Mental Attitude: Extra Fat Around the Middle Linked to Cognitive Impairment.
Researchers have uncovered an association between a greater hip-to-waist ratio and worse performance on cognitive assessments after age 60. Given the high incidence of obesity in the aging population and the economic and social burden of cognitive dysfunction, the findings suggest that reducing obesity could offer a cost-effective public health strategy for the prevention of cognitive decline.
British Journal of Nutrition, August 2018
Health Alert: Eat More Types of Vegetables.
Among a sample of 1,429 Australian women over the age of 70, researchers observed a relationship between the diversity of vegetables one eats and their risk for suffering a serious fall. In particular, the research team found that for every serving of a different vegetable consumed per day, the risk for experiencing a serious fall drops by 8%.
Nutrients, August 2018
Diet: Folic Acid Supplementation in Pregnancy Helps Children of Women with Epilepsy.
Common medications taken during pregnancy to prevent epileptic seizures can increase the risk of language delays in children, but a new study that included data from over 100,000 participants suggests that taking a folic acid supplement can cut that risk by up to 66%. Researcher Dr. Elisabeth Synnove Nilsen Husebye writes, “These results are important for women with epilepsy all over the world because many epilepsy drugs interact with the way folate is metabolized by the body, so we are still learning how much folic acid is needed for women with epilepsy and how it benefits their children.”
Neurology, August 2018
Exercise: Benefits of Swimming.
Here are fifteen reasons to consider taking up swimming a form of exercise: it’s a whole-body workout, it builds cardiovascular strength, it’s suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels, it’s a great skill to have, it’s beneficial for people with injuries, it’s good for people with disabilities, it can help those with asthma, it helps improve symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS); it’s safe to do during pregnancy; it helps burn calories; it adds variety and fun to your exercise program; it helps improve sleep; it boosts mood; it can help manage stress; and it’s accessible and affordable.
WebMD, July 2018
Chiropractic: Office Workers with Neck Pain Have Poor Posture.
Work-related neck disorders are common among office workers. In a new study, researchers assessed the relationship between moderate work-related neck disorders and head posture, stiffness, and pain thresholds of the neck muscles in 16 office workers with work-related neck pain and 16 asymptomatic office workers. They discovered that female office workers with work-related neck pain were more likely to exhibit forward head posture and experience more stiffness in the upper trapezius muscles. The findings suggest that employers could reduce work-related neck pain by improving ergonomics and promoting proper neck posture among their staff.
PM&R, July 2018
Wellness/Prevention: Vitamin D and Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.
Diabetics who maintain healthy vitamin D levels have a reduced risk for painful peripheral neuropathy. This suggests that strategies to improve vitamin D levels (getting more sun exposure, eating more vitamin D-rich foods, taking a supplement) should be incorporated into the diabetes management process.
Diabetes Medicine, August 2018