040 - Terminal Lucidity, Longevity, and Empathetic ChatBots - HealthHippieMD Week In Review

Terminal Lucidity

"Sometimes, people with dementia who hadn't been coherent for years will suddenly revert to their mentally sharp selves for up to several hours -- and then die shortly after." Scientists are interested in the cause of "paradoxical lucidity" and how it might inform the neuroscience of dementia. Scientists are finally taking a closer look at terminal lucidity.

The Hidden Cost of Amazon Clinic

Amazon's foray into healthcare, Amazon Clinic, (011 - CVS, Amazon, and the Disruption of Primary Care, Anxiety Inoculants, Wabi Sabi, and A.I. - HealthHippieMD Week In Review — HealthHippieMD) keeps the monetary cost of seeing a healthcare professional low but at the cost of your medical privacy. "Signing an authorization isn't a "waiver" of your rights, but you're consenting to your data being disclosed for additional purposes, at which point it leaves the protections of HIPAA." The Washington Post explains: Amazon Clinic patients must sign away some privacy rights under HIPAA. (gift article)

Gut Feelings

"As we wait to establish causal influences through clinical trials, clinicians should advise patients suffering from mood disorders to modify their diet by increasing the intake of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, as these provide the required fuel/fiber to the gut microbiota for their enrichment, and more short-chain fatty acids are produced for the optimal functioning of the body." More evidence that the microbiome and metabolome drive major depressive episodes. Read the manuscript here: Interplay of Metabolome and Gut Microbiome in Individuals With Major Depressive Disorder vs. Control Individuals | Depressive Disorders and synopsis here: Disrupted Gut Microbiome a Key Driver of Major Depression?

+More on the link between ultra-processed foods, mental health, and cognition: How Eating Ultra-processed Foods Can Affect Your Mental Health. (gift article)

Learning Man

You've heard of the music/culture festivals Burning Man and Coachella, but did you know there is a similar gathering focused on immersing attendees in education, play, and creation? Yep, 'Learning Man' is becoming a thing

The Mechanics of Smell

These scientists are striving to understand the mechanism behind human olfaction: How a Human Smell Receptor Works Is Finally Revealed.

Loneliness

Vivek Murthy, America's Surgeon General, is back in the news again, talking about the loneliness epidemic: Loneliness is a Health Crisis, Surgeon General Says. Here's How to Combat It. (gift article) Also see his excellent book on the topic: Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World.

The Modern World is Aging You and Your Brain

An interesting article in Wired about studies examining the brains of non-industrialized societies vs. Western Society: The Modern World Is Aging Your Brain. And the manuscript that inspired the article: Brain volume, energy balance, and cardiovascular health in two nonindustrial South American populations.

Mental Health Chatbots

An article in the N.Y. Times about Pi, an emotional support chatbot: My Weekend With an Emotional Support A.I. Companion. (gift article) These new products remind me of the science fiction movies: Her (film))and Ex Machina (film).) The lines of human characteristics such as empathy and even consciousness are blurring......

"Functional Neurological Disorders"

A long-form read about how Long Covid influences understanding "functional" disorders like ME/CFS (Chronic Fatigue). Contrary to historical thinking, the diseases ARE NOT in the patient's head: We Might Have Long Covid All Wrong

Shady Longevity Research

The quest to conquer aging rages on. Mixed in with traditional scientists are upstarts trying to cash in on a human fountain of youth. Wired had an expose/overview of one of these companies, BioViva, and its founder Liz Parrish: Inside the Secretive Life-Extension Clinic.

Run AwAI

AI has constantly been in the news since last November when OpenAI made its public debut. This week President Biden hosted a meeting at the White House concerning the dangers of A.I. Along those lines, one of the scientists who made significant contributions to the birth of A.I. quit his decade-long stint at Google to talk freely about the risks: Geoffrey Hinton leaves Google, warns about the dangers of AI. (gift article)

+AI is getting better at translating brain activity into words: A.I. Is Getting Better at Mind-Reading

Do Ovaries Hold the Secret of Longevity?

The ovaries age much more quickly than the other tissues of the human body. Scientists think understanding why may hold the key to a longer, healthier life: The Secrets of Aging Are Hidden in Your Ovaries.

