Individual organ age could predict dementia, heart disease

The biological age of individual organs may be a good predictor of disease risk, a new study suggests. Image credit: LumiNola/Getty Images.

• Chronological age refers to how many years we have been alive, while biological age is how old your cells and organs are.
• Experts suggest that the biological age of the whole person, or of individual organs, is a better indicator of health and aging than chronological age.
• Now, a study has found that a blood test that detects the biological age of organs can predict the risk of health conditions developing many years later.
• The researchers suggest that this type of test could be crucial in helping to predict and prevent many diseases, including heart disease and some cancers.

Researchers think about a person’s age in two different ways:

1.     chronological age is the number of years since a person’s birth and is the age a person identifies with

2.     biological age is a measure of how old the cells and organs are, and it can vary widely from a person’s chronological age, depending on their genetics and lifestyle.

Biological age can also vary within a person, with some organs biologically older than others.

Chronological aging is linear, and cannot be accelerated or delayed. However, biological aging may be faster or slower than chronological aging, depending on genetics and environmental factors.

The difference between the two measures is often referred to as an age gap. A negative age gap, with biological age less than chronological age, represents healthy or delayed aging, whereas a positive age gap indicates that a person is aging faster than expected.

Now, a team led by researchers at University College London in the United kingdom has found that a blood test to detect the biological age of organs can predict the risk of health conditions years, or even decades later.

Their study, published in The Lancet Digital HealthTrusted Source, found that faster aging of a specific organ increases the likelihood of diseases affecting the whole body.

Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board-certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA, who was not involved in this research, explained for Medical News Today that

“This long-term observational study found an association between ‘organ age’ as assessed by the level of various proteins in the blood, and future risk of developing different diseases. This type of analysis could potentially provide a method of risk stratification in order to help address and hopefully modify someone’s chance of developing a certain disease.”

Blood test can measure biological age of organs

The researchers recruited 6,235 adults from the Whitehall II study of U.K. government employees. They assessed their health from electronic health records at baseline and at follow up 20 years later.

All participants gave blood samples between April 1997 and January 1999, when they were aged between 45 and 69 years old. Researchers then carried out proteomic analysisTrusted Source to identify all the proteins in the plasma of these blood samples.

From these protein data, they identified age gaps in nine different organs or organ systems — the arteries, brain, heart, immune system, intestine, kidney, live, lung, and pancreas — as well as for the whole person.

Using these data, the researchers then looked at 45 age-related diseases, to determine whether age gaps in any organs affected the risk of developing these diseases.

They noted that biological aging progressed at varying rates in different organs within the same individual, and that individuals with any fast-aging organ faced an increased risk of 30 out of the 45 age-related diseases examined.

How organ age gaps may predict future disease

Individuals who had larger organ age gaps were at risk for developing diseases later in life. For example, a higher heart-age gap was linked with a higher risk of heart disease later in life.

However, the researchers also found that advanced aging in a specific organ increased the risk of multi organ illnesses, and that rapid aging in more than one organ increased the risk of disease in a single organ. And the effects of cellular aging were widespread, with faster-aging organs associated with greater mortality.

Jagdish Khubchandani, PhD, professor of public health at New Mexico State University, noot involved in this study, explained how organs might affect each other.

“For me, the most interesting finding was on how aging of one organ affects disease probability and aging of other organs,“ he told MNT.

“It makes some sense as these organ functions affect each other,“ Khubchandani added. “Also, there are shared immune, genetic, vascular, and inflammatory mechanisms. But, from a practice standpoint, these interrelationships will make preventive practice and therapy development challenging. Still, this was a much needed investigation with many novel findings.”

How is organ aging linked to neurodegeneration?

Age gaps observed within the immune system were strongly associated with later development of dementia, and a rapidly aging intestine was the strongest risk factor for Parkinson’s disease.

These findings reinforce earlier studies that have linked inflammatory markers in the blood with higher dementia risk, and a compromised intestinal barrierTrusted Source with Parkinson’s.

“The study interestingly found an association between proteins associated with inflammation, and future risk of dementia. This suggests a relationship between inflammatory processes and neurodegenerative disorders, something that should be the subject of further research.”– Cheng-Han Chen, MD

Further research needed to verify potential

Speaking to MNT, Sebnem Unluisler, Chief Longevity Officer and Genetic Engineer at the London Regenerative Institute in the U.K., who was likewise not involved in this research, noted that:

“This type of blood test could be a game-changer in preventive medicine, particularly in longevity-focused healthcare. By identifying organ-specific aging early, clinicians could implement targeted interventions — such as lifestyle modifications, medications, or regenerative therapies — before disease manifests.”

