Latest news with #KarolinskaInstitutet
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Older adults who follow healthy diets accumulate chronic diseases more slowly
Stockholm/Barcelona: Imagine two people in their 70s. Both are active, live independently and enjoy life. But over the next 15 years, one of them develops two or three chronic illnesses - heart disease, diabetes, depression - while the other remains relatively healthy. What made the difference? According to our new research, diet may be a key part of the answer. In our new study, our group at the Aging Research Center at the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, followed more than 2,400 older Swedish adults for 15 years. We found that people who consistently ate a healthy diet developed chronic diseases more slowly, in contrast to those whose diets were considered more inflammatory; that is, diets high in processed meats, refined grains and sugary drinks, which are known to promote low-grade chronic inflammation in the body. This is important because having several health conditions at the same time is one of the biggest problems older people face. It increases the risk of disability, hospitalisation and early death. It also places a huge burden on healthcare systems. But while it has been long known that diet can help prevent individual diseases, our study shows that it may also influence the overall pace of biological ageing. We looked at four well-known dietary patterns. Three of them - the Mind diet (designed to protect brain health), the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (based on foods linked to lower disease risk) and the Mediterranean diet - were associated with slower disease accumulation. The fourth, a diet high in inflammatory foods, was linked to faster accumulation. The strongest associations were seen for cardiovascular and psychiatric conditions. So, people who ate better were less likely to develop diseases including heart failure, stroke, depression or dementia. We did not, however, find a clear link between diet and musculoskeletal diseases such as arthritis or osteoporosis. Some of the benefits of healthy eating were more pronounced in women and in the oldest participants: those aged 78 and above. This suggests that it is never too late to make changes. Even in very old age, diet matters. Why does food have such a strong potential? One reason may be inflammation. As people age, many develop low-grade chronic inflammation - sometimes called " inflammaging " - which is linked to a wide range of diseases. Diets high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats tend to reduce inflammation. Diets rich in highly processed foods and sugar do the opposite. Another reason is that healthy diets support the body's resilience. They provide essential nutrients that help maintain immune function, muscle mass and cognitive health. Over time, this can make a big difference in how people age. Our study is one of the longest and most comprehensive of its kind. We used repeated dietary assessments and tracked more than 60 chronic health conditions. We also tested our findings using different analytical methods to make sure they held up. Of course, diet is just one piece of the puzzle. Physical activity, social connections and access to healthcare all play important roles in healthy ageing. But improving diet quality is a relatively simple and accessible way to help older adults live longer, healthier lives. So what should older adults eat? The message is clear: eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts and whole grains. Choose healthy fats like rapeseed oil and fish. Limit red and processed meats, sugary drinks and solid fats. These are the building blocks of the diets we studied - and they have been associated with slower ageing, better brain health and fewer chronic diseases in this and other research. Ageing is inevitable. But people can shape how it unfolds. Our findings suggest that even small changes in diet can make a meaningful difference in how people experience later life, regardless of their age. (The Conversation)
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
This 1 Simple Change Can Slow The Rate Of Chronic Illness In Old Age
As we age, it can be more difficult to manage chronic conditions as the natural effects of our bodies slowing down settle in. However, for some older people, ageing doesn't seem to hit quite as hard as it does for others. As discussed in The Conversation, research has revealed how older people can slow down the progression of chronic illnesses as they age and, actually, much of it comes down to diet. The new study, by researchers at the Aging Research Center at the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, followed more than 2,400 older Swedish adults for 15 years. 'We found that people who consistently ate a healthy diet developed chronic diseases more slowly,' said researchers, 'in contrast to those whose diets were considered more inflammatory; that is, diets high in processed meats, refined grains and sugary drinks, which are known to promote low-grade chronic inflammation in the body.' They added: 'This is important because having several health conditions at the same time is one of the biggest problems older people face. It increases the risk of disability, hospitalisation and early death.' The diet that can benefit you as you age The diet that seems most effective is rich in fruit and veggies, and healthy fats, and limits processed foods. The researchers said: 'So what should older adults eat? The message is clear: eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts and whole grains. Choose healthy fats like rapeseed oil and fish. Limit red and processed meats, sugary drinks and solid fats.' And it's never too late to start on improving your diet and overall wellbeing. 'Some of the benefits of healthy eating were more pronounced in women and in the oldest participants: those aged 78 and above... Even in very old age, diet matters,' they added. If you're worried about the prices of these healthier choices, fear not. Frozen fruit and vegetables can be just as nutrient-dense and beneficial to our wellbeing as their fresh counterparts. Related... The Best Snacks For Aging Well And Preventing Cognitive Decline, According To Nutrition Experts Science Says You Can Prevent Brain Ageing With 4 Simple Steps 1 Gram Of This Nutrient Can Slow Down Ageing (And It's Very Common!)
