Use the labels in the right column to find what you want. Or you can go thru them one by one, there are only 33,724 posts. Searching is done in the search box in upper left corner. I blog on anything to do with stroke. DO NOT DO ANYTHING SUGGESTED HERE AS I AM NOT MEDICALLY TRAINED, YOUR DOCTOR IS, LISTEN TO THEM. BUT I BET THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET YOU 100% RECOVERED. I DON'T EITHER BUT HAVE PLENTY OF QUESTIONS FOR YOUR DOCTOR TO ANSWER.
Changing stroke rehab and research worldwide now.Time is Brain!trillions and trillions of neuronsthatDIEeach day because there areNOeffective hyperacute therapies besides tPA(only 12% effective). I have 523 posts on hyperacute therapy, enough for researchers to spend decades proving them out. These are my personal ideas and blog on stroke rehabilitation and stroke research. Do not attempt any of these without checking with your medical provider. Unless you join me in agitating, when you need these therapies they won't be there.
What this blog is for:
My blog is not to help survivors recover, it is to have the 10 million yearly stroke survivors light fires underneath their doctors, stroke hospitals and stroke researchers to get stroke solved. 100% recovery. The stroke medical world is completely failing at that goal, they don't even have it as a goal. Shortly after getting out of the hospital and getting NO information on the process or protocols of stroke rehabilitation and recovery I started searching on the internet and found that no other survivor received useful information. This is an attempt to cover all stroke rehabilitation information that should be readily available to survivors so they can talk with informed knowledge to their medical staff. It lays out what needs to be done to get stroke survivors closer to 100% recovery. It's quite disgusting that this information is not available from every stroke association and doctors group.
If they have done nothing you need to fire them all starting with the
board of directors. 14+ years of incompetence is way too long. There is no acceptable excuse for your doctor and hospital DOING NOTHING.
Do you
prefer your doctor, hospital and board of director's incompetence NOT
KNOWING? OR NOT DOING? Your choice; let them be incompetent or demand
action!
As we age, our blood vessels get stiffer and don't relax as easily. This makes it harder for blood to flow smoothly, and it's one of the main reasons cardiovascular disease and accelerated aging go hand in hand. But a compound found in strawberries might help. New research1 suggests fisetin, a plant compound that's been making waves in longevity circles, could help reverse some of this damage by clearing out worn-out cells.
How fisetin targets zombie cells
Fisetin is a dietary flavonoid that has antioxidant properties, and it's known to be a potent senolytic compound. What does this mean? Fisetin may help clear senescent cells in the body.
Senescent cells are damaged cells that stopped doing their job but refuse to die, which is why scientists call them "zombie cells." Instead of clearing out, they stick around and release inflammatory signals that harm healthy cells nearby.
So to study fisetn's senolytic effects, researchers gave 27-month-old mice (very roughly equivalent to humans in their 70s) fisetin supplements on and off over several weeks. They found that aging blood vessel cells were releasing high levels of CXCL12, one of the inflammatory signals zombie cells produce. Could fisetin clear these cells and restore healthy blood vessel function?
What the researchers found
After fisetin treatment, the older mice had fewer zombie cells and lower levels of CXCL12. Their blood vessels also started working properly again, relaxing and expanding the way healthy vessels should.
To test this further, the team took blood from old mice and exposed young blood vessel cells to it. The young cells started acting old; they got sluggish and showed signs of stress. CXCL12 played a role in this. But when fisetin was added, it protected the young cells from these effects.
This suggests fisetin works in two ways: clearing out zombie cells and lowering the harmful signals they release.
What this means for you
Research on fisetin is still mainly in the preclinical phase (aka in cells and animals), so we don't know yet if it works the same way in people. But it adds to growing evidence that fisetin could be a promisinglongevity compoundfor heart and blood vessel health.
If you want to get more fisetin through food, here are some top sources:
Strawberries:The richest source; add a handful to your morning smoothie or enjoy as a snack
Apples:Slice them up for an easy afternoon pick-me-up
Onions and cucumbers:Toss them into salads for a simple boost
Persimmons:A sweet option when they're in season
Fisetin supplements are also available and popular among longevity enthusiasts, though human studies on dosing are still limited. For now, focusing on whole foods is a simple, low-risk way to get more of this compound. Plus, you'll benefit from the fiber, vitamins, and other plant compounds that come along with it.
