Health & Medicine - Sci-Tech Bulletin

ashwagandha strength and endurance benefits

Clinical Study Reveals benefits of Ashwagandha for Strength, Muscle Size, and Endurance

An eight-week clinical study investigated the effects of 600 mg/day of Ashwagandha root extract on healthy, physically active men and women undergoing resistance training. Study shows that Ashwagandha supplementation is associated with significantly greater improvements in 1RM bench press and leg press strength, selected measures of muscle size, and VO₂max. IN the participants, VO₂max increased by approximately 9.5% in men and 7% in women in the Ashwagandha group. No adverse events were reported, and clinical safety parameters remained stable, suggesting that the use of Ashwagandha root extract may complement resistance training for improving strength and endurance.

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An AI-Discovered Alzheimer’s Drug Candidate Targets Galectin-3

An AI-based platform “Llama-Gram” have been used to identify FJMU1887, a novel small-molecule Galectin-3 inhibitor designed for brain penetration. FJMU1887 bound Gal-3 has been found to disrupt Gal-3–TREM2 interactions and reduced inflammatory signaling in microglial cells, including TNF-α inhibition. When studied in 14-month-old 5×FAD mice, 30-day oral treatment reduced Gal-3 expression, microglial activation, neuroinflammation and Aβ pathology while restoring synaptic markers and improving cognitive performance. The findings establish FJMU1887 as a promising preclinical lead, while long-term safety, selectivity and human efficacy remain to be determined.

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Scientists find Benefits of Mediterranean and Nordic Diets for Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

Studies suggests that greater adherence to Mediterranean and Nordic dietary patterns are associated with better cognitive function, slower cognitive decline, in some studies, lower dementia risk and healthier brain ageing. Key dietary recommendations include consuming plenty of vegetables, fruits and berries, legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains, particularly oats, barley and rye. Regular intake of fish and seafood is also encouraged, while extra virgin olive oil can be used as a primary source of healthy fat. A balanced dietary pattern should emphasize minimally processed, nutrient-rich foods, while incorporating a variety of plant-based foods and healthy unsaturated fats into everyday meals.

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Just 4 Minutes of Daily Activity May Lower Cancer Risk

People who do not engage in regular exercise or sports may have a higher risk of cancer. A study of 22,398 adults used wrist-worn accelerometers to measure brief bursts of vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA), mainly lasting one or two minutes. During 6.7 years of follow-up, 2,356 new cancer cases were recorded. About 3.4 minutes of daily VILPA was associated with a 17% lower total cancer incidence, while 3.7 minutes was associated with a 28% lower incidence of physical-activity-related cancers, with stronger associations at 4.5 minutes daily.

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Anti-BCMA CAR-T Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis

Anti-BCMA CAR-T Therapy Shows Promise for Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell are increasingly being engineered to target specific antigens expressed by B-cell subsets, demonstrating enhanced tissue penetration and prolonged B-cell depletion across various autoimmune diseases. In a study of anti-BCMA CAR-T therapy in five patients with multiple sclerosis, the treatment demonstrated a favourable early safety profile, with 80% of patients experiencing only grade 1 cytokine release syndrome, while severe cytopenia occurred within 40 days of treatment. Furthermore, Clinical evaluations displayed CAR-T cells in blood, bone marrow, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), accompanied by plasma-cell depletion across these compartments.

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Using CRISPR as a tool to identify Alzheimer’s Genes and Epigenetic Changes

CRISPR-Cas gene editing technology now can move Alzheimer’s disease research from genetic association toward functional validation. Studies highlight that CRISPR can be used to correct PSEN2 and PSEN1 mutations, investigate APP processing, and model APOE4-associated cellular changes in human iPSC-derived brain cells. As, found, APOE4 is linked to impaired Aβ clearance in astrocytes and microglia and increased Aβ42 secretion in neurons. Findings identify CRISPRi, CRISPRa and targeted DNA methylation editing as promising tools for investigating Alzheimer’s-associated epigenetic variation. Thus, CRISPR offers practical opportunities for disease modelling, causal-variant validation, drug discovery and high-throughput functional genomics, while significant technical limitations remain.

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How CASGEVY Uses CRISPR to Fight Sickle Cell Disease?

CASGEVY is as a major advancement in sickle cell disease treatment and the first FDA-approved CRISPR/Cas9 gene therapy for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). By editing the erythroid-specific enhancer region of BCL11A in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, the therapy reduces BCL11A expression, increases fetal hemoglobin (HbF), and is associated with fewer vaso-occlusive events. The potential practical benefits of CASGEVY include reduced reliance on recurrent transfusions and avoidance of some transplant-related complications, potentially improving quality of life. However, further research warrants long-term safety, off-target effects, mosaicism, cost, equitable access, and ethical governance of genome-editing technologies.

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Millets as a Dietary Supplement During Chemotherapy: Supporting Digestive and Immune Health

Millets may have potential as an adjunct dietary strategy for managing chemotherapy-induced side effects. The fibre, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and phytochemicals in millets may support digestive health, bowel function, energy, immunity, bone health and metabolic control. Evidences suggests possible benefits for mucositis, constipation, diarrhoea, fatigue, immune function, osteoporosis, diabetes and cardiovascular health. Experimental studies also indicate anticancer and antioxidant properties in certain millet components, suggesting millets as complementary dietary supplement in standard cancer treatment and individualized nutritional care.

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An Evidence-Based Digital Platforms Can Help Cancer Patients Make Informed Decisions

A web-based knowledge database can provide cancer patients and patient navigators with evidence-based, easy-to-understand information. Using logfile data and patient surveys, it has been found that 65.9% of eligible patients accessed the platform. The most popular topics searched includes therapy, nutrition, side effects, and carcinogenesis. Nearly 69% of users reported that the database helped them make more informed decisions, while 75.7% found the information they needed. This suggests that accessible, trustworthy digital information can support health literacy and informed decision-making, by further narrowing technical barriers and upgrading the digital skills.

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A New Cell-Free Technology for Sustainable Vitamin B12 Manufacturing

A synthetic cell-free platform has been developed by scientists, containing 36 enzymes to produce adenosylcobalamin, an active form of vitamin B12. The complex biosynthetic pathway starts with 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), an inexpensive compound, followed by more than 30 biocatalytic reactions optimized through enzyme screening, reaction-condition control, and cofactor regeneration. The optimized system produced 417.42 μg/L of vitamin B12 from 5-aminolevulinic acid and 5.78 mg/L from hydrogenobyrinic acid. The study thus demonstrates the potential of modular cell-free systems for manufacturing complex natural compounds beyond conventional microbial fermentation.

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