The study authors also emphasize that their research has limitations. As an observational study, it cannot prove causation, the cohort was, on the whole, healthier than the general population, and incidence rates of some diseases were low, so it was hard to confirm associations.

Although tests like this could have great potential, there are issues to be overcome, as both Unluisler and Khubchandani told us.

“While promising, this test will need further validation and standardization before clinical implementation. Additionally, ethical considerations arise regarding how to counsel patients who learn their organs are aging prematurely — particularly in cases where interventions are limited. Nonetheless, this study highlights the growing potential of proteomics in longevity medicine and precision healthcare,” Unluisler said.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/individual-organ-age-could-predict-dementia-heart-disease#Further-research-needed-to-verify-potential

Over half of adults, third of children to become overweight or obese globally by 2050: Lancet

A groundbreaking Lancet study reveals an alarming global obesity trend that could impact billions worldwide by 2050. Researchers predict over 60% of adults and one-third of children will be overweight or obese in the next three decades. The study highlights significant health risks, particularly in regions like North Africa, Middle East, and Latin America. Urgent policy interventions are crucial to prevent this impending health crisis.

"The unprecedented global epidemic of overweight and obesity is a profound tragedy" - Prof. Emmanuela Gakidou, IHME

A most comprehensive global analysis to date, including India, has estimated that overweight and obesity rates in adults (aged 25 or older) and children and adolescents (aged 5-24 years) more than doubled over the past three decades (1990-2021), affecting 2.11 billion adults and 493 million young people worldwide in 2021, according to a study published in The Lancet.

Key Points

1 Obesity rates to double across 8 major countries by 2050

2 Health systems facing unprecedented strain from weight-related issues

3 Children's obesity predicted to rise dramatically worldwide

Weight gain varies widely across the globe with more than half of the world's adults with overweight or obesity in 2021 living in just eight countries -- China (402 million), India (180 million), the US (172 million), Brazil (88 million), Russia (71 million), Mexico (58 million), Indonesia (52 million), and Egypt (41 million).

Without urgent policy reform and action, around 60 per cent of adults (3.8 billion) and a third (31 per cent) of all children and adolescents (746 million) are forecast to be living with either overweight or obesity by 2050, according to the major analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study BMI Collaborators, published in The Lancet.

By 2050, one in three young people with obesity (130 million) are forecast to be living in just two regions -- north Africa and the Middle East and Latin America and the Caribbean -- with deleterious health, economic, and societal consequences, the study warned.

Additionally, nearly a quarter of the world's adult population with obesity in 2050 are predicted to be aged 65 or older, intensifying the strain on already overburdened health-care systems and wreaking havoc on health services in low-resource countries.

"The unprecedented global epidemic of overweight and obesity is a profound tragedy and a monumental societal failure," said lead author Professor Emmanuela Gakidou from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington, US.

"Governments and the public health community can use our country-specific estimates on the stage, timing, and speed of current and forecasted transitions in weight to identify priority populations experiencing the greatest burdens of obesity who require immediate intervention and treatment, and those that remain predominantly overweight and should be primarily targeted with prevention strategies," said Gakidou.

During an address in the 119th Episode of 'Mann Ki Baat', Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed rising cases of obesity and the need to prevent it as it can lead to several diseases like hypertension, diabetes and cancer.

"To become a fit and healthy nation, we will certainly have to deal with the problem of obesity. According to a study, one in every eight people today is troubled by the problem of obesity," PM Modi emphasised.

The latest findings underscore the imperative for immediate action to prevent an unprecedented global epidemic of overweight and obesity.

Without urgent policy reform and action, over half the world's adult population (3.8 billion) and a third of all children and adolescents (746 million) are forecast to be living with overweight or obesity by 2050 -- posing an unparalleled threat of premature disease and death at local, national, and global levels.

The study predicts a substantial (121 per cent) rise in obesity among young people globally, with the total number of children and adolescents with obesity predicted to reach 360 million by 2050 (an additional 186 million from 2021). The substantial increases in obesity forecast between 2022 and 2030, underscore the urgent need for action.

https://www.newkerala.com/news/o/half-adults-third-children-become-overweight-obese-globally-2050-524

Celltrion's bone disease biosimilars get approval in US

Celltrion, a leading South Korean biopharmaceutical company, has secured FDA approval for two new biosimilar drugs targeting bone disease treatment. The approval covers Stoboclo and Osenvelt, which are similar to Prolia and Xgeva, with the US market representing 67% of the original drugs' global sales. This milestone aligns with Celltrion's strategic goal of commercializing 22 biosimilar products by 2030. The company's recent financial performance reflects strong growth in biosimilar medicine sales and successful corporate restructuring.

