Category Archives: Nutrition

The Biggest Wellness Trends of 2020

March 18, 2020

Last year, the rise of cannabidiol (CBD), intermittent fasting, meditation, and many other health and wellness trends dominated the $4 trillion global wellness industry. As this segment of the market continues to grow rapidly, technologic advances, emerging clinical findings, and shifting priorities are likely to influence burgeoning wellness trends for the coming year. Recently, experts from across the world gathered to forecast the biggest health trends that will take over the global wellness industry in 2020 as part of the Global Wellness Summit (GWS).

Alongside a focus on fixing disrupted circadian rhythms and mental health-promoting devices, the most significant projected trends for the forthcoming year are outlined below:

Circadian Health Optimization

According to one of the world’s leading experts on circadian health and associate professor of medicine at Harvard University Dr. Steven Lockley: “The absolute key to healthy sleep and circadian rhythms is stable, regularly-timed daily light and dark exposure—our natural daily time cues.”

Today, humans have incredibly disrupted circadian rhythms as a result of increased screen time and travel, rising stress levels, and a 24/7 culture. Current research suggests that circadian rhythms influence a variety of bodily functions ranging from hormonal fluctuations to body temperature regulation. Most importantly, they can significantly influence sleep patterns, impacting productivity and health.

As part of the solution, the concept of circadian rhythm optimization centers around adjusting the daily schedule, dietary patterns, and environmental cues to sync up with the body’s internal clock. Experts at the Global Wellness Summit predict an increased amount of people shifting their work schedules in accordance with their chronotypes, which The Sleep Foundation describes as the natural pattern by which people sleep and wake best, in an effort to optimize performance and productivity.

“Given that most of our body systems express circadian rhythms, ensuring proper alignment of our internal circadian clocks,” Dr. Lockley further explains, “starting with the management of lighting, will have major impacts on human health.”

Mental Health Technology 

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that over 42% of 46.6 million adults with mental illness in the United States received mental health treatment in 2017. In addition, the growing patient base of Millennials is more likely to address mental health concerns than previous generations, with about 70% saying they feel comfortable seeking help. Wellness technology companies have begun to capitalize on this increased acceptance and technological advancements by developing digital therapeutic products and services.

Tech-savvy individuals are increasingly using virtual therapy apps – such as TalkSpace and BetterHelp – and digital support groups to combat modern-day issues including burnout, loneliness, depression, and anxiety. The behavioral health software market is now projected to reach $2.31 billion by 2022 and as we shift toward a more holistic approach to wellbeing, will likely continue growing.

As part of this rising trend, mental wellness wearables are growing in popularity with the introduction of meditation headsets that measure heart and breathing rates and wearable biosensors that monitor physiological signals throughout the day. These devices aim to improve stress levels, sleep patterns, and daily habits based on biologic metrics directly obtained throughout the day. For example, Sentio Solutions recently announced a new product, Feel, which is an emotion-sensing wristband with integrated biosensors which measure users’ physiological signals. Paired with an accompanying cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) app, it aims to help those suffering from anxiety and depression by offering on-demand support.

However, many of these technologies are still in the early stages of clinical trials and require further investigation before they can be released.

Japanese Wellness 

In 2017, Japan had the largest per capita ratio of centenarians in the world with 67,824 people aged 100 and above. The country is known for the longevity of its population, with up to 50% of Japanese citizens born in 2007 expected to reach the age of 107. Japanese culture promotes ways to ensure long, fulfilled lives with a growing emphasis on a sense of community and work-life balance. As a result, the world is turning to Japan for longevity tips leading to the popularization of “J-wellness”, or Japanese-inspired wellness.

The practice prioritizes connecting to nature, including forest bathing which can have a beneficial effect on both mental and physical health by reducing blood pressure, stress hormones, anxiety, and depression levels. In addition, Japanese government officials emphasize social community wellness through policy measures and innovations tailored to aging societies. This includes neighborhood facilities designed for generational mingling and stress assessment programs conducted to improve work-life balance and emotional wellbeing.

