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The Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Brain and Cognitive Function

Fasting, Parkinson's Disease /

The importance of diet and the gut-brain axis for brain health and cognitive function isincreasingly acknowledged. Dietary interventions are tested for their potential to prevent and/ortreat brain disorders. Intermittent fasting (IF), the abstinence or strong limitation of calories for 12to 48 hours, alternated with periods of regular food intake, has shown promising results on neurobiological […]

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Epigenetic inactivation of the autophagy–lysosomal system in appendix in Parkinson’s disease

A-Synuclein, Parkinson's Disease /

The gastrointestinal tract may be a site of origin for α-synuclein pathology in idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD). Disruption of the autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP) may contribute to α-synuclein aggregation. Here we examined epigenetic alterations in the ALP in the appendix by deep sequencing DNA methylation at 521 ALP genes. We identified aberrant methylation at 928 cytosines

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The effect of oral butyrate administration on the release of serotonin and dopamine in the gastrointestinal trac

Butyrate, Gut Microbiota, Gut-Brain axis /

The microbiota-gut-brain axis is a modern concept with wide and physiologically important effects.The aim of the study was to investigate if an orally given short chain fatty acid (SCFA), butyrate,stimulates the formation and release of serotonin and dopamine in an in vivo rat model. The effect ofbutyrate was investigated in the entire gastrointestinal tract since

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Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PS128 Alleviates Exaggerated Cortical Beta Oscillations and Motor Deficits in the 6-Hydroxydopamine Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson's Disease, Pre-PD, Probiotics, Prebiotics and Symbiotics /

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by midbrain dopaminergic neuronal loss and subsequent physical impairments. Levodopa manages symptoms best, while deep brain stimulation (DBS) is effective for advanced PD patients; however, side effects occur with the diminishing therapeutic window. Recently, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PS128 (PS128) was found to elevate dopamine levels in rodent brains, suggesting its

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Sauna use as a lifestyle practice to extend healthspan

Parkinson's Disease, Pre-PD /

Sauna use, sometimes referred to as “sauna bathing,” is characterized by short-term passive exposure to high temperatures, typically ranging from 45 °C to 100 °C (113 °F to 212 °F), depending on modality. This exposure elicits mild hyperthermia, inducing a thermoregulatory response involving neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, and cytoprotective mechanisms that work in a synergistic fashion in an attempt to maintain homeostasis.

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Parkinson’s disease risk genes act in glia to control neuronal α-synuclein toxicity

A-Synuclein, Parkinson's Disease /

We identified 4 modifiers: aux, Lrrk, Ric, and Vps13, orthologs of the human genes GAK, LRRK2, RIT2, and VPS13C, respectively. Knockdown of each gene exacerbated neurodegeneration as measured by total and dopaminergic neuron loss. Knockdown of each modifier also increased α-synuclein oligomerization. These results suggest that some Parkinson’s disease risk genes exert their effects in glia and that glia can influence

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Multimodal retinal imaging to detect and understand Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease

Biomarkers, Parkinson's Disease, Pre-PD, Symptoms / Diagnosis, Vision /

Retinal neurodegeneration and visual dysfunctions have been reported in a majority of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients, and, in light of the quest for novel biomarkers for these neurodegenerative proteinopathies, the retina has been receiving increasing attention as an organ for diagnosing, monitoring, and understanding disease. Thinning of retinal layers, abnormalities in vasculature, and protein deposition can be imaged at unprecedented resolution,

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Vitamin C Supplementation in Healthy Individuals Leads to Shifts of Bacterial Populations in the Gut—A Pilot Study

Gut Dysbiosis, Gut Microbiota, Gut Permeability / Leaky Gut, Vitamins / Supplements / Nutraceuticals /

Daily supplementation of high-dose vitamin C led to an increase in the relative abundances of Lachnospiraceae (p < 0.05), whereas decreases were observed for Bacteroidetes (p < 0.01), Enterococci (p < 0.01) and Gemmiger formicilis (p < 0.05). In addition, trends for bacterial shifts were observed for Blautia (increase) and Streptococcus thermophilus (decrease). High-dose vitamin

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A blood marker for Parkinson’s Disease: Neuronal exosome-derived α-synuclein

A-Synuclein, Biomarkers, Parkinson's Disease, Pre-PD, Symptoms / Diagnosis /

To date, no reliable clinically applicable biomarker has been established for Parkinson’s disease (PD). Our results indicate that a long hoped blood test for Parkinson’s disease may be realized. We here assess the potential of pathological α-synuclein originating from neuron-derived exosomes from blood plasma as a possible biomarker. Following the isolation of neuron-derived exosomes from

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Quercetin Prevents Oxidative Stress-Induced Injury of Periodontal Ligament Cells and Alveolar Bone Loss in Periodontists

Periodontitis /

In conclusion, the present study revealed that quercetin ameliorated the oxidative damage and improved the antioxidative ability of PDLCs by activating the NRF2 signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo (Figure 7). In addition, quercetin could prevent alveolar bone absorption in periodontitis. Therefore, quercetin may be a potential therapeutic candidate for treatment of periodontitis. CLICK

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