Sunday Newsletter (No. 7): You are what you eat, TikTok v. Reels, & more on fake meat
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Here’s my take on a few things in tech and science that have been happening recently: You are what you eat. We’re discovering more and more about the gut microbiome: an eclectic collection of micro-organisms living inside our stomachs. The gut microbiome plays a significant role in our health and has been linked to several diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. A recent study suggested that an abnormal protein, called beta amyloid, may build up in the gut and travel to the brain. Beta amyloid is present in the brain of people with Alzheimer's disease and impedes functions in areas of the brain that control our memory. Another study published a few weeks ago has found that in mice, a prebiotic supplement (given to promote the growth of anti-inflammatory gut bacteria) suppressed the pathway which causes beta amyloid to accumulate in the gut. This prebiotic is going to be tested in a human clinical trial to see if it has any affect on Alzheimer's disease. So, does this mean we should head down to Holland & Barrett and stock up on probiotics to reduce our risk of dementia? I’m not sure - however, it does seem that having microbial diversity in the gut is probably a good idea, and having a diet high in vegetables and fruits and low in sugar is associated with having lower levels of beta amyloid in the brain. We know that such diets are effective in the prevention and treatment of diseases like type 2 diabetes, but it seems they may also aid in slowing the progression of Alzheimer's. That said, at the time of writing this, I happen to be half way through a pint of Ben & Jerry’s. I’ll start repopulating my gut microbiome tomorrow.
Sunday Newsletter (No. 7): You are what you eat, TikTok v. Reels, & more on fake meat
Sunday Newsletter (No. 7): You are what you…
Sunday Newsletter (No. 7): You are what you eat, TikTok v. Reels, & more on fake meat
Here’s my take on a few things in tech and science that have been happening recently: You are what you eat. We’re discovering more and more about the gut microbiome: an eclectic collection of micro-organisms living inside our stomachs. The gut microbiome plays a significant role in our health and has been linked to several diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. A recent study suggested that an abnormal protein, called beta amyloid, may build up in the gut and travel to the brain. Beta amyloid is present in the brain of people with Alzheimer's disease and impedes functions in areas of the brain that control our memory. Another study published a few weeks ago has found that in mice, a prebiotic supplement (given to promote the growth of anti-inflammatory gut bacteria) suppressed the pathway which causes beta amyloid to accumulate in the gut. This prebiotic is going to be tested in a human clinical trial to see if it has any affect on Alzheimer's disease. So, does this mean we should head down to Holland & Barrett and stock up on probiotics to reduce our risk of dementia? I’m not sure - however, it does seem that having microbial diversity in the gut is probably a good idea, and having a diet high in vegetables and fruits and low in sugar is associated with having lower levels of beta amyloid in the brain. We know that such diets are effective in the prevention and treatment of diseases like type 2 diabetes, but it seems they may also aid in slowing the progression of Alzheimer's. That said, at the time of writing this, I happen to be half way through a pint of Ben & Jerry’s. I’ll start repopulating my gut microbiome tomorrow.