New research to be presented at this year’s Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Hamburg, Germany (2-6 October) shows that use of low dose (100mg daily) aspirin among older adults aged 65 years and older is associated with a 15% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The authors, led by Professor Sophia Zoungas, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, say the results show that anti-inflammatory agents such as aspirin warrant further study in the prevention of diabetes.

The effect of aspirin on incident type 2 diabetes among older adults remains uncertain. This study investigated the randomised treatment effect of low dose aspirin on incident diabetes and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels among older adults. The authors did a follow-up study of the ASPREE trial – a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of aspirin, the principal results of which were published in NEJM in 2018. The original study showed that aspirin conferred a 38% increased risk of major haemorrhage in older adults without any reduction in incidence of cardiovascular disease.

The study enrolled community-dwelling individuals aged 65 years or over, and free of cardiovascular disease, independence-limiting physical disability and dementia. Participants were randomised 1:1 to 100 mg daily aspirin or placebo. Incident diabetes was defined as self-report of diabetes, commencement of glucose lowering medication, and/or a fasting plasma glucose (FBP) level of 7.0 mmol/L or higher at annual follow-up visits. Patients with diabetes at the start of the study were excluded. Computer and statistical modelling assessed the effect of aspirin on incident diabetes and FPG levels respectively.

A total of 16,209 participants were included in the analysis (8,086 randomised to aspirin and 8,123 to placebo). Over a median follow-up of 4.7 years, 995 incident diabetes cases were recorded (aspirin: 459, placebo: 536). Compared with placebo, the aspirin group had a 15% reduction in incident diabetes and a slower rate of increase in FPG (difference in annual FPG change: -0.006 mmol/L).

The authors say: “Aspirin treatment reduced incident diabetes and slowed the increase in fasting plasma glucose over time among initially healthy older adults. Given the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes among older adults, the potential for anti-inflammatory agents like aspirin to prevent type 2 diabetes or improve glucose levels needs further study.”

However, Professor Zoungas adds: “The earlier published trial findings from ASPREE in 2018 showed aspirin did not prolong healthy independent living, but was associated with a significantly increased risk of bleeding, primarily in the gastrointestinal tract. Major prescribing guidelines now recommend older adults take daily aspirin only when there is a medical reason to do so, such as after a heart attack.” 

An examination of the SCALE-UP Counts program was recently published in the journal Pediatrics. This analysis, led by Yelena Wu, PhD, investigator at Huntsman Cancer Institute and associate professor in the department of dermatology at the University of Utah (the U), and David Wetter, PhD, MS, investigator at Huntsman Cancer Institute and professor in the department of population health sciences at the U, received support from RADx-Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) and funding from the National Institute of Health (NIH).

The SCALE-UP Counts program was designed to promote COVID-19 testing through collaboration with local schools, especially those who serve historically marginalized populations. This was done using two-way texting, meaning that staff, parents, or guardians could respond. Scale Up COUNTS sought to make it easier for schools to have access to COVID-19 testing and provided guidance to families and staff on when to test.

Wu’s research is typically focused on cancer prevention in children, teens, and young adults. However, during the pandemic, along with Wetter, Adam Hersh, MD, PhD, Guilherme Del Fiol, MD, PhD, Kim Kaphingst, ScD, Jonathan Chipman, PhD, and Ben Haaland, PhD, she used her expertise to advise local K-12 schools on COVID-19 testing policies and logistics.

Tammy Stump, PhD, visiting instructor at Huntsman Cancer Institute, helped lead a special article, which described initial findings from the Scale Up COUNTS study. Results from the analysis of the SCALE-UP Counts program, and the accompanying piece led by Stump, show that texting can increase participation in public health programs. 

“Text messaging and health navigation are feasible ways to reach staff in K-12 schools to provide health screening messages,” says Stump. “We found that 99% of staff had a valid cell phone number for the program, and fewer than 4% chose to opt out of the program. At the time of these analyses, four months after the program started, 19% of staff had engaged with the SCALE-UP Counts system in some way.”

These results not only show that the program helped schools and families navigate the pandemic, but can help researchers understand how to increase participation in cancer prevention, screening, and education initiatives in the future.

“We wanted to see if the use of readily available technology increased the participation of the public in health programs,” says Wu. “COVID-19 was a unique opportunity to test this while providing what we thought was an important service to our communities in Utah.”

Wu’s team will continue to evaluate the reach and engagement of the SCALE-UP program, as well as the cost-effectiveness of using texting to communicate health information to large groups of people.

“Text messaging seems to be an effective, and low-resource opportunity to meet people where they are at,” says Stump. “This is important when looking into how we can make public health initiatives more accessible.”

Smoothies can be a tasty and convenient way to get the important fruits and vegetables you need for a healthy diet. But is a banana and blueberry smoothie the best combo? Researchers at the University of California, Davis, suggest that blending certain ingredients in smoothies can influence whether your body is getting a nutritional boost.

