Science

Someone has said that melatonin damages the heart. The reality, according to science, is that we can be calm

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Melatonin is a hormone that now is on many people’s lips being a key element in the regulation of our biological clock, and above all being well known for its relationships with sleep induction. It is precisely for this last reason that in recent years people have been supplementing with melatonin pills to be able to sleep better or regulate their sleep schedules more, but now the alarms have gone off about the possible side effects it may have. The alarm voice. There are many benefits that melatonin has with its continued use as a supplement beyond those related to sleep, such as anti aging thanks to its antioxidant capabilities. But beyond the benefits, a study has raised the alarm: it can cause heart failure. However, there is much to qualify in this statement. Obviously, something like this can generate great unrest in society, precisely because it is a widely used supplement in different countries because it can be purchased without any type of medical prescription (except for the highest doses). And this attraction has been used to create pills, gummies or even infusions that have melatonin inside. But the reality is that nothing we ingest can be harmless to our body, especially if very specific safety guidelines are not followed. Although in the case of melatonin everything indicated that it was completely safe and that everything behind it was something positive. Until now. What the study says. The focus of the controversy centers on a preliminary study (and this is important) that is going to be presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025. This work analyzed the medical records of more than 130,000 adults with insomnia, comparing 65,414 people who had used melatonin for a year with another group who had not used it. The results of this study they pointed in this case because users who used melatonin chronically were twice as likely to be diagnosed with heart failure. But they went further by showing that there was a 3.5 times greater risk of hospitalization for heart failure. But saying ‘double’, the truth is that it does not provide much information (beyond fear), but what is important here would be to talk about the absolute increase in risk, as the Secretary of State for Health points out in his X account. Tranquillity. But the reality in this case is that there is no need to sound the alarm immediately because of the ‘fault’ of a study that has not yet been reviewed (since it is not even published in a journal). Right now there is a large amount of scientific evidence that proves how safe melatonin isand a single study does not put in check all the scientific literature behind it, although it does open a door to be able to investigate in a more in-depth way. melatonin side effects. For example, in 2022 a systematic review was published on high doses of melatonin in adults found minor adverse events such as drowsiness, headache or dizziness, but no increase in serious adverse events. The same thing happened with the StatPearls article of 2024 which indicated there was no evidence of toxic effects. Specifically in chronic use we have a 2023 study by Givler which confirms that the administration of between 5-6 mg of melatonin per day does not generate serious long-term risks. Although logically it is important to use it above all as an ‘help’ to have more adequate sleep hygiene with the aim of not depending on exogenous melatonin to be able to sleep. And it is necessary to carry out studies that are appropriate to look for this correlation. The study that has highlighted melatonin is not the most appropriate as it is observational and not a randomized clinical trial. This means that it has not been possible to verify exactly whether these differences are due to chance and, above all, there has been no control over the patient groups, since it has been done with their clinical histories. The correct thing to do in these situations is to propose a study with two groups: one where patients take melatonin and another where they do not. But until we reach this point, it is important to calculate the number of patients needed, how they are selected and the baseline characteristics they must have so that there are interchangeable patients in both groups and many other factors. Everything necessary so that the conclusion of the study has great external validity for the entire population. Investigation remains. Logically, any type of supplement, and especially if it is hormonal, can lead to different side effects. The issue in this case is that research is needed to look for side effects and ask ourselves if it is necessary for doctors to start prescribing it in all doses. And, as we have said before, a prescription is only needed for the highest doses, but the lowest doses can even be found in a supermarket. Although whenever you have doubts about the safety of the medication, the important thing is always to consult with your primary care doctor so that the dose can be adjusted based on the particular history of each patient. Images | Isabella Fischer Robina Weermeijer In Xataka | Of course melatonin has side effects. There is nothing special or alarming about it

The memory of young people is deteriorating at a record pace. Science thinks it knows why

