Relação entre açúcar e Alzheimer estabelecida

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170223124253.htm

Citando:
"For the first time a "tipping point" molecular link between the blood sugar glucose and Alzheimer's disease has been established by scientists, who have shown that excess glucose damages a vital enzyme involved with inflammation response to the early stages of Alzheimer's.
(...)

By studying brain samples from people with and without Alzheimer's using a sensitive technique to detect glycation, the team discovered that in the early stages of Alzheimer's glycation damages an enzyme called MIF (macrophage migration inhibitory factor) which plays a role in immune response and insulin regulation.

MIF is involved in the response of brain cells called glia to the build-up of abnormal proteins in the brain during Alzheimer's disease, and the researchers believe that inhibition and reduction of MIF activity caused by glycation could be the 'tipping point' in disease progression. It appears that as Alzheimer's progresses, glycation of these enzymes increases.

The study is published in the journal Scientific Reports"

Gatos e esquizofrenia? Não.

http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/bdn06/cats-dont-make-people-crazy-scientists-make-people-crazy-20170225

Citando:
"The list goes on. And on. And on.

Despite that, new research released this week shows “no link between owning a feline and exhibiting psychotic symptoms.”

Yes, the mere fact that scientific research has been done on this subject reveals that something is definitely not right with cat owners.

Still, the University College London, a research university in London, did an extensive study.

Why? Because other research revealed cats are a primary host of Toxoplasma Gondi, or T. Gondi for short. T. Gondi causes mental health conditions such as schizophrenia.

The study followed about 5,000 people born in 1991 or 1992, people who had cats while their mothers were pregnant or grew up in houses with cats.

“Our study suggests that cat ownership during early pregnancy or in early childhood does not post a direct risk for late psychotic symptoms,” Dr. James Kirkbride, the study’s senior author said in a news release.

He did caution that T. Gondi exposure could lead to serious birth defects and other health problems in children.”"

Antibióticos em vez de remoção do apêndice (na apendicite aguda)?

Medicação poderá ser substituta da operação mais comum em crianças (no RU):
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/feb/17/antibiotics-not-surgery-could-treat-appendicitis-in-children-study-suggests

Citando:
"Antibiotics could be an effective alternative to surgery for treating children with appendicitis, research suggests.

According to the NHS, appendicitis affects an estimated one in 13 people at some point in their life, with appendix removal the most common reason for emergency surgery in children. 

But researchers say using antibiotics alone might offer a less invasive alternative – an approach that has already had some success in adult patients."

Perguntas frequentes - infecção por bactéria Shigella

Uma FAQ para a bactéria altamente contagiosa que está a afectar o RU (vómitos, diarreia - por vezes com sangue - e outros sintomas):
http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/15100957.The_horrific_vomiting_bug_sweeping_the_UK___what_you_need_to_know/

Como evitar  o contágio?
Citando:
"How can I prevent it spreading?

Good personal hygiene is essential.

Always wash and dry your hands:

• after using the toilet

• after changing a baby’s nappy

• before preparing food

• after handling raw food 

• after contact with pets and other animals 

• after contact with contaminated bedding or clothing.

Keep contact with an infected person to a minimum especially while they have symptoms.

At home, an infected person should keep a hand towel that only they use.

Wash all clothes, bedding and towels from an infected person in the washing machine at the hottest cycle possible for the type of clothing to be washed.

Clean toilet seats, toilet bowls, flush handles, taps and wash hand basins regularly with hot soapy water."

Salmonela a combater o cancro?

Parece que poderá ser possível em algo que se chamará bacterioterapia:
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11803567

Citando:
"A genetically-altered form of salmonella has been developed that will attack tumour cells but leave healthy cells alone.

The bugs are a leading cause of food poisoning in the UK each year, reports DailyMail.

It is the latest example of developments in a new field of cancer treatment called "bacteriotherapy".

Experiments on mice using a modified version of salmonella reduced the size of cancer tumours, the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting in Boston heard.

Alterations made to the salmonella bug stopped it attacking and infiltrating into normal healthy cells. Instead it targeted cancer cells."

Licopeno (em suplementos) ajuda a recuperar artérias danificadas

Um estudo confirma (apesar do mecanismo ainda não estar bem compreendido) a acção benéfica do licopeno (presente no tomate, ketchup) mesmo em suplementos:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/jun/09/tomato-extract-lycopene-relieves-damaged-arteries-cambridge-study

Citando:
"A substance found in tomatoes relieves impairment of blood vessels, which may explain why people who eat a Mediterranean diet have a notably reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease, according to a study.

A supplement of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant which is 10 times more potent than vitamin E, improved and normalised function of the endothelium (the inner lining of blood vessels) in volunteers with cardiovascular disease, researchers from the University of Cambridge found."
(...)
Lycopene is found in tomatoes and its potency appears to be enhanced when it is consumed pureed, in ketchup or in the presence of olive oil. It is also found in other fruit and vegetables, such as grapefruit, watermelon, asparagus and carrots."

Os homens suam mais que as mulheres?

Sim, em média, mas não porque são homens. O que determina mais a quantidade de suor não é o sexo da pessoa mas outros factores como o peso:
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/do-men-sweat-more-women-1608200

Citando:
"It's not their sex, but their size and weight, which explain why men and women sweat differently. Scientists have found that larger individuals sweat more than smaller ones during exercise, showing that gender differences in sweating depend on morphology rather than gender.

Sweating and increasing circulation to the skin's surface are the two main ways that the body has to cool down. However, physiologists still don't completely understand how and why gender affects the sweating process."
(...)
"The researchers found that regardless of sex, similar changes in body temperatures were observed. Weight and morphology explained 10 to 48 per cent of the individual variance in sweating and blood flow responses. In contrast, gender explained only five per cent of inter-individual variability in sweating.

Another finding of the study was that smaller men and women who have more surface area per kilogram of body mass were more dependent on increasing blood circulation and less dependent on sweating to reduce their body temperature.

The scientists concluded that the reason men and women may differ when it comes to cooling their body down during exercise is based on their morphology, not on their gender. Fit men may sweat more than fit women, but it is differences in morphology that mediate this difference."

Estudos para todos os gostos: Exercício físico e apetite sexual

Vários estudos na ligação seguinte alguns com resultados surpreendentes, outros nem por isso (como o que motiva o título desta notícia):
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellbeing/fitness/intense-exercise-lowers-mens-libido-study-finds-20170224-gukf9j.html

Citando:
"Exercise is meant to make us hot-blooded, but too much of it can sap our sex drive, a new study has found.

