HEALTHY LIVING THE LATEST RESEARCH
Smoking Pot May Cause Dementia
M
ore states are legalizing marijuana, but all the potential
health consequences of using cannabis are not known. Studies have shown that smoking tobacco can alter the balance of the oral microbiome (the microbes in the mouth) and make us more susceptible to disease, so researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina decided to fi nd out if cannabis has the same eff ect. When comparing the oral microbiomes in the saliva of chronic cannabis smokers with tobacco smokers and nonsmokers, they found similar changes in several bacterial species in both smokers and nonsmokers. However, there was an increase in a specifi c bacterium, Actinomyces meyeri, in the oral microbiome of cannabis smokers. The increased levels correlated with the length of cannabis use. To discover how high levels of A. meyeri can aff ect the immune system, immunologist Wei Jiang, M.D., gave A. meyeri to mice and observed a signifi cant increase in the levels of toxic beta-amyloid in the brain — one of the proteins associated
EXERCISE EFFECTS ON THE BODY SIMILAR TO INGESTING CANNABIS
A study published in Gut Microbes found that exercise increases the production of microbes in the gut that produce cannabis-like substances, called endocannabinoids. These substances help relieve pain and inflammation. They are also associated with the feeling of euphoria often experienced after an intense workout. Researchers at the University of Nottingham found that people with knee arthritis who took part in a six-week exercise program experienced an increase in endocannabinoid levels, while those who did not exercise did not have any changes in these levels. The exercise group also reported less pain. “Our study clearly shows that exercise increases the body’s own cannabis- type substances,” said researcher Amrita Vijay, Ph.D.
with Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers theorize that cannabis use in humans could increase risk for dementia.
BRAIN: DARK CHOCOLATE MAKES YOU HAPPIER
Eati ng just one ounce of dark chocolate (85%
cocoa) a day makes you happier, say Korean researchers at Seoul National University. Fecal samples indicated that the improved mood comes from changes in the gut’s microbiome — study participants who ate dark chocolate made with 85% cocoa had much more diverse gut bacteria than those who ate 70% cocoa dark chocolate or no chocolate at all.
HEART: VITAMIN D AFFECTS CARDIO HEALTH Vitamin D has long been known to aff ect bone health, but new research from the University of South Australia found that a vitamin D deficiency can lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD). People with vitamin D deficiency were more than twice as likely to suff er from heart disease and high blood pressure than those with normal levels. “Our results are exciting as they suggest that if we can raise levels of vitamin D within normal, we could also aff ect rates of CVD,” said Elina Hyppönen, Ph.D.
COVID-19 VACCINE: BETTER RESPONSE IN THE AFTERNOON If you’re planning to get a COVID-19 vaccine,
Cannabis Could Cause Drug Interactions C
annabinoids and major metabolites created when the body breaks down cannabinoids — a group of substances found in the cannabis plant — can interfere
with two enzymes that help metabolize a wide range of drugs, according to two studies published in Drug Metabolism and Disposition. As a result, the drugs’ positive eff ects might decrease, or their negative eff ects might increase, causing toxicity or an accidental overdose. While cannabinoids only stay in the body for about 30 minutes, the resulting metabolites can stay for up to 14 days and can aff ect the metabolism and elimination from the body of more than 70% of the most commonly used drugs. “It’s one thing if you’re young and healthy and smoke cannabis once in a while,” said Philip Lazarus, Ph.D., “but for older people who are using medications, taking CBD or medicinal marijuana may negatively impact their treatment.”
92 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | APRIL 2022
you might want to plan your appointment for the afternoon. A study published in the Journal of Biological Rhythms found that antibody levels were higher when people got their vaccine in the afternoon versus the morning. “Our observational study provides proof of concept that time of day aff ects immune response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, findings that may be relevant for optimizing the vaccine’s ef icacy,” said Elizabeth Klerman, M.D., Ph.D.
BONE FRACTURES: E-CIGS MAY HARM BONE HEALTH A study published in the American Journal of Medicine Open found that using electronic cigarettes was associated with higher rates of fractures of the hip, spine, or wrist that were caused by minimal trauma, such as a fall from standing height or less. The study also found that the risk of fractures was even higher among individuals who used both conventional and e-cigarettes.
CHOCOLATE/IRIN-K/SHUTTERSTOCK / CANNABIS/ELDADCARIN©ISTOCK
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