How physical exercise prevents dementia
Numerous studies have shown that physical exercise seems beneficial in the prevention of cognitive impairment and dementia in old age. Now researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt have explored in one of the first studies worldwide how exercise affects brain metabolism.
Tai Chi May Help Prevent Falls in Older and At-Risk Adults
An analysis of published studies indicates that tai chi may help reduce the number of falls in both the older adult population and at-risk adults. The findings, which are published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, offer a simple and holistic way to…
Could Aggressive Blood Pressure Treatment Lead to Kidney Damage?
Aggressive combination treatments for high blood pressure that are intended to protect the kidneys may actually be damaging the organs, new research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine suggests.
Moderate exercise and dieting reduces risk of caesarean section and diabetes in pregnancy
Pregnant women who have a healthy diet and regular moderate exercise are less likely to have a caesarean section, gain excessive weight, or develop diabetes in pregnancy, according to a study led by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) using data from over 12,000 women.
Gaining a few pounds may increase long-term heart failure risk
Gaining even a little weight over time may alter the structure and function of heart muscle, affecting long-term risk of heart failure, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
Not All Plant-Based Diets Are Created Equal
Plant-based diets with high intake of sweets, refined grains may increase heart disease risk
Study shows major ongoing decline in sperm counts of Western men, pointing to impaired male health and decreasing fertility
A meta-analysis of data collected between 1973 and 2011 finds that among men from Western countries, sperm concentration has declined by more than 50%, with no evidence of a “leveling off” in recent years. These findings strongly suggest a significant decline in male reproductive health…
Effective Protection against Hip Fracture during Cortisone Treatment
There is effective protection against hip fracture for the many elderly people whose skeleton is declining in strength, as a side effect of cortisone treatment. If patients receive the osteoporosis medication alendronate, it reduces the risk of hip fracture by 65 percent, as a study…
Cancer Survivors Get a Taste for Kefir after Exercise
Study shows kefir is a good way for cancer survivors to enjoy a fortifying post-exercise dairy drink without stomach upset, reports the Journal of Dairy Science®
One in three cases of dementia could be prevented by targeting risk factors from childhood onwards
One in three cases of dementia could potentially be prevented if brain health is improved throughout life by targeting nine risk factors, including continuing education in early life, reducing hearing loss in mid-life, and reducing smoking in later life.
Happiness Can Affect Physical Health
A new review indicates that subjective well-being—factors such as life satisfaction and enjoyment of life—can influence physical health. The review’s investigators also examine why this is so and conditions where it is most likely to occur.
Low-dose diazepam can increase social competitiveness
EPFL scientists have discovered how low-dose anxiolytics increase the social competitiveness of high-anxious individuals by boosting the energy output of mitochondria in an area of the mammalian brain that controls motivation and reward.