#1

This sounds potentially very interesting and pretty accessible. Study in mice, but might work in humans:

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#2

Thank you for sharing. This research might be a way forward to reduce age related cognitive dysfunctions. A long life without a functional brain is not a real life.

There are many ways to prevent cognitive decline. To intervene with Lifestyle factors (exercise, diet, social interaction, cognitive stimuli, oral hygiene) are a couple of obvious first lines of defense. When those interventions are taken care of then medications, supplements and other interventions might give an extra edge. And it is fascinating and rather accessible step to prevent/reduce brain ageing by intervening with a known pharmaceutical substance like prostaglandin F2α, a hormone-like compound known to aid smooth muscle contraction. With the aim at improving the glymphatic system (which is the brain’s unique waste removal process that uses cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to wash away excess proteins generated by energy hungry neurons and other cells in the brain during normal activity. This discovery pointed the way for potential new approaches to treat diseases commonly associated with the accumulation of protein waste in the brain, such Alzheimer’s (beta amyloid and tau) and Parkinson’s (alpha-synuclein))”

This is speculative and need more research, but it might be added to the lines of potential medications and supplements like Sildenafil, creatine, Adequate B vitamins and Omega 3 fatty acids.

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#3

Here’s another way with less chance for side effects

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#4

This appears to be the first thread but another thread was started here:

https://spotify.localizer.co/t/common-drug-restores-youthful-function-to-clean-up-aging-brains/15669?u=ng0rge

Maybe @RapAdmin can merge these threads.

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#5

And here is the actual paper

https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-024-00691-3

What do people know about the side effect profile?

Could this be something one only has to do occasionally, say 2-3 times a year or something?

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#6

Great find, thanks. And thanks for getting me into both zone 2 via nasal breathing only and mouth taping during the night for sleep. That has been one of the most valuable things I’ve picked up here on the forum.

This paper and the paper at the genesis of this thread may be more complementary than substitutes is appears to me.

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#7

Thank you. @约瑟夫_拉维尔 . When aiming at implementing an optimal exercise routine for brain health, that is an excellent paper which provides me ,and others, with a scientifically sound reasoning.

According to that paper, an exercise routine should include nasal breathing during aerobic exercise three times a week.

And an optimal routine should, besides that, include aerobic exercise to increase lactate levels. This is since lactate has a dual role as an energy supply substrate and a signaling molecule for optimal cognitive functioning.

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#8

@Curious @Neo I just did a second interview with Dr George Dallam who has elite level athletic credentials and is a PhD researcher in respiration and the effects of nasal breathing on athletic performance and health.

He sent me the paper I posted above, which we discuss in the interview. Dr Dallam not only has done a lot of science in this area, he has fully adapted to nasal breathing at all levels of physical exertion. That is my goal

Here is my first interview with Dr Dallam. I’ll post #2 in a couple weeks. I cannot recommend anything more than nasal breathing for better: frequent sinus infections and bronchitis, posture, stress mgmt, sleep, exercise induced asthma…no name a few.

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#9

Chewing gum also improves blood flow and cognitive functions. I wonder/speculate that there could be a connection between prolonged chewing and the glymphatic system, the process of waste removal process, and the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. I have not found anything that connects the function of the glymphatic system and chewing. I will keep looking into it. If someone here has knowledge of relevant research, connecting chewing and glymphatic system, then I would be excited. If you @约瑟夫_拉维尔 have the opportunity to talk to Dr George Dallam again, maybe that potential connection could be a question?

I do like when science “forces” its way into our everyday lives and comes up with mechanisms that explain the human experience. 30 years ago, I had frequent conversations with a man who in the 1940-50s was competing in motorsport, at a national elite level. When I asked him how he could keep his focus during long races, which quite often included racing during many hours when it was dark. He said, “I chewed a lot of gum”. His experience, that chewing gum could increase focus and attention, made me curious. And he comes to mind when I read about different non-pharmacological methods to increase attention, focus and blood flow in the brain. And yes, he was onto something back then.

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#10

@Curious Interesting. Think it’s good for the death/yaw connection too. (And with xylitol good for health of teeth). Wonder how to balance with it not impacting stomachs / fasting (besides spitting out the “juice” from the gum) and not chewing too late in the evening post last meal).

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#11

@Neo There is research that indicates that the flavor and the smell of the chewing gum makes a difference in how the brain responds to the chewing. This reminds us of the importance of chewing our food thoroughly and savoring the good flavors. Apart from the positive effects, we already know, of proper oral processing of the food we eat, It might also bring positive effects to the brain.

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#12

There seems to be a lot of information about this topic. Thanks for pointing it out. I am a gum chewer for multiple reasons. I’ll add brain health to that list.

