Summary: The activation of dentate granule cells in the hippocampus plays a key role in alterations that occur during the development of post-traumatic epilepsy.
Source: Colorado State University
Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of epilepsy, a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures that affect around 50 million people.
A research team led by Bret Smith, professor and head of the Department of Biomedical Sciences, discovered specific neuronal processes that could help advance future preventative treatments for post-traumatic epilepsy.
The findings, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, show that activation of a subset of hippocampal neurons plays a key role in the changes that occur during the development of post-traumatic epilepsy and may be restorative.
“We know that trauma induces a cascade of events that can cause epilepsy,” says Smith. “We want to understand exactly what is occurring, and what the endpoints are, and then work backwards to try and stop epilepsy from developing after a brain injury.”
Neuroscience research in Smith’s lab focuses on two distinct programs; one is aimed at identifying neural changes related to the development of epilepsy, which the team has created leading models in the field to study, and the other examines how the brain is influenced by and contributes to hyperglycemia in diabetes.
For this study, Smith’s team looked at neurons called dentate granule cells, which continuously regenerate in areas of the brain that are crucial for learning and memory and are also commonly impacted by epilepsy.
Genetically induced expression of a light-activated ion channel and fluorescent protein (green) in neurons “born” just prior to traumatic brain injury.
The team was surprised to find that when they were activated, the activity of other brain cells involved in epilepsy were inhibited. And that the cells that were formed just prior to a traumatic brain injury were much more likely to activate this circuit than those generated at other points in time.
“We have been looking at how these synaptic connections reorganize in epilepsy for a long time,” says Smith. “Now, we can look more closely at specific connections of these cells that form at different times.”
Next, Smith’s lab will investigate whether this new connection is restoring function and if it occurs in other types of epilepsy.
“If we can get to a point of understanding the changes that occur in the development of epilepsy well enough, we may be able to prevent or reverse them.”
Post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) and behavioral comorbidities frequently develop after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Aberrant neurogenesis of dentate granule cells (DGCs) after TBI may contribute to the synaptic reorganization that occurs in PTE, but how neurogenesis at different times relative to the injury contributes to feedback inhibition and recurrent excitation in the dentate gyrus is unknown.
Thus, we examined whether DGCs born at different postnatal ages differentially participate in feedback inhibition and recurrent excitation in the dentate gyrus using the controlled cortical impact (CCI) model of TBI.
Both sexes of transgenic mice expressing channelrhodopsin2 (ChR2) in postnatally born DGCs were used for optogenetic activation of three DGC cohorts: postnatally early born DGCs, or those born just before or after CCI.
We performed whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from ChR2-negative, mature DGCs and parvalbumin-expressing basket cells (PVBCs) in hippocampal slices to determine whether optogenetic activation of postnatally born DGCs increases feedback inhibition and/or recurrent excitation in mice 8-10 weeks after CCI and whether PVBCs are targets of ChR2-positive DGCs.
In the dentate gyrus ipsilateral to CCI, activation of ChR2-expressing DGCs born before CCI produced increased feedback inhibition in ChR2-negative DGCs and increased excitation in PVBCs compared with those from sham controls.
This upregulated feedback inhibition was less prominent in DGCs born early in life or after CCI. Surprisingly, ChR2-positive DGC activation rarely evoked recurrent excitation in mature DGCs from any cohort.
These results support that DGC birth date-related increased feedback inhibition in of DGCs may contribute to altered excitability after TBI.
The FDA approved bexagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, to improve glycemic control for adults with type 2 diabetes, according to a company press release.
The approval of bexagliflozin (Brenzavvy, TheracosBio) is based on results from 23 clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of bexagliflozin with more than 5,000 adults with type 2 diabetes. These trials demonstrated a significant reduction in HbA1c and fasting blood glucose with bexagliflozin treatment after 24 weeks. This treatment can be utilized as a monotherapy or combined with metformin or as an add-on to standard-of-care treatment, including metformin, sulfonylureas, insulin, DPP-IV inhibitors or combinations of all these agents, according to the release.
The FDA has approved bexagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, for use among adults with type 2 diabetes.
“As a class of drugs, SGLT2 inhibitors have shown tremendous benefit in treating adults with type 2 diabetes,” Mason Freeman, MD, director of the Translational Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, said in the release. “Being involved in all of the clinical trials for Brenzavvy, I am greatly impressed with the efficacy of the drug in reducing blood glucose levels, and I believe it is an important addition to the SGLT2 inhibitor class of drugs.”
Bexagliflozin is approved for adults with type 2 diabetes with an estimated glomerular filtration rate greater than 30 mL/min/1.73 m2. Bexagliflozin is not recommended for patients with type 1 diabetes or for treating diabetic ketoacidosis.
In 2019, Michael Rosenblum received an experimental new prostate cancer treatment after the disease spread to his bones. Since then, he has been symptom-free. The treatment is now FDA-approved.
Prostate cancer treatment took a major step forward today as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new therapy that zeros in on cancer cells to destroy them. The treatment, called 177Lu-PSMA-617, uses a molecule that selectively seeks out and attaches to a specific protein on the cancer cell surface called PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigen). The technology delivers radiation that damages DNA and destroys the cancer cell.
“This type of precision medicine is a game changer for people whose prostate cancer has spread despite receiving multiple treatments,” says Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center medical oncologist Michael Morris. He helped design, execute, and analyze a clinical trial showing the effectiveness of 177Lu-PSMA-617. “FDA approval of this therapy will enable even more people who had essentially been given death sentences to survive and live well.”
This treatment, developed by the pharmaceutical company Novartis, could be a breakthrough for treating prostate cancer after it has spread and grown resistant to other drugs. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American males and kills 34,000 people in the U.S. every year.
