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Diabetes Drug May Reduce Dementia Risk, Study Shows – Here’s How the Two Diseases May Be Linked

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A recently published Korean study suggests that individuals with type 2 diabetes who’re prescribed a particular class of medication could also be in significantly worse shape lower risk of dementia.

Researchers compared the health outcomes of greater than 110,000 people aged 40 to 69 with type 2 diabetes who were prescribed a drug called SGLT-2 inhibitors with those of one other 110,000 patients taking a distinct class of medication, DPP-4 inhibitors. They followed the participants for a mean of 670 days.

The researchers found that after adjusting for potential confounding aspects, people taking SGLT-2 inhibitors had a 35% lower risk of developing dementia.

Diabetes is taken into account to be risk factor for dementia. So it’s not entirely surprising that treating diabetes can reduce the risk of dementia. But why would one drug reduce the risk greater than one other? And how are diabetes and dementia even related?

Diabetes and dementia

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. Its job is to move glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream into cells, where it serves as an energy source. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas fails to supply adequate amounts of insulin, otherwise our cells will develop insulin resistance.

Dementia is attributable to changes in the brain and includes: several conditions which affect memory, considering, mood and our ability to perform on a regular basis tasks.

Diabetes has long been recognized as a risk factor for each Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementiatwo most typical types of dementia. Both are characterised by a decline in cognitive function attributable to disease of the blood vessels in the brain.

We don’t fully understand why diabetes and dementia are linked in this fashion, but there are some clues that will explain it. several possible reasons.

For example, diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, which damage the heart and blood vessels. When blood vessels in the brain are damaged, it could possibly contribute to cognitive decline.

Additionally, high blood sugar levels cause inflammation, which may damage brain cells and contribute to the development of dementia.

Dementia is attributable to changes in the brain.
PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

Treating diabetes will help reduce the increased risk

Better blood sugar control in individuals with diabetes helps protect blood vessels and reduces inflammation in the brain.

Diabetes can initially be controlled with lifestyle changes similar to weight loss program and exercise, but treatment may include medications, similar to those taken by the study participants. Korean Studies.

Patients taking each varieties of drugs had comparable control of their blood glucose levels. But why did one reduce the risk of developing dementia compared with the other?

SGLT-2 (sodium glucose transport protein 2) inhibitors lower blood glucose levels by increasing the removal of glucose by the kidneys. These drugs are known to have positive effects also in other facets of health, including improving blood pressure, supporting weight reduction, and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress (a sort of damage to our cells).

Obesity AND hypertension themselves are risk aspects for vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s dementia, so it could be that these effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors reduce the risk of dementia to a greater extent than can be expected based on higher blood glucose control alone.

Prevention vs. Cure

It is significant to emphasise that the good thing about a drug reducing the risk of developing a disease is totally separate from any suggestion that the drug may be useful in treating the disease. The best method to reduce the risk of lung cancer, for instance, is to give up smoking. However, once you could have lung cancer, quitting smoking just isn’t enough to cure it.

That said, due to the evidence linking diabetes and dementia, some diabetes medications have been previously studied as treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. And they’ve been shown to supply a point of profit for knowledge.

A nurse tests a patient's blood glucose level by pricking their finger.
People with diabetes often must take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Dragana Gordic/Shutterstock

Semaglutide, higher known by its trade name Ozempic, belongs to a different class of diabetes drugs (called GLP1 receptor agonists). Semaglutide is currently being studied as a treatment for early Alzheimer’s disease in two clinical trials involving over 3500 patients.

These studies were inspired by observations made during clinical trials of semaglutide in individuals with diabetes, which showed lower rates of dementia in people taking the drug in comparison with those taking a placebo.

Like SGLT-2 drugs, GLP-1 class drugs are known to scale back encephalitisGLP-1 drugs also appear to scale back chemical reactions that result in the formation of an abnormal type of a protein called Tau, one among the pathological features of Alzheimer’s disease.

What’s next?

As our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia continues to expand, there will even be advances in treatments.

It is unlikely that a single drug is the answer to Alzheimer’s disease. Cancer treatment has advanced to the point where the use of “drug cocktails” or combination of medicationis already routine.

One possible future for these diabetes drugs is that we could see them as a part of a variety of therapies that combat the ravages of dementia or, even higher, help prevent it, even in people without diabetes. But we want more research before we get to that time.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Health and Wellness

Get post-election stress support from LeBron James, John Legend, Erykah Badu and more via meditation app

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Headspace, Clam, Exhale, meditation apps, Black meditation apps, theGrio.com

Falling into post-election existential fear? There’s an app for that. As many individuals proceed to grapple with the outcomes of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the tools we use to de-stress, focus, and get back to a greater headspace are beginning to take hold.

