Some video games = lower loneliness and greater resilience

 

A visual abstract summarizing the key findings of the research titled "The Effects of Open-World and Fun, Accessible Games on Perceived Loneliness and Stoicism in Adults: Cross-Sectional Survey Study," published in JMIR Serious Games in 2026. The study found that mainstream video games can mitigate the feeling of loneliness in young adults by promoting a stoic mindset.

Credit

JMIR Publications

A new study published in JMIR Serious Games suggests that some video games may do more than entertain—they may also help adults cope with loneliness and build emotional resilience. The study, titled “The Effects of Open-World and Fun, Accessible Games on Perceived Loneliness and Stoicism in Adults: Cross-Sectional Survey Study,” found that adults who played open-world adventure games such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and accessible “feel-good” games such as Yoshi’s Crafted World reported lower levels of loneliness than nonplayers. These players also showed higher levels of stoicism, a psychological measure of emotional resilience, self-control, and the ability to handle challenges calmly.

Published by JMIR Publications, the study surveyed 2252 adults aged 21 years and older about their gaming habits, emotional outlook, and feelings of loneliness. According to the authors, the findings suggest that specific types of games may offer positive emotional outcomes beyond simple escapism.

The researchers hypothesize that combining challenging exploration-based games and more relaxing games may create what they describe as a balanced “digital diet” for emotional well-being.

“Contrary to the stereotype of gaming as mere escapism, we found that open-world and accessible, joyous games can help foster a resilient, stoic mindset and alleviate loneliness,” said author Andreas B Eisingerich.

Loneliness continues to be recognized globally as a growing public health concern linked to poorer mental and physical health outcomes. While the study does not claim that games replace professional mental health care, it suggests that thoughtfully chosen gaming experiences could be affordable and scalable tools to support emotional well-being.

This research moves beyond the stereotype of gaming as passive screen time. Instead, it highlights that video games can provide spaces where players practice persistence, problem-solving, recovery from setbacks, and emotional regulation.

 

Please cite as:

Hou C, Tam W, Rahmadianty A, Rajendra P, Eisingerich A
The Effects of Open-World and Fun, Accessible Games on Perceived Loneliness and Stoicism in Adults: Cross-Sectional Survey Study
JMIR Serious Games 2026;14:e89304
URL: https://games.jmir.org/2026/1/e89304
DOI: 10.2196/89304

Chewing sugary gum after eating beetroot lowers blood pressure

 For the first time, researchers at King’s College London have discovered a link between chewing sugary gum after consuming vegetables high in nitrate, such as beetroot, spinach and kale, on lowering blood pressure.

Nitrate is absorbed by vegetables from the soil, but it needs to be converted into nitrite by bacteria in the mouth before it can be used by the body. Nitrite has wide-ranging effects, including the relaxation and widening of blood vessels, which enables blood to flow more easily, lowering blood pressure.

With these cardiovascular benefits limited by the bacteria in the mouth converting nitrate into nitrite which can be used by the body, scientists are investigating how this process might be enhanced. A little-explored theory is that increasing the acidity in saliva could increase this chemical reaction.

To test this theory, researchers investigated whether chewing sugar-containing gum, which is acidic and lowers the pH in the mouth, increases nitrite production.

Dr Andrew Webb, Clinical Senior Lecturer in the School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Medicine & Sciences, King’s College London, said: “Whether and how the acidity of the saliva in the mouth impacts the conversion of the inactive nitrate, to the more active nitrite, is a fundamental question, as it impacts a range of important physiological functions including blood pressure. However, this process has not been studied much.

“While most research suggests that increasing acidity inhibits the conversion of nitrate, this has never been investigated in the whole body, over several hours.

“Incidentally, we previously found that combining grapefruit juice with beetroot juice decreased the acidity of the saliva and inhibited the conversion of nitrate to nitrite in the saliva. So, we wanted to formally test whether doing the opposite – increasing the acidity of the saliva – would enhance the conversion of nitrate to nitrite.”

Healthy volunteers were randomly allocated to chew sugar-containing (Hubba Bubba® bubble) gum, or sugar-free (Wrigley’s Extra®) chewing gum, for three to six hours after drinking a shot of beetroot juice. Blood and saliva samples were analysed throughout the study, alongside blood pressure measurements. The volunteers returned at least a week later to repeat the experiment but chewing the other gum.   

