Podcasts about amita sehgal

The research and real talk keep rolling in! Join Jenny and John yet again as they dive into some new revelations on vitamin D, Alzheimer's disease, and ultra-processed foods. Then, John brings the heat with an enthralling round of “Real Talk? Or Bro-Science?”Guest Name/ Guest Company / Guest or Company websiteJohn Bauer, Lionel UniversityInterview Date11/20/25Episode Title and Subtitle (i.e. Ep.0: Meet Your Hosts, Meet your co-hosts Jenny Scott and Dan Duran!)Research & Real Talk Episode 20 with GUEST John Bauer (he's baaaack!!)Episode Description- For website and podcast platformsThe research and real talk keep rolling in! Join Jenny and John yet again as they dive into some new revelations on vitamin D, Alzheimer's disease, and ultra-processed foods. Then, John brings the heat with an enthralling round of “Real Talk? Or Bro-Science?”Notes: (Links, websites, references etc) for show notesLighting Fitness Facts1. Which Fat-soluble vitamin is being researched for its anti-aging properties on a DNA level?A: Vitamin D!A new review out of Augusta University in the US is shedding light on how vitamin D—the so-called “sunshine vitamin”—may do more than just build strong bones. Researchers found that taking 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily helped preserve telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of our chromosomes that act like the plastic tips on shoelaces, keeping our DNA from fraying each time cells divide. Shorter telomeres are tied to aging and diseases like cancer and heart disease, so keeping them intact could mean healthier aging.In a five-year study of more than 1,000 adults, those who took vitamin D maintained their telomeres by about 140 base pairs more than those on a placebo—potentially slowing cellular aging. Scientists think vitamin D's anti-inflammatory effects may be key here, since inflammation accelerates telomere damage.That said, researchers caution that we still don't know the perfect dosage or whether longer telomeres always equal better health. The takeaway? Vitamin D might be one helpful piece of the healthy aging puzzle, but the best telomere protection still comes from the basics—good nutrition, regular exercise, quality sleep, and managing stress.2. As it relates to the diet, what are researchers homing in on as a primary cause of chronic systemic inflammation possibly leading to chronic health issues?A: high ultra-processed food consumptionNew research from Florida Atlantic University is sounding the alarm on ultra-processed foods—things like chips, soda, frozen meals, and processed meats that make up nearly 60% of the average adult's calories in the U.S. and almost 70% of kids' diets. These foods are packed with additives, low in nutrients, and designed to keep you eating more. The study found that people who consumed the highest amounts of ultra-processed foods had significantly higher levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, or hs-CRP—a key marker of inflammation and a strong predictor of heart disease.Researchers analyzed data from over 9,000 adults across the U.S. and discovered that those getting 60 to 79% of their calories from ultra-processed foods had about an 11% higher likelihood of elevated inflammation compared to people eating the least. Even moderate consumers saw higher risk. The link was especially strong among people aged 50 to 59, those with obesity, and smokers.Inflammation is at the root of many chronic diseases—from heart problems to cancer—and the study's authors say this growing reliance on ultra-processed foods could be playing a major role. They even compare the situation to early warnings about tobacco use, predicting that it may take time and policy change before the food industry shifts. For now, the takeaway is clear: the closer your food is to its natural form—fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains—the better for your long-term health.3. Alzheimer's research is constantly advancing and scientists think they have identified something that may be contributing to the development and progression of the disease. What do you think that may be? HINT- it is the buildup of something that is causing issues.A: Fat in the brain!Researchers at Purdue University have uncovered a surprising new clue in the fight against Alzheimer's disease—fat buildup inside the brain's immune cells may be a key driver of the disease's progression. Published in the journal Immunity, the study reveals that microglia, the brain's cleanup crew responsible for clearing toxic proteins like amyloid beta, become overloaded with fat and lose their ability to protect the brain.The team found that these fat-stuffed microglia, clustered around amyloid plaques, clear about 40% less amyloid than healthy cells. The culprit appears to be an enzyme called DGAT2, which gets stuck in overdrive and turns useful fatty acids into stored fat, clogging the microglia. When researchers blocked or degraded this enzyme in animal models, the microglia regained their function and began clearing out harmful debris again—restoring the brain's balance.This discovery marks a shift from the traditional focus on protein plaques and tangles to what scientists are calling a “lipid model” of Alzheimer's, where the buildup of certain fats—not just misfolded proteins—plays a central role in neurodegeneration. The findings open the door to a new class of therapies that target fat metabolism in the brain, potentially helping immune cells fight back against Alzheimer's and related diseases.References:1. Haidong Zhu, JoAnn E Manson, Nancy R Cook, Bayu B Bekele, Li Chen, Kevin J Kane, Ying Huang, Wenjun Li, William Christen, I-Min Lee, Yanbin Dong. Vitamin D3 and marine ω-3 fatty acids supplementation and leukocyte telomere length: 4-year findings from the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL) randomized controlled trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2025; 122 (1): 39 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.05.0032. Kevin Sajan, Nishi Anthireddy, Alexandra Matarazzo, Caio Furtado, Charles H. Hennekens, Allison Ferris. Ultra-processed foods and increased high sensitivity C-reactive protein. The American Journal of Medicine, 2025; DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2025.08.0163. Salt, Sugar, Fat by Micahel Moss4. Priya Prakash, Palak Manchanda, Evi Paouri, Kanchan Bisht, Kaushik Sharma, Jitika Rajpoot, Victoria Wendt, Ahad Hossain, Prageeth R. Wijewardhane, Caitlin E. Randolph, Yihao Chen, Sarah Stanko, Nadia Gasmi, Anxhela Gjojdeshi, Sophie Card, Jonathan Fine, Krupal P. Jethava, Matthew G. Clark, Bin Dong, Seohee Ma, Alexis Crockett, Elizabeth A. Thayer, Marlo Nicolas, Ryann Davis, Dhruv Hardikar, Daniela Allende, Richard A. Prayson, Chi Zhang, Dimitrios Davalos, Gaurav Chopra. Amyloid-β induces lipid droplet-mediated microglial dysfunction via the enzyme DGAT2 in Alzheimer's disease. Immunity, 2025; 58 (6): 1536 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2025.04.0295. Kevin A. Guttenplan, Maya K. Weigel, Priya Prakash, Prageeth R. Wijewardhane, Philip Hasel, Uriel Rufen-Blanchette, Alexandra E. Münch, Jacob A. Blum, Jonathan Fine, Mikaela C. Neal, Kimberley D. Bruce, Aaron D. Gitler, Gaurav Chopra, Shane A. Liddelow, Ben A. Barres. Neurotoxic reactive astrocytes induce cell death via saturated lipids. Nature, 2021; 599 (7883): 102 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03960-y6. China N. Byrns, Alexandra E. Perlegos, Karl N. Miller, Zhecheng Jin, Faith R. Carranza, Palak Manchandra, Connor H. Beveridge, Caitlin E. Randolph, V. Sai Chaluvadi, Shirley L. Zhang, Ananth R. Srinivasan, F. C. Bennett, Amita Sehgal, Peter D. Adams, Gaurav Chopra, Nancy M. Bonini. Senescent glia link mitochondrial dysfunction and lipid accumulation. Nature, 2024; 630 (8016): 475 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07516-8

