Nature Knows - Natural Nootropics

Associate professor Johanne Egge Rinholm and research fellow Lauritz Kennedy. Credit: Kyrre Vigestad, UiO The most common cause of death or disabilities in newborn babies is what is called hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. This arises when the supply of blood and oxygen to the brain is blocked for a period of time.

“The lack of blood and nutrients causes brain cells to die. These babies can then suffer from neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy ,” says researcher and associate professor Johanne Egge Rinholm.

Rinholm and her team at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences at the University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital have made a promising discovery regarding the future treatment of these babies. In a study, newly published in eLife , they describe their experiments with a receptor called HCAR1 on mice . A receptor is a protein that triggers a response inside a cell. Their findings indicate that the HCAR1 receptor helps to repair brain damage.

Mice lacking the HCAR1 gene formed few new cells following brain damage

The researchers used a group of newborn mice whose HCAR1 gene had been removed, and another control group of “normal” mice.

“Whereas brain tissue in the ‘normal’ mice was partly restored during the 42 days following the brain damage, the brains of mice lacking HCAR1 showed little sign of repair. In addition, we found that the mice in the control group produced new cells that could help to repopulate the injured areas of their brain. In contrast, the mice without HCAR1 showed little regeneration of cells,” research fellows Lauritz Kennedy and Emilie Rylund Glesaaen explain.

Scientists must find out whether they can achieve a similar effect in humans

According to Rinholm, their data suggest that HCAR1 is an important factor in the repair of brain tissue following hypoxic-ischemic injury in newborn mice.

The treatment currently used in humans is to cool the babies down.

“Nevertheless, many of these babies continue to suffer from long-term brain damage . So new drugs are needed that can protect the brain and help to generate new brain cells,” says Rinholm.

She emphasizes that further studies are necessary in order to find out whether HCAR1 has a similar, beneficial effect in humans.

Lactic acid provides cells with energy and works with the HCAR1 gene

The scientists were keen to study the receptor because of its connection with lactic acid . Lactic acid, or its less acidic form lactate, is produced by your muscles when you do strenuous exercise. But lactate is also produced in the brain.

“Experiments on mice indicate that injections of extra lactate can improve rehabilitation after a brain injury. But the reason for this has been unclear up until now. In much the same way as sugar, lactate can provide cells with metabolic energy. But recent research shows that lactate can also function as a signaling molecule which helps to transmit information from the surroundings to cells or between cells. This occurs when lactate binds to the HCAR1 receptor we have been researching. However, the positive role played by HCAR1 in the brain was not well understood,” says Rinholm.

Provided by University of Oslo

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( Natural News ) Recent research from Oregon State University (OSU) revealed that the damaging effects of exposure to blue light emanating from phones and computers worsen as a person ages .

Previous studies all over the world have proven that constant exposure to blue light is detrimental to health due to the advent of electronic devices that rely on light-emitting diode (LED) technology.

“LED lighting technology, even in the most developed countries, has not been used long enough to know its effects across the human lifespan,” Jaga Giebultowicz, a researcher at the OSU College of Science said in a release.

According to Giebultowicz, there are increasing concerns that extended exposure to artificial light, especially blue-enriched LED light, may be detrimental to human health .

“While the full effect of blue light exposure across the lifespan are not yet known in humans, accelerated aging observed in a short-lived model organism should alert us to the potential of cellular damage by this stressor,” she added

The study, published last week in Nature Partner Journals Aging , involved Drosophila melanogaster or the common fruit fly. The researchers use the model organism due to the similarity of its cellular and developmental mechanisms with humans and other animals.

They analyzed the survival rates of the flies that were kept in darkness and then moved at older ages to an environment of constant blue light from LEDs. The darkness-to-light transitions were done at the ages of two, 20, 40 and 60 days and they involved blue light’s effect on the mitochondria of the flies’ cells.

The study proved that flies had impaired locomotion because blue light damaged their retinal cells and brain neurons. The insects had decreased ability to climb the walls of their enclosure.