Research has tended to focus on how our sex drive benefits from regular exercise. Aside from the confidence-boost exercise gives us (and confidence leads to greater sexual satisfaction), there are the physiological effects. "
(...)
"it is not the first study to show the "negative impact" of endurance exercise and elite sport.

She says there are two reasons for this – the psychological and the physical. It is known that intense exercise can negatively impact testosterone (which affects both sex drive and sperm count), but Quirk adds:

"There's a parallel between immunological function and sexual interest and there is a negative effect – in elite sports and endurance athletes – on immunological function."

Quirk adds that moderate activity provides "a reasonable amount of benefit" but when we start pushing ourselves hard for extended periods of time, we become mentally and physically "spent".

"Sex will be very low on the list," she says. "

Intermitent fasting - o que é?

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25498742 e...

O que é (citação):
"During each five-day fasting cycle, when I ate about a quarter the average person's diet, I lost between 2kg and 4kg (4.4-8.8lbs) but before the next cycle came round, 25 days of eating normally had returned me almost to my original weight.
But not all consequences of the diet faded so quickly."

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25549805 (os efeitos: redução de IGF-1 associada ao crescimento de certos cancros e aparecimento de células regeneradoras, embrionárias - Stem Cell like).

Citando:
""You had a dramatic drop in IGF-1, close to 60% and then once you re-fed it went up, but was still down 20%," Longo told me.

Such a reduction could make a significant difference to an individual's likelihood of developing certain cancers, he says. A study of a small population of people in Ecuador, who have much lower levels of IGF-1, because they lack a growth hormone receptor, showed that they rarely develop cancer and other age-related conditions.

My blood tests also revealed that the major inhibitor of IGF-1, which is called IGFBP-1, was significantly up during the fasting period. Even when I resumed a normal diet, the IGFBP-1 level was elevated compared with my baseline. It is, according to Longo, a sign that my body switched into a mode that was much more conducive to healthy ageing.

Data from other participants in the study is still being analysed, but if they also show lower levels of IGF-1 and higher levels of IGFBP-1, it could help scientists develop an intermittent fasting regime that allows people to eat a normal diet for the vast majority of the time, and still slow down the ageing process.

One idea being explored by Longo is that a five-day intervention every 60 days may be enough to trigger positive changes in the body.

"This is exactly what we have in mind to allow people, for let's say 55 every 60 days, to decide what they are going to eat with the help of a good doctor, and diet in the five days. They may not think it is the greatest food they have ever eaten, but it's a lot easier, let's say, than complete fasting and it's a lot safer than complete fasting and it may be more effective than complete fasting."

The very small meals I was given during the five-day fast were far from gourmet cooking, but I was glad to have something to eat. There are advocates of calorie restriction who promote complete fasting.

My blood tests also detected a significant rise in a type of cell, which may play a role in the regeneration of tissues and organs."

Passar fome regenera Pâncreas (ajudando na diabetes Tipo 2)

Parecido com o livro sobre a reversão da diabetes tipo 2, há estudos que analisam o efeito da redução calórica (jejum) no pâncreas, parecendo que ajuda à sua regeneração e normalização dos níveis de açúcar no sangue:
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-39070183

Citando:
"Experts said the findings were "potentially very exciting" as they could become a new treatment for the disease.

People are advised not to try this without medical advice.

In the experiments, mice were put on a modified form of the "fasting-mimicking diet".

It is like the human form of the diet when people spend five days on a low calorie, low protein, low carbohydrate but high unsaturated-fat diet.

It resembles a vegan diet with nuts and soups, but with around 800 to 1,100 calories a day.

Then they have 25 days eating what they want - so overall it mimics periods of feast and famine.

Previous research has suggested it can slow the pace of ageing."

O estudo:
(published in the journal Cell)
http://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(17)30130-7

Livro sobre como reverter a Diabetes tipo 2

... apenas com alterações do que se come:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3810684/Eat-beat-diabetes-Guilt-free-sweet-treats-scrumptious-puds-won-t-believe-low-sugar-never-need-buy-loaf-again.html

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/8-Week-Blood-Sugar-Diet-reprogramme/1780722400

Como construir uma refeição saudável que o mantém sem fome - Time.com

How to Build a Healthy Meal That Actually Keeps You Full - Nutrition - Health.com

Resumo:
A todas as refeições:

1. - Adicionar vegetais ricos em fibra (mesmo ao pequeno almoço);
2. - Adicionar proteínas (fontes, em Inglês: eggs, seafood, poultry, Greek yogurt; pulses = lentils, beans, and peas, like chickpeas, black eyed peas);
3. - Adicionar gorduras vegetais (fontes: avocados, nuts and seed [including ground-up versions like almond butter and tahini], extra virgin olive oil; Mediterranean olives, olive tapenade, and pestos made with EVOO and nuts or seeds);
4. - Adicionar hidratos de carbono complexos (fontes: whole grains like oats or quinoa, starchy veggies like skin-on potatoes and squash, fresh fruit, and pulses);
5. - Adicionar especiarias e outros temperos (fresh or dried basil, cilantro, oregano, rosemary, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, zest, and pepper. Even vinegars like balsamic, and hot peppers like chili or jalapeno).

Linhas orientadoras para o exercício fisico (adultos)

O sítio do NHS tem as linhas orientadoras para o RU:

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/pages/physical-activity-guidelines-for-adults.aspx

Resumo (PDF) aqui.

Citando:
"Guidelines for adults aged 19-64

To stay healthy, adults aged 19-64 should try to be active daily and should do:

at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity such as cycling or fast walking every week, and  strength exercises on two or more days a week that work all the major muscles (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms).  

OR

75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity, such as running or a game of singles tennis every week, andstrength exercises on two or more days a week that work all the major muscles (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms). 

OR

A mix of moderate and vigorous aerobic activity every week. For example, two 30-minute runs plus 30 minutes of fast walking equates to 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity, andstrength exercises on two or more days a week that work all the major muscles (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms).  

A good rule is that one minute of vigorous activity provides the same health benefits as two minutes of moderate activity.

One way to do your recommended 150 minutes of weekly physical activity is to do 30 minutes on 5 days a week."

Muito mais detalhes na ligação de cima (assim como linhas orientadoras para as outras faixas etárias).

