Mutação em gene faz preferir comida mais calórica

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/10/04/scientists-discover-fat-craving-gene-after-hosting-all-you-can-e/


Citando:
"Scientists have found a gene mutation which makes fatty foods irresistible, and even causes carriers to reject low-calorie versions of the same meal - even when it looks and tastes identical."


Sobre o gene MC4R:
"British scientists have identified a section of genetic code that makes half the population more vulnerable to obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

Those carrying the sequence are on average 4.4lb (2kg) heavier than those who lack it, with 2cm larger waistline, and a tendency to become resistant to the effects of insulin - which can lead to Type 2 diabetes.
The DNA sequence - carried by 50 per cent of the UK population - is a third more common among people of Indian Asian ancestry than among Europeans, say researchers."


Fonte:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1929032/Half-of-people-carry-fat-gene.html

Afinal o treino do cérebro não funciona...

Aparentemente afinal o treino do cérebro não funciona ou melhor, funciona, mas não se encontra provado que certos treinos se reflictam positivamente no campo profissional ou noutra área diferente. Assim se treinarmos o Tetris, ficamos melhor no Tetris mas não esta provado que isso nos ajude profissionalmente ou atrasando o aparecimento de doenças degenerativas (como o Alzheimer).


http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/236794-researchers-find-no-evidence-brain-training-games-offset-aging-cognitive-decline

Pílula contraceptiva ligada a depressão?

... Ou "doorhandle diagnosis" conforme o autor desta notícia suspeita?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3816789/DR-MAX-MIND-DOCTOR-reason-Pill-linked-depression.html


Citando:
"Doorknob revelations can be crucial. A throw-away remark made by a patient as they’re halfway out the door may just be the missing piece of the puzzle; the clue that sounds a klaxon that the patient has a serious physical illness, such as cancer.
However, in my experience, a ‘door-handle diagnosis’ is very often about a patient’s mental health — because, I think, people are too embarrassed or ashamed to make an appointment explicitly to discuss how they are feeling.
Doorhandle diagnosis shows why a really good GP, or nurse, should routinely ask their patient , ever so casually, if everything else is OK."

Ai o [herbicida] Glifosato, outra vez

A FDA está a encontrar Glifosato (presente no Roundup, o sucesso de vendas da Monsanto) em comida de bebé (aveia, trigo):
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/12252824


A Monsanto factura 15 mil milhões de USD por ano e cerca de um terço deste valor (5 mil milhões) deriva de produtos contendo glifosatos (recentemente identificados como possível causa de cancro). Muitos detalhes no artigo acima, incluindo o link para o PDF da Monsanto que recomenda uma aplicação final pré-colheita. Genial!

O que é a DLB?

É mais um tipo de demência (que pode representar 15% dos casos e que por vezes é mal diagnosticada - como foi para este famoso actor):
http://metro.co.uk/2016/10/02/a-terrorist-inside-my-husbands-brain-robin-williams-wife-details-the-last-months-of-the-comedians-life-6165686/


Citando:
"Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a type of dementia that shares symptoms with both Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
It may account for 10-15 per cent of all cases of dementia.
DLB can be diagnosed wrongly and is often mistaken for Alzheimer’s disease.
Lewy bodies are the cause of DLB and Parkinson’s disease. They are two of several diseases caused by Lewy bodies that affect the brain and nervous system and get worse over time. These are sometimes called Lewy body disorders.
The way someone is affected by DLB will depend partly on where the Lewy bodies are in the brain:
Lewy bodies at the base of the brain are closely linked to problems with movement (motor symptoms). These are the main feature of Parkinson’s disease.
Lewy bodies in the outer layers of the brain are linked to problems with mental abilities (cognitive symptoms), which is a feature of DLB.
Symptons include problems with mental abilities, such as staring into space for a long time or periods when speech is disorganised; depression; day-to-day memory loss; hallucinations and delusions; movement problems; sleep disturbance; a loss of smell; urinary incontinence.
via alzheimers.org.uk"

Saúde mental no Reino Unido

... A degradar-se desde o último inquérito:
http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/12262340
Citando:
"The seven years since the last Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey has seen the start of a major change in the way our society views mental health. A notable shift in public attitudes towards mental health is underway, and mental health issues are now widely recognised.

Factors such as recession, poverty and unemployment have adversely affected the mental health of the nation, leading to an increase in demand for help and support and at the same time, services are under enormous pressure.

The data paints a stark picture. In some groups of the population it is stabilising, while in other groups it is worsening. Nowhere is it improving. We can now start to see the true scale of an issue which has been stigmatised for centuries and it is deeply worrying for all. "

Álcool como anti-depressivo (auto-medicação)?

http://www.medicaldaily.com/depression-alcohol-has-same-effects-rapid-anti-depressants-study-says-399568
Citando:
"Because of the high comorbidity between major depressive disorder and alcoholism there is the widely recognized self-medication hypothesis, suggesting that depressed individuals may turn to drinking as a means to treat their depression," she said in a press release. "We now have biochemical and behavioral data to support that hypothesis."
Raab-Graham cautioned, however, that relying on the intoxicating substance can still pose a threat.
"There's definitely a danger in self-medicating with alcohol," she added. "There's a very fine line between it being helpful and harmful, and at some point during repeated use self-medication turns into addiction."