01/18/24 - #47

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • Scientists Identify Protein That Could Help Fight Ageing

  • Wegovy, Ozempic Not Linked to Increase in Suicidal Thoughts, US Study Finds

  • Older Adults With Newly Diagnosed Migraine Disorder Three Times More Likely to Have Motor Vehicle Crash

  • People Who Have More Disrupted Sleep in Their 30s and 40s May Be More Likely to Have Memory and Thinking Problems a Decade Later, According to New Research N=526 Followed for 11 Years

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Scientists Identify Protein That Could Help Fight Ageing

Scientists in Japan have made an exciting discovery! They found a special protein that might help slow down aging and prevent diseases that happen as we get older. This protein is called the hexokinase domain containing 1, or HKDC1 for short.

Here's how it works: Inside our cells, there are tiny parts that are super important for our health. Two of these parts are mitochondria and lysosomes. Think of mitochondria as little power stations that give energy to our cells. Lysosomes are like garbage disposals, keeping the cells clean. But as we age, these parts can get damaged, and that's linked to getting older and having diseases like Alzheimer's.

HKDC1 helps protect these important cell parts. This finding is really important. It could help us understand better how to stay healthy as we age. Professor Shuhei Nakamura, who led the study, says that this protein helps stop cells from aging too quickly.

The research also found that HKDC1 is important for fixing damaged mitochondria and lysosomes. This is a big deal because these two parts need to work well together for our cells to be healthy.

This discovery is not just about looking younger; it's about keeping our bodies healthy as we get older. Scientists are now thinking this could lead to new treatments for aging and even for diseases like lung and liver cancer. So, there's a lot of hope that this tiny protein might hold the key to staying healthy and young for a longer time!

WEIGHT LOSS

Wegovy, Ozempic Not Linked to Increase in Suicidal Thoughts, US Study Finds

Good news for those using Ozempic and Wegovy! A big study in the US found that these medicines do not make people more likely to think about suicide. This is a relief for many, as both Ozempic (for type 2 diabetes) and Wegovy (for obesity) contain semaglutide, a special ingredient.

Over 1.8 million patients' records were checked in this study. The results showed that people taking semaglutide were less likely to have new or returning thoughts of suicide than those on different diabetes or weight loss drugs.

Semaglutide is a part of drugs called GLP-1 agonists. They were first made for type 2 diabetes. These drugs help control blood sugar and make you feel full, which helps in losing weight.

Before this study, there were worries about semaglutide causing suicidal thoughts. This concern led to investigations in Europe and the US. The FDA, which checks the safety of drugs in the US, also mentioned this as a possible risk.

Last year, a report found 265 cases since 2010 of people having suicidal thoughts while on semaglutide or similar drugs. Out of these, 36 were linked to suicide. But remember, just because these reports exist doesn't mean the drug caused these thoughts. They help health officials decide what to study more.

This study is important for people using Ozempic and Wegovy. It tells us that these medicines are unlikely to cause suicidal thoughts, making them safer choices.

HEALTH

Older Adults With Newly Diagnosed Migraine Disorder Three Times More Likely to Have Motor Vehicle Crash

A study shows that older people who just found out they have migraines are three times more likely to have a car crash than those without new migraines.

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus did this study. It found that older drivers diagnosed with migraines in the last year had more car accidents. But, if they had migraines a long time ago, it didn't make a difference in their driving.

The study was in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. It looked at how migraine medicines might affect driving, but it didn't find a big connection.

Carolyn DiGuiseppi, a professor and the main researcher, said, "Over 7% of adults over 60 get migraines. As more older people drive, these headaches could make driving harder. Migraines can cause sleepiness, less focus, dizziness, and bad headaches."

The research lasted five years and included over 2,500 drivers aged 65-79 from different places in the U.S. They were put into groups based on their migraine history.

Medicines Not a Big Issue: The study found that people who had migraines before didn't crash more. But, they did brake hard a lot. Migraine medicines didn't really change crash risks or how people drove. Few people in the study were taking these medicines.

DiGuiseppi said, "This is important for older drivers' safety. If you have new migraines, talk to your doctor about driving safely. Be extra careful about other things that can affect driving. Do not get distracted, drink alcohol, or be careless with pain meds."

People Who Have More Disrupted Sleep in Their 30s and 40s May Be More Likely to Have Memory and Thinking Problems a Decade Later, According to New Research N=526 Followed for 11 Years

Did you know the sleep you get now might impact your memory later? A recent study says people who don’t sleep well in their 30s and 40s may have more memory problems when they're older.

The study, done by Dr. Yue Leng and her team, doesn't say bad sleep will definitely cause these issues. But, it shows there's a connection. This is important because problems like Alzheimer's can start in the brain long before we notice any symptoms. Studying sleep in middle-aged people helps us understand this better.

Around 526 people, about 40 years old, were in the study for 11 years. They used wrist monitors and sleep diaries to track their sleep. On average, they slept six hours a night. Nearly half said they didn't sleep well.

The research also looked at how often their sleep was interrupted. People whose sleep was disrupted a lot were more likely to have memory and thinking problems 10 years later. Those with the most interrupted sleep were twice as likely to have these issues compared to those with less interrupted sleep.

Interestingly, the total amount of sleep and how people felt about their sleep didn’t seem to affect their thinking skills.

This study is just a start. More research is needed to understand how sleep and thinking are connected at different ages. This could help prevent diseases like Alzheimer's in the future. The study had some limits, like not being able to look closely at differences in race or gender because of the small number of people.

✢ A Note From Hem Hero

The information in this health newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment; always consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. The publishers are not responsible for any actions taken by the reader based on the information provided.