The study, published today in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s journal Food and Function, used smoothies to test how various levels of polyphenol oxidase, an enzyme in many fruits and vegetables, affects the levels of flavanols in food to be absorbed by the body. Flavanols are a group of bioactive compounds that are good for your heart and cognitive health and are naturally found in apples, pears, blueberries, blackberries, grapes and cocoa — common smoothie ingredients.

“We sought to understand, on a very practical level, how a common food and food preparation like a banana-based smoothie could affect the availability of flavanols to be absorbed after intake,” said lead author Javier Ottaviani, director of the Core Laboratory of Mars Edge, which is part of Mars, Inc., and an adjunct researcher with the UC Davis Department of Nutrition.

Slice an apple or peel a banana and the fruit will quickly turn brown. That happens because of polyphenol oxidase, or PPO, an enzyme naturally present in those foods. The browning occurs when the food containing that enzyme is exposed to air, cut or bruised. The researchers wanted to know whether consuming freshly prepared smoothies made with different PPO-containing fruits impacted the amount of flavanols available to the body.

Bananas versus berries

The researchers had participants drink a smoothie made with banana, which has naturally high PPO activity, and a smoothie made with mixed berries, which have naturally low PPO activity. Participants also took a flavanol capsule as a control. Blood and urine samples were analyzed to measure how much flavanols were present in the body after ingesting the smoothie samples and capsule. The researchers found that those who drank the banana smoothie had 84% lower levels of flavanols in their body compared to the control.

“We were really surprised to see how quickly adding a single banana decreased the level of flavanols in the smoothie and the levels of flavanol absorbed in the body,” Ottaviani said. “This highlights how food preparation and combinations can affect the absorption of dietary compounds in foods.”

Last year, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics issued a dietary recommendation, advising people to consume 400 to 600 milligrams of flavanols daily for cardiometabolic health. Ottaviani said for people who are trying to consume those flavanols, they should consider preparing smoothies by combining flavanol-rich fruits like berries with other ingredients that also have a low PPO activity like pineapple, oranges, mango or yogurt.

He also said bananas remain a great fruit to be eaten or consumed in smoothies. For those who want to consume smoothies with bananas, or other high PPO activity fruits and vegetables such as beet greens, the suggestion is to not combine them with flavanol-rich fruits such as berries, grapes and cocoa.

The findings of this study could spur future research into how other foods are prepared and the effects on flavanols, for example, Ottaviani said tea is a major dietary source of flavanols and depending on how it is prepared, a different amount of flavanols would be available for absorption.

“This is certainly an area that deserves more attention in the field of polyphenols and bioactive compounds in general,” said Ottaviani.

Meghan Markle was spotted recently wearing a wellness disc that is loved by Hollywood stars. The discs, which costs £1,000 a year, supposedly boost gaba neurotransmitters, reduce stress hormones and improve sleep, according to NuCalm. 

Experts at BROWN’S CBD have provided advice on relaxation techniques that could help reduce stress in a natural way and at a fraction of the cost Meghan and other celebrities do.  

1. Meditation  

Meditation offers a profound avenue for inner exploration and self-discovery. Through focused attention and mindful awareness, individuals engage in meditation to cultivate a sense of calm, mental clarity, and emotional equilibrium.  

Regular meditation practice has been linked to an array of benefits, ranging from reduced stress and anxiety to improved concentration and enhanced emotional resilience. By immersing oneself in the present moment and quieting the incessant chatter of the mind, meditation fosters a deeper connection to one’s thoughts, feelings, and surroundings.  

Over time, this practice can lead to a heightened sense of self-awareness, allowing individuals to navigate life’s challenges with greater composure. There are many free online resources available to guide people through meditation practises. However, for small costs you can also attend classes or use premium apps such as Headspace, which have meditation sessions for all kinds of relaxation, or dealing with life events or even aiding sleep. 

• Yoga  

Yoga is a fusion of physical postures, breath control and meditation. Beyond its physical aspects, yoga embodies a holistic approach to wellness, nurturing the union of mind, body, and spirit. Through the practice of postures and breath control, individuals enhance their flexibility, strength, and balance, promoting overall physical vitality.  

However, the benefits extend far beyond the physical realm. Regular yoga practice has been shown to increase relaxation while alleviating anxiety and depression, fostering a sense of inner peace and emotional well-being. Moreover, the meditative aspects of yoga facilitate mental clarity and mindfulness, enabling practitioners to cultivate a deeper connection with their thoughts and emotions. 

Yoga much like meditation is accessible to everyone, routines can be followed online through free apps such as YouTube, or you can pay for classes with dedicated instructors. Many gym memberships also allow members to access yoga classes which are included in the monthly fee. This is a great inexpensive form of relaxation and mental fortification.  

• Aromatherapy  

Aromatherapy, a therapeutic practice rooted in the use of aromatic plant extracts, harnesses the power of scents to promote well-being. Essential oils, extracted from various plants, are employed in this practice to stimulate the senses and influence mood, emotions, and even physical health.  

Through inhalation or topical application, these oils interact with the body’s receptors, triggering responses that can range from relaxation and stress reduction to improved focus and enhanced sleep quality. Lavender, for instance, is known for its calming properties, while citrus scents can uplift and invigorate the mind. 

