Latest news with #UCLAHealth
Bangkok Post
a day ago
- Health
- Bangkok Post
Exercise can improve cognition in older adults
Dear Doctors: I am 82 years old, and I have tested negative for Alzheimer's disease. But I do have some cognitive dysfunction. Can this be slowed? I exercise 30 minutes a day. In addition to that, I walk at least 1 mile. I also bicycle vigorously for two six-minute periods a day. Do you think this is helping? Dear Reader: Changes to cognitive function are a natural part of ageing. Unlike the severe or rapid decline that signals dementia, age-related changes tend to be gradual and subtle. Minor forgetfulness is common, such as where you left your keys or a specific word you can't recall. Executive function slows; you may find multistep tasks harder. Physical reaction time often slows down, too. This affects your ability to react and adjust to sudden changes or stimuli. Paying attention to a task or event may also feel more difficult. Research shows that being physically active can help maintain and improve cognition in older adults. This includes aerobic exercise, strength training and stretching. The exercise you describe, including walking and biking, fits this goal. According to recent research, resistance training, which includes lifting heavy weights, is also good for cognitive health in older adults. It's important for anyone pursuing this form of exercise, no matter their age, to do it safely. Use proper form and have a spotter when lifting heavier weights. It's always wise to discuss starting a new exercise regimen with your doctor. Physical exercise is only one part of the equation. Mental exercise is just as helpful. Look for activities that involve learning, concentration and memory; reading, drawing, craft projects, building, knitting, birdwatching, crosswords, puzzles and board games are great options. Each of these work various "muscles" in your brain. Whatever you choose should also be fun. You're more likely to continue an activity that brings you joy. Social engagement also plays a vital role in memory. As people age, they can become isolated. Research shows that friendships and interaction protect and improve cognition as well. Senior and community centres usually offer low-cost or free activities. Volunteering is another path to socialising. Many older adults have skills or interests that benefit their communities. Eating a healthful diet is also key. Fresh vegetables and fruit, legumes, grains, nuts, lean proteins and fatty fish fuel your brain and body well. Ample evidence shows a diet high in added sugars and ultra-processed foods can take a toll on cognitive health. Smoking and alcohol also have an adverse effect. Dr Eve Glazier is an internist and associate professor of medicine at UCLA Health. Dr Elizabeth Ko is an internist and assistant professor of medicine at UCLA Health.
Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Health
- Calgary Herald
Pop is in the spotlight yet again. This time, for its ability to disrupt gut bacteria and immunity
Pop has been a hot topic over the past few weeks. First, U.S. President Donald Trump waded into MAHA — Make America Healthy Again — waters by saying Coca-Cola was swapping high-fructose corn syrup for cane sugar. 'It's just better!' he posted on social media. (Health experts say it's not. There's no nutritional difference between the two.) Article content Drinking pop has long been linked to adverse health effects, such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Added sugars (whatever their source) are the primary culprit, yet 'diet sodas, which have been found to increase hunger and disrupt metabolism, are not any better,' according to UCLA Health. A new study suggests another pop-consumption concern: sugary drinks disrupt gut bacteria and immunity. Article content Article content Article content But it's not all doom and gloom, say researchers from the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. The study published in Nature Communications found that though drinking pop sweetened with white sugar alters the DNA of gut bacteria and affects the immune system, once sugar consumption stops, the impacts are reversible. Article content Article content 'Gut bacteria are important members of the microbial community within our body, i.e., the microbiome. These bacteria, which have co-evolved with humans for generations, are so essential to human health in general and to the development of the immune system in particular that we cannot function without them,' says a press release about the research. Article content Studies have shown that diet influences microbiome composition and overall functionality, write the researchers, led by professor Naama Geva-Zatorsky and Ph.D. student Noa Gal-Mandelbaum. In contrast, research on the impact of what we eat on the functionality of specific gut bacteria is 'relatively scarce.' Article content Article content The current research builds on a previous study by the Geva-Zatorsky Lab, which identified DNA inversions ('rapid genetic switches') as one way gut bacteria respond to and protect themselves when facing environmental changes. To understand how dietary factors affect these inversions, the study focused on Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. Article content Article content The researchers say that this 'prominent gut member' plays a role in preventing gut inflammation, preserving its mucus layer and protecting the body from pathogens. By studying the effects of different dietary components on the bacteria's DNA, in vitro, in mice and in humans, the researchers found that white sugar consumption created DNA inversions, which impacted the immune system. Article content 'The main dietary components correlating with DNA inversions contained different types of carbohydrates. The most notable one was soft drinks containing white sugar,' according to the study.