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The memory problems among youth are beginning to be worrying. This is what a new study scientist published in the magazine Neurology and that tries to answer why this happens and above all the reasons that exist for our youth to begin to be in decline in regards to to your memory. The surprise. What can logically be expected is that with the passage of time and accompanying aging, memory problems begin to appear that anticipate dementia. But in the United States, after analyzing millions of people, they have seen that the population most affected by this ‘mental fog’ is precisely the youth. And the result in this case is very important: self-reported cognitive problems among young adults aged 18 to 39 have almost doubled in the last decade. But it is something that we are not understanding. The study. To reach this conclusion, a total of 4.5 million people who responded to the national survey of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) from the CDC and collected between 2013 and 2023. In this way, there was a truly large sample of people to analyze, although limited only to the United States. The results in this case were quite clear: the prevalence of adults reporting a cognitive disability increased from 5.3% in 2013 to 7.4% in 2024. But what was truly interesting came when separating the results by demographics: In young people aged 18 to 39, the rate skyrocketed from 5.1% in 2013 to 9.7% in 2023. This group is, in fact, the driver of the overall increase in the entire population. In those over 70 years of age we saw a decrease in prevalence from 7.3% to 6.6%, when logic tells us that it should increase. Other factors. In order to know the reason for this increase, other factors behind the respondents had to be traced as well. In this case it aimed at the income level: Have low income with less than 35,000 dollars a year left us with a prevalence that increased from 8.8% to 12.6% With high incomes (>$75,000) the rate was much lower, although it also dropped from 1.8% to 3.9%. But the same thing happens with the educational level, where young people who did not even have high school went from 11.1% to 14.3% while those with university degrees increased from 2.1% to 3.6%. And even in order to obtain much more information, they wanted to analyze the prevalence according to the race of young people, where it could also be seen, for example, that Asian adults are the ones who reported the least cognitive problems. Specifically, the data is the following: American Indians/Alaska Natives: continue to have the highest prevalence, rising from 7.5% to 11.2%. Hispanic adults: saw a significant increase from 6.8% to 9.9%. Black adults: The rate rose from 7.3% to 8.2%. White adults: increased from 4.5% to 6.3%. Asian adults: Consistently maintained the lowest rates, going from 3.9% to 4.8%. What is happening? With all the data in hand, it is logical to think about what is happening so that young people increasingly have more cognitive problems. And for researchers there is not only one valid answer, but there are several that are being proposed. The first of them is that there is greater awareness about this problem, and that is why there are more people who raise their hands when presenting it and have no doubts when it comes to seeking help. But there are also other factors such as economic stressors or work problems that seem to be contributing to these trends. All this without forgetting that the greater presence of digital tools may have meant that our memory is not as trained. But all the social and economic factors we face today can also mark an important milestone when it comes to the real burden on our minds. This ‘overload’ can condition the appearance of these highly relevant cognitive symptoms. Images | Eliott Reyna Milad Fakurian In Xataka | Finding a job had always been a good way to escape poverty: in Spain it is no longer true

Halloween is coming and the temptation is to put on some terrifying plastic contact lenses. Science has its reservations

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Costumes, scares, moviespassages of terror and also the occasional party is undoubtedly something that we will see in this Halloween nightalthough among all these elements there is a protagonist that can undoubtedly become a risk to our health: colored cosmetic contact lenses. The color of the eyes. To dress up in the most faithful way to the character we want to resemble, eye color may be essential. In the case of Halloween, it may be interesting to have them red or some other color that conveys a feeling of fear, such as those of the famous ‘Valak’ or ‘The Nun‘. But it can undoubtedly be a serious problem for our health. And on many occasions we want something that is economical to be able to dress up and we can choose to buy these contact lenses in a store that is not specialized in these products such as a bazaar. All because to wear it for a while at night you are not going to invest a large amount of money in a special contact lens. But we forget that we are buying a product that will be in contact with our eyes, which are really delicate. Doubts. Ophthalmologist Damián Teillard through his TikTok account It alerts us to all the problems that can arise, such as infections, corneal abrasions, blurred vision or eye fatigue when colored contact lenses are used without adaptation, with poor hygiene or throughout the night. That is why you are committed to making the purchase at an authorized optician to try them the days before. The scientific evidence. But beyond what this ophthalmologist says, we also find a large amount of scientific literature that documents all of these problems. An exampleor we have in the magazine eye that reviews these cosmetic contact lenses and demonstrates the appearance of severe microbial keratitis associated with these products that are purchased without health control. More cases. We have another example in the TFOS report on the impact of contact lenses on the ocular surface, details that their inappropriate use (sleeping with them for example) damages the epithelium, alters the tear film and increases the risk of infection. Something quite common in a situation where many people opt for these contact lenses without having ever worn this product before, so they lack the recommendations to avoid problems when wearing them. In this way, the evidence on periocular cosmetics and ocular surface underlines that makeup and formulations around the eye They can irritate, destabilize the tears and increase discomfort if combined with contact lenses. Elevation of risk. With all this, we can see how buying contact lenses in bazaars or unauthorized websites that have poor quality produces a significant injury that can end in visual loss in the most severe cases. Among these complications we see the keratitis, conjunctivitis or corneal abrasions and ulcers that require ophthalmological treatment in many emergency cases. How to use it correctly. In order to avoid all these problems, the crucial thing is to purchase them from authorized opticians and with the advice of ophthalmological professionals. But you must also follow the basic recommendations for contact lenses, such as sleeping with them, putting them on with clean hands, not sharing them with several people, and always applying makeup after putting on the lenses and removing makeup with them to protect the ocular surface. With all this you can achieve a night of terror but without the eye ending up suffering from the misuse of contact lenses that we find in any bazaar or on the internet. Images | Grégoire Hervé-Bazin In Xataka | There is nothing that makes blue eyes blue. If we want to understand why, we have to turn to physics

