Tai Chi Helps Parkinson's; Cancer Drug Reverses Alzheimer's
weekly web roundup: 5 things you need to knowcanada
(Feb.10.12)
* A new study out of the Oregon Research Institute in Eugene tested the effects of Tai chi in people suffering from mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease. Apparently the ancient Chinese exercise improved balance and lowered the risk of falls. [nzherald.co.uk]
* The cancer drug bexarotene has succeeded in reversing Alzheimer's Disease in its early stages. The drug is designed to reduce levels of amyloid beta, the same protein that has been closely linked with Alzheimer's. Within six hours of taking the drug, mice in the study saw a 25 per cent drop in their amyloid beta levels and improvements in their cognitive function. [MSNBC]
* You may want to reconsider who you lunch with. A study published in the journal PLoS One found that the people we eat with have a subtle (yet powerful) influence on our eating habits — including how much we eat. Dutch researchers found that in 70 pairs of women, most of them tended to mimic the other's eating behaviours, taking bites at the same time and eating similar portion sizes. [CNN]
* It's clear that spin classes are tough workouts, and really get your heart pumping, but did you know that they cause the same biological symptoms as a heart attack? The University of Gothenberg found that a spin class can trigger the same biochemicals in your body that heart attacks do. [Glamour]
* After comparing four different diet models, a new study has found that calories matter most when it comes to losing weight. While various diets suggest low-carb, low-fat or high-protein diets, it seems that as long as you stick to the appropriate number of calories, it really doesn't matter where your calories come from. [Toronto Star]
Check back every Friday at lunchtime for a roundup of the top health and fitness headlines of the week.