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Dr. Matthew Hill: How Cannabis Impacts Health & the Potential Risks – Repost from hubermanlab.com

Dr. Matthew Hill: How Cannabis Impacts Health & the Potential Risks – Repost from hubermanlab.com

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Matthew Hill, Ph.D., a professor of cell biology and anatomy at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary and an expert on the biology of cannabis. We discuss how cannabis affects the brain to produce its psychoactive effects (feeling “high”), including altered time perception, focus, memory, appetite, and stress.

We discuss how THC vs. cannabidiol (CBD) affects the brain, the effects of different routes of cannabis administration (e.g., smoking, vaping, edibles), high-potency THC, and whether cannabis is addictive. We discuss if there is a link between cannabis use and the development of psychosis, anxiety, bipolar depression, or schizophrenia.

We discuss whether CBD has clinical benefits in regulating stress, promoting sleep, and treating certain diseases. We also discuss if there are real and consistent differences in the biological effects of different cannabis strains, if cannabis impacts hormones, and the uses of cannabis for the management of pain, stress, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and nausea.

Listeners of this episode will get an up-to-date understanding of what is currently known about how cannabis affects the brain and body, including both its potential benefits and risks.

Articles

Other Resources

Huberman Lab Episodes Mentioned

People Mentioned

  • Leah Mayo: Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Calgary
  • Markus Heilig: Professor of Neuropsychiatry, Linköping University
  • Carrie Cuttler: Associate Professor of Psychology, Washington State University
  • Kent Hutchison: Professor of Psychology, University of Colorado Boulder
  • Angela Bryan: Professor of Psychology, University of Colorado Boulder
  • Cinnamon Bidwell: Clinical psychologist, University of Colorado Boulder
  • Ryan McLaughlin: Assistant Professor of Integrative Physiology, Washington State University
  • Ziva Cooper: Professor of Psychiatry, University of California Los Angeles
  • Cecilia Hillard: Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin
  • Donald Tashkin: Pulmonologist, University of California Los Angeles
  • Sachin Patel: Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern Medicine

Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A New Therapeutic Target

Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A New Therapeutic Target


A recent study has provided direct evidence linking mitochondrial dysfunction in the brain with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and its associated communication deficits. This groundbreaking research could potentially pave the way for novel therapeutic interventions targeting the mitochondrial electron transport chain complex I, a key component of cellular energy production.

The study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, used positron emission tomography (PET) scans with a specific radioligand that binds to the mitochondrial electron transport chain complex I. This allowed the researchers to examine the distribution of mitochondrial dysfunction in the living brains of individuals with ASD.

The study involved 23 adult males with high-functioning ASD and 24 typically developed males, matched for age, parental socioeconomic background, and IQ. The researchers found that participants with ASD had significantly decreased availability of the radioligand, indicating mitochondrial dysfunction, specifically in the anterior cingulate cortex, a brain region associated with social behavior and communication.

Interestingly, the severity of this mitochondrial dysfunction was found to correlate with the severity of social communication deficits in individuals with ASD. This suggests a direct link between mitochondrial dysfunction and the core symptoms of ASD.

While previous studies have implicated mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathophysiology of ASD, this is the first study to demonstrate this link in living brains. The findings of this study support the possibility that mitochondrial electron transport chain complex I could be a novel therapeutic target for the core symptoms of ASD.

It’s important to note that while these findings are promising, further research is needed to fully understand the implications of these results and to develop effective therapeutic strategies.


Australian government report into Autism

Australian government report into Autism

Government Report Summary: Urgent Action Needed for Autistic Australians

Autistic Australians and their families face discrimination and barriers in accessing essential services and support. Maintaining the status quo is not an option.

Proposed Solution: A National Autism Strategy with clear goals and measurable progress to improve life outcomes for autistic individuals.

Focus Areas: Health, mental health, advocacy, employment, research, and service delivery workforce.

Alarming Statistics: Autistic people have 20+ years shorter life expectancy, double the mortality rate, high mental health issues, and a suicide risk. 75% don’t complete Year 12 education, unemployment rate is 8x higher than others, and they face higher homelessness and justice system risks.

Inclusion Issues: Autistic individuals often experience loneliness, isolation, exclusion, and discrimination, impacting their social participation and family life.

Hope for Change: Positive practices have shown potential for improvement. Addressing understanding, service integration, early intervention, and workforce capacity can make a difference.

Complex Issues: Poor outcomes result from inadequate understanding, workforce shortages, delays in diagnosis, fragmented service environment, and services not tailored to autistic needs.

Recommendations:

  1. National Autism Strategy: Coordinated effort to improve outcomes.
  2. Co-Design: Inclusive process involving the autism community, parents, carers, researchers, and policymakers.
  3. Accountability: Clear actions, targets, and reviews to drive genuine change.
  4. Priorities: Education, employment, health services, and support for families.
  5. Research Focus: Establish a national autism research agenda and a register for comprehensive data.

NDIS Inquiry: Separate inquiry needed to address NDIS issues for autistic participants.

Let’s stand together for a brighter future for autistic Australians and their families. #AutismAwareness #InclusionMatters #SupportForAll

https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Autism/autism/Report

Determining the magnitude and duration of acute ?9-tetrahydrocannabinol (?9-THC)-induced driving and cognitive impairment: A systematic and meta-analytic review – ScienceDirect

Determining the magnitude and duration of acute ?9-tetrahydrocannabinol (?9-THC)-induced driving and cognitive impairment: A systematic and meta-analytic review – ScienceDirect

The article titled “Cannabis and Psychomotor Performance: A Rational Review of the Evidence and Implications for Public Policy” discusses the effects of cannabis on psychomotor performance. It suggests that cannabis can impair psychomotor skills for up to 5 hours after consumption. This is important for safety-sensitive activities such as driving or operating machinery. The article also mentions that the degree of impairment can vary depending on the dose and the individual’s tolerance.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763421000178

Time-restricted Eating for the Prevention and Management of Metabolic Diseases | Endocrine Reviews | Oxford Academic

Time-restricted Eating for the Prevention and Management of Metabolic Diseases | Endocrine Reviews | Oxford Academic

The article “Time-restricted Eating for the Prevention and Management of Metabolic Diseases” explores the concept of time-restricted feeding (TRF) in animal studies and time-restricted eating (TRE) in humans as an emerging behavioral intervention for the prevention and management of metabolic diseases. The approach involves restricting all calorie intake within a consistent interval of less than 12 hours without explicitly reducing calories.

The article provides an overview of the origin of TRF/TRE, starting with the understanding of circadian rhythms and their role in physiology and metabolism. While circadian rhythms are commonly associated with the sleep-wake cycle and central nervous system rhythms, recent research has revealed the presence of circadian rhythms in peripheral organs, suggesting that adopting a daily short window of feeding could support robust circadian rhythms.

Animal studies have demonstrated the proof of concept for TRF and identified potential mechanisms underlying its benefits. TRF, without reducing caloric intake, has been shown to prevent or mitigate several metabolic diseases in animal models, including obesity, glucose intolerance, hepatic steatosis, dyslipidemia, and age-related decline in cardiac function.

Pilot human intervention studies have reported promising results in reducing the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases through TRE, with or without explicit calorie reduction. Additionally, epidemiological studies have indicated that maintaining a consistent long overnight fast, similar to TRE, can significantly reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

Despite these initial successes, the authors emphasize the need for further clinical and mechanistic studies to implement TRE as a standalone or adjunctive lifestyle intervention for chronic metabolic diseases. They also highlight the importance of developing better methods to monitor and promote compliance to a daily eating pattern in humans to accurately assess the benefits of TRE. Overall, TRF and TRE show potential as effective strategies for metabolic disease prevention and management, but more research is warranted to fully understand their mechanisms and optimize their implementation.

https://academic.oup.com/edrv/article/43/2/405/6371193

Nutrients | Free Full-Text | Mediterranean Alcohol-Drinking Patterns and All-Cause Mortality in Women More Than 55 Years Old and Men More Than 50 Years Old in the “Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra” (SUN) Cohort

Nutrients | Free Full-Text | Mediterranean Alcohol-Drinking Patterns and All-Cause Mortality in Women More Than 55 Years Old and Men More Than 50 Years Old in the “Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra” (SUN) Cohort

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/24/5310

A novel combination of metformin and resveratrol alleviates hepatic steatosis by activating autophagy through the cAMP/AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway | SpringerLink

A novel combination of metformin and resveratrol alleviates hepatic steatosis by activating autophagy through the cAMP/AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway | SpringerLink

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent liver disorder that is associated with the accumulation of triglycerides (TG) in hepatocytes. Resveratrol (RSV), as a natural product, and metformin have been reported to have potential lipid-lowering effects for the treatment of NAFLD via autophagy, but the combined effects of both have not yet been studied. The current study aimed to investigate the role of autophagy in the lipid-lowering effects of RSV, alone and in combination with metformin, on the hepatic steatosis model of HepG2 cells and elucidate the mechanism of action. Triglyceride measurement and real-time PCR showed that RSV-metformin reduced lipid accumulation and the expression of lipogenic genes in palmitic acid (PA)-induced HepG2 cells. Additionally, the LDH release assay indicated that this combination protected HepG2 cells against PA-induced cell death through autophagy. The western blotting analysis revealed that RSV-metformin induced autophagy by reducing the expression of p62 and increasing LC3-I and LC3-II proteins. This combination also enhanced cAMP, phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), and Beclin-1 levels in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, SIRT1 inhibitor treatment inhibited autophagy induced by RSV-metformin, which indicated the autophagy induction is SIRT1-dependent. This study demonstrated for the first time that RSV-metformin reduced hepatic steatosis by triggering autophagy via the cAMP/AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00210-023-02520-7

Supporting autistic adults’ episodic memory recall in interviews: The role of executive functions, theory of mind, and language abilities – Jade Eloise Norris, Katie Maras, 2022

Supporting autistic adults’ episodic memory recall in interviews: The role of executive functions, theory of mind, and language abilities – Jade Eloise Norris, Katie Maras, 2022

“Autistic people have difficulties recalling episodic memories, including retrieving fewer or less specific and detailed memories compared to typically developing people. However, the ability to effectively recall episodic memories is crucial in many real-world contexts, such as the criminal justice system, medical consultations, and employment interviews. Autistic people’s episodic memory difficulties are most apparent when open, unsupportive questions are used. The ‘Task Support Hypothesis’ posits that autistic people can recall as much information as typically developing people with more supportive questioning. Alongside problems retrieving episodic memories, autistic people also experience difficulties with executive functioning, theory of mind, and expressive language. The current study aimed to assess the impact of these abilities on recall in two previous studies by the authors that compared autistic and typically developing adults on recall specificity in police, healthcare, and employment interviews, and recall quality in employment interviews under unsupported and supported questioning. Under unsupported questioning only, autistic adults’ episodic autobiographical memory recall specificity was predicted by expressive language, whereas for the typically developing group, only theory of mind was a significant predictor. No other predictors were significant across the study. Implications for the task support hypothesis are discussed.”

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13623613211030772

The Harmful Effects of Taking Offense to Language Used by Neurodivergent People

The Harmful Effects of Taking Offense to Language Used by Neurodivergent People

Background:

For individuals who are neurodivergent, accessing government services and organisations can be a daunting and frustrating experience. This is due to a variety of factors, including long wait times, complex systems, and a lack of understanding and support for neurodivergent individuals.

When trying to access services and organisations, it is not uncommon for individuals to experience long wait times on the phone, which can lead to frustration and difficulty communicating effectively.

In some cases, this frustration can manifest as the use of language that is considered offensive or inappropriate by service providers. However, it is important to recognise that this language is often a symptom of the difficulties and challenges that neurodivergent individuals face when trying to access support and services.

