Caloric Restriction and Healthspan

An email from the NIH, Calorie restriction, immune function, and health span gave an overview of a recent publication in Science focused on the immune system. In humans, the primary study (called the CALERIE Study) found caloric restriction led to changes in gene activity in body fat and related immune cells. Those that underwent caloric restriction had more prominent, less fatty thymi than controls. Based on findings in the original study, these authors studied a gene (Pla2g7) in mice. Mice who lacked this gene had less inflammation, larger thymi, gained less weight from eating a high-fat diet, burned more fat, and were less likely to develop fatty liver disease than the controls. The authors are trying to identify potential therapeutic targets to enhance longevity.

+If you're interested in this topic, Peter Attia's recent conversation with Matt Kaeberlein, How nutrition impacts longevity, is an insightful discussion. Although sadly, there is not a single mention of the microbiome.

Melanoma and the Microbiome

Within the last several years, there has been convincing evidence that dietary choices (specifically increasing dietary fiber) positively influence the efficacy of melanoma immunotherapy by way of the microbiome: Fiber boosts melanoma patients' response to immunotherapy In a recent paper, unsurprisingly, broad-spectrum antibiotics, at least in mice, seem to have the opposite effect, accelerating tumor growth: Melanoma: Gut microbiome-depleting antibiotics may make it worse

ARPA-H

President Biden named the head of the new Biomedical Research Agency, focused on fighting cancer and other diseases. The new agency, ARPA-H (Advanced Research Projects Agency-Health), jumpstarted by a $1 billion investment from Congress, is modeled after the military's futuristic Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). ARPA-H focuses on high-risk, high-reward areas of innovation. Biden Picks Biotech Executive to Lead New Biomedical Research Agency. Exciting times!

An Overview of Brain Fog

The NY Times had a fascinating overview of brain fog: What Is Brain Fog and How Can I Treat It?

+More on brain fog by one of my favorite science writers: Ed Yong on One of Long COVID's Most Misunderstood Symptoms

CRISPR Musings

Jennifer Doudna was co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her discovery of CRISPR: Nobel Prize Awarded to Jennifer Doudna And Emmanuelle Charpentier For CRISPR Discovery This week, Dr. Doudna published her thoughts on CRISPR in the Atlantic: Starting a CRISPR Revolution Isn't Enough I highly recommend Walter Isaacson's fantastic biography, The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race.

Does Psychological Stress Increase the Incidence of Long Covid?

This study offers some preliminary evidence that it does: Psychological distress may increase your odds of getting long Covid, study finds.

Why Do Some People Seem Immune to Covid?

Scientists are trying to figure out why: The Mystery of Why Some People Don't Get Covid. Interestingly, there is no mention of interest in the microbiome, which we know influences immunity.

Exercise and Immunity

As if you needed another reason to exercise: The article, Can Exercise Strengthen Your Immunity, gives a synopsis of a recent meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The authors of the study found preliminary evidence they believe showed both a protective effect for contracting Covid and a lower likelihood of experiencing severe Covid. Interpretation of the results is controversial, but few argue the overall positive impact of exercise on health.

Alzheimer's Uproar

You've likely seen news stories about a foundational Alzheimer's paper whose findings were recently called into question. The podcast episode, An Alzheimer's uproar, explains the controversy.

+Tools to tease out scientific misconduct: Fake research can be harmful to your health – a new study offers a tool for rooting it out.

Talking to Strangers

When meeting a new person, the prevailing wisdom is you should listen more than you speak. A recent study shows that strategy is wrong: People think they should talk less to be liked, but new research suggests you should speak up in conversations with strangers.

+The benefits of talking to strangers: Why talking to strangers is good for you, them, and all of us.

Vulnerability Hangovers

Shared a little too much with a friend last night? The New York Times has you covered: How to Nurse a Vulnerability Hangover

The Wandering Mind

"...mind-wandering is rarely a waste of time. It is merely our brain trying to get a bit of work done when it is under the impression that there isn't much else going on." Unhappy minds wander in the past, while happy minds often ponder the future." Scientists finally know why we get distracted — and how we can stay on track

CAR-T for Auto-Immunity

CAR-T drugs, today, are used primarily in hard-to-treat cancers. A recent manuscript, Anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy for refractory systemic lupus erythematosus, shows how these "living drugs" may play a role in the treatment of autoimmune diseases: How a 'Living Drug' Could Treat Autoimmune Disease

Mental Health, Food, and the Microbiome

Nutritional psychiatry and psychobiotics are reaching popular consciousness. As I was readying this newsletter for publication, the article, Nutritional approaches targeting gut microbiome could improve brain disorders, hit my inbox. Adding the paper, Diet and the microbiota–gut–brain-axis: a primer for clinical nutrition to my reading list.

Quote of the Week

“History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes” – Mark Twain