Scientists have found elevated cholesterol levels during midlife substantially increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia.
An international team of researchers from Kaiser Permanente’s Division of Research and the University of Kuopio in Finland analyzed 10,000 individuals over a period of 40 years. Their work suggests those with high cholesterol—defined as 240 milligrams or more per deciliter of blood—were at a 66 percent higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s. Read the rest of this entry »
High protein diets have been popular off and on since the 1960s, and are once again grabbing the attention of millions of people desperate to lose weight. But before you jump on the bandwagon, there are some things you might want to consider. High protein diets can produce a rapid initial weight loss, but most of this loss can be water rather than fat.
Additionally, many high protein diets are high in saturated fat and low in fiber, a combination that can increase cholesterol levels and raise the risk of heart disease and stroke. Read the rest of this entry »
New research suggests flaxseed may help improve cholesterol.
A study appearing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds people who took one tablespoon of whole flaxseed everyday were able to reduce both their total cholesterol and their LDL, or bad, cholesterol levels. Flaxseed oil, in comparison, did not produce the same results.
Women, particularly post-menopausal women, had the greatest reduction in their cholesterol, compared to men and other people who previously had higher cholesterol levels, according to Reuters. Read the rest of this entry »
Each of the studies combined data from all previous studies of the effects of smoking bans on heart attacks.
Each came up with the same finding: Overall, smoking bans cut heart attacks by 17% — and this effect increases over time. There’s a 26% drop in heart attacks each year after smoking bans are in effect, one of the studies calculates.
This reduction in risk “is not trivial,” notes an editorial by Steven A. Schroeder, MD, of the University of California, San Francisco. Read the rest of this entry »
While exercise can boost mood, its health benefits have been oversold.
Moderate exercise can reduce the risk of diabetes in people at risk. Exercise may reduce the risk of heart disease and breast and colon cancers.
Though the evidence is mixed, exercise may also provide benefits for people with osteoporosis.
Physical activity alone will not lead to sustained weight loss or reduce blood pressure or cholesterol. Read the rest of this entry »
Two potentially key genes linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease have been uncovered by UK researchers.
It is the first gene clue to the condition in 16 years and has prompted scientists to rethink their theories on how the disease develops.
The genes were pinpointed in a study of 16,000 DNA samples and are known to be implicated in inflammation and cholesterol breakdown.
It is hoped the Nature Genetics study will open the way for new treatments. Read the rest of this entry »