Harmful Effects of Taking Offense to Language Used by Neurodivergent People:

Taking offense to language used by neurodivergent people can be particularly harmful. Many neurodivergent people may struggle to understand social norms around language, leading to their use of language that may be deemed inappropriate or offensive. However, this language is not meant to be offensive and is often used as a coping mechanism or to express emotions. When organisations take offense to this language, it can lead to further isolation and distress for the neurodivergent person.

Furthermore, the use of language deemed offensive, particularly variations of the word ‘fuck’ as used extensively in Australian culture, can often be used as a form of self-expression and a way to connect with others. When organisations take offense to this language, it can lead to a breakdown in communication and a lack of trust between the neurodivergent person and the organisation.

Discrimination:

Unfortunately, the use of language that is considered offensive can often lead to discrimination and a denial of access to services. Service providers may refuse to continue the conversation or hang up on the individual, effectively denying them the support and assistance that they desperately need.

This discrimination is not only unjust, but it is also a violation of the individual’s human rights. All individuals, regardless of their neurodivergent status, have the right to access government services and organisations without fear of discrimination or retaliation.

The Disabilities Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) is a federal law in Australia that aims to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities, including neurodivergent individuals, and to promote their full and equal participation in all aspects of life.

The DDA protects people with disabilities from discrimination in many areas, including employment, education, access to goods and services, and accommodation. With regard to the use of language, the DDA recognises that certain language and behavior can be discriminatory and harmful to people with disabilities, including neurodivergent individuals, and prohibits such behavior.

Under the DDA, individuals with disabilities have the right to access services and to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their communication style or the language they use. Therefore, organisations and service providers must ensure that their policies and practices do not discriminate against individuals with disabilities, including those who may use language that others deem offensive.

Conclusion:

Organisations need to take steps to understand the language used by neurodivergent people and not take offense to it.

The harm that can be caused by taking offense to language used by neurodivergent people is significant and can lead to further discrimination when accessing services. It is crucial for organisations to create a safe and welcoming environment for neurodivergent people to access the services they need without fear of being discriminated against based on their language use.

References:

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. American Psychological Association.

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2019). Autism in Australia. Retrieved from https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/disability/autism-australia/latest-release#key-findings

Crompton, A. (2018). Language, identity and autism: A sociolinguistic study. Routledge.

National Disability Insurance Agency. (2021). Supporting access for people with disability during COVID-19. Retrieved from https://www.ndis.gov.au/coronavirus/supporting-access-people-disability-during-covid-19

Schulze, C. (2019). The language of autism: Why we need to use words carefully. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/neurodivergent-thinking/201904/the-language-autism-why-we-need-use-words-carefully

Weaponized heterogeneity only harms the most vulnerable autistic people | Spectrum | Autism Research News

Weaponized heterogeneity only harms the most vulnerable autistic people | Spectrum | Autism Research News

“Autistic people as a group are heterogeneous, with a wide range of presentations, challenges and support needs. That heterogeneity is commonly weaponized against more able autistic people, often by autism researchers or parents who wish to highlight the needs of their autistic children who have higher support needs. This tactic, however, can backfire and increase harm to the most vulnerable autistic people because it separates this group from the insights gained from autistic scholarship. Focusing on aspects of autistic experience that we all share may be more fruitful and lead more quickly to our shared goal of improved outcomes for all autistic people. “

https://www.spectrumnews.org/opinion/viewpoint/weaponized-heterogeneity-only-harms-the-most-vulnerable-autistic-people/

Supportive Accountability Rejection Dysphoria (SARD): A Syndrome Impacting Neurodivergent Individuals

Supportive Accountability Rejection Dysphoria (SARD): A Syndrome Impacting Neurodivergent Individuals

Abstract

Supportive Accountability Rejection Dysphoria (SARD) is a proposed syndrome that affects neurodivergent individuals engaged in supportive accountability practices. This paper aims to describe the symptoms, causes, and consequences of SARD, highlighting the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in their efforts to help others through supportive accountability. The paper also discusses potential strategies for mitigating the negative effects of SARD.

Introduction

Neurodivergent individuals often display a strong sense of righteousness, fairness, and empathy, which drives them to practice supportive accountability (Armstrong, 2017; Lerner & Schlechter, 2017). This drives them to want to help others in the way they think or behave.

Supportive Accountability

Supportive accountability is an approach that combines compassion and discipline, intending to help others grow and improve (Lerner & Schlechter, 2017). In the case of neurodivergent individuals, their innate sense of righteousness and empathy can lead them to be highly motivated to practice supportive accountability (Armstrong, 2017).

Supportive accountability is the practise of “tough love”. Putting boundaries in place and practicing accountability in the effort to assist someone to grow. It’s as if we want people to be better despite themselves.

There is a sense of “correctness” that comes along with the idea of righteousness, as it can be argued that in same cases there is only one righteousness outcome. Neurodivergent people experience a desire or drive to ensure correctness or righteousness.

However, misunderstandings surrounding language and emotional regulation can lead to unintended negative consequences (Happé & Frith, 2020). We propose the term Supportive Accountability Rejection Dysphoria (SARD) to describe the unique set of challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in this context.

Symptoms and Causes

SARD is characterized by feelings of frustration, ineptitude, and low self-worth stemming from the inability to effectively communicate the desire to help through supportive accountability (Happé & Frith, 2020).

This often occurs when an individual attempts to practice supportive accountability towards someone that’s not open to it, or when it feels threatening to them and they get defensive. It’s especially a problem when the recipient isn’t open to the feedback.

The syndrome is exacerbated by the use of language that may be perceived as offensive or abusive, leading to further misunderstandings and rejection of the support offered (Brown, 2018).

Consequences

The consequences of SARD can be severe, including trauma, discrimination, and diminished self-worth for the neurodivergent individual (Brown, 2018; Kapp et al., 2020).

In addition, the recipients of supportive accountability may experience distress and negative emotions, as they might interpret the well-intended support as hostility or criticism.

Strategies for Mitigation

Addressing the communication barriers inherent in SARD is vital to fostering understanding and preventing further harm. Potential strategies for mitigating the negative effects of SARD may include the development of communication skills, emotional regulation techniques, and increased awareness and education about neurodiversity and supportive accountability among both neurodivergent individuals and the general public (Armstrong, 2017; Happé & Frith, 2020).

Conclusion

Supportive Accountability Rejection Dysphoria (SARD) is a proposed syndrome that highlights the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals engaged in supportive accountability practices. By increasing awareness of SARD and implementing strategies to address its causes and consequences, we can work towards fostering understanding and promoting the positive intentions of neurodivergent individuals in their pursuit to help others.

References

  • Armstrong, T. (2017). The power of neurodiversity: Unleashing the advantages of your differently wired brain. Da Capo Lifelong Books.
  • Brown, N. (2018). The impact of language use on the wellbeing of neurodivergent individuals. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48(4), 1145-1154.
  • Happé, F., & Frith, U. (2020). Annual research review: Looking back to look forward–changes in the concept of autism and implications for future research. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 61(3), 218-232.
  • Kapp, S. K., Gillespie-Lynch, K., Sherman, L. E., & Hutman, T. (2020). Deficit, difference, or both? Autism and neurodiversity. Developmental Psychology, 49(1), 59-71.
  • Lerner, R. M., & Schlechter, M. (2017). Promoting supportive accountability: A relational-cultural approach to goal setting and achievement. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 87(6), 643-653.
The Greatest Missed Opportunity of Modern Human Civilization: Nutrition for Protection from COVID-19 and its Serious Effects

The Greatest Missed Opportunity of Modern Human Civilization: Nutrition for Protection from COVID-19 and its Serious Effects

Abstract:

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the forefront the importance of immunity and its role in fighting infections. While vaccines and other medical interventions are important, there has been a missed opportunity in promoting good nutrition as a key factor in building strong immunity. A growing body of evidence has shown that a balanced and nutrient-rich diet can help prevent and reduce the severity of COVID-19 and other infections. This paper will review the current evidence on the role of nutrition in protecting against COVID-19 and its serious effects, and will highlight the importance of incorporating nutrition into public health strategies.

Introduction:

COVID-19 has been a wake-up call for the world, highlighting the importance of immunity in fighting infections. While many have focused on vaccines and other medical interventions, there has been a missed opportunity in promoting good nutrition as a key factor in building strong immunity. Research has shown that a balanced and nutrient-rich diet can help prevent and reduce the severity of COVID-19 and other infections. Despite this, public health campaigns have not prioritized nutrition as a means of protecting against COVID-19. This paper will explore the evidence on the role of nutrition in protecting against COVID-19 and its serious effects, and will argue for a greater emphasis on nutrition in public health strategies.

Body:

  • I. The role of nutrition in protecting against COVID-19
  • Importance of immune system in fighting infections
  • Evidence linking poor nutrition to increased risk of infection and severity of illness
  • Nutrient deficiencies associated with poor COVID-19 outcomes
  • Specific nutrients that have been shown to benefit immune function and COVID-19 outcomes (vitamin D, vitamin C, zinc, etc.)
  • II. Public health campaigns and the missed opportunity of nutrition
  • Focus on vaccines and medical interventions
  • Limited attention to nutrition in public health campaigns
  • Importance of a holistic approach to public health
  • III. Incorporating nutrition into public health strategies
  • Education and awareness campaigns on the importance of nutrition
  • Availability of nutrient-rich foods in schools, hospitals, and other public institutions
  • Incentives for companies to promote and produce healthier foods
  • Integration of nutrition into healthcare and public health policies

Conclusion:

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light the importance of immunity and the role of nutrition in building strong immune function. Despite this, there has been a missed opportunity in promoting good nutrition as a key factor in fighting COVID-19 and other infections. Incorporating nutrition into public health strategies could help prevent and reduce the severity of COVID-19 and other infections, and should be a priority for governments and public health institutions. By prioritizing good nutrition, we can help build a stronger and healthier society.

References:

Calder, P. C. et al. Nutrition and immunity: lessons for COVID-19. Eur. J. Nutr. 59, 1403–1429 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-020-02264-5

Damião, R. et al. Food and nutrition security during the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive overview. Food Sci. Technol. 40, 7–16 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1590/fst.05420

Gombart, A. F., Pierre, A. & Maggini, S. A review of micronutrients and the immune system–working in harmony to reduce the risk of infection. Nutrients 12, 236 (2020). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010236

Huang, Z. et al. The battle against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): emergency management and infection control in a radiology department. J. Am. Coll. Radiol. 17, 710–716 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacr.2020.03.011

Ismail, M. et al. The potential role of vitamin D in the current COVID-19 pandemic. Brain Behav. Immun. 87, 246–251 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.06.001

King, S. et al. The importance of nutrition in aiding recovery from COVID-19. Healthcare 8, 144 (2020). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare8020144

National Health and Medical Research Council. Australian Dietary Guidelines. (2013) Available at: https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/guidelines/australian-dietary-guidelines-1-5. (Accessed: 23rd Feburary 2022).

Queensland Health. Nutrition and immune function. (2020). Available at: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/news-events/news/nutrition-and-immune-function. (Accessed: 23rd Feburary 2022).

