Latest Health Research

I really should get this vaccination (and a flu shot)

Shingles Vaccination Among Baby Boomers

While people over the age of 60 account for more than half of all shingles cases, less than 15% get the vaccination that helps prevent the blistering skin rash, which can cause lingering nerve pain. The vaccine can reduce the chances of catching shingles by 51% or reduce the severity of an outbreak.

I really need to get up from the computer and the couch more often:

People who decrease sitting time and increase physical activity have a lower risk of chronic disease

Even standing throughout the day -- instead of sitting for hours at a time -- can improve health and quality of life while reducing the risk for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, breast cancer and colon cancer, among others.

Prolonged sitting linked to early mortality in women

Women with more than 11 hours of daily sedentary time faced a 12 percent increase in all-cause premature mortality compared with the most energetic group – those with four hours or less of inactivity. The former group also upped their odds for death due to cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease and cancer by 13, 27 and 21 percent, respectively.

Women begin to lose muscle mass at age 35, a change that accelerates with menopause. Regular exercise, especially lifting weights and other muscular strength-building exercises, helps to counteract these declines, but research finds that more everyday movement on top of working out is also important for maintaining health.

I'm pretty good on fiber and omega 3:

Fiber prevents diabetes and obesity

A high-fiber diet reduces the risk of colon problems

Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes

The study sheds new light on the association between fish consumption and the risk of type 2 diabetes. A well-balanced diet should include at least two fish meals per week, preferably fatty fish. Fish rich in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, rainbow trout, herring, anchovy, sardine and mackerel

I took this test: the Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination (SAGE test), and passed with flying colors.

Study: Self-administered test helps spot early Alzheimer's

Four out of five people (80 percent) with mild thinking and memory (cognitive) issues will be detected by this test, and 95 percent of people without issues will have normal SAGE scores.

So I guess I don’t need to worry about this:

Cognitive training shows staying power

Training to improve cognitive abilities in older people lasted to some degree 10 years after the training program was completed, according to results of a randomized clinical trial supported by the National Institutes of Health.

But I’m glad for this help:

Caffeine Enhances Memory

Caffeine enhances certain memories at least up to 24 hours after it is consumed.

People still question me about this when I drink coffee before soccer:

Researchers dispel the myth that coffee consumption can cause dehydration


I'm glad I take a statin:

High Good, Low Bad Cholesterol Levels Are Healthy for Brain, Too/

High levels of "good" cholesterol and low levels of "bad" cholesterol are correlated with lower levels of the amyloid plaque deposition in the brain that is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, in a pattern that mirrors the relationship between good and bad cholesterol in cardiovascular disease, UC Davis researchers have found. The relationship between elevated cholesterol and increased risk of Alzheimer's disease has been known for some time, but the current study is the first to specifically link cholesterol to amyloid deposits in living human study participants.
In the United States, cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood. For HDL cholesterol, a level of 60 mg/dl or higher is best. For LDL cholesterol, a level of 70 mg/dL or lower is recommended for people at very high risk of heart disease.

More interesting research:

Alcohol consumption reduces odds of getting multiple sclerosis

Some 30 minutes of meditation daily may improve symptoms of anxiety and depression

High blood pressure potentially more dangerous for women than men