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Researchers have found that earwax is a rich source of health information. Its chemical makeup is now being studied, which could potentially uncover new methods for diagnosing diseases such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes and cancer.
The scientific term for earwax is cerumen. It is a natural substance formed from secretions of two gland types in the outer ear canal, blending with hair, perspiration, debris, and other particles to reach a waxy consistency. Once produced in the ear canal, the substance is carried outward, adhering to skin cells as they move from the inner ear to the outer edge. Generated within the external ear passage, it serves to moisturize, cleanse, and shield the ears, acting as a defense against foreign particles.
Earwax varies based on genetic background. People of European or African heritage typically have wet earwax, which is of a yellow hue and is sticky. Whereas, East Asians have dry earwax, which is gray in color and non-sticky. Some individuals produce minimal earwax or none at all. Researchers are nearing the completion of studies to address this issue.
In recent years, earwax has transitioned from an overlooked biological material to a key subject in scientific research, especially for diagnostics. A prior study gathered earwax samples from individuals with and without cancer.
Scientists found 27 compounds in earwax that act as a unique signature for cancer detection, distinguishing cancer patients from healthy individuals with 100% accuracy. This new test could offer a fast, non-invasive, cost-effective, and highly precise method for diagnosing cancer. The researchers called the new method the Cerumenogram.
The versatility of earwax has astonished researchers with each study, and they are confident it will become a standard diagnostic tool with numerous applications for human and animal health.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Cerumenogram: a new frontier in cancer diagnosis in humans
Now researchers have found a way not just to stop, but, reverse the aging process. The key is something called a telomere. We all have them. They are the tips or caps of your chromosomes. They are long and stable in young adults, but, as we age they become shorter, damaged and frayed. When they stop working we start aging and experience things like hearing and memory loss.
New evidence that adult stem cells are critical to human aging has recently been published on a study done on a super-centenarian woman that lived to be 115 years. At death, her circulating stem cell pool had declined to just two active stem cells from stem cell counts that are typically more than a thousand in younger adults. Super-centenarians have survived all the normal diseases that kill 99.9% of us before 100 years of age, so it has been a mystery as to what actually kills these hardy individuals. This recent data suggest that stem cell decline may be the main contributor to aging. If so, stabilizing stem cells may be the best thing one can do to slow your rate of aging.
Dietary fat is a vital component of our diet, serving as a dense energy source, aiding in vitamin transport, and, when stored, cushioning organs and insulating the body. A fatty meal might feel like a harmless treat. However, new research suggests that just one high-fat meal could restrict brain blood flow, possibly raising the chances of stroke and cognitive decline.