Diet
Light drinking may protect brain function
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 18 hours ago
Light to moderate drinking may preserve brain function in older age, according to a new study from the University of Georgia. The study examined the link between alcohol consumption and changes in cognitive function over time among middle-aged and older adults in the U.S. "We know there are some older people who believe that drinking a little wine everyday could maintain a good cognitive condition," said lead author Ruiyuan Zhang, a doctoral student at UGA's College of Public Health. "We wanted to know if drinking a small amount of alcohol actually correlates with a good cognitive func... more »
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Even 'low-risk' drinking can be harmful
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 2 weeks ago
JOURNAL OF STUDIES ON ALCOHOL AND DRUGS SHARE PRINT E-MAIL [image: IMAGE] IMAGE: DOES DRINKING WITHIN CANADA'S LOW-RISK GUIDELINES PREVENT HARM? view more CREDIT: UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA PISCATAWAY, NJ - It's not just heavy drinking that's a problem -- even consuming alcohol within weekly low-risk drinking guidelines can result in hospitalization and death, according to a new study published in the *Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs*. Moderate drinkers "are not insulated from harm," write researchers led by Adam Sherk, Ph.D., of the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Res... more »
The consumption of too much fructose -- particularly in a short period of time -- can overwhelm the gut
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 day ago
After one consumes food or a beverage containing fructose, the gastrointestinal system, or gut, helps to shield the liver from damage by breaking down the sugar before it reaches the liver, according to a new multi-center study led by researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. However, the consumption of too much fructose -- particularly in a short period of time -- can overwhelm the gut, causing fructose to "spill over" into the liver, where it wreaks havoc and causes fatty liver, researchers discovered. The findings, in mice, help to unravel ... more »
Excessive sugar intake linked with unhealthy fat deposits
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 day ago
Sugar consumption is linked with larger fat deposits around the heart and in the abdomen, which are risky for health. That's the finding of a study published today in the *European Journal of Preventive Cardiology*, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).1 "When we consume too much sugar the excess is converted to fat and stored," said study author Ms. So Yun Yi, a PhD student at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. "This fat tissue located around the heart and in the abdomen releases chemicals into the body which can be harmful to health. Our results s... more »
Raw milk may do more harm than good
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 day ago
Raw or unpasteurized cows' milk from U.S. retail stores can hold a huge amount of antimicrobial-resistant genes if left at room temperature, according to a new study from researchers at the University of California, Davis. The study also found bacteria that harbored antimicrobial-resistant genes can transfer them to other bacteria, potentially spreading resistance if consumed. The study was published in the journal Microbiome. "We don't want to scare people, we want to educate them. If you want to keep drinking raw milk, keep it in your refrigerator to minimize the risk of it develo... more »
Nutrition a key ingredient for cognitive health
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 6 days ago
Fruit and vegetable intake, immigration status, age, education, blood pressure, obesity and body fat were found to be associated with greater verbal fluency among anglophone Canadians aged 45 and older UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO SHARE PRINT E-MAIL A new study, investigating factors associated with verbal fluency among a large sample of anglophone Canadians aged 45-85, found that individuals who consumed more vegetables and fruits and more nuts and pulses (such as lentils and beans) scored higher on tests of verbal fluency. "These findings are consistent with other research that has f... more »
Following a variety of healthy eating patterns associated with lower heart disease risk
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 2 weeks ago
HARVARD T.H. CHAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH SHARE PRINT E-MAIL Boston, MA - Greater adherence to a variety of healthy eating patterns was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to new research led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The findings add support for the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which focus on healthy eating patterns rather than individual ingredients and nutrients to better account for diverse cultural and personal food traditions and preferences. "Although each healthy eating pattern represents a different... more »
Vegetarians are slimmer and less extroverted than meat eaters
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 2 weeks ago
According to a survey by the Allensbach Institute, more than 6.1 million Germans stated last year that they were vegetarians, 400,000 more than two years earlier. A large-scale study at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI CBS) in cooperation with the University Hospital of Leipzig has now examined in almost 9,000 people how this form of nutrition is related to the body and the psyche - regardless of age, gender and level of education. It was found that the rarer the proportion of animal food in a person's diet, the lower their body mass index (BMI) o... more »