The role of biofield energy treatment on psychological symptoms, mental health disorders, and stress?related quality of life in adult subjects: A randomized controlled clinical trial

The role of biofield energy treatment on psychological symptoms, mental health disorders, and stress?related quality of life in adult subjects: A randomized controlled clinical trial

The role of biofield energy treatment on psychological symptoms, mental health disorders, and stress?related quality of life in adult subjects: A randomized controlled clinical trial

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/8JIEKJNQ23RVDQGYU6NE?target=10.1002/jgf2.606

Loss of epigenetic information as a cause of mammalian aging – ScienceDirect

Loss of epigenetic information as a cause of mammalian aging – ScienceDirect

Highlights

Cellular responses to double-stranded DNA breaks erode the epigenetic landscape


This loss of epigenetic information accelerates the hallmarks of aging


These changes are reversible by epigenetic reprogramming


By manipulating the epigenome, aging can be driven forward and backward


Summary
All living things experience an increase in entropy, manifested as a loss of genetic and epigenetic information. In yeast, epigenetic information is lost over time due to the relocalization of chromatin-modifying proteins to DNA breaks, causing cells to lose their identity, a hallmark of yeast aging. Using a system called “ICE” (inducible changes to the epigenome), we find that the act of faithful DNA repair advances aging at physiological, cognitive, and molecular levels, including erosion of the epigenetic landscape, cellular exdifferentiation, senescence, and advancement of the DNA methylation clock, which can be reversed by OSK-mediated rejuvenation. These data are consistent with the information theory of aging, which states that a loss of epigenetic information is a reversible cause of aging.

Link to full text https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867422015707

Health effects associated with consumption of unprocessed red meat: a Burden of Proof study | Nature Medicine

Health effects associated with consumption of unprocessed red meat: a Burden of Proof study | Nature Medicine


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Nature Medicine volume 28, pages2075–2082 (2022)

Abstract

Characterizing the potential health effects of exposure to risk factors such as red meat consumption is essential to inform health policy and practice. Previous meta-analyses evaluating the effects of red meat intake have generated mixed findings and do not formally assess evidence strength. Here, we conducted a systematic review and implemented a meta-regression—relaxing conventional log-linearity assumptions and incorporating between-study heterogeneity—to evaluate the relationships between unprocessed red meat consumption and six potential health outcomes. We found weak evidence of association between unprocessed red meat consumption and colorectal cancer, breast cancer, type 2 diabetes and ischemic heart disease. Moreover, we found no evidence of an association between unprocessed red meat and ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke. We also found that while risk for the six outcomes in our analysis combined was minimized at 0?g unprocessed red meat intake per day, the 95% uncertainty interval that incorporated between-study heterogeneity was very wide: from 0–200?g?d?1. While there is some evidence that eating unprocessed red meat is associated with increased risk of disease incidence and mortality, it is weak and insufficient to make stronger or more conclusive recommendations. More rigorous, well-powered research is needed to better understand and quantify the relationship between consumption of unprocessed red meat and chronic disease.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-01968-z

Mescaline: The forgotten psychedelic

Mescaline: The forgotten psychedelic

Abstract
Introduction
Mescaline (3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine) is one of the oldest hallucinogens, with evidence of use dating back 5700 years. Mescaline is a naturally occurring alkaloid found in cacti, mainly in the peyote cactus (Lophophora williamsii) and in the cacti of the Echinopsis genus. Since the prohibition of psychoactive substances in the early 70s, research on mescaline and other classical psychedelics has been limited.

Objectives
This article aims to review the pharmacology and behavioural effects of mescaline, focusing on preclinical and clinical research.

Findings
Mescaline is a serotonin 5HT2A/2C receptor agonist, with its main hallucinogenic effects being mediated via its 5HT2A receptor agonist action. It also exerts effects via agonist binding at ?1A/2A noradrenaline and D1/2/3 dopamine receptors. Overall, mescaline has anxiolytic-like effects in animals and increases prosocial behaviour, locomotion, and response reactivity. In humans, mescaline can induce euphoria, hallucinations, improvements in well-being and mental health conditions, and psychotomimetic effects in a naturalistic or religious setting.

Conclusion
The pharmacological mechanisms of mescaline are similar to those of other classical psychedelics, like psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Mescaline appears to be safe to consume, with most intoxications being mild and easily treatable. Improvement in mental well-being and its ability to overcome alcoholism render mescaline potentially beneficial in clinical settings.

Mescaline: The forgotten psychedelic https://link.researcher-app.com/AwyE – via Researcher (@ResearcherApp)

The Lancet Commission on lessons for the future from the COVID-19 pandemic – The Lancet

The Lancet Commission on lessons for the future from the COVID-19 pandemic – The Lancet

Section 1 of this Commission report provides a conceptual framework for understanding pandemics. Section 2 provides an annotated chronology of the COVID-19 pandemic and thematic findings regarding several issues. Section 3 presents our policy recommendations, particularly around multilateral cooperation centred at WHO to address global health crises, and around investments in preparedness for future health crises through strong national health systems and international financing and technology cooperation with the world’s lower-income regions.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2822%2901585-9/fulltext

<b>Psilocybin therapy reduces heavy drinking</b>

Psilocybin therapy reduces heavy drinking

A randomized trial provides support for the use of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in people with alcohol use disorder. A randomized trial provides support for the use of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in people with alcohol use disorder.

Psilocybin therapy reduces heavy drinking https://link.researcher-app.com/LYs6 – via Researcher (@ResearcherApp)

Psychobiotics: The Next-Generation Probiotics for the Brain – PubMed

Psychobiotics: The Next-Generation Probiotics for the Brain – PubMed

Psychobiotics are a special class of probiotics, which deliver mental health benefits to individuals. They differ from conventional probiotics in their ability to produce or stimulate the production of neurotransmitters, short-chain fatty acids, enteroendocrine hormones and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Owing to this potential, psychobiotics have a broad spectrum of applications ranging from mood and stress alleviation to being an adjuvant in therapeutic treatment for various neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative disorders. The common psychobiotic bacteria belong to the family Lactobacilli, Streptococci, Bifidobacteria, Escherichia and Enterococci. The two-way crosstalk between the brain and the gastrointestinal system is influenced by these bacteria. The neurons present in the enteric nervous system interact directly with the neurochemicals produced by microbiota of the gut, thereby influencing the signaling to central nervous system. The present review highlights the scope and advancements made in the field, enlisting numerous commercial psychobiotic products that have flooded the market. In the latter part we discuss the potential concerns with respect to psychobiotics, such as the effects due to withdrawal, compatibility with immunocompromised patients, and the relatively unregulated probiotic market.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33394083/

Ivermectin for Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 Infection: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Trial Sequential Analysis to Inform Clinical Guidelines

Ivermectin for Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 Infection: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Trial Sequential Analysis to Inform Clinical Guidelines

Moderate-certainty evidence finds that large reductions in COVID-19 deaths are possible using ivermectin. Using ivermectin early in the clinical course may reduce numbers progressing to severe disease. The apparent safety and low cost suggest that ivermectin is likely to have a significant impact on the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic globally.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8248252/

Cannabis users no less likely to be motivated or able to enjoy life’s pleasure

Cannabis users no less likely to be motivated or able to enjoy life’s pleasure

Cannabis users also show no difference in motivation for rewards, pleasure taken from rewards, or the brain’s response when seeking rewards, compared to non-users.

Cannabis is the third most commonly used controlled substance worldwide, after alcohol and nicotine. A 2018 report from the NHS Digital Lifestyles Team stated that almost one in five (19%) of 15-year-olds in England had used cannabis in the previous 12 months, while in 2020 the National Institute on Drug Abuse reported the proportion in the United States to be 28% of 15-16-year-olds.

A common stereotype of cannabis users is the ‘stoner’ – think Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad, The Dude in The Big Lebowski, or, more recently, Argyle in Stranger Things. These are individuals who are generally depicted as lazy and apathetic.

At the same time, there has been considerable concern of the potential impact of cannabis use on the developing brain and that using cannabis during adolescence might have a damaging effect at an important time in an individual’s life.

A team led by scientists at UCL, the University of Cambridge and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London carried out a study examining whether cannabis users show higher levels of apathy (loss of motivation) and anhedonia (loss of interest in or pleasure from rewards) when compared to controls and whether they were less willing to exert physical effort to receive a reward. The research was part of the CannTEEN study.

The results are published in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology.

The team recruited 274 adolescent and adult cannabis users who had used cannabis at least weekly over the past three months, with an average of four days per week, and matched them with non-users of the same age and gender.

Participants completed questionnaires to measure anhedonia, asking them to rate statements such as “I would enjoy being with family or close friends”. They also completed questionnaires to measure their levels of apathy, which asked them to rate characteristics such as how interested they were in learning new things or how likely they were to see a job through to the end.

Cannabis users scored slightly lower than non-users on anhedonia – in other words, they appeared better able to enjoy themselves – but there was no significant difference when it came to apathy. The researchers also found no link between frequency of cannabis use and either apathy or anhedonia in the people who used cannabis.

Martine Skumlien, a PhD candidate in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, said: “We were surprised to see that there was really very little difference between cannabis users and non-users when it came to lack of motivation or lack of enjoyment, even among those who used cannabis every day. This is contrary to the stereotypical portrayal we see on TV and in movies.”

In general, adolescents tended to score higher than adults on anhedonia and apathy in both user and non-user groups, but cannabis use did not augment this difference.

Dr Will Lawn, from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London, said: “There’s been a lot of concern that cannabis use in adolescence might lead to worse outcomes than cannabis use during adulthood. But our study, one of the first to directly compare adolescents and adults who use cannabis, suggests that adolescents are no more vulnerable than adults to the harmful effects of cannabis on motivation, the experience of pleasure, or the brain’s response to reward.

“In fact, it seems cannabis may have no link – or at most only weak associations – with these outcomes in general. However, we need studies that look for these associations over a long period of time to confirm these findings.”

Cannabis users no less likely to be motivated or able to enjoy life’s pleasure https://link.researcher-app.com/nEsd – via Researcher (@ResearcherApp)

Frontiers | Neuroligins and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: X-Linked Genetics

Frontiers | Neuroligins and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: X-Linked Genetics

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that results in social-communication impairments, as well as restricted and repetitive behaviors. Moreover, ASD is more prevalent in males, with a male to female ratio of 4 to 1. Although the underlying etiology of ASD is generally unknown, recent advances in genome sequencing have facilitated the identification of a host of associated genes. Among these, synaptic proteins such as cell adhesion molecules have been strongly linked with ASD. Interestingly, many large genome sequencing studies exclude sex chromosomes, which leads to a shift in focus toward autosomal genes as targets for ASD research. However, there are many genes on the X chromosome that encode synaptic proteins, including strong candidate genes. Here, we review findings regarding two members of the neuroligin (NLGN) family of postsynaptic adhesion molecules, NLGN3 and NLGN4. Neuroligins have multiple isoforms (NLGN1-4), which are both autosomal and sex-linked. The sex-linked genes, NLGN3 and NLGN4, are both on the X chromosome and were among the first few genes to be linked with ASD and intellectual disability (ID). In addition, there is a less studied human neuroligin on the Y chromosome, NLGN4Y, which forms an X-Y pair with NLGN4X. We will discuss recent findings of these neuroligin isoforms regarding function at the synapse in both rodent models and human-derived differentiated neurons, and highlight the exciting challenges moving forward to a better understanding of ASD/ID.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsyn.2020.00033/full?utm_source=ad&utm_medium=fb&utm_campaign=ba_sci-ib_fnsyn&fbclid=IwAR36e5QY8UEMquOtJfZgMyzHt-ml7w2jZZG8qvh1PSR36cp8WW3idTuJbE4

Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD with The Low Dose Naltrexone

Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD with The Low Dose Naltrexone

Endorphins and Autism

Some researchers have suggested that excessive opioid activity in autistic children causes them to engage in repetitive “self-stimulatory” and self-injurious behaviours to further stimulate the pain-induced release of endogenous opiates. This hypothesis resulted in many trials using the opioid antagonist naltrexone. The action of naltrexone is to block opioid receptors thus creating a rebound effect of increased endorphin release, which in turn modulates the immune response, reducing cytokines and so reducing inflammation.3

In several of these trials naltrexone helped to increase socialisation, eye contact, pain sensitivity and a decrease in self-injurious/stimulatory behaviours. Endorphins are not the only neurotransmitters thought to be involved in autism, serotonin and dopamine are also found in abnormal concentrations which are likely to contribute to the condition.4

The use of Low Dose Naltrexone for children with autism spectrum disorders was studied in the 1990’s with researchers using from 5 mg to 50 mg daily. Many researchers noted better results with lower doses.

