Partner of the day

Hello. It’s Tuesday, May 7. You’re about to discover how a hot bath can improve your heart health & lower blood pressure…what to eat (and avoid!) in menopause …why a cardiologist gives coffee two thumbs up…secrets to defeat your inner self-critic…and more…

Exercise May Help to Help to Slow (Or Reverse) Aging

Exercise has a myriad of health benefits, including helping to improve cardiovascular health, strengthening bones, boosting mood, and more. Now, a new study has found that engaging in regular physical activity may have another important benefit as well—counteracting aging by reducing fat buildup in tissues.

For a recent study published in the journal Nature Aging, researchers at Amsterdam UMC examined the impact of regular physical activity on mice. Specifically, they focused on exercise’s ability to reduce bismonoacylglycerophosphates (BMPs), which tend to expand in tissues throughout the body and are associated with aging.

The researchers looked at BMP accumulation in humans and mice by taking muscle biopsies before and after exercise. Their findings unveiled a promising correlation: exercise appeared to exert a tangible effect on reducing BMP levels in muscle tissues, hinting at its potential to counteract age-related fat buildup.

Experts are still exploring the exact role of BMPs in the aging process to determine if they cause aging or are a marker of aging. This discovery adds to the many benefits of exercise and opens more opportunities to understand the relationship between physical activity and aging.

Junk Food May Harm Teenage Brains Long-Term

We know that fast food, highly processed snacks, fried foods, and sugary treats are linked to weight gain and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. Now, a new study has found that a diet high in junk food may impair brain development in adolescents—with damage that may extend into adulthood.

For a study published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, scientists fed one group a diet resembling typical Western junk food, rich in fats and sugars. Meanwhile, the control group received a nutritious diet. They monitored how these diets influenced the levels of acetylcholine—the neurotransmitter responsible for muscle movement, learning, and memory—in the rats’ brains.

To assess memory function, the researchers presented the rats with new objects in different environments. Days later, they exposed the rats to a nearly identical scene that contained one new object. The rats fed a high junk food diet didn’t express signs of recognition for objects they had previously seen. Yet, the healthy-eating control group did.

Interestingly, the researchers found that administering medications that stimulated acetylcholine release reversed memory impairment in the junk food-fed rats. Even more importantly, it underscores the importance food choices have on the brain, especially for adolescents who are still undergoing brain development.