-Fitness In The Village- Free Outdoor Zumba Class This Summer on Saturday, July 8th

"Fitness In The Village" Free Outdoor Zumba Class This Summer on Saturday, July 8thShare: Tweet30
Jun
2012"Fitness In The Village" Free Outdoor Zumba Class This Summer on Saturday, July 8thHosted by Urban Active to promote a healthy community with benefits of working out outdoors.

Cleveland-Lorain-Elyria, OH (1888PressRelease) June 30, 2012 - Urban Active Fitness hosts its very popular Zumba class for "Fitness In The Village" this summer on Saturday, July 8th from 10-11 AM. It will take place on the lawn beside the Urban Active facility at Legacy Village. The class is open to the public for all ages and skill levels to help the community get healthy and gain the benefits of working out outdoors!

According to the Huffington Post, a 2011 study found that outdoor exercise was associated with greater decreases in tension, confusion, anger and depression when compared to indoor activity. And a 2010 study found that even just five minutes of exercise in a green space can improve mood and self-esteem, the BBC reported.

Zumba is the heart pumping class that combines red hot music with addictive dance moves! Zumba features interval training sessions where fast and slow rhythms are combined to tone and sculpt the body while burning fat. Learn how to make fitness fun by adding Latin flavor and international zest to the workout while 500-800 calories per hour!

Since its creation in 2001, Zumba has become nothing short of a revolution. Coining the term "fitness party" and making fitness fun, Zumba spread like wildfire, and has become the world's largest - and most successful - dance-fitness program with more than 12 million people taking weekly Zumba classes in over 110,000 locations across more than 125 countries!

"Fitness In The Village" will be held on the lawn beside the Urban Active location at Legacy Village: 25145 Cedar Rd. Lyndhurst, OH 44124 (216) 291-8555

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Celebrate National Salad Week Beginning Wednesday, July 25th with a Salad Making Demo By Chef Brandon Miller from Mundaka in Carmel

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2012Save the Date! On Wednesday, July 25th join Chef Brandon Miller from Mundaka in at The Natividad Medical Center Certified Farmers' Market.

Salinas, CA (1888PressRelease) June 28, 2012 - Natividad Medical Center offers a Certified Farmers' Market every Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. The Farmers' Market is located at 1441 Constitution Blvd., outside of building 200-Out Patient Services and is part of Natividad Medical Center's ongoing commitment to promote wellness and healthy eating among Natividad Medical Center's staff, patients and their families.

Natividad Medical Center Certified Farmers' Market Every Wednesday
FROM 11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

In honor of National Salad Week, Chef Brandon Executive Chef of Mundaka tapas restaurant in Carmel will be at Natividad Medical Centers Farmers Market for a special cooking workshop! Join Chef Brandon Miller in from of building 200-Out Patient Services at 12 pm and learn how Chef Miller pulls his own mozzarella fresh daily and how to make the perfect summertime salad! Every guest will enjoy a sample and complimentary recipe card to take home.

Stop by the Farmers Market at Natividad Medical Center, pick up some delicious heirloom tomatoes and enjoy this recipe from Chef Miller at home.

House made Mozzarella and Heirloom Tomato Salad Mozzarella:

2 Lbs. Mozzarella curd sliced

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iX Mixer Purchases Support Colorado Fire Relief Fund 2012

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2012Colorado-based beverage company to donate 50 cents for every can sold from June 29 - July 31.

Denver, CO (1888PressRelease) June 30, 2012 - Today, Colorado-based iX Mixer announced it will donate 50 cents for each can sold to the Colorado Fire Relief Fund 2012 starting today and continue through the end of July.

"Colorado is our home, and we want to help our neighbors affected by these wildfires," said Jeff Somers, CEO and co-founder of iX Mixer. "The firefighters and individuals are our friends and families. We want to make sure that they are well cared for."

Gov. John Hickenlooper announced the creation of the Colorado Fire Relief Fund 2012 earlier today. The funds will assists all Colorado communities impacted by wildfires.

iX Mixer is available for purchase at bars, restaurants, liquor stores and convenience stores around Denver, Boulder and Aspen, in addition to online at www.ixmixer.com/store. Find where iX is sold near you here: http://bit.ly/NcgB9w.

iX Mixer will be updating its Facebook page every Friday with the number of cans sold and the amount donated.

