Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Mahjong Benefits, Multivitamins & Aging, and Chemotherapy Cognitive Insights

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Mahjong Benefits, Multivitamins & Aging, and Chemotherapy Cognitive Insights · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

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  Welcome to Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  I'm Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow, your host for today.
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  As always, we're here to bring you the latest updates from the world of medical and health
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  news, using the power of artificial intelligence to keep you informed and engaged.
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  Today, we're diving into some intriguing topics, starting with a look at how a
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  centuries-old game might be one of the best activities for your brain.
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  Mahjong, a game with deep roots in Chinese culture, is capturing attention not just for
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  its entertainment value but for its potential cognitive benefits.
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  Gregg Swain, a historian of the game with a doctorate in clinical psychology, believes that
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  mahjong is "one of the best things that you can do for your brain." This game of tiles, where
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  players draw, discard, and strategize towards a winning hand, has been a beloved pastime for
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  many generations.
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  Initially popular among Asian families and later Jewish communities, it's now being
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  embraced by younger generations, including 20-somethings who are discovering its appeal.
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  Research backs up the idea that playing mahjong is beneficial for brain health.
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  A comprehensive review conducted in 2024 of 53 studies found that the game is linked to
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  improved cognitive and psychological outcomes in older adults.
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  However, researchers emphasize that more studies are necessary to fully understand the
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  mechanisms behind these benefits.
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  The game enhances strategic thinking, pattern recognition, and memory, all of which are
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  crucial for healthy aging.
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  Moreover, the ability to adapt and revise plans based on the game's progress fosters mental
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  flexibility, which psychologists associate with better mental health.
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  On a personal note, many have found that mahjong offers a unique form of social
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  interaction, especially in our increasingly digital world.
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  As a remote worker, playing mahjong has become a cherished weekly ritual for me and my
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  friends.
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  Every Tuesday, we gather to play, setting aside our phones and daily worries to focus on the
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  tiles.
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  This shared activity not only marks special occasions like birthdays and engagements but
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  also enhances our decision-making skills.
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  I've noticed a reduction in overthinking and a newfound ability to make decisions more swiftly
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  since I started playing mahjong.
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  Looking ahead, mahjong enthusiasts have something to look forward to this April with
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  the release of a new mahjong card.
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  This will bring fresh hands for players to master, offering even more opportunities to
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  practice the art of pivoting and enhancing cognitive skills.
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  Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the game, mahjong offers a delightful and
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  beneficial way to engage your brain and connect with others.
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  Aging is an inevitable part of life, but what if there is a way to slow it down, even just a
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  little?
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  Recent research led by Mass General Brigham in Boston suggests that a common daily habit could
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  help.
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  Taking a multivitamin every day for two years was found to slow biological aging by about
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  four months.
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  This intriguing study was published in the journal Nature Medicine and provides a glimpse
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  into how we might live not just longer, but better.
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  The concept of biological aging refers to the rate at which our cells age, which can differ
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  from our chronological age.
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  In this study, the researchers conducted a large randomized clinical trial with nearly one
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  thousand healthy older adults, averaging seventy years of age.
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  These participants were divided into four distinct groups.
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  One group took a daily multivitamin-multimineral supplement along with
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  a cocoa extract, another took a daily cocoa extract and a placebo, a third took a placebo
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  and multivitamin, and the last group took just a placebo.
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  Throughout the study, blood samples were collected from participants at three separate
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  intervals.
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  The researchers were particularly interested in five biomarkers known as 'epigenetic clocks,'
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  which measure age-related changes to DNA.
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  These epigenetic changes, or DNA expression changes, can indicate aging at the cellular
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  level, often marked by DNA methylation changes.
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  Interestingly, the group that took multivitamins showed a slowdown in biological
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  aging across all biomarkers, including the two linked to longevity.
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  The most noteworthy benefits were observed in participants whose biological age was greater
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  than their chronological age.
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  This suggests that multivitamins may be particularly beneficial for those who are
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  biologically older than their years might suggest.
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  Dr.
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  Marc Siegel, a senior medical analyst who was not involved in the study, described the
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  findings as both scientific and significant, noting that they warrant further investigation.
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  However, it's still unclear which components of the multivitamin are responsible for these
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  effects.
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  Vitamins such as B, C, D, and minerals like magnesium and copper are all potential
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  candidates, but more research is needed to pinpoint the exact cause.
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  Despite the promising results, the study does have some limitations.
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  The effects on aging were relatively modest, and the study's participants were mostly of
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  European ancestry, which might limit the applicability of the findings to broader
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  populations.
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  Furthermore, the research did not directly link the changes in epigenetic clocks to actual
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  health outcomes like disease risk or lifespan.
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  Looking forward, the researchers plan to conduct follow-up studies to see if the
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  slowdown in biological aging continues beyond the trial period and whether these changes
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  translate into tangible health benefits.
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  They're also interested in exploring other potential advantages of daily multivitamin use,
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  such as improved cognitive function and reduced cancer risk.
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  This research opens exciting possibilities for accessible and safe interventions that could
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  contribute to healthier, higher-quality aging.
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  Let's delve into the fascinating findings of a recent study that sheds light on combating what
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  is often referred to as "chemo brain." This term describes the cognitive challenges many
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  patients face during and after chemotherapy treatment.
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  Researchers have been exploring ways to alleviate these cognitive impairments, and it
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  seems exercise might hold the key.
