“You can’t do it
unless you can imagine it.”
~ George Lucas
Health Alert: Stiff Arteries Linked to Stroke Risk in Patients with High Blood Pressure.
Among patients with hypertension, a recent study found that arterial stiffness—as indicated by elevated central systolic blood pressure and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity—is associated with a 78% higher risk of stroke. These findings highlight the importance of lifestyle interventions that support cardiovascular health and improve arterial flexibility, including a low-sodium, high-potassium diet; regular physical activity; smoking cessation; limiting alcohol; adequate sleep; stress management; and maintaining a healthy weight.
European Journal of Neurology, May 2025
Diet: Gut Bacteria May Be Key to Managing IBD.
A recent animal study found that certain gut bacteria can metabolize resveratrol—a compound found in grapes—producing small molecules that help regulate intestinal inflammation and enhance resistance to gastrointestinal pathogens associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These findings may lead to new microbiome-based approaches for preventing or treating IBD.
Cell, January 2025
Exercise: Move More, Sit Less!
For individuals with a history of coronary heart disease, a recent study found that keeping sedentary time under seven hours a day and engaging in at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity a week can reduce the risk for a subsequent major adverse cardiovascular event in the following 8.3 years by up to 48%.
American Journal of Preventative Cardiology, April 2025
Chiropractic: Low Back Pain Will Increasingly Be a Problem for Decades to Come.
According to a recent study, 628.8 million people worldwide experienced at least one episode of low back pain in 2021. If current trends persist, the total number of low back pain episodes worldwide per year is projected to rise to 890 million by 2050.
Spine, April 2025
Mental Attitude: Apathy May Hint at Future Dementia Risk.
In a medical context, apathy is a neuropsychiatric symptom characterized by diminished motivation, reduced emotional responsiveness, and lack of interest or initiative, often observed in conditions like depression, dementia, and brain injury. Using data from the preDIVA study, researchers report that higher levels of apathy are associated with a 49% increased risk for dementia diagnosis in the following twelve years.
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, May 2025
Wellness/Prevention: Blood Test Can Predict Fatty Liver Disease Years in Advance.
Scientists have identified five specific proteins that, when present at certain levels in the blood, can predict the likelihood of developing fatty liver disease—with 84% accuracy for onset within five years and 76% accuracy for onset within 16 years. With further refinement, this test could potentially be integrated into routine blood panels to assess liver health and prompt preventive lifestyle changes well before symptoms appear.
Digestive Diseases Week, May 2025