The FDA approval is the latest bold advance in the emerging field of theranostics, which uses radioactive substances to visualize cancer cells and destroy them without harming normal cells. It also enables doctors to determine how well a treatment is actually working.
“We have a theranostic motto, which is ‘We see what we treat, and we treat what we see,’ ” says nuclear medicine physician Lisa Bodei, Director of Targeted Radionuclide Therapy at MSK. She is an expert specializing in using radioactive materials to diagnose and treat cancer and played a key role in the treatment of MSK participants in the trial.
The clinical trial, called VISION, showed that adding the drug to standard treatment slowed progression of prostate cancer. Dr. Morris presented results from this trial in June 2021 at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The results also were reported in The New England Journal of Medicine.
A New Lifeline
The new therapy could be a lifeline for many people with metastatic prostate cancer. Just ask Michael Rosenblum. In 2019, his prostate cancer was resistant to chemotherapy and other treatments and had spread. PET scans showed dark clusters of cancer cells in bones throughout his body. His PSA levels — a marker that normally should be in the single-digit range — had soared to more than 100.
Dr. Morris enrolled Michael in the VISION clinical trial. Michael began treatment in July 2019 and ended in February 2020. After six doses of the therapy, follow-up scans showed the metastatic cancer was no longer visible. The 76-year-old continues to be disease-free, with a PSA that is undetectable.
“I had no side effects either on the day of the procedures or afterward,” Michael says. “My PSA went right down, and my blood tests have been really good. From how I feel today, you would never think I had cancer a few years ago.”
PSMA-PET scans of Michael Rosenblum before treatment (left) show prostate cancer metastases (small dark spots) throughout his body. After treatment (right), metastatic cancer is no longer visible.
How PSMA Lights Up Cancer Cells
In 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued national approval to two new prostate cancer imaging tests based on similar technology. On a PET scan, the test lights up the cancerous cells that would otherwise be hidden, enabling doctors to precisely target treatment.
Both advances in imaging and therapy rely on targeting PSMA, which is not found on most normal cells but is overexpressed in cancer cells, especially those that have spread. The PSMA molecule was cloned at MSK in the early 1990s.
The Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service, led by Heiko Schöder, played a key role in the development and testing of a slightly different PSMA-directed imaging technology at MSK.
“This advance is the result of years of work by the community of physicians promoting the use of PSMA agents,” Dr. Schöder says. “It’s gratifying to see a collaborative effort result in a breakthrough that has the potential to make a difference for so many patients with advanced prostate cancer.”
Finding Hidden Cancer Cells: FDA Approval of New Imaging Tool Could Transform Treatment Decisions for Advanced Prostate Cancer
A newly approved imaging technology can identify the location of prostate cancer cells, allowing doctors to choose the best treatment.
Before receiving the therapy, patients in the VISION trial were scanned with PSMA-directed PET imaging to make sure enough PSMA was present in the cells to make them likely to respond to the treatment. If so, they received the radioactive drug by injection over four to six sessions, spaced six weeks apart.
Those who received the new treatment along with standard therapy had a 38% reduction in risk of death compared with those who received standard therapy alone — with a difference in median survival of 15.3 months versus 11.3 months. Also, the length of progression-free survival (the period when the disease didn’t get worse) for those receiving the new treatment more than doubled from a median of 3.4 months to a median of 8.7 months. Side effects were more common in people receiving the new treatment but were well tolerated. The most common was dry mouth.
As a next step, Dr. Morris and colleagues are looking into using the PSMA-directed therapy earlier — rather than only after the prostate cancer has spread.
Michael Morris
“I have been involved in the PSMA research since the end of my fellowship at MSK in the late 1990s,” says Dr. Morris, whose research has been supported by the philanthropy of John and Susan Magnier and Peter and Jean Scannell. “It’s amazing to see it all come to fruition this year. The benefits these advances will bring to men with this common disease cannot be overstated.”
What Lies Ahead: Leading the Way With Alpha Therapies
The coming years will see even more powerful forms of radioactive therapy. The MSK laboratory of radiochemist Jason Lewis and other researchers are investigating the use of alpha particles, which have a much higher energy — hundreds of times more potent — than the photons used in conventional radiation or beta particles. Not only do alpha particles cause more damage when they slam into cancer cells but their path of destruction is more tightly focused, sparing normal cells.
MSK is building one of the nation’s first dedicated alpha particle GMP labs at a U.S. academic institution. (GMP means “Good Manufacturing Practices,” which are regulated and enforced by the FDA.)
“These radiopharmaceuticals that we are creating translate very well from bench to bedside,” says Dr. Lewis, Chief of the Radiochemistry and Imaging Sciences Service and Director of the Radiochemistry and Molecular Imaging Probe Core Facility. “When you see these striking responses to treatment, it brings real hope for the future and our patients.”
Advances in radiotheranostics are supported by The Tow Foundation, long-time contributors to MSK’s mission.
Key Takeaways
A new FDA-approved drug could be an effective treatment against prostate cancer that has spread.
The treatment uses a molecule that seeks out and attaches to a specific protein on the cancer cell surface called PSMA
The technology delivers radiation that damages DNA and destroys the cancer cell..
Americans are taking fewer vacation days than they did 15 years ago, often not taking all of their earned vacation days, according to a survey by the US Travel Association. But the decision to put work over family and friends can lead to burnt bridges among personal relationships that can make your life richer for decades to come.
The survey revealed that seven out of 10 respondents skip kids’ activities, birthdays, and vacations in favor of work, while, paradoxically, 73 percent said spending time with family makes their lives richer and more meaningful.
Another survey found Americans use only 10 of their average 14 days of vacation a year, and while about one-third of Americans report feeling stressed out at work, most won’t take a vacation day because of it.
