Latest Health Research - health news

 

 

Diet

Antioxidant-rich foods like black tea, chocolate and berries may increase risk for certain cancers

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 22 hours ago

It is a fact that has long baffled doctors: Cancer in the small intestine is quite rare, whereas colorectal cancer, a neighboring though much smaller organ, is one of the leading causes of cancer death for men and women. What is it about the colon that seems to "attract" cancer? To answer this question, Professor Yinon Ben-Neriah at Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU)'s Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research and his team led by Dr. Eliran Kadosh, fou... more »

Link confirmed between a healthy diet and prostate cancer prevention

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 2 days ago

The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that more than 23,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2020. Among other risk factors, more and more studies point to diet as a major factor in the development of prostate cancer, as it is for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Using data from a study conducted in Montreal between 2005 and 2012, a research team led by Professor Marie-Élise Parent of Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) has shown a link between diet and prostate cancer in the article "Dietary Patterns Are Associated with Risk of Pr... more »

Chocolate is good for the heart

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 6 days ago

EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF CARDIOLOGY SHARE PRINT E-MAIL Sophia Antipolis, 23 July 2020: Eating chocolate at least once a week is linked with a reduced risk of heart disease, according to research published today in the *European Journal of Preventive Cardiology*, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).1 "Our study suggests that chocolate helps keep the heart's blood vessels healthy," said study author Dr. Chayakrit Krittanawong of Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. "In the past, clinical studies have shown that chocolate is beneficial for both blood pressure a... more »

Diets high in protein, particularly plant protein, linked to lower risk of death

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 6 days ago

Findings support recommendations to increase consumption of plant proteins BMJ SHARE PRINT E-MAIL Diets high in protein, particularly plant protein, are associated with a lower risk of death from any cause, finds an analysis of the latest evidence published by *The BMJ* today. The researchers say these findings "support current dietary recommendations to increase consumption of plant proteins in the general population." Diets high in protein, particularly protein from plants such as legumes (peas, beans and lentils), whole grains and nuts, have been linked to lower risks of deve... more »

Plant-based diets high in carbs improve type 1 diabetes

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 6 days ago

-Plant-based diets rich in whole carbohydrates can improve insulin sensitivity and other health markers in individuals with type 1 diabetes, according to two case studies published by researchers from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in the*Journal of Diabetes & Metabolism*. Both case studies followed individuals with type 1 diabetes who adopted plant-based diets rich in whole carbohydrates--including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. The patients' health care teams tracked their blood sugar control, heart disease risk factors, and other health measureme... more »

Pizza study shows body copes surprisingly well with one-off calorie indulgence

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 6 days ago

UNIVERSITY OF BATH SHARE PRINT E-MAIL A new study, which involved participants eating pizza well after feeling 'full' in order to test what immediate effects this had on the body, finds that our metabolism is surprisingly good at coping with over-indulgence. Researchers with the Centre for Nutrition, Exercise and Metabolism at the University of Bath compared the effects of normal eating (i.e. 'eat until you are comfortably full') with maximal eating (i.e. 'eat until you cannot manage another bite'). They found that the young, healthy men (aged 22 - 37) who volunteered for the t... more »

Plant-based diets shown to lower blood pressure even with limited meat and dairy

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 6 days ago

Consuming a plant-based diet can lower blood pressure even if small amounts of meat and dairy are consumed too, according to new research from the University of Warwick. UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK SHARE PRINT E-MAIL Consuming a plant-based diet can lower blood pressure even if small amounts of meat and dairy are consumed too, according to new research from the University of Warwick. Published online by a team from Warwick Medical School in the *Journal of Hypertension* today (25 July), they argue that any effort to increase plant-based foods in your diet and limit animal products is... more »

Cinnamon may improve blood sugar control in people with prediabetes

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago

Cinnamon improves blood sugar control in people with prediabetes and could slow the progression to type 2 diabetes, according to a new study published in the *Journal of the Endocrine Society*. It is estimated that nearly 90 million people in the United States have prediabetes, which occurs when blood sugar levels are higher than normal and often leads to type 2 diabetes. Identifying strategies to prevent the progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes is challenging, yet important for a large population. "Our 12-week study showed beneficial effects of adding cinnamon to the diet... more »

