Latest news with #AmitSachdev
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
This Popular Supplement May Help With Alzheimer's Symptoms
Creatine is everywhere on social media right now, with recs coming from influencers and health experts. Research is starting to find that the popular supplement can do more than help you build muscle. In a small pilot trial published in a journal, researchers found that creatine monohydrate may help improve cognitive function in individuals with Alzheimer's Disease. It's hard to cruise your For You feed right now without being faced with yet another testimonial about the perks of taking a creatine supplement. While creatine is the supplement du jour, there is solid data to support its use—mostly around fitness. But a growing body of research suggests that creatine may do more than help you build muscles, including easing depression and helping with brain fog after a bad night's sleep. Now, a new study suggests that there may be some benefit to using creatine to boost cognition in people with Alzheimer's disease. The research is very early and this is technically a pilot trial (which is basically a trial run). But the findings bring up a number of questions about whether something as simple as adding a creatine supplement could help improve symptoms in people with such a devastating condition. Here's what the study, found plus what doctors and nutritionists recommend keeping in mind. Meet the experts: Amit Sachdev, MD, is the medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University; Albert Matheny, RD, CSCS, is co-founder of SoHo Strength Lab; Matthew Taylor, PhD, RD, is a study co-author, assistant professor, and director of the KU Brain Nutrition Laboratory at University of Kansas Medical Center; Clifford Segil, DO, is a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA The study, which was published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, looked into the 'feasibility' of patients with Alzheimer's disease taking 20 grams a day of creatine monohydrate (the most widely studied form of creatine) for eight weeks. The researchers looked at how compliant the patients were (i.e. how likely they were to take the supplement). They also monitored levels of creatine in the patients' blood at the start, four weeks, and eight weeks later, along with levels of creatine in their brains. They also tested the patients' cognition at the start of the study and after eight weeks. The researchers found that 19 of the 20 participants were more than 80 percent compliant with taking the creatine during the study. They also found that creatine levels went up in their blood after four and eight weeks, and that creatine in the brain increased by 11 percent. And here's the really interesting part: The researchers discovered that the patients had better improvements in cognitive tests, including sorting and reading, along with tests to measure attention and response, after eight weeks of creatine supplementation. The researchers concluded that the findings provide 'preliminary evidence' for more research. 'We decided to do this study because there were a couple of recent studies in mice suggesting that, in a mouse model of Alzheimer's, creatine monohydrate supplementation may be beneficial,' says study co-author Matthew Taylor, PhD, RD, assistant professor and director of the KU Brain Nutrition Laboratory at University of Kansas Medical Center. 'Prior to this study, no work had been done in humans with Alzheimer's, so it was the right time to start looking at it as a potentially beneficial supplement for Alzheimer's.' The study didn't look into this, but there are some theories. 'The brain requires a lot of energy, but in Alzheimer's, brain energy metabolism drastically declines,' Taylor explains. 'Creatine is a very important substance for transporting energy produced by our mitochondria and increasing creatine levels may even encourage mitochondria to produce more energy.' Albert Matheny, RD, CSCS, co-founder of SoHo Strength Lab, co-signs that theory. Creatine helps to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), 'and ATP is the brain's primary energy source,' he says. Adding more creatine to the body could, in theory, help support cognition in people with Alzheimer's disease, Matheny adds. Creatine may also have other roles, like decreasing inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, which could potentially help with symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, Taylor says. 'Each of these roles could help with cognitive function in Alzheimer's, but we still have so much to learn about the roles of this molecule in the brain,' he says. We're not there yet. Again, this was a pilot study and it simply found that people who have Alzheimer's disease may be able to regularly take creatine supplements and might have a boost in cognition as a result. But this doesn't mean that people with Alzheimer's disease should take creatine, says Amit Sachdev, MD, medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University. 'I would not advise the use of creatine with the goal of improving cognition,' he says, noting that there's not yet 'well-established data to support this use.' Clifford Segil, DO, a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, agrees. "We are not at a point that creatine supplementation for brain health is an accepted supplement," he says. Taylor agrees. 'Our study is far from a definitive study,' he says. 'Well-designed, placebo-controlled clinical trials are needed to determine whether creatine is beneficial for Alzheimer's. I would suggest Alzheimer's patients and their families discuss taking any supplement with their neurologist.' You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
Miami Herald
7 days ago
