May Archives - Page 30 of 62

Plant Compounds May Boost Brain Power in Elderly

November 27, 2016 Srijitaboost, Brain, Compounds, elderly, In, May, Plant, Power

The same compounds that give plants and vegetables their vibrant colours might be able to boost brain functioning in older adults, new research suggests. People get these compounds, known as carotenoids, from their diets, and two of them – lutein and zeaxanthin – have been shown in previous research to bolster eye and cognitive health in older adults. What is not known is the neural mechanisms underlying the relationship between these compounds and cognition, said first author of the study Cutter Lindbergh from Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University…

Obesity, Weight Loss in Adolescence May Cause Permanent Bone Loss

November 27, 2016 SrijitaAdolescence, Bone, cause, In, Loss, May, Obesity, Permanent, Weight

Teenagers who are obese as well as those who lose excessive weight may both be at risk of irreparable damage to their bones, a new study has found. Obesity has been previously associated with the risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, but the study found that it can also affect the bone structure in childhood and adolescence. “While obesity was previously believed to be protective of bone health, recent studies have shown a higher incidence of forearm fractures in obese youth,” said lead author Miriam A. Bredella, Associate Professor at…

Poor Sleep May Adversely Affect Kidney Function

November 27, 2016 SrijitaAdversely, affect, function, Kidney, May, Poor, Sleep

Short and poor quality of sleep may worsen kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), says a study. “Short sleep and fragmented sleep are significant yet unappreciated risk factors for CKD progression,” said one of the researchers, Ana Ricardo, from the University of Illinois at Chicago in the US. “Our research adds to the accumulating knowledge regarding the importance of sleep on kidney function, and underscores the need to design and test clinical interventions to improve sleep habits in individuals with CKD,” she added. Although there is increasing…

Whole-Fat Milk May Make Kids Leaner: Study

November 18, 2016 SrijitaKids, Leaner:, Make, May, Milk, Study, Whole-Fat

Young children who drink whole-fat milk may be leaner and have higher vitamin D levels than those who consume low-fat or skimmed milk, a new study has claimed. Children who drank whole milk – with 3.25 per cent fat content – had a Body Mass Index (BMI) score that was 0.72 units lower than those who drank one or two per cent milk. That is comparable to the difference between having a healthy weight and being overweight, said lead author Jonathon Maguire, pediatrician at St Michael’s Hospital in Canada. He…

Mother’s Depression May Affect Kid’s Brain Development

November 18, 2016 Srijitaaffect, Brain, Depression, development, Kids, May, mother's

Depressive symptoms in women during and after pregnancy are linked to reduced thickness of the cortex — the outer layer of the brain responsible for complex thought and behaviour — in preschool-age kids, says a new study. “Our findings underscore the importance of monitoring and supporting mental health in mothers not just in the post-partum period, but also during pregnancy,” said lead researcher Catherine Lebel of the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. The findings, published in the journal Biological Psychiatry, suggest that a mother’s mood may affect her child’s…

Fatty Food May Up Mental Problems in Children

November 17, 2016 SrijitaChildren, Fatty, Food., In, May, mental, Problems, Up

Love to binge on fatty foods such as oily samosas and cheese-laden pizzas? Beware, as a new study warns that such children may be at risk of developing cognitive and psychiatric problems such as schizophrenia or Alzheimer’s disease in their adulthood. According to the study, diets rich in fat deplete the levels of a key protein known as reelin which help synapses in the brain to work properly. This hampers behavioural flexibility and memory. Low levels of reelin have been associated with a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in…