About iX Mixer
iX Mixer is part of the Point Brands family. iX Mixer is a naturally flavored, caffeine-free, lightly sweetened, electrolyte-infused cocktail mixer. It is available in two flavors: Berrie and Citrus. The unique combination of electrolytes and minerals helps the body sustain and replenish nutrients during the drinking process. iX Mixer was developed to help prevent symptoms of a hangover. More information is available at www.ixmixer.com.

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Kiwaii supports firefighters in Colorado

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2012Kiwaii donates water to firefighters in Colorado.

(1888PressRelease) June 30, 2012 - Premium Healthy Spring Water Inc. (PHSW)has donated a pallet of water to firefighters and volunteers working to contain the High Park wildfire outside Fort Collins, Colo.

The water was distributed to workers by Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, a leading natural and organic food vendor in the state.

Firefighters have battled wildfires in drought-stricken Colorado for three weeks. The High Park fire alone has burned nearly 90,000 acres, destroyed more than 250 homes and caused the evacuation of more than 11,000 Coloradans.

"The firefighters and volunteers working 24 hours a day to save lives and homes throughout Colorado are true heroes," Kiwaii President and CEO Lou Savant said. "As a company, we're committed to helping important causes, and there are few more important than what they're doing. We're sure the cases of Kiwaii 100% True New Zealand Spring Water will keep the workers hydrated as they contain these tragic wildfires."

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High Fructose Death Syrup Causes Low Energy and Fatty Liver

It is a testament to Pavlov and his dogs that the average American is dumb enough to consume 35 pounds of high fructose death syrup every year.  The Corn Refiners Association loves to say that their death syrup is no different than any other sugar.  Two recent studies prove that is not true and also prove that the death syrup uniquely causes fatty liver disease, which is a key marker of metabolic malfunction.  Even the FDA is onto the charade, denying a petition from the Corn Refiners Association to change food labels from “high fructose corn syrup” to innocent sounding “corn sugar.”

The public has a great deal of confusion on this topic because fructose is also the sugar naturally contained in fruit.  The new information helps explain why excess consumption of high fructose corn syrup creates metabolic problems; it turns one’s liver fatty and increases the risk for becoming a “metabolic cripple” when higher levels of fructose intake continue as problems are occurring.

Clearly, the preferred intake of fructose is from fruit (never high levels of fruit juice).  Fruit is a comprehensive nutritional package that also contains flavonoid antioxidants, magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, and fiber – along with a modest amount of fructose.  In comparison, most manufactured products containing large amounts of high fructose corn syrup have little nutritional value. Instead, they contain a branded flavor that is full of addictive chemical stimulants.  The goal for manufacturers is to create brand addiction, resulting in the powerful subconscious urge to consume more of their brand, which leads to massive overconsumption of fructose. 

The interesting thing about fructose is that unlike other sugar molecules it actually requires ATP (energy) to be metabolized.  At the same time the fructose molecule could potentially become energy as it is metabolized, leading to increased ATP synthesis.  When healthy people eat fruit, this happens.  Unfortunately, consuming high fructose corn syrup in excess is like flooding your engine with gas.  Your liver simply conks out.  Energy is actually depleted.  And enzymes are activated that turn on fat buildup in the liver while elevating uric acid to a point that it causes free radical damage and inflammation.  This is a fast path to obesity, fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Two studies show the results of high fructose corn syrup intake.  The first is an animal study that analyzed how fructose is metabolized.  It shows that fructose is first acted upon by the fructokinase enzyme, which adds energy (ATP) to the fructose molecule so that it can proceed in metabolism.  As it turns out there are two forms of this enzyme, fructokinase A and C.  Fructokinase A operates around the body and has a low affinity for fructose, meaning that when eaten in moderation this enzyme will slowly and steadily help metabolize the fructose.  Fructokinase C is highly concentrated in the liver and loves fructose.

These researchers showed that if both enzymes were knocked out in mice then they couldn’t develop metabolic syndrome from any amount of fructose metabolism because none of the fructose was metabolized.  Then they showed that mice lacking the A form rapidly developed insulin resistance, fatty liver, and metabolic syndrome.  They went on to show that the A form balances and protects against the potential adverse effects of the C form, but only at moderate intake.  At high intake the A form, which has low affinity for fructose, is no longer able to maintain balance and the C form goes wild.  This study is extremely important as it is the first to show this precise mechanism explaining why high intake of fructose is problematic.