- Health
- Miami Herald
This Workout Supplement May Help With Alzheimer's-New Pilot Study
A popular workout supplement could lead to better outcomes for Alzheimer's patients, according to the findings of a new study. Creatine is a popular fitness supplement that many people use to help build muscle. However, a new study published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia Translational Research & Clinical Interventions discovered it could also boost brain cognition in Alzheimer's patients. In the United States, roughly 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's in 2025, according to the Alzheimer's Association. The chronic neurodegenerative disease can affect memory, thinking and behavior and is currently the most common form of dementia worldwide. In the study, patients with Alzheimer's disease took 20 grams of creatine monohydrate for eight weeks. They improved on cognitive function, scoring higher in sorting, reading and attention tests after the full eight weeks were over. Researchers said the study laid the groundwork of "preliminary evidence" to conduct further research. "We decided to do this study because there were a couple of recent studies in mice suggesting that, in a mouse model of Alzheimer's, creatine monohydrate supplementation may be beneficial," study co-author Matthew Taylor, Ph.D, RD, assistant professor and director of the KU Brain Nutrition Laboratory at University of Kansas Medical Center, told Women's Health. "Prior to this study, no work had been done in humans with Alzheimer's, so it was the right time to start looking at it as a potentially beneficial supplement for Alzheimer's." Since creatine helps create adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a primary energy source for the brain, researchers speculate that creatine is able to improve overall cognition in Alzheimer's patients. Creatine also may be able to reduce inflammation, improving the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Matthew Taylor, assistant professor and director of the KU Brain Nutrition Laboratory at University of Kansas Medical Center, told Women's Health: "The brain requires a lot of energy, but in Alzheimer's, brain energy metabolism drastically declines. Creatine is a very important substance for transporting energy produced by our mitochondria and increasing creatine levels may even encourage mitochondria to produce more energy." Further research is likely needed to understand the full impact of creatine on the body as well as the potential implications for Alzheimer's disease. "I would not advise the use of creatine with the goal of improving cognition," Amit Sachdev, MD, medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University told Women's Health, adding there's not "well-established data to support this use." Taylor echoed this sentiment. "Our study is far from a definitive study," he said. "Well-designed, placebo-controlled clinical trials are needed to determine whether creatine is beneficial for Alzheimer's. I would suggest Alzheimer's patients and their families discuss taking any supplement with their neurologist." Related Articles The Good Life: A Tough, but Promising Path Ahead for College Grads'Important' Alzheimer's Treatment Breakthrough Gets FDA Approval'Remarkable' ALS Drug May Also Work on Alzheimer'sOzempic May Lower Risk of Alzheimer's and Dementia 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Alzheimer's Symptoms May Surface in Your 20s, Study Finds
Alzheimer's symptoms and changes in cognitive function typically start to appear after age 65. A new study published in Lancet Regional Health-Americas finds that Alzheimer's symptoms can present much earlier than thought, as early as the mid-20s. Experts say that in addition to staying active, eating healthy, avoiding tobacco, and limiting alcohol, it's a good idea to try to use your brain "vigorously" to stay sharp. When you close your eyes and think about Alzheimer's disease, you're probably conjuring up an image of an older person. That makes sense, because the symptoms usually start to rear their ugly heads after age 65. But new research suggests that the devastating disease may actually influence a person's cognitive function decades before they're actually diagnosed. The groundbreaking study, which was published in the journal Lancet Regional Health – Americas, is raising a lot of questions about early biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease—and how to keep your brain healthy, starting from a younger age. Here's what the study found, plus what neurologists want you to keep in mind when digesting the information. Meet the experts: Clifford Segil, DO, is a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA; Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, is the medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University. For the study, researchers analyzed data from Waves IV and V of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, which is a long-term health study that has tracked teens since the mid-90s. The researchers did a slew of in-home interviews, cognitive tests, and physical exams, and collected blood samples from thousands of participants in their 20s and 30s. Ultimately, 1,112 study participants who did in-home interviews were given cognitive tasks like immediate word recall, delayed word recall, and backward digit span. They also provided a sample for genetic testing. The researchers then tied those scores to Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE) scores in 529 people. The researchers discovered that certain risk factors and biomarkers linked to Alzheimer's disease may influence a person's cognitive function starting in their mid-20s and continuing onwards. 