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…

Adding an extra hour every week of physical activity may lower the chance of developing the most common type of irregular heartbeat (arrythmia) by 11 percent, a new study shows. Led by researchers at NYU Langone Health, the investigation focused on atrial fibrillation, a condition in which the heart's upper two chambers beat rapidly and…

An international study led by a University of Queensland researcher has found frailty increases a person's risk of dementia, but early intervention may be the key to prevention. Dr. David Ward from the Centre for Health Services Research tracked the data of nearly 30,000 participants of 4 longitudinal studies in the United Kingdom and the…

Just five minutes of daily activity could lower blood pressure, with 20-27 minutes of exercise like uphill walking, stair-climbing, or cycling offering even greater reductions, researchers estimate. In a cross-sectional study published in the Circulation, researchers analyzed data from thigh-worn accelerometers and blood pressure (BP) measurements to investigate the potential associations between different…

Physical activity is beneficial before, during and after chemotherapy treatment. New doctoral research has taken a closer look at those who opt out. Those who cope best with cancer treatment are often those who had an active lifestyle before diagnosis. It reduces the risk of delayed injury and complications." Benedikte Western In her doctoral work,…

Exercise-only programmes help cut the severity of the 'baby blues' and the risk of major clinical depression in new mums, finds a pooled data analysis of the available evidence, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. But at least 80 weekly minutes of moderate intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, water aerobics, stationary cycling, and…

Changes in the make-up of the gut microbiome are linked to the onset of clinically evident rheumatoid arthritis in those at risk of the disease because of genetic, environmental, or immunological factors, suggests research published online in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. It's not clear if this instability is a cause or consequence of disease…

A study at Mayo Clinic suggests that an hourglass-shaped stent could improve blood flow and ease severe and reoccurring chest pain in people with microvascular disease. Of 30 participants in a phase 2 clinical trial, 76% saw improvement in their day-to-day life. For example, some participants who reported not being able to walk around the block or up…