Vitamin D, an essential nutrient, is naturally produced through sun exposure and certain foods. However, excessive sunburn prevention measures are causing a severe problem of vitamin D deficiency, particularly among young women in Japan. Since vitamin D deficiency is also related to pregnancy-induced hypertension and low birth weight in children, it is important to quickly…

Study reveals that increasing green space in deprived urban neighborhoods could significantly reduce preventable deaths, highlighting the need for targeted public health investments. ​​​​​​​Study:  Inequality in green space distribution and its association with preventable deaths across urban neighbourhoods in the UK, stratified by Index of Multiple Deprivation . Image Credit: doublelee/Shutterstock.com …

Time spent sedentary beyond six hours per day during growth from childhood through young adulthood may cause an excess increase of 4 mmHg in systolic blood pressure, a new study shows. Continuously engaging in light physical activity (LPA) significantly mitigated the rise in blood pressure. The study was conducted in collaboration between the Universities of…

In sickness or in health, the billions of microorganisms that inhabit our guts are our constant companions throughout life. In the past few decades, scientists have shown how the nature of this 'microbiome' can provide valuable clues to human diseases and their treatment.  A new study from the Bork group at EMBL Heidelberg, recently published…

Primary care clinicians and practices are uniquely positioned to help people achieve optimal cardiovascular health through screening, diagnosing and treating the health behaviors and factors outlined in the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 health metrics to reduce the risk for heart disease and stroke, according to a new scientific statement published today in the Association's peer-reviewed…

Research highlights the need to consider mental health impacts when prescribing beta-blockers to MI patients with preserved heart function. Study:  Short- and long-term effects of beta-blockers on symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with myocardial infarction and preserved left ventricular function: a pre-specified quality of life sub-study from the REDUCE-AMI…

Frailty begins to accelerate 4 to 9 years before dementia onset and may help identify at-risk populations for prevention strategies. A recent study published in JAMA Neurology investigated the relationship between frailty and the risk of dementia by analyzing frailty trajectories in older adults before the onset of dementia. Using data from multiple…

There's no doubt that exercise does a body good. Regular activity not only strengthens muscles but can bolster our bones, blood vessels, and immune system.  Now, MIT engineers have found that exercise can also have benefits at the level of individual neurons. They observed that when muscles contract during exercise, they release a soup of…

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine and collaborating institutions report in the journal Cell the discovery of BHB-Phe, a novel compound produced by the body that regulates appetite and body weight through interactions with neurons in the brain. Until now, BHB has been known as a compound produced by the…

Exercise has been shown to improve brain health and reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia over the long-term. But engaging in everyday physical activity has immediate benefits for brain health, according to a new study from researchers in the Penn State College of Medicine. The team found that middle-aged people who participated in…