mean more years of health, or more years of chronic disease. And, the reality is that in the UK the number of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is increasing rapidly. However, it’s not just that people are living longer and so are more likely to develop dementia. We know that strong emotions, stress, worry, depression and anxiety can all affect our sleep, and how well we think, learn or remember things. But these emotional states are also associated with an increased risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. [Read more…] about Meditation for brain preservation
Citicoline – a potential supplement for preventing glaucoma
A natural compound made in the body has approval by the EU as a dietary supplement. The supplement is known as Citicoline. Though it is also called cytidine-5-diphosphocholine (or CDP-choline). Citicoline is important because scientists say it may help to prevent damage to retinal ganglion cells. These are a type of nerve cell at the back of the eye, with an important role in vision. Scientists say if citicoline can protect the retinal cells it may help with preventing glaucoma.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a chronic disease and a leading cause of blindness. It involves damage to cells at the back of the eye which are called the retinal ganglion cells. Preventing this damage might preserve the vision.
Most often, the disease process occurs over many years, starting with cells that relate to the outer periphery of vision. In fact, the early stages may not produce noticeable symptoms. So, many people with early glaucoma are unaware of it. As the cells lose their ability to function they become dormant. Eventually, these cells die by a process of cell suicide known as apoptosis. Ultimately this leads to the destruction of the optic nerve and blindness. [Read more…] about Citicoline – a potential supplement for preventing glaucoma
Alzheimers disease and iron intake
Alzheimer’s disease was first described in 1906. It was little known at the time and did not even enter medical textbooks until decades later. So, how come this disease is at epidemic proportions and now a leading cause of death in the UK?
We know that certain genes can predispose some people to have an increased risk of developing the disease. Specifically the ApoE4 genotype is known to increase the risk. But our genes do not determine our destiny. After all not everyone with this genotype develops Alzheimer’s disease, and it is not necessary to have the ApoE4 genotype to develop Alzheimer’s. Indeed genetics alone can not explain such a rapid increase in the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. [Read more…] about Alzheimers disease and iron intake
Is your statin increasing your risk of diabetes?
Statins are a group of pharmaceutical drugs that reduce the level of LDL cholesterol in the blood. Your doctor might recommend you take a statin if you suffer from, or might develop cardiovascular disease in the future. Yet, this study found that some statins can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 46%.
This is a huge concern since type 2 diabetes increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Yes, that’s right – some people take statins to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease, but develop diabetes, which increases their risk of developing cardiovascular disease! However, that’s not all. Statins have a long list of common side effects that includes headache, nausea, digestive problems and muscle and joint pain. [Read more…] about Is your statin increasing your risk of diabetes?
Alzheimer’s disease – is fibre good for the brain?
Dementia is now the leading cause of death in England, ahead of cancer and heart disease. Yet, while many people might know someone that has survived cancer, how many people with Alzheimer’s disease do you know that have got better, or even improved? Currently conventional medicine has no treatment for Alzheimers disease that does anything but slightly delay progression of the disease. A situation that is unlikely to change in the near future. Not because of a lack of research. A quick search on the Pubmed database reveals over a hundred thousand research papers on Alzheimer’s disease. But, even if a cure for Alzheimer’s was found today, it takes an average of seventeen years to translate findings such as these into treatments available to the public. [Read more…] about Alzheimer’s disease – is fibre good for the brain?