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A study found brief exposure to diesel exhaust fumes altered functional connectivity in a human brain in ways researchers suggest could affect cognitive function..Depositphotos
Researchers in Canada have, for the first time ever, demonstrated how acute exposure to traffic pollution can immediately impair human brain function, offering unique evidence of the connection between air quality and cognition. Healthy adults were exposed to diesel fumes before having their brain activity imaged in a fMRI machine.
Air pollution in urban environments has long been associated with poor cardiovascular, respiratory and brain health. But connecting the dots between air quality and human health has been challenging for researchers. It’s difficult to accurately quantify a person’s exposure to air pollution beyond associating rates of certain diseases in geographical areas of high pollution.
Plenty of cell and animal studies can demonstrate how air pollution affects organisms. But as we know, there can often be a huge chasm between the effects of toxins on a mouse in a lab and chronic exposure to a human in the real world.
So perhaps the final missing piece in the puzzle for researchers has been direct human exposure studies. Of course, it’s not exactly ethical to expose volunteers to high levels of toxic fumes just to watch what happens, so these kinds of experiments, unsurprisingly, have been lacking.
This new research used a model of human exposure to diesel exhaust fumes developed over a decade ago. The technique delivers controlled and diluted concentrations of diesel exhaust particulate matter to human subjects at levels deemed to be representative of real-world exposure but also proven to be safe. In a lab setting, 25 healthy adults were exposed to either diesel exhaust, or filtered air for two hours and had their brain activity measured using fMRI before and after each exposure.
The main focus of the study was on the impact of this kind of traffic-associated air pollution on what is known as the default mode network (DMN). This is a set of inter-connected cortical brain regions that play a crucial role in cognition, memory and emotion.
The findings revealed brief exposure to diesel exhaust caused a decrease in DMN activity, essentially yielding a drop in functional connectivity between different brain regions, compared to what was seen when subjects were exposed to filtered air. Jodie Gawryluk, first author on the study, said these kinds of DMN alterations have been linked to depression and cognitive decline.
“We know that altered functional connectivity in the DMN has been associated with reduced cognitive performance and symptoms of depression, so it’s concerning to see traffic pollution interrupting these same networks,” said Gawryluk. “While more research is needed to fully understand the functional impacts of these changes, it’s possible that they may impair people’s thinking or ability to work.”
Alone, these new findings are not particularly meaningful. No evaluations were performed in the study to suggest the observed DMN changes impacted cognition. But alongside a growing body of epidemiological and preclinical studies linking air pollution with a number of neurodegenerative diseases, these findings may be much more significant. They effectively demonstrate the acute effects of air pollution on the human brain in a way never before shown.
According to senior author on the study Chris Carlsten, it is unclear what long-term effects this kind of pollution exposure will have on a human brain. On the positive side of things the researchers did seen DMN brain activity return to normal relatively soon after the diesel fume exposure. So Carlsten is only able to hypothesize what the impact of more chronic, continuous exposure could be.
“People may want to think twice the next time they’re stuck in traffic with the windows rolled down,” said Carlsten. “It’s important to ensure that your car’s air filter is in good working order, and if you’re walking or biking down a busy street, consider diverting to a less busy route.”
Rich has written for a number of online and print publications over the last decade while also acting as film critic for several radio broadcasters and podcasts. His interests focus on psychedelic science, new media, and science oddities. Rich completed his Masters degree in the Arts back in 2013 before joining New Atlas in 2016.
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It’s normal to hear the cliche, two are better than one, but this statement has been proven true among influencers in the last five years. Growing followership and influence on social media is not an easy feat, and with changing algorithms, it’s even more difficult.
Social media has become the top cultural influence on society. More people, especially Gen Z and Millennial generations, depend on social media platforms for their information, advice, and counsel, especially as regards lifestyle and fashion choices. This reality has placed social media influencers on a pedestal as some of the most relevant figures in modern culture.
The biggest question that influencers and aspiring influencers have to answer consistently is, “Can we still grow a healthy following organically in the age of changing algorithms?”
Renowned supermodel Stefanie Gurzanski seems to think that this is possible. In her words, “Value is king, the first step to doing it organically is finding your audience and determining what they consider as value. Then you have to create content around that and dish it out consistently. When all is said and done, you need help from others as well.”
As a supermodel, Stefanie Gurzanski, who is more popularly known as Baby G, has featured on the cover of some of the world’s most prestigious magazines like Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and Elle. She has also stunned at many of the world’s most prestigious fashion shows and red carpets.
However, one of her most significant accomplishments has been turning that success into a digital media empire and becoming an Instagram influencer with millions of extremely loyal followers. Stefanie believes that collaboration is one of the most powerful keys to growing followership in a world where algorithms are becoming more demanding. In this article, Stefanie shares why she thinks collaboration is so important.