In short, many Americans find it hard to find a suitable work-life balance that allows them to pay the bills and earn financial security while still spending time with family and having ample free time for their own sanity.
If it’s been awhile since your last vacation, you may be starting to feel it. Lack of adequate time off can manifest in many mysterious (and not so mysterious) ways, as the list below, compiled by TIME, explains.
10 Signs You Need a Vacation
1. Little Problems Seem Huge
When you’re in a good place mentally and emotionally, you can handle those daily curveballs that come your way – with ease and even your fair share of finesse. But if you’re overly stressed, forget about it. Even small nuisances will seem overwhelming and may cause you to snap at co-workers or clients unnecessarily.
2. Coworkers Ask if You’re Alright
You probably spend a lot of time around your colleagues, and they may be among the first to notice that you’re not acting like yourself. Maybe you’re unusually cranky, quiet, or tired instead of your chipper self.
This is a sign that a long weekend is calling your name (if you can’t take a longer vacation, at least try to fit microbreaks into your day by walking outside for five or 10 minutes).
3. You’re Making Mistakes
Workplace errors are often the result of chronic stress. This can be problematic for your reputation and job security or, depending on your line of work, potentially deadly to those around you (such as if you work in the medical field). If you notice you’re making an unusual number of mistakes, arrange for some time off to regroup.
4. You’re Overly Cynical
Those who are most successful at work have about six positive experiences for each negative one. A ratio of three to one (in favor of positive) is about the bare minimum you need to stay happy at work. If that ratio gets flipped and you’re finding your work unfulfilling and frustrating without any positive merits, it could be due to impending burnout.
5. You’re Engaging in Counterproductive Work Behaviors
Arguing with co-workers, taking extra time at lunch or breaks, or “borrowing” office supplies are examples of “counterproductive work behaviors” or CWBs.
These behaviors are linked to high levels of workplace stress, and they may manifest weeks or months after the most stressful periods (such as a busy season). Time off may be a welcome cure (and might even give you time to seek out other opportunities).
6. You’re in Physical Pain
Workplace stress, particularly heavy workloads, negative work environments, and obstacles that prevent you from completing your work, are linked to pain levels in employees. Stress also promotes inflammation and pain sensitivity, which is why recurring backaches, headaches, eye strain, and other aches and pains are signs a vacation is long overdue.
7. Your Stomach’s Upset
An upset stomach and other digestive issues can also be manifestations of overwork and stress. The latter can even lead to changes in the bacteria in your gut that can make you prone to stomach issues.
8. You Have Trouble Sleeping
Excessive work stress and burnout can increase the chances of sleep problems, including difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. People who are overworked have more trouble unwinding at the end of the day and also are more likely to report daytime sleepiness.
9. You End Your Day with a Glass of Wine
Regularly using alcohol as a coping mechanism may be a result of too much stress at work. Those experiencing chronic stress and burnout may be more vulnerable to using alcohol and food as ways to ease stress in favor of healthier options like exercise.
10. You Lost the Sense of Purpose of Your Work
A more serious sign of burnout is losing perspective of why you’re working in the first place. You may not see any benefits, when in fact your job benefits your community, your country, or your family. If you can’t remember why you wanted your job in the first place, schedule a break from your daily grind soon.
What Do You Stand to Gain from Taking a Vacation?
You’ve seen what might happen if you don’t take a vacation, but what might happen if you do? According to research from the University of Calgary, taking a vacation (or even participating in leisure activities) can actually reduce depression.
A separate study found sharing vacation experiences with your loved ones is a valuable contributor to family cohesion,whereas immersing yourself in a different culture may also foster creative thinking and improve well-being. Still other research by British research Scott McCabe has shown the following vacation benefits:
As the Examiner reported:
“McCabe believes these positive benefits [of vacation] to be so strong that he recommends that families be given some form of financial assistance if they are unable to afford vacations on their own.”
Keep in mind that not every vacation will leave you feeling refreshed and relaxed. Generally speaking there are some universal factors that tend to contribute to a restful time off, and if you’re chronically stressed you’ll want to be sure you plan your vacation with at least some of these in mind:
Free time for yourself
Warmer, sunnier location
Good sleep
Making new acquaintances
Exercising during vacation
Even Planning a Vacation Can Benefit Your Mental Health…
It can certainly be exciting to travel the world and see new cities, states, or countries… but a vacation doesn’t have to be elaborate to be beneficial and enjoyable. Simply planning a vacation may help boost your mood, even if you don’t actually go on one.
Research showed people were happiest during the planning stage of their vacation, when their sense of anticipation was peaked. After the vacation was over, levels of happiness quickly returned to baseline.
“Staycations” have also become popular among those looking for a respite without breaking the bank. You might stay at a nearby hotel or bed-and-breakfast for a night or two to break up your daily grind. Or you can plan a week of day trips – visiting museums, zoos, national parks, theme parks, or other local points of interest – and returning home to sleep each night.
The key isn’t so much where you go as simply taking time off to just be with those you love, explore your surroundings, and nurture your inner self. Take the time to do the things you don’t get to do each day – like lingering over a cup of coffee and having the freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want.
Whether your vacation is down the street or across the globe, you’ll enjoy numerous mental and physical health benefits both during your trip and upon your return. Surprisingly enough, even though many Americans forgo their annual vacations, 24 percent believe a vacation is a birthright… if you claim yours, here are even more benefits you’ll enjoy, according to the US Travel Association:
Increased health: Travelers rate their health a full point higher (on a scale of one to five) while on vacation.
Deep sleep: Travelers say they get three times more deep sleep while on vacation, as well as an additional 20 minutes of sleep a night after their vacation.
Life satisfaction: Feelings of life satisfaction increase during vacation and continue to stay elevated after returning home.
Improved work life: Vacations can enhance your productivity and business accomplishments at work, so you’ll return to work refreshed and ready to take on new challenges.
