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News flashes are posted here frequently to keep you up-to-date with the latest advances in health and longevity. We have an unparalleled track record of breaking stories about life extension advances.

Coffee slows biologic aging in psychiatric patients

November 28 2025. Individuals with severe psychiatric disorders experience a shorter lifespan than people without these diseases and show accelerated shortening of their cells' telomeres: genetic material that caps and protects the ends of the cells' chromosomes. Telomere shortening is associated with increased cellular aging.

A study reported in BMJ Mental Health revealed a protective effect for coffee drinking against telomere shortening among individuals with schizophrenia and affective disorders that include major depressive disorder with psychosis and bipolar disorder. Four hundred thirty-six participants were queried regarding daily coffee consumption and white blood cell telomere length was measured in blood samples.

The researchers found that drinking up to three to four cups of coffee per day was associated with longer telomeres. Participants who drank up to four cups of coffee had telomere lengths that were associated with a biologic age (as indicated by telomere length) that was five years younger than that of participants who did not drink coffee. (Biologic age is a measure of aging based on physical markers as opposed to chronologic age, which is the number of years lived.) This benefit declined with coffee intake of five or more cups per day. Authors Vid Mlakar of King's College London and colleagues noted that individuals who consumed five or more cups were older than groups that consumed no coffee or one to two cups per day and had smoked for significantly longer than the remainder of the participants.

"To our knowledge, this is the first study in the literature to investigate the association between coffee consumption and telomere length in people with schizophrenia or affective disorders," they wrote. "Telomeres are highly sensitive to both oxidative stress and inflammation, further highlighting how coffee intake could help preserve cellular aging in a population whose pathophysiology may be predisposing them to an accelerated rate of aging."

—D Dye

Magnesium lowers mortality in respiratory distress syndrome patients

November 26 2025. A report published October 10, 2025, in the Nature journal Scientific Reports documented a lower risk of dying among hospitalized adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)who received magnesium during their intensive care unit (ICU) stays.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a type of respiratory failure resulting from pulmonary edema of noncardiogenic causes. It is associated with an elevated risk of mortality.

The study included 1,282 critically ill adult ICU patients with ARDS who received intravenous magnesium sulphate and an equal number of ARDS patients who did not receive magnesium sulphate during their ICU stays. Among individuals who received magnesium, the risk of in-hospital mortality was 29% lower compared with the risk experienced by the group that was not treated with magnesium. In men and women who had magnesium levels that were low or high,those who received magnesium had a risk of in-hospital mortality that was 72% lower than that of individuals who did not receive the mineral. When 30-day all-cause mortality in the ICU was examined, individuals who received magnesium had a 25% lower risk.

Authors Yuan-Feng Cao of Hunan Aerospace Hospital in China and colleagues noted that pathogenic factors of ARDS include inflammation and that magnesium sulphate helps support a healthy inflammatory response. “A growing amount of evidence indicates that disturbed magnesium homeostasis is a key factor in increased ICU mortality, mainly because of magnesium’s role in regulating the immune system and inflammatory responses,” they wrote. “Magnesium homeostasis disturbances, especially hypomagnesemia, can increase infection risk, impair respiratory system function, and worsen disease progression, ultimately leading to increased mortality.”

“Magnesium sulphate use was associated with lower in-hospital mortality in patients with ARDS,” they concluded. “However, this finding requires further validation through additional prospective studies.”

—D Dye

Metformin lowers insulin dose in type 1 diabetes

November 24 2025. A trial found that the use of metformin by people with type 1 diabetes reduced the amount of insulin needed to maintain a healthy blood glucose level.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease treated with long-term administration of insulin to manage blood glucose levels that otherwise become dangerously elevated. The trial's findings were reported November 24, 2025, in Nature Communications.

At the beginning of the study, assessment of insulin resistance in 40 men and women with type 1 diabetes and 20 adults who did not have the disease revealed greater liver, muscle and fatty tissue insulin resistance among the type 1 diabetic participants. The subsequent randomized, double-blind trial included 19 type 1 diabetics who were given 1500 mg metformin and 18 type 1 diabetics who received a placebo daily for 26 weeks.

Despite no difference in insulin resistance between participants who received metformin and those who received a placebo, the metformin group experienced a daily reduction of 0.1 units insulin per kilogram body weight in the dose needed to control blood glucose levels in comparison with the placebo group. "We would have expected that the observed reductions in insulin dose induced by metformin in our study would be due to the body becoming more sensitive to insulin, that is, becoming less insulin resistant," co-lead researcher Jerry Greenfield noted. "But we have shown that is not the case. Our priority is now working out how metformin is achieving this effect."

"There is increasing evidence suggesting that metformin may act on the gut," first author Jennifer R. Snaith remarked. "This is why we are now investigating how metformin changes gut flora, also known as the microbiome, in people with type 1 diabetes."

"We're hoping this will provide clues on metformin's mechanism of action, so that it can be more widely used in the management of type 1 diabetes."