According to Instagram, the main rule about Instagram algorithms is that not one but many algorithms influence a user’s Instagram experience. Different AI algorithms analyze user behavior on the different parts of the app; reels, feeds, and explore. All these algorithms work together to determine what we see or not see on Instagram.
The Instagram model is more or less the same on Facebook, Titok, and youtube, where various AI algorithms are used to achieve these exact results.
According to Stefanie, “Instagram has been a bit more transparent about how their algorithms function and this has helped influencers build systems around their brands that help them get the most out of the platform. What I have found is that the key ingredient that enables us to get the best out of all the algorithms is collaboration.”
Adam Mosseri has taken his time to summarize how the Instagram algorithm functions in a post. Four key factors influence the Instagram algorithm for feed posts.
First, the algorithm considers the basic information about the post; Is it a photo or a video? When was it posted? How many likes does it have?
Secondly, it considers the information about the poster; How interesting does the user find them to be? How often does the user engage with their content?
The third factor is the user’s activity; is the user a heavy video-watcher, or does the user prefer other kinds of content?
The final factor is the user’s interaction history; does the user typically engage with the poster’s posts by liking or commenting?
In summary, on Instagram feeds, the algorithm would typically show a user posts from creators who create the kind of content they typically engage with, and who they have previously engaged with or tend to engage with frequently. On reels and explore, Instagram goes further by showing users the content they think they will like based on their previous activity.
Stefanie explains it with a more straightforward example; “I am coming up on the two million followers mark and one thing that is readily noticeable is that many of these followers found me because they initially followed other supermodels who do what I do.
Likewise, when my followers consistently engage with my pictures and videos, they are also likely to see posts from similar creators who do what I do on their explore page or their reels. Now imagine what we can achieve as influencers if we become more intentional about giving and getting this exposure. The results are simply stunning.”
Collaboration as a Powerful Tool For Exposure
Since 2016, when Instagram made these changes to its algorithm, collaboration has become perhaps the most effective tool for exposure. Creators collaborate in different ways, but the end goal is the same, and the results are similar.
Live broadcasts by Sponsored Influencers have become a thing. 82% of audiences prefer live video from influencers and brands to other generic content, which has made live videos both the present and the future of video content.
Since Instagram launched its new feature, which enables creators and users to go live with a friend remotely, influencers have used this feature to invite other creators on their platform for live broadcasts. Content ranges from talk shows to casual conversations, and the results have been favorable so far.
“Live videos have such an engagement boosting effect,” Stefanie explains. “The algorithms give live videos more exposure, so when influencers can link up via this feature, it helps the algorithm make the connection between their two sets of audiences. This can easily grow the platforms of both influencers by exposing them to new audiences.”
Hosting Account takeovers is another powerful collaborative tool that creators use to force the algorithm to give more exposure to their content. An account takeover is a strategy where an influencer can surrender their account to another influencer for some time, either by posting only content from that influencer or giving the influencer access to their platforms to post directly.
The basic idea is to create a feeling that that influencer is in charge for that period. This is a powerful way that influencers use to expose their work and brands to other influencers’ audiences. The results are usually remarkable as the algorithm is forced to make that connection.
Collaborating with Aspiring Influencers is also becoming more popular. Stefanie recently launched the Baby G Mag, a subscription-based platform where other creatives can be featured and grow their own platforms. She explains why she thinks this strategy is helpful; “With all the algorithm changes, it has become difficult to grow organically today than it was a few years ago.
So, I built Baby G Mag specifically for other girls who want to grow their brand, make money, and can be seen by a guaranteed amount of paying customers. Right now we are collating with other magazines as well. Playboy Mexico has already seen us as an interesting platform to collaborate with in just our first few weeks.”
While many influencers are looking to connect with influencers with bigger platforms, Stefanie realizes that collaborating with up-and-coming influencers is a win-win. It exposes her to new audiences as these smaller influencers usually have a smaller but fiercely loyal audience. It is also her way of helping these influencers grow faster and gain more influence.
User-Generated Content (UGC) is also becoming stronger among influencers. 85% of users find visual UGC more influential than brand photos or videos. It also drives 6.9-times-higher engagement than generic content.
UGC is a form of collaboration that Influencers build with their followers. This is effective because followers tend to engage with UGCs at a higher rate. Since the algorithm gives more exposure to posts and platforms with more engagement, the Influencer’s platforms usually get seen way more. It’s a win-win for most influencers.
Influencer Pods are becoming robust as well. Some influencers have decided that the best way to link their audiences is to create pods of influencers. These pods usually have 10-15 influencers from within their industry who engage authentically with each other’s content; they share, like, and leave thoughtful comments on their most recent posts.