Popular sleep and meditation app Headroom is offering post-election day specials, including a 14-day free trial.

The celebrity-endorsed wellness app features premium content that helps users rest, chill out and sleep. It also features an array of celebrity content and curated playlists from John Legend, Kevin Hart, Erykah Badu, and more.

“Hello, lovers,” Legend began promoting its content in the applying. “John Legend is coming with a special gift for you. I’ll allow you to sleep with me.

The music icon clarified that he meant virtually and only meant getting “regular sleep” through specially curated playlists, sleep recordings and videos.

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According to Hollywood reporterapart from emphasizing his free 14-day trial periodHeadspace offers free toolkit and an election season survival guide. The free trial period gives users full access to the app and its services, and after the designated time, membership costs $69.99 per 12 months or $12.99 monthly.

Headspace is not the only source where Black users can find content created by and for Black people. LeBron James, Idris Elba, Tabitha Brown and many more are helping calm people on Calm with their very own specialized content.

Thanks to James, Calm users can explore mindfulness manifestations and sleep stories. Elba also lends her voice to the narrative, and Brown invites users to decelerate together with her.

For Black people, especially Black women, in search of solace in an area designed specifically for them, a meditation and wellness app is offered Exhalewhich was created by a black woman with black women in mind.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Health and Wellness

This week’s best new music: Ella Mai, Mario, Eric Bellinger and more – Essence

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Happy Friday, people. As November rolls around, a few of the most talented artists within the industry are releasing great music. From hip-hop to the soulful sounds of R&B, you’ll need loads of options to get into the groove this weekend.

Ahead of the discharge of his upcoming album, Cordae has released a new single titled “Syrup Sandwiches” featuring Joey Bada$$. Additionally, Ella Mai released an EP this week, Ab-Soul unveiled his project, and Ice Cube tapped Killer Mike and Busta Rhymes for “Ego Maniacs.” Our roundup features music from Ferg, Eric Bellinger, Mario and more.

You can take a look at today’s list of new items below.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

10 tips to prepare for the next Trump presidency

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Now that Donald Trump has been elected president of the United States for a second time, a lot of the tens of millions who didn’t vote for him are searching for solace in the election results.

Journalist Daniel Hunter of Waging Nonviolence is victim 10 tips to help us prepare for and sustain the next Trump presidency. The guide emphasizes that to take effective motion, one must refrain from contributing to the autocrat’s talent for instilling fear, isolation, exhaustion, and confusion.

“Looking into an even more destabilized future is not easy. If you’re like me, you’re already tired,” Hunter says. “The prospect of greater drama is discouraging. But authoritarianism will not disappear regardless of the election results.”

Hunter has been busy throughout the election, preparing for the possibility of one other Trump presidency. From outlining potential scenarios, creating training and collaborating with colleagues experienced in autocratic regimes, he developed 10 tips on how to navigate the next Trump administration while maintaining inner peace.

(*10*) Hunter says, which is essential to not perpetuating “Trump’s goals of fear, isolation, exhaustion, or constant disorientation.”

1. Trust yourself

In the face of widespread social distrust – where many distrust the government, doctors, the media, and even family and friends – Hunter suggests starting by trusting yourself. It encourages you to listen to your inner voice and be mindful of how what you see, hear and feel affects your overall condition. By checking in together with your feelings and emotions, you possibly can put your phone down for a couple of hours, rest, or come to terms together with your fears.

Essentially, it’s “building up a defense against the ways in which madness can become internalized,” Hunter writes.

2. Connect with people you trust

Hunter points out that social isolation is the basis of fascism and dictatorship, urging readers to stay connected with like-minded groups who share similar values. Drawing on Hannah Arendt’s The Origins of Totalitarianism, she emphasizes that loneliness is a necessary ingredient of autocracy. To combat this, he encourages people to exit, engage in social groups, and find like-minded people. These connections help construct trust, allowing individuals to explore their very own pondering and support one another to stay sharp and grounded.

“We must consciously break this distance,” Hunter writes.

3. Allow yourself to be sad

Sadness is a human emotion that ought to be accepted, not limited. Hunter suggests that we start by detailing and allowing the feelings to emerge. He recalls staying up late with a friend after Trump’s victory in 2016 and just letting the emotions flow.

“Alternating between angry screams and tears. We became sad. We cried. We held each other. We breathed. We went back to naming all the bad things that we knew we had lost and the things that we thought we were probably going to lose,” he said.

