Health Alert: Sepsis Risk Increases with Type 2 Diabetes. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition in which the
body’s extreme response to an infection causes widespread inflammation leading to organ dysfunction and
potentially death. A study that looked at long-term data concerning more than 7,000 adults revealed that type 2
diabetics have double the risk of sepsis over a ten-year time frame, especially those who smoke, don’t effectively
manage their blood sugar, or have experienced diabetes complications.
European Association for the Study of Diabetes, September 2025
Diet: Keto Diet Benefits University Students with Depression. The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, very lowcarbohydrate
eating plan that shifts the body’s metabolism into a state of ketosis, causing it to burn fat for fuel
instead of carbohydrates. Researchers from Ohio State University report that college students with major depressive
disorder who followed the ketogenic diet for longer than ten weeks experienced a 70% reduction in their depressive
symptoms, as well as significant improvement in well-being, cognitive performance, and metabolic health.
Translational Psychiatry, September 2025
Exercise: How Exercise Suppresses Hunger. Past studies have shown that exercise suppresses appetite, but the
precise mechanism remained a mystery. Now, researchers from Baylor College of Medicine report that when lactate
accumulates in the muscles during intense or prolonged physical activity and subsequently enters the bloodstream,
it’s combined with the amino acid phenylalanine by the enzyme CNDP2 to form a compound called Lac-Phe. This
molecule then travels to the brain, where it directly inhibits hunger-promoting neurons in the hypothalamus, helping
to reduce appetite. Nature Metabolism, September 2025
Chiropractic: Most Dancers Develop Low Back Pain. A survey of 77 recreational and professional dancers
revealed that 64 (~83%) experienced at least one episode of low back pain during the previous year. Interestingly,
dance style did not appear to influence low back pain risk. Journal of Dance Medicine & Science, June 2025
Mental Attitude: New Dementia Cases Have More Than Doubled in Last 30 Years! Using data from the Global
Burden of Disease study, researchers report that the annual incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
worldwide increased by 157% between 1990 and 2021. While much of this rise is attributable to the growing and
aging global population, researchers suggest that addressing modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline—such as
high blood sugar, obesity, and smoking—could help slow the global dementia epidemic.
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, September 2025
Wellness/Prevention: Low Birthweight Can Have Lifelong Reproductive Health Implications. An analysis of
data from 40,795 middle-aged and older women revealed that having a low birthweight was associated with a shorter
reproductive span (by about eight months), a higher risk of menstrual irregularities, and a greater likelihood of not
having children. Journal of Epidemiology, October 2025
Quote: “Perception is reality.” ~ Steve Young

I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Rio Vista region.

information should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions
must be done through the advice and counsel of a health care professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.
WEEKLY HEALTH UPDATE
Week of: Monday, November 17th, 2025
Courtesy of:
Health Alert: Microplastic Exposure May Contribute to Alzheimer’s. According to a recent animal study,
exposure to polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics at levels higher than those observed in humans produced
Alzheimer-like symptoms in mice carrying the APOE4 gene—a known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease—after
just three weeks. Notably, the researchers observed sex-specific differences similar to those seen in human patients:
male mice were less cautious and more impulsive when exploring new environments, while females had greater
difficulty remembering objects they had seen before. The findings suggest that environmental toxins may heighten
vulnerability in individuals with genetic risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases.
Environmental Research Communications, August 2025
Diet: Fruit and Veggies Benefit Brain Health. A systematic review of 38 studies found that individuals who eat
more fruits and vegetables have a lower risk of developing mild cognitive impairment compared with those who
consume less produce. Nutrición Hospitalaria, September 2025
Exercise: Active Lifestyle Linked to Lower Risk of Some Cancers. An analysis of data from more than 140,000
middle-aged and older adults found that compared with their inactive peers, men with the highest levels of physical
activity had a lower risk of colon cancer, while physically active women had a lower risk of bladder and endometrial
cancers. Journal of Epidemiology, October 2025
Chiropractic: Risk Factors for Low Back Pain. A study comparing the demographics, lifestyle, posture, and
health behaviors of 64 low back pain patients and 64 age-matched controls found that frequent bending or twisting,
obesity, and less than six hours of sleep per night were each linked to a higher risk of low back pain. The researchers
also found that a higher body mass index was associated with an increased likelihood of low back pain becoming a
chronic condition. Mymensingh Medical Journal, July 2025
Mental Attitude: Heading Soccer Ball Linked to Poorer Brain Health. Brain imaging of 352 amateur soccer
players and 77 athletes from sports without head impacts revealed that frequent heading of the ball was linked to
microstructural changes in the orbitofrontal region—an area involved in memory and thinking—and to lower scores
on cognitive tests. The findings add to growing evidence that repetitive heading in soccer may have harmful effects
on brain health. Neurology, September 2025
Wellness/Prevention: Detecting Which Kids May Be at Highest Risk for Respiratory Disorders. Mayo Clinic
researchers report that young children with recurrent wheezing, allergic conditions, or a family history of asthma are
at increased risk for pneumonia, influenza, and asthma-related hospital visits. The findings may help healthcare
providers identify children at highest risk for severe asthma flare-ups and respiratory infections early on, allowing
for preventive care that could improve long-term outcomes.
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, September 2025
Quote: “The spirit of envy can destroy; it can never build.” ~ Margaret Thatcher

I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Rio Vista region.

