Risk Factors for Ischemic Stroke Linked to Fatty Acid Profiles and Ratios

Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer. Findings of the prospective observational study show that risk factors such as dyslipidemia, atrial fibrillation, and smoking are strongly connected to fatty acids. Limiting or eliminating modifiable lifestyle risk factors such as smoking or alcohol consumption can positively influence the fatty-acids profile.  (more…)

Performing Acts of Kindness Improves Social Connection

Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer. While all social conditions (acts of kindness, social activities, and cognitive reappraisal) showed a significant linear improvement from baseline to follow-up for the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), only participants in the acts of kindness group exhibited a significant linear increase in the Social Connectedness Scale (SCS-R).  (more…)

Probiotic Bifidobacterium longum BB68S Significantly Improves Cognitive Function in Healthy Older Adults

Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer. 10-week intervention using the probiotic BB68S resulted in significantly greater changes in total RBANS score and in 4 domains: immediate memory (p < 0.0001), visuospatial/constructional (p<0.001), attention (p < 0.001), and delayed memory (p < 0.0001) compared to the control group.  (more…)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Reduced Blood Brain Barrier Permeability and Improved Clinical Dementia Rating Scores in Adult Subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer. 6 months daily consumption of 30 mL extra virgin olive oil significantly reduced p-tau 181 levels (p=0.05) and blood-brain barrier permeability (p<0.05), and improved WMS-IV logical memory test scores (p=0.05).  (more…)

Vitamin D Supplementation Reduces Depressive Symptoms in Subjects with Major Depressive Disorder

Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer. Significant findings of this systemic review and meta-analysis of 41 papers with a total of 53,235 participants show that subgroup analysis in participants with clinically relevant depressive symptoms (including subjects with MDD) yielded a moderate effect favoring vitamin D supplementation (Hedges’ g = −0.604, 95% CI −0.802 to −0.406, p < 0.001, I2 = 78.4%).  (more…)