While not presenting the ultimate answer in the treatment of autism, naltrexone is shown to help alleviate some of the symptoms modulated by endogenous opioids.

https://ldnresearchtrust.org/autism-spectrum-disorder-and-promising-treatment-low-dose-naltrexone-paula-johnson

ADHD and Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)

How about ADHD in an adult, and at what doses? Absolutely! I mean if it works in children, we might not use it in adults. We would still use typical dosing that we would use for pretty much anything else. You could start anywhere from 0.5 to 1.5, slowly increase the dose, and then top out at the maximum of 4.5 once a day. Not everybody gets to 4.5, and again that’s where working very closely with your medical professionals is going to help you find your happy dose.

https://ldnresearchtrust.org/adhd-and-low-dose-naltrexone-ldn

Swearing Is Actually A Sign of More Intelligence – Not Less – Say Scientists : ScienceAlert

Swearing Is Actually A Sign of More Intelligence – Not Less – Say Scientists : ScienceAlert

While swearing can become a habit, we choose to swear in different contexts and for different purposes: for linguistic effect, to convey emotion, for laughs, or perhaps even to be deliberately nasty.

Psychologists interested in when and why people swear try to look past the stereotype that swearing is the language of the unintelligent and illiterate.

In fact, a study by psychologists from Marist College found links between how fluent a person is in the English language and how fluent they are in swearing.

https://www.sciencealert.com/swearing-is-a-sign-of-more-intelligence-not-less-say-scientists

Psychology short courses | CCE University of Sydney

Psychology short courses | CCE University of Sydney

Available courses

https://cce.sydney.edu.au/courses/psychology-psychiatry/psychology

Epigenetic MRI: Noninvasive imaging of DNA methylation in the brain | PNAS

Epigenetic MRI: Noninvasive imaging of DNA methylation in the brain | PNAS

We developed a technology called epigenetic MRI (eMRI) that enables noninvasive imaging of DNA methylation in the brain, a major epigenetic mechanism. eMRI reveals strong regional differences in global DNA methylation in pig brains, a model with stronger resemblance to human brains than are rodents. Given the noninvasive nature of eMRI, our results pave the way for a DNA-methylation imaging paradigm for living human brains. We expect eMRI to enable many studies to unravel the molecular control of brain function and disease.

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2119891119

Selective activation of G?ob by an adenosine A1 receptor agonist elicits analgesia without cardiorespiratory depression | Nature Communications

Selective activation of G?ob by an adenosine A1 receptor agonist elicits analgesia without cardiorespiratory depression | Nature Communications

We have discovered that the A1R-selective agonist, benzyloxy-cyclopentyladenosine (BnOCPA), is a potent and powerful analgesic but does not cause sedation, bradycardia, hypotension or respiratory depression. This unprecedented discrimination between native A1Rs arises from BnOCPA’s unique and exquisitely selective activation of Gob among the six G?i/o subtypes, and in the absence of ?-arrestin recruitment.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-31652-2

Nutrients | Free Full-Text | The Mutual Relationship among Cardiovascular Diseases and COVID-19: Focus on Micronutrients Imbalance

Nutrients | Free Full-Text | The Mutual Relationship among Cardiovascular Diseases and COVID-19: Focus on Micronutrients Imbalance

Micronutrients are ions and vitamins humbly required by the human body. They play a main role in several physiological mechanisms and their imbalance is strongly associated with potentially-fatal complications. Micronutrient imbalance is associated with many cardiovascular diseases, such as arrythmias, heart failure, and ischemic heart disease. It has been also observed in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), particularly in most severe patients. The relationship between cardiovascular diseases and COVID-19 is mutual: the latter triggers cardiovascular disease onset and worsening while patients with previous cardiovascular disease may develop a more severe form of COVID-19. In addition to the well-known pathophysiological mechanisms binding COVID-19 and cardiovascular diseases together, increasing importance is being given to the impact of micronutrient alterations, often present during COVID-19 and able to affect the balance responsible for a good functioning of the cardiovascular system. In particular, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, hyponatremia, and hypocalcemia are strongly associated with worse outcome, while vitamin A and D deficiency are associated with thromboembolic events in COVID-19. Thus, considering how frequent the cardiovascular involvement is in patients with COVID-19, and how it majorly affects their prognosis, this manuscript provides a comprehensive review on the role of micronutrient imbalance in the interconnection between COVID-19 and cardiovascular diseases.

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/16/3439

Outside the Safe Operating Space of a New Planetary Boundary for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) | Environmental Science & Technology

Outside the Safe Operating Space of a New Planetary Boundary for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) | Environmental Science & Technology


Outside the Safe Operating Space of a New Planetary Boundary for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
Ian T. Cousins*, Jana H. Johansson, Matthew E. Salter, Bo Sha, and Martin Scheringer
Cite this: Environ. Sci. Technol. 2022, 56, 16, 11172–11179
Publication Date:August 2, 2022
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c02765
Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

SUBJECTS:Deposition,Drinking water,
Abstract

It is hypothesized that environmental contamination by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) defines a separate planetary boundary and that this boundary has been exceeded. This hypothesis is tested by comparing the levels of four selected perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) (i.e., perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)) in various global environmental media (i.e., rainwater, soils, and surface waters) with recently proposed guideline levels. On the basis of the four PFAAs considered, it is concluded that (1) levels of PFOA and PFOS in rainwater often greatly exceed US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lifetime Drinking Water Health Advisory levels and the sum of the aforementioned four PFAAs (?4 PFAS) in rainwater is often above Danish drinking water limit values also based on ?4 PFAS; (2) levels of PFOS in rainwater are often above Environmental Quality Standard for Inland European Union Surface Water; and (3) atmospheric deposition also leads to global soils being ubiquitously contaminated and to be often above proposed Dutch guideline values. It is, therefore, concluded that the global spread of these four PFAAs in the atmosphere has led to the planetary boundary for chemical pollution being exceeded. Levels of PFAAs in atmospheric deposition are especially poorly reversible because of the high persistence of PFAAs and their ability to continuously cycle in the hydrosphere, including on sea spray aerosols emitted from the oceans. Because of the poor reversibility of environmental exposure to PFAS and their associated effects, it is vitally important that PFAS uses and emissions are rapidly restricted.

KEYWORDS:PFAS planetary boundary
Synopsis
A planetary boundary has been exceeded due to PFAS levels in environmental media being ubiquitously above guideline levels.

Introduction
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A recent review article in Science (1) highlighted the global threat posed by plastic pollution. These concerns were based on the high environmental persistence of plastics, the related “poor reversibility” and a range of potential effects. Other researchers, including ourselves, (2,3) have pointed out similar concerns related to highly persistent nonpolymeric substances, but these concerns are not equally obvious to the public compared to the concerns with plastics. The relatively high public concern regarding plastics is possibly driven by the visibility of plastic waste compared to nonpolymeric substances. (4) Clearly, both plastic pollution and pollution by highly persistent nonpolymeric substances lead to similar global problems. Persistence is generally seen as a less immediate hazardous property than toxicity, but it actually is the key factor that lets pollution problems spiral out of control. (2) This is because persistence enables chemicals to spread out over large distances, causes long-term, even life-long exposure, and leads to higher and higher levels in the environment as long as emissions continue. These increasing levels will with high probability sooner or later lead to adverse effects. Importantly, microplastic is under consideration for restriction in the EU because of the extreme persistence of plastics and the irreversibility of the exposure caused by plastic particles in the environment. (5)
Recently a group of scientists flagged the concerns regarding the inability of scientific analyses to keep pace with the amount of chemicals produced and released into the environment, (6) which limits the ability to discover new environmental threats in time. Others have similarly pointed out the need for precautionary chemicals managements; a notable example is the report, “Late Lessons from Early Warnings”, (7) where many historical examples of global contamination problems are provided, often associated with persistent chemicals.
A well-known class of pollutants, the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have also recently featured in a review in Science. (8) The vast majority of PFAS are highly persistent (based on the EU REACH definition whereby a substance is persistent if it is persistent itself or has persistent degradation products (9)), and this has been seen as basis for managing them as a chemical class. (3) While the review article in Science pointed out the ubiquity and high persistence of PFAS, it did not point out the current widespread and poorly reversible risks associated even with low-level PFAS exposures. It is hypothesized here that due to the global spread of PFAS, the irreversibility of exposure to PFAS, and the associated biological effects, a new planetary boundary for PFAS has been exceeded.
Unfortunately, although there are many thousands of substances defined as PFAS in use (PFAS include any substance with at least one ?CF2– or ?CF3 moiety in its structure (10)), the current understanding of biological impacts is based primarily on studies of four perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), namely, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). Whereas all PFAS can be grouped into a class on the basis of their high persistence, (3) it is not possible to group many of them according to biological risk because of a paucity of data on exposure and effects for most PFAS. (11) Therefore, because of data gaps, the analysis presented here is based only on the four PFAAs mentioned above. In the following, we provide four pieces of evidence to support the claim that, even considering only these four PFAAs, the new planetary boundary for PFAS has been exceeded.
In the planetary boundary concept, an attempt is made to estimate the boundaries for “a safe operating space for humanity with respect to the functioning of the Earth System”. (12,13) Chemical pollution was one of the original nine anthropogenic impacts for which planetary boundaries were postulated because it can influence Earth System functioning: “(i) through a global, ubiquitous impact on the physiological development and demography of humans and other organisms with ultimate impacts on ecosystem functioning and structure and (ii) by acting as a slow variable that affects other planetary boundaries.” (12,13) The “chemical pollution” boundary was renamed as the “novel entities” (NEs) boundary by Steffen et al., (14) where NEs are defined as “new substances, new forms of existing substances and modified life forms”, including “chemicals and other new types of engineered materials or organisms not previously known to the Earth system as well as naturally occurring elements (for example, heavy metals) mobilized by anthropogenic activities”. Several groups of scientists (6,15,16) have pointed out the challenges in quantifying the planetary boundary for NEs, and recently it was proposed to instead use various control variables to determine if the boundary is exceeded. (6) It is, in our opinion, an insurmountable task to quantify the boundary for all NEs because (1) there are critical data gaps for a large proportion of existing NEs, (2) NEs of various types and mixtures of NEs are continuously being generated and released to the environment, and (3) there are multiple possible effects (not only toxic effects) that individual NEs or groups/mixtures of NEs can cause. Several of the existing planetary boundaries are related to the release of NEs. For example, the boundaries for “stratospheric ozone depletion” and “climate change” address the release of ozone depleting substances and gases with global warming potential, respectively. Therefore, rather than being a single planetary boundary, the boundary for NEs can be thought of as a placeholder for multiple planetary boundaries for NEs that may emerge. It is argued here that PFAS define a new planetary boundary for NEs.
We argue that if drinking water health advisories and other guidelines designed to protect human health are exceeded due to the global environmental spread of PFAS, then there is a real danger of global health effects (e.g., affecting human physiology) occurring and that it can be argued that the planetary boundary for PFAS is exceeded. We do not deem it necessary to demonstrate the prevalence of global human health effects due to PFAS exposure to prove our hypothesis, and we hope that such widespread effects in the human population are never observed.
The US EPA Lifetime Drinking Water Health Advisories for PFOS and PFOA Are Often Lower than Their Respective Levels in Rainwater and the Danish Drinking Water Limit Value for ?4 PFAS Is Also Often Lower than the Level of ?4 PFAS in Rainwater
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In June 2022, the US Environmental Protection agency (EPA) announced the release of health advisories for four PFAS, including interim updated nonregulatory lifetime drinking water health advisories for PFOA and PFOS of 4 pg/L and 20 pg/L, respectively. (17) The US EPA health advisories identify the concentration of chemicals in drinking water at or below which adverse health effects are not anticipated to occur and, in divergence with previous advisories, are based on human epidemiology studies in populations exposed to these chemicals. The most sensitive noncancer effect and the basis for the risk assessment behind the interim updated health advisories for PFOA and PFOS is suppression of vaccine response (decreased serum antibody concentrations) in children. The US EPA’s previous nonregulatory lifetime drinking water health advisories were 70 ng/L for the sum of concentrations of PFOS and PFOA. In 2020, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published their Opinion on the risks to human health arising from the presence of PFAS in food (18) and proposed a group tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 4.4 ng/kg body weight for the sum of PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS, and PFOS. On the basis of the available studies in animals and humans, effects on the immune system were considered the most critical for the basis of the risk assessment. (18) In June 2021, on the basis of the TWI in the EFSA Opinion, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency tightened their drinking water limit values and announced that drinking water must not contain more than 2 ng/L of ?4 PFAAs. (19)
PFAS drinking water guidelines have progressively decreased over the last 22 years. (20) For example, in the US the PFOA drinking water guideline for West Virginia was 150?000 ng/L, (20) which is higher by a factor of 37.5 million than the recently announced US EPA drinking water lifetime advisory for PFOA of 4 pg/L. As a result of this decrease, international drinking water guidelines for PFAS are now close to, or even lower than, levels in precipitation. Humans residing in industrialized areas of the world do not often drink rainwater in modern life, but it should nevertheless be a reasonable expectation that the environment is clean enough that rainwater and mountain stream water fed by precipitation is safe to drink. Furthermore, in some parts of the world, notably in some arid and tropical regions, rainwater remains an important source of drinking water. (21)
In Figure 1, the levels of PFAS in precipitation are reviewed and compared to drinking water advisories for Denmark and the US EPA, which are the most stringent advisories known globally. The criteria for including/excluding studies for the selection shown in Figure 1 are (1) only studies which have precipitation samples are considered, (2) sampling and analysis was carried out after 2010, and (3) raw data or descriptive statistics (range and median or mean concentration) of the data were provided. Only data from 2010 or later were included because (1) these data are more recent and further from the 2000–2002 3M phase-out of long-chain PFAS chemistries and (2) there were large analytical improvements throughout the early 2000s as evidenced by the improvement in the fourth international interlaboratory study of 2011 compared to the three international interlaboratory studies conducted between 2004 and 2009. (22) Four precipitation studies were excluded because although the studies were published after 2010, the analysis was performed prior to 2010 (see Supporting Information).
Figure 1