Our bodies are made up of 100 trillion cells, and these cells can heal themselves to heal our bodies.
Chien-Feng Li, author of “Kindly Treat the Cells: the Art of Getting Well,” is a Taiwan-based cellular pathologist. She realizes through her research that almost all illnesses we have are self-inflicted, and that there are many measures we can take to help our cells repair themselves and keep our bodies healthy.
Li developed cancer in middle age. After having gone through surgery and chemotherapy, her health gradually deteriorated, and many side effects started to pop up. Once she became hospitalized for pneumonia, and on the third day of treatment, she developed toxic hepatitis, as she couldn’t tolerate the toxicity of the medication her doctor had given her. As a result, her doctor stopped the medication but kept her hospitalized for close monitoring.
After being in the hospital for a month, with only meditation and sleep as her daily activities, Li was miraculously cured of pneumonia. In her opinion, it was her cells’ self-repair that led to her complete recovery from hepatitis.
After this hospital stay, Li turned to self-healing by taking many measures to “treat her cells well.” She lived peacefully with cancer and healthily for over five decades, exceeding her doctor’s survival prediction of only half a year.
Cell Structure Is More Complex Than Previously Thought
Our cells are the smallest known units capable of reproducing and maintaining our survival.
A cell is generally composed of three parts: the cell membrane, the nucleus, and the cytoplasm.
The cell membrane controls the movement of material into and from the cell. For instance, oxygen and water enter the cell, while waste material moves out of the cell into the bloodstream.
As the cell’s control center, the nucleus determines the cell’s structure and function. The cytoplasm is the fluid inside the cell. Powered by chemical energy generated by the mitochondria, most chemical reactions within the cell all take place in the cytoplasm.
There are over 200 cell types, and they all perform different functions.
Every day, some of our cells die or become unhealthy. In some cases, they become cancerous, and our body must produce new cells to replace them. Cell division forms new cells for cell growth, repair, and replacement.
Cells Can Heal Themselves
Depending on the severity, some cell damage can be reversed.
When a cell is injured, if its membrane ruptures, the organelles and cytoplasm inside the membrane will leak out. At this point, a process called wound healing takes place, as the cell stops further loss of its material. Then, regeneration starts, and cells grow new structures to replace the lost ones.
The neuron—the basic unit of our brain—has a long projection called an axon. The neurons can sometimes repair and regenerate their axons that were damaged due to nerve injury or neurodegenerative diseases.
Cells can also replicate themselves by division to replace lost cells.
The human liver has a remarkable ability to regenerate after injury, as it can “regrow to a normal size even after as much as 90 percent of it is removed,” according to the National Institutes of Health.
Under normal circumstances, liver cells duplicate themselves to maintain cell turnover. However, in the case of a severe liver injury, the liver cells can repair and restore themselves by reentering the cell cycle (pdf).
Natural Elimination of Cancer Cells
If cells are genetically damaged, our bodies can naturally eliminate them and create new ones to take their place.
Cancerous cells are usually the result of gene mutations. Such cells tend to have abnormal chromosomes, such as those with duplicated or missing chromosome parts. In this case, cell apoptosis will come into play instead of cell self-repair or regeneration.
Apoptosis is a programmed cell death. It is a normal part of cell development and turnover, as well as the proper functioning of the immune system. Apoptosis is highly controlled. If a cell seems to be too irregular, or it is not supposed to exist, it or other cells may send a signal to activate the enzymes that degrade proteins to kill the cell.
In another case, once a cell is infected, to prevent the infection from spreading to other cells, the infected cell may initiate a “scorched earth defense” by committing suicide.
Cells Defend Against Oxidation
One of the cells’ enemies is oxidation.
Oxidation is both vital to our existence and inevitable. When we inhale air, oxygen will enter our cells, where it will be used to convert food into energy. Then the process of oxidation takes place, which produces free radicals. Free radicals can be detrimental to cells.
Cells have their own defense system against oxidation. They produce antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) to protect themselves from damage induced by free radicals.
3 Ways to Boost Cell Healing
Healthy cells are full of water and vitality, while unhealthy cells look distorted and deformed. This is especially true for cancer cells, which don’t contain enough fluid and have no vitality.
According to Li, if we don’t treat our cells properly, and if we subject ourselves to pressure over a long period, our cells will look deformed under the microscope. When the accumulation of pressure reaches a certain level, and the cells can no longer withstand it, they will become sick and even become cancerous.
Bad habits or exposure to environmental toxins can also make cells produce a lot more free radicals, leading to oxidative stress and causing cell, tissue, and DNA damage, thus triggering cell death in some cases. Oxidative stress can lead to various illnesses, including cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, lung diseases, multiple sclerosis, and heart failure.
If our daily foods include cereals, legumes, nuts, vegetables, and fruits, the basic needs of our cells are already met.
Chew a bit longer when eating. This helps mix the special enzymes in our saliva with the food to help with digestion and absorption of nutrients.
Limit the amount of refined food you eat, such as white sugar, refined salt, processed meats, and white flour. Instead, consume more brown sugar, cane sugar, sea salt, rock salt, and whole wheat flour, as many nutrients are lost during the food refining process.
Obtaining sufficient antioxidants from food is important, as this can prevent oxidative damage.
Consume enough leafy vegetables, as they are rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, magnesium, folate, and many other nutrients that are essential to our cellular health. Vitamin C is especially helpful in cells’ self-repair process.
Nuts and seeds are also healthy foods, as they are rich in vitamin E, another antioxidant that protects our cell membranes against oxidation.
Furthermore, as over 70 percent of a cell is composed of water, we need to drink a sufficient amount of water to keep our cells functioning properly. The best water, according to Li, is spring water, which is free of bacteria but still contains a small number of minerals. She recommends the installation of a good water filter at home.