When volunteers chewed Hubba Bubba, the acidity of the saliva increased (measured by a 1.4 decrease in pH) compared to chewing the sugar-free gum. The participants also had a 45% higher amount of nitrite in the mouth and 25% higher level of nitrite around the body, compared to when they chewed sugar-free gum.

Chewing sugary gum also significantly decreased systolic blood pressure (when the heart pushes blood out) and diastolic blood pressure (when the heart relaxes between beats) by almost 3/2 mmHg, compared to sugar-free gum.

 

While the researchers stress that chewing sugary gum is not a therapeutic approach for people trying to manage their blood pressure, the finding could have implications for sports people already harnessing the effects of beetroot to improve their athletic performance.

Dr Webb added: “The effects were only short-term, lasting several hours, and long-term use of sugar-containing products would not be recommended for dental health. Nonetheless, the classic culinary tradition of following a starter and a main course, especially if they contain nitrate-rich salad leaves and vegetables, with a sweet dessert – which could be fruit – may temporarily increase blood pressure-lowering and exercise enhancement.

“We also suggest that sugary chewing gum will have a greater effect compared to drinking sugary drinks, as it stays in the mouth for a longer period of time.”

Co-author Dr Charlotte Mills, University of Reading, added: “The bacteria that live in our mouths play a critical role in converting nitrate from foods such as beetroot into beneficial compounds that help relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure. Our findings suggest that the presence of sugar may create a more favourable environment for this process.

“We are certainly not suggesting that people should start chewing sugary gum regularly. Frequent sugar consumption is harmful for dental health and is also detrimental to cardiometabolic health when consumed in excess. Instead, our findings provide a proof of concept that we may be able to improve how the body processes dietary nitrate, and future research should focus on developing tooth-friendly, metabolically sound approaches that achieve the same effect.

“The challenge now is to identify alternative strategies that are both effective and appropriate for long-term use.

“Because dietary nitrate is already a recognised sports supplement, there is potential to optimise how athletes use it. If we can enhance nitrate conversion, we may be able to improve the physiological benefits that athletes obtain from nitrate-rich foods.

“We found that something as simple as the type of chewing gum used alongside beetroot juice can influence how effectively the body converts dietary nitrate into compounds that help lower blood pressure.”

For the next steps, the scientists propose conducting a larger study focused on sports people, to further investigate the relationship between sugary chewing gum, blood pressure and athletic performance.

This study is published in British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

Postbiotic foods for improving gum health

 

 

Caption

Foods containing  heat-inactivated Lactiplantibacillus pentosus can help prevent gingivitis and maintain oral health.

Credit

Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Japan

Continuous consumption of foods containing heat-inactivated Lactiplantibacillus pentosus can help reduce gum bleeding, report researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo. These postbiotic foods can improve inflammatory conditions and enhance gum health in adults with mild gingivitis. The study suggested that these postbiotic foods offer a simple and practical way to support oral health in daily life without altering oral care habits. The findings also aid in the prevention of early-stage periodontal disease.

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, affects millions of people worldwide. In early stages, known as gingivitis, the gums become swollen and are prone to bleeding. While professional dental care and regular oral hygiene is important for prevention of the disease, researchers are exploring innovative approaches that can support gum health in everyday life. One promising strategy is the use of probiotic (beneficial bacteria) for maintaining gum health. However, these usually disturb the natural balance of microorganisms in the oral cavity. Also, these probiotics possess a shorter shelf life and are less stable.

Addressing this issue, a research team led by Professor Takanori Iwata along with Assistant Professor Shogo Maekawa, and Visiting Lecturer Anhao Liu from the Department of Periodontology, Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Japan, in collaboration with Associate Professor Megumi Ishiguro of the Health Science Research and Development Center, Science Tokyo, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Tokyo Center Clinic, Japan, investigated if postbiotic foods containing heat-inactivated bacteria (Lactiplantibacillus pentosus ONRICb0240) could help improve gum health and reduce bleeding without disrupting normal oral bacteria. The findings were published online in the Journal of Periodontology on April 19, 2026.

“We conducted a clinical trial on 116 adults who were suffering from mild gingival inflammation,” explains Iwata. The participants were randomly allocated to receive either the gummies containing heat-inactivated bacteria or placebo (non-loaded) gummies. The gummies were consumed twice daily for six weeks. The participants were not given any special instructions regarding tooth brushing or additional oral care, which allowed the researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of the gummies under realistic conditions.

