by Stemedix | Nov 20, 2023 | Studies, Age Management, Alzheimer’s Disease, Health Awareness
What you eat has a huge impact on your overall health, including your cognitive function. Your brain is a powerhouse that needs a constant influx of nutrients to function at its best, and some foods offer more of those nutrients than others. By adding the right foods to your diet, you can give your brain the boost it needs.
1. Fatty Fish for Omega-3
Eating fatty fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel offers your brain a good dose of omega-3. Omega-3 is critical for normal brain function as well as for its development throughout all of the stages of life.
This fatty acid is present in the membranes of brain cells, making communication between them easier while also preserving them. Omega-3 also shows promise in improving brain function in people with memory problems, including Alzheimer’s, as well as those with mild cognitive impairment.
2. Leafy Greens for B Vitamins
Leafy greens like broccoli, spinach, and kale contain a large amount of B vitamins. These vitamins are essential for your brain health, helping boost the production of neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that deliver messages between neurons. Vitamin B9 helps with intracellular detoxification, as well as improving low moods.
Leafy greens also add iron to your diet, which you need for energy. The brain uses more energy than any other organ, so encouraging healthy red blood cells by eating more iron is essential for its proper function.
Another benefit of leafy greens is they are packed with antioxidants, boosting cognitive function, mood, decision-making abilities, and so much more. They can do this by reducing or eliminating free radicals that cause damage.
3. Berries for Reducing Cell Damage
Berries are full of flavonoids, including flavanol, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that protect brain cells. Anthocyanins, which you find in red, blue, and purple berries, can cross the blood-brain barrier. They can protect the brain from diseases like cancer.
Eating blueberries increases blood flow to many areas of the brain, including those that control memory. The aging process can also slow down when you regularly add berries to your diet. This is because berries help create new neurons in the brain. Berries are also able to reduce inflammation and make nerve cells more flexible.
4. Whole Grains for Energy
Whole grains offer the energy your brain needs to stay healthy and function at its best. The fibers present in whole grains also aid in controlling blood pressure and reducing the chances of developing brain inflammation.
Whole grains are also rich in vitamin E, which helps the brain remain flexible throughout life. It has the potential to help people who have mild to moderate Alzheimer’s because of the way it reduces oxidative stress.
Vitamin E also helps regulate DHA; a type of omega-3 fatty acid crucial for brain function. In the brain, DHA forms DHA-PC, which is a component of neuron membranes. People with Alzheimer’s tend to have low levels of DHA-PC, so turning to vitamin E holds promise in its treatment.
5. Seeds and Nuts for Anti-Aging Properties
Seeds and nuts are full of nutrients, including zinc, which is important for memory enhancement. Walnuts offer great levels of omega-3 fatty acids to improve memory and brain function.
Many seeds and nuts are also full of vitamin E, which protects nervous cell membranes by targeting free radicals. Some seeds and nuts, like sunflower seeds, contain high levels of B vitamins, which are necessary for the production of neurotransmitters and the creation of cell structures.
6. Dark Chocolate for Antioxidants
Cocoa powder and dark chocolate are full of antioxidants like flavonoids, which gather in the parts of the brain that deal with memory and learning, helping slow mental decline. Chocolate is also a mood booster.
The flavonoids in chocolate improve blood flow to the brain as well. Chocolate also contains stimulating substances like caffeine and theobromine, which give brain function a short-term boost.
7. Oranges for Vitamin C
Oranges are rich in vitamin C, a key vitamin for preventing mental decline. Vitamin C helps boost memory, concentration, and decision speed while also helping fight off free radicals that cause damage to brain cells. Because of this, eating fruits and food options that are high in vitamin C can protect against conditions like Alzheimer’s.
Another way vitamin C helps the brain is by helping the process of forming new neurons, which is essential for memory and overall cognitive resilience.
Vitamin C helps with the formation of myelin sheaths that protect the neurons while also ensuring blood vessel integrity. This allows for better blood flow to the brain. It’s also necessary to convert serotonin into dopamine, making it essential for mood stabilization.
