Harvard study finds Sadhguru's Samyama Sadhana meditation slows brain ageing
Sharing the Harvard research paper, Sadhguru said, "It is wonderful that modern science is able to identify and measure the impact of the subjective sciences on the human mechanism. Enhancing the exuberance & vibrancy of the human mechanism will naturally slow the aging process & cognitive decline."
(Photo: X)
He further said that every human being must invest in their physical and mental health, and that we owe it to ourselves, those around us, and future generations.advertisementHe reshared the original paper which was posted by Dr. Bala Subramaniam, Director, Sadhguru Center for a Conscious Planet at BIDMC, Anesthesiology, Harvard Medical School.'Our new study in Mindfulness (https://rdcu.be/emo2O) shows advanced meditators have a 5.9-year younger brain age! Meditation may hold the key to reversing brain aging. Proud to be part of this groundbreaking research," wrote Dr Subramaniam.BRAIN AGE GAP: MEDITATORS vs NON-MEDITATORSUsing brain scans recorded during non-REM sleep, scientists found that the meditation group had a biologically younger brain. The study also included healthy participants and those with early signs of age-related brain issues for comparison.The findings were published in the journal Mindfulness, with the study led by Dr Bala Subramaniam from Harvard Medical School.He noted on X: 'Our new study in Mindfulness (https://rdcu.be/emo2O) shows advanced meditators have a 5.9-year younger brain age! Meditation may hold the key to reversing brain aging. Proud to be part of this groundbreaking research," wrote Dr Subramaniam.A PROMISING START, BUT MORE STUDIES NEEDEDWhile the current study shows promise, researchers say more large-scale data is needed to confirm if long-term practice of this meditation technique can fully prevent brain ageing.That said, this research is a step towards combining age-old meditation techniques with modern neuroscience.
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Time of India
11 hours ago
- Time of India
Harvard doctor has urgent advice. Ditch these 8 everyday toxins from your life ASAP
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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
AIIMS, Harvard gastroenterologist shares 8 toxic everyday items harming gut, overall health: Scented candles, detergent
Everyday items we use in our kitchens and homes may be quietly harming our gut and overall health, warns Dr Saurabh Sethi, MD, MPH, board-certified gastroenterologist, hepatologist, and interventional endoscopist trained at AIIMS, Harvard and Stanford. Scented candles and air fresheners contain phthalates and VOCS (volatile organic compounds) linked to hormone disruption and inflammation.(Unsplash) In an August 19 Instagram post, he listed 8 items that are found in our home, including non-stick pans, scented candles, scented washing detergents, and more items, and why he would avoid them. Supported by research, he offered simple swaps that could reduce long-term risks and improve overall well-being. 8 everyday items that are toxic and their swaps Sharing the list, Dr Sethi wrote, 'I'm a stomach doctor and these are 8 everyday toxins I'd ditch asap.' Let's find out the items he listed in his Instagram post, why they are toxic, and what you should swap them with: 1. Scratched or chipped nonstick pans (Teflon/PTFE) If it's damaged, it's done. Teflon can release microplastics and toxic fumes, especially at high heat. Swap it with: Switch to ceramic, cast iron, or stainless steel. 2. Artificial sweeteners (especially aspartame, sucralose) They mess with your gut bacteria, blood sugar, and appetite signals. Linked to glucose intolerance and microbiome shifts. Swap it with: Monk fruit (pure), stevia (pure), or real fruit. 3. Plastic water bottles (especially in heat) BPA and even BPA-free plastics can leach hormones, disrupting chemicals, especially in warm temperatures. Swap it with: Stainless steel or glass. 4. Ultra-processed packaged foods Most ultra-processed packaged foods contain seed oils, preservatives, gums, and emulsifiers, all known to disrupt gut health and metabolism. Swap it with: Whole, recognisable ingredients. If it has more than 5+ unpronounceable ingredients, pass. 5. Scented candles and air fresheners Scented candles and air fresheners contain phthalates and VOCS (volatile organic compounds) linked to hormone disruption and inflammation. Swap it with: Beeswax candles, essential oil diffusers, or just ventilation. 6. Deli meats with preservatives (nitrites/nitrates) Processed meats are often packed with sodium nitrite, nitrate, and other preservatives linked to gut inflammation, microbiome disruption, and even colorectal cancer risk. Swap it with: Freshly cooked meats. 7. Antibacterial soaps with triclosan Antibacterial soaps with triclosan kill good and bad bacteria alike. It can harm your skin barrier, and yes, your gut may feel it too. Swap it with: Plain soap and water. 8. Fragrance-loaded laundry detergents and dryer sheets Fragrance-loaded laundry detergents and dryer sheets are packed with phthalates and synthetic chemicals that cling to your clothes and your skin. It can disrupt hormones and irritate sensitive systems over time. Swap it with: Fragrance-free or wool dryer balls with essential oil. Lastly, the gastroenterologist suggested, 'You don't need to fear everything. But reducing your toxic load is one of the easiest ways to support your gut, brain, and hormones.' Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Ancient proteins could transform palaeontology