Health Alert: Radiation from Medical Imaging Scans Linked to Childhood Blood Cancers. Following an
analysis of health records from 3.7 million children, researchers report that cumulative exposure to radiation from
advanced medical imaging—particularly CT scans—was associated with a significantly increased risk of cancers
affecting the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system. For example, children who underwent one or two CT scans
had about an 80% higher risk of blood cancer, while those who received three or more scans faced nearly a threefold
increase in risk. Although CT scans are sometimes medically necessary, the authors emphasize that physicians
should use them judiciously and prioritize non-radiation alternatives such as ultrasound or MRI whenever possible.
New England Journal of Medicine, September 2025
Diet: Swap Out Some Meat Servings with Legumes. University of Helsinki researchers note that in a six-week
trial, men who replaced some servings of red and processed meat with legumes such as peas or faba beans
experienced improvements in metabolic and cardiovascular health. European Journal of Nutrition, September 2025
Exercise: Resistance Training May Improve Nerve Health and Slow Aging Process. It’s common for peripheral
nerve function to decline with age, affecting coordination and increasing the risk of falls. A recent study involving
48 adults found that four weeks of resistance training improved nerve conduction velocity, indicating enhanced
communication between nerves and muscles. These findings help explain why lifelong exercisers tend to maintain
better physical performance and brain health into older age compared to their less active peers.
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, September 2025
Chiropractic: How Common Is Back Pain Among Adolescents? Using data from the Global Burden of Disease
study, researchers estimate that 38 million teenagers—about 1 in 33 teens worldwide—experience a new case of low
back pain each year and at any given point in the year, 19 million have the condition.
Journal of Pain Research, June 2025
Mental Attitude: Manage Anxiety by Imagining Positive Outcomes. Researchers from University of Plymouth
report that vividly imagining successful results can help students feel more empowered, in control, and capable of
managing everyday challenges, lessening the impact of anxiety on their lives.
Behaviour Research and Therapy, September 2025
Wellness/Prevention: The Gut Can Influence Lung Cancer Risk. While smoking remains the leading cause of
lung cancer, new research suggests that changes in the gut microbiome may be associated with lung cancer risk and
progression. The findings raise the possibility that interventions (such as diet, probiotics, or microbiome modulation)
could someday play a role in lung cancer prevention or therapy. Medicine (Baltimore), October 2025
Quote: “To do a common thing uncommonly well brings success.” ~ Henry J. Heinz

I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Rio Vista region.

Health Alert: Has Life Expectancy Plateaued? Researchers from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the
Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research report that people born in high-income countries between 1900 and
1938 experienced unprecedented gains in life expectancy, driven largely by reductions in infant and maternal
mortality and improvements in sanitation, medicine, and food safety. In contrast, progress since then has been more
gradual, leading some experts to suggest that life expectancy in affluent nations may be approaching a plateau—
around 76 years for men and 81 years for women in the United States, for example.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, September 2025
Diet: Eat More Fruit! Carotenoids are antioxidant compounds that give yellow, orange, and red fruits and
vegetables their color. An analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that
higher serum carotenoid levels were associated with a 31% lower risk of premature death and a 47% lower risk of
cancer mortality over a 19-year follow-up period. British Journal of Nutrition, October 2025
Exercise: Fast Walking Linked to Lower Cancer Risk. Using data from two long-term cohort studies, researchers
report that a faster walking pace is associated with a 13–45% lower risk of developing cancer. The findings suggest
that walking speed may serve as a simple, real-world indicator of metabolic and cardiovascular fitness—factors that
can enhance immune function and make it less likely for cancerous cells to take hold.
Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, April 2025
Chiropractic: Hip Problems May Play a Role in Disabling Low Back Pain. In a study of 79 patients receiving
treatment for severe hip disorders, researchers found that many who also had disabling low back pain experienced
significant improvements in back pain and function after treatment. The findings highlight how dysfunction in one
part of the body can contribute to musculoskeletal problems in neighboring regions. Hip International, June 2025
Mental Attitude: Brain Stimulation May Help Alleviate Depression. High-definition transcranial direct current
stimulation (HD-tDCS) is a noninvasive brain-stimulation technique that delivers low-intensity electrical currents
through multiple small scalp electrodes to precisely modulate neural activity in targeted cortical regions. Researchers
from University of California, Los Angeles report that this technology helped 40% of patients with moderate-tosevere
depression achieve remission within twelve days with benefits manifesting within the first six days. It’s hoped
with further testing and refinement that HD-tDCS could have a role in managing depression and other mood
disorders. JAMA Network Open, September 2025
Wellness/Prevention: Smokeless Tobacco Dramatically Increases Oral Cancer Risk. New research indicates
that chewing or sucking on tobacco products can increase the risk of oral cancer by as much as 800%, and that
individuals who also smoke face roughly double that risk. The findings reinforce that smokeless tobacco is far from
a harmless habit. Tobacco Use Insights, October 2025
Quote: “Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.” ~ William Penn

I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Rio Vista region.