 

General Health

Night-time exposure to blue light associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 22 hours ago

PRINT E-MAIL [image: IMAGE] IMAGE: INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION NIGHT IMAGE OF BARCELONA, COURTESY OF THE EARTH SCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING UNIT, NASA. 18 APRIL 2013. TIME: 22:10:46 GMT (LOCAL TIME 00:10:46) (ISS035-E-23385).... view more CREDIT: COURTESY OF THE EARTH SCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING UNIT, NASA. Blue light has become an increasingly common component of urban outdoor lighting. But how does it impact our health? A team led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation, has conducted the first study of the association... more »

Forty percent of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by targeting 12 risk factors throughout life

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 22 hours ago

An update to the Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention and care adds excessive alcohol intake, head injury and air pollution to nine previously identified modifiable risks UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - HEALTH SCIENCES SHARE PRINT E-MAIL [image: IMAGE] IMAGE: MODIFYING 12 RISK FACTORS OVER A LIFETIME COULD DELAY OR PREVENT 40% OF DEMENTIA CASES. view more CREDIT: COURTESY OF KECK MEDICINE OF USC LOS ANGELES -- Modifying 12 risk factors over a lifetime could delay or prevent 40% of dementia cases, according to an updatedreport by the Lancet Commission on de... more »

Laughter acts as a stress buffer -- and even smiling helps

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 22 hours ago

People who laugh frequently in their everyday lives may be better equipped to deal with stressful events - although this does not seem to apply to the intensity of laughter. These are the findings reported by a research team from the University of Basel in the journal *PLOS ONE*. It is estimated that people typically laugh 18 times a day - generally during interactions with other people and depending on the degree of pleasure they experience. Researchers have also reported differences related to time of day, age, and gender - for example, it is known that women smile more than men on... more »

 

Enjoying short-term pleasurable activities contributes much to a happy life

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 2 days ago

Relaxing on the sofa or savoring a delicious meal: Enjoying short-term pleasurable activities that don't lead to long-term goals contributes at least as much to a happy life as self-control, according to new research from the University of Zurich and Radboud University in the Netherlands. The researchers therefore argue for a greater appreciation of hedonism in psychology. We all set ourselves long-term goals from time to time, such as finally getting into shape, eating less sugar or learning a foreign language. Research has devoted much time to finding out how we can reach these go... more »

Lithium in drinking water linked with lower suicide rates

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 2 days ago

Naturally occurring lithium in public drinking water may have an anti-suicidal effect -- according to a new study from Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King's College London. Published in the *British Journal of Psychiatry*, the study collated research from around the world and found that geographical areas with relatively high levels or concentration of lithium in public drinking water had correspondingly lower suicide rates. Professor Anjum Memon, Chair in Epidemiology and Public Health Medicine at BSMS and lead... more »

 

Health and happiness depend on each other

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago

Good health and a happy outlook on life may seem like equally worthy yet independent goals. A growing body of research, however, bolsters the case that a happy outlook can have a very real impact on your physical well-being. New research published in the journal *Psychological Science*shows that both online and in-person psychological interventions -- tactics specifically designed to boost subjective well-being -- have positive effects on self-reported physical health. The online and in-person interventions were equally effective. "Though prior studies have shown that happier people... more »

 

Medicine

Botox injections may lessen depression

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 22 hours ago

FDA database of drug side effects indicates the benefit may hold up no matter where Botox is injected UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - SAN DIEGO SHARE PRINT E-MAIL Botox, a medication derived from a bacterial toxin, is commonly injected to ease wrinkles, migraines, muscle spasms, excessive sweating and incontinence. Forehead injection of the medication is also currently being tested in clinical trials for its ability to treat depression. Researchers at Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of California San Diego have mined the U.S. Food and Drug Adminis... more »

 

