Archive for December, 2006

Stroke Risk from “Speed”

Tuesday, December 26th, 2006
A new study provides compelling evidence that use of methamphetamine can increase the risk of damage to major neck arteries resulting in a stroke. The findings follow prior research that demonstrated methamphetamines can cause a ...

Genetic Search for Early Onset Bi-Polar

Tuesday, December 26th, 2006
The elusive search for the particular genetic arrangement that underpins bipolar disorder (BPD) is the focus of a new research project spearheaded by James Watson, PhD, the co-discoverer of the DNA double helix. As the ...

Holiday Sleep Disorders Affect Mental Health

Friday, December 22nd, 2006
Holiday stress can contribute to insomnia affecting both physical and mental health. As the "to do" list gives the appearance of a never-ending treadmill, the holidays, a time of joy and relaxation transform into a ...

Exercise to Build Brain Mass

Friday, December 22nd, 2006
Exercise is the natural and most effective panacea for illness and disease. Health promotion efforts have informed on the benefits of exercise to prevent obesity and cancer and the means by which cardiovascular health is ...

How Brain Adapts to Stress

Friday, December 22nd, 2006
The means by which the brain adjusts to, or recovers from change and stressful situations is the subject of a new study by NIH scientists. Resarchers report the executive area of the brain takes priority ...

Use Caution with Lithium Drugs

Friday, December 22nd, 2006
Laboratory findings suggest that lithium and other drugs that inhibit a particular enzyme, GSK-3 beta, should be used with caution in treating Alzheimer's disease because too high a dose can impair, rather than enhance, nerve ...

Prevention Ads May Increase Smoking

Thursday, December 21st, 2006
A new study finds that anti-smoking advertising sponsored by tobacco companies may actually encourage teen smoking. Ads targeted for parents to stop smoking often have an opposite effect on teens, encouraging students to smoke. Although ...

Hormonal Therapy May Slow Alzheimer’s

Thursday, December 21st, 2006
Researchers are encouraged by a new treatment protocol that may someday help slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In a recent study administration of androgen (hormonal) therapy to a mouse model genetically-altered to represent ...

Parkinson’s Risk from Low Cholesterol

Thursday, December 21st, 2006
Low levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or "bad cholesterol" is usually thought to be a good thing, an indication that arteries are not being clogged with cholesterol (atherosclerosis). However, a new study finds that people ...

Regular Moderate Drinking Again Confirmed to Have Health Benefits

Wednesday, December 20th, 2006
In yet another study that confirms researchers' understanding of how alcohol impacts the human body and its general health, investigators found that moderate drinking has a mild effect on decreasing likelihood of death (mortality). According ...