06/10/24 - #148

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • Ultra-processed Foods Linked to Memory and Thinking Problems: Study

  • Walking Has Changed My Life

  • Alzheimer's Breakthrough Could Halt Progression

  • A Recent Study Provides New Insights Into How Depression and Physical Activity Influence Each Other Throughout Adulthood | the Study Found That People Who Feel More Depressed Are Less Likely to Be Physically Active, and Being Physically Active is Linked to Feeling Better Mentally

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Ultra-processed Foods Linked to Memory and Thinking Problems: Study

Eating lots of ultra-processed food, like soft drinks and chips, might not only make you gain weight. It could also harm your memory and thinking. This comes from a study of over 30,000 people, ages 45 and older, published in the journal Neurology.

Researchers tracked participants for about 11 years. People filled out surveys about what they ate. This helped researchers figure out how much ultra-processed food they ate. These foods are usually packed with sugar, fat, and salt but low in protein and fiber. They are very different from less processed options like fresh meats and vegetables.

The study found that people who ate more ultra-processed foods had a higher chance of memory and thinking problems. They also had more strokes. Specifically, every 10% increase in eating these foods raised the risk of brain issues by 16%. Eating more natural foods seemed to lower this risk by 12%.

The effect of ultra-processed foods on stroke risk was even more significant among Black participants, with a 15% increase. However, the study only included people who identified as Black or white, which may affect how these findings apply to everyone.

Dr. W. Taylor Kimberly from Massachusetts General Hospital led the study. He said more research is needed to confirm these results. We also need to better understand which parts of food processing harm the brain most.

WEIGHT LOSS

Walking Has Changed My Life

Imagine starting each day with a walk to Walmart. That's what Pat Bronco did, and it changed his life. At 28 years old, Pat weighed over 600 pounds. His doctors warned him he might not wake up one day because of his weight. This scared Pat into changing his life.

Pat used to be called "Fat Pat" since he was a kid. He decided to throw out all his junk food. Every time he felt hungry, he walked a mile to Walmart and a mile back instead of snacking at home. This helped him control his eating and added lots of walking to his day.

For a year and a half, Pat walked to Walmart three times a day. This added up to six miles every day. He stopped eating processed foods and sodas, choosing fresh vegetables, meats, and healthy carbs like sweet potatoes, brown rice, and quinoa instead. Pat also found out dairy was bad for his weight loss, so he stopped eating it and started losing more weight.

Pat didn't just walk. As he got lighter, he began working out at the gym. He lifted weights and did other exercises he couldn't do before. He lost over 330 pounds.

Pat's story isn't just about losing weight. He became an inspiration, especially to his young son. He showed that with determination and simple steps, you can make big changes. Pat isn't just a man who lost weight; he's a man who gained a whole new way of living.

HEALTH

Alzheimer's Breakthrough Could Halt Progression

Scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York have made an important discovery. It might stop Alzheimer's disease from getting worse. This gives hope to millions of Americans.

Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that affects memory and thinking skills. It affects almost 6 million people in the U.S. The disease worsens as odd protein clumps gather in the brain. They make it hard for brain cells to communicate and work.

Until now, there has been no cure for Alzheimer's. However, the new research from Mount Sinai shows a promising method. They studied a protein called Plexin-B1, important for the brain cells to connect and talk to each other. The study found that Plexin-B1 also stops the brain from cleaning up these harmful protein clumps. It does this by changing how certain brain cells, called astrocytes, behave.

Normally, astrocytes help protect the brain. But when Plexin-B1 is active, these cells block the brain's cleaning process. The scientists turned off the gene that makes Plexin-B1 in mice. They saw that the brain could then better remove the clumps and had less swelling.

Roland Friedel, a lead researcher, said, "Our findings offer a hopeful way to create new treatments by improving how cells deal with these dangerous clumps."

The team hopes their work will lead to treatments that not only stop but also slow down Alzheimer's, changing a once unavoidable decline into something that can be managed.

A Recent Study Provides New Insights Into How Depression and Physical Activity Influence Each Other Throughout Adulthood | the Study Found That People Who Feel More Depressed Are Less Likely to Be Physically Active, and Being Physically Active is Linked to Feeling Better Mentally

A new study in the Mental Health and Physical Activity journal reveals how depression and physical activity affect each other. The impact occurs as adults age. Soli Dubash, a researcher at the University of Toronto, used data from a long study with 3,499 U.S. adults to look into this relationship.

The study found that people who feel more depressed are less likely to be active. On the other hand, being active can make people feel mentally better. Exercise helps mood. But, it might not fully prevent depression if deeper issues are not addressed.

Dubash's research used a method. It considered factors like biology and life experiences. The findings showed that feeling very depressed could lead to less physical activity in the future. But being active now does not necessarily mean a person will feel less depressed later.

Dubash suggests starting any physical activity, like walking or gardening. It helps quickly and also benefits mental and physical health over time. The study relied on self-reported data, which may not be entirely accurate. However, it sheds light on the connection between mental and physical health.

This study tells us that managing our health actively can help us maintain a better life as we get older.

✢ 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.