Flu vaccine could protect against serious heart and stroke complications

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 2 days ago

The rate of seasonal flu vaccinations among high-risk groups such as people over age 50 and nursing home residents is extremely low, and those who do get their flu vaccination significantly lower their cardiovascular risks for heart attack, TIA (transient ischemic attack), death and cardiac arrest, according to preliminary research to be presented July 27-30, 2020, at the virtual American Heart Association's Basic Cardiovascular Sciences 2020 Scientific Sessions. The meeting is a premier global exchange of the latest advances in basic cardiovascular science including research in fi... more »

 

 

 

Flu vaccine may reduce risk of Alzheimer's disease

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 2 days ago

People who received at least one flu vaccination were 17% less likely to get Alzheimer's disease over the course of a lifetime, according to researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). First author Albert Amran, a fourth-year medical student at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, presented the findings at the 2020 Alzheimer's Association International Conference July 27-31. The conference was held virtually due to COVID-19. Senior author of the study was Paul E. Schulz, MD, Rick McCord Professor in Neurology and Umphrey Family Professor in N... more »

Supplements

Calcium and vitamin D nutrient deficiencies lead to higher risk for osteoporosis

A new research article in the journal *PLoS ONE* examines inadequate nutrient intake and its relationship to poor bone health, specifically risk of osteoporosis. The research was a cross sectional analysis of the U.S population [from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data], with a specific focus on those below the poverty line with food insecurities. Poverty can be a barrier to routinely acquiring adequate nutrient intakes, sp... more »

 

Dietary guidelines advisory committee reinforces need for increased choline intake

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago

Vulnerable populations, including infants, toddlers, pregnant and lactating women, are at greatest risk for choline deficiency On Wednesday, July 15, 2020, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC or Committee) - a group comprised of 20 nationally recognized health and nutrition experts - published the Scientific Report of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee: Advisory Report to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Among its findings, the Committee concluded that current choline intake levels are too low for most Americans an... more »

 

 

Aging

Older Americans receive cancer screenings past recommended age

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 22 hours ago

SHARE PRINT E-MAIL Older Americans may be receiving cancer screenings not recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers. The task force recommends routine screening for colorectal, cervical and breast cancers. These recommendations end for people at upper ages or who develop a condition that decreases their life expectancy. A routine screening above the recommended age is called overscreening. "There are two reasons why people should stop screening for cancer," Jennifer Moss, assistant professor of family and com... more »

Physical stress on the job = brain and memory decline in older age

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 6 days ago

A new study out of Colorado State University has found that physical stress in one's job may be associated with faster brain aging and poorer memory. Aga Burzynska, an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, and her research team connected occupational survey responses with brain-imaging data from 99 cognitively normal older adults, age 60 to 79. They found that those who reported high levels of physical stress in their most recent job had smaller volumes in the hippocampus and performed poorer on memory tasks. The hippocampus is the part of th... more »

What factors help predict who will keep their memory into their 90s?

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 6 days ago

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY SHARE PRINT E-MAIL MINNEAPOLIS - Why do some people stay sharp into their 90s, even if they have the amyloid plaques in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer's disease? And why do others reach their 90s without ever developing any plaques? These questions are explored in a new study published in the July 22, 2020, online issue of *Neurology®*, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study involved 100 people who did not have dementia and were followed for up to 14 years, when they were an average of 92 years old. The pe... more »

Biggest risk factors identified to try and prevent Alzheimer's disease

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago

Clinicians should identify and target 10 risk factors in their attempt to prevent Alzheimer's disease, say researchers There are at least 10 risk factors that appear to have a significant impact on a person's likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease that could be targeted with preventative steps, suggests research published in the *Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry*. Focusing on these factors, which include cognitive activity, high body mass index in late life, depression, diabetes, and high blood pressure, could provide clinicians with an evidence based guideline f... more »

