Negative outlook on aging may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease, study shows

NEW YORK, Dec 9 — New research suggests that a more positive outlook on aging could help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The study, carried out by the Yale School of Public Health, is the first to link these brain changes to a culturally based psycho-social risk factor.

To examine a possible link between dementia and negative beliefs on aging, the team of researchers looked at the brain MRI scans of healthy, dementia-free subjects from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, the US’s longest-running scientific study of aging.

The researchers found that participants who held more negative beliefs about aging showed one of the key brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s — a larger decline in the volume of the hippo-campus, a part of the brain crucial to memory.

In addition the team used brain autopsies to examine two other indicators of Alzheimer’s disease: Amyloid plaques, clusters of protein clusters that build up between brain cells, and neurofibrillary tangles, twisted strands of protein that build up within brain cells.

The participants who had held more negative beliefs about aging, which had been measured 28 years previously, showed a significant increase in number of plaques and tangles.

Commenting on why negative beliefs would cause such a change, Becca Levy, who led the study, said, “We believe it is the stress generated by the negative beliefs about aging that individuals sometimes internalize from society that can result in pathological brain changes.”

The results of the study suggest that combating negative beliefs about aging, therefore reducing the stress that the beliefs cause, could be a possible way to protect against the disorder, with Levy adding that, “Although the findings are concerning, it is encouraging to realize that these negative beliefs about aging can be mitigated and positive beliefs about aging can be reinforced, so that the adverse impact is not inevitable.”

The study was published online December 7 in the journal Psychology and Aging. — AFP-Relaxnews

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/features/article/negative-outlook-on-aging-may-contribute-to-alzheimers-disease-study-shows#sthash.QHB55Szc.dpuf

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Eating Potatoes Help Cut Stomach Cancer Risk

BEIJING, Dec 9 ― A Chinese study has highlighted the anti-cancer benefits of a diet high in
fruit and vegetables. For stomach cancer in particular, potatoes and vitamin C are at the top
of the list of preventive super-foods.

According to a vast Chinese study published in the European Journal of Cancer, eating potatoes
or any other white vegetable is associated with a 33 per cent reduction in stomach cancer risk.
Fruit is associated with a 7 per cent reduction in the same risk.

Researchers at Zhejiang University collected and compared data from 76 studies, including 37
carried out in Europe, 11 in the US, 21 in Japan, four in China and three in Korea. A total of
6,316,385 participants were followed up for an average of 11 years (between three and 30
years), making this the biggest review undertaken to date into the link between food and
stomach cancer.

The findings indicated that there is no link between total vegetable consumption and stomach
cancer risk. However, they did discover that potatoes and white vegetables such as asparagus,
chard, celery, cauliflower, endive and leek have preventive properties and are associated with
a 33 per cent reduction in the risk.

In contrast, eating tomatoes ― despite the fact that they contain lycopene, a red pigment known
for its antioxidant and anti-free radical properties ― is curiously associated with respective
increases of 11 per cent and 21 per cent in risk.

For an additional 100g of fruit per day, the risk reduction is estimated to be 5per cent, and
for an extra 100g of citrus fruit per day, the risk reduction was put at 3per cent. And vitamin
C was found to lower the risk by 11per cent.

Acidifying food that increased the risk of stomach cancer included processed meat, salted fish
(an increase of 4per cent per portion per week), high-salt food (an increase of 10per cent per
portion per week), salt (an increase of 12per cent per 5g per day), alcohol, beer and liquors
(a 5per cent increase per 10g per day), but not wine.

Food therefore plays a key role in stomach cancer risk. This new study supports previous
research that pointed the finger at processed meat and recommended plenty of fruit and
vegetables in our diets. ― AFP-Relaxnews

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/features/article/study-eating-potatoes-helps-
cut-stomach-cancer-risk#sthash.Ci5UW9ZY.dpuf

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Bonus benefits of probiotics

Probiotics, the "good" bacteria found in yoghurt and supplements, may help soothe digestive ills. Some researchers now think the good bugs could improve your health in other ways too. these benefits could include:

>>A healthier heart Canadian researchers recently discovered that the LDL - or "bad" cholesterol - levels of people who ate yoghurt containing a strain of the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri dropped by nearly 9% in six weeks.

>>Less anxiety People who took supplements containing specific strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium longum supplements were less stressed than those who didn't take the probiotics, found a british Journal of Nutrition study.

>>Cleaner teeth and gums A review found that the probiotics Lactobacillus reuteri and Bifidobacterium can reduce some strains of harmful bacteria that cause gum disease and cavities.

>>Fewer coughs and colds Taking probiotic supplements cut the number of upper respiratory tract infections by 12% and reduced the number of people who had at least one bad cold,according to an analysis of ten studies.

BEST SOURCES
NATURAL FOODS - Many of the most beneficial bacteria occur naturally in yoghurt with "live active cultures" and in fermented foods including cultured dairy and soy, tempeh and miso.

TARGETED SUPPLEMENTS - Doses vary by strain, so check with your doctor what might work for you.

Articles by rdasia.com 04/13