Vitamin K may offer protective health benefits in older age
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 2 weeks ago
A new, multi-ethnic study found older adults with low vitamin K levels were more likely to die within 13 years compared to those whose vitamin K levels were adequate. The results suggest vitamin K, a nutrient found in leafy greens and vegetable oils, may have protective health benefits as we age, according to the researchers. The meta-analysis, involving nearly 4,000 Americans aged 54-76, one-third of whom were non-white, was led by researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University (USDA HNRCA) and Tufts Medical Center and is published i... more »
People who eat a late dinner may gain weight
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 2 weeks ago
Eating a late dinner may contribute to weight gain and high blood sugar, according to a small study published in the Endocrine Society's *Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism*. Over 2.1 billion adults are estimated to have overweight or obesity which make health complications like diabetes and high blood pressure more likely. Some studies suggest that consuming calories later in the day is associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. "This study sheds new light on how eating a late dinner worsens glucose tolerance and reduces the amount of fat burned. The effect of late ... more »
High-salt diet impacts health of gut microbiome
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 3 weeks ago
Particularly in females with untreated hypertension, reducing salt intake to what's considered a healthier level appears to be good for both their gut microbiome and their blood pressure, scientists report. In the blood of 145 adults with untreated hypertension, the scientists found that, particularly for the females, just six weeks of a daily sodium intake close to the 2,300 milligrams recommended by groups like the American Heart Association, resulted in increased levels of short-chain fatty acids, an indicator of a healthy microbiome, circulating in the blood. The hypertensive ad... more »
Drinking fruit juice in early years can have long term dietary benefits
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 3 weeks ago
A new study from Boston University published on-line at *BMC Nutrition* by Lynn L. Moore and colleagues, found that drinking 100% fruit juice early in life was associated with healthier dietary patterns in later childhood without adversely impacting weight gain. The study found that consumption of 100% fruit juice during the preschool years was associated with higher intakes of whole fruit and total fruit as well as better diet quality through childhood and into middle adolescence. "We know that whole fruit intake as well as diet quality typically decline from early childhood throug... more »
Combination of healthy lifestyle traits may substantially reduce Alzheimer's disease risk
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago
Data from two NIH studies show 60% lower risk among those with highest number of healthy behaviors NIH/NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING SHARE PRINT E-MAIL [image: IMAGE] IMAGE: COMBINING FOUR OR FIVE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE BEHAVIORS -- SUCH AS SWIMMING -- MAY LOWER RISK OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. view more CREDIT: NIH/NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING Combining more healthy lifestyle behaviors was associated with substantially lower risk for Alzheimer's disease in a study that included data from nearly 3,000 research participants. Those who adhered to four or all of the five specified healthy beh...more »
Regular volunteer work provides demonstrable benefits for the health and well-being of older adults
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 2 weeks ago
A new study in the *American Journal of Preventive Medicine*, published by Elsevier, takes a closer look at the benefits of volunteering to the health and well-being of volunteers, both validating and refuting findings from previous research. The results verify that adults over 50 who volunteer for at least 100 hours a year (about two hours per week) have a substantially reduced risk of mortality and developing physical limitations, higher levels of subsequent physical activity, and improved sense of well-being later on compared to individuals who do not volunteer. "Humans are socia... more »
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 day ago
[image: IMAGE] IMAGE: THE WEIGHT TRAINING SETUP (LEFT) AND THE WEIGHT PROGRESSION FOR EACH MONKEY (RIGHT). view more CREDIT: GLOVER AND BAKER, JNEUROSCI 2020 Gym-goers may get frustrated when they don't see results from weightlifting right away, but their efforts are not in vain: the first few weeks of training strengthen the nervous system, not muscles. New research published in *JNeurosci* reveals how. The brain orchestrates movement via two major neural highways descending to the spinal cord: the corticospinal tract (CST) and reticulospinal tract (RST). The CST is thought to be t... more »
Exercise increases benefits of breast milk for babies
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 day ago