The next study involved human type 2 diabetic patients and their ability to metabolize fructose.  The researchers used less than 15 grams of fructose per day to define low and more than 15 grams per day to define high fructose intake.  Please note that the average American consumes about 42 grams per day to get to 35 pounds a year. 

Diabetic patients who consumed more than 15 grams of fructose had lower stores of liver ATP, meaning liver energy function was compromised as predicted by the above animal study mechanism.  Furthermore, a fructose challenge resulted in further decreased energy production, meaning that the people were metabolic cripples when it now came to the fructose they were consuming in high amounts.  The degree of the fructose metabolism problem predicted fatty liver disease and its severity, as well as higher than normal levels of uric acid, which is highly inflammatory to the liver and general circulation. 

High fructose corn syrup is the fastest way to get large and excess amounts of fructose into your body.  It is clear that this compromises your liver’s energetic function, which will take its toll sooner or later.  The first sign of a problem is weight gain.  If not corrected, liver damage and malfunction follow, locking in metabolic disease.  This is not a pretty picture.

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Gamma Tocotrienol Weakens and Kills Prostate Cancer Cells

Protection of both women’s and men’s sexual organs is important for survival and quality of life.  Previously, I reported on exciting research relating to gamma tocotrienol Specialized form of vitamin E. Powerful antioxidant showing positive benefits for cholesterol, cardiovascular, neurological health and cancer risk reduction. and breast cancer in my article, Gamma Tocotrienol for Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment.  New research now shows that gamma tocotrienol Specialized form of vitamin E. Powerful antioxidant showing positive benefits for cholesterol, cardiovascular, neurological health and cancer risk reduction. may be quite helpful for prostate cancer prevention and treatment.

Gamma tocotrienol Specialized form of vitamin E. Powerful antioxidant showing positive benefits for cholesterol, cardiovascular, neurological health and cancer risk reduction. is one of the best nutrients for managing cholesterol because it can help lower cholesterol in a healthy way.  Interestingly, this nutrient has a different effect on cholesterol in cancer cells.  Cancer cells try to use cholesterol to fortify the cell walls so they are stronger.  Gamma tocotrienols can tell the difference between healthy cells and cancer cells and act to crumble the cholesterol structure of the cancer cell, as I explained in an earlier article, Tocotrienols: Twenty Years of Dazzling Cardiovascular and Cancer Research.

The new research demonstrated that prostate cancer cells have a high level of gene activity called Sterol-Regulatory Element Binding Protein isoform 2 (SREBP-2).  This gene signal recruits extra cholesterol to the cancer, which is used to make stronger cell membranes.  Researchers showed that cancer cell survival was dependent on the SREBP-2 gene doing its job at a high level of function.  Then they showed that gamma tocotrienol Specialized form of vitamin E. Powerful antioxidant showing positive benefits for cholesterol, cardiovascular, neurological health and cancer risk reduction. directly knocks down this gene signal in prostate cancer cells, leading to prostate cancer cell death.  The prostate cancer cell destructive activity of tocotrienols does not happen to normal healthy prostate cells, meaning tocotrienols can tell friend from foe and act accordingly.

The implications of this study are profound and will require human studies to demonstrate dose and effectiveness.  Nevertheless, the lack of toxicity to human cells means there is very little reason for any man not to use them as part of a plan to prevent or help treat prostate issues.  Furthermore, such a nutrient will be supportive of just about any medical treatment.  Since gamma tocotrienol Specialized form of vitamin E. Powerful antioxidant showing positive benefits for cholesterol, cardiovascular, neurological health and cancer risk reduction. weakens cancer cells, those cells are now less resistant to cancer drugs, which has been demonstrated numerous times.

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Standing for long periods during pregnancy may curb fetal growth: But working up to 36 weeks has no adverse effect, study suggests

ScienceDaily (June 28, 2012) — Standing for long periods during pregnancy may curb the growth of the developing fetus, suggests research published online in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

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Previous research has indicated that long working hours may increase the risk of birth defects, premature birth, stillbirth and low birth-weight.

The researchers assessed the fetal growth rates of 4680 mums to be from early pregnancy onwards between 2002 and 2006.

Midway through their pregnancy, the women were quizzed about their work conditions and the physical demands of their jobs, including whether these included lifting, long periods of standing or walking, night shifts and long working hours.