Exercício físico como a melhor maneira de evitar a reincidência de cancro da mama

Mais uma excelente revisão das notícias (e estudo) que referem que o exercício físico é a melhor maneira de prevenir a reincidência do cancro da mama. As conclusões do perito do NHS são que o estudo é interessante do ponto de vista de analisar o impacto do estilo de vida sobre o cancro da mama apesar de ter algumas limitações (bias effect, etc.):
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2017/02February/Pages/Exercise-most-proven-method-to-prevent-return-of-breast-cancer.aspx

Citando:
"The researchers' review of evidence found that physical activity had the strongest reported effect on reducing the risk of breast cancer recurring and dying from breast cancer.

Following the recommended 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week guidance, as well as two to three weekly sessions of strength training, can help reduce the risk of breast cancer returning and death from the disease.

The effects of treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy can take a toll on motivation to exercise. But clinical guidelines recommend a gradual return to regular exercise."

História da "Vitamina" D e necessidade ou não da suplementação

Depois das notícias (p.e. da Time) sobre como evitar constipações (R: Tomando vitamina D), algumas críticas à recomendação e um pouco de história:
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/02/definitive-vitamin-d/517302/

Citando:
"The scientific process behind the health claims was ethically fraught, too, in that it came from University of Wisconsin researchers who owned the patent on producing the compound that had recently been named “vitamin D.” The term started as a colloquialism for what chemists know as cholecalciferol and ergocalciferol, which are not structurally or functionally similar to the other compounds widely known as “vitamins.”

D is technically a pre-hormone involved in multiple metabolic processes but mainly known to affect the levels of calcium and phosphorus in our bodies. Though little was known in the 1930s about exactly how “vitamin D” worked to prevent people’s bones from warping, the biochemist who patented the process of synthesizing the compound said, “If the public should demand vitamin D in its beer, there is no reason why [we] should not provide it.”

The demanding people weren’t ready for vitamin beer, apparently, and Schlitz took it off the market two years later. Instead cow’s milk became the delivery vehicle for vitamin D supplements in the United States. A milk-fortification law was passed to combat the scourge of rickets. So arose the belief that drinking cow’s milk was necessary for strong bones. As the dairy industry made the case in government-sponsored advertising, vitamin D actually became a primary selling point for milk—the reason that many Americans believe drinking cow’s milk is necessary still today. (Even though adult cows don’t drink it.)"

Gene associado a desordens ao nível do colesterol

... que se não forem tratadas (com estatinas desde cedo) podem levar a morte prematura:
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15106022.Gene_puts_thousands_at_risk_of_early_heart_attack_death/

Citando:
"The British Heart Foundation is calling for improved screening to pinpoint those affected by the inherited condition, known as familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), after new estimates indicated the genetic defect is more common in Scottish children than type one diabetes and is likely to affect around 21,000 people in Scotland."
(...)
"FH causes abnormally high levels of cholesterol in a person’s blood, meaning that otherwise healthy individuals are at a much greater risk of having a heart attack at a young age.

Without treatment, people with FH can die prematurely in their 20s, 30s or 40s. Each child of a parent who has FH has a 50 per cent chance of inheriting the condition.

Early treatment with statins can bring a carrier’s life expectancy back to that of someone without the condition. However, the BHF warns that people are needlessly dying because most people are not diagnosed and treated for the condition, despite one of the faulty genes responsible for the majority of FH cases first being discovered 30 years ago."

Skyr, um novo tipo de iogurte?

O Sykr é um tipo de iogurte alternativo que já se encontra à venda em Portugal (e.g. no Lidl) e tem cerca de 11g de proteína por cada 100g. Por comparação, o iogurte natural mais corrente tem carca de 3-4g de proteínas por cada 100g e a aveia tem cerca de 12g de proteína por cada 100g:

De realçar: Baixo teor de gordura, alto nível de proteínas e de cálcio; bactérias Streptococcus thermophilus e Lactobacillus bulgaricus (benéficas para os intestinos).

Mais info:
Skyr: há um novo iogurte a revolucionar o mundo fit (e a receita é dos vikings)

PS: "Kudos to M. Oliveira for the tip"

Sobre os pontos brancos nas unhas...

http://www.mirror.co.uk/science/you-sometimes-little-white-spots-9860481
Citando:
"But, generally, you can rest assured that white dots – known scientifically as punctate leukonychia – on your nails are nothing sinister. Typically, they appear simply because there's been some trauma to the nail."
(...)
"Puncate might not mean a lack of calcium, but could suggest a zinc deficiency. Eating foods such as spinach, kidney beans, beef, and seeds is a good way to combat this."

Peixe espada e risco de ELA (a doença de Stephen Hawking)?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4244550/Eating-swordfish-double-risk-MND.html

Citando (sobre a MND):

"Motor neurone disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare condition that progressively damages parts of the nervous system.

it is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease after the condition was named after the US baseball player when he was diagnosed in 1939 at just 36 years old.

It occurs when specialist nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord called motor neurones stop working properly - known as neurodegeneration.

Life expectancy for about half of those with the condition is three years from the start of symptoms.

However, some people may live for up to 10 years, and in rarer circumstances even longer.

The condition can affect adults of all ages, including teenagers, although this is extremely rare.

It's usually diagnosed in people over 40, but most people with the condition first develop symptoms in their 60s. It affects slightly more men than women.

There's currently no cure for motor neurone disease.

Treatment aims to make the person feel comfortable and have the best quality of life possible

It also tries to compensate for the progressive loss of bodily functions such as mobility, communication, swallowing and breathing."

Detecção precoce de Alzheimer por discurso?

Tentativa de detecção precoce de Alzheimer através do discurso (tipicamente as técnicas focam-se na memória):
http://www.mirror.co.uk/science/experts-revealed-new-symptom-could-9858668

Citando:
""The MCIs are very long-winded. One significant difference is the mean length of utterance, how many words MCI subjects used versus healthy older, it was a very significant difference.

"MCIs almost tended to get lost along the way and had more difficulty connecting the three words and also difficulty remembering the three words."

Asked what people should do if they spotted their elderly relative had became more long winded and more disconnected when they talk, Dr Sherman said: "If there is a change you’re noticing in spouses and parents and friends cognition, either their ability to remember information, or their ability to communicate, that might be a good time to get them seen by a physician.

"Especially if there is a change from their baseline."

But she cautioned: "Many individuals may be long winded. That’s not a concern. What we are trying to figure out is when there is a change in how you use to be.

"Alzheimer’s disease is a decline in cognitive function, that’s what defines it. So it’s when there is a change from your usual function that you need to be concerned.""

Diagnóstico de AVCs em segundos com equipamento portátil

Scientists could diagnose strokes in seconds with world's first portable brain scanner - Mirror Online

Imunoterapia a 2 ou 3 anos?