A new study led by researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine finds even moderate exercise during pregnancy increases a compound in breast milk that reduces a baby's lifelong risks of serious health issues such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease. Findings from the study published online today in the journal *Nature Metabolism*. "We've done studies in the past that have shown that maternal exercise improves the health of offspring, but in this study, we wanted to begin to answer the question of why," said Kristin Stanford, a researcher ... more »
Study links increased exercise with lower sleep apnea risk
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 6 days ago
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF SLEEP MEDICINE SHARE PRINT E-MAIL A study published online as an accepted paper in the *Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine* found that increased physical activity is associated with a lower risk of obstructive sleep apnea, a common sleep-related breathing disorder. The study is the largest to date focused on the relationship between sleep apnea and levels of physical activity in the general community. Researchers reviewed lifestyle, medical, socio-demographic and sleep health data collected from more than 155,000 adults participating in the Ontario Health S... more »
Study shows sedentary behavior independently predicts cancer mortality
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago
Replacing sitting time with 30 minutes of activity associated with lower risk of cancer death UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS M. D. ANDERSON CANCER CENTER SHARE PRINT E-MAIL [image: IMAGE] IMAGE: SUSAN GILCHRIST, M.D. view more CREDIT: THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER HOUSTON -- In the first study to look at objective measures of sedentary behavior and cancer mortality, researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that greater inactivity was independently associated with a higher risk of dying from cancer. The most sedentary individuals had an 8... more »
Keep moving to prevent major mobility disability
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 2 weeks ago
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society research summary AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY SHARE PRINT E-MAIL Having trouble getting around on your own--such as difficulty walking, climbing steps, or being able to get in and out of a chair--can lead to physical disability and losing your independence. According to research, being physically inactive is the strongest risk factor for disability as we age. We know that physical activity has proven health benefits, especially moderate-to-vigorous physical activity such as walking to the store or many types of gardening. But perhaps sur... more »
Medicine
Many antibiotic substitutions for self-reported penicillin allergies likely unnecessary
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 21 hours ago
Hospitalized patients who report an allergy to penicillin are often prescribed alternative antibiotics for infection that can be harmful, even though diagnostic testing or evaluations would show that the vast majority of these reported allergies could be disproven, according to researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital. In a national study published in *JAMA Internal Medicine*, the team found that the 16% of hospitalized patients with a documented penicillin allergy were twice as likely to be prescribed alternative antibiotics. Given that more than 90 percent of documented pen... more »
Long-term use of muscle relaxants has skyrocketed since 2005
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 day ago
Office visits for ongoing prescribing of skeletal muscle relaxant drugs tripled from 2005 to 2016, according to a new study from researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Moreover, in 2016, nearly 70 percent of patients prescribed muscle relaxants were simultaneously prescribed an opioid -- a combination that has the potential to cause dangerous interactions. The researchers also found that muscle relaxants were prescribed disproportionately to older adults during this time period, despite national guidelines warning that this class of drugs s... more »
Botox is an effective treatment for some common sports injuries
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 3 weeks ago
While botulinum toxin is commonly known as a cosmetic treatment for facial lines and wrinkles, a growing body of evidence suggests that "Botox" can also be an effective treatment for certain sports injuries and chronic pain conditions, according to a review in the June issue of *Current Sports Medicine Reports*, official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer. Clint Moore, DO, and colleagues of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences assembled and analyzed previous research o... more »
Should nursing home residents nearing the end of life continue taking statins?
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 6 days ago
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Research Summary AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY SHARE PRINT E-MAIL Cardiovascular disease (also called heart disease) is one of the most common medical conditions older adults face. In nursing homes, almost half of all older adult residents have been diagnosed with problems affecting the heart and/or blood vessels. In spite of this, we know very little about how effective a class of popular heart disease medications may be for those 75 and older. Known as statins, these medications are prescribed to reduce the amount of cholesterol in you... more »
Should diabetes treatment lessen for older adults approaching the end of life?
