When scientists from the Buck Institute bred mice that produced excess free radicals that damaged the mitochondria in their skin, they expected to see accelerated aging across the mouse lifespan – additional proof of the free radical theory of aging. Instead, they saw a surprising benefit in young animals: accelerated wound healing due to increased… Continue reading The Role of Free Radicals in Aging
Tag: Staying Current
Why Do We Decide to Delay Gratification?
Researchers have identified parts of the brain that are involved in deciding to delay gratification. In a paper recently published in the European Journal of Neuroscience, researchers from McGill University, in Montreal, demonstrated that the hippocampus (associated with memory) and the nucleus accumbens (associated with pleasure) work together in making decisions of this type.… Continue reading Why Do We Decide to Delay Gratification?
A Call for Improved Firearm Safety Counseling by Physicians
Physicians should improve the way they discuss firearm safety with patients by showing more respect for the viewpoints of gun owners, according to an article by a University of Colorado School of Medicine faculty member published in the August 4th 2105 issue of JAMA. Marian "Emmy" Betz, MD, MPH, associate professor of emergency medicine, and… Continue reading A Call for Improved Firearm Safety Counseling by Physicians
Dogs Can Recognize Faces
Dogs have a specialized region in their brains for processing faces, according to a new study. The finding, published in the journal PeerJ, provides the first ever evidence of a face-selective region in the temporal cortex of dogs, and it could explain dogs’ sensitivity to human social cues. “Our findings show that dogs have an… Continue reading Dogs Can Recognize Faces
Jet-Set Lifestyle Isn’t So Great
We might think of experienced travelers as happy people, but in fact, researchers found, there are a few drawbacks to traveling frequently: jet-lag, deep vein thrombosis and radiation exposure. Not to mention stress and loneliness. Researchers from the University of Surrey and Lund University (Sweden) also found that the real problems differed sharply from the… Continue reading Jet-Set Lifestyle Isn’t So Great
When Cars and Wildlife Collide
Roadside Animal Detection Systems (RADS), which use sensors to detect large animals on the road and to alert drivers by activating flashing lights on warning signs, could be the answer for preventing numerous wildlife casualties. Such systems have been tested with varying degrees of success since the 1990s. Researchers from the University of Central Florida… Continue reading When Cars and Wildlife Collide
FDA Approves Controversial “Viagra” for Women
The federal Food and Drug Administration has given its approval to the controversial drug flibanserin (Addyi), also known as “pink Viagra.” It is the first-ever drug aimed at increasing women’s libido. “[The] approval provides women distressed by their low sexual desire with an approved treatment option,” Janet Woodcock, MD, director of the FDA’s Center for… Continue reading FDA Approves Controversial “Viagra” for Women
Structures Reveal Basis of Recurring Urinary Tract Infections
While the best antibiotics can wipe out most of the bacteria that cause notoriously difficult urinary tract infections, a few “sleeper cells” often remain. These “persisters,” as they are called, survive by going dormant, essentially sleeping through the attack that kills off their more active brethren. A new study done at Duke University has shown… Continue reading Structures Reveal Basis of Recurring Urinary Tract Infections
Too Many Pills for Seniors?
Although older Americans get mental-health medications at more than twice the rate of younger adults, they are much less likely to see a psychiatrist, according to new research. That raises questions about whether they could be at risk of problems caused by a collision of multiple medications – and about whether primary care doctors may… Continue reading Too Many Pills for Seniors?
Tastier Wines Using Fewer Pesticides
Wine-making is steeped in age-old traditions, but to address the threat of pests and concerns over heavy pesticide use, vintners are turning to science. With the goal of designing better grape breeds, scientists are parsing the differences between wild American grapes — which make terrible wine but are pest-resistant — and the less hardy grape… Continue reading Tastier Wines Using Fewer Pesticides
The Dangers of Texting While Walking
Texting while walking and being cognitively distracted may significantly affect the way a person walks, resulting in a more cautious gait, according to a study led by Dr. Conrad Earnest of Texas A&M University and colleagues from the University of Bath, UK and published July 29th 2015 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE A release… Continue reading The Dangers of Texting While Walking
Strengthening Self-Control Is Better Than a “Quit Date” to Kick the Smoking Habit
The desire to quit smoking — often considered a requirement for enrolling in treatment programs — is not always necessary to reduce cigarette cravings, argues a review of addiction research published July 30TH 2015 in Trends in Cognitive Sciences. Early evidence suggests that exercises aimed at increasing self-control, such as mindfulness meditation, can decrease the… Continue reading Strengthening Self-Control Is Better Than a “Quit Date” to Kick the Smoking Habit
Encouraging Breast-Cancer News
Are we making progress in the battle against breast cancer? Statistics indicate it’s possible; as this post from the National Cancer Institute indicates, mortality rates have been declining. Here is what the NCI experts have to say: Breast cancer mortality rates have been declining among women in many western countries since the 1970s. Overall, breast… Continue reading Encouraging Breast-Cancer News
Non-Invasive Technique Can Help with Paralysis
Thanks to a new, non-invasive procedure that stimulates the spinal cord, five men who had been completely paralyzed were able to move their legs. It is believed to be the first time that voluntary leg movements have ever been relearned in completely paralyzed patients without surgery. “These findings tell us we have to look at… Continue reading Non-Invasive Technique Can Help with Paralysis
Do Sex and Violence Sell? Maybe Not.
Advertisers hoping to sway consumers might want to rethink running spots within media with violent or sexual themes, and might do better if the ads themselves have a G-rating, according to a study published in July 2015 by the American Psychological Association in the journal Psychological Bulletin. Violent and sexual media content may impair advertising’s… Continue reading Do Sex and Violence Sell? Maybe Not.
Another Bad Thing About Texting
Any signal from a cell phone – even a little “ding” that indicates a text – can weaken your ability to focus on a task, according to a new Florida State University study. In fact, the signal from a phone is comparable to the effects seen when people are actively using their own phone. “The… Continue reading Another Bad Thing About Texting
Glaucoma Drug Appears to Fight TB
A medicine used for glaucoma could also be used to treat tuberculosis – even the drug-resistant kind, research shows. Robert Abramovitch, a Michigan State University microbiologist, along with graduate student Benjamin Johnson, have discovered that ethoxzolamide, a sulfa-based compound found in many prescription glaucoma drugs, actually turns off the bacterium’s ability to invade the immune… Continue reading Glaucoma Drug Appears to Fight TB
Essential Apps for People With Limited Mobility
Smartphone apps have revolutionized the way we go about our everyday lives. Whether you need directions, advice about local restaurants, or are trying to find the weekend weather forecast, as they say in the Apple commercials, “There’s an app for that”. Here is a list of apps specifically designed for people with mobility challenges to… Continue reading Essential Apps for People With Limited Mobility