Soccer was once thought to be a safer alternative to other sports like football or lacrosse, but a new study reveals that the rate of concussions sustained by girls playing the game in high school is spiking nationwide — with more than 1.5-million youth players in the U.S. The American Academy of Pediatricians found emergency
When it comes to dietary fat, what matters most is the type of fat you eat. Contrary to past advice to eat a low-fat diet – which unfortunately contributed to overconsumption of sugar and refined carbohydrates – newer research suggests that certain types of fat are beneficial and necessary for health. But although we’ve theoretically
In 2012, French scientists reported the presence of cannabinoid receptors on the membranes of mitochondria, the energy-generating organelle within cells. This discovery laid the groundwork for subsequent investigations into the role of the endocannabinoid system in regulating mitochondrial activity, which is critical to how cells function. Defects in mitochondria have been linked a wide range
Genetic differences in the FADS1 gene determine the risk for many different diseases. The ability to produce polyunsaturated fats like omega-3 and omega-6 differs between individuals and this affects the risk for disturbed metabolism, inflammatory diseases and several types of cancer. Scientists at Uppsala University/SciLifeLab in Sweden have clarified this in detail and the work
“Snake oil” has long been shorthand for flimflam, and “snake oil salesman” has been a nickname for someone who is a trader in lies and false cures. The origin of the term dates back to the California Gold Rush. Chinese immigrants arrived to seek their fortune, and, later, more were brought to California as indentured labor
Supplements of resveratrol may improve energy metabolism, cell signaling pathways, and neurotransmission in monkeys eating a high sugar and fat Western diet, says a new study. Scientists in Kentucky included 23 adult male monkeys randomly assigned to: a control group fed a healthy diet; a negative control group fed a diet high in fat and
Omega-3’s (n-3) and -6’s (n-6) play crucial roles in the human body, particularly in the hippocampus and the frontal cortex. The hippocampus, located deep in the brain, is responsible for making new memories and plays a major role in emotions. The frontal cortex, located at the front of the brain, is involved in making executive
Shortly after landing the multimillion-dollar NFL account, Brandissimo hired a quiet 29-year-old named Allison Guiliotis. The NFL was a demanding client—before long, she was working 60-hour weeks—but unlike many others, it made its objectives clear. It wanted to “get to kids as early as possible,” Guiliotis says. “They talked about creating lifelong customers.” To that
Active or recently retired National Football League (NFL) players with a history of concussion have higher levels of an inflammatory marker in the brain compared with nonplayers, although there are no significant differences in cognition or widespread differences in white matter integrity, a new study has found. The players had significantly increased expression of the
Prescribed rest—both physical and mental—is the standard treatment for concussion. But a growing body of evidence suggests that a more active, targeted approach might provide better outcomes for some patients, reports a special article in the December issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS). “No single treatment strategy will be
Disruption of certain brain circuits may be related to depression in soldiers with brain injuries, researchers report. The researchers conducted brain scans on 130 male soldiers who suffered mild traumatic brain injury and a control group of 52 men without brain trauma. The scans revealed that brain-injured soldiers with moderate to severe depression had disruptions
No one has a good estimate of the number of US prison inmates who have suffered traumatic brain injuries. The Centers for Disease Control estimates the portion of the male incarcerated population with these kinds of problems somewhere in their past at a frustrating 25 to 87 percent. It is clear that the percentage is
A team of biomedical engineering researchers at the University of Arkansas published in Nature’s Scientific Reports that have identified a cause of fluid swelling of the brain, or cellular edema, that occurs during a concussion. “Our study found that mild traumatic brain injury resulted in increased expression of a protein called aquaporin-4, which caused a massive
We ate an average of 15.5 pounds of fish in 2015, continuing a three-year rise, says a recent reportfrom the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). But here’s the catch: That’s roughly one 4-ounce serving each week, or half the 8 ounces recommended for most adults in U.S. dietary guidelines. The American Heart Association also
Researchers studied 2,036 young, healthy adults by measuring the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood and recording their blood pressure measurements. They divided people into four groups, from the quarter with the highest amount of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood to the quarter with the lowest. They found adults in the highest
Cannabinoids, particularly Cannabidiol (CBD), found in Cannabis Sativa Linnaeus may be used to treat prostate cancer, according to a study published in Pharmacology & Pharmacy. CBD was tested in three human prostate cancer cell lines. The study found CBD rendered an inhibitive activity against cancer cell growth but not so much against healthy cells. Prostate
Researchers discovered that taking omega-3 supplements could improve muscle function in older women, preventing unnecessary falls and loss of independence later in life. The research team carried out an 18-week resistance exercise training plan, and measured participants’ muscle size, muscle function, and calculated muscle quality — which is force produced relative to muscle size — both
Fish oil could act via the glymphatic system to promote the clearance of amyloid-β peptides, a primary culprit in Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study from Macau. The work was published in The FASEB Journal. The glymphatic system is a complex system of lymphatic vessels in the central nervous system responsible for clearing potentially harmful
An international team studied more than 250 people with mild cognitive impairmenthave now found that having higher levels of Omega-3 fatty acids in your body could boost the B vitamins’ effect. At the start of the study, each person was given a set of tests to measure their cognition, and had a blood test to
Every state has laws that govern when student athletes can return to sports activity after a concussion. However, few have protocol on when a student should return to class. A study in the latest issues of Pediatrics found that eight states have Return to Learn (RTL) laws. About half of the laws only deal with
