Regular exercise is important for people of all ages, but new research published in the journal “Aging Cell” shows that it could be even more important for those of older age to keep a consistent regiment. Researchers kept track of 125 long-distance cyclists to evaluate the benefits of physical activity for the elderly. What they discovered was that the cyclists had immune systems comparable to that of a 20-year-old, as opposed to their actual ages (between 70 and 80).

“The immune system declines by about 2-3% a year from our 20s, which is why older people are more susceptible to infections, and conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and, potentially, cancer. Because the cyclists have the immune system of a 20-year-old rather than a 70 or 80-year-old, it means they have added protection against these issues,” says Professor Janet Lord, director of the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing at the University of Birmingham and co-author of the study.

 

A stronger immunity is characterized by a higher count of T-cells in the blood. These cells help the body react to infections, as well as manage new vaccines to assist in protecting against new infections.

 

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A French research team from the Universite Sorbonne Paris Cite have found new evidence linking ultra-processed foods (such as sweet/savory packaged snacks, sodas, chocolate bars) to increased risk of cancer. Diet and obesity have already been linked to health issues such as heart disease and diabetes and being overweight has been identified as the most significant cause of preventable death behind smoking.

105,000 people were surveyed to establish their eating habits, and then followed for an average of around 5 years. Findings published in the British Medical Journal show that when consumption of ultra-processed foods is decreased by 10%, the number of cases of cancer decrease by 12%. This study is seen as an “initial insight” into the link between processed foods and cancer, as Professor Linda Bauld, Cancer Research UK’s prevention expert, says; “It’s already known that eating a lot of these foods can lead to weight gain, and being overweight or obese can also increase your risk of cancer, so it’s hard to disentangle the effects of diet and weight.”

 

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A study published in Pharmacoepidemiology & Drug Safety has reported that around 15% of adults take common pain relievers more frequently, and in higher doses than recommended. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen are some of the most commonly used medicines in Canada, and worldwide. Participants in this study completed a daily medication diary for one week to track their usage of ibuprofen. Overall, just over half of the participants took the drug at least three days of the week, and 16% took it every day. The study’s focus on users who had been actively taking these pain-killers for the month previous to the study period could have an effect on the data, as it leaves out infrequent or new users of these drugs.

“These drugs can have serious side-effects, including gastrointestinal bleeding and heart attacks, and are often taken without medical oversight because many products are available over-the-counter. The attitude that users can choose their own dose regardless of label directions, along with poor knowledge of dosing limits, is associated with exceeding the daily limit,” says lead study author Dr. David Kaufman of Boston University.

 

Because NSAIDs are so widely available and accessible, many people misinterpret this to mean they can be taken without risk. People often do not bother reading the label or safety warning, and if they do some tend to ignore it. The Health Canada maximum recommended dose for NSAIDs is 1,200 mgs per day and should be used for seven days or less.

 

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A new test reported in Nature Communications, a scientific journal, has provided evidence that a brain implant designed similar to a pacemaker can provide a notable boost to memory. This still experimental treatment could be a major breakthrough for Alzheimer’s Disease patients and other sufferers of brain trauma or serious head injuries.

 

Through electrical stimulation, the brain is sent electrical pulses when struggling to recall memory, while the implant remains inactive when the brain is functioning normally. Overall, the device was able to improve word recall by around 15% during the early experiments. “The exciting thing about this is that, if it can be replicated and extended, then we can use the same method to figure out what features of brain activity predict good performance,” says Bradley Voytek, assistant professor of cognitive data and science at the University of California, San Diego. Some of his past work has had a strong influence on these new experiments.

 

During the study, participants memorized lists of words, and after a short period of mental distraction, they were asked to recall as many words as they could manage. These tests were taken repeatedly, sometimes whilst the implant was active during memorization, and other whilst it was not. On average, recollection was 15% more successful during word sets when the implant was switched on.

 

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