New Smart Contact Lenses Show Promise in Treating Depression Without Medication

A recent study has revealed that engaging in cultural and artistic activities, such as reading, listening to music, and visiting exhibitions and museums, may help the body age at a slower pace, even if practiced only a few times a year.

According to the scientific website 'Health,' the study was conducted by researchers at University College London and included 3,500 people who were asked about the frequency of their participation in activities like singing, painting, reading, and visiting museums, as well as physical activities such as running and fitness exercises.

The scientists compared this information with biological aging markers, which is how the body's true age is measured at the cellular level, not just chronological age.

These aging markers are measured through changes in DNA within blood cells.

The results showed that individuals who participated in cultural activities at least three times a year aged 2% slower compared to those who practiced them only once or twice a year.

The benefits also increased with regularity, with aging slowing down by 3% in those who practiced these activities monthly and 4% in those who did them weekly.

Researchers pointed out some limitations in their study, including measuring DNA changes only in the blood, not in other parts of the body like muscle tissue, where cellular changes might be more pronounced. Participants also self-reported the frequency of their activities, which could lead to bias in the results.

However, despite these limitations, researchers confirmed that the link between arts and biological health appeared clear, especially with continued results even after accounting for factors like smoking, weight, education level, and income.

Researchers explained that the main reason behind this effect is the ability of artistic and cultural activities to reduce psychological stress, which is linked to increased inflammation within the body and accelerated aging.

These activities also provide opportunities for social interaction, reflection, and emotional expression, all of which help calm the mind and improve mental health.

Dr. Anji La Hsu, an American specialist in geriatric medicine, stated that reading, painting, and dancing activate different areas of the brain in ways that exercise alone may not provide, explaining that these activities support skills such as concentration, coordination, language comprehension, and information processing.

She added that strengthening neural connections and cognitive abilities helps the brain better resist the effects of aging.

Researchers recommended practicing these activities at least once a week, emphasizing that consistency, enjoyment, and variety are most important.

Zinc is known for its numerous benefits to the body and also possesses essential properties for the skin. Zinc is an essential element present in small amounts in the body (about 2 to 3 grams), but it is crucial for many vital processes.

Zinc participates in over 300 enzymatic reactions, ensuring the proper functioning of vital functions. Among these reactions, DNA synthesis, including collagen, stands out, as it contributes to cell regeneration and maintains the integrity of connective tissues.

Zinc also plays a key role in maintaining immune system functions by regulating the activity of T cells and macrophages, which are essential cells for the innate immune response. Additionally, zinc participates in regulating acid-base balance, as well as neutralizing free radicals thanks to its antioxidant properties, protecting cells from oxidative stress, according to the health-focused website 'News Medical Life Science.'

How does zinc affect skin, nails, and hair?

Zinc is an essential element in many vital processes necessary for skin health.

It regulates the secretion of sebum, an oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands. Excessive sebum secretion is a primary cause of acne, and several studies have shown that taking zinc supplements can significantly reduce the severity of acne breakouts within a few weeks.

In addition to regulating sebum secretion, zinc has anti-inflammatory properties beneficial for treating certain skin conditions like acne, eczema, and redness. It reduces inflammation markers by lowering the production of cytokines, molecules that amplify the inflammatory response in the skin.

Zinc is also essential for wound healing. Zinc stimulates collagen production, a structural protein in the skin, and promotes tissue repair, accelerating skin wound healing.

Finally, as an antioxidant, zinc protects skin cells from damage caused by free radicals, which are factors of premature aging. A study published in 2009 highlighted its ability to slow the appearance of aging signs, particularly by preventing wrinkle formation.

By boosting the immune response, zinc also helps protect the skin from skin infections, a crucial function for maintaining skin health.

Zinc and Immune Health

Zinc is essential for the normal growth and function of immune cells, including T cells, B cells, neutrophils (the body's first line of immune defense), and macrophages (one of the most important types of white blood cells in the human body). Zinc deficiency can lead to an increased risk of infection and cause severe immune disorders.

Zinc plays a vital role in regulating cytokine production (small proteins secreted by immune system cells) and suppressing inflammation. Zinc's broad antioxidant properties are attributed to inhibiting the production of reactive oxygen species and preventing oxidative damage to cellular macromolecules.

Zinc also acts as a catalyst in a range of immune processes. It enhances the immune system by increasing the activity of both innate immune cells (neutrophils and natural killer cells) and adaptive immune cells (B cells and T cells).

Zinc plays a vital role in the growth and activation of neutrophils. Zinc deficiency has been found to reduce the ability of neutrophils to destroy pathogens through phagocytosis (a vital defensive process in which white blood cells 'phagocytes' engulf and break down foreign bodies like bacteria, viruses, and dead cells) mediated by reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, zinc supplements have been found to reduce neutrophil polarization, thus preventing lung injury.

Zinc plays a vital role in the growth, maturation, and function of natural killer cells. Taking zinc supplements has been found to stimulate the differentiation of CD34+ cells into natural killer cells and enhance their cytotoxic functions.

What are the daily zinc requirements?

The body does not synthesize zinc and must obtain it from food. Dietary guidelines recommend consuming 5 milligrams daily for young children and 10 to 12 mg for adults. Requirements increase slightly for adolescents and breastfeeding women, reaching between 12 and 14 mg daily.

These daily amounts represent only 0.5% of the body's zinc stores, which may explain the difficulty in noticing zinc deficiency, as clear symptoms do not appear.

Consumer studies indicate that the groups most at risk of zinc deficiency are adolescents (most affected by acne), the elderly, smokers, and vegetarians, due to the low zinc content in fruits and vegetables.

In a step that could bring about a major shift in depression treatment, researchers have successfully developed smart contact lenses capable of alleviating the disease's symptoms without the need for medication.

According to the American newspaper 'New York Post,' the lenses are equipped with integrated electrodes and rely on a technology known as 'temporal interference brain stimulation,' which sends two faint electrical signals through the retina to specific areas in the brain associated with mood.

The signals only become effective when they intersect within the brain, allowing for precise targeting of specific areas.

Lead researcher Jang Eung Park from Yonsei University in South Korea likened this mechanism to using two flashlights, saying, 'Each beam alone is faint, but when the two beams interfere, a bright spot appears far from the light source, and our lenses work the same way through two safe electrical signals.'

To make the lenses transparent and flexible, the team used ultra-thin layers of platinum and gallium oxide (an electrically conductive material) in manufacturing the electrodes within the lens.

Researchers tested the lenses on four groups of mice, including a group that received the new treatment, another that received the active ingredient in one of the most famous depression medications (Prozac), in addition to mice with depression without treatment, and a healthy control group for comparison.

Results showed a clear improvement in behavior and mood in mice that used the lenses for half an hour daily over three weeks, with a reduction in inflammatory molecules in the brain, a 48% decrease in stress hormone levels, and a 47% increase in serotonin (happiness hormone) levels.

Brain activity recordings also revealed the restoration of communication between two areas in the brain typically affected by depression: the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex, which researchers considered a strong indicator of the technology's effectiveness.

The results did not stop there, as a machine learning model, asked by researchers to classify the mice based on their behavior, brain activity, and biomarker levels, showed that the mice using the lenses became closer in their behavior and vital functions to healthy mice not suffering from depression.

The team is currently working on testing the technology on larger animals in preparation for clinical trials in humans.

This new technology comes as a potential alternative to antidepressant drugs, many of which patients suffer from side effects, such as weight gain or emotional blunting, in addition to the difficult withdrawal symptoms that may occur when stopping their use.