Tag Archives: health

A Potential Cure for Alzheimer’s Disease?

Posted on March 11, 2019 by | Leave a comment

The thought of not being able to recognize a family member or lifelong friend, or what you did yesterday, is a terrifying and tragic idea.  This disease is very real, affecting hundreds of thousands of Canadians each year, and it is known as Alzheimer’s disease.  It is the most common type of dementia and there is no cure.

Alzheimer’s Disease: Symptoms & Care

Alzheimer’s disease symptoms and related ideas. (Uploaded by https://emedmultispecialtygroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/alzheimer-disease.jpg)

Causes  of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that progresses with increasing age and it negatively affects behavioural, thinking and social skills, as well as the ability to do simple tasks in everyday life.  It acts specifically in the brain by disrupting the work of neurons and damaging them.  In the brain, there are large proteins called amyloid proteins that can be broken down into smaller proteins called beta amyloids.  The issue with these fractured beta amyloid proteins is that they are capable of clumping together and accumulating, forming hard, insoluble substances called amyloid plaques.  These plaque deposits situate in between nerve cells, blocking their signals and transmissions.  In addition to plaques are something called neurofibrillary tangles.  Tangles are composed of proteins called tau proteins which change shape and form bundles of twisted fibers inside brain cells.  They act similar to plaques in the brain, to kill neurons.

illustration of healthy brain and one with Alzheimer's

Illustration of a healthy brain and one with Alzheimer’s. (Uploaded by https://cdn.prod-carehubs.net/n1/802899ec472ea3d8/uploads/2015/01/Alzheimers-001-1-1024×847.jpg)

A Possible Cure?

A recent study by researchers at the University of Southern California found certain compounds that were able to reverse symptoms of Alzheimer’s in mice that were genetically modified to develop the disease.  These compounds were specifically epigallocatechin-3-gallate, or EGCG for short, and ferulic acid, or FA.  The most convenient thing about these compounds is that they are probably more obtainable than most people are aware of, as EGCG is a main component of green tea, and FA is found in foods such as carrots, tomatoes, rice, wheat, and oats.  These compounds are thought to prevent the breakdown of amyloid proteins into fragments that may result in amyloid plaques.  In the study, the researchers placed mice into one of four experimental groups for the duration of the study.  The first group was restricted to a diet containing both EGCG and FA, the second and third group was restricted to either EGCG or FA, and a placebo for the fourth group.  After three months, the mice were tested for Alzheimer’s symptoms by being placed into a maze with numerous pathways.  Healthy mice instinctively explored each and every pathway of the maze whereas impaired mice were more likely to continuously move down pathways they had already explored, indicating impaired memory and behaviour.

The findings of this research could potentially lead to promising therapeutic treatments for Alzheimer’s disease using readily available plant-based supplements.  It’s still too early to say whether or not EGCG and FA will have a significant effect when treating humans. Nonetheless, it’s a step in the right direction towards beating this tragic disease.

David Infanti

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A Shot a Day Keeps the Doctor Away?

Posted on March 11, 2019 by | 2 comments

Let’s face it, you’ve probably never heard that saying before. Apart from having a good time and feeling great in the moment, alcohol consumption is generally associated with a negative connotation. Recent studies have shown that moderate drinking can increase a person’s life by dropping their risk of early death by 18%. Although studies have associated drinking with some health benefits, it is more commonly known as being addictive and highly toxic. Even with this common knowledge, millions of people globally continue to consume alcohol on a daily basis, and thousands of alcohol-related deaths occur annually in the United States.

Shots of hard alcohol. Source: Flickr Credit: Kirti Poddar

BUT THEY SAID IT WAS GOOD FOR YOU…

Pouring a glass of red wine. Source: Flickr Credit: Rawpixel Ltd

New research has found that moderate levels of drinking, defined as one or two glasses of wine or beer per day, can be linked to a longer lifetime. People who consumed alcohol were less likely to die due to cardiovascular disease than those who did not. Red wine was also found to have some anti-aging benefits associated with it, due to the presence of antioxidants. A 2017 study that excluded non-drinking participants with other health issues and addiction once again found a correlation between those who consumed alcohol and a lowered risk of heart attacks, chest pains, strokes, and fatal heart disease. In addition, it has been found that moderate drinking can reduce insulin resistance, which is the primary cause of type 2 diabetes. Although these findings may seem promising to many, no direct cause and effect has been found between moderate alcohol consumption and longevity.

WHAT’S IN IT?