8. Eggs for Choline
Egg yolks offer a concentrated amount of choline, which is a micronutrient your body relies on to create acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that regulates memory and mood. Higher intakes of choline are linked to better cognitive function and memory.
Eggs are also rich in folate. Folic acid shows promise in being able to minimize age-related mental decline. You also get vitamin B12 from eggs, which you need to synthesize brain chemicals while also regulating sugar levels in the brain.
Vitamin B12 is necessary for the formation of red blood cells and the normal functioning of the nervous system. Those with vitamin B12 deficiencies have an increased risk of cognitive impairment.
Helping Boost Your Brain’s Function
Ensuring you are getting the right nutrition is vital for all parts of your body, including your brain. By incorporating foods that provide antioxidative and anti-inflammatory benefits, free radicals have a harder time causing damage to brain cells. Additionally, including foods that offer B vitamins to your diet helps with the formation of neurons.
People with dietary problems sometimes may not have access to all the nutrients they need, which is why turning to vitamin infusions and oral supplements makes a difference. You can give your brain what it needs with minimal effort and without triggering allergies or other sensitivities.
by admin | Nov 16, 2023 | Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Stem Cell Research, Stem Cell Therapy
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a progressive, inflammatory rheumatoid disease that, over time, can result in chronic spinal arthritis and can cause the vertebrae to fuse together. Affecting an estimated 300,000 people in the U.S., AS causes the spine to become less flexible and can result in a hunched posture.
There is no current treatment for AS and current drug therapy options are focused on reducing inflammation, stiffness, and back pain. While current treatments assist in reducing inflammation, many patients with AS continue to experience unresponsive or painful side effects from these drugs.
In the search for a cure for AS, stem cells – and specifically, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a potentially promising treatment option. Specifically, researchers believe the immunomodulatory and regenerative properties demonstrated by MSCs could reduce inflammatory responses and help tissue repair through cell-to-cell contact and secretion of soluble factors.
In this review, Abdolmohammadi et al. describe immunopathogenesis and current treatment restrictions of AS and discuss the recent findings of clinical trials involving MSC therapy in AS.
The safety and therapeutic potency of MSC therapy have been shown in many types of research. While there are currently a number of in-process clinical trials exploring MSC transplantation in related disorders, the transplantation of MSCs is a therapeutic option for AS patients who cannot tolerate the anti-inflammatory drugs.
Previous studies have demonstrated MSC infusion in AS patients to be a safe and beneficial choice with no severe side effects and is effective in decreasing related clinical symptoms and severity of the disease. There are also a number of clinical trials for curing AS patients currently in progress. These trials include phase 1 exploring the application of human umbilical cord-derived MSCs (hUC-MSCs) and IV infusion of MSCs plus NSAIDs in AS patients, phase 2 of a clinical trial evaluating human bone marrow-derived MSCs application in AS patients, and clinical trial phase I/II for the safety of MSC transplantation in patients with AS.
Although there have been notable achievements in the treatment of AS using NSAIDs, glucocorticoids, and other drugs, a therapeutic option without side effects has yet to be discovered. MSCs offer a favorable treatment option for the treatment of immune-mediated disorders, including AS.
While findings of previous studies demonstrate that MSC injection might be beneficial in alleviating AS signs and symptoms, the authors point out that further study is required to determine several important features of MSC therapy, including cell origin, dosage, administration route, and the most ideal stage of disease for intervention, before it can be accepted as a clinical option for treating AS.
Source: “Ankylosing spondylitis and mesenchymal stromal/stem cell therapy.” https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332218356762.
by Stemedix | Nov 13, 2023 | Stem Cell Research, Alzheimer’s Disease, COPD, Parkinson's Disease, Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell Therapy
Regenerative medicine using stem cell therapy has grown in popularity in the past years because of the promising results it has shown for the management of conditions, injuries, and other issues.
By understanding the power of stem cells, the options available, and the reasons why some people are hesitant while others urge research forward, you can decide for yourself whether they are the appropriate treatment option for you.
What Are Stem Cells, and How Do They Help?