Figure 1. Levels of (A) PFOA, (B) PFOS, and (C) ?4 PFAAs (PFOA + PFNA + PFHxS + PFOS) in wet deposition collected at various global locations from 2010 to the present. For one study, (24) it was not possible to derive median values and thus mean values are provided (indicated by *). The dashed line in (A) shows the US EPA health advisory for PFOA (0.004 ng/L), the dashed lines in (B) show the EU EQC for PFOS (i.e., 0.65 ng/L) and the US EPA health advisory for PFOS (i.e., 0.020 ng/L), and the dashed line in (C) shows the Danish drinking water guideline for ?4 PFAAs (i.e., 2 ng/L). Bars indicate median values, and the uncertainty bars indicate minimum and maximum values. Wet deposition measurements for ?4 PFAAs are ordered from high to low (from left to right) and sorted into four categories (“Fluoropolymer plant” indicates that samples were taken close to a fluoropolymer manufacturing plant; “Urban” indicates that samples were taken in cities or urbanized regions; “Rural” indicates that samples were taken in rural less-populated locations, and “Remote” indicates that samples were taken in regions with very low or nonexistent human populations). Some studies sampled wet deposition in multiple locations within one of the four categories, and thus data from these individual locations are grouped together in several bars. The raw data and a description of data treatment for figure preparation are provided in the Supporting Information.

In Figure 1A, the levels of PFOA in rainwater greatly exceed the US EPA drinking water health advisory for PFOA, even in remote areas (the lowest value for PFOA is for the Tibetan Plateau with a median of 55 pg/L, (23) which is approximately 14 times higher than the advisory). In Figure 1B, the levels of PFOS in rainwater are shown to often exceed the US EPA drinking water health advisory for PFOS, except for two studies conducted in remote regions (in Tibet and Antarctica). In Figure 1C, the levels of ?4 PFAAs in precipitation are reviewed, (23?34) and it is shown that, in populated regions (defined as “urban” and “rural” in Figure 1), the levels would often exceed the Danish limit values for drinking water. In remote regions, with low human populations, the ?4 PFAAs in rainwater also often exceeds the Danish drinking water limit value (Figure 1C). In Sweden, a national mapping of PFAS in municipal raw and drinking waters was undertaken in 2021. (35) About 49% of drinking waters in Sweden were found to contain ?PFAS > 5 ng/L, and it was shown that the 4 PFAAs that are included in EFSA’s risk assessment contributed a large fraction of the total PFAS measured. For comparison with the US, it was recently estimated (36) that at a concentration of 5 ng/L for combined PFOA + PFOS, 21?123 million people or 7?41% of the US population may have drinking water at or above that level, and at a concentration of 2.5 ng/L, it was estimated to be 76?205 million people or 25?68% of the population. The Swedish drinking water guideline for mitigation action (90 ng/L for ?11 PFAS) (37) was previously based on the 2008 EFSA Scientific Opinion on PFOS and PFOA (38) and was recently reduced to 4 ng/L ?4 PFAAs, (37) in light of the 2020 EFSA Opinion on PFAS. (18)
The US EPA health advisories seem not to be practically reachable without investment of huge cleanup costs in drinking water treatment plants given that most drinking water sources on the planet will have PFAS levels above the advisory levels. The US EPA health advisories are nonregulatory but demonstrating compliance to these guidelines would be an analytical challenge because modern methods are typically not able to achieve detection limits for PFOA below 4 pg/L in drinking water. Modern research laboratories have detection limits as low as 80 pg/L for PFOA and 100 pg/L for PFOS, respectively, in drinking water (39) and commercial laboratories tend to have much higher detection and quantification limits (e.g., Eurofins has quantification limits of about 1 ng/L for PFAS in water (40)). Achieving detection limits of <4 pg/L for PFOA in drinking water would be theoretically possible given that low pg/L levels have been previously measured in ocean water samples, even more than a decade ago. (41) Achieving such a low detection limit in drinking water would probably require extraction of larger than typical sample volumes and/or injection of larger extract volumes on the instrument. For example, the published method (39) that achieved 80 pg/L detection limits for PFOA was based on 10 mL samples and could be scaled to achieve <4 pg/L detection limits with larger sample volumes. It will also be important to have very low blank contamination because ultimately the blank levels and associated quality assurance will determine the detection limits that can be achieved.
The European Union (EU) Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) for PFOS for Freshwaters Is Often Lower than Levels in Rainwater
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In 2010, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in the Netherlands derived a risk-based maximum permissible concentration (MPC) for PFOS in freshwaters of 0.65 ng/L based on potential for secondary poisoning in humans due to fish consumption. (42) The MPC is a guideline level and it is defined as “the level at which no harmful effects are expected, based on annual average concentrations”. In 2013, PFOS and its derivatives were included in Directive 2013/39/EU and thus considered “Priority Hazardous Substances” under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) (2000/60/EC). Environmental Quality Standards (EQC) were, then, set for PFOS and its derivatives for freshwaters, marine waters, and biota. The EU annual average environmental quality standard (AA-EQS) for PFOS in Inland EU Surface Water was set at 0.65 ng/L, following the same reasoning used previously by RIVM. It is known that concentrations of PFOS in freshwaters regularly exceed the EQS, (43,44) but potentially of more concern is that the levels of PFOS in rainwater are equal to, or even exceed the EQS. As can be seen in Figure 1A), the levels of PFOS in rainwater in populated regions in the northern hemisphere in some cases exceed, or are close to, the EQC of 0.65 ng/L. Therefore, regardless of wastewater inputs to freshwaters, the EQC for PFOS will likely always be approached in populated regions, and often exceeded, as a result of the widespread presence of PFOS in atmospheric deposition.
Recently, authorities in the Stockholm metropolitan region have advised the public not to eat fish from lakes in the region. (45) This was not based on exceedance of the 0.65 ng/L EQS for PFOS and associated secondary poisoning but rather on exceedance of a temporary action level for fish of 9.1 ng/g PFOS set by the Swedish Food Agency. (37) The Swedish action level is considered temporary because it will be revised in the near future (37) according to the 2020 EFSA Scientific Opinion on the risks to human health arising from the presence of PFAS in food. (18) Given that the EU freshwater EQC is based on secondary consumption in humans because of fish consumption, there are grounds for revising the EQS based on the recent EFSA Opinion. (18) Such a revision of the freshwater EQS would likely result in a further reduction in its level and in basing the EQS on the sum of PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS, and PFOS.
The Dutch Guidelines for PFAS in Soils and Dredging Material Were Impossible to Apply Due to the Ubiquity of PFAS in Atmospheric Deposition
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Recent guidelines set in July 2018 by the infrastructure ministry in the Netherlands stated that soil and dredging material should not contain concentrations of >0.1 ?g/kg dry weight (dw) of either PFOS or PFOA. (46) As the levels of PFAS in soils often exceeded these guideline values, 70% of building projects involving soil removal and filling with excavated material were halted in the Netherlands. (47) Following builders’ protests, the Dutch government relaxed the guidelines. (48) Only a few studies have reported levels of PFAS in soils that have no known local PFAS source nearby. For example, Rankin et al. reported median PFOS and PFOA concentrations of 0.47 and 0.12 ?g/kg dw for global soils, (49) whereas Sörengård et al. reported median PFOS and PFOA concentrations of 0.39 and 0.38 ?g/kg dw in Swedish forest soils. (50) These reported soil levels illustrate the impossibility of complying with the Dutch guidelines before they were revised upward. The background soil contamination with PFAS is again a result of the environmental ubiquity of PFAAs in atmospheric deposition. If soils are amended with sewage sludge or biosolids, which is a common practice in agriculture in many countries, then soil levels will be further elevated and PFAS can leach to contaminate surface water and groundwater, including drinking water sources. On the basis of concerns regarding PFAS soil contamination, the US State of Maine passed a bill banning the use of biosolids in land applications unless, in the unlikely case, they could be shown to be PFAS free. (51)
The Cycling of PFAAs in the World’s Hydrosphere Means That Levels of PFAAs in Rainwater Will Be Practically Irreversible
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Until recently, the common belief was that PFAAs would eventually wash off into the oceans where they would stay to be diluted over the time scale of decades. (52) A recent study, (53) however, has provided evidence that certain PFAS, notably the long-chain PFAAs, which include the 4 PFAAs included in EFSA’s TWI, can be significantly enriched on sea spray aerosols (SSA) and transported in the atmosphere back to shore where they will be deposited and contaminate freshwaters, drinking waters and surface soils.
This continual global cycling of PFAAs in the hydrosphere will lead to the continued exceedance of the above-mentioned guidelines. This finding is particularly worrying because (1) guideline values based on biological effects have continually decreased (20) and may not yet have reached the bottom as more scientific evidence emerges, (2) guidelines are currently based on only a few of the substances in the large PFAS class, (10) and (3) there is no evidence for the decline in environmental concentrations and thus environmentally derived exposures of PFAS. (54)
Discussion
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PFAS are a planetary boundary problem based on the criteria outlined by MacLeod et al., (55) namely, (1) the diffuse PFAS pollution is global in its scale, (2) the effects are only now being discovered after the pollutants are already globally spread, and (3) now that the effects have been discovered they are poorly reversible or irreversible. As with most chemicals in use, (6) because of the lack of information, it is impossible to make a full assessment of the planetary boundary threat for the many thousands of PFAS in the class. Nevertheless, based on the four PFAAs considered here, it is concluded that in many areas inhabited by humans the planetary boundary for PFAS has been exceeded based on the levels in rainwater, surface water and soil, with all of these media being widely contaminated above recently proposed guideline levels. Although the global emissions of these 4 PFAAs have been reduced in recent years in most countries, (5256) these substances continue to remain in the environment due to their high persistence and will continually cycle in the hydrosphere.