New York Post
2 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Deaf kids and adults got their hearing back within weeks of having a ‘life-changing' injection
It's music to our ears. Approximately 11 million people in the US consider themselves deaf or severely hard of hearing. No medications have been approved to treat hereditary hearing loss, but cochlear implants can help people with deafness perceive sound by bypassing damaged parts of the inner ear and directly stimulating the auditory nerve. Advertisement 3 'This is a huge step forward in the genetic treatment of deafness, one that can be life-changing for children and adults,' the study's lead author said. Irina Flamingo – Now, a new gene therapy injection that restored hearing in people with mutations in the OTOF gene offers fresh hope. Researchers injected an AAV vector carrying a healthy copy of the OTOF gene into the inner ear of 10 patients aged 1 to 24. Advertisement The OTOF gene encodes the protein otoferlin, which is essential for transmitting sound signals from the ear to the brain. Without a functional OTOF gene, the critical connection between hair cells in the inner ear and the auditory nerve is disrupted. 3 Researchers injected an AAV vector carrying a healthy copy of the OTOF gene into the inner ear of 10 patients aged 1 to 24. oatautta – Participants began to regain hearing in under a month, with the average perceptible sound threshold dropping from 106 decibels — the level of a lawn mower or motorcycle — to about 52 decibels — normal conversation level — within six months. Advertisement Younger participants fared best, especially those 5 to 8 years old. In one remarkable case, a 7‑year‑old girl regained almost all her hearing and was able to hold a conversation with her mother just four months after treatment. 'This is a huge step forward in the genetic treatment of deafness, one that can be life-changing for children and adults,' Maoli Duan, a consultant and docent at the Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, said in a statement. Advertisement 'Smaller studies in China have previously shown positive results in children, but this is the first time that the method has been tested in teenagers and adults, too,' he added. The therapy proved well-tolerated, with no serious side effects reported during the follow‑up period of six to 12 months. The most common reaction was a temporary reduction in neutrophils, a type of white blood cell. 3 Younger participants fared best with the new treatment, especially those 5 to 8 years old. JPC-PROD – 'Hearing was greatly improved in many of the participants, which can have a profound effect on their life quality,' Duan said. 'We will now be following these patients to see how lasting the effect is.' Duan noted that the OTOF gene is 'just the beginning.' 'We and other researchers are expanding our work to other, more common genes that cause deafness, such as GJB2 and TMC1,' he added. 'These are more complicated to treat, but animal studies have so far returned promising results. We are confident that patients with different kinds of genetic deafness will one day be able to receive treatment.'
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Researchers warn planned C-section births — the most common surgery in the US — can increase risk of childhood cancers
Children born using planned Cesarean section procedures may have a heightened risk of developing certain childhood cancers, according to the researchers. After studying the health of nearly 2.5 million children, members of the Swedish Karolinska Institutet found an increased risk of developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia during these events – and not in similar emergency 'C-section' procedures. They're still working to understand why this is the case, but have identified possible factors that could help to explain. The researchers noted that babies in planned C-sections are not stressed or exposed to vaginal bacteria, as during emergency C-sections. Doctors perform a C-section when the health of the baby is at risk or when a vaginal delivery isn't possible or safe. 'C-sections are an important and often life-saving part of obstetric care. We don't want mothers to feel anxious about medically indicated C-sections. But when this result is combined with other study results showing that the risk of later asthma, allergies or type 1 diabetes increases in children born by planned C-section, there is reason to discuss C-sections that are not medically indicated," researcher Christina-Evmorfia Kampitsi said in a statement. Kampitsi and her team found that of the nearly 376,000 children born in by C-section Sweden between 1982 to 1989 and 1999 to 2015, nearly 1,500 later developed leukaemia. The risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia was 21 percent higher in children born by planned C-section compared with children born vaginally. Furthermore, the risk of developing the most common form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, known as B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, was 29 percent higher in those born by planned C-section. The increased cancer risk was more pronounced in boys than in girls, and in the early years of a child's life. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a type of blood and bone marrow cancer, and the most common type of cancer in children. It's also unclear what causes the DNA mutations that can lead to the cancer, but treatments result in a good chance for a cure, according to the Mayo Clinic. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 6,100 new cases and 1,400 deaths this year due to the cancer in both U.S. children and adults. The researchers emphasized that the risk of developing these cancers remains low, regardless of the mode of delivery. The excess risk associated with planned C-sections corresponds to approximately one case of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia annually, they said. C-sections have become increasingly common in the U.S., accounting for about one in three births, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Notably, maternal mortality has been rising in the U.S. in recent years, with as many as 84 percent of pregnancy-related deaths believed to be preventable, according to Yale Medicine. There are 1.2 million C-sections performed every year, making it the 'most common major surgery performed in the United States,' according to Dr. Cindy Celnik, the chief medical officer of The Woman's Hospital of Texas. "Fortunately, acute lymphoblastic leukemia is rare,' added Kampitsi. 'This means that many C-deliveries are needed to obtain a statistically significant result, and it is difficult to obtain such a large sample in a Swedish registry study. However, the results are close to significant, are in line with what previous studies have shown, and remain when we adjust for other relevant factors, which still makes them relevant.' Kampitsi was the lead author of the findings, which were published on Friday in The International Journal of Cancer.