Around four out of 10 (38.5%) of the women spent a long time on their feet and 45.5% had to walk for long periods. Heavy lifting was part of the job for just 6%, while around 4% worked night shifts.

The development of their babies was regularly measured throughout pregnancy, using ultrasound, and then again at birth.

The results showed that physically demanding work and long working hours were not consistently associated with restrictions on overall size or birth-weight, or with premature birth.

And working up to 34 or 36 weeks of pregnancy had no adverse impact on fetal development.

But women who spent long periods on their feet during their pregnancy, in jobs such as sales, childcare, and teaching, had babies whose heads were an average of 1 cm (3%) smaller than average at birth, implying a slower growth rate.

Around half the women (47.5%) worked between 25 and 39 hours a week, while around one in four (23%) worked more than 40 hours a week.

And those who worked more than 40 hours a week had smaller babies than those who worked under 25 hours a week.

Babies born to these women had a head circumference that was 1 cm smaller and a weight that was between 148 and 198 g smaller, on average, than babies born to women working under 25 hours a week. These differences were apparent from the third trimester (last three months of pregnancy) onwards.

The authors comment that generally women who are working outside the home have fewer pregnancy complications, birth defects, and stillbirths than women who are unemployed, but that certain aspects of work may not be without risk.

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Dietary fiber alters gut bacteria, supports gastrointestinal health

ScienceDaily (June 28, 2012) — A University of Illinois study shows that dietary fiber promotes a shift in the gut toward different types of beneficial bacteria. And the microbes that live in the gut, scientists now believe, can support a healthy gastrointestinal tract as well as affect our susceptibility to conditions as varied as type 2 diabetes, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, colon cancer, and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.

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As these microbes ferment fiber in the intestine, short-chain fatty acids and other metabolites are produced, resulting in many health benefits for the host, said Kelly Swanson, a U of I professor of animal sciences.

"When we understand what kinds of fiber best nurture these health-promoting bacteria, we should be able to modify imbalances to support and improve gastrointestinal health," he said.

This research suggests that fiber is good for more than laxation, which means helping food move through the intestines, he added.

"Unfortunately, people eat only about half of the 30 to 35 grams of daily fiber that is recommended. To achieve these health benefits, consumers should read nutrition labels and choose foods that have high fiber content," said Swanson.

In the placebo-controlled, double-blind intervention study, 20 healthy men with an average fiber intake of 14 grams a day were given snack bars to supplement their diet. The control group received bars that contained no fiber; a second group ate bars that contained 21 grams of polydextrose, which is a common fiber food additive; and a third group received bars with 21 grams of soluble corn fiber.

On days 16-21, fecal samples were collected from the participants, and researchers used the microbial DNA they obtained to identify which bacteria were present. DNA was then subjected to 454 pyrosequencing, a "fingerprinting" technique that provides a snapshot of all the bacterial types present.

Both types of fiber affected the abundance of bacteria at the phyla, genus, and species level. When soluble corn fiber was consumed, Lactobacillus, often used as a probiotic for its beneficial effects on the gut, increased. Faecalibacterium populations rose in the groups consuming both types of fiber.

According to Swanson, the shifts in bacteria seen in this study--which occurred when more and differing types of fiber were consumed--were the opposite of what you would find in a person who has poor gastrointestinal health. That leads him to believe that there are new possibilities for using pre- and probiotics to promote intestinal health.

"For example, one type of bacteria that thrived as a result of the types of fiber fed in this study is inherently anti-inflammatory, and their growth could be stimulated by using prebiotics, foods that promote the bacteria's growth, or probiotics, foods that contain the live microorganism," he said.

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Going gluten-free: Is the diet a good fit for everyone?

ScienceDaily (June 28, 2012) — One of the latest trends in the food market and among celebrities is going gluten-free. Snack giant Frito-Lay has announced it will introduce new gluten-free labels and products, and Miley Cyrus has credited her recent weight loss to a gluten-free diet.

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Experts at Kansas State University say going gluten-free may be a good choice for some individuals, but that just because a product's label says it's gluten-free doesn't means that it's healthy.

Going gluten-free was an obvious choice for Kathryn Deschenes, a Kansas State University master's student in food science from Ellsworth. She has celiac disease, which runs in her family. The disease is a digestive disorder triggered by eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Those with celiac disease often experience symptoms like nausea and diarrhea.

