Women Health

Just three minutes of sprinting may produce a molecular response that looks very different from what happens after 90 minutes of moderate exercise. Researchers at Rockefeller University compared how the body responds to exercise performed at different intensities. They found that six 30-second, all-out sprints changed nearly one-quarter of the proteins measured in the blood … [Read more...]

A very low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet may provide stronger metabolic benefits for people with obesity than either a Mediterranean diet or a low-fat diet, according to a clinical trial published August 27 in the Cell Press journal Cell Metabolism. After four to five months on a ketogenic (or "Keto") diet, about half of the participants with obesity and prediabetes no longer met … [Read more...]

Yingzi Cong, PhD, the Stanley Gradowski Professor of Gastroenterology and a professor of Microbiology-Immunology and of Pathology, was senior and co-corresponding author of the study. The researchers say the results support the idea that beneficial compounds made by gut microbes can effectively "train" the intestinal lining, helping it preserve immune tolerance over … [Read more...]

Could subtle changes during sleep reveal vulnerability to Alzheimer's disease years before memory problems become noticeable? Researchers at ULiège, supported by the Stop Alzheimer's Foundation, are investigating whether the sleeping brain may contain early clues. Scientists from the University of Liège (GIGA Neurosciences) examined sleep patterns in more than 500 healthy … [Read more...]

Researchers at the School of Public Health at the LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), have found that completing brisk interval walking once per week can reduce body fat and improve cardiorespiratory fitness in adults with central obesity. The benefits were comparable to those seen in participants who exercised three times per week, which is the … [Read more...]

When temperatures rise, sleep often suffers. Hot nights can make it harder to fall asleep, increase waking during the night and leave people feeling less rested the next day. One reason is thermoregulation, the body’s ability to keep its internal temperature within a safe range. Sleep is closely linked to body temperature: to fall asleep and stay asleep, the body usually … [Read more...]

A study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has uncovered a major shift in the immune environment of the hippocampus, the part of the brain that plays a central role in learning and memory. The findings suggest that this immune remodeling begins in midlife and may help explain how aging contributes to the long lasting brain inflammation often seen in … [Read more...]

Scientists have uncovered a key reason why exercise is so effective at helping older muscles stay strong. A new study from Duke-NUS Medical School shows that physical activity can restore the natural repair systems that weaken with age, helping muscles recover and maintain function later in life. The research team, working with collaborators from Singapore General Hospital … [Read more...]

Researchers have found another clue that diet may influence how the brain ages. In a study of more than 2,000 older adults in Japan, people with lower levels of vitamin C in their blood tended to have less gray matter and weaker connections within an important brain network involved in memory and attention. While the findings do not prove that vitamin C protects the brain, they … [Read more...]

The brain has its own built in immune defenses that help detect threats and protect nerve cells. But growing evidence suggests that in Alzheimer's disease, these immune cells become stuck in a state of chronic activation. Instead of helping, they trigger ongoing inflammation that can damage the connections between brain cells. Now, researchers at Scripps Research have … [Read more...]

The review confirms that tea, particularly green tea, plays a crucial role in preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), obesity, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Tea’s neuroprotective effects, ability to reduce muscle loss in seniors, and its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities further highlight its potential health-promoting properties. However, the study … [Read more...]

A long-running study suggests that 90 to 120 minutes of strength (resistance) training each week may be the ideal range for reducing the risk of death. The research, published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, followed participants for up to 30 years. The benefits were even greater when strength training was combined with aerobic exercise. However, … [Read more...]

Going without food for several days does far more than force the body to burn fat. Research published in Nature Metabolism revealed that extended fasting sets off widespread biological changes throughout the body, including shifts linked to the brain, metabolism, and immune system. Scientists found that many of the most significant effects did not appear right away. Instead, … [Read more...]

A promising experimental compound developed by researchers at ETH Zurich could offer a new way to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. In studies involving mice, the treatment reduced nerve cell loss, helped the animals live longer, and targeted a biological process that existing Alzheimer's drugs do not address. The compound, known by researchers as "Compound 10," … [Read more...]

In Japan, many older adults rely on bicycles for daily transportation, far more than seniors in Europe or the United States. Earlier research has shown that people who cycle tend to be more physically active and socially engaged. While cycling has long been viewed as a habit that can reduce the need for long-term care and lower the risk of death, there has been little long-term … [Read more...]

