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diet

This shows an older lady making a salad.

·March 14, 2024·5 min read

Healthy Diet Slows Aging and Lowers Dementia Risk

Researchers linked healthier diets to a reduced risk of dementia and a slower pace of biological aging, unveiling the partial mechanism behind this protective effect. Researchers applied the DunedinPACE epigenetic clock to data from the Framingham Heart Study's Offspring Cohort, revealing that adherence to the MIND diet significantly slowed aging and lowered dementia risks.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 6, 2024·5 min read

Refined Carb Intake’s Effect on Facial Attractiveness

A new study reveals a statistical connection between the consumption of refined carbohydrates and decreased facial attractiveness, as judged by heterosexual volunteers of the opposite sex. Participants who consumed a high-glycemic breakfast, rich in refined carbohydrates, were rated as less attractive than those who had a low-glycemic meal.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 1, 2024·4 min read

What Happens to the Body During Prolonged Fasting?

A new study illuminated the extensive molecular changes that occur in the body during prolonged fasting. Monitoring 12 healthy volunteers on a seven-day water-only fast, the study identified significant shifts in around 3,000 proteins across all major organs, with notable changes only becoming apparent after three days of fasting.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 20, 2024·4 min read

Fasting-Mimicking Diet Reverses Aging Signs

Cycles of a fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) can effectively reduce signs of immune system aging, insulin resistance, and liver fat, thereby decreasing biological age in humans. The FMD is a five-day plan high in unsaturated fats but low in calories, proteins, and carbohydrates, designed to emulate the effects of water-only fasting while providing essential nutrients.

This shows a baby in a knitted brain hat.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·February 20, 2024·4 min read

Genes and Nutrition Shape Baby Brain Growth

Researchers uncovered how both maternal and fetal genes, alongside nutritional factors, influence the development of a baby's cerebral cortex. Their research, leveraging the UK Biobank's extensive data, found a direct association between higher birth weight, influenced by specific genetic variants, and increased cortical surface area.

This shows a lonely woman and an empty plate.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 13, 2024·5 min read

Loneliness Linked to Negative Eating Behaviors

Researchers reveals significant associations between social isolation, loneliness, and detrimental food and eating behaviors, uncovering the intricate relationship between emotional well-being and dietary habits. The study, involving 29 research papers, found consistent evidence that loneliness correlates with poorer diet quality, including lower fruit and vegetable intake and higher consumption of energy-dense-nutrient-poor foods, both during and outside COVID-19 lockdowns.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·January 31, 2024·5 min read

Diet and Immunity: Vegan vs. Keto’s Impact on the Body

A new study reveals distinct immune system responses to vegan and ketogenic diets. Over a two-week period, 20 participants alternated between these diets, allowing researchers to observe changes in innate and adaptive immunity, metabolic pathways, and gut microbiomes.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·January 31, 2024·6 min read

Fasting May Reduce Inflammation

Researchers uncovered a new mechanism by which fasting reduces inflammation, a key factor in chronic diseases. Their study reveals that fasting increases blood levels of arachidonic acid, which inhibits the NLRP3 inflammasome, thereby reducing inflammation.

This shows a head and neurons made of water.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 26, 2024·5 min read

Brain Network for Thirst and Salt Regulation Revealed

Researchers made a significant breakthrough in understanding how the brain regulates thirst and salt appetite. Their study utilized optogenetic and chemogenetic techniques on mice to explore the parabrachial nucleus (PBN), a key brain region in processing ingestion signals.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 26, 2024·4 min read

Can A Furry Fruit Help Boost Mood and Mental Health?

Researchers found that kiwifruit rapidly improves mood and vitality, with effects noticeable in just four days. The study involved an 8-week intervention with 155 adults with low vitamin C levels, comparing the effects of vitamin C supplements, placebo, and kiwifruit.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 18, 2024·5 min read

Gut-Brain Network for Sugar and Fat Cravings Discovered

Researchers identified distinct neural pathways in the brain for fat and sugar cravings. This research reveals that separate circuits in the vagus nerve, originating in the gut, communicate information about consumed fats and sugars to the brain, triggering dopamine release in the brain's reward center.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 17, 2024·5 min read

Plant Protein-Based Diet Is Key to Healthier Aging for Women

A new study reveals that women consuming higher amounts of plant-based protein experience fewer chronic diseases and maintain better health as they age. Analyzing data from over 48,000 women in the Harvard-based Nurses' Health Study, the research showed a significant link between plant protein intake and reduced risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and cognitive decline. Protein source matters, with plant proteins being more beneficial for long-term health compared to animal proteins.