"The net result got a boost from sharply increased sales of our biosimilar products" - Celltrion Spokesperson

Celltrion, a major South Korean biopharmaceutical firm, said on Tuesday its two new bio-similars for bone disease treatment have obtained approval from the United States.

Key Points

1 Celltrion receives FDA approval for Stoboclo and Osenvelt biosimilars

2 US market represents 67% of global bone disease drug sales

3 Company aims to expand biosimilar portfolio to 22 products by 2030

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Celltrion's Stoboclo and Osenvelt, biosimilar drugs to Prolia and Xgeva, respectively, in the form of subcutaneous formulations for sales in the US market, the company said in a press release, Yonhap news agency reported.

The global market for Prolia and Xgeva was estimated to have reached a combined 9.2 trillion won ($6.6 billion) last year, it said.

The U.S. accounted for 6.15 trillion won, or 67 percent, of the two original drugs' sales last year.

Last month, Celltrion obtained approval from the FDA for U.S. sale of Avtozma, an autoimmune disease biosimilar to Actemra, in both intravenous and subcutaneous formulations.

The Korean drugmaker aims to commercialise 22 biosimilar products by 2030, up from the current 11.

Meanwhile, Celltrion's fourth-quarter net profit skyrocketed from a year earlier on robust sales of bio-similar medicines and the merger with its health care affiliate.

Net profit for the three months ended on Dec. 31 soared to 235.6 billion won ($164.7 million) from 453 million won during the same period of 2023, the company said in a regulatory filing.

"The net result got a boost from sharply increased sales of our biosimilar products, including Remsima, Truxima and Herzuma, in advanced markets and hefty cost reduction following the merger with Celltrion Healthcare in late 2023," a company spokesperson said.

Remsima is a treatment for Crohn's disease and other autoimmune diseases, while Truxima and Herzuma are for anti-cancer treatment.

Operating profit also jumped over 10-fold to 196.4 billion won in the fourth quarter from 18.4 billion won a year ago.

Sales nearly tripled to 1.06 trillion won from 382.6 billion won over the same period.

https://www.newkerala.com/news/o/celltrions-bone-disease-biosimilars-get-approval-us-914

Brown fat may promote healthful longevity: Study

Researchers at Rutgers University have uncovered groundbreaking insights into brown fat's potential for extending healthy lifespans. The study reveals that genetically modified mice with altered brown fat demonstrate significantly improved exercise capacity and longevity. By targeting a specific protein called RGS14, scientists observed approximately 30% better physical performance and extended life expectancy. This discovery opens promising avenues for developing drugs that could enhance healthful aging in humans.

"Exercise capacity diminishes as you get older, and to have a technique that could enhance exercise performance would be very beneficial for healthful aging" - Stephen Vatner

A team of US researchers has made discoveries about brown fat that may open a new path to helping people stay physically fit as they age.

Key Points

1 Genetically modified mice show 30% improved exercise performance

2 Brown fat plays crucial role in metabolic health

3 RGS14 protein deletion increases longevity

4 New potential drug pathway for aging research

The team from Rutgers University's New Jersey Medical School found that mice lacking a specific gene developed an unusually potent form of brown fat tissue that expanded lifespan and increased exercise capacity by roughly 30 per cent.

The team is working on a drug that could mimic these effects in humans.

"Exercise capacity diminishes as you get older, and to have a technique that could enhance exercise performance would be very beneficial for healthful aging," said Stephen Vatner, university professor and senior author of the study published in Aging Cell.

"This mouse model performs exercise better than their normal littermates," he added.

Unlike white fat, which stores energy, brown fat burns calories and helps regulate body temperature. This study revealed brown fat also plays a crucial role in exercise capacity by improving blood flow to muscles during physical activity.

The genetically modified mice produced unusually high amounts of active brown fat and showed about 30 per cent better exercise performance than normal mice, both in speed and time to exhaustion.

The discovery emerged from broader research into healthy aging. The modified mice, which lack a protein called RGS14, live about 20 per cent longer than normal mice, with females living longer than males - similar to the pattern seen in humans.