Vision, hearing, touch, olfaction linked to cognition

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago

Seniors who can identify smells like roses, turpentine, paint-thinner and lemons, and have retained their senses of hearing, vision and touch, may have half the risk of developing dementia as their peers with marked sensory decline. In a study by UC San Francisco, researchers tracked close to 1,800 participants in their seventies for a period of up to 10 years to see if their sensory functioning correlated with the development of dementia. At the time of enrollment, all participants were dementia-free, but 328 participants (18 percent) developed the condition over the course of th... more »

Genes, cardiovascular health each factor into dementia risk

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago

Genes and cardiovascular health each contribute in an additive way to a person's risk of dementia, U.S. researchers including Sudha Seshadri, MD, and Claudia Satizabal, PhD, of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) reported July 20 in the journal *Neurology*. The study was conducted in 1,211 participants in the Framingham Heart Study and involved collaborators from Boston University. Participants with a high genetic risk score based on common genetic variants, including having an allele called apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4, were at a 2.6-f... more »

 

 

Exercise

Weight loss not always best strategy to enhance athletic fitness in young women

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 2 days ago

For young women seeking to improve their aerobic fitness and athletic performance, who are not overweight or obese, weight loss may be counterproductive, according to preliminary research to be presented July 27-30, 2020, at the American Heart Association's virtual Basic Cardiovascular Sciences 2020 Scientific Sessions. The meeting is a premier global exchange of the latest advances in basic cardiovascular science including research in fields like microRNAs, cardiac gene and cell therapy, and cardiac development. "There is a common preoccupation among athletes in endurance sports th... more »

 

High levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria found on equipment in communal gyms

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 6 days ago

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MICROBIOLOGY SHARE PRINT E-MAIL Washington, DC - July 24, 2020 - Research presented at ASM Microbe Online found that 43% of Staphylococcus bacteria found on exercise equipment in university gyms were ampicillin-resistant, with 73% of those isolates being resistant to multiple additional drugs. The late Xin Fan, Ph.D., and her student Chase A. Weikel of West Chester University (WCU) conducted the research in cooperation with WCU's John M. Pisciotta, Ph.D., associate professor of Biology. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rough... more »

 

Regular exercise helps prevent high blood pressure, even in areas of high air pollution

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago

Circulation Journal Report People who regularly exercise tend to have a lower risk of high blood pressure, even if they live in areas where air pollution is relatively high, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association's flagship journal *Circulation*. The risk-benefit relationship between air pollution and physical activity is an important public concern because more than 91% of people worldwide live in areas where air quality does not meet World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. "Extended outdoor activity in urban areas increases the intake of air... more »

 

 

 

COVID-19

Nitric oxide may slow progression of COVID-19

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago

A recent review published by GW researchers suggests that nitric oxide has promise as a therapeutic to control the replication and rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SHARE PRINT E-MAIL WASHINGTON (July 21, 2020) - Nitric oxide treatment can be pivotal in the world's fight against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, according to a review from the George Washington University (GW). The article is published in the journal *Nitric Oxide*. Nitric oxide is an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory molecule with key roles in pulmonary vascular function ... more »

The Lancet: UK's vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 is safe and induces an immune reaction

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago

UK's vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 is safe and induces an immune reaction, according to preliminary results - - A phase 1/2 trial involving 1,077 healthy adults found that the vaccine induced strong antibody and T cell immune responses up to day 56 of the ongoing trial. These responses may be even greater after a second dose, according to a sub-group study of 10 participants - Compared to the control group (given a meningitis vaccine), the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine caused minor side effects more frequently, but some of these could be reduced by taking paracetamol. The... more »

The Lancet: Chinese phase 2 trial finds vaccine is safe and induces an immune response

Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report - 1 week ago

Chinese phase 2 trial finds vaccine is safe and induces an immune response - - Phase 2 randomised controlled trial of a recombinant adenovirus type-5-vectored COVID-19 vaccine (Ad5-vectored COVID-19 vaccine) was conducted in China in April 2020 and involved more than 500 people - The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the immune response and safety of the vaccine, and to determine the most suitable dose for a phase 3 trial - Phase 3 trials are needed to confirm whether the vaccine candidate effectively protects against SARS-CoV-2 infection A p... more »

 

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