Breathing through your ass is safe (according to science)

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Although a priori we have been taught from childhood that the lungs are the organ responsible for our breathingthe reality is that breathing through the ass is also possible. And it is not a theory, but rather it has been put into practice, as a clinical trial has shown published in the magazine Med who has named this technique enteric ventilation. The current situation. When a person is in a critical condition, it is quite common to perform an intubation with the aim that a ventilator can do the action of exhaling and inhaling with the aim also of applying an extra dose of oxygen when there is respiratory depression or simply controlling this route. Although it is also a technique that can be seen in an operating room, in surgery, when anesthesia is applied. The problem is that sometimes intubation is not possible, because the airway is very compromised or simply because the lung is in a state that prevents it from performing its normal function. This forces us to look for alternatives to maintain blood oxygenation, and one of them is this enteric ventilation through another area such as the rectal area, which is presented as support but not a substitute, but is a further advance in emergency medicine. The technique. It has already been tested by the Takanori Takebe research team of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the Osaka Universityis presented as a complementary oxygenation pathway in very serious respiratory emergencies. In Takebe’s own words“does not seek to replace mechanical ventilators or ECMO, but rather to offer a temporary means of support to allow the lungs to rest.” The operation. The idea of ​​breathing through the rectum was not born in the laboratory, but in an aquarium. In 2021, Takebe and his group they published in Med a pioneering study in which they demonstrated that animals such as mice, rats and pigs could survive low-oxygen environments if their intestines received oxygenated perfluorodecalin. This liquid, a perfluorocarbon Chemically inert, it can transport oxygen in concentrations much higher than what an erythrocyte can do. And to test it, they introduced it through the rectum, causing the animals to reverse the lethal hypoxia and reduce the need to use the lung as a ‘pump’ to ventilate the body. The administration was enteral, that is, through the rectum. In animal models, intestinal oxygenation managed to reverse lethal hypoxias and reduce the need for pulmonary ventilation. The next step. Once tested on animals, the idea was to move on to humans and see if it was safe. To do this, they recruited 27 healthy volunteers who received one liter of perfluorodecalin not oxygenated by a controlled enema. In this case, none of them had hypoxemia and the goal was not to see if it could be reversed, but to check if they had any strange reaction. And the result was a success: there was only a little diarrhea (a good thing considering what could have happened). But the most important thing is that the results coincided with what was observed in animal experiments, and above all they confirmed that there is no significant damage or inflammation in our intestinal mucosa. What’s coming Takebe’s group is already planning a phase II clinical trial with patients suffering from moderate hypoxemia, in collaboration with hospitals in Japan and the United States. In this case, oxygenated PFD (O₂-PFD) will be used to determine if intestinal absorption can really raise blood oxygen levels as it occurs in animals, although expectations are very high. If we look at the scientific literature, there are already different application possibilities. As published in Frontiers in Physiology in 2023 the potential of perfluorocarbons can be highlighted as alternative oxygen carriers, both for lungs with edema and for emergency medicine where it cannot be easily intubated or the lung is not 100% fit for it. In parallel, the field of liquid ventilation has remained active among critics and intensivists: works such as the one published in Intensive Care Medicine Experimental in 2020, they pointed since oxygenated fluids could relieve pulmonary stress in patients with distress acute respiratory illness, serving as a “bridge” in life support therapies. His comic side. In 2024, Takebe’s group received he Ig Nobel Prize for his research in enteric ventilation, an award that celebrates research that first makes you laugh and then makes you think. But, beyond humor, Takebe himself emphasizes that what began as a biological curiosity is giving rise to real biomedical innovation. And although it remains to be confirmed that the human intestine can actually oxygenate blood effectively, accumulated data in animals and the first safety trials put enteric ventilation on the border between experimental biomedicine and advanced critical medicine. Far from being an extravagance, research in liquid oxygenation is part of a growing area that seeks alternatives to invasive mechanical ventilation, especially in situations where resources or time are limited. And if all goes well, in the future a treatment that today sounds unthinkable—injecting liquid oxygen through the intestine—could become another tool in the arsenal of intensive care units. Images | Alexey Elfimov In Xataka | We’ve gone from “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” to “I grab something quick and stick with it.” And that has problems