Fertility Healthcare

The growing de-stigmatization of infertility and reproductive health has opened the dialogue and increased awareness of these prevalent issues, encouraging more companies to offer fertility treatments – such as in-vitro fertilization and egg freezing- as benefits to their employees. Fertility healthcare is projected to rise to the top of wellness trends to support the 12 out of 100 couples in the United State struggling to become pregnant, per data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Current fertility benefits do not cover all procedures and reproductive assistance technologies tend to be expensive with a single round of IVF averaging above $20,000. According to the GWS report, fertility clinics are forecasted to democratize and simplify access to care, alongside innovative fertility-focused wearable technology and smartphone apps that help educate individuals and monitor important fertility metrics. Furthermore, a growing number of fertility start-ups such as KindBody, which received $10 million in investor funding last year, are beginning to infiltrate the space. Current data indicate that the femtech sector could reach a market size of $50 billion within the next five years.

Continuous research initiatives and emerging technological advancements are spurring the global wellness industry at a 12.8% compound annual growth rate. In 2020, the wellness economy will be more accessible to the average consumer than ever before, making the above trends increasingly relevant in the practice setting. Physicians should be equipped with the latest clinical knowledge to better educate patients on the potential risks and benefits of these emerging solutions and ensure their health and safety.

Ketone-Rich Diets May Reduce Alzheimer’s Disease Risk

February 19, 2020

In the early stages of development, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) causes overactive brain functioning, potentially as a result of the loss of inhibitory – GABAergic – interneurons that control the signaling of other neurons in the circuit. Interneurons require more energy compared with other neurons, which makes them more susceptible to degeneration upon encountering the Alzheimer’s disease protein – amyloid beta. Research has shown the negative impact of amyloid beta interaction , revealing its ability to damage mitochondria by interfering with SIRT3 – a protective protein.

Impaired mitochondrial function and abnormal neuronal network activity are thought to be some of the early signs of the development of Alzheimer’s disease, however, how mitochondrial alterations contribute to the abnormal activity in neural circuits and their connection to AD remains unknown.

SIRT3 in Mice with Alzheimer’s Disease 

In a recent study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, Aiwu Chang, PhD, and her colleagues investigated the function of the mitochondrial protein by genetically reducing the levels of SIRT3 in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. Per their findings, mice with low levels of SIRT3 experienced a significantly higher mortality rate, more violent seizures, and increased interneuron death compared with mice from the standard Alzheimer’s disease model as well as the control group. Both male and female mice were observed to die prematurely before 5 months of age.

On the other hand, mice with reduced levels of SIRT3 who consumed a ketone-rich diet experienced fewer seizures and were less likely to die. Consuming the fatty acid also increased levels of SIRT3 in these mice.  “When comparing male mice among different genotypes, SIRT3 haploinsufficiency renders GABAergic interneurons in the cerebral cortex vulnerable to degeneration and associated neuronal network hyperexcitability,” researchers wrote.

In short, SIRT3 proteins work to preserve GABAergic interneurons and protect cerebral circuits against hyperexcitability; this neuroprotective mechanism can potentially be reinforced by dietary ketone intake.

Ketone Consumption for Risk Reduction

The latest findings implicate that the consumption of ketones may be a way of protecting interneurons and delaying the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. By preserving mitochondrial function, SIRT3 protects interneurons against amyloid beta-induced dysfunction ad degeneration in mice with Alzheimer’s disease. According to Dr. Chang and her team, “the neuronal network dysfunction that occurs in Alzheimer’s disease can be partially reversed by physiological, dietary, and pharmacological interventions to increase SIRT3 expression and enhance the functionality of GABAergic interneurons.”

Due to the growing popularity of the ketogenic diet – which can support weight loss, diabetes management, and several other health conditions – there is an increased awareness and availability of ketone-rich foods. Limiting carbohydrate consumptions and incorporating ketone-rich foods such as seafood, low carb vegetables, high-quality meat and poultry, and eggs into the diet may prove to have neuroprotective effects.

The study’s findings implicate the potential benefit of ketone consumption; however, the results need to be verified in human studies before any recommendations can be made. Further research is necessary to determine whether a ketogenic diet in humans may reduce Alzheimer’s disease risk and to what degree.