Line-bond structure of ethanol (CH3CH2OH). Source: Wikimedia Commons Credit: Sevela.p

The main ingredient in alcohol that is responsible for getting people “drunk” is ethanol, a psychoactive molecule that impacts the central nervous system, altering brain function and hence causing visible changes in mood, behaviour, perception, and consciousness. It is produced by the yeasts that digest sugars in foods such as grapes and grains that are used to make wine and beer, respectively. When alcohol enters the bloodstream, “pleasure hormones”, known as endorphins, are released and transported to the brain where, over time, they are able to shrink the part of the brain that is responsible for memory and reasoning. In red wine specifically, the presence of the compound resveratrol contributes to the antioxidant-like benefits of drinking.

FAKE NEWS

Ambulances parked at the emergency entrance of a hospital. Source: Flickr Credit: Can Pac Swire

Data from 2006 to 2010 taken from the Centre for Disease Control’s (CDC) Alcohol-Related Disease Impact (ARDI) online application shows that 88,668 alcohol related deaths occurred in the United States within those four years. Of those deaths, 44% of them were due to chronic causes, primarily liver disease, and the remaining 56% were from acute causes, including motor-vehicle accidents and suicide. Overall, it was found that males accounted for 71% of alcohol-related deaths. People in the 50 to 64 age cohort contributed the greatest quantity of alcohol-related deaths. These statistics show that although there are indeed some health benefits to alcohol consumption, alcohol should continue to be consumed only when safe, and most importantly in moderation.

Written by Kelsey Wong

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Posted in Biological Sciences, Issues in Science, Science in the News

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Taking SARMs for Bigger Arms?

Posted on March 9, 2019 by | 3 comments

Pills

Pills are common forms of ingesting SARMs (photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/eandistudios/2333660035/in/photolist)

The supposed new safer performance enhancing drug is already being sold to athletes and the general public illegally without pharmaceutical testing. This new drug is becoming more popular due to its perceived safety. Taking SARMs will add more muscle to your body, with reduced negative effects compared to common anabolic steroids, however scientists warn that they aren’t as safe as they appear to be.

What are they?

Selective Androgen Modulators, more commonly known as SARMs, are a class of chemical compounds that have some similar properties to that of lab made human growth hormones (i.e. mimics of testosterone). Similar to steroids, they affect the body by increasing muscle mass and strength while also reducing body fat. SARMs affect the human body’s sensor for certain growth hormones like testosterone, meaning that the body keeps producing an increased amount naturally due to it suppressing part of the body’s hormone cycle.

SARMs vs Steroids

SARMs are different from the more notorious performance enhancing drug, anabolic steroids, as they don’t introduce any lab made steroids into the body. Anabolic steroids are used by todays bodybuilders and some athletes for increased physical capabilities as they mimic the growth hormone, testosterone. SARMs are an appealing option as they can target specific muscle groups, with reduced negative side effects. Steroids will affect the body more drastically than SARMs, as they directly add more hormones to the human body. SARMs will have less of an effect due to it only affecting certain muscle groups for targeted testosterone level increases.

 

Example of a lab made human growth hormone for performance enhancement (Photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Depo-testosterone_200_mg_ml.jpg)

Is it Safe?

Although SARMs are said to be safer than steroids, they still have the same negative effects, but perhaps to a lesser degree. Since someone who takes SARMs will have higher than normal testosterone level, abuse can lead to the same effects as steroids. The negative side effects include balding, increased aggression, depression, liver damage, heart attacks and strokes. Recent studies by the U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA) have recorded cases of life-threatening liver toxicity. Another warning regarding SARMs is that long-term clinical tests are still being conducted.

Closing remarks

If you’re someone considering taking steroids, SARMs may be a safer option; however, because of the known short-term side effects and limited completed long-term studies, they should not be taken. The much safer and recommended option is to not take any type of steroid and SARM without specific medical conditions like muscle degeneration and anemia. Taking SARMs are a prohibited substance in the World Anti-Doping Agency and are manufactured and sold illegally.

Christopher Lam

arnold_bodybuilding

The famous bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger (Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bodybuildinginindia/4060600616/in/photolist)

 

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Young Blood, Old Soul

Posted on March 4, 2019 by | Leave a comment

We often hear our grandparents telling their stories in those “good old days”. Indeed, who doesn’t want to stay forever young? Humans all experience physical and mental function declines as we are inevitably getting old and a lot of researches have been done so far to solve the mystery of aging. As evidence piles up, scientists say that the fountain of youth may lie in the blood.

Credit: Geralt

Can we reverse aging? Credit: Geralt

A recent paper published on Communications Biology showed a restored cognitive function in old mice after they received bone marrow transplantation from younger mice. They found that the level of a critical chemical, called CCL11, in blood was lowered in young bone marrow recipients mice and therefore reasoned that hematopoietic (blood cell generating) system may play a special part in regulating CCL11. This molecule is thought to have an inhibitory effect on nerve cells regeneration, which is a hallmark of aging.

