DeSimone Functional Medicine

01/25/2026

The "Aspirin Conundrum" Solved: Is a Daily Pill Right for You?

For years, the medical community has debated whether daily low-dose aspirin is a "life-saver" or a "risk factor" for primary prevention of heart disease. While it can prevent heart attacks, it also carries a significant risk of serious internal bleeding.

At DeSimone Functional Medicine, we don’t believe in "one-size-fits-all" medicine. A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology suggests that the answer to the aspirin question may be found in your DNA—specifically the LP(a) gene.

The Precision Medicine Advantage:

• The Genetic Marker: A specific variant (rs3798220) in the LP(a) gene can increase your baseline risk of heart disease by more than two-fold.
• The Discovery: For those who carry this variant, daily low-dose aspirin is highly effective, reducing their elevated risk back to the level of a person without the variant.
• The "NNT" Difference: In patients with this gene, the "Number Needed to Treat" (NNT) to prevent one major event is as low as 34—making it as effective as many high-powered cholesterol-lowering medications.
• The Decision: For those without the gene, the benefits are much smaller, and the risk of bleeding may outweigh the potential reward.

One Test, One Lifetime. This simple genetic test costs roughly $25–$50 and needs to be performed only once in your life to provide lifelong clarity. It is an essential tool for identifying root-cause risks and moving beyond reactive care.

Are you taking aspirin? Let’s make sure it’s actually working for you.

(a)

12/21/2025

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09637214251380214

Interesting paper:
Is your stress actually "draining your batteries" at a cellular level?

We all know from high school biology: "Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell." But a fascinating new study in Current Directions in Psychological Science shows they are so much more than just tiny engines—they might be the missing link between our mental health and our physical bodies.

When we experience chronic stress, trauma, or even loneliness, our mitochondria can become less efficient. This "cellular exhaustion" is likely why mental burnout feels so physically draining.

The brain is an energy hog. It uses a massive amount of the body's energy. When our mitochondria aren't firing on all cylinders, it can lead to brain fog, fatigue, and even higher risks for anxiety and depression.

The good news is that you can recharge/repair your brain's mitochondria: endurance exercise, mindfulness, and strong social support don't just make us feel better, they help repair and optimize our cellular machinery.

The biopsychosocial model (BPSM) has guided psychological science for decades by emphasizing the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors in h...

09/25/2025

🌟 Exciting Breakthrough in Aging Research! 🌟 A new study published in Nature Medicine (Aug 2025) reveals how plasma proteomics can link brain and immune system aging to healthspan and longevity. Researchers analyzed 2,916 proteins from 44,498 UK Biobank participants and found:

Brain aging is a major risk factor for Alzheimer’s, with an aged brain carrying a risk similar to the APOE4 gene, while a youthful brain offers protection like APOE2.
Multiple aged organs (5-7 or 8+) significantly increase mortality risk (HR 4.5 and 8.3, respectively).
Youthful brains and immune systems are key to longevity, reducing mortality risk by up to 56% when both are healthy.
Lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol, and diet impact organ aging, suggesting modifiable ways to boost healthspan.

This opens doors to monitoring organ health and targeting interventions for a longer, healthier life! Read more:

In a large-scale proteomic study of biological aging of 11 organs from 44,498 individuals in the UK Biobank, the biological ages of the brain and immune system emerged as strong predictors of healthspan and longevity.

09/25/2025

The conclusion of this study is that "Prevalence of metabolic health in American adults is alarmingly low".
Only 12% of Americans meet this criteria:
-waist circumference less than 40/35in men/women
-fasting blood glucose

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09/01/2025

Did you know your mouth bacteria could be key to better heart health as you age? 🌱

A fascinating study in Free Radical Biology and Medicine (2025) examined the impact of dietary nitrate from beetroot juice on the oral microbiome, nitric oxide levels, and blood pressure in young adults (18-30 years old) compared to older adults (67-79 years old).
In this double-blind trial with 75 participants, folks drank nitrate-rich beetroot juice, a placebo, or used antiseptic mouthwash for 2 weeks each. Key findings:
Older adults experienced a greater drop in blood pressure (up to 4 mmHg) from the nitrate juice, attributed to higher nitric oxide bioavailability.

It worked by suppressing "bad" bacteria like Prevotella (tied to inflammation and diseases like hypertension).

Young people had microbiome changes too, but less impact on BP—though mouthwash slightly reduced their vascular function.
Bottom line: Nitrate-rich foods (such as beets and spinach) may supercharge heart health in later years by modifying your mouth's ecosystem. Who knew your tongue held such power?

I do take a powdered organic beetroot every day.

sciencedirect.com
www.sciencedirect.com

ScienceDirect is the world's leading source for scientific, technical, and medical research. Explore journals, books and articles.

08/22/2025

New Study Finds No Link Between Animal or Plant Protein Intake and Increased Mortality Risk
A recent large-scale analysis of U.S. adults from NHANES III data (1988–1994) has shown that usual intake of both animal and plant proteins is not associated with higher risk of death from all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), or cancer.
🔍 Key points from the study:
• No significant increase in all-cause or CVD mortality with higher consumption of animal or plant proteins.
• A slight protective effect of animal protein was observed against cancer-related mortality.
• Circulating levels of IGF-1 (a hormone thought linked to cancer risk) showed no association with mortality.
• The findings remain consistent across different age groups, including adults 50-65 years old, contradicting some previous reports warning against high protein intake.
This suggests that moderate to high protein intake from either animal or plant sources, within typical diet ranges, is generally safe and may even offer some benefits — especially regarding cancer mortality and animal protein.
Bottom line: Don’t stress about protein source when it comes to long-term mortality risk. A balanced diet that includes adequate protein can support health without added risk.

