Previous research has suggested that there is a link between depression and tea drinking. Now, a new study is investigating this relationship further. Depression is common among older adults, with 7% of those over the age of 60 years reporting “major depres…
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Common foods alter gut bacteria by influencing viruses
A group of researchers has brought the idea of food as a medicine one step closer. They have identified certain common foodstuffs that alter our microbiome. In science today, food and gut bacteria are two topics that are guaranteed to fuel interest and debat…
Sugar alters brain chemistry after only 12 days
New research in pigs finds that sugar intake alters the reward-processing circuitry of the brain in a similar way to addictive drugs. Whenever we learn something new or experience something pleasurable, our brain’s reward system becomes activated. With the …
Supplement may help burn fat long after exercise
Gut bacteria produce an appetite suppressant than can strengthen the effect of an exercise-based weight loss program. The many health benefits of regular exercise are well known. However, its impact on weight loss is less clear, as exercise increases appetit…
New SARS-like virus may be spreading outside China
Global health policymakers have announced that they are investigating the emergence of a new virus one very similar to the dangerous severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus in Thailand and Japan, hinting at worries that it could spread farther. SARS …
Anxious about the news? Our top tips on how to cope
Reading the news can be stress-inducing at the best of times. When the news is particularly worrying, many of us experience levels of anxiety so high that we can have difficulty coping. So how can we stay (reasonably) anxiety-free when the media bombards us w…
The surprising link between depression and the pursuit of happiness
People may think that valuing happiness leads to a happier life. However, new research has found that wanting to feel happy can also have a negative outcome. Previous studies have concluded that excessively valuing happiness can cause a person to feel less h…
Schizophrenia: Largest genetic study offers new insights
A new, largest-of-its-kind study finds more evidence of the genetic underpinnings of schizophrenia. The findings may ultimately lead to the development of new drugs. The new study appears in the journal Nature Neuroscience. Elliott Rees, a research fellow …
Study sets blood pressure target for people over 80
Lowering an older person’s systolic blood pressure to 120 mmHg or lower reduces the risk of heart disease, but increases the chance of kidney changes. In the United States, over half of the people aged 60 and over have high blood pressure, or hypertension, …
Ageotypes: Why do people age differently?
Everyone ages differently, but why is that? A team of researchers has pinpointed four “ageotypes” main biological pathways for aging that could help us answer that question. Everyone ages, but not in the same way. Getting older can often mean learning to co…
Aggressive melanoma: Circular RNA explains spread
Researchers have zoomed in on the fine molecular and epigenetic mechanisms that explain the aggressive spread of melanoma. Along with DNA and proteins, RNA is one of the three essential macromolecules necessary for all forms of life. The typical process at …
Marathon running may reverse a risky part of the aging process
People have long been aware of the benefits of exercise. Now, a new study finds that one particular aspect of fitness that is, training for a specific goal may be particularly advantageous. The value of goal-oriented exercise ties directly into the aging pr…