Send us Fan MailIs the fundamental purpose of sleep to remove oxidized fats from the brain?Nick & Dr. Amita Sehgal talk about the latest science on why animals sleep. Using fruit flies, her lab shows that waking generates oxidized lipids in neurons that are shuttled to glia and then cleared by macrophage-like cells during sleep. This process protects mitochondria, supports memory, and links sleep to metabolic cleanup rather than just rest.TOPICS DISCUSSED:Drosophila as a model: Fruit flies sleep with immobility, reduced responsiveness, and homeostatic rebound; their genetics reveal conserved mechanisms found in humans.Circadian vs homeostatic sleep: Circadian timing sets when we sleep; homeostatic drive builds need from prolonged wakefulness independent of time of day.Metabolic waste during wake: Neuronal activity oxidizes lipids in mitochondria; these damaged lipids transfer to glial support cells via apolipoproteins.Immune cells clear brain trash: Macrophage-like hemocytes dock at the brain during sleep, phagocytose oxidized lipids, and remove them; blocking this docking reduces sleep and impairs memory.Peroxisomes & oxidative stress: These organelles handle specific fats and rise with wakefulness; disrupting them increases brain oxidation that can be partially rescued by antioxidants like N-acetylcysteine.Sickness sleep differs from normal sleep: Infection-induced sleep redirects energy to immune defense and depletes rather than restores brain energy stores.ABOUT THE GUEST: Amita Sehgal, PhD is the John Herr Musser Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania, an HHMI Investigator, and director of the Chronobiology and Sleep Institute. She uses Drosophila genetics to uncover basic mechanisms of circadian rhythms and sleep.RELATED EPISODE:M&M 257: Sleep, Mitochondrial Metabolism & Oxidative Stress | Gero MiesenbockSupport the showHealth Products by M&M Partners:SporesMD: Premium mushrooms products (gourmet mushrooms, nootropics, research). Use code 'nickjikomes' for 20% off.Lumen device: Optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. MINDMATTER gets you 15% off.AquaTru: Water filtration devices that remove microplastics, metals, bacteria, and more from your drinking water. Through link, $100 off AquaTru Carafe, Classic & Under Sink Units; $300 off Freestanding models.Seed Oil Scout: Find restaurants with seed oil-free options, scan food products to see what they're hiding, with this easy-to-use mobile app.KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + electrolytes formulated for kidney health. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime)For all the ways you can support my efforts

In this episode, we unravel the findings of a fascinating study by Paula R. Haynes, Elana S. Pyfrom, Amita Sehgal, and their team, which shines a light on how our brains use sleep to recover and prepare for the next day. We simplify the complex science into easy-to-understand concepts, explaining why this process is crucial for our well-being and performance.

