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A study has explored whether adding branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) to an exercise program could improve outcomes for older adults. In a small, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the team found that BCAA supplementation improved performance, reduced fatigue, and alleviated depression symptoms for many participants. His research focuses on how inflammation impairs central nervous system function. BCAAs—leucine, isoleucine, and valine—are essential amino acids that not only serve as the building blocks of protein and muscle but also appear to play specific roles in inflammation and brain health. "Through supplementation, we thought perhaps we could restore balance and reduce the burden of...

A dietary change could be a key to enhancing colon cancer treatment, a study finds. Cancer cells need nutrients to survive and grow. One of the most important nutrient sensing molecules in a cell is called mTORC1. Often called a master regulator of cell growth, it allows cells to sense different nutrients and thereby grow and proliferate. When nutrients are limited, cells dial down nutrient sensing cascade and turn off mTORC1. "In colon cancer, when you decrease the nutrients available in the tumors, the cells don't know what to do. Without the nutrients to grow, they undergo a kind of...