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells with the potential to become and create specialized cells. They function as a repair system for the body, contributing to the process of tissue regeneration while also supporting normal growth and development.
Stem cells have two crucial and unique abilities: pluripotency and self-renewal. Pluripotency is the ability to become any kind of cell needed, and self-renewal refers to the way they can replicate themselves indefinitely, providing a never-ending supply of undifferentiated cells.
Different Types of Stem Cells
There are three broad categories of stem cells: embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells. Each option has diverse applications and unique characteristics.
Embryonic cells come from blastocyst-stage embryos, which are embryos that are from three to five days old. They usually derive from in vitro fertilization clinics. At this stage, the embryo contains an inner cell mass capable of creating all of the tissues that make up the human body. Embryonic cells are fertilized in a lab and donated with full consent. But due to ethical controversy, it is widely used in research only.
Adult stem cells are found in various tissues and organs throughout the adult human body. These stem cells are multipotent, so they can transform into a limited number of stem cells. Adult stem cells help maintain tissue homeostasis and repair and replace damaged cells.
Adult stem cells include:
- Mesenchymal stem cells
- Blood stem cells
- Skin stem cells
- Neural stem cells
- Epithelial stem cells
Induced pluripotent stem cells are made by reprogramming certain adult stem cells into a pluripotent state with the use of genetic factors. These cells are similar to embryonic stem cells in the way they function.
Stem Cell Research: Why There’s Controversy
Using stem cells and performing stem cell research still poses challenges in ethics for some people, especially when turning to embryonic stem cells.
Concerns over when personhood begins make the use of embryonic stem cells more complex because there’s a worry about the moral status of embryos and whether they can be used or discarded.
It’s crucial to understand that the embryos that are used have never been in a woman’s body. They are embryos that fertility clinics would otherwise discard. Although the discarding of the embryos is not usually a controversy, the use of those same embryos for research creates controversy for some.
In this regard, induced pluripotent stem cells are more readily accepted because they don’t rely on embryos. Other issues can arise, however, when it comes to the actual process of researching stem cells. This includes oversight concerns as well as consent issues.
Arguments for Stem Cell Research
Because of the benefits that stem cell therapy offers, many scientists encourage research to improve treatments and learn more about how human bodies function.
Scientific Advancements
Stem cell research contributes to the understanding of cellular processes. This allows for the development of better treatment options, as well as a better comprehension of how some conditions form. Stem cells hold promise for the treatment of degenerative conditions like Parkinson’s disease, COPD, and Alzheimer’s.
Additionally, stem cell research offers the chance for scientists to understand how stem cells replace or repair damaged cells. This information would make it easier to provide targeted treatments that are more efficient and longer lasting.
Economic Boost
Using stem cells to create new therapies and medical technologies opens the door to the creation of new jobs and specializations. These advanced treatments can also help decrease medical costs, helping the economy in the long run.
Ethical Use of Discarded Embryos
Embryos that have been made via in vitro fertilization processes and have gone unused can serve a purpose instead of being discarded. Many argue that this is a better option than treating the embryos like medical waste.
Arguments Against Stem Cell Research
Those against stem cell research generally cite safety and ethical concerns centering on consent and exploitation problems.
Safety and Efficacy
Because stem cell therapies are still relatively new, there are worries about how effective they can be. The issue with this argument against stem cell research is that it fights against the very thing that would provide a definite answer as to whether stem cells are effective and safe: ongoing research.
Ethical Concerns
The ethical concerns mainly focus on the use of embryonic stem cells, including the worry about obtaining consent. In many instances, detractors suggest turning to induced pluripotent stem cells for research and avoiding embryonic cell use because of the ethical barriers that would slow the research down.
In other instances, the worry of consent focuses on the risk of the potential exploitation of vulnerable populations. Those against the research note concern about the possibility of future coercion and other similar activities.
However, as with any other form of research, the scientific community imposes strict guidelines designed to protect against these concerns.