Depende da terapia (há alergias para as quais há esta terapia). É uma alternativa ao uso continuado (para o resto da vida?) de anti-histamínicos ou outros medicamentos que (apenas) aliviam sintomas, uma vez que a imunoterapia promete a remissão dos sintomas (definitivamente).
Dito assim parece um bom negócio (e é se houver remissão). Mas também é um bom negócio dizer que afinal dois anos não chegam, são precisos mais (NQ as vacinas a tomar mensalmente podem chegar a custar centenas de euros / ano):
http://health.usnews.com/health-care/articles/2017-02-14/immunotherapy-not-a-quick-fix-for-hay-fever

Vitaminas que beneficiam a pele?

Vitaminas que beneficiam a pele:
A, B3 (Niacina), B5, C, D, E, K, Colina (presente em ovos), Ácido Fólico (com alguns links adicionais para artigos/estudos sobre cada uma delas):

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_58aac16be4b0fa149f9ac888

Lista dos conservantes e algumas observações sobre efeitos adversos

Os conservantes são um dos principais aditivos que aparecem em comida pré-preparada (muitas não trazem corantes ou outros aditivos mas quase todas trazem um conservante E2**; abaixo encontra-se um exemplo de lista de ingredientes com bastantes aditivos e outro com apenas dois, um dos quais um conservante - E223). 

Nem todos os conservantes são iguais:
http://www.quali.pt/aditivos-alimentares/499-lista-conservantes

Citando:

E 200 — Ácido sórbico; usado como conservante pois inibe o desenvolvimento de leveduras e fungos, é um açúcar-ácido presente em muitos frutos; pode ser obtido dos frutos da sorveira (Sorbus aucuparia; Rosaceae) ou por processos de síntese; poderá ter efeitos irritantes sobre a pele.

E 202 — Sorbato de potássio; conservante com as mesmas propriedades do que o ácido sórbico, é mais solúvel do que este, sendo obtido dele por reacção com potassa; não se lhe conhecem efeitos adversos.

E 203 — Sorbato de cálcio; conservante idêntico ao E 200 e E 202, obtido por processos de síntese; não se lhe conhecem efeitos adversos.

E 210 — Ácido benzóico; conservante que é um ácido fenólico que ocorre naturalmente em algumas plantas, mas é em geral preparado por processos sintéticos; tem propriedades antibacterianas e antifúngicas; pode produzir reacções alérgicas semelhantes às referidas para o E 102; em concentrações elevadas pode ainda provocar irritações gástricas, tendo sido referido, por outro lado, ser responsável por desordens de natureza neurológica; reage com o bissulfito de sódio (E 222) também utilizado como conservante.

E 211 — Benzoato de sódio; sal de sódio do E 210 com características idênticas às dele.

E 212 — Benzoato de potássio; sal de potássio do E 210 com características idênticas às dele.

E 213 — Benzoato de cálcio; sal de cálcio do E 210, com características idênticas às dele.

E 214 — p-Hidroxibenzoato de etilo; conservante obtido a partir do ácido benzóico (E 210), com características idênticas às dele.

E 215 — Sal de sódio do p-hidroxibenzoato de etilo, com características idênticas às dele.

E 216 — p-Hidroxibenzoato de propilo; conservante obtido a partir do ácido benzóico (E 210) e com características idênticas às dele.

E 217 — Sal de sódio do p-hidroxibenzoato de propilo, com características idênticas às dele.

E 218 — p-Hidroxibenzoato de metilo, conservante obtido a partir do ácido benzóico (E 210) e com características idênticas às dele.

E 219 — Sal de sódio do p-hidroxibenzoato de metilo, com características idênticas às dele.

E 220 — Dióxido de enxofre; conservante e antioxidante, é também usado como branqueador e estabilizador da vitamina C; obtém-se em geral por combustão do enxofre, sendo tradicionalmente usado na desinfecção do vasilhame onde se armazena o vinho; pode produzir reacções alérgicas semelhantes às referidas para o E 102, para além de ser irritante do aparelho digestivo; quando utilizado no branqueamento da farinha destrói a maior parte da sua vitamina E.

E 221 — Sulfito de sódio; conservante e agente antimicrobiano, obtido por síntese; os sulfitos podem ser perigosos para as pessoas asmáticas.

E 222 — Hidrogenossulfito de sódio (ou bissulfito de sódio); conservante e branqueador obtido por síntese; os sulfitos podem ser perigosos para as pessoas asmáticas.

E 223 — Metabissulfito de sódio; conservante e antioxidante, obtido por síntese; pode produzir irritação gástrica, devido à libertação do ácido sulfuroso, e reacções alérgicas na pele; os sulfitos podem ser perigosos para as pessoas asmáticas; a sua acção sobre os alimentos leva à redução dos teores de tiamina (vitamina B1).

E 224 — Metabissulfito de potássio; conservante idêntico ao E 223.

E 226 — Sulfito de cálcio; conservante, também usado para dar consistência a alimentos, obtido por síntese; tem efeitos idênticos aos do E 223.

E 227 — Hidrogenossulfito de cálcio (ou bissulfito de cálcio); conservante de síntese com efeitos idênticos aos do E 223.

E 228 — Hidrogenossulfito de potássio (ou bissulfito de potássio); conservante de síntese com efeitos idênticos aos do E 223.

E 230 — Bifenilo ou difenilo; conservante com propriedades antifúngicas produzido por processos sintéticos, pela acção do calor sobre o benzeno; usa-se no tratamento da superfície de frutos, como os citrinos, para evitar o seu apodrecimento; parte do conservante pode penetrar na polpa do fruto e ser consumido; os trabalhadores expostos ao bifenilo referem o desencadear de naúseas, vómitos e irritações dos olhos e nariz.

E 231 — Ortofenilfenol; conservante com propriedades antibacterianas e antifúngicas, obtido por síntese e com características e efeitos idênticos aos do E 230.

E 232 — Ortofenilfenato de sódio; conservante de síntese utilizado como substituto do E 231.

E 234 — Nisina; conservante que é um antibiótico de natureza polipeptídica produzido por bactérias do género Streptococcus (p. ex., S. lactis) e naturalmente presente em alguns queijos; não se lhe conhecem efeitos adversos, sendo adicionada a pudins e queijos para ajudar à sua conservação.

E 235 — Natamicina; conservante que é um antibiótico do tipo macrólido, com propriedades antifúngicas, produzido pelo Streptomyces natalensis; usado no tratamento da superfície de queijos de pasta dura e semi-dura e de enchidos secos ou curados.