Vancouver Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- Vancouver Sun
Pop is in the spotlight yet again. This time, for its ability to disrupt gut bacteria and immunity
Pop has been a hot topic over the past few weeks. First, U.S. President Donald Trump waded into MAHA — Make America Healthy Again — waters by saying Coca-Cola was swapping high-fructose corn syrup for cane sugar . 'It's just better!' he posted on social media. (Health experts say it's not. There's no nutritional difference between the two.) Drinking pop has long been linked to adverse health effects, such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Added sugars (whatever their source) are the primary culprit, yet 'diet sodas, which have been found to increase hunger and disrupt metabolism, are not any better,' according to UCLA Health . A new study suggests another pop-consumption concern: sugary drinks disrupt gut bacteria and immunity. But it's not all doom and gloom, say researchers from the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology . The study published in Nature Communications found that though drinking pop sweetened with white sugar alters the DNA of gut bacteria and affects the immune system, once sugar consumption stops, the impacts are reversible. Discover the best of B.C.'s recipes, restaurants and wine. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of West Coast Table will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. At the heart of the research is the microbiome. 'Gut bacteria are important members of the microbial community within our body, i.e., the microbiome. These bacteria, which have co-evolved with humans for generations, are so essential to human health in general and to the development of the immune system in particular that we cannot function without them,' says a press release about the research. Studies have shown that diet influences microbiome composition and overall functionality, write the researchers, led by professor Naama Geva-Zatorsky and Ph.D. student Noa Gal-Mandelbaum. In contrast, research on the impact of what we eat on the functionality of specific gut bacteria is 'relatively scarce.' The current research builds on a previous study by the Geva-Zatorsky Lab , which identified DNA inversions ('rapid genetic switches') as one way gut bacteria respond to and protect themselves when facing environmental changes. To understand how dietary factors affect these inversions, the study focused on Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. The researchers say that this 'prominent gut member' plays a role in preventing gut inflammation, preserving its mucus layer and protecting the body from pathogens. By studying the effects of different dietary components on the bacteria's DNA, in vitro, in mice and in humans, the researchers found that white sugar consumption created DNA inversions, which impacted the immune system. 'The main dietary components correlating with DNA inversions contained different types of carbohydrates. The most notable one was soft drinks containing white sugar,' according to the study. In a social media post , Technion said, 'This discovery highlights the deep connection between our diet, microbiome and health — and opens the door to personalized nutrition for a stronger immune system.' Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our cookbook and recipe newsletter, Cook This, here .
