Vitamin D could have a role to play in protecting against dementia
More good news for vitamin D – it may help protect against dementia in older people according to a recent study[i]. Previous research has shown that vitamin D has a role to play in clearing the brain of the amyloid plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s. It also helps to protect the brain against the build-up of tau another protein involved in dementia. However previous studies have had conflicting results as to whether taking supplements can ward off the disease.
To explore this further, scientists at the University of Exeter followed 12,400 adults with an average age of 71 for 10 years to see if they developed the disease. At the start of the study 37% of the participants were regularly taking vitamin D and they were 40% less likely to be diagnosed with dementia than those who took no supplements.
“This study suggests that taking vitamin D supplements may be beneficial in preventing or delaying dementia, but we now need more clinical trials to confirm this,” commented Dr Bryon creese, a co – author of the study.
Sleeping well could extend your life expectancy
Not getting enough sleep? It could be shortening your life, suggests a new study[ii]. According to recent research from the American College of Cardiology, getting the right amount of good sleep each night can play a role in heart and overall health, which could in turn add years to your life. The data also suggests that about 8% of deaths could be attributed to poor sleep patterns.
The research based on more than 170,000 people living in the US identified five health sleep habits that contributed to life expectancy. They included sleeping between seven and eight hours a night; having difficulty falling asleep no more than twice a week; trouble staying asleep no more than twice a week; not using sleep medication and feeling well rested after waking up at least five days a week.
The study found that for those who reported meeting all five of the sleep measures listed, life expectancy was 4.7 years greater for men and 2.4 years greater for women, compared to people who met only one or none of the criteria on the list.
“If people have all these ideal sleep behaviours, they are more likely to live longer,” commented Dr Frank Qian, clinical fellow in medicine at Harvard Medical School and co-author of the study.
How to get better tasting rosemary
It’s well known that rosemary goes well with mushrooms and now scientists have discovered that planting the herb in soil with mycorrhizal fungi can help improve its taste according to a study backed by the Royal Horticultural Society[iii]. Mycorrhiza are beneficial fungi that grow in association with plant roots increasing the area from which plants can absorb nutrients and water. The researchers believe that the fungi develop a symbiotic relationship with the herb’s roots helping to bring in nutrients and changing the production of the oils that give the herb its aromatic flavour.
“The RHS is dedicated to helping gardeners and growers get even more from their plants, and this study does just that. People want herbs with a strong smell and taste, and we have shown that the addition of mycorrhizal fungi is an easy and effective way to meet this demand,” commented Professor Alistair Griffiths, Director of Science at the RHS.
[i] https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12404
[ii] www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/02/230224135111.htm
[iii] DOI: 10.3390/life13020315
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