In earlier research, flies subjected to daily cycles of 12 hours in light and 12 hours in darkness had shorter lives compared to flies kept in total darkness or those kept in light with the blue wavelengths filtered out.

“The novel aspect of this new study is showing that chronic exposure to blue light can impair energy-producing pathways even in cells that are not specialized in sensing light.

We determined that specific reactions in mitochondria were dramatically reduced by blue light, while other reactions were decreased by age independent of blue light. You can think of it as blue light exposure, adding insult to injury in aging flies,” Giebultowicz stated.

The researchers suggested that people should use eyeglasses with amber lenses as these filter out blue light and protect the retinas. (Related: Blue light found to accelerate aging and damage retinal cells .)

“You can also set your phones, laptops and other devices to block blue emissions,” they added. Blue light interferes with natural sleep cycles

Apart from the damage the blue light does to the retina and brain neurons, researches also show that devices emitting this could massively interfere with the natural sleep cycles.

The result of the National Sleep Foundation’s “2022 Sleep in America Poll” revealed that more than half of Americans indulge in screen time within an hour before bed or even while in bed.

Minimize exposure to blue light by wearing blue light-blocking glasses when looking at screens at night. Being the primary light sensor, restricting the blue light coming into the eye is key. It is also helpful to install filters for phones, tablets and laptop devices to reduce blue and UV light exposure.

Better yet, stay away from the devices an hour before bedtime. Not sleeping beside gadgets could definitely help.

During bedtime, sleep with an eye mask and use energy-efficient light bulbs such as halogen lights or low-wattage red night lights. These induce a calm and relaxing sleep atmosphere and also protect the retina.

People who are constantly exposed to LED lights may also strengthen the eyes by consuming foods rich in carotenoids , a form of vitamin A. Carotenoids can be found in red, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, as well as in dark, leafy greens.

Also, there are pieces of evidence that managing weight can be beneficial to eye health. Higher weight leads to higher diabetes risk, and high blood sugar levels can damage micro-vessels in the eye. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to retinopathy and, potentially, blindness. Similarly, high blood pressure increases the risk of eye damage.

Visit EyeHealth.news for more articles on how to protect the eyes from LED or blue light.

Watch the video below about 5G blue light toxicity . No compatible source was found for this media. More related stories:

The dark side of blue light: Constantly looking at a screen is bad for your eyes, skin, sleep and health .

Not just carrots: Study shows that bog bilberry can protect your eyes against blue light emitted by electronic devices .

Exposure to blue light decreases blood pressure, new study suggests . Sources include:

Today.OregonState.edu Nature.com BlockBlueLight.com.au

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( Natural News ) Strawberries are nutritious and they are full of beneficial antioxidants and plant compounds. According to a study, consuming strawberries can also help protect the brain from Alzheimer’s disease by reducing inflammation .

The study was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease .

In the study, researchers from Rush University in Chicago, Illinois, discovered that adults older than 65 who regularly consumed strawberries had fewer tau proteins in their brains. Higher concentrations of tau proteins are linked to Alzheimer’s. Strawberries, brain health and Alzheimer’s

For the study, the research team examined the brains of 575 deceased patients with an average age of 91 years. None of the patients had Alzheimer’s disease .

For more than two decades before their deaths, each participant answered an annual survey about their diet. The researchers used the survey results to keep track of the patients’ diets.

The patients also had their cognitive ability tested annually. Results from an autopsy revealed that the group that consumed the most strawberries had the lowest concentration of tau proteins.

The researchers reported that they did not find any link between tau protein levels and those who had the APOE-4 gene, which is believed to raise the risk of Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Julie Schneider, the neuropathologist who led the study, explained that the research team suspects the anti-inflammatory properties of pelargonidin — an active compound in strawberries — may decrease overall neuroinflammation, which may reduce cytokine production.