'Key risk factors for Alzheimer's disease are linked to cognitive function as early as ages 24–44, highlighting the need for early prevention in the US,' the researchers wrote in the conclusion. The study focused on a few different factors, including the CAIDE score. The list included things like a person's age, education, sex, systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading), body mass index, cholesterol, physical activity, and the gene variant apolipoprotein E ε4 allele (APOE ε4), a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. The researchers also discovered that ATN (amyloid, tau, neurodegeneration), and immune biomarkers linked to Alzheimer's disease may be present and related to cognition in people in their 40s and younger. Sort of. 'When I see younger patients concerned with getting dementia when they are elderly, I 'risk stratify' and do the same tests I would do in an octogenerian concerned they have dementia,' says Clifford Segil, DO, a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. That means doing blood tests to look for reversible causes of memory loss—including thyroid tests and checking vitamin levels like B12. 'I would also obtain a structural picture of their brain to see if they have had silent strokes or atrophy,' Dr. Segil says. The only actual available "test" for Alzheimer's disease in younger people would be to check someone's APOE 4 levels, which is considered the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, Dr. Segil says. 'But this [test] being positive in a young patient would be challenging to say has any clinical significance,' he adds. There are a few things you can do right now to make sure you have the healthiest brain as you get holder. Aside from eating a healthy diet, staying active, avoiding tobacco, and limiting your alcohol consumption, it's a good idea to 'vigorously' use your brain, says Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University. 'This is best achieved through self-investment in education but also through socialization and human interaction,' he says. 'Working on finding and cultivating new friends and interests in youth helps to develop those old friendships that are so important later in life.' Dr. Segil also recommends keeping your body and mind busy to maintain your brain health. Ultimately, if you're concerned about your dementia risk or if you have a family history of the disease, check in with your primary care physician, who should be able to offer some personalized guidance. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Doctors Say This Easy Habit Can Protect Your Brain As You Age—And Might Prevent Alzheimer's Disease
New research suggests being curious can protect brain health as you age. Older adults who stay curious and learn new things may be able to offset Alzheimer's disease. By tapping into your senses, you can easily experience newness in a known environment. Little kids ask questions about absolutely everything: why you have to flush the toilet, what the backstory is for a stranger's tattoo, what love means. The list goes on and nothing is off-limits. But that curiosity tends to drop off as we grow up and get older. And apparently, recent research says that's not a good thing for your brain. A new study suggests that older adults who maintain a healthy dose of curiosity and try to learn new things may be able to help offset or even prevent Alzheimer's disease. And yes, that almost sounds too easy to be true. So, what's behind this curiosity-dementia link? Women's Health tapped neurologists for more. Meet the experts: Clifford Segil, DO, is a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA; Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, is the medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University The study, which was published in PLOS One, recruited more than 1,200 people between the ages of 20 and 84, and asked them to fill out an online questionnaire with the goal of figuring out how curious they were in general. The researchers then asked participants to guess the answers to hard trivia questions that most people likely wouldn't know. For example, What was the first country to give women the right to vote? (Answer: New Zealand!) After they guessed the answer, participants were asked how interested they were to know the answer before they were shown it. The researchers discovered that people who have more "state curiosity" (which is a fleeting desire to know something) also have more "trait curiosity" (i.e. they're naturally curious), and vice versa. But the researchers also discovered that the drive to learn new things dropped in early adulthood, increased sharply after middle age, and continued upward into older age. The researchers said in a press release that older adults who are able to stay curious and want to learn new things may be able to offset or even prevent Alzheimer's disease (even though the study didn't explicitly look at data to support this conclusion). But those who aren't interested in learning new things may be at risk for dementia. This conclusion isn't groundbreaking, by the way: Other studies suggest that older adults who are highly curious have better long-term memory retention than their less-curious counterparts. There are a few things going on that make your curiosity protective to your brain health. 'New interests develop robust connections in the brain,' says Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University. 'This network of connections is what builds a more resilient brain.' Doing the same thing repeatedly also gets old, points out Clifford Segil, DO, a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. 'As we age, trying to avoid this repetition is healthy,' he says. 