Science says the real danger is in how we do it

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A very typical gesture in our daily lives is to reuse the bottles we use to drink water or any other beverage. Something that is usually done to reduce the carbon footprint that can be caused by using a bottle only once and throwing it away. But at a time when microplastics are the order of the day, the truth is that it makes us think If reusing a bottle is harmful to us. But we are not only talking about the plastic bottles that we buy in the supermarket with water or any other liquid such as a soft drink, but also the classic bottles that we are used to seeing in many places that They promise to keep you warm or cold inside.. Its plastic construction can set off alarm bells after seeing how microplastics have been found in the testiclesthe breast milk and other parts of the bodyit is logical to think that if we use the same bottle twenty or thirty times in the end we are consuming this type of substance. The fear of microplastics. Little by little they get to know each other details about the effect that the consumption of microplastics has about our health, especially fertility. This means that we basically have to question the containers from which we consume food in order to ‘protect ourselves’ from its bad effects, as can occur in these bottles in container containers. The problem. Popular belief states that reusing bottles could pose a significant risk due to the alleged accumulation of bisphenol A (BPA) and the proliferation of dangerous bacteria if they are not cleaned daily. However, current scientific evidence intensely qualifies these statements, distinguishing between real risk factors and unfounded precautions. The release of bisphenols. Several studies have evaluated the migration of BPA and phthalates from reused bottles. under real use conditions. A recent experiment from 2021 simulating daily use in more than 20 types of bottles concluded that no migration of bisphenol A was detected in the stored water, even after several weeks of reasonable reuse. And the most interesting thing is that the classic aluminum bottles used as thermoses were also included. Other scientific articles agree: the release of BPA depends fundamentally on the type of material, exposure to high temperatures and extreme wear, not on the mere fact of filling them with tap or refrigerator water. Bottles suitable for food use, well maintained and not subjected to excessive heatdo not dangerously increase exposure to BPA. This logically changes radically if liquids are poured at high temperatures, which can cause more microplastics to be released. This is why you must always take into account the temperature of the liquids that are stored, so that it is the same as the original liquid that was stored. But there are also different opinions. In this case, food technologist Luis Ribera, director of the Saia food safety consultancy, has warned of the risk of reusing bottles manufactured for single use, as reported by El Confidencial. ​Although he goes further by stating that the real danger lies in the microorganisms that can appear in these bottles. Bacteria and bottles. Precisely, it is also a recurring theme, since logically on the surface of the bottle you can accumulate different common microorganisms like for example Escherichia coli either Staphylococcus. This is something that can be common, especially when a sugary drink has been stored, which leaves a substrate on the plastic walls, as if it were a Petri dish. But the key in this case to avoid the accumulation of bacteria logically lies in hygiene. Recent studies show that regular cleaning Soap and water is enough to keep the bottles safe. In cases in which high levels of bacteria have been reported, the analyzes always point to the lack of frequent washing or the use of cracked containers, rather than the rational reuse for drinking water as many of us do at home to avoid having to buy more bottles. Is it dangerous to reuse bottles? With this evidence, we can have several clear conclusions. The first of them is that there is no health prohibition when it comes to using bottles that are reusable and that have been manufactured to contain water. The second is that the associated health risks are almost exclusively due to poor hygiene habits or extreme wear and tear of the packaging. And the third is that if a bottle has not been manufactured to give it more than one use, Yes, we must be careful with its reuse.. In this way, neither the migration of bisphenol A nor the “bacteriological danger” justify throwing away your bottle after a single use, as long as it is used sensibly and basic hygiene is maintained. Science supports responsible use and regular cleaning, debunking some of the alarmist discourse around reusing plastic bottles for tap water. Images | charlesdeluvio Nigel Msipa In Xataka | The true size of the microplastics that populate our lives, exposed in this disturbing graph ​

