Latest news with #BarcelonaInstituteforGlobalHealth
Express Tribune
25-05-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Study links early breakfast and fasting to lower BMI in middle-aged adults
The research indicated that those who started their day with an early breakfast and had a longer overnight fast generally had lower BMIs. PHOTO: SCITECH DAILY Listen to article The timing of meals — not just their content — could play a significant role in maintaining a healthy body weight, according to a new five-year study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal). Researchers found that middle-aged adults who ate breakfast early and extended their overnight fasting period tended to have lower Body Mass Indexes (BMIs). The findings, published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, are part of a growing field known as chrononutrition, which explores how eating schedules align with the body's natural circadian rhythms. The study tracked over 7,000 adults aged 40 to 65, all part of the GCAT | Genomes for Life project in Spain. Participants first provided information on diet, lifestyle, and meal timing in 2018. After five years, more than 3,000 returned for a follow-up with updated health data. The results indicated that those who started their day with an early breakfast and had a longer overnight fast generally had lower BMIs. 'Extending the overnight fast could help maintain a healthy weight if accompanied by an early dinner and breakfast,' explained Luciana Pons-Muzzo, an ISGlobal researcher at the time of the study. 'This may align better with circadian rhythms and support appetite regulation and energy expenditure.' The study also found significant gender-based patterns. On average, women had lower BMIs, consumed healthier diets, and drank less alcohol, though they reported worse mental health. Women were also more likely to take on caregiving and domestic responsibilities. In contrast, a small subgroup of men who delayed their first meal until after 14:00 — effectively skipping breakfast and fasting for around 17 hours — exhibited less healthy behaviours. These included higher rates of smoking and alcohol consumption, lower physical activity, and poorer diet quality. This group also had lower educational levels and higher unemployment rates. 'These men practiced a form of intermittent fasting by skipping breakfast, but we found no association between that habit and improved weight outcomes,' said Camille Lassale, ISGlobal researcher and senior co-author. 'Other studies in people with obesity have shown similar findings — skipping breakfast isn't necessarily an effective weight-loss tool.' The research adds to ISGlobal's growing body of work in chrononutrition. Previous studies have linked early dinner and breakfast habits with reduced risks of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. 'Chrononutrition looks at not just what we eat, but when and how often,' said Anna Palomar-Cros, who co-authored the study. 'Disrupting eating patterns can conflict with the circadian system — the body's internal clock — potentially affecting weight, metabolism, and overall health.' While the study suggests a potential link between meal timing and body weight, researchers caution that more evidence is needed before making broad dietary recommendations. Nonetheless, the findings underscore the importance of aligning eating habits with the body's natural rhythms to support long-term health.
Medscape
05-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Side Effect Fears Deter European Teens From Vaccines
A total of 20.8% of European adolescents showed reluctance toward vaccination. This finding comes from a recent study published in BMC Public Health , led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain. The research surveyed 1877 young people 12-17 years of age from Italy, Portugal, Poland, and Spain, along with 1135 parents. The main factors behind this reluctance include fear of vaccine adverse effects and distrust in government recommendations. This study is part of Science4Pandemics, a European project that provides a citizen engagement digital platform for collective intelligence in pandemics. The study showed significant differences between the countries. Poland reported a prevalence of 31.6% among adolescents, whereas the number in Spain was 12.5%. This significant difference aligns with 'the historically lower vaccine hesitancy and higher coverage in our country compared to other European nations,' stated Pere Millat-Martínez, MD, physician and scientific researcher at ISGlobal and the study's lead author. He suggested that better results in the Spanish population may be due to 'prevention campaigns conducted by primary care nursing and parental awareness, which greatly influences at home.' The primary cause of vaccine hesitancy was fear of vaccine side effects, cited by 56.1% of adolescents and 51.9% of parents. 'This data surprised us. We expected the primary factor of hesitancy among adolescents and their parents to be the belief that the diseases are not serious enough,' explained Millat-Martínez. 'It has long been demonstrated that vaccines are safe. An article published in the 1990s linked them to the development of autism, which the anti-vaccine movement relied on. However, it has been shown to be based on false data. In recent years, there has been less talk about myths surrounding side effects, so it is striking to see such a high percentage in our study,' he explained. Surveys conducted by his team found that up to 22% of adolescents and 22.8% of parents expressed distrust in government recommendations. Among young people, notable reasons included the belief that vaccine-preventable infections are not severe (8.4%) and the perception of a low likelihood of falling ill (8.4%). For parents, reasons for vaccine hesitancy included the belief that preventable infections are not severe (10.4%) and economic barriers (10.9%). Another surprising conclusion was the response to economic barriers. 'We included this option thinking that few people would select it. In the countries where we conducted the surveys, basic vaccines were covered by the government and were free of charge. Therefore, we thought these data might be influenced by social media,' noted Millat-Martínez, who believes these platforms are a key factor in vaccination coverage. 'It is evident that adolescents rely on social media to form opinions, so any misinformation on these platforms affects young people and the public. A study from another research group in Spain showed that news about vaccines on social media can have both positive and negative influences,' warned Millat-Martínez. Considering this influence, he believes that Europe must improve public health strategies to address vaccine hesitancy and ensure optimal vaccination coverage. The study showed that adolescents should be the key focus of awareness campaigns. Mass media and school-based initiatives should be used to foster trust in vaccines among this age group. 'If the main causes of vaccine hesitancy are misinformation about their safety and distrust in government-recommended vaccination schedules, to reduce this misconception about immunizations, our recommendation is to direct preventive measures and education about vaccines primarily towards the population group in our study,' concluded Millat-Martínez. Millat-Martínez declared no conflicts of interest.
