Fat children may be tied to a lifetime of obesity
(May 5, 2008)
Be careful what you eat as a kid, because those extra fries could make it harder to shed pounds years later in life. A team of Swedish researchers has found that humans determine their total number of fat cells in childhood. New cells spring up and old ones perish, but their numbers change little after adolescence.
Even the slower-witted among us can improve mental agility with a few daily brain teasers, a study suggests. For those who hate crosswords but still fancy shining at work – fear not. The US-Swiss team behind the research say computer-based tests, which challenge the individual according to ability, may be more effective.
Research has suggested certain vitamin supplements do not extend life and could even lead to a premature death. A review of 67 studies found "no convincing evidence" that antioxidant supplements cut the risk of dying. Scientists at Copenhagen University said vitamins A and E could interfere with the body's natural defences.
Further research is needed into a US treatment for Alzheimer's disease that appears to produce marked improvements in some patients, experts say. California researchers believe they have found a way of improving brain cell communication by injecting a drug called etanercept into the neck. The Institute for Neurological Research team has described changes taking place in Alzheimer's patients within minutes.
Coffee may cut the risk of dementia by blocking the damage cholesterol can inflict on the body, research suggests. The drink has already been linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer's Disease, and a study by a US team for the Journal of Neuroinflammation may explain why. A vital barrier between the brain and the main blood supply of rabbits fed a fat-rich diet was protected in those given a caffeine supplement.
A big waistline in your 40s could almost triple the threat of dementia in old age, according to US research. Obesity is a known risk factor for Alzheimer's, but scientists found even those of normal weight were more at risk if they had a large waist. However, the study of 6,500 people, published in the journal Neurology, found obesity and bulging stomach was still the most dangerous combination.
Middle-aged non-drinkers can quickly reduce their risk of heart disease by introducing a daily tipple to their diet, South Carolina researchers say. New moderate drinkers were 38% less likely to develop heart disease than those who stayed tee-total, a four-year study involving 7,500 people found. Those who drank only wine showed the most benefit, the researchers reported in the American Medical Journal.
Our level of happiness throughout life is strongly influenced by the genes with which we were born, say experts. An Edinburgh University study of identical and non-identical twins suggests genes may control half the personality traits keeping us happy. The other half is linked to lifestyle, career and relationships.
It is never too late to reap the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle, research has concluded. Scientists found 70-year-olds who take regular exercise, eat well, and do not smoke greatly increase their chance of living until 90. The researchers estimate that longevity is only at most 30% down to our genes – the rest is down to lifestyle factors.
Electrical stimulation of areas deep within the brain could improve memory, early research suggests. A team of doctors in Canada stumbled upon the finding while attempting to treat a morbidly obese man through deep brain stimulation (DBS). The electrical stimulation caused the patient to experience vivid memories.
Leading a sedentary lifestyle may make us genetically old before our time, a study suggests. A study of twins found those who were physically active during their leisure time appeared biologically younger than their sedentary peers. The researchers found key pieces of DNA called telomeres shortened more quickly in inactive people. It is thought that could signify faster cellular ageing.
The coffee you grab on the way to work may contain up to a fifth of your daily recommended calories, a study says. Some of those tested by Which? topped the scales at almost 400 calories. Researchers said lashings of full-fat milk, cream and chocolate are the culprits with a skimmed milk cappuccino weighing in at fewer than 30 calories.
A genetically engineered organism that lives 10 times longer than normal has been created by scientists in California. It is the greatest extension of longevity yet achieved by researchers investigating the scientific nature of ageing. If this work could ever be translated into humans, it would mean that we might one day see people living for 800 years.
Eating broccoli may protect against heart disease, US research suggests. Rats were fed an extract of the vegetable for a month, and the effect on their heart muscle was measured. Compared with animals whose diet did not change, the hearts of the broccoli rats functioned better and displayed less damage when deprived of oxygen.
Sunday is the hardest night of the week to get a good, undisturbed sleep, research suggests. The study of 3,500 adults, commissioned by the hotel chain Travelodge, found nearly 60% of workers have their worst night's sleep on a Sunday. More than a quarter of those surveyed admitted to calling in sick on Monday after having a dreadful night's sleep.
Scientists in the US say they have created a genetically-engineered carrot that provides extra calcium. They hope that adding the vegetable to a normal diet could help ward off conditions such as brittle bone disease and osteoporosis. Someone eating the new carrot absorbs 41% more calcium than if they ate the old, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study suggests.
The stripped-out shell of a heart has been made to work again – using brand new cells planted inside it. Scientists removed all the muscle cells in a rat heart, leaving just a "scaffold" of other tissues such as blood vessels and valves. When the University of Minnesota team added heart cells, they quickly grew and produced a pumping action.
Taking exercise, drinking moderately, eating sufficient fruit and vegetables and not smoking can add as much as 14 years to your life, a study has found. Research involving 20,000 people over a decade found those who failed on all criteria were four times more likely to have died than those who succeeded.
Would you drink wine made from genetically engineered grapes if it had extra benefits? Such wine could be on the menu, thanks to a grape variety six times richer than normal in resveratrol, the compound in red wine associated with increased longevity, decreased heart disease and a host of other benefits.