We used data from NHANES 1988–1994 to examine associations between animal and plant protein usual intakes and IGF-1 concentration with mortality from all causes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Adult data (N = 15 937) were linked with mortality data (N = 3843 events) through 2006. ...

08/19/2025

🧠 Why Do Women Get Alzheimer’s Twice as Often as Men?

Scientists are learning that women are almost twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as men—and it’s not just because women live longer! Key differences come down to biology: women’s two X chromosomes affect brain and immune function, and menopause brings major hormonal changes as estrogen drops. Recent research shows that late-life hormone therapy may even decrease Alzheimer’s risk. Understanding these differences can help pave the way for treatments and prevention strategies that work for both women and men.

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/07/why-are-women-twice-as-likely-to-develop-alzheimers-as-men/

Researchers zero in on where the biological differences between women and men are clear: chromosomes and menopause.

08/19/2025

🧬 New Research Alert: Poor Diet = Faster Aging?

A recent study from NIH scientists found that middle-aged adults who eat lower-quality, pro-inflammatory diets may actually age faster—at the DNA level! The research followed African American and White adults in Baltimore for 5 years and used DNA methylation tests (the DunedinPACE clock) to measure their biological aging. Results? Those with healthier diets aged more slowly, while a poor diet accelerated aging—regardless of race, s*x, or income. The message is clear: Eating a more nutritious, less inflammatory diet can help slow the pace of aging and support a longer, healthier life!

https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11357-025-01835-y.pdf

slowly

06/09/2025

https://news.byu.edu/intellect/rethinking-sugar-byu-study-shows-food-source-is-key-to-understanding-diabetes-risk

Drinking a sugar-sweetened drink (like sodas and energy drinks) is much more problematic than eating something with sugar in it.
Here is what the study says:
• Every 12 oz sugar‑sweetened drink (like sodas or energy drinks) you drink daily = 25% higher risk for type 2 diabetes .
• Each 8 oz serving of fruit juice = 5% increased risk .
• BUT sugar from whole fruits, dairy, or grains? Surprisingly, it’s either not bad or even slightly protective.
Essentially, when you drink a sugar‑sweetened drink (Fructose), the liver takes up the fructose directly from the duodenum. Fructose is primarily metabolized in the liver, and a lot of times, it cannot handle the fructose load. The liver converts the extra fructose to uric acid.
The health impacts of high uric acid are: Gout, Hypertension, Insulin Resistance, Fatty Liver Disease, and Chronic Kidney Disease.

A recent BYU study shows that not all dietary sugars carry the same risks. In the largest and most comprehensive meta-analysis of its kind, BYU researchers—in collaboration with researchers from Germany-based institutions—found that the type and source of sugar may matter far more than previousl...

05/29/2025

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250521/Vitamin-D-supplements-help-preserve-telomere-length-in-aging-adults.aspx

Great Study.

"VITAL is the first large-scale and long-term randomized trial to show that vitamin D supplements protect telomeres and preserve telomere length. This is of particular interest because VITAL had also shown benefits of vitamin D in reducing inflammation and lowering risks of selected chronic diseases of aging, such as advanced cancer and autoimmune disease."

JoAnn Manson, MD, co-author, principal investigator of VITAL and chief of the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital

Results from the VITAL randomized controlled trial reveal that vitamin D supplementation helps maintain telomeres, protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that shorten during aging and are linked to the development of certain diseases.

05/17/2025

This is a fascinating 2025 population-based study linking living near golf courses may increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD), likely due to pesticide exposure.
The research, conducted in Minnesota and Wisconsin, showed that individuals within 1-3 miles of a golf course had up to 126% higher odds of developing PD compared to those over 6 miles away. The risk was even higher in areas with golf courses and vulnerable groundwater, suggesting contaminated drinking water as a key exposure route.

This case-control of older US adults examines risk of Parkinson Disease by proximity of residence to a golf course.

05/07/2025

Avoid drinking from plastic water bottles.

The Hidden Heart Risk of Plastics: Phthalate Exposure and Cardiovascular Disease:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(25)00174-4/fulltext

A recent study published in The Lancet reveals a startling connection between phthalate exposure, particularly di-2-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) from plastics, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. In 2018, an estimated 356,238 deaths worldwide—13.5% of CVD deaths among 55-64-year-olds—were linked to DEHP exposure, with 349,113 attributed to plastics. This translates to 10.47 million years of life lost globally.

DEHP, a chemical used to soften plastics, is linked to oxidative stress, metabolic issues, and increased CVD risk. The study highlights significant geographic disparities: South Asia and the Middle East face the highest burden (16.8% of CVD deaths), followed by East Asia and the Pacific, with Asia accounting for 73% of DEHP-related CVD deaths. Countries like India (103,587 deaths) and China (60,937 deaths) bear substantial losses, driven by large populations and high plastic consumption.

These findings underscore the urgent need for global regulatory action, especially as plastic production grows in developing regions. The ongoing negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty could leverage this data to push for reduced phthalate exposure, potentially saving millions of lives.

Plastics pose a significant risk to increased cardiovascular mortality, disproportionately impacting regions which have developing plastic production sectors. The findings underscore the need for urgent global and local regulatory interventions to kerb mortality from DEHP exposure.