"It can have funny symptoms like depression, acid reflux and it can stunt children's growth," Deschenes said.

For the 1 percent of the population with celiac disease, giving up gluten products usually takes away those symptoms. Deschenes went gluten-free in high school and likes the recent gluten-free trend.

"It's been beneficial for the market," she said, adding that it means more companies are producing gluten-free products and labeling their products as such.

But are products labeled "gluten-free" healthier?

Take a good hard look at those labels, recommends Mark Haub, associate professor and interim head of Kansas State University's department of human nutrition in the College of Human Ecology. Haub studies whole grains and dietary fiber.

"Just because a product says it's gluten-free doesn't mean it's healthy," he said.

The gluten-free product likely contains as many calories as gluten options, Haub said, because a gram of sorghum, corn or rice flour appears to be metabolically similar to a gram of wheat flour.

Haub said that gluten isn't bad for the average person.

"People have been eating wheat, rye and barley for thousands of years, and there are people who live to be 100 who eat wheat products and don't seem to exhibit any types of health issues," he said.

Gluten-free diets are now being adopted by people without celiac disease. Haub said as long as they do their research about the diet, he's fine with the trend.

"I'm totally supportive of people selecting and choosing lifestyle habits that best suit their needs and preferences, and this would fit that category," he said.

If someone eats more varieties of vegetables and fruits and engages in portion control of other foods, then this type of gluten-free living may elicit health benefits, he said.

Deschenes cautions that gluten-free is not necessarily a weight-loss program and can be a bad diet if you aren't aware of the things it lacks, such as a sufficient amount of fiber.

To help add more fiber to her diet, Deschenes buys breads with more fiber. She also said you can add flax seed to your diet, which is high in fiber.

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Why does a diet high in DHA improve memory?

ScienceDaily (June 28, 2012) — We've all heard that eating fish is good for our brains and memory. But what is it about DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish, that makes our memory sharper?

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Researchers with the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry discovered a possible explanation and just published their findings in the peer-reviewed journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism.

Principal investigator Yves Sauve and his team discovered lab models fed a high-DHA diet had 30 per cent higher levels of DHA in the memory section of the brain, known as the hippocampus, when compared to animal models on a regular, healthy diet.

"We wanted to find out how fish intake improves memory," says Sauve, a medical researcher at the University of Alberta who works in the department of physiology, the department of ophthalmology and the Centre for Neuroscience.

"What we discovered is that memory cells in the hippocampus could communicate better with each other and better relay messages when DHA levels in that region of the brain were higher. This could explain why memory improves on a high-DHA diet."

Sauve noted it is a key finding that when a diet is supplemented with DHA, that additional stores of the omega-3 fatty acid are deposited in the brain. His team confirmed this finding, a discovery other labs have noted as well.

Supplementing your diet with DHA, such as increasing fish intake or taking supplements, could prevent declining DHA levels in the brain as we age, says Sauve.

This research was funded by Alberta Innovates -- Health Solutions.

Earlier this year, Sauve and other colleagues discovered DHA prevents the accumulation of a toxic molecule at the back of the eye that causes age-related vision loss. He is continuing his research in this area.

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What you eat can prevent arsenic overload

ScienceDaily (June 29, 2012) — Millions of people worldwide are exposed to arsenic from contaminated water, and we are all exposed to arsenic via the food we eat. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Nutrition Journal has demonstrated that people who ate more dietary vitamin B12 and animal protein had lower levels of arsenic (measured by deposition in toenails). Total dietary fat, animal fat, vegetable fat and saturated fat were also all associated with lower levels of arsenic, while omega 3 fatty acids, such as those found in fish oil, were associated with increased arsenic.

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Long term exposure to high levels of arsenic is known to cause skin lesions, cancer and cardiovascular disease, and also affects fetal development. Even low concentrations of arsenic are potentially dangerous. Arsenic is found in some water supplies, but more people are exposed via their diet. Staples such as rice contain arsenic, especially the toxic inorganic forms, while fish, although high in total arsenic, contains organic forms which are thought to be less toxic.

Inside the body arsenic is methylated to aid excretion in urine but arsenic also has an affinity for keratin and can be deposited in hair and nails as they grow. Consequently levels of arsenic preserved in nails or hair can be used as a biomarker for arsenic exposure over periods of months to years.

