Medical Bulletin 17/May/2025 - Video

In some instances, the blood pressure-lowering effects observed were on par with those of certain medications, highlighting the potential of dietary choices in managing heart health. Beyond blood pressure, flavan-3-ols were also found to enhance endothelial function — the performance of the inner lining of blood vessels, which plays a vital role in maintaining circulatory health. Notably, this improvement occurred independently of blood pressure changes, suggesting broader cardiovascular benefits.

Professor Christian Heiss, lead author of the study and professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Surrey, commented, "The findings are encouraging for those looking for accessible ways to manage their blood pressure and support their heart health through enjoyable dietary changes. Incorporating small amounts of commonly consumed foods like tea, apples, darkuniversity of surrey,european journal of preventive cardiology,christian heiss,cardiology,blood pressure chocolate, or cocoa powder into a daily balanced diet could provide beneficial amounts of flavan-3-ols."

He added, "While not a replacement for prescribed medications or medical advice, including more flavan-3-ol-rich foods in a daily routine could be a valuable addition to a healthy lifestyle, especially for those with higher blood pressure. These are findings that, although promising, require ongoing investigation."

Reference: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/news/new-study-finds-tea-and-chocolate-may-help-lower-blood-pressure

Long Nights, Foggy Minds? Oversleeping May Be Linked to Poorer Cognition

New Delhi: Getting too much sleep may be detrimental to brain health, particularly for individuals with depression, according to a new study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. The research, led by the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio concluded that sleeping nine or more hours a night is linked to poorer cognitive performance, with the strongest negative effects observed in people experiencing depressive symptoms—regardless of whether they were on antidepressants.

The study analyzed data from 1,853 participants in the Framingham Heart Study, a long-term, community-based research initiative overseen by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. All individuals included were dementia- and stroke-free, aged between 27 and 85, with a mean age of 49.8 years. The research team investigated the interaction between sleep duration, cognitive function, and depression, a known modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline.

The study found that long sleep duration—not short sleep—was associated with poorer performance in global cognition and specific areas such as memory, visuospatial skills, and executive functions. Participants were grouped by depressive symptoms and antidepressant use. The worst cognitive outcomes were observed among long sleepers with depressive symptoms, while no significant associations were found in those using antidepressants without current symptoms.

The researchers concluded that excessive sleep may signal or contribute to cognitive vulnerability, particularly in those with mental health challenges. They called for future large-scale, longitudinal studies to better understand the timing and mechanisms linking sleep disturbances to cognitive decline.

"Also, long-sleepers were more likely to report symptoms of depression," said Vanessa Young, MS, clinical research project manager at the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases and first author of the study. "Sleep may be a modifiable risk for cognitive decline in people with depression."

Reference: https://news.uthscsa.edu/too-much-sleep-can-hurt-cognitive-performance-especially-for-those-with-depression-ut-health-san-antonio-study-finds/

Is Fitness Overrated? Study Questions the True Impact of Fitness on Early Death

New Delhi: A new study from Uppsala University, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, suggests that the widely accepted link between high fitness levels and lower risk of premature death may be more complex than previously believed. While physically fit individuals in late adolescence do show lower mortality from diseases such as cardiovascular conditions and cancer, the study also found a similarly strong association with a reduced risk of dying from random accidents. This surprising outcome raises questions about whether earlier studies have overstated the protective effects of fitness due to overlooked confounding factors.

The study analysed data from over 1.1 million Swedish men conscripted for military service between 1972 and 1995, with an average age of 18 at the time. These men were grouped by fitness levels and followed until their 60s or death, with researchers accessing cause-of-death data through the National Cause of Death Register. The initial analysis confirmed previous findings: the most physically fit had a 58% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, 31% lower risk from cancer, and 53% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to the least fit group.

However, when the researchers turned their attention to deaths from random accidents—such as car crashes, drownings, and homicides—they found a 53% lower risk among the fittest men as well. Given that physical fitness should not significantly impact the likelihood of dying in random accidents, this result suggests the presence of confounding factors. This method, known as negative control outcome analysis, casts doubt on the assumption that the observed associations are purely due to fitness.

"Our results should not be interpreted as if physical activity and exercise are ineffective or that you should not try to promote it. But to create a more nuanced understanding of how big the effects of fitness actually are on different outcomes, we need to use several different methods. If we just ask the question in the same way, we will always get the same answer. It's only when we get the same answer to a question that we have asked in slightly different ways that we can be sure that the findings are accurate," says Marcel Ballin, associated researcher in epidemiology and lead author of the study.

Reference: https://www.uu.se/en/news/2025/2025-05-15-the-effect-of-physical-fitness-on-mortality-is-overestimated