Obesity seems to alter the normal way the brain responds to sugar and fat — a problem that may not be corrected by weight loss, a new study suggests. “It could help explain why weight loss and weight-loss maintenance are so hard,” said senior researcher Dr. Mireille Serlie, a professor at Yale School of Medicine. She and her colleagues found that compared with lean adults, those with obesity did not have the same brain responses to infusions of dietary fat or sugar into the stomach. Their brain activity was blunted, and they did not have the normal release of dopamine — a chemical involved in feelings of “reward” from food. “Our interpretation is, there’s a generally reduced nutrient-sensing in people with obesity,” said Serlie. In essence, she said, the brain “was not aligned with what was happening in the gut.” And unfortunately, the study found, that disconnect was not restored when study participants went on a reduced-calorie diet for three months and shed 10% of their starting weight. That does not necessarily mean the brain differences are permanent, according to Serlie. It’s possible that with more time and sustained weight loss, people would regain their nutrient sensing. But even if an improvement is merely delayed, that’s still significant. Research in lab animals has shown that the brain not only responds to the taste and smell…  read on >  read on >

Men typically don’t want to discuss mental health issues, much less get treatment for one. That’s a problem, given how many males struggle with mental health problems: Six million American men suffer from depression every year, while 3 million struggle with anxiety disorder, according to Mental Health America. Beyond that, 90% of those diagnosed with schizophrenia by age 30 are men, and 25% of those with binge eating disorder are males. Unfortunately, men are less likely to seek professional help for their problems. When it comes to suicide, the picture is also troubling. While women are more likely to attempt suicide, it is the 7th leading cause of death among males, and white men over the age of 85 are the most likely to die by suicide. Here, experts describe the most common mental health conditions men experience, the symptoms that may differ in men versus women, and what resources are available for those seeking help and treatment options. Common mental health conditions in men According to Mental Health America, the most common men’s mental health conditions are: Depression Suicide Anxiety Bipolar disorder Eating disorders Schizophrenia Substance abuse “It’s a sign of strength to talk about these issues with your health care provider, counselor or a supportive family member or friend,” Piedmont Healthcare family medicine physician Dr. Siraj Abdullah said in a recent article. “As…  read on >  read on >

For patients battling late-stage lung cancer, prospects for survival have improved significantly since the advent of medications known as immune checkpoint inhibitors. But exactly how long patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) need to be on immunotherapy has not been known. Until now. According to new research involving more than 1,000 patients, those with stable disease can stop the treatment after two years without jeopardizing their survival odds. (“Stable” means their lung cancer shows no sign of progression.) Investigators found that those who stopped at 24 months fared just as well as patients who continued to take the medication indefinitely. Moreover, discontinuing immunotherapy at two years might diminish the risk for downsides that can accompany open-ended inhibitor treatment, the researchers said. “Long-term treatment with immunotherapy carries significant risk for toxicity,” explained study lead author Dr. Lova Sun, an assistant professor of hematology-oncology with the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, in Philadelphia. Sun pointed out that immunotherapy is also quite expensive, so the longer patients stay on the treatment, the higher their potential out-of-pocket cost, depending on insurance. According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, immune checkpoint inhibitors also pose a risk for a wide array of side effects, including rashes, diarrhea and fatigue. In rare cases, the treatment may also trigger widespread inflammation, which can interfere with proper organ function. Targeted immunotherapy…  read on >  read on >

(Healthday News) — Raging Canadian wildfires are still darkening the skies of American cities, and while the dirty air is a hazard for everyone, that’s especially true for folks with asthma. In a statement released this week, experts at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) said, “It’s important for everyone – but especially children and those who suffer from asthma and other respiratory illnesses – to stay indoors in order to not be exposed to smoke from the fires.” Fire smoke poses health threats to the respiratory system and can exacerbate lung conditions like asthma. “Children are especially vulnerable because their lungs are less developed and they are closer to the ground, and thus more likely to take in more smoke,” the ACAAI said. That means that if you know smoke is in the air, the best advice for you and your family is to stay inside whenever possible, the group said. Keeping your asthma under control is always a must, but it’s especially crucial at these times. Keep your medications easily available and if you’re still having trouble breathing, reach out to your allergist for help, the ACAAI advised. Keep the risk for allergens or air pollution low inside the home by avoiding cooking any foods that require frying or grilling. Sometimes going outside is unavoidable, and putting on a simple…  read on >  read on >