science believes it has an explanation

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Walking down the street and seeing someone walking with their eyes downward can make us instantly think that something is happening to that person emotionally, such as being sad. But the reality is that walking down has many meanings and that have been proven through sciencewhich go far beyond the field of psychology and makes us rethink the thoughts we have when we see someone in this situation. The body language. One of the letters of introduction we have to the world is undoubtedly the gestures we make. It is not the same to be with them all the time. crossed arms which may indicate a more closed attitudeto be much more open in front of another person. And the look is another fundamental letter of introduction that we can understand perfectly. What psychology says. The most widespread interpretation of looking down while walking is attributed to the insecurity, shyness, sadness or low self-esteem. It is a fact that avoiding eye contact can seem evasive and, in a society like ours, is often considered a sign of vulnerability or emotional processing. This is something that has been collected in different studies focused on non-verbal communication where they reinforce this idea: the hunched posture, the gaze towards the ground and the absence of eye contact can indicate internal states such as introspection, emotional stress or the need for protection from the environment. However, the field of psychology warns that this overly simple or ‘generalist’ interpretation is inaccurate. To understand it we can go to other cultures such as the Japanese, where looking at the ground is a sign of respect or modesty, or can even be interpreted as a form of concentration or reflection. In this way, the social context, personality and frequency of the gesture make the difference between a ‘good clinical indication’ and perfectly normal behavior. Neuroscience. But beyond psychology, Neuroscience also has a lot to say in this field to thoroughly study why, in many situations, looking down is a very useful strategy. Studies published in journals such as Nature demonstrate That directing your gaze toward the ground helps adjust your balance and reduces the risk of tripping. Within these studies, brain activity and movement patterns have been specifically measured in people walking in different environments. And the conclusion is quite clear: looking down provides the brain with critical information about the terrain and allows you to adjust your step, especially if there are obstacles or the ground is uneven. In this way, if you go in the middle of the field for example, the normal thing is to look down to avoid tripping or ending up on the ground. The same occurs with a work published in 2021 that observed that this position improves stability in older people and also when the cognitive load increases, for example, when we are distracted. Thus, far from being just an emotional symptom, it is also a rational and functional response. facing physical and mental challenges. Mental health. Should every gesture of looking at the ground worry us? The clinical literature clarifies: if the gesture appears in isolation, it does not imply problems. But if it is combined with other signs such as social isolation, apathy or mood changes, it can be part of a picture of depression, anxiety or stress. The problem is that a simple look down the street is not enough to know this, but you must know that person much more. But the evidence is quite clear in this sense: ​there is a relationship between emotions and posture, but it is never a single indicator. Beyond the myth. In this way, every time we see a person with their gaze downcast, we don’t always have to think about the most negative thing, but we don’t always have to think about the most positive thing either. The reality is that if we are walking down a street Looking at the ground serves to avoid obstacles, process information while walking or adopt multitasking strategies (or even if you are lucky to find a ticket). Images | Caspar Rae In Xataka | The psychology of doomscrolling: the trap our brain is programmed to fall into again and again

Science has found the secret of the giant tomato, but it may be at the cost of destroying its good flavor

