Shift work and ‘social jetlag’ are linked to an increased risk for several chronic diseases. Shift work is usually defined in studies as working a late or early shift more than two times per week, Read more…
Autophagy is a general term for cellular pathways that move something from the cytoplasm of the cell into the lysosome for degradation. The term comes from the Greek 'auto' (self) and '-phagy' (to eat). So when you see articles touting 'autophagy diets' as the latest and greatest for longevity or beautiful skin, realize that the term is just a general one that applies to a cellular process that goes on all the time in our cells.
Let me see if I can explain a bit of the biology behind this, and then I’ll go into how your genes play a role in autophagy.
Back to high school science class: Inside almost every cell in the body is an organelle called a lysosome. It is made up of a membrane that surrounds a bunch of different enzymes for breaking down proteins. This is a way our cells can clean up after themselves, and also how they get rid of foreign invaders like bacteria. (more…)
I’ve written before on the topic of supplemental lithium orotate for mood, anxiety, and irritability. (Read the previous article here: A little lithium and B12 makes the world a happier place — for some.) What about Read more…
With the advent of consumer genetic testing from 23andMe, AncestryDNA, etc, it is now easy to know if you are at a higher risk of getting Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Those with APOE ε3 are at Read more…
Hemochromatosis is a fairly common genetic disease that causes iron to build up in the body. Knowing that you carry the genetic variants for hemochromatosis can literally add years to your life since you can Read more…
Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is the gene that codes for the copper-zinc superoxide dismutase enzymes which help protect against oxidative stress and detoxify reactive oxygen species. Three types of superoxide dismutases are part of our Read more…
One very important gene that has been researched in association with Alzheimer’s disease is the APOE gene, which is involved in carrying cholesterol and other fats in your bloodstream. Late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (after age 60) Read more…