Author Archives: Zuzanna Walter

The Neurologic Complications of COVID-19 

February 16, 2021

The neurologic features of COVID-19 infection still remain under investigation as a growing number of reports indicates the potential for cognitive symptoms in certain patient cases. Recent research has examined high-resolution magnetic resonance imagery to reveal microvascular brain injury and inflammation in COVID-19 patients who have died, however, no evidence of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral attack in tissue samples has been reported.  The damage is reportedly caused by thinning and leaky brain blood vessels tied to the viral infection, per a letter recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Continue reading →

The Nutritional Supplement Market: A Dynamic Sector Promising Long-Term Growth  

February 11, 2021

Spurred by growing health and wellness awareness among global consumers of all age groups, the popularity of dietary supplements and similar products is growing due to their ability to provide essential nutrients many may not be able to obtain through diet alone. With a considerable rise in healthcare and fitness facilities, fluctuations in dietary habits, and shifting work practices, the global supplement market is surging at an impressive rate. In 2019, the market was valued at approximately $123 billion and current estimates project it will reach a valuation of $230.73 billion by 2027 with a compound annual growth rate of 8.2% over the forecast period. According to a report by Grand View Research, the growing popularity of using nutritional products for medicinal purposes – targeting a range of health issues from infertility to malnutrition – will impact the supplement industry in the years to come.

Continue reading →

The Role of Hormones in Immunocompetence 

February 4, 2021

The growing importance of hormonal health is becoming an integral component of modern medicine especially as the focus shifts toward maintaining and boosting immunocompetence in the population. Many plausible benefits of hormonal factors on autoimmunity have received growing attention in recent years from the scientific community. Research has been conducted investigating the relationship between immune system function and sex hormones testosterone and estrogen.

Importantly, the immune systems of men and women are known to function differently with 80% of autoimmune diseases occurring in women who tend to show stronger immune responses than their male counterparts. Stronger immune responses in women produce faster pathogen clearance and improved vaccine responsiveness while also contributing to their increased susceptibility to inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Continue reading →