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Thursday, February 20, 2014

ScienceDaily: Living Well News

ScienceDaily: Living Well News


Family problems experienced in childhood and adolescence affect brain development

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 04:52 AM PST

New research has revealed that exposure to common family problems during childhood and early adolescence affects brain development, which could lead to mental health issues in later life. The study used brain imaging technology to scan teenagers aged 17-19. It found that those who experienced mild to moderate family difficulties between birth and 11 years of age had developed a smaller cerebellum, an area of the brain associated with skill learning, stress regulation and sensory-motor control. The researchers also suggest that a smaller cerebellum may be a risk indicator of psychiatric disease later in life, as it is consistently found to be smaller in virtually all psychiatric illnesses.

Baby hearts need rhythm to develop correctly

Posted: 18 Feb 2014 01:30 PM PST

Researchers report that they have taken an important step toward the goal of growing replacement heart valves from a patient's own cells by determining that the mechanical forces generated by the rhythmic expansion and contraction of cardiac muscle cells play an active role in the initial stage of heart valve formation.

Can you boost your brain power through video?

Posted: 18 Feb 2014 01:30 PM PST

Watching video of simple tasks before carrying them out may boost the brain's structure, or plasticity, and increase motor skills, according to a new study. Brain plasticity is the brain's ability to flex and adapt, allowing for better learning. The brain loses plasticity as it ages.

Smartphone app aids college-age women in abusive relationships, study shows

Posted: 18 Feb 2014 11:34 AM PST

In an effort to connect more young women with safety information, researchers have developed the 'One Love My Plan' smartphone application, an interactive tool that helps college-age women in abusive relationships clarify their priorities and customize personal safety plans. The app is aimed at younger women who are most likely to be in abusive relationships, and are less likely than older adults to seek formal safety resources, instead looking to peers or technology for help and advice.

Beauty and bacteria: Slim, attractive men have less nasal bacteria than heavy men

Posted: 18 Feb 2014 07:07 AM PST

Do attractive traits tell us anything about a person's reproductive health? New research reveals a link between Body Mass Index (BMI) and the amount of bacteria colonizing noses. The results show that heavier men harbor more potentially pathogenic species of bacteria in their nose, compared with slimmer, more traditionally attractive men.

In-hospital formula use deters breastfeeding

Posted: 14 Feb 2014 10:09 AM PST

Mothers who expressed a strong intent to breastfeed did so far less when their babies received formula. Research shows that these mothers are less likely to fully breastfeed their babies in the second month of life and more likely to quit breastfeeding early, even if they had hoped to breastfeed longer. While previous studies have examined the relationship between formula use and breastfeeding, some have questioned the results, wondering if mothers using formula were simply less committed to breastfeeding. To examine this objection, this team surveyed expectant mothers to determine their intentions toward breastfeeding and then followed them closely after delivery to see how they fared.

Beauty, not disease, motivates teens to wear sunscreen

Posted: 13 Feb 2014 06:50 AM PST

After offering information about UV light and sun-protective behaviors, the two health-ed videos diverge: one describes the increased skin cancer risk of UV exposure and the other describes effects on appearance including wrinkles and premature aging. Which of these two videos do you think caused teenagers to use more sunscreen six weeks after it was shown? A new study shows that while teens who watched both videos learned and retained the same amount of knowledge about UV light and sun-protective behaviors, only the teens who watched the appearance-based video (and not the health-based video) actually changed these behaviors.

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