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  A randomized trial has shown that a structured exercise program during chemotherapy can
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  significantly reduce cancer-related cognitive impairment and mental fatigue.
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  This six-week program was specifically designed for patients undergoing two-week chemotherapy
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  cycles.
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  The results indicated that patients who participated in this exercise regimen
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  experienced less cognitive impairment compared to those who received usual care.
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  The study, led by Karen Mustian from the Wilmot Cancer Institute and the University of
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  Rochester, highlights how exercise can positively influence molecular markers
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  associated with cognitive functions.
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  The exercise program not only improved cognitive scores but also influenced
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  proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, which are key players in managing
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  cancer-related cognitive issues.
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  It's important to note that the benefits of exercise were observed only in patients
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  undergoing two-week chemotherapy cycles.
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  Those on three-week and four-week cycles did not experience the same cognitive benefits.
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  This finding suggests that the timing and frequency of chemotherapy might influence how
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  well exercise can mitigate cognitive impairments.
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  Dr.
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  Lindsay L.
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  Peterson from Washington University in St.
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  Louis, who wasn't involved in the study, emphasized the importance of maintaining
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  cognitive function for cancer patients.
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  Many patients worry about losing their mental sharpness during treatment, which is crucial
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  for their independence and quality of life.
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  This study reinforces the recommendation for cancer survivors to engage in regular physical
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  activity as part of their care routine.
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  The National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines suggest that structured physical
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  activity should be a part of supportive care for cancer patients experiencing cognitive
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  dysfunction.
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  These guidelines also provide safety information to ensure patients can exercise
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  without risk.
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  The study underscores the potential of accessible and low-cost interventions, like
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  exercise, to support long-term survivorship and cognitive health during treatment.
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  The study involved 687 patients who were randomly assigned to either a six-week,
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  home-based exercise program or to receive usual care.
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  The cognitive improvements were measured using the Functional Assessment of Cancer
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  Therapy-Cognitive Function questionnaire.
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  The results were compelling, showing significant differences in cognitive impairment
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  and mental fatigue for those on the exercise program.
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  Researchers observed that a healthy balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory responses,
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  achieved through exercise, was associated with better cognitive scores.
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  This aligns with previous findings that exercise can enhance immunocompetence,
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  potentially reducing cognitive issues related to chemotherapy.
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  This study offers promising insights into how we can support cancer patients not just in
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  surviving but in maintaining their cognitive health through treatment.
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  As more research unfolds, it will be exciting to see how exercise can be further integrated
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  into cancer care for optimal patient outcomes.
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  Our last topic today is an important safety alert concerning compounded medications that
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  may pose a risk to patients.
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  Eli Lilly, a major pharmaceutical company, has issued a warning regarding certain compounded
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  versions of tirzepatide, marketed under names like Mounjaro and Zepbound.
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  These versions contain vitamin B12 and have been found to contain potentially dangerous
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  impurities.
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  According to Eli Lilly, laboratory tests revealed significant levels of an impurity
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  created by a chemical reaction between tirzepatide, a medication used to treat type 2
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  diabetes, weight loss, and obstructive sleep apnea, and vitamin B12.
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  The B12 is often listed on product labels as methylcobalamin, hydroxocobalamin, or
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  cyanocobalamin.
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  The company emphasized the risks that arise from mixing untested additives with complex
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  molecules like tirzepatide without proper testing and approval from the Food and Drug
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  Administration.
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  Patients using tirzepatide-B12 products from sources like compounders, telehealth companies,
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  or medspas should be aware of the potential dangers, as this combination has never been
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  studied in humans and its risks remain unknown.
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  The investigation, detailed in a preprint paper, involved testing samples from the United
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  States of compounded tirzepatide combined with various B12 analogs.
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  Using mass spectrometry, researchers found that the combined molecule is larger than standard
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  tirzepatide, which could potentially disrupt how the drug is absorbed, distributed,
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  metabolized, and eliminated.
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  Additionally, some samples showed inconsistent potency, with as little as 43 percent of the
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  labeled dose.
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  Eli Lilly claims that some compounders add B12 to create so-called "personalized" versions of
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  the drug, which they argue is a way to bypass an FDA order to stop mass-compounding
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  tirzepatide after a shortage was resolved in 2024.
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  Other untested additives identified in these products include glycine, pyridoxine,
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  niacinamide, and carnitine.
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  The Food and Drug Administration has consistently warned about the risks associated
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  with compounded products due to the lack of federal oversight regarding their safety,
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  effectiveness, and quality.
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  Eli Lilly reported finding other critical safety issues in compounded tirzepatide
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  samples, such as bacterial contamination and high endotoxin levels.
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  Scott Brunner, Chief Executive Officer of the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding, responded to
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  the announcement by stating that the claims raise more questions than they answer.
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  He noted that while B12 is generally considered safe, there is no alarming trend of adverse
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  events associated with the compounded drug.
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  However, he emphasized the need for more information from Eli Lilly regarding the source
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  and handling of the samples.
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  In light of these findings, Eli Lilly is urging the Food and Drug Administration to recall all
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  compounded tirzepatide products that use untested additives.
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  This serves as a reminder of the importance of regulatory oversight in ensuring the safety and
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  efficacy of medications provided to patients.
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  That brings us to the end of today's episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  Remember, staying informed about the latest health news is crucial for making the best
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  decisions for your well-being.
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  Join us next time for more updates and insights.
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  Until then, take care and stay healthy!