Thursday Dec 22, 2022

The Gary Null Show - 12.22.22

videos:

Mushroom compound level predicts cognitive function

jcvzNational University of Singapore, December 21 2022.

Findings from a study reported in Antioxidants revealed an association between lower plasma levels of ergothioneine (ET), a compound that occurs in mushrooms, and an increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.”Before this study, there was little evidence that ET levels in the blood can predict the risk of developing cognitive issues,” noted lead researcher Barry Halliwell, of the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. “Our findings demonstrate that if your ET levels are low, your risk of developing cognitive problems increases.” The study included 470 men and women of an average age of 73. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans conducted at recruitment determined the presence of cerebrovascular disease and/or brain atrophy and blood samples were evaluated for plasma ergothioneine. Neuropsychological tests administered at the beginning of the study and during up to 5 years of follow-up evaluated cognitive function. At the beginning of the study, 189 study participants had dementia, 193 were cognitively impaired without dementia and 88 had no cognitive impairment. Men and women with low (below the median) ergothioneine levels had worse cognitive function in comparison with those who had high levels. While cognitive function decreased over time among those with low or high levels of ergothioneine, the rate of decline was greater among participants who had low ergothioneine levels. When examined according to cognitive status, the long-term associations occurred only in participants who did not have dementia at the beginning of the study. “This points to the possibility of using a simple blood test to detect ET levels for early screening in the elderly to identify those who may have higher risk of cognitive decline,” Dr Halliwell stated. The researchers are planning a trial to evaluate the effects of ergothioneine supplementation among adults with mild cognitive impairment.

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Acupressure versus acupuncture—which one is better at treating sleep disturbance in patients with cancer?

University of Hong Kong, December 21, 2022

Both acupuncture—which is invasive and involves inserted needles—and acupressure—which is non-invasive and involves mechanical pressure—can potentially help reduce sleep disturbance in patients with cancer. A recent analysis of published clinical trials suggests that acupressure may have a greater effect than acupuncture. The analysis, which is published in Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, included 24 randomized controlled trials involving 2,002 patients. The findings suggest that nurses and other health professionals in oncology settings should be provided with acupressure training to help patients who are experiencing sleep problems.“Based on available evidence, acupressure may be a more promising approach than acupuncture for reducing sleep disturbance in patients with cancer,” said corresponding author Denise Shuk Ting Cheung, BNurs, PhD, RN, of the University of Hong Kong. “Future studies should focus on the differential mechanisms of action of acupressure and acupuncture and link them to the multifactorial causes of sleep disturbance in patients with cancer.”

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Extraversion, conscientiousness linked to immune system function

University of Nottingham, December 15, 2022

Researchers have long suggested that personality may influence health. Now, a new study suggests that certain personality traits may play a role in immune system function. The research team – led by Prof. Kavita Vedhara of the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham in the UK – found that extraverts are more likely to have strong immune systems, while people who are conscientious tend to have weaker immune systems. To reach their findings, published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, the team enrolled 121 healthy adults – 86 females and 35 males – aged between 18 and 59 years. All participants were required to complete a test that measured five primary dimensions of personality: extraversion, neuroticism, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness. The participants also provided blood samples, and the researchers used microarray technology to assess the link between the five personality traits and the activity of genes in white blood cells that play a role in immune system response. In addition, the researchers took note of participants’ exercise, smoking and drinking behaviors so they could rule these out as contributing factors. Results of the analysis revealed that participants who scored higher for extraversion – a personality that is more assertive, talkative and enthusiastic – had increased expression of pro-inflammatory genes in white blood cells, while those who scored higher on conscientiousness had reduced expression of these genes. “Individuals who we would expect to be exposed to more infections as a result of their socially orientated nature (i.e., extraverts) appear to have immune systems that we would expect can deal effectively with infection, while individuals who may be less exposed to infections because of their cautious/conscientious dispositions have immune systems that may respond less well.”A smaller relationship was found between increased pro-inflammatory gene expression and higher scores on openness, while no link was found between agreeableness and neuroticism and heightened expression of pro-inflammatory genes. The team notes that their findings remained, even after accounting for participants’ smoking, drinking and exercise status, as well as any reported negative emotions. In addition, Medical News Today reported on a study suggesting that men who are narcissistic – defined as having an inflated view of self-importance – may be more likely to develop cardiovascular problems than those who do not have narcissistic traits.