At the end of the study, the researchers evaluated the gum health and gingival index (a measure of gum inflammation) of the participants. Surprisingly, the participants who had consumed the postbiotic gummies experienced less gum bleeding and their gums appeared healthier and stronger overall, compared to those who received the placebo gummies. For the gingival index, no significant difference was observed between the groups; however, a significant improvement from baseline was observed in the test group.

“By evaluating the gummies under normal daily living conditions, we were able to better understand their practical potential for supporting gum health,” says Iwata.

The significance of the study lies in the use of heat-inactivated bacteria rather than live probiotics strains. Heat-inactivated bacteria are generally more stable during manufacturing and storage, making them easier to convert into consumer products than live bacteria. In addition to this, the researchers believe that the anti-inflammatory effects of the postbiotic gummies might be responsible for the reduction in gum bleeding. Since gum bleeding is one of the earliest warning signs of gingivitis, reducing inflammation at this stage could help prevent the progression to more serious periodontal disease.

Overall, the research provides a simple and convenient method that can be added to routine oral care practices. It also highlights the growing potential of functional foods and probiotic-derived ingredients in preventive healthcare. Looking ahead, the researchers plan to investigate the underlying biological mechanisms and evaluate the long-term benefits of these gummies for periodontal health.

People who follow a short-term low-calorie diet may reduce gum disease.

 

People who follow a short-term low-calorie diet may have reduced markers of inflammation associated with gum disease.

A new study by King’s College London highlights how lifestyle modifications could be important alongside plaque control in managing gum disease.

While fasting has been linked to reduced inflammation around the body, this is the first to establish a relationship with gum disease too. The findings offer new insights into how oral and wider body health are closely intertwined.

Dr Giuseppe Mainas, first author of the study, King’s College London, said: “Our study suggests lifestyle modifications could be important alongside proper tooth brushing for patients.”

Periodontitis, a serious form of gum disease, affects millions of people worldwide and has been linked to wider health problems, including heart disease and diabetes. While standard treatment focuses on cleaning infected areas around the teeth, researchers are increasingly exploring whether diet can play a role in improving outcomes.

The research included 28 patients from across hospitals in Spain, split into two groups – those who followed a five-day restrictive diet, versus a control group who continued their usual diet.

Patients who fasted ate 1,100 calories for two days, then 750 calories for three days. The sixth day gently introduced more calories with soft foods – then their diets returned to normal by the seventh day. This was repeated three times in six months, with patients reporting the diet easy to stick to.

After six months, samples were analysed from the patients’ blood and gingival crevicular fluid – liquid that comes from the small space between your tooth and gum, which helps gums stay healthy and fight germs.

Those who fasted had reduced markers of inflammation in samples from blood and gum tissue compared to those whose diets stayed the same, including lower levels of C-reactive protein, a general indicator of inflammation around the body. The fasting group also had reduced molecules linked to inflammation specifically in the gums, compared to controls.

Senior-author Prof Luigi Nibali, King’s College London, said: “There may be multiple reasons why fasting is beneficial to gum disease patients. Fasting reduces oxidative stress in the body, a common cause of inflammation, which can damage cells and DNA.

“Intake of high calorific foods and refined carbohydrates, for example in cakes and biscuits, can also cause inflammation – so restricting these foods also reduces oxidative stress in the body.

“It may also be that fasting has beneficial effects on the microbiome – the body’s community of bacteria that help to keep it healthy. However, further research is needed to confirm this relationship.”

Dietary approaches such as fasting-mimicking diets could be investigated in the future as supporting approaches alongside conventional therapies for gum disease, such as professional cleaning and oral hygiene support.

Dr Mainas added: “Now we have established this relationship, we would like to do a larger study, before potentially incorporating into gum disease treatment in the future. There may be patients where restricting foods can be dangerous, such as those with diabetes, so the advice will need to be targeted to specific patient groups. We are currently investigating how we could implement these benefits in high-risk groups who may not be able to fast.”

The study builds on long-standing research by King’s College London investigating the relationship between gum disease and wider health. Last year, researchers at King’s discovered following the mediterranean diet reduces gum disease, and that successful dental treatment reduces risks of diabetes and heart disease.

This study was published in Journal of Clinical Periodontology (JCP).