—D Dye

Preclinical research suggests arginine may help protect against Alzheimer disease

November 21 2025. Research findings suggest a protective effect for arginine, an amino acid found in foods that contain protein, against the development of Alzheimer disease. The discovery was reported October 30, 2025, in Neurochemistry International.

A team at Kindai University in Japan first studied the effects of arginine in vitro (outside of a living organism) by incubating arginine with amyloid beta 42, a peptide that is prone to aggregate into brain plaques that are characteristic of Alzheimer disease. They found a dose-dependent decrease in amyloid beta 42 aggregation and a shortening of amyloid beta 42 fibrils similar to that observed when the peptide is exposed to the green tea compound EGCG.

The researchers subsequently evaluated the effects of oral administration of arginine to living organisms that were genetically modified to develop Alzheimer disease. In fruit flies, arginine decreased the accumulation of amyloid beta 42 and prevented its toxicity.

In mice, arginine suppressed the deposition of amyloid beta plaque deposition in the brain, improved behavioral abnormalities and reduced expression of genes associated with brain inflammation. The latter findings suggest that the amino acid's protective effects extend beyond that of amyloid aggregation inhibition and include properties that protect the brain and support a healthy inflammatory response.

"Our study demonstrates that arginine can suppress amyloid beta aggregation both in vitro and in vivo," coauthor Yoshitaka Nagai concluded. "What makes this finding exciting is that arginine is already known to be clinically safe and inexpensive, making it a highly promising candidate for repositioning as a therapeutic option for Alzheimer disease."

"Our findings open up new possibilities for developing arginine-based strategies for neurodegenerative diseases caused by protein misfolding and aggregation," he added. "Given its excellent safety profile and low cost, arginine could be rapidly translated to clinical trials for Alzheimer's and potentially other related disorders."

—D Dye

NIH-funded study finds testosterone therapy linked with reduced risk of prostate cancer

November 14 2025. A study revealed a lower risk of prostate cancer among men receiving testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).*

"Emerging evidence suggests an inverse relationship between endogenous testosterone levels and the prevalence of age-related prostatic conditions," Seo Hyon Baik and colleagues at the National Institutes of Health wrote. "Given that circulating testosterone levels in men peak at age 30 and gradually decline, with a 30% reduction by age 75, it is conceivable that TRT might mitigate the risk of age-related prostatic conditions in men with low testosterone levels. However, few studies have focused on the potential benefits of TRT for these conditions."

The investigation included men aged 65 and older who were diagnosed with low testosterone levels. Researchers analyzed the risk of prostate cancer among 546,964 men and the risk of benign prostate hypertrophy (prostate enlargement) among 413,782 men. Individuals included in the study included testosterone users and non-users.

Testosterone replacement therapy was associated with a 16% lower risk of developing prostate cancer after a low-testosterone diagnosis compared with the risk experienced by men who did not use TRT. When individuals with elevated PSA levels or a family history of prostate cancer were excluded from the analysis, the risk associated with TRT was 18% lower. Reduced risks of prostate cancer were observed in association with both short-term and long-term testosterone use. Benign prostate enlargement risk was modestly increased in association with TRT, with the least increase associated with long-term topical preparations.

"Our findings provide reassuring evidence that may support more informed, individualized clinical decision-making, potentially encouraging reconsideration of TRT among eligible men who have been hesitant to initiate therapy due to fear of prostate cancer or benign prostate hypertrophy," Baik and associates concluded.

—D Dye

Anxiety, depression lower in people with higher omega-3

November 12 2025. An analysis published October 30, 2025, in Nutritional Epidemiology found an association between higher plasma levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and lower risks of anxiety and depression.

The study included participants in the UK Biobank, a database of 502,411 men and women aged40 to 70 years who enrolled between 2007 and 2010. The researchers analyzed data from 465,145 participants who had information available concerning their intake of fish oil and from 258,354 individuals who had plasma omega-3 fatty acid measurements, including the omega-3 fatty acid DHA, total omega-3 and non-DHA omega-3.

Compared with individuals whose total omega-3 fatty acids and non-DHA fatty acids were among the lowest 20% of participants, those whose levels were among the top 20% had respective 19% and 22% lower risks of a history of anxiety.

Individuals among the top 20% of DHA, total omega-3 and non-DHA omega-3 had respective 15%, 28% and 33% lower risks of lifetime depression than those in the lowest 20%. When recent depression was examined, plasma levels of total omega-3 and non-DHA omega-3 that were among the top 20% were associated with 28% and 32% lower respective risks compared withlevels among the lowest 20%.

High Omega-3 Index (red blood cell EPA plus DHA) values were significantly associated with a lower risk of a history of anxiety as well as historic and recent depression. The use of fish oil was associated with a significantly lower risk of a history of anxiety and depression as well as a decrease in the risk of recent anxiety.

"This cross-sectional analysis of plasma omega-3 status and historical and recent depression and anxiety provides additional evidence for a favorable effect of these unique marine fatty acids in the etiology of these common mental disorders." authors William S. Harris and colleagues concluded.

