Good morning. In today’s edition:

• There's a Strong Link Between Alzheimer's Disease and the Daily Consumption of Meat-based and Processed Foods (Meat Pies, Sausages, Ham, Pizza and Hamburgers). This is the Conclusion After Examining the Diets of 438 Australians - 108 With Alzheimer's and 330 in a Healthy Control Group

• Patients Say Keto Helps With Their Mental Illness. Science is Racing to Understand Why

• Blood Tests Can Diagnose Alzheimer’s With ‘High Accuracy’, Study Finds

• A New Study Has Found That Both Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activities Are Associated With Lower Levels of Specific Depressive Symptoms, Notably Anhedonia (Loss of Interest or Pleasure) and Fatigue

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

There's a Strong Link Between Alzheimer's Disease and the Daily Consumption of Meat-based and Processed Foods (Meat Pies, Sausages, Ham, Pizza and Hamburgers). This is the Conclusion After Examining the Diets of 438 Australians - 108 With Alzheimer's and 330 in a Healthy Control Group

A study by Bond University found that eating a lot of meat and processed foods every day, like meat pies, sausages, ham, pizza, and hamburgers, might be linked to Alzheimer's disease. This discovery was made after looking at what 438 Australians eat. Out of them, 108 had Alzheimer's, and 330 were healthy.

The people with Alzheimer's didn't eat many fruits and veggies like oranges, strawberries, or carrots. They also drank less wine compared to the healthy group.

Alzheimer's is a serious brain problem with no cure, affecting many older Australians. It leads to memory loss and makes it hard to do everyday things.

Tahera Ahmed, who led the study, hopes this information will make young people want to eat healthier. She believes eating better can protect your brain as you get older. The study shows that what we eat can really affect our brain health.

Ahmed also has a personal reason for her research; her grandmother and aunt had Alzheimer's. She wants to keep studying to find more about what causes this disease.

This study tells us it's important to eat more fruits, vegetables, and homemade meals instead of fast food and processed snacks. Making good food choices can help keep our brains healthy and lower the risk of Alzheimer's.

Source: bond.edu.au

WEIGHT LOSS

Patients Say Keto Helps With Their Mental Illness. Science is Racing to Understand Why

Many people with mental illness are finding unexpected help from a special diet. It's called the ketogenic, or "keto," diet. This diet is very low in carbs and high in fats. Some say it's making a big difference in how they feel every day.

Iain Campbell, a researcher in Scotland, noticed a big change in his own symptoms of bipolar disorder after starting the keto diet. He was surprised and decided to study it more to see if it could help others too.

The keto diet is known for helping people lose weight, but it also seems to affect the brain. When people eat very few carbs, their body uses fat for energy instead of sugar. This can lead to changes in the brain that might help with mental illness.

Doctors and scientists are starting to pay attention to these stories. They want to understand how the diet works and if it can really help with conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and depression.

There are now studies being done to test the diet's effects. These studies are important because they can provide solid evidence that the keto diet might be a good treatment for some mental illnesses.

One thing is clear: the connection between what we eat and how we feel is very important. The keto diet might not be the perfect solution for everyone, but for some, it's making a big difference in their lives. Scientists are working hard to figure out why.

Source: npr.org

HEALTH

Blood Tests Can Diagnose Alzheimer’s With ‘High Accuracy’, Study Finds

Great news for those worried about Alzheimer's disease! Scientists have found that a blood test can spot the disease just as well as older methods. The older methods are more expensive or hurt more. Before, doctors had to use big machines to scan the brain or take a sample of spinal fluid, which can be uncomfortable.

The team from the University of Gothenburg discovered that this blood test, called ALZpath, is really good at finding signs of Alzheimer's. This is exciting because it means people can find out if they have the disease without spending a lot of money or going through painful tests.

The research included data from 786 people in the US, Canada, and Spain. They found that the blood test alone could correctly diagnose Alzheimer's 80% of the time, which could avoid the need for more invasive tests.

This discovery is important because it can help catch the disease early. Starting treatment sooner can make a big difference. It can help slow down memory loss and make life better for those affected. Plus, it can show if a person has Alzheimer's or another kind of memory problem.

Right now, the ALZpath test is only for research, but there are plans to make it available for everyone. Millions of people around the world have dementia. This easier test could help manage the disease better.

Source: euronews.com

A New Study Has Found That Both Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activities Are Associated With Lower Levels of Specific Depressive Symptoms, Notably Anhedonia (Loss of Interest or Pleasure) and Fatigue

Feeling sad or not wanting to do things you used to like can be tough. But, there's good news from a recent study talked about by Eric W. Dolan. It found that doing activities like walking fast or running can make people feel less sad and more energetic.

Depression makes it hard for people to enjoy life, and sometimes, medicine or talking to someone doesn't help everyone. So, scientists are looking for new ways to help, and exercise seems promising.

This study looked at over 28,000 people and found that those who were active for just 1-2 hours a week felt better. They were less sad and enjoyed things more. Even biking or walking to the store helped with feeling more awake but didn't change how happy they felt overall.

Exercise didn't fix every problem, like trouble sleeping or focusing, but it did help with feeling less interested in things and tired. This means that doing some physical activity could be a simple way to help improve how you feel.

The study suggests that moving your body could be an important part of feeling better mentally. So, if you're feeling down, try going for a walk or finding a fun way to move around. It might just help you feel a bit happier and more energetic.

Source: psypost.org

✢ 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.