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Imagine being able to take a small, bitter, wild eggplant and with a single genetic tweak, turn it into a very different variety, much larger and ready for the market. This, it seems something out of a science fiction movieit may be a reality that is getting closer, as one pointed out published study in the magazine Nature who deciphered the genetic “instruction manual” of the entire eggplant family and also the tomato. The problem. We are currently living in a time in which the climate is changing radically. with increases in temperatures or reduction in rainfall that reach our fields. This forces us to have a ‘plan B’ in the bedroom that allows us to continue having crops efficiently and to be able to feed an entire population despite there being a climate decline. And genetics in this case is preparing for it with different changes. The agriculture of the genetically modified foods is starting to gain strength. The fact of modifying the seed of a fruit so that it comes out with significant improvements, such as being juicier, larger or more efficient, is the future of agri-food engineering. And all to be able to respond to an increasingly growing demand for food, but with a space suitable for it that is smaller. A commitment to flavor. But these genetic alterations raise many questions. The goal right now is to have fat tomatoes or eggplants that are also very elongated but without thinking about anything else. If we eat a tomato on many occasions what we want is for it to be juicy and good. But genetic modification may overlooks these types of essential components to be more ‘productive’ and nutritious. But the objective in this case of the investigation that is currently being carried out is on size. And if one tomato ‘from the future’ can be equivalent to three ‘current’ ones, the truth is that we will have taken a very important step. And this is already being seen. The investigation. An international team of scientists has created the first “pangenome“of the genus Solanum. This is not only the tomato and eggplant family, but also the potato and dozens of other crops consumed locally around the world, and which opens the door to a great evolution in the field of food and the agri-food industry. The objective. For the researchers, the objective was quite clear from the first moment: to know why a gene that produces a desirable trait, such as having a larger fruit in a tomato, does not work when tried to apply it to an eggplant. The answer in this case is quite clear: genetic redundancy. The obstacle. In this case, scientists saw that the main obstacle to this genetic modification not being applied was in gene duplications, known as paralogues. In order to understand this concept we can imagine the light in a room that would be our phenotype and that in order to turn it off we need to press two switches that control it. These switches are what we know as paralogs, and in order to turn off the light it would be necessary to deactivate both. This is what happens in many species, which have created ‘backup copies’ of their switches so that turning off just one would do absolutely nothing and would not materialize in their phenotype, such as their size. That is why this team analyzed 22 species of Solanum and discovered that, although the overall structure of chromosomes is similar, thousands of key genes have undergone different variations throughout their evolution. The brake gene. Scientists have long known that a gene called CLAVATA3 (CLV3) is the master regulator of fruit size in tomatoes. Its function is, basically, to act as a brake. It tells stem cells at the plant’s growing points (the meristems) when to stop dividing. Thus, when this gene is mutated or ‘off’ the brake is released and the plate produces more cells, resulting in larger flowers with more seed compartments and also a much larger fruit. And here is the key to how a tomato will end up being domesticated. The problem is that the tomato has an additional “handbrake”, which is a paralogous gene called CLE9. In this way, even if we alter CLV3, it will not have its full effect, since it will have this extra switch that must also be altered. CRISPR. It is a genetic ‘editing weapon’ that will allow us to achieve the effect we want and cut the brake on CLV3 so that the fruits can evolve. The scientists ran the tests on the African eggplant, a species that lost its CLE9 handbrake a long time ago, but has a functional copy of CLV3. When scientists used CRISPR to deactivate that only functional copy, the result was massive and uncontrolled growth, demonstrating that that gene was the only brake he had left. In another experiment, we used S.prinophyllum that did not have CLE9, but did have two units of CLV3 (CLV3a and CLV3b). In this case, when the researchers edited a single copy, the brake was weakened and the plant produced fruits with more lobes and therefore slightly larger fruits. But when they removed the two brakes, uncontrolled growth was seen again. The surprise find. While research was being carried out along these lines, experts saw something they did not expect: a completely different gene on chromosome 2 called SaetSCPL25-like acted as the main size “switch” in the African eggplant. Something that responded to a small natural mutation of this gene that was associated with the additional locules per fruit. To check this, they did the experiment in reverse. They took this new gene and they cracked it with CRISPR on a standard tomato. The result in this case is that fruits were produced with more locules, that is, they were much larger. In this way, the researchers had found a second genetic path to increase the size of the fruit in addition to breaking its brakes. … Read more

Science already knows why they generate an indestructible bond with their grandchildren.

