Vitamin B12 may help to protect people against Alzheimer’s disease, a small study suggests. But other studies in this area have had mixed results. Some have found a link between B12 and Alzheimer’s risk. Others have not. The new study included 271 Finns. They were 65 to 79 years old at the start of the study. At that time, they did not have Alzheimer’s or other dementia. Researchers gave people blood tests. They measured levels of homocysteine, one of the building blocks of proteins. People with high homocysteine levels have a greater risk of stroke. They also measured the active form of B12, which lowers homocysteine levels. During the […]
Heavy smoking in midlife more than doubles your odds of developing Alzheimer’s disease, a Kaiser Permanente study said Monday. The study is the first to examine the long-term consequences of heavy smoking on Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, says the study’s principal investigator, Rachel Whitmer, a research scientist with Kaiser Permanente in Oakland. Researchers evaluated the records of 21,123 men and women, who, starting in midlife, were followed for an average of 23 years. Of 5,367 study participants diagnosed with dementia later in life, 2,367 were smokers, and 261 were heavy smokers (more than two packs a day). Compared with non-smokers, those who had smoked two packs of cigarettes a day […]
Mice may be teaching us about the genetic basis of bipolar disorder. This mood disorder, which is often called by its older name, manic-depressive illness, is characterized by wide mood swings that range from high (manic) to low (depressed). Scientists, who published their research in the April 10 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS), studied mice that have a variation or mutation in a gene called the Clock gene. The Clock gene helps regulate the body’s daily circadian rhythm — the ups and downs of biological functions that occur over a 24-hour period. Mice with this variant gene show signs similar to human mania. When […]
Patients suffering from bipolar disorder who underwent therapy to help them maintain a regular daily routine and cope with stress were able to avoid relapses over a two-year period, a study has found. The study, published in September’s Archives of General Psychiatry, examined a therapy developed by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Using what researchers dubbed interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, patients were taught how to keep to normal sleeping, eating and other daily routines. They also were shown how to anticipate and cope with stress just as a diabetic who would be taught, for example, how to cook and eat differently. “This is really a […]
Women can reduce their risk of early-onset cataracts by making sure they get plenty of vitamin C, new research suggests. NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Fri Feb 22, 5:29 PM ET Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, and are common among people aged 75 and older. Good nutrition appears to help protect against cataracts, Dr. Allen C. Taylor of Tufts University and colleagues note, but there is little research on the link between two particular types of cataract and nutrition. They report their findings on nutrition and cortical and posterior subcapsular cataracts (PSC) in the March issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In cortical cataracts, […]
Fit Fights Stroke Risk Moderate, consistent exercise can significantly lower your risk of stroke. A study published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise found that people who are even moderately fit have a considerably lower risk of stroke than inactive people. In the study, researchers looked at data on 16,878 men aged 40 to 87 with no previous history of heart attack or stroke. The researchers classified the men as high-, medium- or low fitness based on results of a treadmill test. During an average of 10 years of follow up, 32 of the men died of strokes. The researchers determined that men in the […]
A half hour’s stroll can give people with hardening of the arteries in their legs or arms a boost in protection from a heart attack or stroke, a study finds. “The findings overall are encouraging,” said Russell C. Pate, associate dean for research at the University of South Carolina’s School of Public Health. “This class of patient already has atherosclerotic disease. It’s important to do everything possible to slow or stop the progression of that disease.” The study found walking boosted levels of a natural clot-dissolving chemical called tissue plasminogen activator, known as TPA. The body makes TPA, and genetically engineered versions are used as drugs to treat heart […]
For Your Health’s Sake: Try a Little Tenderness You are concerned about your heart, so you don’t smoke, you eat a healthful diet and you exercise on a regular basis. Perhaps you should also lay off the negativity and controlling comments when you talk to your spouse. A 3-year study of older married couples conducted by psychologists from the University of Utah has shown a link between the quality of relationships and atherosclerosis, or the narrowing of the arteries that carry blood to the heart. In the study, researchers evaluated videotapes of dialogue between 150 married couples. (At least one member of each couple was beween 60 and […]
Living foods are foods which keep us healthy, free from diseases and provide healing and strength to our bodies. They are rich in anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. These are the foods we need to consume daily in order to reach and maintain an optimum level of health. Although Organic foods are preferred and healthier to use, if they are not available then use what is available. Do you think it is worth trying them? Almonds: Almonds are especially nourishing to nerve cells. It contains minerals and vitamins particularly Calcium for strong bones and teeth. It is rich in protein and fat and the best nut […]
“Take care of your stomach the first fifty (50) years of your life, and the next fifty (50) your stomach will take care of you.” Statement made by Dr. Stephen Smith, Founder of the American Public Health Association, at the age of ninety-nine (99) standing before a body of eight or nine hundred professional men. Below is a table of 27 possible causes of your indigestion. [table type=”table-bordered”] # CAUSE TIPS 1. Eating too fast Digestion begins in the mouth. The stomach cannot perform the work of the teeth. 2. Overeating The ordinary healthy person should stop eating while he has an appetite. 3. Meals too close together The stomach […]
I heard a story once of two patients, on the same hospital ward, who were both diagnosed with cancer. As the physician gave the first patient his results, he said to him, “Sir I have very bad news for you. The blood test results came back, showing you have cancer and it is at the fourth stage. Even treatment at this time will not help you. You have just six months to live”. The distraught patient left the ward feeling overwhelmed and hopeless, and died six months later. The second patient was told by the doctor, that his blood test results came back and there was no trace of cancer. […]
Do you feel sick or run down every time you work overtime?. You could work in a building that produces what health experts call “sick building syndrome.” May 30, 2006, (The New York Times News Service) Poor indoor air quality or other pollutant and toxin problems can leave workers suffering from such acute health problems as eye, throat and nose irritation, headaches, coughing, dizziness and nausea. And if your home isn’t offering a respite, chances are the environment there contains pollutants or toxins, too. While some cases of sick building syndrome are more serious than others, in many instances relief can be found with better maintenance, getting rid of mold and mildew […]
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