The discovery could eventually improve human lifespans - the total time when people enjoy good mental and physical health.

"With all the medical advances, aging and longevity have increased in humans, but unfortunately, healthful aging hasn't," Vatner said.

There are a lot of diseases associated with aging - obesity, diabetes, myocardial ischemia, heart failure, cancer - and what we have to do is find new drugs based on models of healthful aging, said authors.

https://www.newkerala.com/news/o/brown-fat-promote-healthful-longevity-study-842

Sleep apnoea can raise risk of Parkinson's disease: Study

A groundbreaking study from the VA Portland Health Care System reveals a significant connection between obstructive sleep apnoea and Parkinson's disease risk. Researchers discovered 1.8 more Parkinson's cases per 1,000 people with sleep apnoea compared to those without the condition. Encouragingly, using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) within two years of diagnosis can potentially reduce this risk. The findings offer hope for early intervention and management of neurological health.

"While our study found an increased risk of Parkinson's disease, the good news is people can do something about it" - Gregory D. Scott, VA Institute

Sleep apnoea can raise risk of Parkinson's disease: Study

People with obstructive sleep apnoea have an increased risk of suffering from Parkinson's disease, according to a study.

Key Points

1 Sleep apnoea linked to higher Parkinson's disease risk

2 CPAP treatment may reduce neurological disease occurrence

3 Study tracked 1.6 million older adults

4 Research presented at American Academy of Neurology meeting

Obstructive sleep apnoea is when throat muscles relax during sleep, blocking the airway, causing a person to wake up repeatedly to breathe. This disrupted sleep pattern can lower oxygen levels, affecting the brain.

Researchers from the VA Portland Health Care System in Oregon, US looked at rates of Parkinson's disease five years after a sleep apnoea diagnosis. They reviewed more than 20 years of medical records to identify nearly 1.6 million older adults who had obstructive sleep apnoea.

After adjusting for age, sex, and health factors such as smoking, they found among people with sleep apnoea, there were 1.8 more cases of Parkinson's disease per 1,000 people compared to people without sleep apnoea.

Parkinson's is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disease. Sleep disorders are one of the most common non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's patients.

Notably, the study showed that using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may help reduce the risk. With CPAP, pressurised air is delivered through a mask to keep the airway open while a person sleeps.

The study found using CPAP within two years of a sleep apnoea diagnosis reduced the risk of Parkinson's -- 2.3 fewer cases per 1,000 people when compared to people who did not use CPAP.

"Obstructive sleep apnoea is common, and previous research has found that when untreated, it is associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke," said Gregory D. Scott, of the VA Institute.

"While our study found an increased risk of Parkinson's disease, the good news is people can do something about it by using CPAP as soon as they are diagnosed with the sleep disorder," he added.

The findings will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 77th Annual Meeting scheduled to take place from April 5-9 in San Diego, US.

https://www.newkerala.com/news/o/sleep-apnoea-raise-risk-parkinsons-disease-study-513

Ketamine, psychedelic use may raise death risk by 2.6-fold: Study

A groundbreaking Canadian study has uncovered significant mortality risks associated with hallucinogenic drug use. Researchers from The Ottawa Hospital found that individuals seeking acute care for hallucinogen use had nearly 10 times higher death rates compared to the general population. The study highlights the potential dangers of psychedelic substances, especially when used outside carefully controlled clinical environments. While psychedelic-assisted therapies show promise, the research underscores the critical need for comprehensive understanding of long-term health impacts.

"We know surprisingly little about potential adverse effects of hallucinogens" - Dr. Daniel Myran

New Delhi, March 3: The use of hallucinogens, such as ketamine and psychedelics can raise the risk of death by 2.6-fold, according to a study on Monday.

Key Points

1 Hallucinogen use increased dramatically since mid-2010s

2 Study tracked 11.4 million people in Ontario

3 Acute care patients showed 10x higher mortality risk

4 Low-income individuals more vulnerable to adverse outcomes

Researchers from The Ottawa Hospital in Canada noted that the use of hallucinogens including psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, and MDMA (ecstasy), has rapidly increased since the mid-2010s.

Increasing use may partially also reflect growing medical and societal interest in pairing psychedelics with psychotherapy for mental health and substance use disorders, said the team.

However, although psychedelic-assisted therapy trials have generally been safe, there is little data about whether hallucinogens might increase the risk of adverse events, such as thoughts of suicide and death, when used outside of carefully controlled clinical trial settings or in populations currently excluded from trials.