People have been reporting all kinds of strange sleep habits during the pandemic, and, according to sleep experts, it makes sense. Dr. Rebecca Spencer, a professor of brain sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Dr. Amita Sehgal, a molecular biologist at the University of Pennsylvania, know that the sleep we get can be a reflection of the lives we lead. We dive into how the stresses and strains of these unpredictable times - not to mention greatly increased screen use - have disrupted our natural biological rhythms, and find out what it takes to get a good night’s rest.

In this podcast, Amita Sehgal, PhD, talks about using small-animal models, such as fruit fly models, to determine how and why we sleep. Do flies actually sleep? Listen in to find out! More at: www.consultant360.com/neurology.

Orla Smith, editor of Science Translational Medicine joins host Sarah Crespi to talk about what has changed in the past 10 years of microbiome research, what's getting close to being useful in treatment, and how strong, exactly, the research is behind those probiotic yogurts. When you're sick, sleeping is restorative—it helps your body recover from nasty infections. Meagan Cantwell speaks with Amita Sehgal, professor of neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania and an investigator at Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Chevy Chase, Maryland, about the process of discovering a gene in fruit flies that links sleep and immune function. This week's episode was edited by Podigy. Download the transcript (PDF) Listen to previous podcasts. About the Science Podcast [Music: Jeffrey Cook]

Orla Smith, editor of Science Translational Medicine joins host Sarah Crespi to talk about what has changed in the past 10 years of microbiome research, what’s getting close to being useful in treatment, and how strong, exactly, the research is behind those probiotic yogurts. When you’re sick, sleeping is restorative—it helps your body recover from nasty infections. Meagan Cantwell speaks with Amita Sehgal, professor of neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania and an investigator at Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Chevy Chase, Maryland, about the process of discovering a gene in fruit flies that links sleep and immune function. This week’s episode was edited by Podigy. Download the transcript (PDF) Listen to previous podcasts. About the Science Podcast [Music: Jeffrey Cook]

What can we learn about human sleep from studying fruit flies? A lot more than you might think, as psychiatrist and researcher Matt Kayser explains this week. Matt and his colleagues are deepening our understanding of what drives the profound changes in sleep patterns across development—for example, newborns sleep all the time (except when their parents want them to), college students become nocturnal, and aging adults struggle to sleep soundly. His research promises to reveal the pathways in the brain that drive these shifts, and the effects of poor sleep on the developing brain. Matt and I discussed some of his recent research, as well as general principles in this area. Topics we covered included: The striking similarities in sleep across most species Why fruit flies are an especially good model for studying sleep Why we sleep, given the obvious downsides How and why sleep changes across development Why sleep deprivation early in life may have long-lasting effects The surprising advantages of spending less time in bed Implications of poor sleep on the aging brain The effects of mindfulness practice on insomnia If you're interested in the original research articles we discuss, you can find them through these links: A Sleep State in Drosophila Larvae Required for Neural Stem Cell Proliferation A Critical Period of Sleep for Development of Courtship Circuitry and Behavior in Drosophila The study on amyloid beta with implications for Alzheimer's Disease is still in the works. Dr. Matt Kayser completed his MD and PhD at the University of Pennsylvania where his research focused on the development of synapses (the connections that allow nerve cells to communicate with each other) in mammals. He continued at Penn for his psychiatric residency and in a research postdoc with Dr. Amita Sehgal using Drosophila (fruit flies) to examine how neural circuits give rise to complex behaviors—particularly sleep and brain function. He is currently an assistant professor of psychiatry in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and the creator and director of the Sleep Mental Health Clinic at Penn. Learn more about Matt at his lab page: Kayser Lab. To schedule an appointment in his Sleep Mental Health clinic, call 215-898-4301.

In this month's Cell Podcast, we learn about getting neural stem cells out of the lab and into the clinic, with Sally Temple (0:00), an important role for rare copy number variations in autism, with Matthew State and Michael Wigler (8:30), the dangers of midnight feasts for fruit fly fertility, with Amita Sehgal (18:04), and fitness costs and crosstalk in the evolution of host defense pathways, with Ruslan Medzhitov (24:32).

Three talks featuring University of Pennsylvania experts (Drs. Wade Berrettini, John Hogenesch, and Amita Sehgal) on genomics and different aspects of behavior, including biological rhythms, sleep, addiction, eating, stress and depression. Moderated by Science Columnist from the Philadelphia Inquirer, Faye Flam.

Panel of University of Pennsylvania professors (Drs. Wade Berrettini, John Hogenesch, Amita Sehgal, Kendra Bence and Irwin Lucki) take on audience questions about genomics and different aspects of behavior, including biological rhythms, sleep, addiction, eating, stress and depression. Moderated by Science Columnist from the Philadelphia Inquirer, Faye Flam. This is part two of an evening that started with three talks by Drs. Berrettini, Hogenesch and Sehgal.