Good Health TM
NEWS YOU CAN USE
OBESITY MAY CONTRIBUTE TO GUM DISEASE Obesity can cause a slew of health problems like diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory disorders. Now gum disease can be added to that list, according to a recent study that appeared in the Journal of Dental Research. In an analysis of mice, researchers noticed that chronic inflammation caused by obesity can trigger the development of certain cells called osteoclasts. These cells break down bone tissue, including the alveolar bone that holds teeth in place. And since 47 percent of Americans already suffer from periodontal disease, consuming a high-fat diet can put your pearly whites in even more danger, particularly if you have poor dental habits. Kwack KH. Novel Preosteoclast Populations in Obesity-Associated Periodontal Disease. Journal of Dental Research, 2021.
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LIFESTYLES
BETTER MEDICINE: DRUGS VS. DIET
A new study suggests that diet may be more effective than drugs in keeping conditions like diabetes, stroke, and heart disease at bay. In an animal study published in Cell Metabolism, nutrition was shown to have a greater impact on metabolic health and aging than three drugs commonly used to treat diabetes and other serious conditions. Though the medications work along the same pathways as nutrients from food, researchers concluded that the drugs actually inhibit the metabolic response to healthy foods instead of working with them. That means people would get better value by simply changing their diet to improve metabolic health rather than taking drugs. Of course, always talk to your doctor about what your best course of action is before making any big changes to your health regimen. Le Couteur DG. Nutritional reprogramming of mouse liver proteome is dampened by metformin, resveratrol, and rapamycin. Cell Metabolism. Volume 33, Issue 12, P23672379.E4, December 07, 2021.
THINK YOU’RE DESTINED FOR DEMENTIA? NOT SO FAST
If a family history of dementia has you feeling doomed about your future, here’s some encouraging news: A recent report reveals that preventing frailty later in life could help to dramatically increase your chances of dodging dementia, even if you have a genetic predisposition. Published in the Journal of Neurolog y, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, the study found that the risk of dementia was lowest in people who were fit and engaged in a healthy lifestyle, regardless of their genes. On the other hand, people with a strong genetic risk who were very frail were shown to be at six times greater risk of dementia than those without either risk factor. Ward DD. Frailty, lifestyle, genetics and dementia risk. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. Published Online First: 21 December 2021.