The takeaway
This study shows fisetin can reverse age-related blood vessel problems in mice by clearing out zombie cells and calming inflammation. Human trials are still needed, but adding fisetin-rich foods like strawberries, apples, and onions to your plate is an easy place to start.
You can tell the competence of your doctor and hospital if they
implemented watermelon in their hospitals from way back in November
2011. Is watermelon better than pomegrantes? A competent? doctor would know that answer immediately!
Pomegranates have long been considered a heart-healthy food, thanks to their high levels of plant compounds called polyphenols. But the real benefit might not come from the fruit itself. It may come from what your gut bacteria do with it after you eat it. A new study explored how one of these gut-made compounds affects1, with results that could change how we think about diet and heart disease.
About the study
Pomegranates are packed with polyphenols, but your body can't absorb most of them directly because they're too large. Instead, your gut bacteria break them down into smaller molecules called urolithins. Researchers at Cardiff University wanted to figure out which of these compounds actually helps protect arteries. They tested the original pomegranate polyphenol along with several of its breakdown products on human cells in the lab, looking at whether these compounds could reduce cell damage, calm inflammation, and stop cells from absorbing harmful cholesterol. Urolithin A came out on top across the board. So the researchers took the next step: they gave urolithin A to mice that were prone to clogged arteries and fed them a high-fat diet for 12 weeks. Smaller plaques and less inflammation, without changing cholesterol. The mice that received urolithin A had noticeably less buildup in their arteries. Their plaques were smaller, and their arteries were less blocked compared to mice that didn't get the compound. What really stood out was what was happening inside those plaques. The urolithin A group had fewer immune cells, specifically the types that drive inflammation and make plaques more likely to rupture. At the same time, their plaques had more of the stabilizing components (muscle cells and collagen) that help keep them intact and at a lower risk of a dangerous break. None of this had anything to do with cholesterol levels. The mice showed no changes in total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, or triglycerides. The protection came entirely from reduced inflammation and less cell damage, not from lowering fats in the blood.
What this means for humans
This study was done in mice, so we can't say for certain that the same plaque-shrinking effects would happen in people. But there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic The dose the researchers used translates to roughly 4 mg/kg/day in humans, a level that's already being tested in clinical trials for other benefits like muscle health and aging. Human trials have used doses of around 1,000 mg/day for periods ranging from 28 days to four months, showing improvements in muscle function and mitochondrial health. So we know the compound is safe and bioavailable in people; we just don't have human data specifically on artery plaques yet. The mechanisms urolithin A affected (inflammation, oxidative stress, immune cell activity) are the same ones involved in human heart disease. And the fact that protection wasn't dependent on cholesterol changes is actually encouraging: it suggests a different, complementary route to heart protection beyond the standard "lower your cholesterol" approach.
Why your gut bacteria may determine how much you benefit
Urolithin A isn't actually in pomegranates. Your gut bacteria have to make it for you after you eat the fruit's polyphenols. And not everyone's gut does this equally well. Some people have the right bacteria to produce lots of urolithin A; others don't. This might explain why studies on pomegranate and heart health have had mixed results. The same fruit could have very different effects depending on who's eating it.Pomegranates are one of the richest dietary sources of the polyphenols that can be converted into urolithin A. While this study tested the isolated compound rather than whole fruit, the biological pathway is clear: pomegranate polyphenols are broken down by gut bacteria into urolithin A in certain individuals. For those who want a more direct route, urolithin A supplements have been tested in humans for muscle health and mitochondrial function, though not yet specifically for artery health.
The takeaway
This research suggests that pomegranate's heart benefits may depend less on the fruit itself and more on whether your gut can turn it into urolithin A. In mice prone to artery disease, the compound shrank plaques and reduced inflammation without touching cholesterol levels. Human studies on artery health are still needed, but the findings point to an intriguing gut-heart connection worth watching.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/15/4/507
Didn't your competent? doctor start prescribing watermelon juice a long time ago? NO? So you don't have a functioning stroke doctor, do you? You'll want the benefits of lycopene and nitric oxide even if your doctor KNOWS NOTHING! Over a decade for your competent? doctor to have protocols on these. But I bet you don't have a functioning stroke doctor, do you?
Pretty much useless they give you NO INFORMATION on how much watermelon juice or pomelit to drink to remove such plaque. 10 years to come up with an answer and NO ONE DID A DAMN THING.