Researchers from Dartmouth College and the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth looked at the levels of arsenic in toenails of residents of New Hampshire who all use private groundwater wells as their household water source.

Results of the study showed that arsenic in nails was positively associated with both alcohol and omega 3 fatty acids, however, lower levels of arsenic were found for people who ate greater amounts of vegetable and animal fat. Prof Kathy Cottingham, who directed the study, explained, "While there may be a direct interaction between fats and arsenic preventing absorption or binding to keratin in nails, the results may simply reflect dietary preference, with people who eat a diet rich in fats not eating foods high in arsenic, such as rice."

Joann Gruber, who led the study, noted that, "Humans can be very efficient at removing arsenic from the body. Improved methylation reduces the amount of inorganic arsenic circulating in the body. Surprisingly, we didn't see a reduction in toenail arsenic with other dietary factors known to be necessary for arsenic methylation such as folic acid. This may be because the population we sampled had adequate amounts of these factors in their diet."

The authors are currently working on similar studies in children, through the Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Center at Dartmouth.

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Easter Island drug raises cognition throughout life span in mice

ScienceDaily (June 29, 2012) — Cognitive skills such as learning and memory diminish with age in everyone, and the drop-off is steepest in Alzheimer's disease. Texas scientists seeking a way to prevent this decline reported exciting results this week with a drug that has Polynesian roots.

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The researchers, appointed in the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, added rapamycin to the diet of healthy mice throughout the rodents' life span. Rapamycin, a bacterial product first isolated from soil on Easter Island, enhanced learning and memory in young mice and improved these faculties in old mice, the study showed.

"We made the young ones learn, and remember what they learned, better than what is normal," said Veronica Galvan, Ph.D., assistant professor of physiology at the Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, part of the UT Health Science Center. "Among the older mice, the ones fed with a diet including rapamycin actually showed an improvement, negating the normal decline that you see in these functions with age."

The drug also lowered anxiety and depressive-like behavior in the mice, Dr. Galvan said. Anxiety and depression are factors that impair human cognitive performance. Lead author Jonathan Halloran conducted scientifically reliable tests to accurately measure these cognitive components in the rodents.

Venturing into the open

Mice are burrowers that prefer tunnels with walls. To observe behavior, Halloran used an elevated maze of tunnels that led to a catwalk. "All of a sudden the mice are in open space," Halloran said. "It's pretty far from the floor for their size, sort of like if a person is hiking and suddenly the trail gets steep. It's pretty far down and not so comfortable."

Mice with less anxiety were more curious to explore the catwalk. "We observed that the mice fed with a diet containing rapamycin spent significantly more time out in the open arms of the catwalk than the animals fed with a regular diet," Halloran said.

The second test measured depressive-like behavior in the rodents. Mice do not like to be held by their tails, which is the way they are moved from cage to cage. Inevitably they struggle to find a way out. "So we can measure how much and how often they struggle as a measure of the motivation they have to get out of an uncomfortable situation," Dr. Galvan said.

Rapamycin acts like an antidepressant

Some mice barely struggle to get free, but if an antidepressant is administered they struggle a lot more. This behavior is very sensitive to the action of antidepressants and is a reliable measure of whether a drug is acting like an antidepressant, Dr. Galvan said.

"We found rapamycin acts like an antidepressant -- it increases the time the mice are trying to get out of the situation," she said. "They don't give up; they struggle more."

The reductions of anxiety and depressive-like behavior in rapamycin-treated mice held true for all ages tested, from 4 months of age (college age in human years) to 12 months old (the equivalent of middle age) to 25 months old (advanced age).

Feel-good chemicals elevated

The researchers measured levels of three "happy, feel-good" neurotransmitters: serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. All were significantly augmented in the midbrains of mice treated with rapamycin. "This is super-interesting, something we are going to pursue in the lab," Dr. Galvan said.

Dr. Galvan and her team published research in 2010 showing that rapamycin rescues learning and memory in mice with Alzheimer's-like deficits. The elevation of the three neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers in the brain, may explain how rapamycin accomplished this, Dr. Galvan said.

Rapamycin is an antifungal agent administered to transplant patients to prevent organ rejection. The drug is named for Rapa Nui, the Polynesian title for Easter Island. This island, 2,000 miles from any population centers, is the famed site of nearly 900 mysterious monolithic statues.

This study became available online June 28 as a manuscript in press in the journal Neuroscience.

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