E 239 — Hexametilenotetramina; conservante sintético, com propriedades antifúngicas, derivado do benzeno; utilizado no queijo Provolone; o consumo prolongado deste conservante causa transtornos gastrointestinais devido à produção de formaldeído, verificando-se menos frequentemente irritações urinárias e alergias na pele; tem efeitos mutagénicos em animais de laboratório.

E 242 — Dicarbonato dimetílico; conservante de síntese utilizado em bebidas aromatizadas não alcoólicas e em concentrados de chá líquido.

E 249 — Nitrito de potássio; conservante e agente de cura; não deve ser usado em alimentos para bebés de idade inferior a 6 meses; destrói os glóbulos vermelhos e ao reagir com as aminas forma nitrosaminas, que são potencialmente carcinogénicas; afecta as pessoas asmáticas e outras com tendência para as alergias.

E 250 — Nitrito de sódio; conservante idêntico ao E 249.

E 251 — Nitrato de sódio; mineral que ocorre naturalmente. É utilizado como conservante e agente de cura; por acção microbiana ou no estômago pode transformar-se em nitritos, com todos os efeitos desfavoráveis referidos para o E 249.

E 252 — Nitrato de potássio; conservante idêntico ao E 251.

E 280 — Ácido propiónico; conservante com propriedades antifúngicas; é um produto natural de fermentações, podendo estar presente em determinados produtos fermentados; não tem efeitos adversos.

E 281 — Propionato de sódio; conservante idêntico ao E 280.

E 282 — Propionato de cálcio; conservante idêntico ao E 280.

E 283 — Propionato de potássio; conservante idêntico ao E 280.

E 284 — Ácido bórico; conservante com ligeiras propriedades bacteriostáticas, usado, p. ex., no caviar; tem propriedades purgativas.

E 285 — Tetraborato de sódio ou bórax; conservante com propriedades idênticas ao ácido bórico, devido a originá-lo por hidrólise, quando em solução.

E 1105 — Lisozima; enzima hidrolítica (EC 3.2.1.17) de grande distribuição nos seres vivos, que quebra ligações glicosídicas b-1,4 da proteoglicana da parede celular de bactérias e, portanto, tem acção protectora contra estes microrganismos; utiliza-se como conservante em queijos curados; não tem efeitos adversos.

Estudo sobre exposição de pessoas a poluição atmosférica nos diversos meios de transporte

E há diferenças significativas na exposição das pessoas à poluição atmosférica (e consequentemente nos impactos na saúde dessas pessoas):
Bus and tube users exposed to 'up to eight times' more pollution than car users

Citando:
"A new study has revealed that although motorists produce the most pollution per commuter, being sealed inside their cars means they are the least exposed to harmful particulate matter (PM) from the outside.
Experts at the University of Surrey compared how commuters using cars, buses and the underground in different parts of London were exposed to a range of pollutants.
Figures showed that passengers on underground trains with opening windows were exposed to the worst air quality, followed by those on buses.
Above ground, bus travellers were found to be exposed to higher levels of black carbon and particles than car users.

Dr Prashant Kumar, who led the study, said: "We found that there is definitely an element of environmental injustice among those commuting in London, with those who create the most pollution having the least exposure to it."

The latest study involved commuters wearing air pollution monitors as they undertook hundreds of journeys by car, bus and tube.
They found people on the tube were exposed to 68 micrograms of PM10 - tiny particles of soot that are breathed into the lungs - compared to eight micrograms of exposure experienced by motorists.
Levels of PM2.5 fine particles, which can be more lethal as they are drawn deep into the lungs, were twice as high on buses as in cars."

287 mutações em cerca de 100 genes (herdados da mãe) associadas a calvície severa

Mais sobre a calvície, e como para a altura, a coisa é mais complicada que parece:
http://www.livescience.com/57887-baldness-genetic-markers.html

Citando:
"The researchers then analyzed participants' genomes, looking for genetic variations, known as single-nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs, that were linked with severe hair loss. That search revealed 287 genetic variations, located on more than 100 genes, that were linked with severe hair loss.

Many of the genetic variations were located on or near genes that have previously been linked with hair growth, hair graying or the biological structures involved in making hair, the researchers said.

Forty of the genetic variations were located on the X chromosome, which men inherit from their mothers, the researchers said. One of the genes on the X chromosome — the gene for the androgen receptor, which binds to the hormone testosterone — was strongly linked with severe hair loss. Previous studies have also pinpointed this gene as tied to male pattern baldness.

The researchers then created a formula, which resulted in a genetic "risk score," to try to predict the chances of severe hair loss in the men."

Médico insinua que Vitaminas são uma boa maneira de fazermos xixi caro

Sem papas na língua (mas também não sei se completamente com razão) médico com responsabilidades na Austrália insinua que, num país com acesso a uma alimentação equilibrada (frutas e legumes) as vitaminas e os minerais (em suplementos) são dispensáveis e só nos fazem "mijar caro":
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/multivitamins-expensive-urine-waste-of-money-vitamins-australian-medical-association-chief-michael-a7578961.html

Números da indústria (citando):

"Nearly half of adults in the UK take multivitamins, with 46 per cent saying they use them daily or occasionally, according to Mintel.

In Australia, the vitamin pill market has doubled over the last decade and seven out of every ten people take some form of supplement, reported ABC.

Industry bodies have said the tablets are useful because many people have poor diets (...)"

Citando:

"“Many of these products have 50 or more ingredients,” he said. “It really is crazy stuff."

"If that’s what you want to do, and you want to give some profits to the companies that produce those products, well good on you. That’s not what I want to do.”"

Suplementos alimentares "naturais" (ervas) podem não ser tão naturais assim e conter substâncias prejudiciais (não listadas)

Suplementos alimentares "naturais" (ervas; para emagrecer, para a disfunção eréctil, etc.) podem não ser tão naturais assim e conter substâncias prejudiciais (não listadas), algumas já removidas do mercado dos medicamentos.
O barato (e o não receitado) pode como tal sair caro, por isso cuidado com as compras na Internet/fornecedores/vendedores e até com os fabricantes (há marcas mais e menos conceituadas):

Herbal supplements for sport, slimming and erectile dysfunction 'pose serious health risk after experts find some contain illegal drugs'

Citando:
"MANY herbal supplements could be doing more harm than good because they contain hidden illegal drugs linked to serious health problems, experts warn. Over the counter herbal sports supplements and treatments for obesity and erectile dysfunction may include dangerous substances not listed on the label, researchers from Queen’s University Belfast found."
(...)

“We have found that these supplements are often not what customers think they are – they are being deceived into thinking they are getting health benefits from a natural product when actually they are taking a hidden drug.