Cytokines are proteins produced by cells that can trigger an inflammatory response. (Related: Study: Consuming apples, oranges and strawberries can help people with Parkinson’s disease live longer .)

Inflammation in the brain may be caused by many factors such as infections, extreme stress and a lack of sleep. These are also risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s .

Dr. Puja Agarwal, a nutritional epidemiologist who was also involved in the research, advised that eating strawberries is a “simple change” that anyone could make to their regular diet. However, he acknowledged that the study was observational, meaning it wasn’t clear whether the strawberries themselves reduced the risk.

Agarwal said that further research is needed to learn more about the role of nutrition in Alzheimer’s, but the study findings suggest that certain dietary components, like berries, may offer significant benefits for brain health .

Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating condition affecting over 6.5 million Americans. By 2050, this figure is expected to more than double. Early signs of Alzheimer’s include difficulties remembering recent events or conversations or where something was left.

In the last stages of the disease, people with Alzheimer’s might repeat themselves or questions over and over. They can also get lost even in familiar places and have trouble finding the right words to identify common objects. Health benefits of strawberries

Strawberries are one of the top sources of pelargonidin, a compound that is believed to be an anti-inflammatory. Other sources of pelargonidin include kidney beans, plums, radishes and raspberries.

Strawberry ( Fragaria ananassa ) is a hybrid of two wild strawberry species from North America and Chile. These berries are bright red, juicy and sweet.

Strawberries are full of vitamin C and manganese . They also contain decent amounts of folate or vitamin B9 and potassium.

Strawberries are full of antioxidants and plant compounds, which are believed to offer benefits for heart health and blood sugar control. Healthy strawberry desserts to try

Following a balanced diet is key to your overall health. Eat lots of nutritious foods like strawberries and try some of the healthy recipes below.

Strawberry oatmeal bars

Instead of buying oatmeal or granola bars, make strawberry oatmeal bars at home using fresh ingredients and none of the added preservatives often used in store-bought oatmeal bars.

Ingredients for 16 strawberry bars: 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (Use gluten-free oats if preferred.)

2 cups strawberries (about 10 ounces), diced small and divided

3/4 cup white whole wheat flour (Use 1:1 baking flour to make gluten-free bars.)

1/3 cup light brown sugar

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (For vegan/dairy-free bars, use melted coconut oil.) 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice from about 1/2 small lemon 1 tablespoon granulated sugar divided 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon cornstarch Ingredients for the vanilla glaze (optional if you prefer a sweeter bar): 1/2 cup powdered sugar sifted 1 tablespoon milk 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract Preparation: > Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 F. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Let the paper overhang from two sides like makeshift handles. In a medium bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, ginger and salt. Pour the melted butter into the oat mixture and stir until it forms clumps and all the dry ingredients are evenly moistened. Set aside 1/2 cup of the crumble mixture. Press the rest into an even layer at the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. Scatter half of the sliced strawberries over the crust. Sprinkle the cornstarch evenly over the top, then sprinkle the lemon juice followed by the half a tablespoon of the granulated sugar. Scatter the remaining berries over the crust, then the remaining half a tablespoon of the sugar. Sprinkle the reserved crumbs evenly over the top. You should have some fruit showing through. Bake the bars for 35 to 40 minutes. The bars are done when the fruit is bubbly and the crumb topping smells toasty and turns golden. Place the pan on a wire rack to cool completely. Speed up this process by refrigerating the pan. Prepare the glaze. In a medium bowl, briskly whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla and milk. Whisk until the mixture is smooth. Add more milk if you want a thinner consistency. Use the parchment-paper “handles” to lift the bars from the pan. Drizzle with glaze and slice before serving. Blueberry-strawberry smoothie bowl Start your day with a tasty and nutritious blueberry-strawberry smoothie bowl . Ingredients for 1 serving: 1 cup ice cubes 3/4 cup fresh blueberries , divided 1/2 cup fresh strawberries, sliced 1/3 cup 2% […]

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