Think childhood obesity is on the rise because of junk food and soft drinks at school? Think again. In fact, exposure to unhealthy food at school is not associated with chubby children, according to a new report. Published in Sociology of Education, the study followed almost 20,000 American children as they progressed from fifth to… Read more »
Monthly Archives: January 2012
Reduce PFC Exposure to Protect Health
Kid’s vaccinations may be rendered less effective because of chemicals often found in homes, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. PFCs (perfluorinated compounds) are chemicals found in many everyday items around the house, like cookware, food packaging, home furnishings, microwavable popcorn and often tap water. Most of us, including our children, have… Read more »
Discovery Suggests New Approaches for Drug Development
Investigators at the National Institutes of Health identified a genetic mutation in three unrelated families that cases a rare immune disorder, according to a study published in this month’s issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The researchers named this immune disorder PLCG2- associated antibody deficiency and immune dysregulation, or PLAID. Its symptoms include… Read more »
Nicotine Patch May Help Memory Impairment
Nicotine patches may ease mild cognitive impairment, according to a new study in the journal Neurology. Study participants showed improved attention plus improvements in secondary measures of attention, memory and though-processing speed. But the research did not demonstrate a significant difference between nicotine and placebo on overall improvement. The study was conducted with 74 non-smokers… Read more »
Can Lower Body Mass Index Be an Early Sign for Alzheimer’s Disease?
Obesity, a disease in itself, is a well known cause of other diseases. Midlife obesity, in particular, has been linked with an increased risk of late-life dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Interestingly, patients who have dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease are actually more likely to be underweight. The cause of this association has been unclear. It… Read more »
Headaches after Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury
More than half a million children in the United States sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) every year. In a recent study published by Pediatrics, researchers analyzed the prevalence of headaches three and 12 months after mild and moderate or severe TBI in children ages 5 to 17. Three months after a mild TBI, 43… Read more »