ScienceDaily: Living Well News

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• Sleep mechanism identified that plays role in emotional memory
• BPA linked to obesity risk in puberty-age girls
• Infants express non-verbal sympathy for others in distress
• Taking back the yard: Dealing with invasive plants
• Laws help limit junk foods in schools
• 'Spiritual' young people more likely to commit crimes than 'religious' ones
• People anticipate others' genuine smiles, but not polite smiles
• Big movies and other cultural products have evolutionary roots
• Lab experiments question effectiveness of green coffee bean weight-loss supplements
• NYC-style cap on soda size would target the overweight, not the poor
• Humans are happier when they do the right thing; It also helps them overcome difficulties
• Wristband simplifies blood pressure measurement
• Dad's life stress exposure leaves mark on sperm, can affect offspring brain development
• Commonly prescribed drugs may influence the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease
• Hot flashes before menopause? It can happen
• Moderate-intensity walking timed just right might help protect against Type 2 diabetes
• Sport at competitive level improves the academic performance of secondary education students
• Hands-free talking and texting are unsafe for drivers, study shows

Sleep mechanism identified that plays role in emotional memory Posted: 12 Jun 2013 07:41 PM PDT Sleep researchers have identified the sleep mechanism that enables the brain to consolidate emotional memory and found that a popular prescription sleep aid heightens the recollection of and response to negative memories.

BPA linked to obesity risk in puberty-age girls Posted: 12 Jun 2013 02:33 PM PDT Girls between nine and 12 years of age with higher-than-average levels of bisphenol-A (BPA) in their urine had double the risk of being obese than girls with lower levels of BPA, according to a new study.

Infants express non-verbal sympathy for others in distress Posted: 12 Jun 2013 02:33 PM PDT Infants as young as ten months old express sympathy for others in distress in non-verbal ways, according to new research.

Taking back the yard: Dealing with invasive plants Posted: 12 Jun 2013 01:23 PM PDT There's nothing more frustrating for gardeners than discovering that their well-planned plots or rolling lawns have been infiltrated by invasive plant species, the perennial marauders of the back yard set. While many people panic and immediately start yanking or mowing the intruders when they first make their appearance, a gardening expert advises that it's best to investigate the plant that's choking your columbines or blighting your lawn before complicating the problem with an errant course of action.

Laws help limit junk foods in schools Posted: 12 Jun 2013 01:23 PM PDT A US nationwide school survey shows availability of sugar- and fat-laden foods and drinks.

'Spiritual' young people more likely to commit crimes than 'religious' ones Posted: 12 Jun 2013 11:47 AM PDT Young adults who deem themselves "spiritual but not religious" are more likely to commit property crimes — and to a lesser extent, violent ones — than those who identify themselves as either "religious and spiritual" or "religious but not spiritual," according to researchers.

People anticipate others' genuine smiles, but not polite smiles Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:33 AM PDT Smile and the world smiles with you -- but new research suggests that not all smiles are created equal. The research shows that people actually anticipate smiles that are genuine but not smiles that are merely polite. The differing responses may reflect the unique social value of genuine smiles.

Big movies and other cultural products have evolutionary roots Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:33 AM PDT Epic battles, whirlwind romances, family feuds, heroic attempts to save the lives of strangers: these are stories guaranteed to grace the silver screen. According to new research, that's not lazy scriptwriting, that's evolutionary consumerism.

Lab experiments question effectiveness of green coffee bean weight-loss supplements Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:31 AM PDT A major ingredient in those green coffee bean dietary supplements -- often touted as "miracle" weight-loss products -- doesn't prevent weight gain in obese laboratory mice fed a high-fat diet when given at higher doses. A new study also linked the ingredient to an unhealthy build-up of fat in the liver.

NYC-style cap on soda size would target the overweight, not the poor Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:30 AM PDT Legislation to restrict consumption of large sugar-sweetened beverages in food service establishments would affect 7.5 percent of Americans on a given day, and a greater percentage among those who are overweight, including 13.6 percent of overweight teenagers, according to new research. Challenging criticism that the restriction is discriminatory against the poor, the study finds low-income individuals would not be disproportionately affected.

Humans are happier when they do the right thing; It also helps them overcome difficulties Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:30 AM PDT Communities that stick together and do good for others cope better with crises and are happier for it, according to a new study. Part of the reason for this greater resilience is the fact that humans are more than simply social beings, they are so-called 'pro-social' beings. In other words, they get happiness not just from doing things with others, but from doing things both with and for others.

Wristband simplifies blood pressure measurement Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:30 AM PDT The consequences of high blood pressure are one of the most common causes of death worldwide. Despite this, according to the World Health Organization WHO, fewer than one in two of those affected measures their blood pressure regularly. The main reason for this is that regular measurements are costly or inconvenient. An innovative wrist sensor should now change that.

Dad's life stress exposure leaves mark on sperm, can affect offspring brain development Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:26 AM PDT Stress felt by dad -- whether as a preadolescent or adult -- leaves a lasting impression on his sperm that gives sons and daughters a blunted reaction to stress, according to a new preclinical study. The findings point to a never-before-seen epigenetic link to stress-related diseases such as anxiety and depression passed from father to child.

Commonly prescribed drugs may influence the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:25 AM PDT Multiple drug classes commonly prescribed for common medical conditions are capable of influencing the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease, according to researchers.

Hot flashes before menopause? It can happen Posted: 12 Jun 2013 06:38 AM PDT More than half of middle-aged women who still have regular cycles have hot flashes.

Moderate-intensity walking timed just right might help protect against Type 2 diabetes Posted: 12 Jun 2013 06:37 AM PDT A 15-minute walk after each meal appears to help older people regulate blood sugar levels and could reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.

Sport at competitive level improves the academic performance of secondary education students Posted: 12 Jun 2013 06:36 AM PDT Academic performance is better if young people play sports competitively, new research suggests.

Hands-free talking and texting are unsafe for drivers, study shows Posted: 12 Jun 2013 06:29 AM PDT Using hands-free devices to talk, text or send e-mail while driving is distracting and risky, contrary to what many people believe, says a new study.

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