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It is often said that some family traits skip a generation, and we have some scientific evidence that this is true. But people have four grandparents. Are there any that have some evolutionary favoritism when it comes to perpetuating their traits? The secret of longevity. Scientists have been asking for years why humans survive for a long period of time. after their reproductive agesomething that differentiates us from practically all animals, even those closest to us evolutionarily. This is especially notable since women generally live many years past menopause. We still don’t have a clear answer to this question, but the “grandmother’s hypothesis” postulates that the reason is that the presence of these relatives represented a survival advantage for the little ones. Evidence of the importance of grandmothers. Theories are of little use without evidence to support them, and one of the first was provided by Finnish researchers in a study published in the magazine Current Biology. In it they verified that the survival of children between 2 and 5 years old was positively correlated with the presence of grandmothers. The researchers found that the age and general health of the grandmothers were also associated with that of the child: the older and more frail the grandmothers, the less the benefits. The results were similar whether the grandmothers were maternal or paternal, except when they were very old or in poor health. Health status matters. This is where one of the most curious results of this study can be found: the possibility of competition. The authors postulated that grandmothers in worse condition could have a negative effect on the well-being of their grandchildren by “competing” for care, that is, since adults in good health should distribute these tasks among more people. This effect was greater in the case of paternal grandmothers, although the authors explain why. Different forms of care. The way in which ties are established can also have a lot to do with how relationships are established in families. The idea that parents take on a harsh role in the upbringing of children, while grandparents tend more towards indulgence, is widespread. A sort of familiar good cop and bad cop that makes us see people in a different way. And why science can have it too: a study, this one published in the magazine Proceedings of the Royal Society B analyzed the brain responses of grandmothers to images of two family generations and other control images. The team observed that the brain response was more pronounced with grandchildren even with the children. Environment and genetics. Not everything depends on care. Genetics matter too. One of the most obvious reasons is the possible presence of certain diseases that can manifest in the first years of life, many of which may have a genetic origin. This is where we can find a curious fact brought to light by biostatistics. Clarice R. Weinberg through an article published in the magazine American Journal of Human Genetics. In it he reported a curious anomaly with respect to what genetics predicted, and it was a greater matrilineal genetic contribution. The explanation given in the article was the transfer of phenotypes between mother and offspring during the nine months of pregnancy. Therefore, the genetic imprint of the maternal grandmothers would be greater than that left by the rest of the ancestors. Although the difference is not great, the effects can be great when it concerns diseases related to genetics, some of them serious. Matrilineal inheritance. Matrilineal genetic inheritance has greatly helped scientific development, in this case thanks to mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial DNA, which is transmitted solely and exclusively through the mother, has allowed us to solve the most varied mysteries, from crimes until the death of the cave bearand of course, it has helped us better understand our origins. Each family, a world. Tolstoy began his Anna Karenina by saying the famous phrase: “All happy families are similar to each other, but each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” It will surely fall short because surely every happy family is also a world. This implies that differences can be large from one family unit to another, but also between countries and regions and between periods. It is difficult to know what will the relationships be like? between alternate generations in the future, but at least we are getting a better idea of the bases of this relationship. Image | Ekaterina Shakharova In Xataka | The connection between a grandmother and her grandchildren is greater than with her children. And science has studied why

Science is moving creatine from the gym shelf to a more relevant one: cardiovascular health

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When we think of creatine, the mental image It is almost always that of a gym: someone shaking a white powder in a shaker to get more strength or a faster sprint. However, science has greatly expanded the focus on this compoundand its applications are reaching unexpected places, such as cardiology consultations. Opinion of cardiologists. The surprise recently popped up on the podcast I have a plan where cardiologist Aurelio Rojas claimed that creatine “is one of the most essential supplements” that he uses in his patients with a dose of between three and five grams daily. This statement, which may seem shocking at first, is actually the tip of the iceberg of a large body of scientific literature that attempts to explore how apply creatine in daily clinic of a doctor with his patients. But what does a sports performance supplement have to do with the heart? And does science support this enthusiasm? Muscle motor. To understand the connection, you first have to understand what creatine does. Simply put, creatine is key in cellular bioenergetics, especially by facilitating rapid production of ATP, which is essential for muscle and heart function. Creatine monohydrate is most researched and recommended way for supplementation, as an improvement in muscle contractility, performance and exercise tolerance has been seen. in the heart musclecreatine acts by stabilizing energy metabolism and may have a relevant role in situations of heart failure or ischemic diseases. Within the scientific literature It is highlighted that creatine and phosphocreatine depletion is characteristic in failing hearts, and exogenous administration can contribute to the metabolic protection of the myocardium.​ Furthermore, there is scientific interest in the potential role creatine protector on the vasculature in risk populations, by reducing chronic inflammation and contributing to better control of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.​ Beyond the gym. All this means that the interest of cardiologists goes beyond gyms and the number of repetitions they can do in a specific exercise. One of the first diseases where emphasis is placed is heart failure and its supplementation with creatine. Although it is not a cure, the findings suggest which can improve muscle strength, endurance and exercise capacity in these patients. By improving the energy efficiency of the musculoskeletal system, the overall workload of the heart is reduced. Sarcopenia. A medical term that refers to the loss of muscle mass and strength related to age and chronic illness. It is a silent enemy that drastically worsens the prognosis of cardiological patients. and here is where creatine shinessince it is essential to increase muscle mass, especially when combined with resistance training. For a 70-year-old patient who has lost muscle mass after a cardiac event, regaining the strength to get up from a chair or climb stairs is essential. Creatine, in this context, is not an aesthetic supplement, it is a therapeutic tool to improve quality of life as they point out. the studies. It doesn’t work for everything. Creatine is not perfect. It is excellent for very intense, short-duration exercises that need immediate energy such as sprinting or lifting weights. But in low-intensity and long-duration exercises such as a marathon it is of no interest, since the aerobic metabolism of the muscle that maintains constant ATP production endogenously. The myths. Despite being a really studied supplement, creatine continues to spread myths. The ISSN is categorical about this In his review, he gives the following points: Does not damage the kidneysas long as the doses recommended by scientific evidence are followed. Obviously, if there is an underlying kidney problem, you should consult your doctor. It is not known if it causes baldness, or at least the scientific evidence has not been able to state it categorically. This is something that points to a study that showed an increase in DHT, but its relationship with hair has never been proven. It is not a steroid. It is a natural organic compound, made up of three amino acids, that the body produces and that we also ingest when eating meat or fish. In this way, science has moved creatine from the bodybuilding shelf to the general health shelf. Its ability to manage cellular energy makes it a valuable tool not only for athletes, but also, as Dr. Rojas points out, for clinical populations struggling with muscle weakness and energy depletion. Images | Alexander Saks Alexander Red In Xataka | When we stop sleeping our brain is irremediably damaged. Research believes that creatine fixes it

