Can obesity treatment also help your brain?
Experts estimate that in the next ten years, 50 percent of American adults will be diagnosed with obesity, a disease that’s been linked to dementia and cognitive impairment. Research in the Journal of Nutrition, Health, and Aging shows that bariatric surgery could mitigate some cognitive decline. Patients showed stable cognition two years after the procedure, with some even improving. While it may be promising, this research is in the early stages, so different theories are still being tested. (University of Michigan)
Your ancestors may be the cause of your current illness
Researchers have discovered that multi-generational exposure to toxins like insecticides and jet fuel changes their descendants’ genetics for the worse. A mouse study published in Environmental Epigenetics shows that after generations of harmful exposures, the fifth, unexposed generation had higher cases of kidney and prostate disease, as well as obesity. While this hasn’t been tested in humans, it shows the potential dangers of these commonly used toxins on future generations. (Washington State University)
Is water harmful to older women?
A new study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism has linked the presence of heavy metals to earlier menopause. Cadmium, mercury, and arsenic – which are commonly found in drinking water and seafood – are linked to low levels of AMH, a hormone that measures the number of available eggs in a woman’s ovaries. More research is needed to understand how heavy metals affect women of all ages. (University of Michigan)
Exercise is good for more than just building muscle
New research in the journal Neurobiology of Learning and Memory shows that movement can improve memory. The researchers noticed a 10 percent improvement in participants’ ability to recall a learned motor skill when they exercise before or after the lesson. They claim that this impact is true for people of all ages. (University of Copenhagen)
Leave a Reply