The PESA Study Marta Cortes-Canteli, , t,a, * Juan Domingo Gispert, PHD,b,c,d,e, * Gemma Salvadó, MSC, b,c Raquel Toribio-Fernandez, PHD,a Catarina Tristão-Pereira, MSC, a Carles Falcon, PHD,b,d Belen Oliva, MSC, a Jose Mendiguren, MD,f Leticia Fernandez-Friera, MD, PHD,a,g,h Javier Sanz, MD,a,i Jose M. Garcia-Ruiz, MD,a,h,j Antonio Fernandez-Ortiz, MD, PHD,a,h,k Javier Sanchez-Gonzalez, PHD,l Borja Ibanez, MD, PHD,a,h,m José Luis Molinuevo, MD, PHD,b,c,e,n, y Valentin Fuster, MD, PHDa,i, y
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND
Atherosclerosis has been linked to cognitive decline in late life; however, the impact of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) and subclinical atherosclerosis on brain metabolism at earlier stages remains unexplored.
OBJECTIVES
This study sought to determine the association between brain metabolism, subclinical atherosclerosis, and CVRFs in middle-aged asymptomatic individuals.
METHODS
This study included 547 asymptomatic middle-aged participants (50 4 years, 82% men) from the PESA (Progression of Early Subclinical Atherosclerosis) study with evidence of subclinical atherosclerosis. Participants underwent 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography. Global brain FDG uptake and voxel-wise analyses were used to evaluate the associations of cerebral metabolism with CVRFs and atherosclerotic plaque burden in carotids and femorals assessed by 3-dimensional vascular ultrasound. RESULTS
Global FDG uptake showed an inverse correlation with 30-year Framingham Risk Score (FRS) (b ¼ 0.15,p < 0.001). This association was mainly driven by the presence of hypertension (d ¼ 0.36, p < 0.001). Carotid plaque burden was inversely associated with global brain FDG uptake (b ¼ 0.16, p < 0.001), even after adjusting for 30-year FRS. Voxel-wise approaches revealed that the brain areas most strongly affected by hypometabolism in association with 30-year FRS, hypertension, and carotid plaque burden were parietotemporal regions (angular, supramarginal, and inferior/middle temporal gyri) and the cingulate gyrus.
CONCLUSIONS
In asymptomatic middle-aged individuals, cardiovascular risk is associated with brain hypometabolism, with hypertension being the modifiable CVRF showing the strongest association. Subclinical carotid plaque burden is also linked to reduced brain metabolism independently of CVRFs. Cerebral areas showing hypometabolism include those known to be affected in dementia. These data reinforce the need to control CVRFs early in life in order to potentially reduce the brain’s midlife vulnerability to future cognitive dysfunction.
What EXACT PROTOCOL is your doctor prescribing to remove this cerebral atherosclerosis? Research is 13 and 20 years old, how come your doctor has done nothing in that amount of time? How fucking incompetent is your doctor and hospital? A serious question; ask them!
I'm using watermelon but since there is no clinical study on it, I'm just guessing on amounts.
Cerebral
atherosclerosis contributes to dementia via unclear processes. We
performed proteomic sequencing of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in 438
older individuals and found associations between cerebral
atherosclerosis and reduced synaptic signaling and between RNA splicing
and increased oligodendrocyte development and myelination. Consistently,
single-cell RNA sequencing showed cerebral atherosclerosis associated
with higher oligodendrocyte abundance. A subset of proteins and modules
associated with cerebral atherosclerosis was also associated with
Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting shared mechanisms.
People who eat the Israeli-developed fruit known
in Hebrew as pomelit (a cross between a grapefruit and a pomelo) or
drink its juice regularly will be able to lower their blood cholesterol
and increase their blood antioxidant activity, thus improving their
chances of preventing blocked heart arteries and heart attacks, says a
researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
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FULL STORY
People who eat the Israeli-developed
fruit known in Hebrew as pomelit (a cross between a grapefruit and a
pomelo) or drink its juice regularly will be able to lower their blood
cholesterol and increase their blood antioxidant activity, thus
improving their chances of preventing blocked heart arteries and heart
attacks, says a researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
These findings were recently published by Dr. Shela Gorinstein of the
Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products at the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem School of Pharmacy in the Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
In order to test the benefits of drinking the juice of the pomelit
(known commercially as Israeli Jaffa Sweetie), 72 patients at Kaplan
Hospital in Rehovot who were suffering from hypercholesterolemia
(elevated cholesterol levels) and had undergone bypass surgery were
given daily supplements of Sweetie juice for 30 days. The patients, who
ranged in age from 43 to 71, were divided into three groups of 24 each.