“These products are unlicensed medicines and many people are consuming large quantities without knowing the interactions with other supplements or medicines they may be taking. This is very dangerous and there can be severe side effects.”

They said the survey “raises serious questions” about the safety of slimming products containing the drug Sibutramine. Sibutramine was licensed as the medicine Reductil until 2010, when it was withdrawn across Europe and the US due to its links with heart attacks and strokes. It also found a substance called DMAA found often undeclared in sports supplements.
(...) DMAA was taken off the market in the US in 2012 due to its links with elevated blood pressure, which can lead to heart problems. 

Professor Burns said it was even more important that athletes know what they are taking as their careers rely on it. He said: “We are seeing all these cases of athletes being done for drugs when they didn’t know they were taking anything – that is why they shouldn’t eat anything that hasn’t been analysed.

“If manufacturers want to have a product that is miraculous they can tweak it pharmaceutical, under the counter as you might say, and it will work better than the natural herb but it might have other reactions to medication you are taking.”

Researchers also discovered tadalfil and sulfoaildenafil were frequently undeclared ingredients in products for erectile dysfunction.

When taken with other medicines containing nitrates, these drugs can lower blood pressure drastically and cause serious health problems."

Vozes contra a indústria farmacêutica e custos excessivos de medicamentos contra o cancro

Cientistas do RU contra custos de tratamentos contra o cancro.

Citando:
"Pharmaceutical companies used to justify their prices by pointing to the high cost of clinical trials involving many thousands of patients. But that is no longer always necessary, the scientists say in their paper. The new targeted drugs require a test for a genetic biomarker to see whether patients will respond or not. That means the drug can be trialled on far fewer people. The drug crizotinib, used for advanced lung cancer, was approved following a trial involving only 347 patients, they point out. Trastuzumab (Herceptin) was first approved for advanced breast cancer and later for early breast cancer, increasing the market for the company but with no reduction in price."
(...)
"Workman, together with colleagues from the US and the Netherlands, proposes that academic discovery centres like his should forge relationships with new commercial partners – probably not the major drug companies but smaller biotech or generic drug firms. Academics should take greater control of the drugs they discover, they argue, and join with small companies that will agree to cap the price when the drug reaches the market. They would not have the expectation of big profit margins, as the major pharmaceutical companies do. But in an era where drugs are tested on smaller populations and genetic testing means they are more likely to be effective, they would not need to “cost in” all the failed attempts at producing blockbusters, as the big companies do."

Cuidado com compras de produtos de saúde online influenciadas pelas revisões dos utilizadores

Devemos dar um grande desconto ao que os compradores de produtos de saúde dizem sobre os benefícios do produto porque há uma tendência para o exagero dos benefícios:
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/amazon-weight-loss-product-reviews-misleading-customers-clinical-trials-online-shopping-health-a7572851.html

Citando:
"Customers should approach online reviews of health products with caution, say University of Aberdeen researchers. An analysis of clinical trial data and user-generated online reviews has shown that customers are prone to exaggerating the effects of weight loss and cholesterol treatments, especially when they have positive results. The researchers examined more than 1,600 Amazon.com reviews, and found that Benecol reviewers described an average drop in cholesterol over three times above what was found in carefully controlled trials."

Outra notícia:

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15083661.Online_shoppers_warned_over_Amazon_medicines_reviews/

Tratamento 4 em 1 para tensão alta com elevada taxa de sucesso e reduzidos efeitos secundários

Uma combinação de 4 medicamentos já conhecidos em doses reduzidas teve resultados muito positivos e sem efeitos secundários dignos de registo (muito importante para tratamentos a longo prazo com este tipo de medicação):

http://m.indiatoday.in/story/now-four-in-one-pill-to-treat-high-blood-pressure/1/879831.html

Citando:
"Over four weeks 18 patients in Sydney were either given a quadpill - a single capsule containing four of the most commonly used blood pressure-lowering drugs each at a quarter dose - or a placebo.

This was then repeated for a further four weeks with the patients swapping their course of treatment.

Blood pressure levels were measured hourly over a 24 hour period at the end of each treatment, allowing researchers to significantly reduce the amount of patients normally required in a clinical trial.

As many as 100 per cent of patients on trial saw their blood levels drop below 140 over 90. Just 33 per cent of patients on the placebo achieved this rate.

None of the patients experienced side effects commonly associated with hypertension lowering drugs, which can vary from swollen ankles to kidney abnormalities depending on the type of class of the drug.

"What makes these results even more exciting is that these four blood pressure medications are already in use. We are increasingly finding there are opportunities to treat many commons diseases hiding in plain sight. This ultimately means we will be able to deliver life changing medications much more quickly, and more affordably," "

Circuncisão estudada na Austrália

Continuando a ser um procedimento não realizado nos hospitais públicos:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/circumcision-policy-wont-change-racp/news-story/6aeeb4bb84f71a16d8931cce6aa8e926

Ai o arsénico no arroz...

E como minimizá-lo:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4203410/Expert-reveals-safest-way-cook-rice.html
O arsénico é um veneno.


Citando:
"A leading rice contamination expert tested 3 popular methods of cooking it
•Arsenic manages to get into rice as a result of toxins that were used in the past
•But an experiment found boiling it in excess water helps flush the chemical out
•Soaking rice in water overnight slashes levels of arsenic by 80%, the study found"
(...)
"He first used a ratio of two parts water to one part rice, whereby the water was absorbed or evaporated during cooking.
Increasing the ratio to five parts water halved arsenic levels and soaking it overnight cut the toxin levels the most.
It comes after the Food Standards Agency warned against overcooking potatoes and toast because of increased levels of the cancer-causing chemical acrylamide."

Consumo de proteína vegetal pode compensar os malefícios do consumo de proteína animal

Estudo observacional:
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/172142/20160801/eating-more-meat-increases-mortality-risk-but-plant-protein-lowers-it.htm
Citando:
"Too much meat — particularly red meat — has been shown to be bad for the health, but protein from plants may actually offset the negative effects, a new study has revealed.
In fact, people who eat more plant protein and less animal protein may have longer lives even when they have unhealthy habits such as smoking or heavy drinking, the new report said.
When it comes to protein intake, where the protein comes from is just as important as how much of it people eat, researchers explained."