If we respect the needs of our cells and supply them with the right nutrients and water, they will reward us with an increasingly healthier body.
2. Exercise Your Body and Your Cells
Physical exercise is paramount to health and includes walking, cycling, sports, and other forms of aerobic exercise.
Many studies have found that exercise helps boost cell function and organ regeneration. It can also induce the apoptosis of cancer cells.
Static exercise forms, including qigong, yoga, and sitting in meditation, are also effective. When these exercises are performed well, our bodies become relaxed, our cells feel at ease and unconstrained, the blood circulation of our bodies is active, and our organs are in balance, so our bodies’ self-healing functions are running properly.
According to Li, laughing makes our cells dance, as it is an intense whole-body movement. The cells throughout the entire body tremble as if they are dancing.
In addition, when we laugh, our bodies relax and relieve tension, and our cells become unstrained. They can then work freely without stress. At that time, even if we are not feeling well, the self-healing function of our cells will be in effect.
3. Abandon Unhealthy Habits
To maintain the health and self-repairing ability of our cells, we need to avoid or quit certain unhealthy habits, such as drinking and smoking. Alcohol use can cause excessive production of free radicals. Also, free radicals inhaled when smoking can increase oxidative stress by decreasing antioxidants contained in red cells and platelets.
Replace the above unhealthy habits with beneficial ones such as spending more time under the sun, in nature, and with family and friends.
Summary: Rilmenidine, a drug commonly prescribed to help treat hypertension can help slow the effects of aging and extend lifespan, a new study reports.
Source: University of Liverpool
Researchers have found that the drug rilmenidine can extend lifespan and slow aging.
Published in Aging Cell, the findings show that animals treated with rilmenidine, currently used to treat hypertension, at young and older ages increases lifespan and improves health markers, mimicking the effects of caloric restriction.
They also demonstrate that the healthspan and lifespan benefits of rilmenidine treatment in the roundworm C. elegans are mediated by the I1-imidazoline receptor nish-1, identifying this receptor as a potential longevity target.
Unlike other drugs previously studied for this purpose by the researchers, the widely-prescribed, oral antihypertensive rilmenidine has potential for future translatability to humans as side-effects are rare and non-severe.
To date, a caloric restriction diet has been considered the most robust anti-aging intervention, promoting longevity across species. However, studies of caloric restriction in humans have had mixed results and side effects, meaning finding medications like rilmenidine that can mimic the benefits of caloric restriction is the most reasonable anti-aging strategy.
Unlike other drugs previously studied for this purpose by the researchers, the widely-prescribed, oral antihypertensive rilmenidine has potential for future translatability to humans as side-effects are rare and non-severe.
Professor João Pedro Magalhães, who led the research whilst at the University of Liverpool and is now based at the University of Birmingham, said: “With a global aging population, the benefits of delaying aging, even if slightly, are immense. Repurposing drugs capable of extending lifespan and healthspan has a huge untapped potential in translational geroscience.
“For the first time, we have been able to show in animals that rilmenidine can increase lifespan. We are now keen to explore if rilmenidine may have other clinical applications.”
Repurposing drugs capable of extending lifespan and health span has a huge untapped potential in translational geroscience.
Here, we searched for known compounds that elicit a similar gene expression signature to caloric restriction and identified rilmenidine, an I1-imidazoline receptor agonist and prescription medication for the treatment of hypertension.
We then show that treating Caenorhabditis elegans with rilmenidine at young and older ages increases lifespan. We also demonstrate that the stress-resilience, health span, and lifespan benefits of rilmenidine treatment in C. elegans are mediated by the I1-imidazoline receptor nish-1, implicating this receptor as a potential longevity target.
Consistent with the shared caloric-restriction-mimicking gene signature, supplementing rilmenidine to calorically restricted C. elegans, genetic reduction of TORC1 function, or rapamycin treatment did not further increase lifespan. The rilmenidine-induced longevity required the transcription factors FOXO/DAF-16 and NRF1,2,3/SKN-1. F
urthermore, we find that autophagy, but not AMPK signaling, was needed for rilmenidine-induced longevity. Moreover, transcriptional changes similar to caloric restriction were observed in liver and kidney tissues in mice treated with rilmenidine.
Together, these results reveal a geroprotective and potential caloric restriction mimetic effect by rilmenidine that warrant fresh lines of inquiry into this compound.
Summary: SSRI antidepressants can make users less sensitive to rewards, resulting in emotional blunting many users experience. The findings provide new evidence for the role serotonin plays in reinforcement learning.
Source: University of Cambridge
Scientists have worked out why common anti-depressants cause around a half of users to feel emotionally ‘blunted’. In a study published today, they show that the drugs affect reinforcement learning, an important behavioral process that allows us to learn from our environment.
According to the NHS, more than 8.3 million patients in England received an antidepressant drug in 2021/22. A widely-used class of antidepressants, particularly for persistent or severe cases, is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs target serotonin, a chemical that carries messages between nerve cells in the brain and has been dubbed the ‘pleasure chemical’.
One of the widely-reported side effects of SSRIs is ‘blunting’, where patients report feeling emotionally dull and no longer finding things as pleasurable as they used to. Between 40-60% of patients taking SSRIs are believed to experience this side effect.
To date, most studies of SSRIs have only examined their short term use, but, for clinical use in depression these drugs are taken chronically, over a longer period of time. A team led by researchers at the University of Cambridge, in collaboration with the University of Copenhagen, sought to address this by recruiting healthy volunteers and administering escitalopram, an SSRI known to be one of the best-tolerated, over several weeks and assessing the impact the drug had on their performance on a suite of cognitive tests.