One group received a daily supplement of 100 milliliters of the juice; a
second received 200 milliliters; and a third – the control group –
received none.
The results showed definite lowering of LDL ("bad")
blood cholesterol and an increase in blood antioxidant activity in
patients from the two groups who drank the juice as opposed to those who
did not. The patients who consumed the highest daily supplement of
juice showed a significant increase in blood albumin and decrease in
blood fibrinogen levels, which enhance anticoagulant activity. These
positive changes could prevent heart diseases.
The clinical investigation took place at Kaplan Hospital and was
carried out by a team headed by Prof. Abraham Caspi, head of the
Cardiovascular Institute there, in cooperation with other research
groups at various universities in Japan, South Korea, Germany, the Czech
Republic and Poland that did similar tests. Positive results were
obtained by all of the various research groups.
The researchers concluded their findings with a recommendation that
hypercholesterolic patients add fresh Sweetie juice to their daily diets
as a likely beneficial preventative to future heart disease. The juice
also can serve as a preventative for those who have had no symptoms of
arterial occlusion or heart problems but would like to benefit from the
prophylactic benefits of this fruit.
Hebrew
University Of Jerusalem. "Hebrew University Researcher Finds 'Sweet'
Way To Help Prevent Heart Disease." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 10
December 2004. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/11/041130204746.htm.
I don't think a 8.5% stroke and death rate is effective. What would you do if your doctor said you have an 8.5% chance of dying or having another stroke from the stent procedure and 2.6% in the first days?
Don't listen to me, I'm not medically trained and I don't have a Dr. in front of my name.
But I'd rather my doctor told me how much watermelon juice to drink.
LOS ANGELES -- February 24, 2020 -- A long-term
follow-up study appears to indicate that the Wingspan brain stent --
aimed at preventing recurrent strokes -- is safe and effective when used
on-label, according to a study presented here at the 2020 International
Stroke Conference (ISC).
Patients who received the Wingspan
stent for intracranial atherosclerotic disease experienced a 1-year
stroke and death rate of 8.5%.
“This trial is unique because
prior studies included off-label patients,” said Michael J. Alexander,
MD, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California. “This is the
largest intracranial stent trial for atherosclerotic disease performed
according to the FDA [US Food and Drug Administration] indication for
the Wingspan stent. The stroke and death rates were substantially lower
than the 1-year rate of 20% in the stenting arm of the SAMMPRIS trial
and slightly better than the 12.2% stroke and death rate in the medical
arm of SAMMPRIS.”
The Stenting and Aggressive Medical Management
for the Prevention of Recurrent Ischemic Stroke (SAMMPRIS) was a large
multicentre study comparing the 2 methods of stroke prevention. In the
follow-up study, the Wingspan One-year Vascular Imaging, Events and
Neurologic Outcomes (WOVEN) study showed a low 2.6% stroke and death
rate within the first few days of the procedure in patients who received
the Wingspan stent.(Not low enough.)
A third study -- WEAVE -- was mandated by
the FDA to assess the periprocedural safety of the Wingspan Stent system
in the treatment of symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease.
It was conducted at 16 US centres and followed 152 patients. Enrolling
sites performed chart and image reviews of patients who were stented
with Wingspan under its strict on-label usage. Data of subsequent
strokes and deaths were collected with respect to time from stenting and
medications at the time of the index event. Follow-up imaging was
assessed for incidence and severity of in-stent stenosis and the
follow-up management of these patients.
At 1-year, the stroke and death rate was 8.5% for patients who received the Wingspan stent.
“The
long-term results are important to determine if safer stenting
practices and lower complication rates from the treatment itself
resulted in improved patient outcomes at 1 year,” said Dr. Alexander.
“Intracranial stenting could provide an alternative when medical therapy
and other treatments have been unsuccessful.”
The patients in
the trials were treated with Wingspan if it was determined that their
ischaemic stroke was caused by a blockage of 70% to 99% of an
intracranial artery.
ISC is sponsored by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association.
[Presentation title: The Woven Study: Wingspan One-Year Vascular Imaging, Events, and Neurologic Outcomes. Abstract LB4]
If they have done nothing you need to fire them all starting with the board of directors. 9 years of incompetence is way too long. There is no acceptable excuse for your hospital DOING NOTHING.