Can a Healthy Lifestyle Reduce Genetic Risk for Dementia?

February 8, 2020

A combination of genetic and lifestyle factors can play a role in determining an individual’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. Although most cases occur in older adults in whom multiple genes influence overall risk, high levels of LDL cholesterol, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and other health factors can further elevate risk. While some risk factors may be difficult to mitigate, others are easily modifiable – for example, weight and lipid management through a combination of lifestyle changes.

A growing body of evidence suggests that individuals who lead a healthy lifestyle – avoid smoking tobacco, engage in regular physical activity, and consume a health diet – have a lower risk of developing dementia. Previous research has investigated the impact of lifestyle factors on many other health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, however, the extent to which these variables can influence dementia risk is unknown. A new study published online in JAMA, uses data from a large population-based cohort to investigate whether adherence to a healthy lifestyle can offset existing genetic risk for dementia.

Association of Lifestyle Habits with Dementia Risk

Led by Ilianna Lourida, PhD from the University of Exeter Medical School, a team of researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study of nearly 200,000 European adults aged 60 and above to investigate whether a healthy lifestyle is associated with a reduced risk of dementia – regardless of genetic factors. At baseline, none of the participants had cognitive impairment or dementia. The main outcome was the incidence of all-cause dementia identified through hospital records.

Researchers calculated a polygenic risk score comprised of common genetic variants linked to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia risk, as well as a weighted healthy lifestyle score – which included smoking status, physical activity levels, dietary patterns, and alcohol consumption.

Healthy Lifestyle May Reduce Dementia Incidence

A total of 196,383 participants with a mean age of 64.1 were followed for a median of 8 years, during which there were 1,769 cases of incident all-cause dementia. Overall, over 68% of the cohort had followed a healthy lifestyle, 23.6% followed an intermediate lifestyle, and 8.2% followed an unfavorable lifestyle. Researchers found that 20% of individuals had high polygenic risk scores, 60% had intermediate-risk scores, and 20% had low-risk scores.

Of those with a high genetic risk, 1.23% developed dementia, compared with 0.63% of participants with low genetic risk. Meanwhile, participants with both a high genetic risk and unfavorable lifestyle developed dementia at a rate of 1.78% compared with 0.56% of participants with low genetic risk and a favorable lifestyle. Researchers found no significant interaction between genetic risk and lifestyle factors. Among individuals with high genetic risk, 1.13% of those leading a healthy lifestyle developed dementia, in comparison with the 1.78% with unfavorable lifestyle.

Risk Reduction

Dr. Lourida and her team found that an unfavorable lifestyle coupled with high genetic risk was significantly associated with a higher risk for developing dementia in older adults without pre-existing cognitive impairment. Meanwhile, a healthy lifestyle was associated with a lower dementia risk even among participants with a high genetic risk. While there was no significant interaction between genetic risk and a healthy lifestyle, a favorable lifestyle was associated with reduced dementia risk regardless of genetic factors.

Overall, the authors found an absolute risk reduction for dementia among the high genetic risk group of 0.65% associated with leading a favorable lifestyle.

The study’s authors acknowledged the trial’s limitations. Firstly, the lifestyle score used in calculations was not independently validated to indicate a high-risk lifestyle outside of trial conditions. Furthermore, there was a possibility of unmeasured confounding and reverse causation. In addition, lifestyle factors were self-reported and some cases of dementia might not have been recorded in medical records or death registers. Nonetheless, the study expands on current knowledge of neurodegenerative diseases and their connection to lifestyle choices.

“This risk reduction implies that, if lifestyle is causal, 1 case of dementia would be prevented for each 121 individuals per 10 years with high genetic risk who improved their lifestyle from unfavorable to favorable,” authors wrote. Aside from the many mental and physical health benefits associated with leading a health-conscious lifestyle, doing so may also contribute to lowering dementia risk by reducing oxidative damage, having anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory effects as well as increasing cerebral blood flow. Thus, it is important to encourage patients to follow a favorable lifestyle and support lifestyle interventions when necessary, especially in cases of high genetic risk.