Seven Types of People You Need in Your Life

Interesting article in TED about the people you need in your life to counteract stress: The seven types of people you need in your life to be resilient

030 - Hard Dew, Endocannabinoids, and Thinking Like a Monk - HealthHippieMD Week In Review

ChatGPT Writes Obituaries Too

This author experimented with ChatGPT, having it write her eulogy: I Had An AI Chatbot Write My Eulogy. It Was Very Weird Although I found the concept of the article interesting, the author lost me with the last paragraph, "Regardless of how advanced these tools become, one thing should now be obvious: their well-documented biases and flawed decision-making abilities mean they should never be used to do anything of consequence." Totally disagree!

ChatGPT and Science

Are you using generative AI to generate research ideas and scholarly publications? It's already possible: "...a chatbot was deemed capable of generating quality academic research ideas." Why ChatGPT Could Usher in a New Era of Scientific Discovery

Tim Urban Writes a Book

I'm rarely excited by an upcoming book. But Tim Urban, the creative force behind Wait But Why (one of my favorite websites), is publishing a book this week (Amazon | Apple). In his latest blog post, A Short History of My Last Six Years — Wait But Why, he explains the six-year journey examining our society. "This book is my best crack at explaining what I think is an existential risk to liberal societies and what I think we need to do to get to that awesome future I used to be so excited about."

ME/CFS and the Microbiome

I've written about how Long Covid has ignited interest in a long-time ignored and misunderstood medical condition, ME/CFS. The NIH Director's blog mentioned recent clues to the disease in the microbiome: "... suggesting that imbalances in certain bacterial species inhabiting the gut could be used as measurable biomarkers to aid in the accurate and timely diagnosis of ME/CFS. It also points to a possible therapeutic target to explore."_ More Clues into ME/CFS Discovered in Gut Microbiome – NIH Director's Blog

Vibrating Pills for Constipation

Here is a new, FDA-approved medical device for the drug-free treatment of constipation: Vibrating Pill for Constipation Now Available This adds a whole new meaning to moving your bowels.....

You are not Your Attachment Style

I love the book Attached.. Here is an interesting article that offers an overview of Attachment Theory and some of the more common misperceptions: You Can Change Your Attachment Style

Friendship

The Atlantic curated a series of articles on enduring friendship: Why We Lose Our Friends as We Age - The Atlantic (subscription required)

Relationships and Serious Disease

Being diagnosed with a severe illness is challenging enough. But medical issues also can have a devastating effect on relationships/marriages: Why Men Leave Sick Wives - Facing Illness Alone

Optimism and Pessimism

"_Optimism and pessimism, it turns out, are all about the stories we tell ourselves after both our successes and our failures._" Are You (Still) an Optimist? These Questions Might Help Explain Why (gift article)

Six Steps to Improve Your Mood for Good

An academic happiness researcher advises on improving your life: The Key to Happiness: 6 Strategies To Boost Your Mood for Good

Asthma Drug Recovers "Lost" Memories (Pre-Clinical)

A side effect of sleep deprivation is amnesia, but whether memory loss is a storage or retrieval problem has been unclear. These scientists are zeroing in on the answer: "This study shows that neurons in the hippocampus retain the memories, albeit in an inaccessible state, but that they can be rescued artificially." Asthma drug brings back "lost" memories

Ultra-processed Foods and Obesity

Wired had a great overview of the impact of ultra-processed foods on body weight. "The results of the study surprised Hall. On the ultra-processed diet, people ate around 500 extra calories daily and weighed about two pounds more pounds." Fat, Sugar, Salt ... You’ve Been Thinking About Food All Wrong

Endocannabinoids and Health

Just like opiates, your body produces endogenous compounds that bind to the same receptors as compounds in marijuana. Research on endocannabinoids lags far behind opiates, but research has shown "An imbalance in the production of endocannabinoids, or in the body's responsiveness to them, can lead to major clinical disorders, including obesity as well as neurodegenerative, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases." People produce endocannabinoids – similar to compounds found in marijuana – that are critical to many bodily functions is a nice overview. For more on endocannabinoids, see: Why does running give you a high? A look at the science and Cannabinoids - HealthHippieMD

The Brain and the Immune Response

Nature had an excellent overview of efforts to unravel further how the brain affects immune function: Your brain could be controlling how sick you get — and how you recover (subscription required)

The Dark Side of Ketamine Telemedicine

Covid influenced many changes in medicine. One of those changes was a loosening of regulations surrounding the remote prescription of controlled substances. A Fraught New Frontier in Telehealth: Ketamine (gift article) talks about the dark side of the remote prescription trend.