Many see pods as a way to skew the system and game the algorithm, but so far, no social media platform has cracked down on them yet. Stefanie believes that collaboration in whatever shape or form it comes is the key to consistent growth as influencers;
“In my case, my fame didn’t necessarily come from social media, but I have been able to maintain it on social media by continuing with the things I became famous for. My merchandise, my videos, and my photos are what people value about my brand, and so I remain consistent.
However, I also believe that helping others rise has helped me rise even more. Collaboration will probably always be a successful route to go even if the algorithms change again, because it is at the heart of what social media is trying to do, which is to connect people and to help people discover other relevant people. It’s a silver bullet by every standard.”
Stefanie’s points are valid; at the heart of most social media platforms is a desire to connect people and increase engagement. Their money-making structures are built around these same values. So it is likely that finding valuable ways to collaborate will always win in the end, and It’s difficult to have any problems with it whatsoever.
Disrupted sleep patterns affect mental health, and researchers now hope that repairing circadian rhythms could ease symptoms.Between 2015 and 2018, researchers invited 23 people to a laboratory at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, for a study of the body’s daily cycles, known as circadian rhythms.
During one phase of the experiment, the study participants kept to a fairly typical night-time sleep schedule. In another phase, the researchers reversed the participants’ sleep–wake cycle in a procedure that was designed to mimic the experience of night-shift workers.
“Epidemiological studies suggest that night-shift workers are at [approximately] 25% to 40% higher risk for mental illnesses, including depression and anxiety,” says Sarah Chellappa, a neuroscientist at the University of Cologne in Germany. Chellappa and her collaborators wanted to understand why. In both parts of the experiment, participants completed a computerized questionnaire about their mood several times a day.
When the researchers implemented the schedule switch, participants’ mood plummeted, and failed to improve during the four days they spent on the reversed schedule. The findings suggested that one reason for an increased risk of depression among shift workers is the misalignment of the body’s internal clock with the outside world.
Up to one in five people in industrialized countries are shift workers and the study participants included individuals who worked nights, as well as those who worked day shifts. People in both groups experienced a darkening of mood when their schedules were knocked out of whack — an indication that circadian misalignment has negative effects even on long-time shift workers..
“This is not just some academic question,” says Frank Scheer, a chronobiologist at Harvard Medical School in Boston and Chellappa’s collaborator on the study of circadian misalignment. “It’s something that’s of relevance to one of the most vulnerable populations” of workers.
Much of the public conversation around depression casts the disease as a chemical imbalance in the brain. But mood disorders have increased with modern lifestyles. There is growing evidence that circadian-rhythm disruptions and altered light exposure (with more artificial light at night and less natural daylight during the day) that accompany those lifestyles increase the risk of depression.
“Our modern environment is not really great for our circadian clock,” says Colleen McClung, a chronobiologist at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. “This is an ancient mechanism in our brains and our bodies that evolved at the very beginning of life on Earth, and now we have the ability to have electric lights and to fly across time zones and work late at night. And our biology has not caught up to that at all.”
Scientists have known for decades that sleep problems and circadian disruption are associated with depression. The cause-and-effect relationships between these factors have been difficult to tease apart. But, as the links become clearer, more attention is turning to non-pharmacological therapies that modulate sleep and circadian rhythms — sometimes known as chronotherapeutics — as treatments for depression. Some researchers are even investigating the possibility of delivering circadian-rhythm modulation in a pill. Others are exploring ways to tweak the details of modern life to reduce the risk of depression, particularly for shift workers.
Light and shadow
According to one study, more than 90% of people with depression have sleep problems, and sleeping too much or too little is one of the diagnostic criteria for depression. In the past decade, multiple studies have tracked people’s sleep habits and mental health over time and have shown that sleep difficulties at a certain time point increase the likelihood that a person will develop depression later in life. Poor sleep turns out to be not only a symptom but also a predictor.
Fortunately, psychologists have an arsenal of behavioural interventions that can improve sleep, says Aliza Werner-Seidler, a clinical psychologist at the Black Dog Institute at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. These interventions frequently help people to sleep better and can also ease depression symptoms. “If a client was sitting in front of me with significant sleep problems and significant mental-health problems, and didn’t have a preference on where to start, I would definitely be going down the sleep problem route,” says Werner-Seidler.
What’s more, sleep has a protective effect: improving sleep can help to prevent depression in adults. Werner-Seidler is now wrapping up a study to test whether a sleep intervention delivered through an app can stave off the development of symptoms of mental illness in adolescents aged 12–16 with sleep problems; preliminary results are promising, she says. She is working with more than 20 schools in New South Wales to help improve student sleep.
Another non-pharmaceutical approach to treating depression involves the manipulation of light, one of the strongest influences on the circadian system that keeps the body’s internal clock in synch with the environment. Studies over the past decade have shown that light also has a direct antidepressant effect, through the stimulation of mood-regulating brain centres.