In total, 66 volunteers took part in the experiment, 32 of whom were given escitalopram while the other 34 were given a placebo. Volunteers took the drug or placebo for at least 21 days and completed a comprehensive set of self-report questionnaires and were given a series of tests to assess cognitive functions including learning, inhibition, executive function, reinforcement behaviour, and decision-making.
The results of the study are published today in Neuropsychopharmacology.
The team found no significant group differences when it came to ‘cold’ cognition – such as attention and memory. There were no differences in most tests of ‘hot’ cognition – cognitive functions that involve our emotions.
However, the key novel finding was that there was reduced reinforcement sensitivity on two tasks for the escitalopram group compared to those on placebo. Reinforcement learning is how we learn from feedback from our actions and environment.
In order to assess reinforcement sensitivity, the researchers used a ‘probabilistic reversal test’. In this task, a participant would typically be shown two stimuli, A and B. If they chose A, then four out of five times, they would receive a reward; if they chose B, they would only receive a reward one time out of five.
Between 40-60% of patients taking SSRIs are believed to experience this side effect.
Volunteers would not be told this rule, but would have to learn it themselves, and at some point in the experiment, the probabilities would switch and participants would need to learn the new rule.
The team found that participants taking escitalopram were less likely to use the positive and negative feedback to guide their learning of the task compared with participants on placebo. This suggests that the drug affected their sensitivity to the rewards and their ability to respond accordingly.
The finding may also explain the one difference the team found in the self-reported questionnaires, that volunteers taking escitalopram had more trouble reaching orgasm when having sex, a side effect often reported by patients.
Professor Barbara Sahakian, senior author, from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow at Clare Hall, said: “Emotional blunting is a common side effect of SSRI antidepressants.
“In a way, this may be in part how they work – they take away some of the emotional pain that people who experience depression feel, but, unfortunately, it seems that they also take away some of the enjoyment. From our study, we can now see that this is because they become less sensitive to rewards, which provide important feedback.”
Dr Christelle Langley, joint first author also from the Department of Psychiatry, added: “Our findings provide important evidence for the role of serotonin in reinforcement learning. We are following this work up with a study examining neuroimaging data to understand how escitalopram affects the brain during reward learning.”
Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world, with more than 900,000 new cases every year, and a fatality rate that ranks third among all cancers. Recently, the Li Ka Shing faculty of medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) released the world’s first comprehensive treatment plan for intermediate liver cancer, called the “Reduce and Remove” program.
Clinical studies have shown that for intermediate liver cancer that cannot be removed by surgery, nearly 50 percent of patients can achieve a radical curing effect through the comprehensive treatment plan of “Reduce and Remove.” The research results have been published in the Dec. 2022 edition of The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Liver cancer is one of the top 10 cancers in the world. According to the Hong Kong Cancer Database, there are nearly 1,800 new cases of liver cancer in Hong Kong every year, of which only 30 percent are suitable for curative surgery to achieve complete rehabilitation, while the remaining 70 percent can only receive non-curative treatment to control the disease due to conditions such as enlarged tumor size or vascular invasion.
To improve the chances of liver cancer cure and the survival rate of patients, the team of the HKU Faculty of Medicine recruited 33 liver cancer patients from March 2019 to January 2021. The diameter of the tumors ranged from 5 to 17.5 cm (about 2 to 7 in), and 64 percent of the patients had tumors that had invaded the large blood vessels that could not be cured immediately by surgery. The 33 patients were treated with the new “Reduce and Remove” tri-modality therapy (START-FIT).
The patient received transarterial chemoembolisation on the first day of treatment to control the tumor, and stereotactic body radiotherapy on day 28 to attack the tumor head-on. The PD-L1 immunotherapy Avelumab treatment was given 14 days later—then once every 2 weeks to continue striking the cancer cells and shrink the tumor to a size appropriate for surgical removal, thereby eradicating the cancer.
Eighteen patients (about 55 percent) were considered suitable for surgery after receiving the tri-modality therapy, among which four patients (about 12 percent) underwent curative surgery, and 14 (42 percent) were selected for regular close monitoring by imaging as the tumor cells were completely necrotic. The subsequent two-and-a-half-year follow-up showed a survival rate of more than 90 percent within two years.
The study reported the treatment’s approach is “minimally invasive with short hospital stay and a relatively high safety profile,” with the most common side effects including “temporary liver function derangement after TACE,” with some patients developing a “mild immune reaction.”
The “Reduce and Remove” therapy provides an opportunity for liver cancer patients who are not suitable for surgery to be otherwise successfully treated. The full-term treatment costs are around HK$200,000—about U.S.$25,600. Chan Chi-yan, a clinical professor of the Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, said: “This treatment strategy provides a definite treatment schedule. Most patients could have an idea of the treatment effect within 6 months after the start of treatment and be able to have better planning for themselves and their families.”
Chan added, “Now the team is looking forward to expanding the treatment coverage to more patients, especially those with poor liver function, to help downstaging the tumor status and hence, increase the chance of fitting into the criteria for liver transplantation in the future. We are also seeking ways to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy, from a single agent to double agents, to deliver a more enhanced and solid treatment result.”
Magnesium is a mineral that is essential for processes throughout the body Trusted SourceMedline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. See Full Reference , including communication between cells in the nervous system. Sleep is largely controlled by the nervous system, and experts believe that nutrients like magnesium may play a role in sleep health. However, the exact relationship between magnesium and sleep is still being studied.
Despite the unclear relationship between magnesium and sleep, there have been encouraging studies showing that magnesium supplements may improve sleep quality, sleep duration, and benefit people with sleep disorders like insomnia and restless legs syndrome. Future research may clarify the effects of magnesium on sleep as well as the role of magnesium supplements in promoting sleep health.
What is Magnesium?