However, this is not the first study in the field. In fact, discoveries on the rejuvenating power of young blood can be dated back as early as 1970s when scientists surgically connected the blood vessels of two lab mice with different ages so that they could share the same circulating blood. The old mice did become younger in terms of some physiological aspects. And more researches have found similar results and pinned down some critical molecules responsible for aging.

https://youtu.be/yKLlXRjktak

Blood transfusion reverses aging in mice
Credit: GeoBeats News

 

Those findings are very promising in helping us understand the mechanism of aging and develop drugs or therapies to fight some of the age-related disease, such as Alzheimer’s disease, in the future. However, our keenness to stay young has already been taken advantage of by some people. A start-up company in California called Ambrosia charged $8,000 to give clients one-time infusion with blood plasma from young people. Just in last month, FDA stated that “we’re concerned that some patients are being preyed upon by unscrupulous actors touting treatments of plasma from young donors as cures and remedies.” Soon after that, Ambrosia stopped their transfusion treatments.

Indeed, it’s not the time to jump the gun yet. First, those findings in animal models may or may not be applicable to humans yet: we still need more evidence to prove that. Secondly, such treatments are generally beyond the regulation of FDA, and they may bring other risks, such as blood-borne diseases, not to mention the societal consequences. Therefore, it seems we do have a long way to go before we find the real fountain of youth.

Written by Xin Dong

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Posted in Biological Sciences, Issues in Science, Science Communication

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No Whey!

Posted on March 4, 2019 by | 1 comment

The increasing popularity of whey protein for athletes is largely a financial strategy from dairy farmers. Not only is protein powder consumption unnecessary and expensive, it may come at a cost to your health. It wasn’t until the early 2000s that whey protein powder became popular. But why?

Whey powder in a measuring spoon. (Photo uploader: https://www.flickr.com/photos/30478819@N08/30934111318)

History of Whey

Prior to the invention of whey protein powder, dairy farmers had a huge problem. When producing cheese, only about 20% of the milk turns into cheese while the other 80% is whey by-product. Dairy farmers tried to dump the whey into streams, but this was extremely detrimental to the environment. As a result, governmental agencies implemented laws and regulations preventing farmers from doing this. Farmers also tried to use the whey as feed but unfortunately it was not a healthy diet for their cattle.

Still in need of a solution, farmers turned to the knowledge of scientists. The scientists realized that it was high in essential dietary proteins. They created a way to process the whey and turn it into a dietary protein supplement. After investing millions of dollars in marketing, the worldwide whey protein market value was estimated at $9.4 billion in 2017.

What’s the Problem?

According to  Canadian statistics, nearly 100% of Canadians consume an acceptable amount of protein. Consuming more protein than necessary is not recommended. Studies show that consistently consuming too much protein can result in nausea, weakness, diarrhea, obesity and even death. Other studies have shown a correlation between high protein intake and osteoporosis, kidney stones, cancer, and heart disease.

About 65% of adults have difficulty digesting lactose, which is present in high quantities in whey. Therefore, after consuming whey it is very common to become bloated. Whey protein also causes a spike insulin (a hormone involved in controlling a cells energy), which shuts down the burning of fat in the body. Whey has been shown to have a more dramatic effect on insulin levels than pure glucose. Thus, it is not uncommon to become obese if you’re consuming whey protein powder.

Another major concern about whey protein powder is lack of regulation. Protein powder falls under the category of dietary supplement, so it is not regulated by the FDA. That means it is up to the company to be honest and accurate with their labels. An organization called the Clean Label Project “…uses data and science to revel the true contents of America’s best-selling consumer products”. In many cases, the Clean Label Project has found unsafe levels of mercury, arsenic, cadmium, lead, BPA and BPS (chemicals used in production of plastics) and other toxins.

Should I Stop Using Whey?

If you’re not protein deficient, which you probably aren’t, then the only time protein supplements could potentially be beneficial are after intense exercise. Plant based protein powder may be a better option for many people because it is easier for your body to digest. In the end, time and dedication is what will grow muscle, not protein powder.

 

Nick di Lello

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Caffeine: A Health Benefit or Risk

Posted on January 21, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Caffeine has become a part of everyday life.  It’s there from the moment we wake up to our first cup of coffee, to the late nights of intensive studying.  It is the most commonly consumed psychoactive drug worldwide, but does your everyday consumer really know how they’re being affected by the substance?

