09/17/25 - #480

Good morning. In today’s edition:

• A New Study Shows an Association Between 10-12 Weeks of Following a Well-formulated Ketogenic Diet and a Roughly 70% Decrease in Depression Symptoms Among a Small Group of College Students. Participants’ Global Well-being Increased Nearly 3-fold and Performance Improved on Several Cognitive Tasks

• Obesity Exceeds Underweight for the First Time Among School-age Children and Adolescents Globally

• Protein Discovery May Lead to Alzheimer’s Treatment Even Before Symptoms Start

• Study Linking Depression to Specific Altered Brain Cells Opens Door to New Treatments

…and lots more. Have a great day!

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FOOD & NUTRITION

A New Study Shows an Association Between 10-12 Weeks of Following a Well-formulated Ketogenic Diet and a Roughly 70% Decrease in Depression Symptoms Among a Small Group of College Students. Participants’ Global Well-being Increased Nearly 3-fold and Performance Improved on Several Cognitive Tasks

A new study found that following a well-planned keto diet for 10 to 12 weeks may ease symptoms of depression. The study involved 16 college students who already had depression and were receiving treatment. After switching to a ketogenic diet, their depression symptoms dropped by about 70%.

The keto diet is low in carbs and high in fat. It puts the body into a state called “ketosis,” where it burns fat for energy instead of sugar. The students in the study were carefully taught how to follow this diet. They received meal suggestions, snacks, and support through a private app.

In addition to feeling less depressed, students reported big improvements in well-being and did better on tests measuring memory, focus, and mental speed. Most also lost weight and body fat, but the diet didn’t raise their cholesterol or triglycerides.

The researchers say that while the study was small and lacked a control group, the results are promising. They suggest that keto could be used along with regular treatment for depression.

Experts believe the diet may help by reducing inflammation or improving brain function. More research is needed, but this early study offers hope for new ways to support mental health—especially when access to care is limited.

As always, talk to a doctor or dietitian before making major changes to your eating plan.

This article is for informational purposes only and not medical advice.

Source: news.osu.edu

WEIGHT LOSS

Obesity Exceeds Underweight for the First Time Among School-age Children and Adolescents Globally

For the first time, more children and teens around the world are living with obesity than with being underweight, a new UNICEF report finds. About 1 in 10 kids ages 5 to 19—around 188 million—now have obesity.

Since 2000, underweight in this age group dropped from 13% to 9%. But obesity rose from 3% to 9.4%. Only South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa still have more underweight kids than obese ones.

Some of the highest obesity rates are in Pacific Island nations. In Niue, 38% of kids have obesity. In the Cook Islands and Nauru, it’s over 30%. Rates in these places have doubled since 2000. In richer countries like Chile, the U.S., and the UAE, around 1 in 5 kids are affected.

Experts say the problem is driven by ultra-processed foods. These foods are cheap, full of sugar and fat, and often replace healthier options like fruits, vegetables, and protein. Kids see ads for these foods everywhere—on TV, online, and even in schools.

Obesity puts children at risk for health problems like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer later in life.

UNICEF is asking governments to take action. Ideas include banning junk food in schools, adding clear food labels, and limiting ads to kids. Helping families afford healthy food is also key.

Good nutrition helps kids grow, learn, and stay healthy. To protect future generations, the food environment needs to change—starting now.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

Source: unicef.org

HEALTH

Protein Discovery May Lead to Alzheimer’s Treatment Even Before Symptoms Start

Scientists have found a brain protein that could help doctors treat Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms even begin.

The protein is called TSPO (Translocator Protein). Normally, it is found at low levels in the brain. But when the brain becomes inflamed—a key problem in Alzheimer’s—TSPO levels rise. Researchers believe spotting this change early may help slow the disease.

In Alzheimer’s, the brain starts changing years before people notice memory problems. These changes include the buildup of harmful clumps called amyloid plaques and swelling in brain cells. The study found that TSPO appears around the same time as these early brain changes, long before memory loss starts.

The team studied both mice and human brain samples. They saw that TSPO shows up in brain cells that normally protect the brain—microglia and astrocytes. But in Alzheimer’s, these cells seem to stop working properly and send out TSPO signals instead. This keeps inflammation going, like adding wood to a fire.

One of the study’s lead researchers, Dr. Tomas Guilarte, said using TSPO to catch Alzheimer’s early could delay symptoms by five or six years. “That’s five or six years where someone has a better quality of life,” he said.

The study also showed this protein appears even in young people with rare forms of early-onset Alzheimer’s. This finding may help doctors detect the disease earlier and offer better, more personal treatment.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not offer medical advice.

Source: the-independent.com

Study Linking Depression to Specific Altered Brain Cells Opens Door to New Treatments

A new study has found that two types of brain cells work differently in people with depression. This discovery could lead to better treatments in the future.

Researchers at McGill University and the Douglas Institute looked at brain tissue from people who had depression and those who didn’t. They used special tools to study thousands of brain cells. The study found that certain cells had changes in how their genes worked.

The first cell type is called an excitatory neuron. These cells help control mood and stress. The second type is called microglia. These cells help manage inflammation in the brain. In both cell types, gene activity was different in people with depression.

“This is the first time we’ve been able to see exactly which brain cells are affected in depression,” said Dr. Gustavo Turecki, the lead researcher. “It gives us a clearer picture of what’s going wrong.”

The team used rare donated brain samples from the Douglas-Bell Canada Brain Bank. This allowed them to study the cells in great detail.

The findings support what experts have believed for years—depression is not just emotional. It also involves real, physical changes in the brain.

The next step is to study how these changes affect brain function and whether new treatments can target these specific cells.

“This research offers hope that we may soon have more effective ways to treat depression by focusing on the brain cells most affected by the disease.”

Source: mcgill.ca

✢ 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.