ANCIENT PROTEINS nestled in fossils contain troves of information about long-dead creatures. However, like all ancient molecules, proteins degrade. Until recently the oldest proteins recovered for reliable, in-depth analysis were around 4m years old. But two separate studies published in Nature on July 9th, one by researchers at Harvard University and the Smithsonian Institution and another led by researchers at the University of Copenhagen, have recovered ancient proteins, some of which could be up to 29m years old. The discoveries should help palaeontologists investigate the behaviour, diet and evolution of animals long thought too old to be studied with molecular tools. Both research teams recovered the ancient proteins from tooth enamel, the hardest substance in vertebrates' bodies, in fossils they assessed to be many millions of years old. They first ground the enamel to a powder and then applied a chemical solution to draw out the proteins. To confirm that the proteins were not the result of modern contamination, they identified chemical damage to the proteins accrued over time, a process called diagenesis. The amount of damage lined up with what they would expect for fossils of that age. The team from Harvard and the Smithsonian Institution focused on the enamel of big African animals, such as elephants, in Kenya's Turkana Basin, which were between 1.5m and 29m years old (although they have high confidence only in fossils up to the age of 18m). Finding old proteins in one of the warmest places on Earth, where biological molecules easily break down, suggested that even older proteins could be recovered in better conditions. The researchers from Copenhagen confirmed this suspicion. In the Haughton Crater in the much colder climes of the Canadian Arctic, they managed to extract protein sequences from the tooth of a 24m-year-old rhinocerotid, a squat, single-horned mammal in the rhinoceros family. Having recovered the proteins, the two teams were able to compare their sequen-ces against databases of known protein sequences from other species. This allowed them to place the extinct species on the tree of life. For example, the Harvard study suggests that an 18m-year-old creature in the Anthracotheriidae family is probably the ancestor of modern hippos, whereas the close relatives of a rhino-like animal called Arsinoitherium, thought to be 29m years old, are all extinct. Enrico Cappellini, who was part of the Copenhagen study, says that the new discoveries expand the timeline of proteins available for analysis ten-fold compared with ancient DNA (aDNA), which lasts about 1m years. That means palaeontologists can now understand the evolution of organisms that are too old for other ancient molecular analysis. Future analyses of carbon and nitrogen isotopes within the preserved proteins could also offer insights into the diet, environment and migratory behaviour of extinct species. There are tantalising hints that scientists may have even older proteins to discover. Back in 2009, researchers from North Carolina State University retrieved fragments of collagen protein from the fossil of an 80m-year-old duck-billed dinosaur called Brachylophosaurus canadensis. Although the collagen had degraded into small bits, they were able to confirm that it was of a specific kind now only found in birds. Better preserved proteins yet to be found might be able to reveal even more. Commenting on the Copenhagen findings, Matthew Collins, a palaeoproteomics expert at the University of Cambridge who was not part of either study, says the results are 'spectacular if true' and that they could transform interpretation of fossil records. Because some proteins in tooth enamel vary between the sexes, they could help determine the sex of some fossils, which can otherwise be tricky. Placing species on the tree of life could also clear up long-running evolutionary disputes, such as the debate over the true ancestry of horses. Whereas aDNA took palaeontologists into the distant past, it seems ancient proteins could take them further still. Curious about the world? To enjoy our mind-expanding science coverage, sign up to Simply Science, our weekly subscriber-only newsletter.