"Despite the growing popularity of hallucinogen use, we know surprisingly little about potential adverse effects of hallucinogens, such as mortality risks. Contemporary clinical trials have not observed any short-term increase in the risk of severe adverse events, including death, for trial participants. However, these studies involve careful supervision and therapy for trial participants and exclude people at high risk of adverse outcomes," said Dr. Daniel Myran, a family physician and public health and preventive medicine physician-researcher at The Ottawa Hospital.

To better understand the link, the team looked at health care data on emergency department visits, hospitalisations, and outpatient physician visits for more than 11.4 million people in Ontario aged 15-105 years. Of the total group, 7,954 sought acute care for hallucinogen use.

The risk of death within 5 years for people who sought acute care for hallucinogen use was almost 10 times that of someone of the same age and sex in the general population, as per findings published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Individuals who received acute care for hallucinogen use also had more medical comorbidities. People needing acute care for hallucinogen use were more likely to live in low-income neighbourhoods, to have been homeless at the time of a previous acute care visit, to have chronic health conditions, and/or to have received care for a mental health problem or substance use disorder in the previous 3 years.

They were at higher risk of death than people who sought alcohol-related acute care, but at lower risk of death than people needing acute care for opioid or stimulant use.

"The findings highlight the need for ongoing investigation of and communication about both potential benefits and risks from hallucinogen use, particularly use outside clinical trial settings, given rapid increases in general population use," said Dr. Marco Solmi, psychiatrist at The Ottawa Hospital and associate professor, University of Ottawa.

https://www.newkerala.com/news/o/ketamine-psychedelic-use-raise-death-risk-26-fold-study-834

How to avoid chronic headaches

Frequent headaches, resulting from stress or other conditions, can be either tension headaches or migraine. Knowing the difference can be crucial for treatment

Gayatri (34) had been experiencing severe headaches at least twice a month for the past five years. These bilateral headaches (on both sides of the head) usually lasted a day or two, over her forehead, and were accompanied by neck pain. A teacher by profession, she said her job was stressful. Because of these headaches, Gayatri had to take leave every other month. She finally sought treatment when her leave became ‘an issue’ with her employer. She was diagnosed with migraine headaches and is better after treatment.

Constant headaches that happen for 15 days or more in a month, for at least three months, can be called chronic headaches, resulting from stress or other conditions and can be either tension headaches or migraine. As seen in Gayatri’s case, such headaches can be debilitating, often interfering with day-to-day activities.

Chronic headaches can have a range of triggers and avoiding these can help prevent persistent headaches.

Alcohol, particularly red wine and caffeine overuse or withdrawal: Alcohol or red wine is a major trigger. Caffeine overuse or its sudden withdrawal can cause rebound headaches. Keep your coffee intake at moderate levels and avoid abrupt changes in consumption.

Dehydration: Even mild dehydration can cause headaches, as it can reduce blood volume and oxygen delivery to the brain. Have enough water and keep drinking throughout the day, especially while exercising or in hot weather.

Poor sleep habits: Irregular sleep or sleep deprivation can disrupt the brain’s natural rhythms and cause tension or migraine headaches. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep and maintain a consistent schedule.

Food sensitivities: Certain foods, like aged cheese, cured meat, artificial sweeteners and foods high in MSG, can trigger headaches. Keep a diary to identify and avoid specific triggers.

Stress and anxiety: Stress can tighten neck and shoulder muscles, causing tension headaches or migraine. Meditation, yoga, or deep-breathing exercises are helpful.

Weather changes: Sudden changes in the weather or in humidity can cause headaches. Stay hydrated and avoid strenuous activities during weather shifts.

Digital eye strain: Prolonged screen time can strain the eyes and cause headaches. Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Use blue light filters and ensure proper lighting.

Hormonal changes: Hormonal fluctuations in women (e.g., during menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause) can cause headaches. Track hormonal cycles and discuss preventive measures with your gynaecologist such as taking magnesium supplements or medications.

Poor posture: Bad posture, especially during prolonged sitting or computer work, can strain neck and back muscles, leading to headaches. Maintain ergonomic seating, take breaks, and do stretching exercises regularly.

Overuse of pain medication: Excessive use of over-the-counter or prescription headache medications can cause rebound headaches. Limit medication use to not more than 2-3 times a week and consult a doctor for alternative treatments, if needed.