Surdez revertida por terapia de genes (em ratos)

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-38881369
O artigo tem uma foto muito interessante dos defeitos nos pelos envolvidos na audição que estando desordenados tornam as pessoas (neste caso, os ratos) surdas.
Citando:
"Studies, published in Nature Biotechnology, corrected errors that led to the sound-sensing hairs in the ear becoming defective.
The researchers used a synthetic virus to nip in and correct the defect.
"It's unprecedented, this is the first time we've seen this level of hearing restoration," said researcher Dr Jeffrey Holt, from Boston Children's Hospital.
About half of all forms of deafness are due to an error in the instructions for life - DNA.
In the experiments at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, the mice had a genetic disorder called Usher syndrome.
It means there are inaccurate instructions for building microscopic hairs inside the ear.
In healthy ears, sets of outer hair cells magnify sound waves and inner hair cells then convert sounds to electrical signals that go to the brain.
The hairs normally form these neat V-shaped rows."
(...)
"There are about 100 different types of genetic defect that can cause hearing loss. A different therapy would be needed for each one.
Dr Holt told the BBC News website: "We've really gotten a good understanding of the basic science, of the biology of the inner ear, and now we're at the point of being able to translate that knowledge and apply it to human patients in the very near future."
One of the big questions will be whether the synthetic virus is safe.
It was based on adeno-associated virus, which has already been used in other forms of gene therapy.
The researchers also want to prove the effect is long-lasting - they know it works for at least six months.
There are also questions about the "window of opportunity". While the therapy worked in mice treated at birth, it failed when given just 10 days later.'

Perigos do Peróxido de Hidrogénio?

http://time.com/4660162/hydrogen-peroxide-stroke-heart-attacks/
Citando:
"Drinking high-concentration hydrogen peroxide is a tactic sometimes promoted in alternative medicine circles as a so-called "natural cure," but nearly 300 people have been poisoned and five have died after trying it, according to a new paper published this week in the Annals of Emergency Medicine."
(...)
"“For people who follow these regimens, the instructions involve placing a dropper-full of high-concentration peroxide into a large quantity of water or another liquid, so it’s fairly diluted,” says Dr. Hatten. “People believe that it’s hyper-oxygenating, putting extra oxygen into your beverage, and that it somehow improves your health.”
There’s no scientific basis for these claims, though. “If it’s properly diluted, it’s probably harmless,” says Dr. Hatten, “but it doesn’t have any proven benefits—and if you accidentally take too much, it could have very serious consequences.”"

Café, café e ainda mais café?

Aparentemente sim (anti-inflamatório), é bom na terceira idade:
http://time.com/4634553/is-coffee-bad-aging-caffeine/?xid=newsletter-brief

Tratamento experimental para cancro dos pulmões

Tratamento experimental recupera doente de cancro dos pulmões:

Terminally ill lung cancer patient given all clear after world first drug trial - Mirror Online

Quoting:
"Bob wasn’t responding to the drugs, and doctors told him he had around a year-and-a-half left to live. They decided to transfer him to the hospital’s clinical trials unit, and 12 months ago Bob became one of the first people ever to be treated with the brand new drug, which can’t yet be named."

Cansaço extremo?

Falta de ferro?
https://www.thesun.co.uk/living/2789916/heres-what-is-really-behind-the-tiredness-epidemic-sweeping-the-uk-and-how-you-can-beat-it/
"The reason for this could be down to iron deficiency, which is one of the most common causes of unexplained tiredness.
Iron is important because it helps your red blood cells carry oxygen around the body – and without enough oxygen, your organs and tissue just can’t work effectively."
(...)
"“People are eating 13% less red meat than they used to, which contains the most easy-to-absorb form of iron.”
Thankfully, there are a few ways you can easily up your iron intake, with Vitamin C capable of improving iron absorption by up to 180%.
This means that a glass of orange juice with your meal could help your body access as much iron as possible."
(...)
"Conversely, some foods – such as milk, tea, beans and chilli – hinder iron absorption, so should be limited.
Iron supplements can offer a way to deal with a deficiency, but many women complain of unpleasant side-effects after taking them."

Como viver uma vida feliz (4 receitas de um livro e um resumo)

The pleasant life (foco no que nos traz prazer)
The good life (foco no que somos bons e nos coloca em paz)
The meaningful life (usar os nossos dotes aos serviço dos outros, algo maior que nós próprios)
The full life (sum of the previous 3):
http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2017/02/how-to-have-a-happy-life/?utm_source=%22Barking+Up+The+Wrong+Tree%22+Weekly+Newsletter&utm_campaign=171b195e78-HL_2_5_2017&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_78d4c08a64-171b195e78-57805805
Citando:
"In his book, Authentic Happiness, University of Pennsylvania professor Martin Seligman (the Big Kahuna of happiness research) says that there are four types of happy lives.
That’s right — not only do we have a blueprint for what makes a happy life, you even get four choices. That doesn’t mean they’re all created equal. As you move down the list, the lives get better — but more challenging. The first three all have big strengths — and big weaknesses.
And then there’s #4 (music swells): The Full Life. It’s got it all — but, of course, it’s the trickiest to achieve."

App Móvel "Think Dirty" para produtos de beleza

Thinkdirty é uma aplicação móvel que revela se um determinado produto cosmético tem ou não ingredientes naturais e outros considerados problemáticos (tóxicos, cancerígenos), ajudando a realizar compras informadas:

Think Dirty App Reveals Just How Toxic Certain Beauty Products Are | The Huffington Post

Link para itunes (Apple store):
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/think-dirty/id687176839?mt=8

Medo de barulhos com comida (ou outros) estudado

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-38842561
Citando:
"She told BBC News: "Anyone eating crisps is always going to set me off, the rustle of the packet is enough to start a reaction.
"It's not a general annoyance, it's an immediate 'Oh my God, what is that sound?' I need to get away from it or stop it'.
"I spent a long time avoiding places like the cinema. I'd have to move carriages seven or eight times on 30-minute train journeys, and I left a job after three months as I spent more time crying and having panic attacks than working." "

Efeito de anti-inflamatórios (não esteróides) em dores de costas é negligenciável

... E não compensa o acrescido risco de problemas gastro-intestinais (úlceras, etc.). Tome o seu placebo favorito antes:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/feb/03/back-pain-medications-have-little-benefit-and-may-cause-harm-research
Citando:
"Widely used anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen have little more benefit than a placebo when it comes to treating back pain, a comprehensive review has found.
Researchers analysed 35 peer-reviewed trials on the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs] such as ibuprofen for back pain, reviewing data from 6,065 patients.
They found that none of the analgesics offered anything more than a mild relief for back-pain sufferers, and the effect was too small to be considered clinically important.

The comprehensive review, published in the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, found while the drugs offered little to no benefit, patients taking them were 2.5 times more likely to suffer from gastrointestinal problems such a stomach ulcers and bleeding."