New York Post
07-07-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Planned C-sections can increase your child's risk of these serious conditions
Today, nearly 1 in 3 births in the United States are performed by cesarean section, and a growing number of those are planned rather than done in response to an emergency. Planned C-sections allow doctors and expecting moms to sidestep some of the unpredictability of labor and offer an attractive amount of convenience and, for some, more peace of mind. But a new study out of Sweden is raising some red flags about what comes later for your bundle of joy. Advertisement 3 A new study out of Sweden is raising some red flags about post-cesarean life for your baby. Charlie's – Researchers analyzed the data of nearly 2.5 million children born between 1982 to 1989 and 1999 to 2015 and found that that babies delivered via C-section were more likely to develop certain cancers than those delivered vaginally. Of the nearly 376,000 children who were born using this method, 1,495 later developed leukemia — and those who were delivered by planned C-section, versus emergency, were at higher risk. Advertisement Specifically, the C-section babies had a 21% higher risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) — the most common type in children — and a 29% increased risk of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) — its most common subtype. Experts believe the heightened risk may stem from how a planned C-section circumvents natural physiological processes triggered during labor — like the release of important hormones as well as exposure to beneficial bacteria — which may play a role in protecting against certain diseases later in life. Crucially, the increased risk was not observed in emergency cesarean sections, which typically occur after labor has already started. Researchers note that the overall risk of these diseases is low. Advertisement 3 In the US, C-sections account for as much as 32% of all births. íí½í½í° íâíâ¬íÆíí½í¸íâ íâ¹í½í° – 'Fortunately, ALL is rare. This means that many C-deliveries are needed to obtain a statistically significant result, and it is difficult to obtain such a large sample in a Swedish registry study,' Christina-Evmorfia Kampitsi, a researcher at the Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, said in a press release. 'However, the results are close to significant, are in line with what previous studies have shown, and remain when we adjust for other relevant factors, which still makes them relevant.' Advertisement Additionally, the researchers point out that the percentage of C-section births in Sweden is only 11-15% and the overall childhood leukemia rate is roughly 4.5 per 100,000. In the US, C-sections account for as much as 32% of all births and childhood leukemia occurs at a slightly higher rate of about 5.6 per 100,000 children. 3 'C-sections are an important and often life-saving part of obstetric care. We don't want mothers to feel anxious about medically indicated C-sections,' Kampitsi said. Martin Valigursky – The findings were published Friday in the International Journal of Cancer. Kampitsi urged expecting mothers not to write off C-sections entirely — however, it might be worth discussing alternatives with your doctor, given the link between C-sections and other conditions. 'C-sections are an important and often life-saving part of obstetric care. We don't want mothers to feel anxious about medically indicated C-sections,' Kampitsi said. But Kampitsi points to other studies that have shown planned C-sections also increase the risk of other conditions, including asthma, allergies and Type 1 diabetes. Advertisement A 2024 meta-analysis, for one, suggests that C-section births increase the risk of food allergies by 35% and asthma by 20% in children later in life. And a 2011 meta-analysis found that C-sections lead to a 20% increased risk of Type 1 diabetes in kids. 'There is reason to discuss C-sections that are not medically indicated,' she added.