Through this process, Hunter and his friend were able to higher mentally prepare themselves for what the next 4 years would bring. Instead of bottling up his emotions and continuously saying, “I can’t believe he’s doing this…” Hunter released his feelings on election night and started moving toward acceptance.

“Believe it. Believe it now. “Sadness is the path to this acceptance,” he writes.

4. Let go of what you possibly can’t control

There might be so many pressing issues during Trump’s presidency that accepting that we won’t take care of every thing might be a challenge, Hunter quotes.

“Trump’s first day likely includes pardoning the January 6 insurrectionists, reallocating money to construct the wall, withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, and firing greater than 50,000 government staff to begin replacing them with loyalists. There is not any reason to imagine that the second day might be much calmer,” he writes.

To counter the chaos that always fuels autocracy, Hunter advises abandoning the belief that we’ve got to deal with every thing. While this may increasingly be difficult for natural activists, he warns that “the urge to act on every issue leads to poor strategy.” Instead of focusing solely on public insults or symbolic activities resembling rallies and protests, look for simpler ways to engage.

5. Discover your path

Referring to his book entitled scenarios on how a Trump presidency might unfold, Hunter outlines several paths of resistance to counter the coming chaos. One track, ‘Protecting People’, focuses on supporting those directly affected, resembling transgender people, abortion seekers and immigrants. Examples include creating committees to welcome immigrants, establishing funds to support abortion, or training volunteers in security skills to respond to white nationalist violence.

Other tracks include “Defending Civil Institutions,” where people unite to defend institutions whose mission is to protect civil rights, “Disruption and Disobedience,” where individuals intervene to stop bad policies or show resistance, and “Building Alternatives” to support for more democratic processes.

“Your path may be unclear right now. That’s okay. There will be many opportunities to join the resistance,” notes Hunter.

6. Refuse to conform upfront and avoid self-censorship

Hunter cites two major media publications that “cowardly” refused to endorse a politician as examples of self-censorship. Trump did not have to directly threaten these media outlets; their very own leaders instructed them to “wait it out,” Hunter notes.

“If autocrats can teach us anything, it is this: political space you don’t use, you lose,” he writes.

Recognizing that we’ve got the power to select when to speak up, Hunter urges those that care to “use the political space and voice you have.”

7. Redefine your political landscape

Hunter explains how a Trump presidency is changing political alignments and the potential impacts. It highlights the importance of taking a position to listen to and have interaction with individuals with different political or personal views to broaden our perspectives. It also encourages you to practice empathy and face the reality of who’s in power.

8. Face the reality of power

Taking to the streets in mass protests and not using a clear goal will only increase frustration, leading to disengagement and radical motion disconnected from any strategic plan.

“We will not stop him from doing these things merely by persuasive tactics or by showing that MANY of us are against it,” Hunter writes.

Using the inverted triangle as an influence evaluation tool, Hunter explains how strategically taking down Trump’s support pillars could also be simpler. Massive lack of cooperation puts people at greater risk and repression. However, it also shows the potential to achieve the form of liberatory government all of us truly deserve.

Hunter cited the Trump government shutdown in 2019 for instance, when flight attendants were preparing for a nationwide strike. That strike could have grounded planes across the country, disrupting a key transport network. Within hours of announcing “immediate mobilization” for the strike, Trump backed down.

“This tipping point of mass non-cooperation will create a mess. This means persuading many people to take enormous personal risks in exchange for a better option,” Hunter writes.

9. Manage fear and switch the violence against yourself

Managing fear just isn’t about suppressing it; it’s about continuously redirecting it. Referring to activist and mental Hardy Herriman’s research on political violence, Hunter explains that counterproductive political violence involves not being intimidated and standing up to these threats, which causes them to lose power.

Hunter uses the example of Bayard Rustin, who turned police threats of arrest in response to outdated anti-boycott laws right into a moment of courage. Rustin organized a gaggle of civil rights leaders who went to the police station and demanded an arrest, positioning themselves as leaders and turning the repression into a robust spectacle. Some leaders who aren’t on the police list have also publicly demanded his arrest. The defendants were met with applause from the crowd as they held their arrest papers aloft, turning the fear of arrest right into a moment of triumph.

10. Imagine a greater future

No matter who’s in office, there may be an entire world of beauty we are able to concentrate on as a substitute of marveling at the state of presidency and its impact on our country.

“On days when I don’t sense any of these political possibilities (more than none at all), I turn away from the lifespans of trees and rocks and toward spiritual reminders that nothing lasts forever,” Hunter writes.

“The whole future is uncertain. But with these things, we have a better chance of having a better future and experience in these turbulent times.”


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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