Aromatherapy has been found to complement traditional treatments for conditions like anxiety, insomnia, and pain management. Additionally, the sensory experience of aromatherapy can have a profound impact on emotional balance and mental clarity. This practice offers a natural and accessible way to promote overall wellness, making it a valuable addition to self-care routines. 

• Supplements  

Supplements play a significant role in modern health and wellness by offering a convenient means to bridge nutritional gaps and support various aspects of well-being. These natural supplemental products, ranging from vitamins, and minerals to herbal extracts and amino acids, can provide essential nutrients that might be lacking in one’s diet. There are many supplements that have stress-relieving qualities, this can aid with sleep, anxiety and promote relaxation. Supplements such as: 

1. Ashwagandha: An adaptogenic herb, ashwagandha has been used to help the body adapt to stress. It may support the body’s natural stress response and promote relaxation. 
2. Rhodiola Rosea: Another adaptogenic herb, rhodiola rosea is believed to enhance resilience to stress and improve mood by balancing stress hormone levels. 
3. L-Theanine: Found in tea leaves, L-theanine is an amino acid that can promote relaxation without causing drowsiness. It’s often used in conjunction with caffeine to offset its stimulating effects. 
4. Magnesium: Magnesium is involved in numerous bodily functions, including relaxation of muscles and the nervous system. A deficiency in magnesium can contribute to the lack of ability to relax and this induce anxiety. 
5. Valerian Root: Valerian root has a long history of use as a natural remedy for anxiety and sleep issues. It may help promote relaxation and alleviate mild stress. 

All of the above can be bought online or in stores for a fraction of the cost of the patches used by some celebrities, and many people have experienced the positive effects of implementing these natural supplements into their daily routines.  

• CBD 

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a naturally occurring compound derived from the cannabis plant. It has gained significant attention for its potential therapeutic benefits without the psychoactive effects commonly associated with its counterpart, THC. CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in regulating various physiological processes such as pain perception, mood, anxiety, sleep, and immune function. Research suggests that CBD may offer a range of potential benefits for overall health and wellbeing. 

CBD can be bought in the form of raw oils, balms and foods, the CBD gummies have been trending across social media recently as a popular way to consume cannabidiol. CBD is completely legal in the UK and is a much cheaper alternative to encouraging your mind and body to relax, than the patches that many celebrities have been seen wearing.  

Laurence Brown, director of BROWN’S CBD commented: “Modern life is fast-paced and hectic, which can often lead to people not having much time to focus on their own mental and physical health. Whether it’s with relationships, work or finances, there are many things that cause a lack of relaxation and anxiety. Many of these factors may also often be outside of our control and thus can seem like there is no way to cope.  

However, there are techniques that can cultivate a stronger mind to navigate the stressors that are causing issues. Techniques along with supplements have been used for hundreds if not thousands of years to craft strong minds that can deal with the uncertainties of life. Not all techniques are designed to eradicate the feeling of stress but ensure we are capable of dealing with the thoughts and feelings effectively.” 

The upper images are the chest radiographs of patients from 21 to 40 years old and from 81 to 100 years old chronologically and the lower images are a visualization of the AI’s focus (both after averaging). Red indicates the points most useful for age determination. CREDIT Yasuhito Mitsuyama, OMU

What if “looking your age” refers not to your face, but to your chest? Osaka Metropolitan University scientists have developed an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) model that utilizes chest radiographs to accurately estimate a patient’s chronological age. More importantly, when there is a disparity, it can signal a correlation with chronic disease. These findings mark a leap in medical imaging, paving the way for improved early disease detection and intervention. The results are set to be published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity.

The research team, led by graduate student Yasuhito Mitsuyama and Dr. Daiju Ueda from the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at the Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, first constructed a deep learning-based AI model to estimate age from chest radiographs of healthy individuals. They then applied the model to radiographs of patients with known diseases to analyze the relationship between AI-estimated age and each disease. Given that AI trained on a single dataset is prone to overfitting, the researchers collected data from multiple institutions.

For the development, training, internal and external testing of the AI model for age estimation, a total of 67,099 chest radiographs were obtained between 2008 and 2021 from 36,051 healthy individuals who underwent health check-ups at three facilities. The developed model showed a correlation coefficient of 0.95 between the AI-estimated age and chronological age. Generally, a correlation coefficient of 0.9 or higher is considered to be very strong.

To validate the usefulness of AI-estimated age using chest radiographs as a biomarker, an additional 34,197 chest radiographs were compiled from 34,197 patients with known diseases from two other institutions. The results revealed that the difference between AI-estimated age and the patient’s chronological age was positively correlated with a variety of chronic diseases, such as hypertension, hyperuricemia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In other words, the higher the AI-estimated age compared to the chronological age, the more likely individuals were to have these diseases.

“Chronological age is one of the most critical factors in medicine,” stated Mr. Mitsuyama. “Our results suggest that chest radiography-based apparent age may accurately reflect health conditions beyond chronological age. We aim to further develop this research and apply it to estimate the severity of chronic diseases, to predict life expectancy, and to forecast possible surgical complications.”