Spending 30 minutes in front of a source of bright, full-spectrum light in the morning is well established as a treatment for seasonal depression. But the use of light therapy for other forms of depression has been slower to develop, says Christian Cajochen, head of the Centre for Chronobiology at the University of Basel in Switzerland.
Early studies of light therapy for non-seasonal depression reported mixed results — but in the past decade, researchers have begun to take a second look. A 2016 study showed that the antidepressant fluoxetine plus bright light therapy provides more consistent relief from non-seasonal depression than either treatment alone. And in July, a group of researchers including Cajochen reported results from a study of people with perinatal depression that suggest light therapy can help these patients as well. Although best used in conjunction with pharmaceutical antidepressants, light is “as potent as antidepressant drugs”, Cajochen says.
Circadian target
In some cases, a more radical overhaul of the body’s circadian rhythms might be necessary to treat depression. In the early 1970s, researchers realized that keeping people with depression awake for 36 hours often provided immediate relief of their symptoms. As a research assistant on a ward for people with severe depression in 1975 at the US National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland, Blynn Bunney, now a biological psychologist at the University of California, Irvine, recalls witnessing effects of sleep deprivation that were nothing short of “miraculous”.
But such patients generally saw their symptoms return after a good night’s sleep — a big problem for actually implementing sleep deprivation as a treatment for depression. Later studies showed that this relapse could be prevented by combining sleep deprivation with light therapy and what researchers call sleep phase advance — essentially, going to bed earlier. In a 2009 study, a group including Bunney showed that half of people who underwent this routine remained in remission after seven weeks.
Sleep deprivation, also known as wake therapy, is now used in some European countries. Although the intervention is brief, it’s intense — staff must work to keep people awake — and until recently it has been studied mostly in in-patient settings. But a pilot study published in 2021 showed that the approach could be adapted to help people who are not hospitalized, raising the prospect of much wider use.
The increased focus on the importance of the circadian system in depression has also spurred a search for drugs that can alter or strengthen circadian rhythms. Such medication could be used as an alternative or add-on treatment to conventional antidepressants or as mood stabilizers in bipolar disorder — a condition characterized by extreme mood swings.
Two of the most important existing treatments for bipolar disorder, lithium and valproic acid, both affect circadian rhythms, says McClung, who has studied other circadian-modulating compounds in a mouse model of bipolar disorder. And in mouse brains, sleep deprivation and the rapid-acting antidepressant ketamine both cause similar changes in the expression of circadian-related genes. This provides a hint that the circadian system might be especially relevant to the search for compounds that can provide fast relief from depression symptoms.
But drugs that can get into the brain without causing other side effects have proved elusive. For example, agomelatine, a compound related to melatonin, a hormone involved in the sleep–wake cycle, is approved as an add-on treatment for depression in Europe and Australia. But phase III trials in the United States showed weak results and possible liver toxicity.
Lifestyle changes
If elements of modern life increase the risk for depression, what about tweaking modern life to be friendlier to mental health? Such changes could help shift workers and others alike. For example, Chellappa and Scheer have unpublished data showing that eating in synch with typical mealtimes, even if a person’s sleep schedule is altered, can prevent the adverse effects of circadian disruption on mood.
This might be a tricky strategy for shift workers to implement, given all the other constraints on their schedules. But it could be used to help fight jet lag and other circadian disruptions that are prevalent in modern life, the researchers say.
Another approach might be to redesign evening lighting in homes or night-shift lighting in factories so that it doesn’t affect the body’s internal clock. The circadian system responds most strongly to blue light at wavelengths of around 480 nanometres. Taking advantage of LED technology, researchers can create light spectra that exclude these wavelengths but otherwise look normal to the human eye.
However, it’s much easier to implement such lighting on a flat computer screen or electronic display than in overhead or ambient lighting, says Manuel Spitschan, a visual neuroscientist and chronobiologist at the Max Planck Institute in Tübingen, Germany. Using room lighting that makes a blank piece of paper appear reassuringly white might make a person’s skin look grey — and that uncanny appearance of the world might have its own psychological effects.
Excluding those doing shift work, many people might be able to moderate the mood-altering effects of modern life on the circadian system by changing their behaviour rather than changing technology, Spitschan argues. He was part of an international team of scientists that earlier this year released recommendations for better ‘light hygiene’, such as getting outside during the morning and limiting artificial light in the hours before bed in the evening.
Refining such recommendations will require studies that reflect the light exposures people actually experience in their everyday lives, rather than the extreme conditions of lab studies, Spitschan cautions. Still, it’s an empowering thought: “We’re not lab rats,” he says. “We don’t just sit in a shoebox and someone else changes the lighting.”
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