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news archive: Jan-Feb 2009
Health & longevity news archive: January-February 2009
'Brain training' claims dismissed
(Feb 27, 2009)
People who spend money on brain trainers to keep their mind sharp
may well get the same benefit from simply doing a crossword, experts
conclude. Consumer group Which? asked three experts to check claims
made about several devices, including the Nintendo DS, on memory
and staving off dementia. They found the evidence behind such
claims was non-existent or "weak".
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Gene could allow lab-grown teeth
(Feb 24, 2009)
Scientists believe they have found a way to grow teeth in the
laboratory, a discovery that could put an end to fillings and
dentures. The US team from Oregon have located the gene responsible
for the growth of enamel, the hard outer layer of teeth which
cannot grow back naturally. Other scientists are already growing
the inner parts of teeth in animals – but they have no hard
enamel coatings.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Mole rats may hold secret to long life
(Feb 24, 2009)
They may not be the prettiest creatures, but naked mole rats may
hold the secret to longevity. They can live for nearly 30 years
longer than any other rodent.
Read
more. Source: New Scientist |
Multivitamin supplements a 'waste of time'
(Feb 11, 2009)
Middle-aged women who swallow multivitamin supplements are not
doing their health any favours, and are just creating expensive
urine, according to the world's largest study into the subject.
Researchers who examined the pill-popping habits of nearly 162,000
American women aged 50 to 79 found that although they swallowed
dietary supplements by the bucketload, there was no sign that
they reduced common cancers, heart disease or deaths.
Read
more. Source: The Independent |
The great health debate: is sunshine a
miracle cure?
(Feb 8, 2009)
Our bodies make vitamin D when the sun shines, and new research
suggests the positive effects on health are greater than we ever
guessed. But too much sun causes skin cancer. It's a dilemma provoking
fierce discussion among scientists.
Read
more. Source: The Guardian |
Cutting calories 'boosts memory'
(Jan 27, 2009)
Reducing what you eat by nearly a third may improve memory, according
to German researchers. They introduced the diet to 50 elderly
volunteers, then gave them a memory test three months later. The
study, reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences journal, found significant improvements.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Vitamin D 'is mental health aid'
(Jan 23, 2009)
Vitamin D, found in fish and produced by sun exposure, can help
stave off the mental decline that can affect people in old age,
a study has suggested. UK and US researchers looked at 2,000 people
aged 65 and over. They found that compared to those with the highest
vitamin D levels, those with the lowest were more than twice as
likely to have impaired understanding.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Body repair 'could be ramped up'
(Jan 14, 2009)
A combination of drugs could trick the body into sending its repair
mechanisms into overdrive, say scientists. The technique could
be used to speed the healing of heart or bone damage, they claim.
The bone marrow of treated mice released 100 times as many stem
cells – which help to regenerate tissue.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Scientists dismiss 'detox myth'
(Jan 5, 2009)
There is no evidence that products widely promoted to help the
body "detox" work, scientists warn. The charitable trust Sense
About Science reviewed 15 products, from bottled water to face
scrub, and found many detox claims were "meaningless". Anyone
worried about the after-effects of Christmas overindulgence would
get the same benefits from eating healthily and getting plenty
of sleep, they said.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
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