Does playing the brain/memory game really help?

Brain and memory training programs are popular, but they don't work well for everyone, says a Universitiy of Michigan psychologist.New research by Cindy Lustig, a U-M assistant professor of psychology, and colleague David Bissig, a U-M graduate now at Wayne State University—U-M's University Research Corridor alliance partner—reveals what can help make a training program successful, especially for those older adults who could use the most help. Their findings are published in the August issue of Psychological Science.Programs claiming to "train your brain" are becoming increasingly popular as baby boomers head into their golden years, the researchers say. Even Nintendo has gotten into the game, with a program designed to lower your brain's "age" with repeated playing.However, not all of these...

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Waist-to-hip ratio better predicts heart risk

Waist-to-hip ratio may better predict cardiovascular risk than body mass index A tape measure, not just a bathroom scale, may help you better assess your heart disease risk.In a study to be published in the Aug. 21 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, investigators at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that people with a larger waist-to-hip ratio may be at increased risk for heart disease. The research evaluates the association between different measures of obesity and the prevalence of arterial disease.“Our study shows that people who develop fat around the middle have more atherosclerotic plaque than those who have smaller waist-to-hip ratios,” said Dr. James de Lemos, associate professor of internal medicine and senior author of the study. “The risk was the same...

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Soluble fiber lowers bad cholesterol

Soluble fiber -- from beans, some fruits and even coffee -- may help lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol and blood sugar and may help protect against heart attack and stroke.The August issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter explains how to boost soluble fiber in the diet.Fiber comes in two forms -- soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber dissolves in water to form a gel-like material. The recommended daily intake of total fiber for women over age 51 is 21 grams. For men over 51, it’s 30 grams.Fiber supplements, such as Metamucil, Konsyl and others, can boost soluble fiber intake. A typical dose has 2 to 3 grams. Other good sources include:-- One-half cup of baked beans, cooked black beans, kidney, lima or navy beans provides about 1 gram of soluble fiber. _-- A pear, peach, plum...

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Diets high in choline = risk for colorectal polyps

Diets high in choline may increase risk for colorectal polypsContrary to expectations, diets high in the nutrient choline were associated with an increased risk of some colorectal polyps, which can—but do not always—lead to colorectal cancer, according to a study published online in the August 7 Journal of the National Cancer Institute.Major food sources of choline include red meat, eggs, poultry, and dairy products. Choline is involved in a biochemical process known as one-carbon metabolism. Studies have shown that people with increased intake of other nutrients required for one-carbon metabolism, such as folate, are at a decreased risk for colorectal polyps. This is the first study to examine the association between choline and colorectal polyps.Eunyoung Cho, Sc.D., of Brigham and Women’s...

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Should You Take a Statin?

If your annual checkup reveals that your cholesterol levels are high, your doctor may recommend you take a statin—such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), sim¬va¬statin (Zocor), rosuva¬statin (Crestor), prava¬statin (Pravachol), or lovastatin (Mevacor)—to help lower your “bad” LDL cholesterol. Statins also can slightly raise “good” HDL cholesterol and may help lower triglycerides—blood fats that can increase heart disease risk, according to Weill Cornell Medical College. According to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) of the National Institutes of Health, 11 million Americans take a statin; another 25 million might benefit from one.Prevention is keyHeart disease is the number-one killer of women, with stroke not far behind. A recent study of more than 2,700 women (Neurology, Feb. 20,...

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Zinc Lozenges an Ineffective Treatment for Colds

Despite 20 years of research, the benefits of zinc lozenges as a therapy for the common cold have not been proven. A new study, published in the Sept. 1 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, currently available online, reviews the 14 placebo-controlled studies from the past two decades and finds significant fault with 10 of the studies. Of the four remaining studies, three reported no therapeutic effect from zinc lozenge or nasal spray, and one study reported positive results from zinc nasal gel.“The best scientific evidence available indicates that zinc lozenges are not effective in treating colds,” said Jack M. Gwaltney, Jr., MD, one of the authors.With colds affecting virtually everybody (one study estimates that adults experience an average of three colds each year and children may experience...

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