Preventive measures

People suffering from migraine should avoid triggers (e.g., certain foods, stress, dehydration); maintain a regular sleep schedule; adopt stress management practices; take OTC (over the counter) painkillers like ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen as soon as the pain starts or use prescription medications like triptans (e.g., sumatriptan) or ergotamine in severe cases. Magnesium and vitamin B2 supplements are also helpful in prevention. Those suffering from tension headaches should also opt for OTC pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen and apply a warm compress to relax neck/shoulder muscles. A massage is also helpful.

Those working for long hours should take regular breaks to stretch and exercise, especially neck and shoulder muscles’ strengthening exercises.

When to see a doctor

At times, headaches can be secondary symptoms for underlying serious disorders. Do see a doctor if

·         Headaches occur more than 15 days per month.

·         Symptoms worsen or don’t improve with treatment.

·         You experience new or unusual symptoms such as sudden, severe headache (‘thunderclap headaches’).

·         There are neurological symptoms (e.g., vision changes, weakness, confusion).

— The writer is head, neurology, BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/how-to-avoid-chronic-headaches/

India may have over 440 million overweight people by 2050: Lancet study

As per the study, already almost half the world's adults -- a billion men and over a billion women aged 25 years and above -- were overweight and obese in 2021

In India, the numbers were over nearly 180 million -- 81 million men and 98 million women.

By 2050, India could have over 440 million obese and overweight people, a global analysis published in The Lancet journal has estimated.

Number of overweight and obese adults by mid-century in India (218 million men and 231 million women) could be the second highest in the world, after China, with the US, Brazil and Nigeria expected to rank third, fourth and fifth, respectively, the findings by an international team of researchers reveal.

These researchers, including those from the Indian Council of Medical Research, collaborated for the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021.

As per the study, already almost half the world's adults -- a billion men and over a billion women aged 25 years and above -- were overweight and obese in 2021. In India, the numbers were over nearly 180 million -- 81 million men and 98 million women.

However, by 2050, this number globally could rise to nearly 3.8 billion -- 1.8 billion men and 1.9 billion women -- "over half of the likely global adult population at that time", the authors said.

"While China, India, and the USA will continue to constitute a large proportion of the global population with overweight and obesity, the number in the sub-Saharan Africa super-region is forecasted to increase by 254.8 per cent," they wrote.

The researchers also estimated that about 16 million boys and over 14 million girls in India, aged 5-14 years, could be overweight and obese by 2050, making it world's second highest after China.

However, in the 15-24 age group, the world's highest burden could come from India, with over 22 million men and nearly 17 million women in the country suffering from this health crisis in 2050.

Lead author Emmanuela Gakidou, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington, US, which coordinates the GBD study, said, "The unprecedented global epidemic of overweight and obesity is a profound tragedy and a monumental societal failure." The study, the "most comprehensive global analysis to date", could help governments and the public health community "identify priority populations experiencing the greatest burdens of obesity who require immediate intervention and treatment, and those that remain predominantly overweight and should be primarily targeted with prevention strategies", Gakidou said.

The latest estimates come against the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi making a strong pitch for combating obesity in his monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' radiocast on February 23.

Obesity will have to be dealt with to be a fit and healthy nation, he said.

Obesity, a body mass index (BMI) of over 30, is known to have wide-ranging effects, including raising one's risk of metabolic and heart disease. It can also impact one's bone health and fertility and increase cancer risk.

However, experts recently called for a more nuanced approach to measuring obesity.

In January, authors of a Lancet Commission report urged an overhaul of how obesity is diagnosed and called for a new method that looked at aspects such as waist circumference or waist-to-hip ratio, in addition to BMI.

BMI is not an honest measure of health or disease and can thus result in a wrong diagnosis, they said.

The team suggested two new categories for diagnosing obesity, which are "objective measures" of illness in an individual -- 'clinical obesity' and 'pre-clinical obesity'.

While clinical obesity refers to a chronic, or persistent, condition because of an obesity-related organ dysfunction, pre-clinical obesity is related to an increased health risk without illness, they explained.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/india-may-have-over-440-million-overweight-people-by-2050-lancet-study/

Brain activity during sleep could predict recovery of patients with brain injury

76 per cent of the patients with sleep spindles and cognitive motor dissociation showed evidence of consciousness by the time they were discharged from hospital, find researchers

Sleep spindles or brain activity occurring during the non-dreaming stage of sleep could help predict recovery of consciousness and independent functioning in those who suffered a brain injury, a new study has suggested.