Magnesium is one of several electrolytes Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference in the body. Electrolytes are minerals that the body needs to function properly. Magnesium plays essential roles Trusted SourceNational Institutes of Health (NIH) The NIH, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation’s medical research agency — making important discoveries that improve health and save lives. See Full Reference in the production of proteins, bone, and DNA. Magnesium is also important for maintaining blood sugar, blood pressure, and regulating activity in the muscles, nerves, and cardiovascular system.
Magnesium in the body typically comes from a person’s diet Trusted SourceMerck Manual First published in 1899 as a small reference book for physicians and pharmacists, the Manual grew in size and scope to become one of the most widely used comprehensive medical resources for professionals and consumers. See Full Reference . Additional sources of magnesium include dietary supplements and medicines, including laxatives and over-the-counter remedies for heartburn and indigestion.
Although many people’s diets don’t consistently provide enough magnesium, most people are able to keep the level of magnesium in their body within normal limits Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference . The kidneys and other tissues normally release excess magnesium into the urine and, in times of low magnesium intake, these tissues can conserve magnesium by reducing the amount that is excreted.
Because much of the body’s magnesium is stored within other tissues, it can be difficult to measure the level of magnesium in a person’s blood. But a blood test for magnesium can help doctors determine if magnesium levels are dangerously low or high Trusted SourceMerck Manual First published in 1899 as a small reference book for physicians and pharmacists, the Manual grew in size and scope to become one of the most widely used comprehensive medical resources for professionals and consumers. See Full Reference .
Having abnormally low or high magnesium levels is uncommon in the general population. Very low magnesium levels can happen in people with low dietary intake of magnesium, those with long-term excessive use of alcohol, and in people taking certain medications. Symptoms of abnormally low levels of magnesium include :
People at higher risk for elevated levels of magnesium include those with kidney failure, which prevents the body from properly filtering out and releasing excess magnesium.
Foods with Magnesium
The Recommended Dietary Allowances for magnesium varies depending on age, sex, pregnancy, and whether a person is breastfeeding. For healthy adults over 18 years of age, experts recommend a daily magnesium intake between 310 and 420 milligrams Trusted SourceNational Institutes of Health (NIH) The NIH, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation’s medical research agency — making important discoveries that improve health and save lives. See Full Reference .
There are many ways to get adequate magnesium in the diet. Some examples of foods rich in magnesium include:
Green leafy vegetables
Fish
Legumes
Whole grains
Pumpkin seeds
Chia seeds
Almonds
Cashews
Fortified breakfast cereals
Soy and soymilk
How Magnesium Impacts Sleep
Magnesium is included in a variety of nutritional supplements and natural sleep aids. Despite claims that magnesium can improve sleep, few studies have investigated this link. Researchers hypothesize that magnesium may relax the central nervous system and cause chemical reactions Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference in the body that increase sleepiness.
Studies suggest that magnesium supplements might help to reverse age-related changes in sleep often seen in older adults. Healthy magnesium levels may have an important role in the development of baby and infant sleep cycles. In contrast, low magnesium could be associated with poor sleep quality.
Magnesium and Insomnia
Insomnia is impaired sleep that causes fatigue and daytime sleepiness. Insomnia can also lead to struggles with memory, mental health concerns, and a higher risk for accidents. Thus, people with insomnia may turn to supplements like magnesium to help with sleep.
Research is not clear on the role of magnesium supplements in the treatment of insomnia. However, some studies have shown encouraging findings Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference . One study of older adults with insomnia found that magnesium supplementation at a dose of 500 milligrams daily for eight weeks helped them fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, reduced nighttime awakenings, and increased their levels of naturally circulating melatonin.
There have also been studies combining magnesium with other supplements that have shown promising results Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference for treating insomnia. Yet, because the supplements in these studies contained more than just magnesium, it is difficult to interpret whether the benefits were linked to magnesium, to the other supplements, or to the combination.
Magnesium and Restless Legs Syndrome
Restless legs syndrome is a sleep-related movement disorder that creates an irritating urge to move the legs. The exact cause of this condition remains unclear, but some researchers suggest that magnesium deficiency may play a role in the condition’s development.
Studies have not demonstrated Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference a clear relationship between magnesium levels and restless legs syndrome in the general population. However, there is some evidence that magnesium may play a role in restless legs syndrome that develops during pregnancy Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference or while receiving dialysis Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference .
Researchers have also investigated whether magnesium supplementation can reduce the symptoms of restless legs syndrome. Results of these studies are contradictory Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference . Some have found that magnesium supplementation may be helpful to reduce symptoms in people with restless legs syndrome. But a more recent study of people with many types of cramps, including restless legs syndrome, found no benefit from Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference magnesium supplementation.
Other Benefits of Magnesium
Supplemental magnesium may be recommended by a doctor for people with conditions that cause a magnesium deficiency. Magnesium may be given to people who have certain health conditions such as :
Diarrhea
Pancreatitis
Uncontrolled diabetes
There’s some evidence showing that magnesium supplements may benefit people with certain chronic conditions Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference like migraine headaches, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis. But more research is needed to determine how helpful magnesium is in managing these conditions.
Magnesium supplements may also be recommended for people taking medications that can lower magnesium levels, including proton pump inhibitors, diuretics, antibiotics, and some medications used to treat cancer.
Risks of Magnesium
In most cases, magnesium supplements are safe. A dangerously high level of magnesium is rare in otherwise healthy people unless they take a very high dose of magnesium.
Symptoms of magnesium toxicity can range from mild to severe, and vary depending on a person’s magnesium level. Symptoms of excessive magnesium include:
Nausea
Headache
Drowsiness
Low blood pressure
Muscle paralysis
Cardiac arrest
Magnesium is also included in over-the-counter products such as Epsom salts, antacids, or laxatives. The risk of magnesium toxicity from using these products is higher in people who have impaired kidney function. Other risk factors for magnesium toxicity include conditions that increase the absorption of nutrients, such as colitis, gastritis or gastric ulcer disease.