Higher levels of exercise and greater protein intake recommended

A new perspective paper published in Frontiers in Nutrition argues that current public health recommendations for physical activity and protein intake are designed to prevent deficiency rather than maximise long-term health, independence, and quality of life. The paper explores first principal questions: How much protein should you have? What exercises should you be doing? What does the latest science tell us?

Author Dr Chris Macdonald (Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge, and Director of the Better Protein Institute) says contemporary science reveals that higher levels of exercise and greater protein intake than current recommendations help people maintain physical and cognitive function as they age.

"Public health advice often focuses on the minimum people need to avoid problems," said Dr Macdonald. "But many people want to know what they should do to remain strong, independent, and mentally sharp throughout life."

The paper reviews evidence linking regular physical activity with lower mortality risk, improved mental health, enhanced cognition, and greater resilience against age-related decline. It highlights research suggesting that combining aerobic exercise with resistance training provides particularly strong benefits.

The review also examines protein intake recommendations. Current UK guidelines are based largely on preventing deficiency in sedentary adults. According to the paper, more recent research indicates that physically active individuals, older adults, and pregnant women may benefit from substantially higher protein intakes. The paper also highlights the fat-loss benefits of higher-protein diets (due to increased satiety and thermic effect).

Importantly, the paper notes that higher-protein diets can be compatible with plant-based eating patterns when meals are carefully planned. Evident with the rise in vegan powerlifters and bodybuilders.

Rather than replacing minimum recommendations, Dr Macdonald proposes adding guidance aimed at "optimal health outcomes" and providing the public with clearer, more practical advice.

In addition to having more evidenced-based guidelines, Dr Macdonald argues that we also need reframing and new perspectives: “… high-intensity exercise and high-protein diets are often associated with bodybuilders and superficial aesthetic goals. However, high-intensity exercise and high-protein diets also empower the general population to extend their lifespan and healthspan. Therefore, it is less about having ‘abs’ and a ‘beach body’ and more about being able to lift up, play with, and even remember, your grandchildren thanks to a strong and resilient body and mind. When we see a stereotypical image of a hunched-over slow, fragile person with ill health, in their later years, it seems like an inevitable consequence of “Father Time”, however, I propose that in most cases, it is evidence of a non-evidence-based lifestyle. In short, we should not be quick to normalise and accept the consequences of a largely sedentary lifestyle; we should proactively empower people to reclaim their health and their independence. The reduction in unnecessary suffering would be profound.”

Journal

Frontiers in Nutrition

Article title

"Beyond the bare minimum: the case for revised physical activity guidelines and protein intake recommendations that maximise healthspan"

Author

Dr Chris Macdonald. Fellow at Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge. Director of the Better Protein Institute.

Link to article
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2026.1853124/full

 

Strength training linked to lower heart disease risk in women

 

Women who consistently strength train showed substantially lower risk of major cardiovascular disease, particularly alongside aerobic activity and reduced sedentary time

Women who lift weights may have a lower risk of major heart disease, especially when combined with aerobic exercise, according to a new study published today in JACC, the flagship journal of the American College of Cardiology. Findings show that heart health is better understood by looking at overall movement habits, rather than focusing on single behaviors alone, and resistance training can result in additional health benefits when incorporated into an active lifestyle.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide, making accessible prevention strategies more important than ever. Aerobic activities such as brisk walking, jogging, cycling and swimming are well established to help prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD). Resistance training (RT), also known as strength training, is less established. It involves working muscles against a force, such as body weight, free weights, resistance bands or machines.

Current U.S. guidelines recommend at least two days of RT each week and 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity. They also stress limiting sedentary behaviors, including prolonged TV watching, now an independent risk factor for CVD. This study examines how RT influences CVD risk as part of this broader prevention approach.

“Despite its established health benefits, RT is often overlooked as a prevention strategy for CVD, and its impact on CVD risk—especially in middle-aged and older women—remains understudied,” said Dr. Tianyue Zhang, MD, lead study author and scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Department of Nutrition. “A key question is, how much does it add beyond aerobic activity alone?”

