Irisin News and Research

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The diet-Alzheimer’s connection is more complicated than “eat this, avoid that”

A mini-review finds that dietary patterns may influence Alzheimer’s disease through interconnected pathways involving neuroinflammation, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, blood-brain barrier dysfunction, homocysteine, and the gut-brain axis. The authors argue that genetics, sex, age, physical activity, and socioeconomic context may modify these relationships, supporting more individualized approaches to nutrition research and dementia prevention.

25 Aug 2026

New study shows how exercise hormone reduces multiple sclerosis symptoms

A new study offers clues as to why exercise can improve neurological symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).

21 May 2026

Lower grip strength in early pregnancy linked to risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are a leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide. In addition, HDP can lead to fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, and various long-term adverse health outcomes.

24 Apr 2026

What happens to your body during an ultramarathon? New study reveals key metabolic changes

This study tracked ultramarathon runners across 100 km, 160.9 km, and 230 km events to examine real-world metabolic, hormonal, and muscle stress responses. Severe energy deficits, muscle damage, and heterogeneous hormonal shifts were observed, with the greatest strain seen in the 230 km distance.

10 Dec 2025

Do GLP-1 drugs shrink your muscles? New study explains the risks and what to do

GLP-1 receptor agonists are transforming obesity and diabetes care, but may reduce skeletal muscle mass, raising concerns about sarcopenic obesity. This comprehensive review explores the mechanisms, clinical implications, and mitigation strategies, including exercise, protein intake, and adjunct therapies.

26 Aug 2025

Gut bacteria produce hormone-like proteins that regulate weight and blood sugar

Our intestines are home to trillions of microorganisms that produce substances capable of regulating all the body's organs via the bloodstream and the gut's nervous system.

31 Jul 2025

Creatine may enhance neuroprotection through energy pathways

Creatine supplementation may improve cognitive performance and mood, offering insights into its role in muscle-brain interactions and overall health.

25 Jul 2025

What happens to your body and mind during a five-day water fast?

A five-day water-only fast led to significant weight, fat, and lean muscle loss in middle-aged women, along with improved mood and marked changes in metabolic and inflammatory markers. The study also found that psychological traits like emotional intelligence and impulsivity influenced the amount of fat and muscle lost during fasting.

9 Jun 2025

Study finds key genetic differences between male and female placentas

The genes of male and female placentas have marked differences in how they are expressed, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other institutions.

1 May 2025

Weight training shields the brain from dementia in older adults

The benefits of weight training are many: it promotes gains in strength and muscle mass, reduces body fat, and contributes to well-being and mental health.

1 Apr 2025

How exercise affects appetite in obese men

Researchers examine how appetite-associated factors impact appetite perception in obese males.

3 Feb 2025

Exercise-induced exerkines: Secret weapon in disease prevention and therapy

A recent review in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy highlights the role of exercise-induced molecules, exerkines, in disease prevention and treatment, emphasizing their molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential.

29 May 2024

Irisin-based therapies may help combat Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers who previously developed the first 3D human cell culture models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) that displays two major hallmarks of the condition - the generation of amyloid beta deposits followed by tau tangles - have now used their model to investigate whether the exercise-induced muscle hormone irisin affects amyloid beta pathology.

8 Sep 2023

The role of exercise-induced hormone irisin in amyloid beta reduction

Researchers explored the biological mechanisms by which exercise-induced irisin attenuates amyloid-beta pathology in Alzheimer’s disease.

8 Sep 2023

Exploring the relationship between epigenetic aging and gut microbiome composition in physically fit men and women

Researchers investigate the relationship between the gut microbiome, physical fitness, and epigenetic aging in physically fit individuals.

14 Jul 2023

Revamping lifestyle can bolster brain health and stave off neurocognitive decline

In a recent article published in the journal Cureus, researchers at Loma Linda University Medical Center and the University of California Irvine reviewed the impact of applying the six pillars of lifestyle medicine — stress management, plant-based nutrition, avoidance of risky substances, physical activity, social connections, and restorative sleep — on neurocognitive decline and dementia.

14 Mar 2023

How does the brain change with age?

Researchers discussed cellular hallmarks of brain aging and therapeutic interventions to rejuvenate cognitive brain functions.

19 Jan 2023

ADDF-Harrington partnership accelerates the translation of innovative Alzheimer's research into therapies

The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation and Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals in Cleveland have granted an ADDF-Harrington Scholar Award to Christiane Wrann, PhD, DVM, Associate Professor in Medicine at the Cardiovascular Research Center and the McCance Center for Brain Health at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard Medical School in Boston.

12 Jan 2023

Exercise hormone irisin blocks Parkinson's-associated α-synuclein aggregation and related neuronal toxicity

A new paper discusses the hope held out by recent results on a compound called irisin, a short protein secreted by skeletal muscle that produces some exercise-related effects on the brain.

15 Sep 2022

Blocking FNDC5 prevents cancer-induced cachexia in mice

The severe muscle atrophy and weakness commonly associated with cancer growth (i.e., cachexia) can be prevented simply by being deprived of FNDC5, the precursor of the exercise hormone irisin, researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine have found.

12 Sep 2022