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.2c02765#

l-Theanine Prevents Long-Term Affective and Cognitive Side Effects of Adolescent ?-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure and Blocks Associated Molecular and Neuronal Abnormalities in the Mesocorticolimbic Circuitry – PubMed

l-Theanine Prevents Long-Term Affective and Cognitive Side Effects of Adolescent ?-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure and Blocks Associated Molecular and Neuronal Abnormalities in the Mesocorticolimbic Circuitry – PubMed

Chronic adolescent exposure to ?-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is linked to elevated neuropsychiatric risk and induces neuronal, molecular and behavioral abnormalities resembling neuropsychiatric endophenotypes. Previous evidence has revealed that the mesocorticolimbic circuitry, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and mesolimbic dopamine (DA) pathway are particularly susceptible to THC-induced pathologic alterations, including dysregulation of DAergic activity states, loss of PFC GABAergic inhibitory control and affective and cognitive abnormalities. There are currently limited pharmacological intervention strategies capable of preventing THC-induced neuropathological adaptations. l-Theanine is an amino acid analog of l-glutamate and l-glutamine derived from various plant sources, including green tea leaves. l-Theanine has previously been shown to modulate levels of GABA, DA, and glutamate in various neural regions and to possess neuroprotective properties. Using a preclinical model of adolescent THC exposure in male rats, we report that l-theanine pretreatment before adolescent THC exposure is capable of preventing long-term, THC-induced dysregulation of both PFC and VTA DAergic activity states, a neuroprotective effect that persists into adulthood. In addition, pretreatment with l-theanine blocked THC-induced downregulation of local GSK-3 (glycogen synthase kinase 3) and Akt signaling pathways directly in the PFC, two biomarkers previously associated with cannabis-related psychiatric risk and subcortical DAergic dysregulation. Finally, l-theanine powerfully blocked the development of both affective and cognitive abnormalities commonly associated with adolescent THC exposure, further demonstrating functional and long-term neuroprotective effects of l-theanine in the mesocorticolimbic system.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT With the increasing trend of cannabis legalization and consumption during adolescence, it is essential to expand knowledge on the potential effects of adolescent cannabis exposure on brain development and identify potential pharmacological strategies to minimize ?-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-induced neuropathology. Previous evidence demonstrates that adolescent THC exposure induces long-lasting affective and cognitive abnormalities, mesocorticolimbic dysregulation, and schizophrenia-like molecular biomarkers that persist into adulthood. We demonstrate for the first time that l-theanine, an amino acid analog of l-glutamate and l-glutamine, is capable of preventing long-term THC side effects. l-Theanine prevented the development of THC-induced behavioral aberrations, blocked cortical downregulation of local GSK-3 (glycogen synthase kinase 3) and Akt signaling pathways, and normalized dysregulation of both PFC and VTA DAergic activity, demonstrating powerful and functional neuroprotective effects against THC-induced developmental neuropathology.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33268546/

Nutrients | Free Full-Text | Nootropics as Cognitive Enhancers: Types, Dosage and Side Effects of Smart Drugs | HTML

Nutrients | Free Full-Text | Nootropics as Cognitive Enhancers: Types, Dosage and Side Effects of Smart Drugs | HTML

Nootropics, also known as “smart drugs” are a diverse group of medicinal substances whose action improves human thinking, learning, and memory, especially in cases where these functions are impaired. This review provides an up-to-date overview of the potential effectiveness and importance of nootropics. Based on their nature and their effects, this heterogeneous group of drugs has been divided into four subgroups: classical nootropic compounds, substances increasing brain metabolism, cholinergic, and plants and their extracts with nootropic effects. Each subgroup of nootropics contains several main representatives, and for each one, its uses, indications, experimental treatments, dosage, and possible side effects and contraindications are discussed. For the nootropic plant extracts, there is also a brief description of each plant representative, its occurrence, history, and chemical composition of the medicinal part. Lastly, specific recommendations regarding the use of nootropics by both ill and healthy individuals are summarized.

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/16/3367/htm

Frontiers | Autism As a Disorder of High Intelligence

Discussion
Risk and expression of autism is mediated by alterations to adaptive, evolved cognitive systems, and human intelligence represents one of the most important and pervasive changes along the human lineage and a principal source of cognitive variation among individuals. In this article, I have described the novel paradox that autism is positively genetically correlated with high intelligence, even though individuals with autism tend to have substantially lower IQs than controls. I then evaluated the idea that the paradox can be resolved under the hypothesis that autism involves high yet imbalanced intelligence, such that some or most components of intelligence are increased, but in such a way that overall performance is often reduced. This hypothesis extends previous studies of intelligence in relation to autism (e.g., Dawson et al., 2007; Hayashi et al., 2008; Nader et al., 2016) by providing the first comprehensive integration of the study of intelligence with the study of this condition, in the context of a novel “high and imbalanced intelligence” model that provides specific predictions and guidance for future work. The primary conclusions and implications from testing the hypothesis are four-fold.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2016.00300/full

Comparative harms assessments for cannabis, alcohol, and tobacco: Risk for psychosis, cognitive impairment, and traffic accident – Petter Grahl Johnstad, 2022

Comparative harms assessments for cannabis, alcohol, and tobacco: Risk for psychosis, cognitive impairment, and traffic accident – Petter Grahl Johnstad, 2022

Among the respondents this study regarded as high cannabis users, however, there was also an increased risk for schizophrenia associated with cigarette smoking (relative risk 6.1) and alcohol consumption (relative risk 6.5). This points to a challenge for such epidemiological studies, namely that it is difficult to separate the effects from cannabis, tobacco, and alcohol because of extensive overlaps in use.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20503245221095228?fbclid=IwAR3zKTynBrF-_DXt80WA6dGvvlrWiSbeE0qSzpFUTUbAWDuU2AHr-dcPl_8&

Frontiers | ADHD and Neurodegenerative Disease Risk: A Critical Examination of the Evidence

Frontiers | ADHD and Neurodegenerative Disease Risk: A Critical Examination of the Evidence

These studies present first evidence of a link between ADHD and risk of dementia, specific to LBD. Strengths include well-powered analyses and extensive follow-up periods (>10 years) in most studies. However, six (Curtin et al., 2018; Fluegge and Fluegge, 2018; Tzeng et al., 2019; Fan et al., 2020; Du Rietz et al., 2021; Zhang et al., 2021) rely on ICD diagnostic codes extracted from electronic health records, and there are limitations around the validity and accuracy of these codes, particularly for a disorder that is notoriously difficult to detect in adults (Newcorn et al., 2007; Ginsberg et al., 2014). The remaining two (Walitza et al., 2007; Golimstok et al., 2011) are limited by potentially biased and inaccurate self-reported retrospective childhood ADHD symptoms in small samples of cognitively impaired participants.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2021.826213/full

Dietary choline intake is necessary to prevent systems-wide organ pathology and reduce Alzheimers disease hallmarks

Dietary choline intake is necessary to prevent systems-wide organ pathology and reduce Alzheimers disease hallmarks

Choline is an essential chemical pathway, and should be supplemented if you are taking any b vitamins. In fact every good b complex will include it.

Dietary choline intake is necessary to prevent systems-wide organ pathology and reduce Alzheimers disease hallmarks https://link.researcher-app.com/tmZV – via Researcher (@ResearcherApp)

Combination therapy of glycation lowering compounds reduces caloric intake, improves insulin sensitivity and extends lifespan. | bioRxiv

Combination therapy of glycation lowering compounds reduces caloric intake, improves insulin sensitivity and extends lifespan. | bioRxiv

Administration of Gly-Low reduced food consumption and body weight, improving insulin sensitivity and survival in both leptin receptor deficient (Lepr db) and wildtype C57 control mouse models. Unlike calorie restriction, Gly-Low inhibited ghrelin-mediated hunger responses and upregulated Tor pathway signaling in the hypothalamus. Gly-Low also extended lifespan when administered as a late life intervention, suggesting its potential benefits in ameliorating age-associated decline by inducing voluntary calorie restriction and reducing glycation.

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.08.10.503411v1

Red blood cell omega-3 fatty acids and attention scores in healthy adolescents

Red blood cell omega-3 fatty acids and attention scores in healthy adolescents

Overall, our results suggest that DHA (reflecting its dietary intake) is associated with attention performance in typically developing adolescents. The role of dietary ALA in attention is less clear, although higher blood levels of ALA appear to result in lower impulsivity. Future intervention studies are needed to determine the causality of these associations and to better shape dietary recommendations for brain health during the adolescence period.

Red blood cell omega-3 fatty acids and attention scores in healthy adolescents https://link.researcher-app.com/CPZ4 – via Researcher (@ResearcherApp)

Therapeutic potential of Short Chain Fatty acid production by gut microbiota in Neurodegenerative disorders

Therapeutic potential of Short Chain Fatty acid production by gut microbiota in Neurodegenerative disorders

The current systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that dietary fermentation of non-digestible fibers leads to the production of SCFA (Short Chain Fatty Acids) by gut microbiota. Moreover, they directly act on the central nervous system and inhibit the progression of different neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson Disease (PD), Alzheimer Disease (AD) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). SCFAs act by activating cellular antioxidants and inhibiting inflammation. The properties of SCFAs depend on the G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR), histone deacetylases (HDAC) & peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR?) and regulatory T cells (Tregs) activation.

Therapeutic potential of Short Chain Fatty acid production by gut microbiota in Neurodegenerative disorders https://link.researcher-app.com/Kr8N – via Researcher (@ResearcherApp)

Will psychedelics be ‘a revolution in psychiatry’?

Will psychedelics be ‘a revolution in psychiatry’?

This review provides a brief discussion on the historical use of psychedelic medicines, the status of the empirical evidence, and numerous significant policy considerations that must be thoughtfully addressed regarding standards of practice, consumer protection, development of data standards, safeguarding access, and community education which supports the responsible, accountable, safe, and ethical uses of these medicines in clinical, faith-based, and other contexts. We provide suggestions for how public health and harm reduction can be supported through a public-private partnership that engages a community of stakeholders from various disciplines in the co-creation and dissemination of best practices and public policies.