—D Dye

Coffee lowers Afib risk in trial

November 10 2025. Findings from a randomized trial reported November 9, 2025, in JAMA revealed a lower risk of an abnormal heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation (Afib) among men and women who consumed non-decaffeinated coffee compared with a control group who was asked not to drink coffee.

"We conducted this study to assess whether caffeinated coffee increased or decreased the risk of Afib," lead author Christopher X. Wong, MBBS, MSc, MPH, PhD, of the University of California San Francisco explained. "Participants were randomly assigned to continue drinking at least one cup of caffeinated coffee daily or to avoid any caffeine for 6 months."

The study included 200 participants with a history atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter who underwent electric cardioversion (a procedure that restores normal heart rhythm). Equal numbers of participants were assigned to consume at least one cup daily of coffee that contained caffeine or to abstain from coffee for six months between 2021 and 2024.

At the end of the trial, 47% of participants assigned to coffee had a recurrence of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, while the incidence of the group who consumed no coffee was 64%, which equals a 39% lower risk of recurrence. When atrial fibrillation alone was evaluated, a similar benefit for coffee was observed.

"Coffee increases physical activity which is known to reduce atrial fibrillation," senior author Gregory M. Marcus, MD, MAS, commented. "Caffeine is also a diuretic, which could potentially reduce blood pressure and in turn lessen Afib risk. Several other ingredients in coffee also have anti-inflammatory properties that could have positive effects."

"The results were astounding," Dr Wong remarked. "Doctors have always recommended that patients with problematic AFib minimize their coffee intake, but this trial suggests that coffee is not only safe but likely to be protective."

—D Dye

Review adds evidence to L-theanine sleep benefit

November 07 2025. A systematic review of clinical trials concluded that consuming L-theanine is a safe and effective way to support healthy sleep. The review was published November 1, 2025, in Nutritional Neuroscience.

L-theanine is a nonprotein amino acid derived from tea leaves that has been used to support concentration and calmness. Studies suggest that L-theanine can penetrate the blood-brain barrier.

For their review, researchers identified 11 randomized, controlled trials plus two single-arm trials that examined the effects of theanine as a standalone nutrient among a total of 550 participants aged 9̶ 57 years. L-theanine doses ranged from 50 mg–900 mg per day; however, all but two trials evaluated doses between 200 mg and 450 mg. Trial durations ranged from one day to eight weeks.

In nine trials, there were statistically significant beneficial outcomes or trends toward beneficial effects associated with L-theanine, with improvements in both objective sleep evaluations and participant-reported sleep measures. Although total sleep time did not increase, sleep latency, efficiency, maintenance and satisfaction, and feelings of refreshment and recovery upon waking improved in theanine-treated participants. L-theanine was safe and well-tolerated at the doses investigated and was not associated with drowsiness or adverse cognitive effects.

As possible mechanisms, the authors explained that L-theanine may compete with the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate for receptors as well as increase acetylcholine and the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA in the brain. They observed that feelings of relaxation and associated brain alpha-waves have been found to be enhanced by theanine. "It may be that it is easier to enter deep, restful sleep when in a relaxed state prior to going to bed," they suggested.

"Based on the current evidence, dietary supplementation with 200–450 mg/day of L-theanine appears to be an effective way to support healthy sleep," they concluded.

—D Dye

Blood pressure guidelines updated

November 05 2025. The American Heart Association announced a new blood pressure guideline on August 14, 2025. Although definitions of normal, elevated, and stage 1 and 2 hypertension are the same as the 2017 guideline, recommendations concerning treatment timing and blood pressure control have been updated. "With heart health, brain health, kidney health . . . overall we have really great evidence that lower blood pressure is better," guideline coauthor Sadiya S. Khan, MD, asserted. "Start blood pressure treatment earlier and get to lower targets."

While the previous guideline for individuals with hypertension and an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease was to achieve less than 130 mmHg systolic blood pressure, the current guideline is to achieve at least less than this. According to guideline writing committee chair Daniel W. Jones, MD, the change in wording was made because "there was not a big sweeping uptake by the clinical community or patients to achieve lower blood pressures."

“We want to be honest about what the evidence is," he added. "And the evidence clearly says 120 is better for reducing heart disease and stroke and kidney disease."

Among other updates, the new guideline recommends that individuals with stage 1 hypertension with no cardiovascular disease and a low ten-year risk of clinical disease should make lifestyle changes and start blood pressure medication if their blood pressure goal is not reached in 3-6 months. The advice is more aggressive than the previous recommendation to wait until stage 2 hypertension is reached to start treatment. Stage 1 patients with kidney disease or diabetes should initiate antihypertensive therapy immediately.

Other new recommendations include the use of two medications by people with stage 2 or higher hypertension, use of the PREVENT calculator to assess cardiovascular disease risk, emphasis of dementia prevention with blood pressure reduction, measurement of urine albumin to creatine and plasma aldosterone to renin ratios for people with hypertension and aiming for at least 5% weight loss by those who are overweight. The guideline recommends less salt, greater use of salt substitutes, and no alcohol for all individuals.

A summary of the new guideline appeared October 31, 2025 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

—D Dye

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