Just a few minutes of vigorous physical activity each day may significantly lower the chances of developing several major diseases, including arthritis, heart disease, and dementia, according to research published today (March 30) in the European Heart Journal. To explore this connection, researchers analyzed data from nearly 96,000 people. They compared overall physical … [Read more...]

Researchers at the University of California San Diego report that a weeklong program combining meditation and other mind-body techniques can quickly produce measurable changes in both brain activity and blood biology. The study found that these practices activated natural pathways involved in brain flexibility, metabolism, immune function, and pain relief. Published in … [Read more...]

Advice about staying healthy often centers on regular exercise and limiting fatty foods. Physical activity helps people shed excess weight, build muscle, and strengthen the heart. It also improves the body's ability to absorb and use oxygen to produce energy, which is considered one of the most reliable indicators of long term health and longevity. However, people with high … [Read more...]

Regular exercise supports both physical and mental health. Now, new findings from Edith Cowan University (ECU) suggest that how intensely you train may also influence the makeup of your gut microbiome. PhD candidate Ms. Bronwen Charlesson examined how different training loads, ranging from high intensity to lighter periods, affect athletes' gut health. Her goal was to … [Read more...]

New findings from the University of Cambridge suggest that menopause is associated with changes in brain structure, along with higher levels of anxiety, depression, and sleep difficulties. Researchers found reduced grey matter volume in several important brain regions among women who had gone through menopause. The study, published in Psychological Medicine, also examined … [Read more...]

Scientists at Cleveland-based institutions have uncovered a surprising new switch that helps the body make fat -- and turning it off had dramatic effects. Obesity and fatty liver disease are becoming more common worldwide as diets grow more calorie-dense and daily life becomes less active. Scientists in Cleveland have identified a previously unknown enzyme that the body … [Read more...]

An international research team led by Victor Sourjik set out to address that question. The group included scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, the University of Ohio and the Philipps-University Marburg. Their work focused on Clostridia, a group of motile bacteria found in large numbers in the human gut that are known to support gut … [Read more...]

Looking after your brain is something that happens over many years, and new findings from the AdventHealth Research Institute point to an encouraging option. Researchers report that sticking with a consistent aerobic exercise routine may help the brain remain biologically younger. This effect could support clearer thinking, better memory, and overall mental well-being. The … [Read more...]

A recent investigation from Flinders University sheds new light on how two widely consumed drinks, coffee and tea, could play a role in bone health for women later in life. The study, published in the journal Nutrients, monitored nearly 10,000 women aged 65 and older for ten years to examine whether regularly drinking coffee or tea was connected to changes in bone mineral … [Read more...]

Natural killer (NK) cells act as key defenders within the immune system. They help control infections by targeting invading microbes, foreign materials, and damaged or infected cells early on, which limits their ability to spread. NK cells travel through the bloodstream (circulatory) or remain in specific tissues and organs. When NK cell numbers drop too low, the immune system … [Read more...]

Strong social ties are often linked to better health, and new research adds a brain benefit to that list. Researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and University of Massachusetts Boston report that regularly helping people outside your household can noticeably slow cognitive decline in middle-age and older adults. In a study that followed more than 30,000 adults in … [Read more...]

Adding even a modest number of steps to your daily routine may help delay the advancement of Alzheimer's disease, especially among those most vulnerable to it, according to new research. In a study published in Nature Medicine, scientists from Mass General Brigham found that greater physical activity was linked to slower cognitive decline in older adults who had higher levels … [Read more...]

Yoga, Tai Chi, walking and jogging may be the best forms of exercise to improve sleep quality and ease insomnia, suggest the findings of a comparative pooled data analysis published in the online journal BMJ Evidence Based Medicine. The findings back the use of exercise as a primary treatment strategy for poor sleep patterns, say the researchers. Characterized by … [Read more...]

A major study has investigated the relationship between walking and the risk of developing chronic lower back problems. The findings could save the healthcare system significant amounts of money while also alleviating many people's back pain - if we just follow the simple advice provided. The results are clear: People who walk a lot have less back pain than people who do not … [Read more...]

A new research perspective was recently published in Aging, titled "Exercise as a geroprotector: focusing on epigenetic aging." In this perspective, led by Takuji Kawamura from Tohoku University, researchers reviewed existing evidence from scientific studies showing that regular exercise, physical activity, and fitness may influence epigenetic aging and potentially reverse … [Read more...]