Image result for caffeine

First, let’s look at the action mechanism of caffeine in the body.  Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant and acts on adenosine receptors in neurons and other areas throughout the body.  The adenosine receptor is activated by a breakdown product of ATP, known as adenosine, and slows down neural activity to increase relaxation and fatigue.  Caffeine binds to and inhibits adenosine receptors, leaving fewer receptors available to bind with adenosine, therefore decreasing its sleep-inducing activity.

The majority of people consuming caffeine are aware of its stimulating and energizing effects, however, many are not familiar with other benefits or risks associated with caffeine.  Since 80 percent of caffeine consumed is primarily as coffee, fewer studies have been carried out on the effects of caffeine alone, as opposed to coffee as a caffeine source.  In a recent article, it states that consuming coffee, amounting to around 200mg of caffeine, has been found to increase brain health and enhance short-term and possibly long-term memory.  It has also been found to decrease the risk of death caused by heart disease and stroke as well.  Those who were associated with drinking coffee daily were at a lower risk of developing cancer, liver disease, and type 2 diabetes.  Also, it is possible that coffee or caffeine may delay dementia for those who have mild cognitive impairment.  On the other hand, studies have correlated coffee/caffeine consumption with increased blood pressure, tachycardia, and sometimes arrhythmia.  It can also result in migraines, sleep deprivation, nervousness, and irritability.

Image result for coffee

Caffeine consumption has some appealing benefits as well as some deterring negative effects.  Although studies show there to be reduced risk percentages for certain chronic diseases, many of these studies are observational and look for parallels between coffee drinking and diseases, rather than prove a cause and effect.  With that being said, it is difficult to conclude whether or not the health benefits outweigh the risks, and to be honest, it probably doesn’t matter all that much.  Those who are regular coffee consumers will continue to be, and those who have never tried it before are never going to. However, it is still sensible to be familiar with how a substance may affect you, before it is consumed.

David Infanti

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Parkinson’s Disease: mystery solved by a protein?

Posted on January 21, 2019 by | 1 comment

Source: Army US

Parkinson’s disease is a lifelong disease with no cure. According to this website, out of all the diseases associated with the brain, Parkinson’s is the second most common. Parkinson’s is characterized by problems with movement, such as uncontrollable shaking and difficulty walking.

Unexplained Cell Death is the cause of Parkinson’s Disease

On a cellular level, Parkinson’s is the result of nerve cell death. Neurons are the cells that make up our nervous system. Since the nervous system is responsible for our ability to think, feel and move, neurons are pretty important. Especially, since, after a certain age, we stop producing new neurons.

Essentially, Parkinson’s Disease is caused by the massacre of these precious neurons. Specifically, Parkinson’s is caused by the nerve cell death in a specific part of the brain,  the Substantia Nigra. Nerve cells in this region produce dopamine, a chemical signal involved in producing movement.

As of now, we have yet to find a clear culprit responsible for the cell death in Parkinson’s. However, active research has shed some light on the matter.

Relative location of the Substantia Nigra. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Lewy Bodies’ association with Parkinson’s Disease

Lewy bodies are essentially clumps of broken protein, of different types and sizes. According to this study, Lewy bodies are especially common in the dopamine-producing cells belonging to patients with Parkinson’s. Because they have such a strong association with the disease, Lewy Bodies and their protein contents have piqued scientists’ interests.

One protein of note, is alpha-synuclein. In the healthy body, the function of this protein is unknown. In diseased state, however, scientists have found they make up a large portion of Lewy Bodies. With this, we turn to another study that investigated alpha-synuclein’s role in hereditary Parkinson’s Disease.

Example of a Lewy Body (the dark red circle). Source: Wikimedia Commons

Alpha-Synuclein’s role in Hereditary Parkinson’s

There are two broad categories of Parkinson’s: hereditary and non-hereditary. The hereditary type is rare and, like most hereditary disease, the cause can be found in the patient’s genes. Specifically, researchers have found a mutation in the gene that codes for alpha-synuclein. The mutation ended up producing proteins with the wrong shape. The correct proteins should have what is called an alpha helix shape; meanwhile, the defective protein had a beta sheet shape instead (refer to diagram below). Unlike alpha helices, beta sheets have the ability to stack on top of each other to form an amyloid fibril. These structures start to pose a problem because they are hard to degrade and are useless, just hanging around inside the cell. Amyloid fibrils have the potential to kill neurons and explains the cell death seen in this particular type of Parkinson’s.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

The researchers for this study feel that the same mutation is probably no the cause for the more common, non-hereditary version of this disease. However, they also feel that a similar process may be at play here and their findings have provided groundwork for future research.

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