Will psychedelics be ‘a revolution in psychiatry’? https://link.researcher-app.com/yajk – via Researcher (@ResearcherApp)

Hedgehog signaling reprograms hair follicle niche fibroblasts to a hyper-activated state: Developmental Cell

Hedgehog signaling reprograms hair follicle niche fibroblasts to a hyper-activated state: Developmental Cell

Highlights

Hedgehog signaling in murine fibroblasts induces new hair growth and hair multiplication

Hedgehog activation increases fibroblast heterogeneity and drives new cell states

TGF-? pathway downstream of dermal Hedgehog mediates hair growth hyper-activation

SCUBE3 is a new mesenchymal niche factor that activates hair growth

https://www.cell.com/developmental-cell/fulltext/S1534-5807(22)00414-2?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS1534580722004142%3Fshowall%3Dtrue

Imbalanced gut microbiota fuels hepatocellular carcinoma development by shaping the hepatic inflammatory microenvironment | Nature Communications

Imbalanced gut microbiota fuels hepatocellular carcinoma development by shaping the hepatic inflammatory microenvironment | Nature Communications

This study demonstrates that gut microbiota closely shapes the hepatic inflammatory microenvironment opening approaches for cancer prevention and therapy.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-31312-5

A Synthetic Hydrogel Composite with a Strength and Wear Resistance Greater than Cartilage – Zhao – Advanced Functional Materials – Wiley Online Library

A Synthetic Hydrogel Composite with a Strength and Wear Resistance Greater than Cartilage – Zhao – Advanced Functional Materials – Wiley Online Library

Key hurdles for replacing damaged cartilage with an equivalent synthetic construct are the development of a hydrogel with a strength that exceeds that of cartilage and fixation of this hydrogel onto the surface of an articulating joint.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adfm.202205662

Does LSD make you smarter? New study suggests it promotes learning and memory

Does LSD make you smarter? New study suggests it promotes learning and memory

Researchers grew tiny brain tissue in their lab, which they exposed to solutions containing the powerful psychedelic drug LSD. Under the microscope, the scientists could see evidence that LSD enhances neuroplasticity — the capacity of neurons and neural networks in the brain to change their connections and behavior in response to new information. Subsequent investigations also showed LSD made rats more eager to explore and improved memory in humans.

Does LSD make you smarter? New study suggests it promotes learning and memory https://link.researcher-app.com/wsFA – via Researcher (@ResearcherApp)

Effects of anthocyanin-rich supplementation on cognition of the cognitively healthy middle-aged and older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Effects of anthocyanin-rich supplementation on cognition of the cognitively healthy middle-aged and older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Effects of anthocyanin-rich supplementation on cognition of the cognitively healthy middle-aged and older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials https://link.researcher-app.com/fztE – via Researcher (@ResearcherApp)

Inconsistencies between national drug policy and professional beliefs about psychoactive drugs among psychiatrists in the United States

Inconsistencies between national drug policy and professional beliefs about psychoactive drugs among psychiatrists in the United States

American psychiatrists’ perceptions about safety and abuse/therapeutic potentials associated with certain psychoactive drugs were inconsistent with those indicated by their placement in drug schedules. These findings add to a growing consensus amongst experts that the current drug policy is not scientifically coherent.

Inconsistencies between national drug policy and professional beliefs about psychoactive drugs among psychiatrists in the United States https://link.researcher-app.com/4zsJ – via Researcher (@ResearcherApp)

A New Theory in Physics Claims to Solve the Mystery of Consciousness – Neuroscience News

A New Theory in Physics Claims to Solve the Mystery of Consciousness – Neuroscience News

Consciousness can not simply be reduced to neural activity alone, researchers say. A novel study reports the dynamics of consciousness may be understood by a newly developed conceptual and mathematical framework.

https://neurosciencenews.com/physics-consciousness-21222/

Backyard hens’ eggs contain 40 times more lead on average than shop eggs, research finds

Backyard hens’ eggs contain 40 times more lead on average than shop eggs, research finds

Highlights

Trace element sources and exposures in gardens, chickens and eggs assessed.


Soil Pb is significantly associated to chicken Pb exposure and egg Pb concentrations.


Older, inner cities homes more likely to be impacted with elevated Pb values.


Soil Pb needs to be < 117 mg/kg to retain egg Pb < 100 ?g/kg.


Commercial eggs have lower concentrations of most trace elements, especially Pb.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749122010120?via%3Dihub

Next steps for the xenotransplantation of pig organs into humans

Next steps for the xenotransplantation of pig organs into humans

Pigs offer a potentially plentiful supply of organs for humans, but widespread xenotransplantation will require a collaborative and iterative approach to research, as well as involvement of transplant patients and the public.

Next steps for the xenotransplantation of pig organs into humans https://link.researcher-app.com/9X7B – via Researcher (@ResearcherApp)

Individualization of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder treatment: pharmacotherapy considerations by age and co-occurring conditions

Individualization of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder treatment: pharmacotherapy considerations by age and co-occurring conditions

One publication to explain all medications related to treatment of adhd by age.

Individualization of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder treatment: pharmacotherapy considerations by age and co-occurring conditions https://link.researcher-app.com/sgkq – via Researcher (@ResearcherApp)

The Potential Influence of the Bacterial Microbiome on the Development and Progression of ADHD

The Potential Influence of the Bacterial Microbiome on the Development and Progression of ADHD

The latest research cumulates staggering information about the correlation between the microbiota-gut-brain axis and neurodevelopmental disorders. This review aims to shed light on the potential influence of the microbiome on the development of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disease, attention-deficit-hyperactive disorder (ADHD). As the etiology and pathophysiology of ADHD are still unclear, finding viable biomarkers and effective treatment still represent a challenge. Therefore, we focused on factors that have been associated with a higher risk of developing ADHD, while simultaneously influencing the microbial composition. We reviewed the effect of a differing microbial makeup on neurotransmitter concentrations important in the pathophysiology of ADHD. Additionally, we deduced factors that correlate with a high prevalence of ADHD, while simultaneously affecting the gut microbiome, such as emergency c-sections, and premature birth as the former leads to a decrease of the gut microbial diversity and the latter causes neuroprotective Lactobacillus levels to be reduced. Also, we assessed nutritional influences, such as breastfeeding, ingestion of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on the host?s microbiome and development of ADHD. Finally, we discussed the potential significance of Bifidobacterium as a biomarker for ADHD, the importance of preventing premature birth as prophylaxis and nutrition as a prospective therapeutic measurement against ADHD.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6893446/

Current Evidence on the Role of the Gut Microbiome in ADHD Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Implications – PubMed

Current Evidence on the Role of the Gut Microbiome in ADHD Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Implications – PubMed

Studies suggest that the bidirectional relationship existent between the gut microbiome (GM) and the central nervous system (CNS), or so-called the microbiome-gut-brain axis (MGBA), is involved in diverse neuropsychiatric diseases in children and adults. In pediatric age, most studies have focused on patients with autism. However, evidence of the role played by the MGBA in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in childhood, is still scanty and heterogeneous.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33467150/

Analysis of the therapeutic effect of Dimu Ningshen (TCM formula) on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder based on gut microbiota and serum metabolomics

Analysis of the therapeutic effect of Dimu Ningshen (TCM formula) on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder based on gut microbiota and serum metabolomics

DMNS has a good effect in treating ADHD, and it may exert this effect by regulating the gut microbiota and affecting metabolites in the peripheral circulation.

Analysis of the therapeutic effect of Dimu Ningshen (TCM formula) on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder based on gut microbiota and serum metabolomics https://link.researcher-app.com/kZmz – via Researcher (@ResearcherApp)

ADHD & Autism: Similarities, Differences, & Treating Co-Occurences

ADHD & Autism: Similarities, Differences, & Treating Co-Occurences

“Both autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are conditions where the development of the brain has been affected in some way. This is known as a neurodevelopment disorder.

This means that both ASD and ADHD affect the central nervous system, potentially impacting social and focusing skills, language, movement, and memory. Much research has established that the two conditions typically coexist in patients, but there is no conclusive evidence to suggest why this is.”

https://www.elemy.com/studio/mood-disorders/adhd-and-autism/

Twice Exceptional: Gifted & Challenged with ADHD and More

Twice Exceptional: Gifted & Challenged with ADHD and More

“Twice exceptional” (2e) is the term used to describe intellectually gifted children with great potential for academic achievement who also have a learning disability or neurological challenge, like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD). Their exceptional intellectual abilities of 2e students are often masked or obscured by one or several conditions (or vice versa), making them one of the least recognized and supported populations.

https://www.additudemag.com/twice-exceptional-adhd-signs/

Low-Level Laser (Light) Therapy (LLLT) in Skin: Stimulating, Healing, Restoring – SCMSJournal.com

Low-Level Laser (Light) Therapy (LLLT) in Skin: Stimulating, Healing, Restoring – SCMSJournal.com

Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) is a fast-growing technology used to treat a multitude of conditions that require stimulation of healing, relief of pain and inflammation, and restoration of function. Although skin is naturally exposed to light more than any other organ, it still responds well to red and near-infrared wavelengths. The photons are absorbed by mitochondrial chromophores in skin cells. Consequently, electron transport, adenosine triphosphate nitric oxide release, blood flow, reactive oxygen species increase, and diverse signaling pathways are activated. Stem cells can be activated, allowing increased tissue repair and healing. In dermatology, LLLT has beneficial effects on wrinkles, acne scars, hypertrophic scars, and healing of burns.

https://www.scmsjournal.com/article/abstract/low-level-laser-light-therapy-lllt-in-skin-stimulating-healing-restoring/

Nitric oxide signaling in health and disease

Nitric oxide signaling in health and disease

The surprising discovery that the diatomic gas nitric oxide (NO) is generated by mammalian cells and serves to regulate a multitude of physiological processes has continued to fascinate biologists for almost four decades. The biochemistry of NO is complex, and novel insights into the control of NO biosynthesis and mechanisms of signal transduction are continuously emerging. NO is a key regulator of cardiovascular function, metabolism, neurotransmission, immunity, and more, and aberrant NO signaling is a central feature of many major disorders including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Here, we discuss the basics of NO biology emphasizing recent advances in the field including novel means of increasing NO bioactivity with therapeutic and nutritional implications.

Nitric oxide signaling in health and disease https://link.researcher-app.com/aSxM – via Researcher (@ResearcherApp)

The serotonin theory of depression: a systematic umbrella review of the evidence | Molecular Psychiatry

The serotonin theory of depression: a systematic umbrella review of the evidence | Molecular Psychiatry

The main areas of serotonin research provide no consistent evidence of there being an association between serotonin and depression, and no support for the hypothesis that depression is caused by lowered serotonin activity or concentrations. Some evidence was consistent with the possibility that long-term antidepressant use reduces serotonin concentration.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01661-0

L-Tyrosine+L-Theanine +Coffee bean&berry as Possible ADHD treatment pathway

L-Tyrosine+L-Theanine +Coffee bean&berry as Possible ADHD treatment pathway

Personal anecdote/not sponsored:

In our quest to find the most effective and healthy options in treating conditions, we’ve come across an interesting supplement based mainly on caffine, coffee beans, L-theanine, and L-tyrosine.

Our head researcher has both ADHD and ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Traditional medication used in ADHD treatment has been deficient, until now.

The clarity and calm that is had via this particular supplement has made one of the single biggest changes for him. This may be an option for others wishing to find a more effective treatment, or to make a change away from their current regime.

As always, exercise caution when making changes to your medication, and discuss with your health care professionals.