How Amazon Has Been Filled With Supplements That Sell Imitation Science

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Just over 20 years ago, the stem cell research promised a revolution against disease and aging. These master cells, with the potential to become any tissue in the body, seemed the key to true regenerative medicine, something that It moved away from the complex reality that we have inside our body. Although there are different merchants who try to sell us stem cells as a true wonder. Distorted. Something we are accustomed to (unfortunately) is that where science hits the brakes, the market hits the accelerator. In the infinite Amazon showcase, next to the vitamins and the collagen supplementsa new family of miracle products has emerged: stem cell supplements. Of course, they cannot contain cells in a capsule or in a cream, but that does not promise them to stimulate or regenerate them. Something that for many is the most ideal. This is something that a group from the Health Law Institute of the University of Alberta (Canada) has decided to investigate. has put the magnifying glass on this emerging market. To do this, it analyzed 184 of these products from 133 different companies associated with Amazon.com and has been able to conclude that behind an apparent scientific rhetoric hides a deliberate strategy to avoid regulation and deceive the consumer. The trick. The study published in the journal Stem Cell Reports shows how the sellers of these supplements exploit a legal loophole that allows them to launch ambiguous health messages without the need to demonstrate their effectiveness. The labels carefully avoid terms such as ‘cure’ or ‘prevent’ diseases, something that legislation prohibits. Instead, they use harmless verbs like “support,” “promote,” or “maintain” brain health, energy, or healthy aging. This ambiguity is its main weapon. In the United States and Canada, regulations allow calls structure/function claimswhich are vague claims that link a product to overall well-being without requiring rigorous clinical testing. That loophole is where most of these supplements slip through. The data. They can be summarized in several points: More than 40% of products explicitly mentioned “science” or “scientific evidence” to support the features they promised. 35% included references to health professionals or scientists to reinforce legitimacy. 94% of the supplements made promises related to specific ailments by pointing out that they were anti-aging, strengthened immunity or increased the consumer’s energy. This type of marketing, which the authors call scienceploitation (exploitation of science), “gives the consumer the impression that there is broad scientific support, which contrasts with the current state of stem cell therapies,” the study warns. Regulation. The strategy works because regulation in North America barely requires testing for safety or efficiency before a supplement hits the market. In theory, public bodies can sanction misleading advertising, but their oversight capacity is minimal. In the United States alone, it is estimated that there are more than 100,000 supplements in circulation. In practice, you only have to add a phrase that is “this statement has not been evaluated by the FDA” for pseudoscience to become legal. In Canada, although a license from Health Canada is required, a 2021 audit found that the agency did “little” to prevent poor consumer information from being provided. The case in Spain. Although the study in question focuses on the United States and Canada, its conclusions can be extrapolated. In Spain, any statement about health must be authorized by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) or the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS). However, law enforcement on the internet is often very lax, and on Amazon.es you can find products with language very similar to that reported by researchers. Products on Amazon.es that promise anti-aging effects thanks to the stem cells they contain. The authors of the work, led by Alessandro R. Marcon and Timothy Caulfield, warn that this situation not only harms consumers’ pockets, but also erodes trust in science and real research on stem cells. Selling products without a scientific basis under the umbrella of biotechnology is, they conclude, a form of marketing that exploits the prestige gained by science to sell smoke. Images | Doodlart mmmCCC In Xataka | Amazon lost 25 billion with Echo because no one bought with it: now it punishes you with constant advertising for having bought it

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