Health and medicine

— Pilot Study Paves the Way for Larger Trials on Brain Health Assessment PHILADELPHIA -- In a preliminary investigation, intermittent calorie restriction improved executive function and memory in older adults without cognitive impairments. This 8-week randomized study involved 40 overweight, cognitively healthy seniors with insulin resistance. Researchers compared two dietary strategies: a 5:2 intermittent fasting approach versus a “healthy living” diet, which followed USDA guidelines on

UC Berkeley Engineers Develop Earbuds that Track Brain Signals Linked to Relaxation and Drowsiness Feeling sleepy during work is a common experience, especially after lunch. However, for individuals in high-risk jobs, like driving or operating heavy machinery, drowsiness can be perilous or even fatal. Drowsy driving alone contributes to hundreds of fatal traffic accidents every year across the U.S., and the National Safety Council has highlighted drowsiness as a critical risk in industries like

The United Nations has announced that it will end the employment of nine employees affiliated with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This decision comes after an inquiry revealed possible connections between these individuals and Hamas-led attacks on Israel that took place on October 7. The investigation, led by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), was initiated after accusations surfaced from Israel last year, alleging

— The impact of aspirin on colorectal cancer risk lessens with healthier living A prospective cohort study has revealed that the regular use of aspirin is linked to a lower incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC), but this benefit appears more pronounced in those leading less healthy lifestyles. For healthcare professionals with the most unfavorable lifestyle scores, the 10-year cumulative rate of CRC was found to be 2.12% for consistent aspirin users, compared to 3.40% for those who did not

— Update from Lancet Commission incorporates vision loss, high LDL to risk factors PHILADELPHIA -- The Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care has expanded the list of modifiable risk factors linked to cognitive decline to 14, after new research conducted since its previous report in 2020. Vision loss and elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol have been added to the commission's risk factor list, which previously included 12. This revised 57-page

— Replacing weekly servings of bacon or hot dogs with nuts and legumes linked to reduced dementia risk PHILADELPHIA – A long-term observational study involving 130,000 healthcare professionals found that eating processed red meat twice a week over several decades was associated with a higher likelihood of developing dementia. Participants from the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study who consumed at least one-quarter of a daily serving of processed red meat —

Researchers at Toho University in Japan have introduced an AI-based model that can evaluate male infertility risk solely through blood tests, eliminating the necessity for semen analysis. It is anticipated that this could become a standard infertility screener in the near future, replacing semen-based assessments. The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2017 reported that men contribute to roughly 50% of global infertility cases. Although semen analysis is crucial for identifying male