Evidence has been building in recent years that our diet, our habits or traumatic experiences can have consequences for the health of our children -- and even our grandchildren. The explanation that has gained most currency for how this occurs is so-called 'epigenetic inheritance' - patterns of chemical 'marks' on or around our DNA that are hypothesized to be passed down the generations. New research suggests this mechanism of non-genetic inheritance is likely to be very rare.
The number of health-related microbiome projects has almost doubled in the last three years, with EU funding almost twice that of non-health related gut research. "Personalised nutrition" is one of the endgames.
Two recent studies shed light on which women are most at risk of developing dementia, and how we can prevent or delay the disease early.
Researchers explored the sequence of microbial colonization in the infant gut through age 4 and found distinct stages of development in the microbiome that were associated with early life exposures.
A child has until the age of two-and-a-half to establish healthy gut bacteria - with little change after this point, new research has revealed.
Adding highly refined fiber to processed foods could have negative effects on human health, such as promoting liver cancer, according to a new study.
A new study has shown that eating vegetable nitrates, found mainly in green leafy vegetables and beetroot, could help reduce your risk of developing early-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Researchers have discovered a brain region strongly connected to food preference decisions that help us select what to heap on our plates at potluck dinners or holiday buffets.
A new study reveals that children with developmental delays, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), are up to 50 percent more likely to be overweight or obese compared with the general population.
Higher blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids found in seafood are associated with a higher likelihood of healthy ageing among older adults, new study finds.
Parents educated beyond high school invest more in family health care, reducing the likelihood of adverse medical conditions despite differences in family income and health insurance, according to a recent study.
A detailed new review of nutritional science argues that most American diets are deficient in a key class of vitamins and minerals that play previously unrecognized roles in promoting longevity and in staving off chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and, potentially, neurodegeneration.
A father's exposure to nicotine may cause cognitive deficits in his children and even grandchildren, according to a study in mice. The effect, which was not caused by direct secondhand exposure, may be due to epigenetic changes in key genes in the father's sperm.
The mechanisms behind the gut-brain axis in infants should be further explored and better understood, so possible nutritional interventions can be explored to support healthy brain development, according to a Danone-led study.
Research shows for the first time that proton pump inhibitors, (a class of acid suppressants widely prescribed for heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcers), are associated with iron deficiency.
The human brain is made of food, so what we eat and drink affects our ability to keep a healthy, alert and active mind.
If a mother eats a high-fat diet, this can have a negative effect on the health of her offspring - right down to her great-grandchildren. This is the conclusion drawn by researchers at ETH Zurich from a study with mice.
A new study finds that long-term exposure to periodontal bacteria leads to inflammation and degeneration in brain neurons in mice similar to the effects of Alzheimer’s disease in humans.
We've all experienced a "gut feeling" - when we know deep down inside that something is true. That phenomenon aptly describes what scientists have now demonstrated: that the gut and the brain are more closely connected than we once thought, and in fact the health of one can affect the other.
A new study reports T cells are activated in the intestines and migrate to the brain, causing an inflammatory cascade that may lead to multiple sclerosis. Researchers say the gut microbiome may play a more significant role in the development and progression of MS than previously believed.