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They may be 95 and older, but they still crave independence
University of York & Newcastle University (UK), December 20, 2022

People aged 95 and over still want to be part of society and enjoy a level of independence, despite having a more limited interaction with the world, a new study shows. The research, by a team at the University of York and Newcastle University, looked at the lives of 23 people from Newcastle, UK, as part of a 10-year follow-up study to the Newcastle 85+ study—an observational study spanning decades, following the experiences of people born in 1921. The research is published in the journal PLOS One. The study found that there were five key elements to sustaining a positive attitude to life post-95, the most important being a sense of independence, even if that meant reframing what independence is to them. Other areas included being able to reflect on past successes; being in control of when they need help from family; being outwardly presentable; and normalizing the impact of ill health. “We found that participants in the study saw themselves as content with their lives, despite their world becoming smaller, and in poor health and other challenges, they were able to find pleasure in the smaller things of their daily routines and events.” “Being independent came through strongly as a way of explaining their continued passion for life, and was strongly equated to feelings of dignity and youth. A bit of risk-taking, particularly with their health, was also important in order to keep their autonomy, particularly with family, where children had now become the caregiver.” Family relationships, however, were the most complex issue and those that felt most content were those that had made decisions about their own care—when to ask for help and when to ignore advice from their children or grandchildren. Participants also reported that even in serious ill health, accepting it as “normal” helped in minimizing its impact on their lives. The study aims to give voices to an age range that is rarely heard and provide insight into their experiences that needs to be considered as the population continues to live longer. The researchers argue that more research into older people needs to focus on the age range of 90+ years, and not just focus on the younger range of 65 to 80.

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Walking ‘Teabag style’ for a few minutes a day could help adults meet physical activity targets
Arizona State University, December 21, 2022

Adults could achieve global physical activity targets by walking inefficiently for just a few minutes each day, finds a study in the Christmas issue of The BMJ. Global rates of physical inactivity have not budged in the past 20 years, despite campaigns to increase physical activity and boost cardiovascular fitness in adults. The inefficient walking styles of Mr. Teabag and Mr. Putey, acted by John Cleese and Michael Palin in the 1971 Monty Python Ministry of Silly Walks sketch, have been shown to be more variable than usual walking, but their energy expenditure has never been measured. To fill this vital research gap, a team of U.S. researchers set out to compare the energy expenditure of low efficiency walking with high efficiency walking. Their findings are based on data from 13 healthy adults (six women, seven men) aged 22-71 years (average age 34) with no history of heart or lung disease, and no known gait disorder. Height and body weight were measured and each participant was shown a video of the Ministry of Silly Walks sketch before performing three walking trials, each lasting five minutes, around an indoor 30-meter course. In the first trial, participants walked in their usual style at a freely chosen pace. For the next two trials, participants were asked to recreate, to the best of their ability, the walks of Mr. Teabag and Mr. Putey that they had seen in the video. Distance covered during the five minute walks was used to calculate average speed. Oxygen uptake (mL/kg/min), energy expenditure (kcal/kg/min) and exercise intensity (METs)—the amount of calories expended per minute of physical activity—were also measured. The researchers found that only the Teabag walk resulted in a significantly greater energy expenditure—about 2.5 times that of usual walking. For men and women combined, oxygen uptake during normal walking was 11.3 mL/kg/min (or 3.2 METs), which was similar to that of the Putey walk (12.3 mL/kg/min, or 3.5 METs). However, the Teabag walk elicited an oxygen uptake of 27.9 mL/kg/min, or 8 METs, which qualifies as vigorous intensity exercise. In terms of energy expenditure, exchanging just one minute of usual walking style with one minute of Teabag walking was associated with an increase in energy expenditure of 8 kcal/min for men and 5 kcal/min for women. The researchers estimate that adults could achieve 75 minutes of vigorous intensity physical activity per week by walking in Teabag style—rather than their usual style—for about 11 min/day. And substituting usual style steps with Teabag style steps for about 12-19 min/day would increase daily energy expenditure by approximately 100 kcal. This amount of walking in Teabag style would likely increase cardiorespiratory fitness, reduce mortality risk, and would require no extra time commitment because it replaces movement adults already do with higher energy physical activity, they add.

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Wolfberry consumption may offer flu protection: Mouse data

Tufts University, December 17, 2022

Consumption of wolfberries – also known as goji berries – may be associated with increasing the protective effect of influenza vaccines against the virus, according to new research in mice.

Writing in the Journal of Nutrition, the study analysed the effect of goji berry consumption on the effectiveness of the influenze vaccine to prevent infection with the influenza virus in older mice. Led by researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (USDA HNRCA) at Tufts University, the research team noted that current vaccines for influenza do not fully protect the elderly against infection, and although wolfberry has been shown to improve immune responses “it is not known if this effect would translate to better protection.”The findings of the new study suggest that wolfberries appear to interact with the influenza vaccine, and therefore offer additional protection against the flu virus, by increasing the activity of dendritic cells – which play an important role in the ability of the immune system to defend against viral infections. “We observed higher antibody response and better protection against flu as indicated by less weight loss in the older mice that consumed wolfberries,” explained senior author Dr Simin Nikbin Meydani. “While previous studies have shown that wolfberries bolster immune response in mice, our results introduce their potential to reduce the age-related risk and severity of the flu virus in the presence of the vaccine.” “Wolfberries are rich in complex carbohydrates known as polysaccharides, as well as vitamins, carotenoids and flavonoids,” he commented. “Future studies in rodent models would be necessary to understand which components appear to be stimulating the dendritic cells.”