Sweet, juicy, and delicious, melons make a great addition to any
meal. Although melons often appear on the table during summer, you can
eat them year-round. And you should if you want their many health
benefits.
For instance, eating watermelon before or after a
workout could improve your performance. The same fruit may prevent heart
disease and soothe your skin. To learn all the health benefits of
watermelon, read on. And if you’re not a watermelon fan, don’t worry;
many other melons offer health benefits, too.
Can watermelon prevent cognitive decline? Read on to find out.
1. Watermelon Helps You Hydrate
As
its name implies, watermelon is 92% water. According to the USDA’s
National Nutrient Database, one cup of watermelon serves over half a cup
of water, which is more than most other fruits. It’s not empty
calories, either. Watermelon supplies fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A, and
magnesium.
Because
of its high water content, watermelon has few calories per serving.
Research has linked watermelon’s low-calorie density to lower weight.
During a 2014 study published in Advances in Nutrition, researchers found that foods like watermelon keep you fuller for longer. The result is less weight gain and more hydration.
2. Watermelon Lowers Inflammation
Chronic diseases
occur through inflammation in the body. Fortunately, watermelon has two
antioxidants, vitamin C and lycopene, which fight inflammation. In 2018,
British researchers added vitamin C to a lycopene-rich juice and fed it
to participants. The juice reduced inflammation, increased
antioxidants, and lowered the participants’ risk of chronic disease.
The
American Cancer Society credits lycopene with having at least twice the
antioxidant power of beta carotene. While other carotenoids are
converted to vitamin A in the body, which weakens their
anti-inflammatory properties, lycopene is not.
3. Watermelon Protects The Brain
There is some evidence that watermelon and its nutrients improve brain health. During an animal study published in Toxicology Reports,
researchers found that watermelon juice protected rats’ brains and
livers. Specifically, the juice guarded against oxidative stress caused
by toxins in ethanol.
According
to Penelope Perkins-Veazie, a professor of horticulture at North
Carolina University, watermelon’s nutrients also help the brain.
Lycopene and citrulline support blood flow, which feeds the brain with
essential amino acids. Its antioxidants, such as beta-carotene, also
slow down cognitive decline.
4. If You Have Sore Muscles, Eat Watermelon
Citrulline,
an amino acid in watermelon, is sold as a supplement to relieve muscle
soreness. But the body doesn’t absorb the supplement as well as it
absorbs watermelon’s citrulline. According to 2013 research in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, watermelon juice helps muscles relax more than citrulline alone.
The
study’s authors credit watermelon’s healthy compounds and
anti-inflammatory properties. So far, this small study is the only one
that relates watermelon to muscle soreness. Further research is being
conducted on citrulline’s effects on exercise.
5. It Soothes And Protects The Skin
In Korea, people
used to rub watermelon rinds on rashes or sunburns to heal them faster.
This herbal remedy has some scientific backing. Watermelon contains
several minerals that support skin health. “The vitamins A and C found
in watermelon can help restore damaged skin after it’s exposed to sun,
wind, or even stress,” says dermatologist Anne Guanche.
Remember the antioxidant lycopene? There’s some evidence that it helps your skin, too. In 2012, research in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research noted that beta-carotene and lycopene supplements guard the skin against sunburns.
6. Watermelon Is Good For Your Heart
Your diet is a
primary contributor to cardiovascular disease, and watermelon fits into a
heart-healthy diet. In 2012, scientists from Purdue University and the
University of Kentucky conducted an animal study on watermelon juice.
They found that the fruit reduced plaque in the arteries and lowered
cholesterol.
The
researchers were building on previous studies that connected citrulline
to lower blood pressure. As recently as 2019, studies have shown that
watermelon’s compound citrulline may decrease blood pressure, which
significantly reduces your risk of heart disease.
7. Eat More Melon, Work Out Harder
Because of its ability to alleviate muscle soreness, watermelon has been a favorite among athletes. But 2013 research in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found further benefits from watermelon. According to the study, watermelon eaters work out more intensely and recover faster.
The
study’s authors credit L-citrulline, an essential compound that widens
the blood vessels. Athletes who ate watermelon experienced better heart
and muscle recovery 24 hours after their workout. Plus, watermelon
reduced muscle fatigue and hydrated the athletes. You can’t go wrong
pairing watermelon with a healthy workout.
8. It May Keep Your Eyes Sharp
There is some
evidence that watermelon guards against age-related macular degeneration
(AMD), which worsens eyesight with age. According to research in the Archives of Ophthalmology,
those who have low levels of lycopene are twice as likely to have AMD
as they age. Later research in 2005 showed that lycopene is the only
carotenoid that affects AMD.