Researchers from Columbia University and the NewYork-Presbyterian healthcare system, US, said the studies have shown that unresponsive patients with a recent brain injury can possess a degree of consciousness hidden from families and doctors.

For the study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, the researchers looked through electroencephalograms or EEG recordings of brain activity in 226 comatose patients taken over a night.

 “The electrical activity during sleep looks relatively chaotic and then occasionally in some patients, these (bursts of) very organised, fast frequencies appear,” said lead researcher Jan Claassen, an associate professor of neurology at Columbia University.

These bursts of brain activity, called sleep spindles, often preceded the detection of cognitive motor dissociation—in which a patient appears unresponsive but shows evidence of brain activity—the return of consciousness and long-term recovery, the researchers said.

The patients with sleep spindles and cognitive motor dissociation were more likely to recover consciousness and functional independence, the team said.

“Spindles happen normally during sleep and (the patients are) showing some level of organisation in the brain, suggesting circuits between the thalamus and cortex -- (brain regions) needed for consciousness are intact,” Claassen said.

In the study, sleep spindles were seen in “approximately every third behaviorally unresponsive patient after acute brain injury, frequently precede detection of CMD and are a promising complementary predictor for recovery of consciousness and functional independence”.

The researchers said that 76 per cent of the patients with sleep spindles and cognitive motor dissociation showed evidence of consciousness by the time they were discharged from the hospital.

A year later, 41 per cent of these patients had recovered neurological function, with either minor deficits or a moderate disability, and were able to care for themselves during the day, the team said.

They acknowledged the findings do not prove that inducing sleep spindles would translate to better outcomes, but raise the possibility that improving a patient’s sleep may promote recovery.

Further, 19 of 139 patients in the study who did not show sleep spindles or signs of cognitive motor dissociation did recover consciousness, suggesting that other information will likely be needed to make more accurate predictions, the team said.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/brain-activity-during-sleep-could-predict-recovery-of-patients-with-brain-injury/

Sleep patterns may reveal comatose patients with hidden consciousness: Study

Several studies conducted over the last decade have found that up to a quarter of unresponsive patients with recent brain injuries may have a level of consciousness that is generally hidden from their families and physicians.

Several studies conducted over the last decade have found that up to a quarter of unresponsive patients with recent brain injuries may have a level of consciousness that is generally hidden from their families and physicians.

New research from Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian may soon help physicians identify unresponsive brain-injury patients with hidden consciousness who are likely to achieve long-term recovery by looking for brain waves that are indicative of normal sleep patterns.

"We're at an exciting crossroad in neurocritical care where we know that many patients appear to be unconscious, but some are recovering without our knowledge. We're starting to lift the lid a little bit and find some signs of recovery as it's happening," says Jan Claassen, associate professor of neurology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, who led the study.

"Families of my patients ask me all the time, will my mother wake up? How is my mother going to look in three, six, or 12 months? Very often we cannot guide them very precisely, and it's crucial that we improve our predictions to guide their decision making."

Claassen, who is also chief of critical care and hospitalist neurology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, has previously developed sophisticated techniques to identify patients with hidden consciousness by analyzing a patient's EEG recordings as they are presented with a command in the neurocritical care unit. The techniques detect EEG brain wave activity, indicating that the patient can hear and understand their physicians' instructions (to open and close their hand, for example) even though the patients do not physically respond.

But the techniques can be difficult to implement and can yield false-negative results.

Claassen decided to focus on sleep, as brain circuits that are fundamental for consciousness, including cognitive motor dissociation, are also critical to control sleep.

"I'm always thinking about how my work can be best implemented and used in the real world, and looking at sleep made sense practically and scientifically," Claassen says. "Sleep brain waves are easy to record and do not require intervention from the care team."

In the new study, the researchers looked through EEG recordings of overnight brain activity in 226 comatose patients who also underwent the more complex testing for cognitive motor dissociation.

"The electrical activity during sleep looks relatively chaotic, and then occasionally in some patients, these very organized, fast frequencies appear," Claassen says.

These bursts--called sleep spindles--often preceded the detection of cognitive motor dissociation with the more complex method, the return of consciousness, and long-term recovery.

"Spindles happen normally during sleep and they're showing some level of organization in the brain, suggesting circuits between the thalamus and cortex needed for consciousness are intact."

About one-third of patients had well-defined sleep spindles, including about half of patients with cognitive motor dissociation.