Linhas orientadoras para avaliar a qualidade do sono...

... Publicadas recentemente:
http://time.com/4644439/good-sleep-qualities/?xid=newsletter-brief
Aviso também para olhar com um grão de sal os resultados dos sleep trackers pessoais (que aparecem agora na bandas conta-passos) uma vez que a sua precisão não tem nada a ver com os equipamentos usados por médicos.

Usar rolos de espuma em exercícios físicos traz benefícios?

Há estudos que dizem que sim, outros dizem que não encontram benefícios. Sobre esta nova moda:
http://time.com/4653956/foam-roller-workout-recovery/?xid=newsletter-brief

Mais de 700 genes podem estar envolvidos na definição da altura

http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/02/01/512859830/which-genes-make-you-taller-a-whole-lot-it-turns-out
Citando:
"When scientists first read out the human genome 15 years ago, there were high hopes that we'd soon understand how traits like height are inherited. It hasn't been easy. A huge effort to find height-related genes so far only explains a fraction of this trait.
Now scientists say they've made some more headway. And the effort is not just useful for understanding how genes determine height, but how they're involved in driving many other human traits."

Estudo como forma de preparação afecta as propridades dos alimentos

http://www.ugr.university/pages/ugr_news/news_archive/science/benefitsofevoo
http://zap.aeiou.pt/batata-frita-pode-saudavel-do-cozida-147124
Citando:
"A pesquisa da UGR visou testar a ideia de que, em função da forma como se cozinham os vegetais, as suas propriedades antioxidantes podem ser destruídas ou mantidas.
Assim, os investigadores centraram-se na batata, na abóbora, na beringela e no tomate, vegetais que definem como “representativos da dieta mediterrânica”"
(...)
"Segundo a investigadora Cristina Samaniego Sánchez, uma das autoras do estudo, “como meio de transferência de calor, o azeite extra virgem aumenta a quantidade de fenóis nos vegetais, em contraste com outros métodos como cozer que usam um meio de transferência de calor à base de água”.
Por seu turno, “cozer não afecta significativamente os níveis de concentração” dos fenóis nos vegetais, nota a investigadora.
Cristina Samaniego Sánchez alerta todavia, que fritar os vegetais também “aumenta a densidade de calorias da comida, por causa da quantidade de azeite absorvida”."


O estudo (conteúdo pago):
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814615006810

Demência e efeito protector do exercício físico

Efeito protector do exercício físico mesmo quando há predisposição genética:
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_588fb5d5e4b02772c4e88c56


Citando:
"The study found that older adults who reported being sedentary most of the time were just as likely to develop dementia as people who are genetically predisposed to cognitive problems. (...)

And that’s significant, considering the gene that predisposes an individual to developing dementia makes you three to four times more likely to be diagnosed with a problem like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or Lewy body disease.

“The important message here is that being inactive may completely negate the protective effects of a healthy set of genes,” co-author of the study Jennifer Heisz, assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University, told The Huffington Post.

And remember, the majority of individuals do not carry the genetic risk for dementia in the first place, she added.

The upside to the research is that it suggests even a little bit of regular exercise could go a long way in terms of helping prevent cognitive problems for a lot of people, Heisz said.


Walking just three times a week was linked to big benefits
For the study, 1,646 adults 65 or older had their blood analyzed for the presence of the apolipoprotein E allele, the gene known to be most strongly associated with dementia. No one in the study had dementia or any cognitive impairment at the start of the study.

Follow-up data collected five years after the study began showed that 331 individuals had subsequently been diagnosed with some form of dementia. The researchers also collected survey responses about whether those in the study exercised regularly.

Unsurprisingly, the data showed the odds of developing dementia over the course of the study were two times greater in individuals with the dementia allele than for those without the allele. And the data also showed that the individuals who reported not exercising regularly similarly had nearly twice the odds of developing dementia compared with the individuals without the dementia allele.


“You don’t have to train like an Olympian to get the brain health benefits of being physically active.
The people in the study who indicated they exercised regularly were asked two follow-up questions about their exercise habits. A majority of the study participants said walking was their primary exercise and that they did it approximately three times per week.

It’s important to point out a fairly minimal amount of exercise was found to have a big effect when it comes to dementia risk, Heisz noted. “You don’t have to train like an Olympian to get the brain health benefits of being physically active,” she said.


Experts still have questions about what type of exercise is best
This study is still epidemiological data, Heisz noted ― which means it shows a link between sedentary behavior and dementia risk, but doesn’t necessarily explain how one leads to the other.

But taken with previous research that has linked physical activity is to lower dementia risk, the results are fairly convincing, she added. This study included a large number of individuals, it followed those individuals for five years and it controlled for other dementia risk factors, including age, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression and smoking.

More studies are needed to identify what types of exercise provide the most benefit in terms of preventing dementia, she said ― as well as to determine the exact mechanisms in the brain that make physical activity protective when it comes to cognitive decline.

“If a physician were to ask us today what type of exercise to prescribe for a patient to reduce the risk of dementia, the honest answer is ‘we really don’t know,’” another study co-author, Barbara Fenesi, a postdoctoral fellow at McMaster, noted in a press release.

The group is conducting another study comparing different types of exercise ― including high-intensity training and moderate continuous training ― to start to answer some of those questions.

The important message here is that some physical activity does appear to be beneficial ― and being sedentary appears to increase dementia risk, Heisz said.

Watch the video below to hear more about what neurologists have to say about how even a small amount of exercise can do a lot in terms of preventing memory loss.




This reporting is brought to you by HuffPost’s health and science platform, The Scope. Like us on Facebook and Twitter and tell us your story: scopestories@huffingtonpost.com. 




Sarah DiGiulio is The Huffington Post’s sleep reporter. You can contact her at sarah.digiulio@huffingtonpost.com.




  
Also on HuffPost


10 Symptoms For Alzheimer’s

 
More:
 dementia
Comments
Email us corrections or feedback.

Continue


"The upside to the research is that it suggests even a little bit of regular exercise could go a long way in terms of helping prevent cognitive problems for a lot of people, Heisz said.


Walking just three times a week was linked to big benefits
For the study, 1,646 adults 65 or older had their blood analyzed for the presence of the apolipoprotein E allele, the gene known to be most strongly associated with dementia. No one in the study had dementia or any cognitive impairment at the start of the study."
(...)
"More studies are needed to identify what types of exercise provide the most benefit in terms of preventing dementia, she said ― as well as to determine the exact mechanisms in the brain that make physical activity protective when it comes to cognitive decline. "