Magnesium vs. Melatonin
Melatonin and magnesium supplements are both used to improve sleep, but they work in different ways in the body. Melatonin is a sleep hormone that the pineal gland in the brain produces when the time to sleep is approaching. Experts note that adding supplemental melatonin may help people fall asleep but may be less helpful for staying asleep all night.
Magnesium may help to quiet the nerves in the body that keep people awake. However, while experts recommend melatonin for treating some sleep disorders, magnesium may not be something that a doctor recommends unless a person has another reason to take it, such as evidence of low magnesium levels.
How to Use Magnesium for Sleep
Overall, the evidence for magnesium on insomnia and other sleep disorders remains mixed. However, some evidence shows that otherwise healthy people may benefit from low doses of oral magnesium supplements to help improve symptoms of insomnia. Research suggests doses of up to one gram of magnesium should be taken no more than three times daily.
While magnesium supplements are generally considered safe, there are some people who are at a higher risk for magnesium toxicity or harmful drug interactions. Therefore, before purchasing a magnesium supplement, talk to a health care provider first to find out if taking magnesium is safe and warranted
Sleep is imperative for good health Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference , yet over 30% of adults Trusted SourceCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. See Full Reference report sleeping less than the recommended seven hours per night.
Many adults turn to alternative medicine to assist or treat various ailments, including sleep disorders. One natural remedy used to treat sleep problems is ashwagandha Trusted SourceCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. See Full Reference , a plant that is believed to have sleep-inducing properties.
What Is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha, also known as Indian ginseng and winter cherry, is a common herbal medicine used in traditional Ayurveda health practices. It is made from a small evergreen shrub called Withania somnifera Trusted SourceMedline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. See Full Reference that is native to India and Southeast Asia. Ashwagandha is used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine to treat a wide variety of conditions, though more evidence is needed to confirm if it is effective and safe.
Health Benefits of Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is considered an adaptogen, a term that describes a group of herbs that are said to protect the body Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference . Though there is limited research available about its effects and mechanisms, preliminary research does suggest ashwagandha might be effective at fighting stress.
According to some, ashwagandha also improves functioning in the endocrine, nervous, and cardiopulmonary Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference systems. It is said to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference properties and to be effective in treating anxiety Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference , and cognitive impairment Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference . These claims need more scientific evidence to back them up, and scientists are still unraveling exactly how the herb works and whether there could be unknown side effects.
Ashwagandha as a Sleep Aid
Preliminary research has found that ashwagandha may help people fall asleep faster, spend more time asleep, and experience better sleep quality Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference . After taking ashwagandha for six weeks, participants in one actigraphy-based study described their sleep as being 72% better Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference , on average.
Several compounds present in ashwagandha may be responsible for its sleep-promoting effects. Researchers have proposed that the triethylene glycol Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference naturally present in the herb may bring on sleepiness. Other researchers propose that ashwagandha acts on GABA receptors Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference , which are a key part of the sleep-wake circuit Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference . There are likely additional undiscovered compounds Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference that contribute to ashwagandha’s apparent therapeutic effects.
Ashwagandha’s main active ingredients are withanolides, which are believed to carry a host of benefits including the ability to ease stress. Stress has been linked to poorer sleep quality Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference and excessive daytime sleepiness Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference . If taking ashwagandha before bed helps a person relax, this may be another way by which it promotes better sleep.
How to Use Ashwagandha for Sleep
Ashwagandha is available in multiple forms. It comes as a powder, tea, pill, tincture, or gummies. The price can depend on the brand, quantity, and quality. Ashwagandha products may also be mixed with other herbs or vitamins.
To use ashwagandha for sleep, follow the instructions of the particular product you buy. The optimal dosage of ashwagandha is still under debate, and it may differ between supplements. You should not use ashwagandha for more than three consecutive months. It is also important to consult with your doctor prior to using ashwagandha.Finding Reputable Sleep Supplements
The safety and efficacy of supplements is not closely monitored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Shoppers should take additional measures to make sure they are purchasing reputable products.
A review comparing 23 herbal remedies for insomnia found that valerian, passionflower, and ashwagandha Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference may be the most promising. However, as with many natural sleep aids, the lack of strong research on ashwagandha makes it difficult to evaluate its effectiveness.
Finding what works for you might take some trial and error. Talk to your doctor if you are having trouble sleeping. They may be able to recommend sleep hygiene tips, help you treat an underlying sleep disorder like insomnia, or recommend a safe treatment plan that includes natural, alternative, or pharmaceutical sleep aids.
Side Effects of Ashwagandha
Although its long-term safety profile has not been sufficiently studied, ashwagandha may be safe when taken for up to three months. The most common side effects of Ashwagandha are mild and include:
Diarrhea
Nausea
Upset stomach
Vomiting
Some people may experience less common symptoms, which include Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference :
Dry mouth
Drowsiness
Vertigo
Hallucinations
Cough and congestion
Blurred vision
Rash
Weight gain
There is some evidence that ashwagandha supplements may cause liver damage. If you experience any side effects, especially symptoms consistent with liver damage such as jaundice or itchy skin, call your doctor immediately.
How to Decide if Ashwagandha Is Right for You
Ashwagandha may be an option for people who are interested in trying alternative remedies for sleep. However, some groups should avoid ashwagandha. These groups include:
People who are pregnant or breastfeeding
People with auto-immune diseases
People who have recently had surgery, or who have an upcoming surgical procedure scheduled
People who have thyroid disorders
If you fall into any of these categories, talk to your doctor about sleep aids that are safe for you to use. You should also talk to your doctor before taking ashwagandha to ensure it does not interfere with other medications.
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