Focusing on the Potential of Regenerative Medicine
Living with chronic conditions that affect quality of life usually means relying on medications, invasive procedures, and therapies that might manage some symptoms but don’t get to the root of the problem.
On the other hand, stem cell research offers the potential to not only understand the causes of some of the most debilitating conditions and injuries, but also to provide therapy solutions to help manage symptoms.
The path to learning more about conditions like COPD or Parkinson’s is not easy, but embracing new and promising treatment options can open a way forward. By tackling some of the ethical concerns people have about stem cells head-on, lives may be able to improve for many people around the world.
by admin | Nov 9, 2023 | Athletic Injury, Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell Research, Stem Cell Therapy
Articular cartilage primarily consists of chondrocytes and extracellular matrix and has an essential role in the process of joint movement, including lubrication, shock absorption, and conduction. However, over time, damage to the articular cartilage caused by acute or repetitive trauma or disease of the joints – including osteoarthritis – often results in pain, lack of mobility, and reduced quality of life for an estimated 500 million people worldwide.
Current treatments to address articular cartilage defects include physiotherapy, medication, intra-articular injection, and intra-articular irrigation; none of these treatments are able to regenerate the new cartilage needed to correct the issue.
In recent years, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been found to be potential solutions for a number of diseases, including OA, specifically because of their ability to differentiate and produce a variety of cells. MSCs have also been found to be safe for use in humans and have demonstrated the ability to improve clinical symptoms such as pain, disability, and physical function.
Additionally, hyaluronic acid (HA) has demonstrated itself to be an important component of the synovial fluid by protecting joint cartilage by providing lubrication and acting as a shock absorber. However, in the presence of OA, HA concentration decreases and results in increased aggravation and joint damage to cartilage. Like MSCs, clinical studies have also demonstrated HA’s ability to relieve pain in patients with OA.
In this study, Li et al, investigate the therapeutic effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) combined with HA on articular cartilage repairs.
Specifically, 24 healthy canines were operated on to induce cartilage defect model before being randomly divided into 3 groups; each of these groups received a different treatment: bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MBSCs) plus HA, HA alone, or saline. After 28 weeks, Li et al. found that the canines treated with BMSCs plus HA (BMSC-HA) showed significant improvement in cartilage defects compared to those receiving just HA or just saline.
The authors also found that while BMSCs-HA demonstrated the most significant improvement in cartilage defect, treatment with HA alone also demonstrated improvements when compared to those receiving saline alone.
Li et al. also identified a number of important limitations of this study, including the limited level of cells and proteins; the repair of cartilage defects in this study was a dynamic process that limited the study to the terminal point of repair; and that this was a preliminary and non-blinded study, which could have affected the evaluation of ICRS macroscopic and histological score. Considering this, the authors call for further blinded and basic experiments as a way to further improve understanding.
As a result of this study, Li et al. concluded that both BMSCs-HA and HA alone could significantly promote new cartilage formation, with BMSCs-HA demonstrating a better way to repair cartilage defects in a canine model.
Source: “Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Combination with Hyaluronic Acid for ….” 2 Jul. 2018, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6028658/.
by Stemedix | Nov 6, 2023 | Multiple Sclerosis, Autoimmune, Chronic Pain, Musculoskeletal, Stem Cell Research, Stem Cell Therapy, Studies
Around the world, an estimated 1.8 million people live with multiple sclerosis. This autoimmune condition is chronic and can affect your life expectancy. The right treatment options, however, may impact the outcome you can expect. Learn about multiple sclerosis life expectancy and how the latest treatments help.
Understanding Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune condition in which your immune system mistakenly attacks the sheaths that surround and protect the nerves in the spinal cord and brain, called the myelin. A damaged myelin interferes with the signals your brain sends to other parts of your body.
Symptoms of multiple sclerosis include:
- Fatigue
- Muscle weakness
- Muscle spasms
- Changes in gait
- Loss of coordination or balance
- Numbness or tingling in arms or legs
The causes of multiple sclerosis vary and are not always clear. They include being exposed to certain viruses or bacteria. People who had particular infections, like Epstein-Barr exposure, are more likely to develop MS. Other causes may be your environment, genetic mutations, and even how your immune system functions.
Diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis
Getting an accurate diagnosis is one of the most crucial steps if you have multiple sclerosis. A definite test has not been developed for MS, but the symptoms you experience will lead your doctor to perform a physical exam, take blood, and get imaging tests like MRIs.
MRIs can catch any lesions in your spinal cord or brain. These lesions develop as the disease damages the myelin. Your doctor may also perform a spinal tap.
If these tests don’t offer a definite diagnosis, you may have to undergo an evoked potentials test. This test checks for nerve damage by measuring electrical activity in the spinal cord and brain.
Multiple Sclerosis Life Expectancy: Factors to Consider
Newly diagnosed patients with MS who don’t have severe disabilities have a life expectancy of 30 years or more, but lots of factors play a role in determining this number. Your unique circumstances impact life expectancy.
Disability Status
The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) is an important factor for healthcare providers attempting to provide an estimated life expectancy. The EDSS measures the level of disability in patients with MS. Everything from loss of independent ambulation to cognitive function is measured to provide the EDSS score.
Mental Health
People with MS who experience mental health concerns like depression and anxiety may have a lower life expectancy. This is because mental health significantly impacts physical health and can even worsen the symptoms of MS.
Compliance With Therapeutic Regimen
Following treatments as required impacts how the disease progresses, which then impacts your life expectancy. The type of treatment you receive is a factor.
Lifestyle Changes to Improve Life Expectancy
For many people with MS, making some lifestyle changes helps impact their life expectancy. Diet is one of the changes.
Following a healthy diet helps you manage symptoms while also improving your overall health. For MS patients, decreasing the intake of saturated fats and instead consuming omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids helps prevent myelin loss in the central nervous system.
Adding stress management techniques to your life is another change you can make. Stress makes MS symptoms worse. Trying breathing exercises, meditation, or turning to a therapist. These strategies can all improve your stress levels and impact your overall health.
You also want to add physical exercise to your routine. Physical exercise may help slow down disease progression. Aerobic exercise may be able to decrease inflammation. It can also aid in decreasing depression and other mental health concerns that are a result of MS.
Staying at a healthy weight is also vital for increasing life expectancy. People with MS have a higher risk of malnutrition, and they are more prone to being both underweight and overweight. Adding exercise to your day and improving your food choices will help you correct any nutritional issues you have, leading to better overall health.
Getting better sleep is another important change you can make, as well as quitting any form of nicotine you may use. Smoking increases inflammation, which can make MS symptoms worse.
How Regenerative Medicine Can Help
For people with MS, one promising treatment option is regenerative treatments like stem cell therapy. More people are turning to stem cell therapy because it may be able to decrease inflammation and improve symptoms with minimally invasive measures.
Stem cell therapy uses stem cells, which are the cells that differentiate into the many types of cells in the body. For multiple sclerosis, mesenchymal stem cells are particularly useful because of their ability to repair myelin. They may also have a positive impact on the immune system.
For this type of treatment, your healthcare provider removes stem cells from your bone marrow or fat, preparing them for an injection to reintroduce them into the body. Stem cell therapy is a great option for those searching for minimally invasive treatments that don’t require a long recovery process.
Stem cell therapy gets right to the cause of MS symptoms: the damage of myelin. Unlike other treatment options, studies have shown that regenerative medicine has the potential to help with symptom management, slowing down progression, and provide a better quality of life.
It is also a treatment option that may be less likely to cause side effects because the stem cells usually come from your body.
Living With Multiple Sclerosis
Getting a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis can be stressful, but it’s crucial to know that many people with the condition live full and happy lives. Advances in medicine have made it easier than ever to extend your life expectancy with conditions like multiple sclerosis, especially if you receive an early diagnosis.
Stem cell therapy and other forms of regenerative medicine work to offer you the help you need while targeting the cause of the disease. By combining stem cell therapy with lifestyle changes like exercising and eating better, you may be giving your body the ability to slow down the disease’s progression while improving your overall health.
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