Daily Mail
02-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Experts pinpoint specific age when ramping up exercise could help prevent dementia
Upping your exercise quota when you hit middle age really could help stave off Alzheimer's disease in later life, researchers have discovered. Spanish scientists, who tracked more than 300 adults, found those who increased their activity levels to around two and a half hours a week, between the ages of 45 and 65, were less prone to one toxic protein, amyloid, spreading in the brain. Significant clumps of this protein, as well as another — tau — can form plaques and tangles. This is thought to be behind the symptoms of Alzheimer's, the leading cause of dementia. The team, from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, also said those who exercised more were more likely to preserve volume in the part of the brain linked to thinking and memory. Dr Eider Arenaza-Urquijo, an expert in brain ageing and Alzheimer's disease and study lead author, said: 'These findings reinforce the importance of promoting physical activity in middle age as a public health strategy for Alzheimer's prevention. 'Interventions aimed at promoting increased physical activity could be key to reducing the incidence of the disease in the future.' Dr Müge Akıncı, an expert in Alzheimer's risk factors and study co author, added: 'Even those who did less physical activity than recommended had greater cortical thickness than sedentary people, suggesting that any amount of exercise, no matter how minimal, has health benefits.' Experts have warned for years that being stationary for too much of the day raises the risk of numerous health problems including weight gain, type 2 diabetes, cancer and even an early grave. In the study, researchers tracked 337 adults who underwent activity questionnaires and neuroimaging tests. Over a follow-up of four years they discovered participants who upped their exercise to meet both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and NHS recommendations showed less amyloid accumulation in brain scans compared to those who were sedentary or reduced their activity. The NHS recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week — or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise. The research, published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia, also suggested that those who were inactive but then started to exercise especially benefitted. Scientists also found that the brains of participants who exercised more were thicker in the parts responsible for memory — the medial temporal area. It has been estimated that 13 per cent of all Alzheimer's cases could be linked to physical inactivity. Around 900,000 Britons are currently thought to have the memory-robbing disorder. But University College London scientists estimate this will rise to 1.7 million within two decades as people live longer. It marks a 40 per cent uptick on the previous forecast in 2017 Dr Sarah-Naomi James, a neuroepidemiologist at University College London, who was not involved in the study, said: 'The research is in line with a whole body of evidence that generally shows that being sedentary and inactive is bad for brain health. But exercise later in life still might reduce the risk for Alzheimer's, she noted. 'In my work we show that starting to be active for the first time in your sixties showed some beneficial effects.' Dr Lucy Devendra, head of research at the charity Alzheimer's Society, also said: 'We know that staying active later in life can still bring important benefits, from mood and sleep to mobility.' She added: 'We can't say for certain that exercise caused the brain changes. Changing one behaviour, like exercise, won't guarantee prevention but is still worthwhile for overall health.' It comes as a landmark study last year also suggested almost half of all Alzheimer's cases could be prevented by tackling 14 lifestyle factors. To reduce dementia risk throughout life, the commission also made 13 recommendations for both people and governments. These include making hearing aids available for all those who need it, reducing harmful noise exposure, and increased detection and treatment access for high cholesterol among the over-40s. Experts claimed the study, published in the prestigious journal The Lancet, provided more hope than 'ever before' that the memory-robbing disorder that blights the lives of millions can be prevented. Alzheimer's Disease is the most common form of dementia and affects 982,000 people in the UK. Alzheimer's Research UK analysis found 74,261 people died from dementia in 2022 compared with 69,178 a year earlier, making it the country's biggest killer. Sedentary lifestyles in the UK, with Brits spending their workhours deskbound, then sitting in a train or car on their way home to sit down in front of the TV, have been estimated to kill thousands each year. One 2019 estimate put the annual death toll at 70,000 people a year with the health issues caused costing the NHS £700million each year to treat. The WHO puts the annual global death toll from physical inactivity at around 2million per year, making it in the running to be among the top 10 leading causes of global death and disability. To stay healthy, adults aged 19 to 64 should try to be active daily and should do: at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity such as cycling or brisk walking every week and strength exercises on 2 or more days a week that work all the major muscles (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms) Or: 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity such as running or a game of singles tennis every week and strength exercises on 2 or more days a week that work all the major muscles (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms) Or: a mix of moderate and vigorous aerobic activity every week – for example, 2 x 30-minute runs plus 30 minutes of brisk walking equates to 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity and strength exercises on 2 or more days a week that work all the major muscles (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms) A good rule is that 1 minute of vigorous activity provides the same health benefits as 2 minutes of moderate activity. One way to do your recommended 150 minutes of weekly physical activity is to do 30 minutes on 5 days every week.