Patients with sleep spindles and cognitive motor dissociation were more likely to recover consciousness and functional independence. Among those with sleep spindles and cognitive motor dissociation, 76% of patients showed evidence of consciousness by the time they were discharged from the hospital. A year later, 41% of these patients had recovered neurological function, with either minor deficits or a moderate disability, and were able to care for themselves during the day. Only 29% of patients with neither sleep spindles nor cognitive motor dissociation showed signs of consciousness by the time they were discharged and just 7% regained neurological function a year later.

Even though these findings don't prove that inducing sleep spindles would translate to better outcomes, they raise the possibility that improving a patient's sleep--possibly by changing their environment--may promote their recovery. "If you think about the ICU environment, it is rather disruptive for a good night's sleep. There is noise everywhere, alarms going off, clinicians touching them, 24/7. This is all for a good reason, but it's hard to sleep in that environment," Claassen says.

Claassen cautions that the findings only apply to patients with recent injuries, not those with long-term disorders of consciousness. For most patients in the current study, normal sleep spindles appeared within days of the initial injury.

And the predictors were not perfect: 19 of 139 patients who did not show sleep spindles or signs of cognitive motor dissociation did recover consciousness. Other data will likely be needed to make more accurate predictions.

"I see these spindles as a way to direct more sophisticated testing to the patients most likely to benefit," Claassen says. "The techniques are not ready for use in clinical practice yet, but this is something that we're actively working on right now." (ANI)

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/sleep-patterns-may-reveal-comatose-patients-with-hidden-consciousness-study/

Need for stringent regulations, quality control in Nutraceuticals market: Ayush official

The nutraceutical market in India is experiencing rapid growth, demanding enhanced regulatory oversight. Dr. Srinivas Rao Chinta from the Ministry of Ayush emphasized the critical need for stringent quality control mechanisms. The integration of Ayurvedic principles with modern supplement development presents a unique opportunity for India's health science sector. With a rich traditional knowledge base and emerging startup ecosystem, the nutraceutical industry stands poised for significant global expansion.

"Licensing is a key factor that should not be overlapped in this emerging market" - Dr. Srinivas Rao Chinta, Ayush Ministry

New Delhi, Feb 25: There is an urgent need for stringent regulations and quality control in the growing Nutraceuticals market in the country, a key Ministry of Ayush official said on Tuesday.

Key Points

1 Nutraceuticals require robust regulatory mechanisms

2 Ayurvedic principles integral to supplement development

3 Health and wellness sector witnessing exponential growth

4 Traditional knowledge driving global nutraceutical expansion

Dr Srinivas Rao Chinta, Joint Advisor of Ministry of Ayush, asked for regulatory aspects to be advanced to increase efficiency and safety issues.

Licensing is a key factor that should not be overlapped in this emerging market, he said during the Assocham’s ‘10th Nutraceutical Summit’ in the national capital.

Nutraceuticals are the formulation of nutrients which helps in prevention and treatment of some diseases, in addition to a supplement diet.

Dr Chinta focused on the importance of Nutraceuticals and how regulatory bodies play a key role in monitoring products for daily usage.

He advocated the holistic approach of Ayurveda routine that is being followed with the help of Nutraceuticals as everybody is concerned for their health these days.

The integration of Ayurvedic principles into modern Nutraceuticals has been a focal point in recent policy developments.

The FSSAI, in collaboration with Ayush Ministry, introduced the 'Ayush Aahar' category to regulate and promote Ayurvedic nutritional supplement to ensure that products align with traditional Ayurvedic recipes and processes thereby facilitating their production and marketing.

According to Sandeep Verma, Co-Chairperson, Assocham National Wellness Council, expressed how consumers continue prioritising health and wellness and the nutraceutical industry is poised for exponential growth.

With advancements in personalised nutrition and AI-driven supplement recommendations, the future of nutraceuticals looks promising, he noted.

Meanwhile, the country’s Nutraceutical industry is looking to expand globally with support from its rich heritage of traditional knowledge, especially in Ayurveda.

India’s longstanding history in health science, especially Ayurveda, offering unique traditional knowledge is a key advantage in the Nutraceutical industry.

Moreover, besides expertise in pharmaceutical formulation, influencing high-quality nutraceutical standards, the country also boasts of a thriving startup ecosystem with a growing number of successful nutraceutical companies catalysing sectoral growth.

https://www.newkerala.com/news/o/need-stringent-regulations-quality-control-nutraceuticals-market-ayush-official-880