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 6 days ago
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Research Summary AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY SHARE PRINT E-MAIL One in four people aged 65 or older has diabetes. The disease is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and a major contributor to heart disease. Experts have recommended that the best way to slow the progression of diabetes--and help prevent its many complications--is to maintain strict control of blood sugar levels. For healthy younger people, this means keeping the target blood sugar level (known as A1c or HbA1c) lower than 6.5 percent to 7.0 percent. F... more »
Sleep
Poor teenage sleep significantly linked with depression in later liife
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago
Teenagers who experience very poor sleep may be more likely to experience poor mental health in later life, according to a new study. In a paper published in the *Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry*, researchers analysed self-reported sleep quality and quantity from teenagers and found that there was a significant relationship between poor sleep and mental health issues. The team, based at the University of Reading, and Goldsmiths and Flinders Universities found that among the 4790 participants, those who experienced depression reported both poor quality and quantity of sleep,... more »
Less sleep reduces positive feelings
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago
Reaction time, other measures of performance also affected Sleeping less than normal impacts how we feel the next morning. "Not in the sense that we have more negative feelings, like being down or depressed. But participants in our study experienced a flattening of emotions when they slept less than normal. They felt less joy, enthusiasm, attention and fulfilment," says Associate Professor Ingvild Saksvik-Lehouillier at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's (NTNU) Department of Psychology. Most sleep research is done in laboratories, but Saksvik-Lehouillier and the NTN... more »
Supplements
Alternative medicine is widespread among people with MS
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 day ago
A new survey of more than 1,000 people with multiple sclerosis finds that an overwhelming majority use complementary and alternative medicine, with many using cannabis. Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University conducted the survey of people in Oregon and Southwest Washington in 2018. The results were published recently in the journal *Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders* . The survey found that patients are nine times more likely to talk with their neurologist about the use of alternative therapies than patients in a similar survey conducted in 2001, a sign of broader s... more »
Fish Oil and Vitamin D Fail in Knee OA
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 2 days ago
— No role in treatment, say researchers share to facebook share to twitter share to linkedin email article [image: Fish oil and vitamin D softgels arranged in a grid on a pink background] Dietary supplementation with vitamin D or fish oil failed to alleviate chronic knee pain in older adults, a secondary analysis of data from the large randomized VITAL trial found. At baseline, pain scores on the 100-point Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Arthritis Index were 35.4 among patients receiving vitamin D and 36.5 for those given placebo. At the time of last follow-up, after... more »
Camelina sativa oil and fatty fish have positive effects on lipid metabolism
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 2 weeks ago
Camelina sativa oil and fatty fish are rich in polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, but their health benefits seem to differ. A new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows that Camelina sativa oil reduces the formation of fatty acid derivatives that may be harmful to cardiovascular health. Camelina sativa oil also seems to protect against oxidative stress. Fatty fish, on the other hand, increases the circulatory concentration of fatty acid derivatives that alleviate inflammation. The study, conducted in collaboration between the University of Eastern Finland and Karolinsk... more »
Study shows fish oil may help with depression
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 2 weeks ago
A study published in *Molecular Psychiatry*shows that patient-derived adult stem cells can be used to model major depressive disorder and test how a patient may respond to medication. Using stem cells from adults with a clinical diagnosis of depression, the researchers who conducted the study also found that fish oil, when tested in the model, created an antidepressant response. The research provides a number of novel findings that can help scientists better understand how the brain works and why some people respond to drug treatment for depression, while others experience limited... more »
A good vitamin D status can protect against cancer
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 2 weeks ago
A good vitamin D status is beneficial both in cancer prevention and in the prognosis of several cancers, according to a new research review. The anti-cancer effects of vitamin D are especially pronounced in the prevention and treatment of colon cancer and blood cancers. In addition, high vitamin D responsiveness can be linked to a smaller cancer risk. Vitamin D responsiveness varies between individuals, affecting their need for vitamin D supplementation. The review article, published in *Seminars in Cancer Biology* and written by Professor Carsten Carlberg from the University of Eas... more »
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