The
National Watermelon Promotion Board reports that watermelon has 15 to
20 mg of lycopene per two cups. That’s more than most other fruits. So
if you want to protect your eyes against age-related blindness, eat more
watermelon.
9. Keep Your Gut Healthy With Watermelon’s Fiber
An
average wedge of watermelon contains just over one gram of fiber. While
it may not sound like much, remember that most people eat more than one
slice in one serving. It adds up. A registered dietitian at Health, Cynthia Sass, says that watermelon’s dietary fiber improves digestive health.
Although
watermelon helps your gut during the day, it may not do so at night.
Nutritionist Dr. Shilpa Arora does not recommend watermelon after 7 p.m.
because it is acidic. It may delay your digestion overnight, leading to
some stomach upset in the morning.
10. It Increases Libido
All the reasons your doctor should be prescribing you lots of sex in this post.
Although watermelon usually
appears in summer barbecues, some studies suggest that it might be more
appropriate for Valentine’s Day. In 2008, researchers from Texas A&N
University reported that watermelon has “Viagra-like effects.” Its
amino acids relax blood vessels as Viagra does, but without any side
effects.
This
effect has many other benefits besides increasing libido. Improving
your blood circulation also increases immunity, removes toxins from the
body, and reduces blood pressure, according to the study. The
researchers believe that watermelon could potentially help erectile
dysfunction as well.
11. It Has Cancer-Fighting Nutrients
Although
watermelon has not been directly related to fighting cancer, its many
nutrients have. Most notably, lycopene has displayed anti-cancer
properties. For instance, a 2014 scientific review of lycopene concluded
that the nutrient might prevent cancer in the digestive system. Colon,
prostate, breast, and ovarian cancers have been observed to shy away
from lycopene.
How does lycopene work? According to the Frontiers in Endocrinology,
it interrupts insulin-like growth factors (IGF). IGF causes
inflammation and cell division that, over time, may contribute to
cancer. Fortunately, watermelon has higher lycopene levels than most
other fruit.
12. Watermelon May Help Wounds Heal
Watermelons contain pantothenic acid, which has been shown to accelerate wound healing. In 2018, a study in the Turkish Journal of Biology
reported that bitter melon extract healed wounds in rats more quickly. A
year earlier, scientists found that this extract also cured diabetic
wounds more quickly.
Watermelon’s
amino acid citrulline also comes into play here. According to a 2007
scientific report from the USDA, citrulline helps cells divide quickly,
which contributes to wound healing. Research participants who drank
watermelon juice absorbed more citrulline in their bodies than those who
took supplements.
Drinking low-calorie cranberry juice may help lower risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke
Black
Raspberry Extract Increased Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells
and Improved Arterial Stiffness in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: A
Randomized Controlled Trial
The hardening of our ageing arteries has been a tricky process to pin
down, but new research might finally have the answer. It might even
take us closer to treatments that limit this blood vessel condition,
which can increase the risk of heart attack, dementia and stroke.
While it's already known that calcium deposits are the reason why
arteries stiffen with age, it doesn't tell us why that build-up
accumulates. According to this latest study, the process could be
triggered by a molecule called poly(ADP-Ribose) or PAR.
PAR
is a repair protein that gets produced when cells or cell DNA gets
damaged; as it binds very strongly with calcium, it starts mopping up
calcium into larger droplets. Those droplets then solidify, sticking to
artery walls and reducing their elasticity, the study reveals.
"This
hardening, or biomineralisation, is essential for the production of
bone, but in arteries it underlies a lot of cardiovascular disease and
other diseases associated with ageing like dementia," says cell biologist Cathy Shanahan from King's College London in the UK.
"We
wanted to find out what triggers the formation of calcium phosphate
crystals, and why it seems to be concentrated around the collagen and
elastin which makes up much of the artery wall."
The release of PAR was spotted in various cell cultures, including human blood vessel samples, using a technique called Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, which is able to analyse samples down to the molecular level.
The
implication of a protein produced by cell damage makes a lot of sense,
given that ageing, high blood pressure and smoking are all known to
increase the risk of stiffening arteries. And what they have in common
is the DNA damage they are known to cause; so if the researchers are
right, the damage ends up calling on PAR to fix it, in turn hardening
the arteries as a byproduct.
