12/25/25 - #551

Good morning. In today’s edition:

• Eating Brie, Gouda, Cheddar May Lower Dementia Risk, New Study Says

• Eli Lilly Says Obesity Pill Helps Maintain Weight Loss After Patients Switch From Wegovy, Zepbound

• A 47-year Swedish Study Shows That Fitness, Strength, and Endurance Begin Declining Around Age 35, Even With Regular Training. However, Adults Who Start Exercising Later Still Improve Physical Capacity by 5–10%, Proving It’s Never Too Late to Begin

• Scientists Find the Biological Footprint of Social Anxiety May Reside Partially in the Gut | Findings Suggest That Specific Alterations in the Gut-brain Axis Could Contribute to the Pathology of Social Anxiety During Adolescence

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Eating Brie, Gouda, Cheddar May Lower Dementia Risk, New Study Says

A new study from Sweden says that eating certain cheeses may help lower your risk of dementia.

The study followed about 27,600 adults for 25 years. People who ate 50 grams or more of high-fat cheese every day—about two slices of cheddar—had a 13% lower risk of getting dementia. People who used high-fat cream in their food also had a 16% lower risk.

The study looked at cheeses like Brie, Gouda, and cheddar. It found that people who ate more of these cheeses had fewer cases of both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. But the lower risk for Alzheimer’s was only seen in people who didn’t carry a gene called APOE e4, which increases the risk.

Other dairy products—like low-fat cheese, milk, butter, yogurt, or buttermilk—did not show the same benefit.

The researchers say this doesn’t prove cheese prevents dementia. But it does challenge the idea that all high-fat dairy is bad for your brain.

Experts say it’s not just about the cheese—it’s about the whole diet. Eating cheese with healthy foods, like fruits and vegetables, may be better than eating it with processed meats.

You don’t need to start eating more cheese, but if you already enjoy it, there’s no need to cut back—as long as it’s part of a healthy, balanced diet.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Talk to your doctor before making any changes to your diet.

Source: yahoo.com

WEIGHT LOSS

Eli Lilly Says Obesity Pill Helps Maintain Weight Loss After Patients Switch From Wegovy, Zepbound

Eli Lilly says a new daily pill may help people keep off the weight they lost using shots like Wegovy and Zepbound. In a recent study, people who switched to the pill regained only a small amount of weight. Those who had used Wegovy kept about 95% of their weight loss. People who used Zepbound kept about 80%.

The pill, called orforglipron, is taken by mouth and doesn’t require a needle. It works by targeting a gut hormone called GLP-1, which helps control hunger and blood sugar. Eli Lilly has asked the FDA to approve the pill for obesity. The FDA is reviewing it quickly.

Many people don’t want to take weekly shots forever, and this pill could be a simpler option. Side effects were mostly mild stomach problems. About 5% to 7% of people stopped taking the pill due to side effects.

Some experts say this new pill could be helpful—if it costs less than the injections, which are about $1,000 a month before insurance. Both Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk plan to offer pills through TrumpRx, a new website launching in January. Pills will start at $149 per month.

Analysts believe pills like this could take a big share of the global weight-loss market in the future.

Disclaimer: This article is for information only. Talk to your doctor before starting or stopping any medication.

Source: cnbc.com

HEALTH

A 47-year Swedish Study Shows That Fitness, Strength, and Endurance Begin Declining Around Age 35, Even With Regular Training. However, Adults Who Start Exercising Later Still Improve Physical Capacity by 5–10%, Proving It’s Never Too Late to Begin

A new 47-year study from Sweden shows that strength, endurance, and fitness start to drop around age 35—even for people who stay active. But the good news is, you can still improve your fitness later in life.

Researchers followed over 400 people from age 16 to 63. They tested their strength, jump height, and aerobic capacity many times over the years. Most people reached their best performance between ages 26 and 36. After that, fitness levels slowly went down—by up to 2% each year in older adults. By age 63, most had lost 30% to 48% of their peak ability.

Still, people who became active as adults improved their strength and stamina by 5% to 10%. Even if they didn’t start young, they gained real benefits.

People who exercised at age 16 kept more of their strength as they aged. Those with college degrees also had better fitness, but regular activity made the biggest difference.

This study shows that aging causes a slow loss of muscle and energy, starting earlier than many think. But it also proves that staying active—or becoming active at any age—can slow that loss and help people feel stronger and healthier longer.

Walking, gardening, light weights, or daily movement all help.

Bottom line: You may not stop aging, but moving your body can help you age better.

Disclaimer: Talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise, especially if you have a health condition.

Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Scientists Find the Biological Footprint of Social Anxiety May Reside Partially in the Gut | Findings Suggest That Specific Alterations in the Gut-brain Axis Could Contribute to the Pathology of Social Anxiety During Adolescence

New research shows that social anxiety might be linked to your gut, not just your brain. Scientists in China studied teens with social anxiety and found they had different gut bacteria than teens without it.

To test this, researchers took gut bacteria from teens with social anxiety and gave it to baby rats. As the rats grew up, they showed signs of anxiety—like avoiding open areas and not wanting to meet new rats. Their brain chemicals also changed in ways that match anxiety in people.

This supports the idea of the “gut-brain axis,” which means the gut and brain talk to each other. Past studies have shown links between gut bacteria and mental health problems like depression and autism. Now, social anxiety may be part of that group.

In this study, 40 teens with social anxiety and 32 healthy teens gave stool samples. Scientists looked at their gut bacteria and found differences. One type of bacteria called Prevotella was higher in those with anxiety, while another called Parasutterella was lower.

After giving this bacteria to baby rats, the rats acted more anxious and less social. Brain tests showed changes in a part of the brain that handles emotions and social behavior.

The study had limits. It only included Chinese teens and didn’t identify the exact bacteria causing the problems. But it’s a big step toward new treatments. In the future, doctors might help treat social anxiety by improving gut health.

Disclaimer: This article is for information only.

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.