National Post
2 days ago
- Health
- National Post
Pop is in the spotlight yet again. This time, for its ability to disrupt gut bacteria and immunity
Pop has been a hot topic over the past few weeks. First, U.S. President Donald Trump waded into MAHA — Make America Healthy Again — waters by saying Coca-Cola was swapping high-fructose corn syrup for cane sugar. 'It's just better!' he posted on social media. (Health experts say it's not. There's no nutritional difference between the two.) Article content Drinking pop has long been linked to adverse health effects, such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Added sugars (whatever their source) are the primary culprit, yet 'diet sodas, which have been found to increase hunger and disrupt metabolism, are not any better,' according to UCLA Health. A new study suggests another pop-consumption concern: sugary drinks disrupt gut bacteria and immunity. Article content Article content But it's not all doom and gloom, say researchers from the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. The study published in Nature Communications found that though drinking pop sweetened with white sugar alters the DNA of gut bacteria and affects the immune system, once sugar consumption stops, the impacts are reversible. Article content Article content 'Gut bacteria are important members of the microbial community within our body, i.e., the microbiome. These bacteria, which have co-evolved with humans for generations, are so essential to human health in general and to the development of the immune system in particular that we cannot function without them,' says a press release about the research. Studies have shown that diet influences microbiome composition and overall functionality, write the researchers, led by professor Naama Geva-Zatorsky and Ph.D. student Noa Gal-Mandelbaum. In contrast, research on the impact of what we eat on the functionality of specific gut bacteria is 'relatively scarce.' Article content Article content The current research builds on a previous study by the Geva-Zatorsky Lab, which identified DNA inversions ('rapid genetic switches') as one way gut bacteria respond to and protect themselves when facing environmental changes. To understand how dietary factors affect these inversions, the study focused on Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. Article content Article content The researchers say that this 'prominent gut member' plays a role in preventing gut inflammation, preserving its mucus layer and protecting the body from pathogens. By studying the effects of different dietary components on the bacteria's DNA, in vitro, in mice and in humans, the researchers found that white sugar consumption created DNA inversions, which impacted the immune system. Article content In a social media post, Technion said, 'This discovery highlights the deep connection between our diet, microbiome and health — and opens the door to personalized nutrition for a stronger immune system.' Article content
Los Angeles Times
22-07-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Doctors at Cedars-Sinai develop AI-powered mental health ‘robot' therapist
Misty Williams checks into the emergency room at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from time to time for treatment of debilitating pain from sickle cell disease, which causes red blood cells to stiffen and block the flow of blood. After pain medication and hydration are ordered, the 41-year-old Los Angeles resident makes an unusual request: access to a virtual reality headset with an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot that can carry on a dialogue with her. With the headset on, Williams finds herself in a virtual garden, butterflies drifting around her. A humanoid robot greets her with a soothing female voice. 'Hi, and welcome. My name is Xaia, and I'm your mental health ally,' it says. 'How can I help?' After a session, Williams' pain eases and her mind is calmer. 'Mentally and physically, I feel more at peace,' Williams said. Xaia (pronounced ZAI-uh) is just one of many ways that artificial intelligence technology is barreling its way into the burgeoning sector known as digital health. Digital health startups using AI accounted for an estimated $3.9 billion in funding in 2024, or 38% of the sector's total, according to the digital health advisory firm Rock Health. Mental health was the top-funded clinical area, drawing $1.4 billion. Major medical institutions in Los Angeles are embracing the trend. UCLA Health is using AI to help doctors catch strokes faster, reduce hospital re-admissions and spend more time with patients by automating medical notes, said Paul Lukac, chief AI officer. Keck Medicine of USC plans to offer employees a commercial AI chat tool to support stress management, according to Dr. Steven Siegel, chief mental health and wellness officer. At Cedars-Sinai, Xaia — an acronym for eXtended-reality Artificially Intelligent Ally — was designed and programmed by Dr. Omer Liran, with ideas and research support from Dr. Brennan Spiegel and therapeutic input from clinical psychologist Robert Chernoff, in collaboration with the medical center's Technology Ventures. VRx Health, a for-profit company founded by Liran, holds an exclusive license from Cedars-Sinai to market Xaia commercially. Cedars-Sinai and several private investors hold equity in the company. A version like the one Misty Williams uses is available to the public via the Apple Vision virtual reality headsets for $19.99 a month. A VR version for the Meta headset is freely available only to researchers. A web and mobile version is accessible to licensed clinicians for tiered pricing between $99 and $399-plus per month, which allows them to invite patients to use the tool. Liran, a psychiatrist, said Xaia is designed to supplement, and not replace, the services of mental health therapists amid a national shortage of providers. 