"Up until now we haven't known what controls this process and therefore how to treat it," says biochemist Melinda Duer from the University of Cambridge in the UK.
"We
never would have predicted that it was caused by PAR. It was initially
an accidental discovery, but we followed it up – and it's led to a
potential therapy."
That potential therapy could centre around an existing antibiotic called minocycline.
It's already used to treat acne, and because it's been through the
necessary safety testing, the whole process of adapting it for
preventing arterial stiffening could be sped up.
Through some
short-term initial tests on rats, the team was able to demonstrate the
effectiveness of minocycline in inhibiting the production of PAR.
Clinical trials could happen within the next 18 months, according to the
researchers.
It's worthwhile to note that this part of the research was provided for and funded by Cycle Pharmceuticals, a company whose work explicitly includes finding ways to repurpose drugs that already exist on the market.
While
we might not be able to stop artery stiffening completely as a natural
consequence of ageing – and healthy lifestyle habits still play an
important role – minocycline or a similar drug does appear to have the
potential to lower the risk of health problems associated with these
calcium deposits.
That said, antibiotic therapy doesn't come without its own host of side-effects and costs,
so time will tell whether this approach will truly lead to a practical
solution. Still, the more we learn about the intricacies of our
cardiovascular health, the better we can help our ageing population.
Useless, you describe a problem but give NO solution. How much watermelon do I need on a daily basis to prevent this? I had none of these factors and still had a stroke.
The number of
atherosclerotic risk factors a patient had increased with age, according
to data presented at the International Stroke Conference. Sharon N. Poisson, MD, associate
professor, co-director of stroke services and director of the vascular
neurology fellowship in the department of neurology at University of
Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, and colleagues analyzed data from
141 children and 449 young adults who had an ischemic stroke
and were cared for between 2000 and 2014. Control groups were also
selected for children (n = 354) and young adults (n = 1,014).
Atherosclerotic risk factors that were assessed in this study include diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking history and obesity.
Children with stroke and controls had very low rates of
atherosclerotic risk factors. The odds of stroke increased in patients
aged 20 to 29 years with hypertension and more than one risk factor.
All five risk factors increased the odds of having a stroke in
patients aged 30 to 39 years and 40 to 49 years. This was also seen in
participants with more than one atherosclerotic risk factor.
“[Atherosclerotic risk factors]
are very rare in children, including in those with strokes,” Poisson
and colleagues wrote. “Hypertension begins to increase the odds of
stroke in the decade of life, but in the and decades, each risk
factor’s impact on stroke risk is significant, with more than one risk
factor increasing the odds of stroke 10-fold.” – by Darlene Dobkowski Reference:
Poisson SN, et al. Session A36: Community/Risk Factors Oral Abstracts
II. Presented at: International Stroke Conference; Feb. 6-8, 2019;
Honolulu. Disclosures:The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
So your doctor should be using this to diagnose your likely dementia post-stroke. And then give you protocols to reverse the hardening of your arteries.
Researchers have shown that early dementia signs could be detected by
a simple short scan of the individual’s neck. The actual dementia
symptoms could be seen up to 10 years after these signs are visible on
the scans they add. If proven robust for all cases, this test could soon
become routine for screening middle aged individuals and classifying
them as high risk for dementia later in life.
The researchers at the University College London (UCL)
looked at the strength of a pulse travelling to the brain via the neck
from the heart. The intensity of this pulse from the heart to different
parts of the body often varies. The large blood vessels are normally
elastic and they absorb the major pulse intensity from the heart due to
their wall elasticity. This leads to diminishing the pulse intensity
that travels to the brain and thus it prevents damage to the delicate
and thin blood vessels of the brain, the team explains.
MRI brain of Dementia patient with left parietal atrophy asymmetry. Shutterstock / Atthapon Raksthaput
As a person ages, the wall elasticity of the arteries is lost and
they become rigid. This means that the full intensity of the heart beat
pulse reaches the brain via the stiffened arteries. This can damage the
smaller and more delicate brain blood vessels which could eventually
cause damage to the brain and its tissues leading to dementia. There are
mini-strokes as these delicate blood vessels are damaged and they form
new networks and undergo structural changes. These changes are all
contributory to dementias, the authors explain.