'Reading a new book is likely better for your brain than reading an old book again.' Ultimately, Dr. Segil says that seeking out new things 'may create new brain pathways rather than strengthening old pathways.' Dr. Segil recommends that you try to touch on your five senses (vision, hearing, touch, smell, and taste) while experiencing new things. That means eating new foods, looking at new art, and going to a concert and hearing something different, he says. A lot of the scientific findings on this topic have similar conclusions when it comes to supporting good brain health: Don't smoke. Do moderate to vigorous exercise for at least 150 minutes a week. Limit how much alcohol you have. Try to do brain-stimulating activities, like reading, playing games, and visiting museums, regularly. Eat a healthy, varied diet, like the MIND diet. Oh, and of course, stay curious. You never know where it can lead you—and your mind. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Alzheimer's Symptoms Can Appear Decades Earlier Than Thought, New Study Finds. Here's What To Know
Alzheimer's symptoms and changes in cognitive function typically start to appear after age 65. A new study published in Lancet Regional Health-Americas finds that Alzheimer's symptoms can present much earlier than thought, as early as the mid-20s. Experts say that in addition to staying active, eating healthy, avoiding tobacco, and limiting alcohol, it's a good idea to try to use your brain "vigorously" to stay sharp. When you close your eyes and think about Alzheimer's disease, you're probably conjuring up an image of an older person. That makes sense, because the symptoms usually start to rear their ugly heads after age 65. But new research suggests that the devastating disease may actually influence a person's cognitive function decades before they're actually diagnosed. The groundbreaking study, which was published in the journal Lancet Regional Health – Americas, is raising a lot of questions about early biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease—and how to keep your brain healthy, starting from a younger age. Here's what the study found, plus what neurologists want you to keep in mind when digesting the information. Meet the experts: Clifford Segil, DO, is a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA; Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, is the medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University. For the study, researchers analyzed data from Waves IV and V of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, which is a long-term health study that has tracked teens since the mid-90s. The researchers did a slew of in-home interviews, cognitive tests, and physical exams, and collected blood samples from thousands of participants in their 20s and 30s. Ultimately, 1,112 study participants who did in-home interviews were given cognitive tasks like immediate word recall, delayed word recall, and backward digit span. They also provided a sample for genetic testing. The researchers then tied those scores to Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE) scores in 529 people. The researchers discovered that certain risk factors and biomarkers linked to Alzheimer's disease may influence a person's cognitive function starting in their mid-20s and continuing onwards. 'Key risk factors for Alzheimer's disease are linked to cognitive function as early as ages 24–44, highlighting the need for early prevention in the US,' the researchers wrote in the conclusion. The study focused on a few different factors, including the CAIDE score. The list included things like a person's age, education, sex, systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading), body mass index, cholesterol, physical activity, and the gene variant apolipoprotein E ε4 allele (APOE ε4), a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. The researchers also discovered that ATN (amyloid, tau, neurodegeneration), and immune biomarkers linked to Alzheimer's disease may be present and related to cognition in people in their 40s and younger. Sort of. 'When I see younger patients concerned with getting dementia when they are elderly, I 'risk stratify' and do the same tests I would do in an octogenerian concerned they have dementia,' says Clifford Segil, DO, a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. That means doing blood tests to look for reversible causes of memory loss—including thyroid tests and checking vitamin levels like B12. 'I would also obtain a structural picture of their brain to see if they have had silent strokes or atrophy,' Dr. Segil says. The only actual available "test" for Alzheimer's disease in younger people would be to check someone's APOE 4 levels, which is considered the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, Dr. Segil says. 'But this [test] being positive in a young patient would be challenging to say has any clinical significance,' he adds. There are a few things you can do right now to make sure you have the healthiest brain as you get holder. Aside from eating a healthy diet, staying active, avoiding tobacco, and limiting your alcohol consumption, it's a good idea to 'vigorously' use your brain, says Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University. 'This is best achieved through self-investment in education but also through socialization and human interaction,' he says. 'Working on finding and cultivating new friends and interests in youth helps to develop those old friendships that are so important later in life.' Dr. Segil also recommends keeping your body and mind busy to maintain your brain health. Ultimately, if you're concerned about your dementia risk or if you have a family history of the disease, check in with your primary care physician, who should be able to offer some personalized guidance. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