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#13

I chew gum too, and being a gum chewer, it is good to be informed about a condition called misophonia.

“Almost everyone hates noises like nails on a chalkboard, but for people with a condition called misophonia, everyday noises like the sound of chewing can cause a similar reaction, along with rage or panic.”
It is thought to have a genetic base. I have that genetic disposition, and I experience some discomfort when others chew or if they do dental flossing. My brother has it badly. He gets anxious, has a panicky feeling, and has a very hard time controlling himself when he hears someone chew gum. It is almost like a person being exposed to something that elicits a strong phobic reaction. It is good to have knowledge about this condition and that misophonia is a trait that some people have a genetic disposition for.

The Brain Basis for Misophonia: Current Biology (cell.com)

“Specifically, fMRI showed that in misophonic subjects, trigger sounds elicit greatly exaggerated blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) responses in the anterior insular cortex (AIC), a core hub of the “salience network” that is critical for perception of interoceptive signals and emotion processing. Trigger sounds in misophonics were associated with abnormal functional connectivity between AIC and a network of regions responsible for the processing and regulation of emotions, including ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), posteromedial cortex (PMC), hippocampus, and amygdala. Trigger sounds elicited heightened heart rate (HR) and galvanic skin response (GSR) in misophonic subjects, which were mediated by AIC activity. Questionnaire analysis showed that misophonic subjects perceived their bodies differently: they scored higher on interoceptive sensibility than controls, consistent with abnormal functioning of AIC. Finally, brain structural measurements implied greater myelination within vmPFC in misophonic individuals. Overall, our results show that misophonia is a disorder in which abnormal salience is attributed to particular sounds based on the abnormal activation and functional connectivity of AIC.”

#14

To help fight Alzheimer’s disease.

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#15

Yes, I found this research very interesting, hopefully it pans it pans out. Especially good since it’s a topical cream.
“Sure enough, administering the drug to the elderly mice with a topical cream got the pumps working again to the point that the team saw the flow of dirty CSF out of the brain return to the same level of efficiency seen in younger mice.”
Here’s another article about it.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240815124156.htm

Aging is a key risk factor because, as we grow older, our brain’s ability to remove toxic buildup slows down. However, new research in mice demonstrates that it’s possible to reverse age-related effects and restore the brain’s waste-clearing process.

First described by Nedergaard and her colleagues in 2012, the glymphatic system is the brain’s unique waste removal process that uses cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to wash away excess proteins generated by energy hungry neurons and other cells in the brain during normal activity. Once laden with protein waste, CSF in the skull needs to make its way to the lymphatic system and ultimately the kidneys, where it is processed along with the body’s other waste. The new research combines advanced imaging and particle tracking techniques to describe for the first time in detail the route via the cervical lymph vessels in the neck through which half of dirty CSF exits the brain.

“Unlike the cardiovascular system which has one big pump, the heart, fluid in the lymphatic system is instead transported by a network of tiny pumps,” said Kelley. These microscopic pumps, called lymphangions, have valves to prevent backflow and are strung together, one after another, to form lymph vessels.

The researchers found that as the mice aged, the frequency of contractions decreased, and the valves failed.

The lymphangions are lined with smooth muscle cells, and when the researchers applied the drug to the cervical lymph vessels in older mice, the frequency of contractions and the flow of dirty CSF from the brain both increased, returning to a level of efficiency found in younger mice.

Also posted about by @Steve_Combi here:
https://spotify.localizer.co/t/the-culprit-of-aging-helen-blaus-work-at-stanford-pge2-15-pdgh/8350/21?u=ng0rge

Also another thread about the same:

https://spotify.localizer.co/t/cleaning-up-the-aging-brain/15652?u=ng0rge

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The Culprit of Aging - Helen Blau's work at Stanford / PGE2, 15-PDGH
#16

If true it should be quote easy to look at medical records and who used prostaglandin F2α and whether or not they developed dementia?

By the way, women have more dementia than men and the more kids, the higher the dementia risk: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circ.145.suppl_1.P142#:~:text=Conclusions%3A%20Women%20with%20three%20or,first%20child%20after%20age%2030.

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#17

Looking at the other thread on this

I reiterate my point that aspirin reduces the production of prostaglandins.

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#18

Have read today prostaglandin F2α,is used to treat glaucoma.

#19

Fantastic. Do you or someone else know what the medicine is called? Are there different brands of F2a?

#20

So what are some safer drugs that would accomplish the same thing (improving lymphangions efficiency and improving smooth muscle cells function)?

I’m already doing nasal breathing and exercise and desperately looking for things to improve my glymphatic system. I have some undiagnosed condition that requires me to nap frequently to reduce inflammation and this sounds like it could really help me.

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