Treelet Health provides the latest health news, disease prevention, nutrition and diet, and other professional health knowledge to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
In a new study, researchers examined whether cocoa extract supplements have an impact on age-related inflammation, which is linked to heart disease and other chronic illnesses. The researchers found that 500 mg of daily cocoa extract supplements slowed increases in a key marker of inflammation. These benefits were strongest in individuals with higher baseline or existing inflammation at the start.
Ketogenic diets that provide most of the daily calorie intake from fats have gained considerable attention as a lifestyle intervention for managing obesity and diabetes. Despite its popularity and effectiveness in promoting short-term weight loss, some human and animal studies suggest an adverse impact of a keto diet on metabolic health. A new long-term study conducted in mice now shows that a keto diet causes an increase in blood lipid (fat) levels, excessive fat storage in the liver, and impaired glucose regulation. These results raise concerns about the use of a keto diet for the management of obesity and diabetes and underscore the need for a cautionary approach.
Researchers estimate that about 1.8 billion people around the world live with presbyopia, a farsightedness condition that can appear as a person grows older. More recent treatment options for presbyopia are eye drops such as Vuity, which uses pilocarpine hydrochloride. A new study found that a new eye drop using both pilocarpine plus diclofenac helped study participants improve their ability to read up close.
Long COVID or post-COVID-19 condition is the long-term symptoms that can develop after experiencing COVID-19. One study found that starting metformin within three months of SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosis may decrease the risk of long COVID in people who have obesity or overweight. Metformin is a medication used to treat high blood sugar levels caused by type 2 diabetes.
Past studies show that there are a number of lifestyle factors that may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes, such as smoking. There are different subtypes of type 2 diabetes, which can be related to age, insulin resistance, and obesity. A new study reconfirms smoking as a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, and says this risk occurs across all four subtypes of the condition. It also finds that smoke-free tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, can also heighten diabetes risk.
Each year about 25 million women around the world experience menopause. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a treatment sometimes prescribed to people going through menopause, which has some potential complications, including blood clots and stroke. New research says that women with type 2 diabetes using HRT skin patches are not at a higher risk for blood clots or stroke. However, the study did find that women with type 2 diabetes taking oral HRT may increase their risk for pulmonary embolism and heart disease overall.
Mild cognitive impairment can involve cognitive struggles and can increase someone’s chances of developing dementia. Exergaming involves technology that requires physical activity and has possible cognitive benefits. One recent study found that serious exergaming may positively impact gray matter and white matter in the brain, and that these brain changes may be linked to cognitive improvements.
Researchers from the Medical University of Lodz in Poland investigated how diet can affect the severity of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which can cause severe gastrointestinal problems. A study of participants with IBD showed that those with diets deemed anti-inflammatory were more likely to be in remission or have mild disease. People whose diets tended towards being pro-inflammatory, however, were up to three times more likely to have moderate-to-severe IBD.
In 2022, about 19.8 million people globally died from heart disease, with about 85% of these deaths attributed to stroke and heart attack. Previous research has linked bacterial infections as a risk factor for heart disease. Past studies have also linked bacterial infections to an increased risk of arterial plaque buildup. A new study has now identified specific bacteria typically found in the mouth and throat, which researchers believe may be a trigger for a heart attack.
Insomnia is a sleep disorder where a person has trouble falling and staying asleep. Past studies have linked insomnia to an increased risk for a number of health concerns, including cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. A new study found that people with chronic insomnia may be at a greater risk of developing dementia or mild cognitive impairment than those with non-chronic insomnia, associated with faster brain aging.
An integrated digital health system involving a mobile device app and a blood pressure monitor proved effective in lowering participants’ blood pressure in a new study. The digital intervention was particularly effective for women, including women of perimenopausal and menopausal age, who had high blood pressure. Menopause is a time of heightened cardiovascular risk, so interventions such as this are a welcome innovation. Such digital health systems appear to be more effective for women due to their greater engagement with the systems, compared to men.
Past research has linked certain mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, to an increased risk for dementia. A new study has found that people who have multiple mental health conditions have a higher risk of developing dementia than those with one. Coexisting mood and anxiety disorders correlated with increased dementia odds of up to 90%. Researchers report that this risk percentage increases with each additional concurrent mental health disorder.