The Livelong Newsletter

Hello Livelongers,

Intermittent fasting recently took a hit, after a study linked it with increased risk of cardiovascular death. However, a new study suggests that intermittent calorie (energy) restriction — a nutritional strategy that includes periods of controlled fasting — can reduce obesity by moderating brain parts and regulating appetite and addiction.

The week of April 15th. In today’s email:

• The healthiest vegetable of 2023: Hint, it is NOT kale.

• Is your brain bigger than your grandparents’? Likely.

• A diabetes drug may stop Parkinson’s disease symptoms.

• Testing lab in your loo. EKG and more.

• How much do kids actually laugh? More than you think.

• Trampolines for workouts? Jump for health.

  And more…

We love to hear from our community. Please share your feedback, stories, questions, testimonials, ideas and more with us at [email protected].

Top of the news

• Watercress was declared the world’s healthiest vegetable in 2023, according to the CDC. Throughout history, this cruciferous leafy green was used to treat hyperglycemia, hypertension, and scurvy, given its vitamin C content. Read here.
  *Just don't eat too much watercress. Read here.

• Diabetes, traffic-related air pollution, and alcohol are the 3 most important modifiable risk factors for early brain aging and dementia. Cases of dementia are only rising and prevention is the best form of treatment. rRead here.

• Elon Musk hints at a new product to help the blind to see. The Blindsight system, being developed by his company Neuralink, has already restored vision in blind monkeys, according to Musk. Read here.

Bigger brain reduces risk of developing Alzheimer disease

The average size of the human brain has grown in the past century, and this may actually lower the risk of developing age-related dementia, according to an article discussing findings from a recent JAMA Neurology study. Between 1930 and 1970, brain volume increased 6.6%, on average. Other brain structures have grown as well.

How was the study conducted?

Investigators looked at MRI brain scans to understand changes in brain structure and size over time. MRIs came from a cohort of people who enrolled in the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) between the 1930s and 1970s (FHS is a multi-generational community-based study evaluating cardiovascular disease risks).

What did researchers find?

Participants born in the 1970s had a 15% larger brain surface area than those born in the 1930s. The younger generation had more brain volume, a larger hippocampus (associated with memory), and more white matter. 

Why does it matter?

"A larger brain structure represents a larger brain reserve and may buffer the late-life effects of age-related brain diseases like Alzheimer's and related dementias," said first author Charles DeCarli, a professor of neurology and director of the University of California, Davis Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, in the article.

While genetics do influence brain size, there are also modifiable factors (health, education, and other external factors) that can influence size, DeCarli said. For instance, a separate study shows that 25 minutes of moderate weekly exercise was associated with a bigger brain.

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Spotlight: GLP-1 stops the progression of Parkinson’s disease 

Diabetes drug lixisenatide (Adlyxin; Sanofi) may offer hope for patients with Parkinson’s disease, as a recent study shows it completely stopped patients from developing worse symptoms. 

Lixisenatide falls in the same drug class as Wegovy, an extremely popular weight-loss drug.

How was the study conducted?

For 12 months, 156 patients with Parkinson’s (mild to moderate severity) either received the lixisenatide, a second-generation glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, or placebo. They took the new medication alongside a standard Parkinson’s treatment. 

What researchers found?

Lixisenatide prevented patients from developing worsening symptoms, unlike the placebo. Patients on placebo dropped 3 points on the Parkinson’s disease severity scale — this measures how well the patient could speak, eat, and walk, as Parkinson’s is a disease affecting motor control.

Why does it matter?

Diabetes not only significantly increases a person’s risk of developing Parkinson’s (40%), but it also expedites Parkinson’s disease progression. In addition, experts expect that many common Parkinson’s drugs will be in shortage until June 2024.

Big picture

Findings are small but significant. Lixisenatide is not available in the US right now, but these positive findings may invite researchers to look at other GLP-1 drugs for weight loss and diabetes as plausible treatments for Parkinson’s.

Results from The New England Journal of Medicine.

Stats for your thoughts

• 100 trillion microbes live in our gut, which is home to nearly 1000 bacterial species. Researchers call this community of species a “hidden metabolic ‘organ’”.

• More than 1 in 5 people traveled the world for wellness reasons in 2022.

• A child laughs about 300 times each day.

Your wellness toolkit:

A test lab in your bathroom

Your bathroom may become your own personal health testing lab. Body Scan from Withings, offers a digital scale for $350 that performs a ECG, plus data on body composition, metabolic rate and nerve health. Read here.

Paris-based, Withings is also releasing its U-scan product for $500. A smart device for the toilet does a hands-free urine analysis to test your hydration, nutrition, menstrual cycles and early markers for kidney stones.

Many other smart scales are on the market.

Wirecutter gave the Wyze Scale X the thumbs up.

Q & A

What are the comprehensive benefits of working out on a trampoline (rebounding)? —Carey O’Donnell, Livelong subscriber

• Compared with running, it is lower-impact (particularly beneficial for women, who have a 6-times greater risk of knee injury from high-impact activity), burns nearly double the number of calories, and is less demanding on the heart.

• It promotes lymphatic flow, which requires 1) muscular contraction 2) gravitational pressure, and 3) massaging of the lymph duct valves. Lymph flow prevents the buildup of toxins and lymphedema.

• It supports bone formation, balance (preventing falls), full-body strength, and cardiovascular health by reducing resting heart rate + cholesterol.

• Jumping uniquely causes you to tense and release muscles, improving circulation and stimulating physical relaxation.

We love your questions! Please reach us at [email protected] to submit questions, which may be featured in a future Q & A.

Stay Connected

They may be tall and mighty, but Redwood trees only thrive in groves. They don’t live well alone.

“They have shallow root systems that extend over one hundred feet from the base, intertwining with the roots of other redwoods, increasing their stability during strong winds and floods.” Read here.

Humans also need each other to live happy and healthy lives.

This is the message from UCLA neuroscientist Matthew Lieberman who will be speaking at the LiveLong Summit in Los Angeles August 3-4.

In life, we need companions, friends, partners, groups, tribes, families, communities, soulmates, husbands or wives. The connection between social isolation and diseases like cancer are undisputed, according to Lieberman.

Stay connected my friends,
Brad Inman, founder of Livelong Media

Your free longevity starter guide!

Livelong founder, Brad Inman, wrote The Science of Health: A Guidebook to help you understand the latest trends.

Don’t miss next week’s newsletter:
we’ll be diving into the microbiome!

Look good, feel better, live long,
Erin Hunter, head editor

About Livelong

Longevity science can feel a bit like Alice in Wonderland at times — it is a rabbit hole of intrigue, but laden with misinformation: where 1 magic pill claims to make you bigger, another makes you smaller. Our goal at Livelong is to provide you with credible and actionable information about health and longevity so you can live a longer and healthier life and guide you toward making insightful decisions that support you during your health and longevity journey. 

Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health care professional before starting any exercise, wellness, or health program. Nothing in our content, products or services should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Livelong is a media company and not a medical provider.