Times
30-04-2025
- Health
- Times
An active midlife may protect brain from Alzheimer's, study finds
Exercising may feel like a chore, but physical activity like walking, cycling or even gardening during your midlife may help protect against Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests. Researchers from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health followed 337 participants aged between 45 and 65 with a family history of Alzheimer's over a period of four years, who completed questionnaires and underwent neuroimaging tests. Participants who increased their exercise to meet the levels recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) showed less beta-amyloid accumulation in brain scans than those who were sedentary or reduced their activity. Beta-amyloid protein can accumulate in the ageing brain, disrupting neuronal function and is considered a key driver of Alzheimer's. • Helen Mirren's health advice for midlife: It's never too late
Scottish Sun
30-04-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
The one activity everyone should be doing aged 45 to 65 to protect against Alzheimer's, say researchers
SCIENTISTS have urged people aged 45 to 65 to do a key activity in order to help prevent Alzheimer's disease. Whether we develop the memory-robbing disease - caused by a building of toxic proteins in the brain - won't always be within our control. 1 Increasing the amount you exercise in middle age could boost your odds against Alzheimer's Credit: Getty But scientists say that increasing the amount we exercise each week could help protect our brain health. A new study conducted by experts at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health and the Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Centre said boosting physical activity during middle age could be particularly beneficial. In fact, it's been estimated that 13 per cent of Alzheimer's disease cases worldwide could be linked to physical inactivity. Previous research has shown that exercise reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease by improving cardiovascular and mental health. More recent studies suggest that physical activity may directly affect how Alzheimer's develops in the brain. Lead author of the new study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia - doctoral researcher Müge Akıncı - said: 'We conducted a four-year follow-up of middle-aged residents of Catalonia with a family history of Alzheimer's disease. "We used physical activity questionnaires to assess changes in activity over a four-year period and neuroimaging tests to analyse the effects of exercise on brain structure and function." The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that adults engage in 150 to 300 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous exercise per week. Participants were classified as adherent if they met WHO exercise recommendations, non-adherent if they exercised less than recommended or sedentary if they didn't exercise at all. Alzheimer's disease is thought to be caused by the abnormal build-up of proteins in and around brain cells. What is kefir? The fermented milk drink that could improve your energy, skin and even Alzheimer's One of the proteins involved is called amyloid, which forms plaques around brain cells. The other protein is called tau, which forms tangles within brain cells. This process can begin years before symptoms of Alzheimer's begin to appear. Participants who increased their physical activity to meet WHO-recommended levels showed less beta-amyloid accumulation in their brains than those who remained sedentary or exercised less. Other ways to reduce your Alzheimer's risk Be physically active Regular physical activity is crucial for overall health and may help reduce the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week. Eat a healthy diet A balanced diet, potentially including the Mediterranean diet, can help reduce your risk of dementia, as well as other health conditions. Stay mentally active Keeping your mind active can strengthen your brain's ability to cope with disease. Engage in activities like reading, learning new skills, or playing brain games. Manage other health conditions Maintaining healthy blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels can also contribute to reducing your risk of dementia. Prioritise sleep Aim for seven to eight hours of quality sleep each night, as sleep deprivation can negatively impact brain health. Maintain good heart health Taking care of your heart health, including avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, can also lower your risk of dementia and other diseases. Seek medical advice If you have any concerns about your health or a family history of Alzheimer's, consult with a healthcare professional. Researchers also found that participants who increased their physical activity had reduced amyloid deposits in their brain. Participants who exercises often also had more cortical thickness in brain regions associated with Alzheimer's disease. Cortical thickness in the medial temporal area of the brain is important for memory, so any thinning or loss of volume can be an early sign of cognitive decline. Dr Akıncı said: 'Even those who did less physical activity than recommended had greater cortical thickness than sedentary people, suggesting that any amount of exercise, no matter how minimal, has health benefits." Researchers added that increasing activity over time rather than trying to reach a specific amount of hours a week seemed to benefit participants' brain health. Lead investigator Eider Arenaza-Urquijo said: 'These findings reinforce the importance of promoting physical activity in middle age as a public health strategy for Alzheimer's prevention." 'Interventions aimed at promoting increased physical activity could be key to reducing the incidence of the disease in the future."