The percentage of cancer survivors who struggle with a disability has doubled in the past 20 years, new research shows. “The fact that we are saving more lives from cancer is worth celebrating, but it also warrants a shift toward understanding and improving the quality of life for those who survive,” said study co-author Dr. S.M. Qasim Hussaini. He is chief medical oncology fellow and a health systems researcher at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, in Baltimore. “Overall, our study calls for urgent action to address the burden of cancer and its treatment on physical, psychosocial and cognitive function,” Hussaini said in a Hopkins news release. The study of more than 51,000 survivors was weighted to represent a larger population of 178.8 million people. About 3.6 million survivors had a functional limitation or disability in 1999, but that increased to 8.2 million in 2018. The study authors wanted to understand whether increasing survivorship was associated with one of the key determinants of quality of life: functional ability. To do this, the investigators reviewed 20 years of records from the U.S. National Health Interview Survey. The researchers reviewed responses from 1999 to 2018, looking for 12 functional limitations, including inability to stand for more than an hour, difficulty sitting for more than two hours and difficulty participating in social activities without assistance. About 70% of…  read on >  read on >

Young American adults have doubled their use of non-LSD hallucinogens in just a few years, a new report warns. Researchers found that between 2018 and 2021, U.S. adults aged 19 to 30 increased their use of mescaline, peyote, psilocybin (“magic mushrooms”) and PCP, though not LSD. The prevalence of young adults’ past-year use of these drugs was 3.4% in 2018, but it hit 6.6% in 2021. “However, the prevalence of LSD did not see this dramatic increase, and was around 4% in 2018 and 2021,” said study co-author Megan Patrick. She is a research professor at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research in Ann Arbor and co-principal investigator of the Monitoring the Future study, which focuses on substance use and health. The study found that use of these non-LSD hallucinogens was greater for males. White young adults used these drugs at a higher rate than Black people of the same age. Use of these drugs was also greater for those whose parents had a college education, which researchers used as a proxy for socioeconomic status. The Monitoring the Future study does not identify why young adults used these drugs, whether it might be recreational or because they thought there would be therapeutic benefit. Non-medical hallucinogen use is associated with risks of substance use disorders, injury including self-harm and anxiety, the study authors noted…  read on >  read on >

The benefits of friendships and activity aren’t just for the young. Staying socially active can also help older adults age their best, according to new research that pinpoints volunteering and recreational activities as important for seniors. “Although the study’s observational nature prohibits the determination of causality, it makes intuitive sense that social activity is associated with successful aging,” said study co-author Mabel Ho, a doctoral candidate at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and the Institute of Life Course and Aging. “Being socially active is important no matter how old we are. Feeling connected and engaged can boost our mood, reduce our sense of loneliness and isolation, and improve our mental health and overall health,” Ho added in a university news release. To study this, the researchers analyzed data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging of more than 7,000 Canadians aged 60 and older, following them for three years. The investigators only included those in excellent health at baseline, which was about 45% of the respondents. The findings showed that those who participated in volunteer work and recreational activities were more likely to maintain excellent health. They also were less likely to develop physical, cognitive (“thinking”), mental or emotional problems. Successful aging was freedom from any serious physical, cognitive, mental or emotional conditions that prevent daily activities. It also meant having…  read on >  read on >

An amino acid found in meat, fish and energy drinks might be a key regulator of aging in animals, a new study suggests. However, experts warn that no one should start seeing Red Bull as a fountain of youth. Researchers found that deficiencies in the amino acid, called taurine, seemed to be a prime driver of aging in lab mice: Their taurine levels naturally declined with age, but giving middle-aged mice a daily taurine supplement for one year essentially slowed the aging process. Compared with lab mice fed a placebo supplement, the taurine-consuming mice survived 10% to 12% longer. These mice were also more likely to be living their best lab-mouse lives — staying leaner, maintaining stronger bones and muscles, showing fewer depression- and anxiety-like behaviors, and holding on to a “younger-looking” immune system. “Whatever we checked, taurine-supplemented mice were healthier and appeared younger than the control mice,” said study leader Vijay Yadav, an assistant professor of genetics and development at Columbia University, in New York City. When the scientists repeated the supplement experiment in middle-aged monkeys, they observed similar effects. One major caution, the researchers and other experts said, is that mice and monkeys, studied in a controlled lab setting, are not people living their complicated lives out in the world. And the research offers no proof that taurine supplements can help humans live…  read on >  read on >

After many nights of tossing and turning, you might have more to worry about than just feeling exhausted and less sharp at work. Insomnia symptoms — trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep, or waking up too early — are also associated with higher risk of stroke, according to new research from Virginia Commonwealth University. And the risk is greater if you’re younger than 50, researchers found. As a biological function, sleep is key for processing memories, repairing cells and releasing toxins accumulated during the day, said study co-author Dr. Wendemi Sawadogo, a doctoral candidate at the time of the study. “It is a really huge important part of the body function,” Sawadogo said. “So, when it’s happened that there’s a disruption in the system, for sleep disturbance, trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, this can lead to some adverse health outcomes.” Insomnia is common, affecting more than one-third of the U.S. population, the authors noted in background notes. Researchers aren’t exactly sure how it affects stroke risk, but prior research suggests it may trigger harmful inflammation. The study used data from the Health and Retirement Study of Americans over 50 and their spouses. It included more than 31,000 people, average age 61, and no history of stroke before the research began. Researchers asked four questions about how often people had trouble falling asleep, awakened…  read on >  read on >