For this study the team looked at around 3,200 middle-aged
participants who were followed for an average of 15 years to see if they
were at high risk of dementia. They underwent an ultrasound test of the
neck in 2002 to see if their pulse intensity to the brain. In addition
memory functions and problem solving tests were also conducted on these
participants at baseline. Results showed that those who had the highest
pulse intensity were 50 percent more likely to show an accelerated or
rapidly progressing decline in cognitive abilities over the following 10
years compared to those who had a lower intensity. The team adjusted
their results for other factors that may influence dementia risks such
as age, blood pressure, obesity, presence of diabetes and other heart
diseases.
According
to the researchers, the neck scan could predict the “risk scores” for
dementia later in life and increased pulse intensity was associated with
a significant decline in memory, thinking, problem solving, language
etc.
Dr Scott Chiesa, post-doctoral researcher at UCL in a statement said,
“These findings demonstrate the first direct link between the intensity
of the pulse transmitted towards the brain with every heartbeat and
future impairments in cognitive function. It's therefore an easily
measurable and potentially treatable cause of cognitive decline in
middle-aged adults which can be spotted well in advance.”
The study was co-funded by the British Heart Foundation.
Professor Metin Avkiran, the associate medical director of the BHF said
that this could soon become a tool to detect dementia way before
symptoms appeared. He added, “What we need now is further research, for
example to understand whether lifestyle changes and medicines that
reduce pulse wave intensity also delay cognitive decline.” As of now
keeping blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check with appropriate
medication when prescribed, in addition to a healthy diet and regular
exercise can help keep dementia at bay say the experts.
The team is presenting the results of this study at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions conference in Chicago.
The level of diversity of the 'good bacteria' in our digestive systems has been found to be linked to a feature of cardiovascular disease – hardening of the arteries – in new research by experts at the University of Nottingham and King's College London.
The gut microbiome is under increasing scrutiny in medical research as it is known to affect many different aspects of our health, including our metabolism and auto-immune system. A lack of diversity or range of healthy bacteria in the gut has previously been linked to various health problems, including diabetes, obesity and inflammatory stomach and bowel diseases.
Now for the first time, researchers have found a link between gut bacteria and arterial stiffening which suggests that targeting the microbiome through diet, medication and probiotics may be a way to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The British Heart Foundation and MRC-funded research has been published in the European Heart Journal.
The gut microbiome has been implicated in a variety of potential disease mechanisms including inflammation which can predispose people to heart disease. The hardening of the arteries that happens at different rates in different people as we age, is known to be a factor in cardiovascular risk.
The researchers examined medical data from a group of 617 middle-aged female twins from the TwinsUK registry – a national registry of adult twins recruited as volunteers for data-based research. Measurements of arterial stiffening using a gold-standard measure called carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (PWV) were analysed alongside data on the composition of the gut microbiomes of the women.
The results of the analysis revealed that there was a significant correlation in all the women between the diversity of the microbes in the gut and the health of the arteries. After adjusting for metabolic variations and blood pressure, the measure of arterial stiffness was higher in women with lower diversity of healthy bacteria in the gut. The research also identified specific microbes which were linked to a lower risk of arterial stiffening. These microbes have also previously been associated with a lower risk of obesity.
Dr. Ana Valdes, from the University of Nottingham's School of Medicine and NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, said: "We know that a substantial proportion of serious cardiovascular events like heart attacks are not explained by traditional risk factors such as obesity and smoking, particularly in younger people and in women and that arterial stiffness is related to risk in those groups. So our results reveal the first observation in humans linking the gut microbes and their products to lower arterial stiffness. It is possible that the gut bacteria can be used to detect risk of heart disease and may be altered by diet or drugs to reduce the risk."
Dr. Cristina Menni, from the Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology at King's College London, said: "There is considerable interest in finding ways to increase the diversity of gut microbes for other conditions such as obesity and diabetes. Our findings now suggest that finding dietary interventions to improve the healthy bacteria in the gut could also be used to reduce the risk of heart disease."
The research concludes that cardiovascular risk that is not explained by the usual risk factors could in the future be enhanced by analysing the health of the gut microbiome. This could be particularly useful in stratifying cardiovascular risk in younger people and in women. The gut microbiome could also be the target for nutrition-based health interventions – for example, a high-fibre diet is known to improve the quantity and diversity of useful microbes in the gut. In fact, the composition of the gut microbiome may contribute to the mechanism whereby dietary fibre intake influences cardiovascular risk, but more research into this mechanism is needed.
More information:
Cristina Menni et al. Gut microbial diversity is associated with lower arterial stiffness in women, European Heart Journal (2018). DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehy226