The Book of Blue Zones

The Economist had an interesting article on Blue Zones, an area of the world with a disproportionate share of centenarians: Christian Californians may have a solution to America's obesity | The Economist (subscription required)

Hard Dew

I had no idea about the roots of Mountain Dew. I had no idea Mountain Dew was a nickname for moonshine. Why PepsiCo's and Coca-Cola's Alcohol Drinks Worry Health Experts (gift article) discusses the worrisome trend of "hardening" traditional soft drinks. Next up, marijuana tinged soft-drinks.....

Think Like A Monk

In addition to Tim Urban's book, I've started reading Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty. I'm about three chapters in and enjoying the material. Highly recommended! (Thanks, Sandy!)

020 - Biohacking, Pheromones, Comfort Food, and Obesity - HealthHippieMD Week In Review

Long Covid and ME/CFS

More on how the phenomenon of Long Covid is shedding light on a disease that, until now, has lived in the shadows: myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, or ME/CFS, for short. How long COVID reignites attention for chronic fatigue syndrome

What Causes Obesity? Scientists Still Don't Agree

The NY Times had an opinion piece on a recent attempt to develop a consensus statement on the cause of obesity which affects more than 40 percent of U.S. adults and costs the health system about $173 billion yearly. Scientists could not agree: Scientists Don't Agree on What Causes Obesity, but They Know What Doesn't.

Obesity Drugs

The estimated cost of obesity in the U.S. is over $170 billion. A new class of drugs, glucagon-like peptide-1s receptor agonists (GLP-1s), initially approved for diabetes, are increasingly prescribed off-label for weight loss. The drugs are effective in stimulating weight loss (some as much as 20%), now approaching the efficacy of bariatric surgery (the current gold standard). Earlier this year, the FDA approved Wegovy as a treatment for obesity. Despite the potential of these drugs to positively impact the obesity epidemic, they are considered non-essential "lifestyle drugs" and are priced financially out of reach to the general public. Most insurance companies will currently not cover GLP-1s for obesity, meaning out-of-pocket costs, even with insurance, of $1200-$1500 / month-another indicator of the misaligned incentives of much of our medical and pharmaceutical systems, prioritizing profit over the health of individuals. What Is Ozempic and Why Is It Getting So Much Attention?

+If you are taking one of the GLP-1 medications; all is not a bed of roses: 'I miss eating': the truth behind the weight loss drug that makes food repulsive.

Are Near-Death Experiences Real?

Big Think has an article on a scientist who studied more than 1000 near-death experiences. As with so many things, the more we know, the less we understand. Are near-death experiences real?

Telomeres and Cancer

I've seen lots of stories on telomeres lately. Here is one about how telomeres and telomerase influence different types of cancer. How cancer tumor cells can become immortal.

Navigating the Financial World After Death

The article, After someone dies: death certificates, bureaucracy, and grief (gift article) is a written experience of a woman who had the additional stress of financial and institutional red tape after her husband's death. Death is a depressing topic, but the article offers valuable advice on managing your important information now to minimize future stress on your loved ones.

Holidays for the Immunocompromised

Although the world is slowly returning to its pre-pandemic behavior for most individuals, there is a subset of the population, the immunocompromised, for whom very little has changed. How Immunocompromised Experts Will Celebrate Another Pandemic Holiday discusses the many challenges of navigating the holidays with an abnormal immune system.

How To Choose a Healthy Cooking Oil

The Washington Post's article offered an excellent overview of the many oils available in the supermarket. How to choose a healthy cooking oil.) (gift article). If you'd like to compare different brands of olive oil, head over to one of my favorite resources, ConsumerLab: Extra Virgin Olive Oil Review & Top Picks. (requires a membership). ConsumerLab is a fantastic resource for sleuthing out dietary items and supplements: ConsumerLab: Independent Testing of Supplements and Botanicals.

Embracing Pheromones on the Farm

Wired had a piece on the effort to develop pheromones to combat infestations and limit the number of pesticides used in farming. To Ditch Pesticides, Scientists Are Hacking Insects' Sex Signals.

Love or Hate Brussel Sprouts? The Reason Might be Your Genes

Inverse had an interesting article on the genetic influence on taste and enjoyment of food: There might be a biological reason you hate Brussels sprouts.

Chronic Illness and the Holidays

Although some people say being diagnosed with a chronic or terminal illness was good for them, others struggle with negative emotions, especially around the holidays: What if You Can't Find the Silver Lining in Your Illness?

