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Vitamin C linked to healthier ageing brains

Could getting enough vitamin C help to keep your brain healthy as you age? New research suggests it may play an important role.

A study involving more than 2,000 adults aged over 64 found that people with lower levels of vitamin C in their blood tended to have smaller amounts of grey matter and weaker connections within a key brain network involved in memory and attention. Researchers from Hirosaki University in Japan analysed MRI brain scans alongside blood samples from 2,044 participants. Even after taking into account factors such as age, education and physical activity, lower vitamin C levels were consistently associated with changes linked to poorer brain health.

While the study cannot prove that vitamin C directly protects against cognitive decline, it adds to growing evidence that a healthy diet may help support brain function as we get older.

Researcher Tomohiro Shintaku said: “Our study demonstrates that higher plasma vitamin C levels are associated with better preserved structural connectivity of the default mode network, a key brain network involved in cognitive function.”

The researchers say further studies are needed to determine whether increasing vitamin C intake could help to maintain brain health in later life. The study was published in the journal PLOS One.

Peppermint oil may help to lower blood pressure

Peppermint oil may offer a simple way to help manage slightly raised blood pressure, according to new research from the University of Lancashire.

In a study involving 40 adults with pre-hypertension or stage 1 hypertension, participants who took 100 microlitres of peppermint oil twice daily for 20 days saw their systolic blood pressure fall by an average of 8.5mmHg. Those given a peppermint-flavoured placebo experienced no significant change.

Lead author Dr Jonnie Sinclair said: “Our findings were very positive and they have significant clinical implications, especially given arterial hypertension is the most common preventable risk factor for cardiometabolic disease and the greatest single risk factor for global mortality.” The study was published in PLOS One.

Could losing sleep lead to weight gain?

Missing out on just over an hour of sleep each night could contribute to weight gain over time, according to new research from Columbia University. In the study, 95 adults who normally slept for seven to eight hours a night delayed their bedtime by around 90 minutes for six weeks. On average, they gained around one pound during the sleep-restriction phase and also became more sedentary, spending an extra 17 minutes a day inactive.

Researchers say the findings suggest that even mild, long-term sleep deprivation – something experienced by many adults – may increase the risk of obesity and related conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Study leader Professor Marie-Pierre St-Onge said: “Our study shows that getting adequate sleep may help reduce the risk of weight gain and obesity-related conditions like heart disease and diabetes.”

While the researchers stress that the weight gain observed over six weeks was modest, they believe the effects could become more significant if poor sleep continues over months or years. The findings were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

HIIT may be the best workout for healthy ageing

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) could help older adults to lose body fat while preserving muscle, according to new research from the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) in Australia.

The study, involving more than 120 healthy adults with an average age of 72, compared the effects of low, moderate and high intensity exercise over six months. While all three types of exercise led to modest fat loss, only HIIT helped participants maintain their lean muscle mass.

Lead author Dr Grace Rose said: “We found that high, medium and low intensity exercises all led to modest fat loss but only HIIT retained lean muscle. While moderate training reduced fat mass, it also caused a small decline in lean muscle. Both high and moderate intensities improved the composition of weight carried around the middle. Further analysis is needed of the low intensity results.” The study was published in the journal Maturitas.

Summer sun may not be enough for vitamin D

Many people who are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency may not be getting enough of the nutrient – even during the summer months – according to new research led by Newcastle University.

The study analysed vitamin D levels in almost 300 people across northern Britain, including adults aged over 65 and people from minoritised ethnic backgrounds. Researchers found that vitamin D insufficiency remained common throughout the year and did not improve during the summer, challenging the belief that sunshine alone is enough to restore healthy levels.

Vitamin D plays an essential role in maintaining healthy bones and muscles, while low levels have also been linked to an increased risk of osteoporosis and other long-term health conditions.

Professor Bernard Corfe, who co-led the study, said: “What’s striking about these findings is that vitamin D levels didn’t improve, even in the summer months when we would usually expect them to recover. For people living in places like the North of England, this shows that sunlight alone may not be enough, particularly for older adults and those from minoritised ethnic backgrounds. The message is simple but important. If you are in a higher-risk group, you can’t assume that spending more time outdoors in summer will solve the problem.” The study was published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

High-fat teenage diet linked to lifelong food habit

A new study has revealed that the foods people eat during their teenage years may shape their food choices later in life.

Researchers from the University of Aberdeen Rowett Institute and the University of Sussex found that consuming a high fat diet during the teenage years led to more rigid, habitual food seeking behaviour in adulthood.

The findings suggest that early exposure to unhealthy diets may shape how the brain regulates food related decisions, making unhealthy habits harder to break over time. This could help explain why long term weight loss is challenging for many people and why prevention strategies during childhood and adolescence are so important.

Dr Kate Peters from the University of Sussex said: “Our data highlight how adolescent eating habits can have long-term effects on decision making, and we are excited to explore how these habits affect different parts of the brain in our future work.” The study was published in Neuropsychopharmacology.