A closer look at the key nootropics:

Alpha GPC (L-Alpha Glycerylphosphorylcholine) – a cholinergic compound that regulates a neurotransmitter called Acetylcholine, that supports physical and mental performance.
Huperzine A – a compound found in Chinese club moss, increases the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine, supporting memory, focus and brain health.
Ginseng – derived from a fleshy plant root; Ginseng is natural energy support used in Chinese medicine for centuries. This herb can help sharpen your mind and support relaxation simultaneously.
L-Theanine – if you’ve had green tea, you’ve had L-Theanine! This amino acid helps give you a mental boost without the jitters and is now a popular component of many pre-workout formulas.
L-Tyrosine – Your neurotransmitters (such as Dopamine) rely on nonessential amino acids like L-Tyrosine. It assists communication between nerve cells, helping your brain to function with clarity and assisting the healthy stress response.
Bacopa Monnieri (Brahmi) – traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine, this herb supports focus, learning and memory.

https://athleticsport.com.au/blogs/blog/what-are-the-best-nootropics

https://athleticsport.com.au/collections/all/products/nootopia-nootropic

References

Bellar D, LeBlanc NR, Campbell B. The effect of 6 days of alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine on isometric strength. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015;12:42. Published 2015 Nov 17. doi:10.1186/s12970-015-0103-x

Frank, K., Patel, K., Lopez, G. and Willis, B., 2020. Theanine Research Analysis. [online] Examine.com.

Here, S., Guide, N., Nootropics, L., Nootropics, B. and Take, W., 2020. The Definitive Guide To Nootropics – Nootropics Expert. [online] Nootropicsexpert.com.

Parker, A.G., Byars, A., Purpura, M. et al. The effects of Alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine, caffeine or placebo on markers of mood, cognitive function, power, speed, and agility. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 12, P41 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-12-S1-P41

Noor Azuin Suliman, Che Norma Mat Taib, Mohamad Aris Mohd Moklas, Mohd Ilham Adenan, Mohamad Taufik Hidayat Baharuldin, Rusliza Basir, “Establishing Natural Nootropics: Recent Molecular Enhancement Influenced by Natural Nootropic”,Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2016, Article ID 4391375, 12 pages, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/4391375

The mitochondrial NAD+ transporter SLC25A51 is a fasting-induced gene affecting SIRT3 functions – Metabolism – Clinical and Experimental

The mitochondrial NAD+ transporter SLC25A51 is a fasting-induced gene affecting SIRT3 functions – Metabolism – Clinical and Experimental

Highlights

The mitochondrial NAD+ transporter Slc25a51 is a fasting-induced gene.

Liver Slc25a51 is regulated by circadian rhythm and is a target of BMAL1.

Reduced Slc25a51 expression suppressed mitochondrial NAD+ levels and SIRT3 activity in hepatocytes and the liver.

Reduced Slc25a51 expression suppressed oxygen consumption rate in hepatocytes.

Reduced hepatic Slc25a51 expression caused fatty liver and hypertriglyceridemia in mice

https://www.metabolismjournal.com/article/S0026-0495(22)00153-6/fulltext

Working Conditions, Work Productivity, Quality of Life, and Depressive Symptoms in Undiagnosed Adults with and without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Working Conditions, Work Productivity, Quality of Life, and Depressive Symptoms in Undiagnosed Adults with and without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Productivity was improved among all participants during the COVID-19 pandemic, contrary to expectations. However, adults with ADHD symptoms consistently had lower productivity, poorer QOL, and more depressive symptoms than those without ADHD symptoms.

Working Conditions, Work Productivity, Quality of Life, and Depressive Symptoms in Undiagnosed Adults with and without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic https://link.researcher-app.com/TFUE – via Researcher (@ResearcherApp)

Cognitive deficit in adults with ADHD lies in the cognitive state disorder rather than the working memory deficit: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study

Cognitive deficit in adults with ADHD lies in the cognitive state disorder rather than the working memory deficit: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study

This study tested whether cognitive deficit in patients with adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a working memory deficit or cognitive state disorder during the N-back task. Twenty-two adults with ADHD and twenty-four healthy controls participated in the N-back task. The functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was combined with three perspectives from behavioral and spatial and temporal activation characteristics of blood oxygen levels in the prefrontal cortex to examine the psychological and neuroprocessing characteristics of adult ADHD. Data were acquired using a block design during an N-back task with three memory loads. Visual stimuli were presented on a computer monitor. Behaviorally, response time and accuracy showed no significant differences between the two groups. Spatially, in the left orbitofrontal area and the left frontopolar area (Channels 4 and 11), adult ADHD had significantly higher activation levels of oxyHb in the 2-back task and lower activation levels of deoxyHb in the 3-back task than healthy controls (corrected p?<?0.05). Therefore, Channel 4 in the 2-back condition and Channel 11 in the 3-back condition were used as the regions of interest (ROI). Temporally, adults with ADHD peaked earlier in the ROIs than healthy controls. Furthermore, working memory deficit was not found directly from the behavioral performance in adult ADHD. However, adult ADHD can be affected by memory load, task duration, and novelty stimulus. Our findings suggest that patients with adult ADHD have cognitive state disorder instead of working memory deficit.

Cognitive deficit in adults with ADHD lies in the cognitive state disorder rather than the working memory deficit: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study https://link.researcher-app.com/wbqx – via Researcher (@ResearcherApp)

Supplementation with NAD+ and Its Precursors to Prevent Cognitive Decline across Disease Contexts

Supplementation with NAD+ and Its Precursors to Prevent Cognitive Decline across Disease Contexts

The preservation of cognitive ability by increasing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels through supplementation with NAD+ precursors has been identified as a promising treatment strategy for a number of conditions; principally, age-related cognitive decline (including Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia), but also diabetes, stroke, and traumatic brain injury. Candidate factors have included NAD+ itself, its reduced form NADH, nicotinamide (NAM), nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), nicotinamide riboside (NR), and niacin (or nicotinic acid). This review summarises the research findings for each source of cognitive impairment for which NAD+ precursor supplementation has been investigated as a therapy. The findings are mostly positive but have been made primarily in animal models, with some reports of null or adverse effects. Given the increasing popularity and availability of these factors as nutritional supplements, further properly controlled clinical research is needed to provide definitive answers regarding this strategy’s likely impact on human cognitive health when used to address different sources of impairment.

Supplementation with NAD+ and Its Precursors to Prevent Cognitive Decline across Disease Contexts https://link.researcher-app.com/UR94 – via Researcher (@ResearcherApp)

Consumption of Omega-3 and Maintenance and Incidence of Depressive Episodes: The ELSA-Brasil Study

Consumption of Omega-3 and Maintenance and Incidence of Depressive Episodes: The ELSA-Brasil Study

Depression affects 264 million persons in the world, accounting for some 4.3% of the global burden of disease. Current studies indicate that the decrease in the consumption of omega-3 food sources is associated with the increasing incidence of depression. The study aims to assess the association between the consumption of omega-3 and the maintenance and incidence of depressive episodes in adults (39–64 years) and elderly adults (>65 years). This was a longitudinal study using data from the baseline and first follow-up wave of the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Depressive episodes were obtained with the Clinical Interview Schedule Revised (CIS-R), and food consumption was measured with the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Logistic regression was used to analyze associations between the consumption of omega-3 and depressive episodes. Fatty acids from the omega-3 family showed a protective effect against the maintenance of depressive episodes. In relation to incidence, the estimates suggest that the higher the consumption of omega-3 acids, the lower the risk of developing depressive episodes, and significant associations were found between the consumption of omega-3 and alpha-linolenic acid. Dietary consumption of omega-3, DHA, EPA, DPA, and alpha linolenic fatty acids may have a protective effect against the maintenance and incidence of depressive episodes.

Consumption of Omega-3 and Maintenance and Incidence of Depressive Episodes: The ELSA-Brasil Study https://link.researcher-app.com/EhnP – via Researcher (@ResearcherApp)

Beyond the hypothalamus: roles for insulin as a regulator of neurotransmission, motivation, and feeding

Beyond the hypothalamus: roles for insulin as a regulator of neurotransmission, motivation, and feeding

In individuals of healthy weight, intranasal insulin can enhance cognition and decision-making; these effects are dissociable from insulin’s ability to regulate blood glucose. Furthermore, rising rates of obesity and type II diabetes, diseases characterized by elevated insulin and blunted insulin signaling, highlight the need to understand insulin’s effects on neurophysiology [1]. However, despite expression of insulin receptors throughout the brain, little is known about its effects on neural function and resulting behavior (see ref. [2] for review). For example, in humans and rodents, actions of insulin in the brain decrease food intake, but the mechanisms are undefined; the same is true for insulin’s cognitive-enhancing properties, with or without obesity.

Beyond the hypothalamus: roles for insulin as a regulator of neurotransmission, motivation, and feeding https://link.researcher-app.com/w2JM – via Researcher (@ResearcherApp)

Epigenetics and ADHD: Reflections on Current Knowledge, Research Priorities and Translational Potential

Epigenetics and ADHD: Reflections on Current Knowledge, Research Priorities and Translational Potential

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common and debilitating neurodevelopmental disorder influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, typically identified in the school-age years but hypothesized to have developmental origins beginning in utero. To improve current strategies for prediction, prevention and treatment, a central challenge is to delineate how, at a molecular level, genetic and environmental influences jointly shape ADHD risk, phenotypic presentation, and developmental course. Epigenetic processes that regulate gene expression, such as DNA methylation, have emerged as a promising molecular system in the search for both biomarkers and mechanisms to address this challenge.

Epigenetics and ADHD: Reflections on Current Knowledge, Research Priorities and Translational Potential https://link.researcher-app.com/DmeY – via Researcher (@ResearcherApp)

Therapeutic effects of growth factor cocktail (Cellcurin) containing FGF5s (fibroblast growth factor 5 short) and NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) in patients with androgenetic alopecia: A split study

Therapeutic effects of growth factor cocktail (Cellcurin) containing FGF5s (fibroblast growth factor 5 short) and NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) in patients with androgenetic alopecia: A split study

GFC with FGF5s and NMN with microneedling is an effective and safe treatment of androgenetic alopecia. Future studies with more thorough investigations in controlled clinical settings are warranted.

https://www.oatext.com/therapeutic-effects-of-growth-factor-cocktail-cellcurintm-containing-fgf5s-fibroblast-growth-factor-5-short-and-nmn-nicotinamide-mononucleotide-in-patients.php

Early Exposure to Antibiotics Can Cause Permanent Asthma and Allergies | Rutgers University

Early Exposure to Antibiotics Can Cause Permanent Asthma and Allergies | Rutgers University

Early exposure to antibiotics kills healthy bacteria in the digestive tract and can cause asthma and allergies, a new study demonstrates.

https://www.rutgers.edu/news/early-exposure-antibiotics-can-cause-permanent-asthma-and-allergies

Effects of the ketogenic diet on performance and body composition in athletes and trained adults: a systematic review and Bayesian multivariate multilevel meta-analysis and meta-regression – PubMed

Effects of the ketogenic diet on performance and body composition in athletes and trained adults: a systematic review and Bayesian multivariate multilevel meta-analysis and meta-regression – PubMed

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35757868/

Psilocybin microdosers demonstrate greater observed improvements in mood and mental health at one month relative to non-microdosing controls | Scientific Reports

Psilocybin microdosers demonstrate greater observed improvements in mood and mental health at one month relative to non-microdosing controls | Scientific Reports

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-14512-3

As US obesity epidemic grows, new study shows | EurekAlert!

As US obesity epidemic grows, new study shows | EurekAlert!

The article, published in the Journal of Obesity, looked at the long-term weight gain of more than 13,800 U.S. adults — a rare data point unearthed in obesity research. They found that more than half of American adults in the study gained 5% or more body weight over a 10-year period. What’s more, more than a third of American adults gained 10% or more body weight and almost a fifth gained 20% or more body weight.

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/956907