Insomnia: Acupuncture Modulates α7-nAChR Sleep Circuits
My book actually discussed the α7-nAChR receptor and why it is important. It’s a receptor that explains how different tissues act and react with the vagus nerve. These receptors are nerves, but also mast cells. Insomnia is helped by increased vagal activity, and in this animal study they showed the brain reaction. They used commonly…
Read MorePerceived age as clinically useful biomarker of ageing
In this small study, the correlation between perceived age and the likelihood of survival is confirmed. I welcome studies that encourage a bit of vanity as we age, I’m of the opinion that some pride in appearance is healthy in older people. Other posts on longevity here, anti-aging here. Christensen K, Thinggaard M, McGue M,…
Read MoreMedications Linked to Disrupted Microbiome even years after use
Antibiotics and 6 Other Medications Linked to Disrupted Gut Microbiome This article can be filed under “something to keep in mind.” It was a difficult study to do since the microbiome can be affected by so many things. But most pertinent to patients I see was this finding. We’ve talked about the microbiome here and…
Read MoreInflammation-Associated Co-morbidity Between Depression and Cardiovascular Disease.
Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2017;31:45-70. doi: 10.1007/7854_2016_28. Inflammation-Associated Co-morbidity Between Depression and Cardiovascular Disease. Halaris A1. Author information 1 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago and Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA. ahalaris@lumc.edu. Abstract Morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is…
Read MoreSkin Care Strategies from Peter Attia
You can try to access some of this lengthy podcast here. Attia was speaking with two prominent dermatologists. I did a recent podcast here, on my recommended skin routine. They covered a vast array of topics, from how the body aging affects the skin, to consent for minors, to the role of fat implants and…
Read MoreAcupuncture’s Neuroimmune Global Effects
I don’t have access to this full article yet, but it touches on what I’ve been interested in for a long time. The immune effects of acupuncture and how acupuncture can affect multiple elements of health through our body’s own systems. It was a central theme of my book. Acupuncture’s Multisystem Neuroimmunomodulation: Central-Peripheral Interactions in…
Read MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder and Electroacupuncture and the Vagus Nerve
This 2025 study explored how electroacupuncture (EA) improves autism-like behaviors in mice by acting through the gut-brain axis and vagus nerve. Using a valproic acid–induced autism model, researchers found that EA significantly improved social and behavioral symptoms while reducing brain inflammation and microglial activation. Transplanting gut microbiota from EA-treated mice to untreated mice reproduced these…
Read MoreIsland Where People Go for Longevity
The quest for longevity is age old and still as relevant as ever. This is just one of many new offshoots of humanity’s keen desire for longer life. I dealt with longevity in my book, Radical Resilience, and also made an ebook you can access here. The Island Where People Go to Cheat Death In…
Read MoreMicroneedling in dermatology: A Comprehensive Review 2024
I’ve long been an advocate of the dermaroller to help build and keep up collagen in the skin. We spoke about it here. A major issue that I’m working on is that the mean age of the subjects in this study is about 40 years and the range stops at 65 years. I would venture…
Read Moreacupuncture in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
Wang M, Zhang L, Huang W, Huang J, Luo Y, Huang N. The potential of acupuncture in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease: An exploration from traditional Chinese medicine to modern technology. Complement Ther Med. 2025 Oct;93:103222. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103222. Epub 2025 Jul 30. PMID: 40749808. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder, causing major…
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