Using Anthrax for Pain Management
Razi Berry Anthrax has a scary reputation. Widely known to cause serious lung infections in humans and unsightly, albeit painless, skin lesions in livestock and people, the anthrax bacterium has even been used as a weapon of terror. Now the findings of a new study suggest the dreaded microbe also has unexpected beneficial potential — […]
Do Children with ASD Recognize Mother’s Voice?
Razi Berry Motherese is a form of simplified, exaggerated melodic speech that parents use to communicate with newborns and young toddlers. A horse becomes horsie; a dog becomes doggie; parents become mama and dada. The tendency to speak in such short sing-song phrases is universal across cultures. Previous research has shown that infants prefer to […]
Increasing Choline During Pregnancy Increases Attention of Child
Razi Berry Seven-year-old children performed better on a challenging task requiring sustained attention if their mothers consumed twice the recommended amount of choline during their pregnancy, a new Cornell study has found. The study, which compared these children with those whose mothers had consumed the recommended amount of choline, suggests that the recommended choline intake […]
Academic Pursuits Does Help Healthy Brain Aging
Razi Berry The benefits of good education and lifelong learning extend into old age. The initial findings of a long-term study show that certain degenerative processes are reduced in the brains of academics. Their brains are better able to compensate age-related cognitive and neural limitations. A good education is an excellent way to embark on […]
Genetic Link to Alzheimer’s Disease Risk
Razi Berry The brain has a natural protective mechanism against Alzheimer’s disease, and researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital and collaborating institutions have discovered that gene variants associated with risk of developing the disease disturb the protective mechanism in ways that can lead to neurodegeneration. The researchers also showed in a fruit […]
Olive Oil Great for the Heart
Razi Berry Consuming more than 7 grams (>1/2 tablespoon) of olive oil per day is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality, cancer mortality, neurodegenerative disease mortality and respiratory disease mortality, according to a study publishing today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The study found that replacing about 10 grams/day […]
Breastfeeding is Good for Mother’s Heart Health
Razi Berry Women who breastfed were less likely to develop heart disease or a stroke, or die from cardiovascular disease than women who did not breastfeed, according to a meta-analysis published today in a pregnancy spotlight issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA), an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart […]
Toxic Metals Lead to Hardened Arteries
Razi Berry Environmental exposure to low-levels of the toxic metals arsenic, cadmium and titanium appears to increase the risk of plaque buildup in arteries in the neck, heart and legs, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association’s journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (ATVB). Traces of metal may enter the body […]
Alcohol May be a Primary Trigger of Heart Arrhythmia – Not Caffeine or Lack of Sleep
Razi Berry New research from UC San Francisco that tested possible triggers of a common heart condition, including caffeine, sleep deprivation and sleeping on the left side, found that only alcohol use was consistently associated with more episodes of the heart arrhythmia. The authors conclude that people might be able to reduce their risk of […]
Small Amounts of Alcohol Increases Risk of A Fib
Razi Berry A single glass of wine can quickly — significantly — raise the drinker’s risk for atrial fibrillation, according to new research by UC San Francisco. The study provides the first evidence that alcohol consumption substantially increases the chance of the heart rhythm condition occurring within a few hours. The findings might run counter […]