Does Playing Pickleball Count as Vigorous Exercise?

Many of my friends are dropping other sports, such as tennis and racquetball, and instead playing pickleball. Is pickleball a good exercise? Yes, and no has some good information on this rapidly growing sport.

Advanced Glycation End Products and Cognitive Decline

Michael Greger had a good video on Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) and Cognitive Decline. I was surprised by order of food in a table he referred to listing foods highest in AGEs.

Biohacking and Health-Span

An interesting article in The Guardian, Who wants to live to 100 on a diet of lentil and broccoli slurry? Mostly rich men. "The goal shouldn't be to extend life endlessly but to create joy and purpose at every stage of it... What we need is to make life worth living." Different from the author, I'm in the camp of extending my health span AND creating joy and purpose at every stage. This article reminded me not to be draconian about my health regimen. Eighty percent adherence to healthy behaviors should significantly impact my health without sucking the joy out of life.

The Science of Comfort Food

Food takes a centerpiece in many of this season's holiday celebrations. The Science of Comfort Food (gift article) examines why certain foods give us so much pleasure.

012 - Phages, Cravings, and Fasting for Cancer - HealthHippieMD Week In Review

Helping Loved Ones Through a Medical Crisis

"...ask if they'd like you just to listen or if they need help with problem-solving. Then respect their answer." is often good advice when speaking with close friends or loved ones but is especially important if the person you care about is facing a severe medical crisis: How to help a loved one through a medical crisis

Phages

Medicine is struggling with more and more drug-resistant bacteria. A future without effective antibiotics is almost incomprehensible. The article, Viruses to Fight Superbugs, talks about the renewed interest in phage therapy. A friend (and phage researcher) gave me the book The Perfect Predator: A Scientist's Race to Save Her Husband from a Deadly Superbug. Adding the text to my queue.

Long-Covid and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Another article on how the symptoms of Long-Covid are influencing insight into another poorly understood disease, myalgic encephalomyelitis, or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Long COVID Has Forced the U.S. to Take Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Seriously

White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health

It has been 50 years since the American government showed a significant interest in nutrition. The White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, took place on Wednesday and began with a statement by President Biden outlining their commitment before the meeting. Here is a commitment fact sheet released just before the conference: FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $8 Billion in New Commitments as Part of Call to Action for White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. The call to action is focused on five pillars:

• Pillar 1 – Improve Food Access and Affordability
• Pillar 2 – Integrate Nutrition and Health
• Pillar 3 – Empower Consumers to Make and Have Access to Healthy Choices
• Pillar 4 – Support Physical Activity for All
• Pillar 5 – Enhance Nutrition and Food Security Research I'm anxious to see what other recommendations emerge from this historic conference.

F.D.A. Changes Definition of Healthy Food

The F.D.A. is trying to catch up with nutrition science and limit the burden of diet-related diseases. On Wednesday, the F.D.A. announced a new proposal to change the criteria for which packaged foods may be labeled "healthy." See the news article, F.D.A. Moves to Change 'Healthy' Food Definition. It's exciting to see our government focus on food's important influence on health.

Fasting and Cancer

Here's another video in the fasting and cancer series at Nutrition Facts: Fasting-Mimicking Diet Before and After Chemotherapy

Online Atlas of The Microbiome and Their Metabolites

Our microbial passengers have co-evolved along with us. Under normal conditions, the microbiome works synergistically with human physiology and biochemistry to maintain physical and mental well-being. A recent study, An online atlas of human plasma metabolite signatures of gut microbiome composition, found strong links between certain bacteria living in the gut and small molecules found in the blood. Read the study here: Microbiome and Metabolite Links Uncovered Using Online Atlas. Thanks, Gary!

Why Does Exercise Stick?

Virtually everyone agrees that physical activity is essential for health. Yet less than 5% of us get the recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. The article How Hard Should Your Workout Be, looks at the factors that make a difference in maintaining an exercise habit.

The Season of Mindfulness and Resilience

If you are prone to Season Affective Disorder, Fall Is the Season for Building Mindfulness and Resilience - The New York Times has some good advice for you.

Cravings and the Addicted Brain

Humans crave all sorts of things, from substances (e.g., alcohol, nicotine, opiates ) to activities (e.g., gambling, sex, or social media). Substance addictions lend some insight into the nature of human craving. Why the pull of addictive cravings is so hard to resist has lots to say.

Quote of the Week

"You can't help what you feel, but you can help how you behave" ― Margaret Atwood.