Researchers analyzed a prospective cohort of 117,025 women from the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and NHS II with a mean age at baseline of 66.8 years and 48.1 years, respectively. RT was assessed every four years and reported separately for the arms and legs. TV viewing time was the primary measure of sedentary behavior and was assessed as average hours per week spent sitting at home watching TV. The primary outcome was incident major CVD, defined as nonfatal or fatal myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, coronary artery bypass grafting or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

In both cohorts, higher levels of RT were associated with lower risk of major CVD, especially MI, with no significant association for stroke. Women who did two or more hours of RT per week had a 20% lower risk of major CVD and a 44% lower risk of MI compared with women who did none. Each additional hour per week was associated with a 5% lower risk of major CVD and a 14% lower risk of MI. These associations became somewhat weaker after adjusting for BMI and cardiometabolic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, but they remained clear.

RT even offered additional benefit among women who also did aerobic activity. In this subgroup, women who did RT for two or more hours per week in addition to 150 minutes of aerobic activity per week had a 45% lower risk of MI than those with no physical activity, and associations for major CVD changed slightly. In an integrated analysis of movement patterns that considered RT, aerobic activity and TV viewing time together, women who met all three recommendations had the lowest risks of major CVD, MI and stroke compared with those who met some or none of the recommendations.

“These findings suggest that, within an already active population, RT is associated with additional reductions in CVD risk above and beyond overall aerobic activity,” said Zhang. “Alongside aerobic activity and reductions in sedentary behavior, RT may be an important component of public health strategies for cardiovascular prevention in women.”

Study limitations include reliance on self-reported resistance training data, the potential influence of unmeasured factors and limited participant diversity. Researchers also could not fully separate the effects of the type of RT performed from the overall amount of RT the participants completed.

“We have long encouraged resistance training, and this study provides strong evidence to reinforce that message,” said Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, FACC, Editor-in-Chief of JACC and the Harold H. Hines, Jr Professor at the Yale School of Medicine. “It should be included in a well-rounded health routine to support function and longevity.”

Loneliness drives cognitive impairment, can lead to shorter life

 

Older people who struggle with loneliness — rather than strictly being alone — may experience a faster mental and physical decline.

The study, led by the University of California, Davis, used advanced statistical modeling to chart loneliness and social isolation as older adults move through stages of cognitive impairment and mortality. The results suggest that loneliness plays a much stronger role in cognitive impairment and shorter life spans than social isolation on its own.

“Loneliness is a perception,” said Tomiko Yoneda, an assistant professor of psychology at UC Davis and the study’s lead author. “You could be surrounded by a crowd of people and still feel lonely, whereas isolation is just being alone. Some people might be not lonely at all and be completely content in their solitude.”

The study was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology on June 15. 

Modeling people’s lifetimes

The team’s statistical models tested the impacts of loneliness and social isolation, both together and separately, on transitions between various states of cognitive impairment to the end of people’s lives. 

“This approach is crucial,” said Yoneda, “because cognitive impairment increases mortality risk, and both risks increase with age.”

Yoneda led the team of 24 researchers who analyzed data from 175,000 participants over the age of 50. Participants reported how frequently they felt lonely as well as how often they had contact with others. 

The analysis found that loneliness was consistently associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment and a shorter life, even after taking social isolation into account. Social isolation on its own was not consistently associated with cognitive decline and had only a weak association with a shorter life. 

A 10% increase in reports of feeling lonely was associated with an 8%-9% increased risk of severely impaired cognitive function and of transitioning from no impairment to mildly impaired cognitive function. 

Reporting loneliness more frequently was also associated with a 3% lower likelihood of returning from mild cognitive impairment to no impairment. This suggest, researchers said, that alleviating loneliness may be important for recovery. Higher loneliness was the most consistent risk earlier in life even before measurable cognitive decline appeared, researchers said.

“Loneliness may be most prominent in early stages of cognitive impairment, but is also a risk factor after impairment develops,” said the study’s supervising author Eileen K. Graham, an associate professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University. “Lonelier individuals may be more likely to progress to more severe stages and less likely to recover.”

Reducing loneliness

The researchers said that finding ways to reduce loneliness, which would blunt its effects on cognitive impairment, could reduce the costs associated with care for individuals with dementia and other cognitive ailments.  

They also said that individuals worried about cognitive decline can make efforts to strengthen their social connections with the people around them. For instance, hospitals and care organizations can incorporate screening tools that identify loneliness. Communities could create opportunities for older adults to engage with others and build a sense of belonging.

Additional co-authors include Emorie Beck, assistant professor of psychology at UC Davis; as well as researchers representing the University of Southern California, Auburn University, UC Riverside, University College London, Western Virginia University, University of Limerick, Rush University Medical Center, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and Cornell University.