'Even if somebody needs to be seen once a week, they may only get seen once a month,' he said. The Xaia app draws from hundreds of therapy transcripts, both from real sessions and mock sessions created by experts to sound like an actual therapist. For example, if users tell Xaia they're struggling with a new cancer diagnosis, the robot might say, 'That must be very hard for you,' then ask how it's affecting their mood, and what they find themselves doing when they're overwhelmed. 'Trying to stay positive when things feel so heavy must take a lot of energy,' the chatbot says. 'When you notice yourself being pulled back into those difficult thoughts, what usually happens next? Do you find yourself withdrawing, or do you turn to anyone for support?' So far, Xaia has been used by about 300 patients across various research studies at Cedars-Sinai, including those focused on chronic pain, alcohol use disorder, and irritable bowel syndrome, said Spiegel, director of health services research at Cedars-Sinai. Many people with chronic illnesses also struggle with anxiety or depression, Spiegel said. Physical and emotional symptoms feed off each other, and tools like Xaia aim to help with both. The tool isn't covered by insurance yet, but billing codes for virtual reality therapy and digital health services do exist, and other hospitals like the Mayo Clinic are beginning to use them. VRx has an agreement to deploy Xaia at Mayo Clinic, according to VRx Chief Executive Gabe Zetter. Xaia isn't the only app of its kind. Woebot, a pioneering chatbot developed by psychologist Alison Darcy while at Stanford, used scripted conversations based on cognitive behavioral therapy to support users with anxiety and depression. Though it reached 1.5 million users, the company shut down the app in July. Darcy said the company is now focused on building new tools with large language models, since AI is moving faster than regulators like the Food and Drug Administration can keep up. In recent years, some emotional support chatbots have been blamed for deepening distress, including one incident in which a Florida teen died by suicide in 2024 after extended conversations with a chatbot. Such incidents underscore the risks of emotionally responsive AI tools, said Todd Essig, a psychologist and founder and co-chair of the American Psychoanalytic Assn.'s Council on Artificial Intelligence. 'Even after the most loving, empathic response, an AI doesn't care if you drive to the store or drive off a cliff,' Essig said. AI programs learn to mimic human responses, Essig said, so it's up to the people building them to set clear limits and ensure they don't cause harm. When built with ethical frameworks and used under clinical supervision, tools like Xaia can support genuine therapeutic progress, functioning more like digital journals — a modern twist on the paper workbooks given to patients decades ago, said Jodi Halpern, a professor of bioethics and medical humanities at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. But many emotional support chatbots that aren't clinically monitored are designed to mimic intimacy and build emotional bonds. 'People can experience the app as another,' Halpern said. 'But it's not actually giving them real-life experiences with other humans that are important for developing the healthy, mutually empathic curiosity that people need to participate in complex human relationships.' Halpern noted there is a difference between clinically approved mental health tools and those with no oversight. She and others are supporting a California bill sponsored by state Sen. Steve Padilla (D-Chula Vista) that would require companies developing mental health chatbots or apps to disclose whether their tools are clinically validated, regulated by the FDA or rely on generative AI. Liran said he and his partners are aware of the limitations and have built in guardrails to keep the chatbot from saying anything harmful or inappropriate. For example, one arm of the AI generates the response, and another instantly double-checks it to make sure it's safe before letting it through to the user. 'We're not just opening it up to the public,' Liran said, pointing out that the guided therapy version on mobile and desktop is available only through a licensed clinician right now and Cedars is testing Xaia in multiple studies. 'We're trying to be very careful.' In a 14-person study, patients using Xaia with mild or moderate anxiety or depression opened up about a variety of topics, including a mother who passed away and fear of being laid off. For a patient who had been having night sweats since a breakup, Xaia asked to hear more about what made the relationship feel unresolved and how it affected the patient. Some of the patients still preferred the nuance and responsiveness of a human therapist, but the medical literature suggests patients are warming up to the idea of a nonhuman therapist. In a study published in PLOS Mental Health in February, participants were asked to compare responses written by licensed therapists and those generated by ChatGPT. Not only did many struggle to tell the difference, they consistently rated the AI's replies as more empathic, culturally sensitive and emotionally engaging. Xaia's creators see the tool as an extension of the patient-therapist relationship. It's the kind of thing that might be useful if someone needs mental health support in the middle of the night or between sessions. 'We still need therapists — humans — to look other humans in the eye to have conversations about vulnerable topics,' Spiegel said. At the same time, 'it's not practical to simply bury our head in the sand and say we shouldn't do this, because AI is everywhere,' he said. 'We'll be brushing our teeth with AI before long.'
