Dubai was popular as ever with the famous crowd recently. The country has had a supermodel, rappers and even wrestlers post about their adventures on social media, so we've rounded them up for you to enjoy.
Flick through the gallery to see them and other celebrities who have been loving the Emirate in 2016.
Days after his mother passed away from leukemia, Louis Tomlinson courageously returned to the X Factor UK stage to debut his first solo single. Titled "Just Hold On," the song seems to memorialize this difficult moment in his life.
Moments before taking the stage with Steve Aoki, Louis thanked his fans on Twitter before saying, "Let's do this together tonight."
According to The Telegraph, Louis was determined to perform because it's what his mother wanted. In a series of tweets following the performance, Louis said, "Mum would have been so f*cking proud." Adding, "Sorry for swearing mum."
While Louis held it together during the duration of his uplifting performance, he later tweeted that it was harder than he could have imagined. The former One Direction singer also appeared emotional as Simon Cowell applauded his "bravery." Cowell said, "What you've just done - the bravery. I respect you as an artist and I respect you as a person. Your mum was so proud of you, Louis, she was so looking forward to tonight, she's watching down on you now and you've done her proud."
That was harder than I ever imagined. I want to thank everyone around me and all of the amazing fans out there that made that so special!
- Louis Tomlinson (@Louis_Tomlinson) December 11, 2016
Feeling so much love around me and my family . Mum would have been so fucking proud ( sorry for swearing mum 😝 ) love you !
- Louis Tomlinson (@Louis_Tomlinson) December 11, 2016
This year has been an incredible year for the cast of Stranger Things, and they - especially the young guns of the Upside Down - are certainly not afraid to enjoy it. So naturally, when the teen actors who play Lucas, Dustin, Will, and Mike took to the Critics' Choice Awards red carpet, they turned it into their own private party. They posed for selfies with celebrities they admire, like Norman Reedus and Sterling K. Brown, and hammed it up for the cameras like only teenage boys can. Check out their fun behind-the-scenes snaps; there was nothing strange about their awesome night at the show! Now, where is their award for cast having the most fun on a red carpet?
This week the Department of Agriculture announced new rules for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Annie Gasparro reports in The Wall Street Journal.
“In a rare tuneup to the $74 billion food-stamp program, U.S. regulators deemed potato chips and ice cream too unhealthy to count as staple foods,” Gasparro writes. “The U.S. Department of Agriculture made other changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program this week that fell short of recommendations from many public-health advocates.”
Potato chips and ice cream had previously been included in the list of foods acceptable for purchase through SNAP because their primary ingredients — potatoes and milk — are considered staples by the Department of Agriculture.
Some advocates calling for reform to Supplemental #Nutrition Assistance Program #SNAP to incentivize healthy eating https://t.co/rA26Jz7HlO
— Nutrition Advocacy (@NutrAdvocacy) November 28, 2016
The new SNAP rules also prohibit stores that earn half of their sales from prepared meals or meals that are heated on site, such as microwavable pizzas or burritos, from accepting SNAP payments. Public-health advocates had wanted the threshold to be a mere 15 percent of sales, according to Gasparro.
In a second blow to public-health advocates, grape juice and foods with “multiple ingredients,” like canned soups and frozen pizzas, also remained on the list, Gasparro notes.
“I’m disappointed that the rules don’t go as far as what was proposed early this year,” Danielle Nierenberg, president of the nutrition advocacy group Food Tank, told Gasparro. “USDA has missed an opportunity to increase the availability of and access to healthier foods for low-income Americans.”
Many public-health and nutrition advocates saw keeping so many prepackaged foods on the SNAP staples list as a win for companies like Campbell’s and General Mills.
Others saw the new Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program rules as a fair compromise between the interests of public health and the prepackaged food industry.
“These are very implementable changes that are long overdue…. This is a way of nudging access (to healthy food) in the right direction,” Kevin Concannon, the USDA undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services, told The Chicago Tribune‘s Greg Trotter.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (#SNAP) will help about 20 million children each month this year: https://t.co/zW9Tu5NlmB http://pic.twitter.com/hpUDouA8vF
— Center on Budget (@CenterOnBudget) October 3, 2016
In addition to removing some foods deemed unhealthy from the list and prohibiting stores from selling primarily prepackaged foods, the new SNAP rules also require stores to carry a greater diversity of staple foods.
“Currently, retailers are required to carry three varieties in each of the four staple food categories: dairy products; breads and cereals; meats, poultry and fish; and fruits and vegetables,” Trotter reports. “Under the final rule, they’ll have to stock at least seven. And retailers will have to stock three of each variety — instead of six as initially proposed.”
As is often the case, multiple sides felt their concerns were not addressed by the new rules. Just as public-health advocates were disappointed by the compromise, so where many small retailers such as convenience stores.
“We are encouraged by what appears to be significant progress in the final rule, although we remain concerned that (the USDA Food and Nutrition Service) is still trying to penalize retailers for sales of items to non-SNAP customers,”Anna Ready, director of government relations for the National Association of Convenience Stores, said in a statement quoted by Trotter. “We are going through the rule in detail to determine how it will impact convenience stores and the SNAP customers they serve.”
It would be incredibly difficult for the Department of Agricultural to try to create and implement a system that could distinguish between the purchases of SNAP customers and non-SNAP customers. There would be too many ways to work around that.
While the new rules may have failed to satisfy public-health advocates, small retailers and those accustomed to being able to sneak a few treats like ice cream onto their shopping lists will likely feel the changes the most.
[Featured image by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]
SNAP Rules Revised, Many Snacks And Prepared Foods Removed From ‘Staples’ List is an article from: The Inquisitr News
Hair loss is one of the more common, and unpleasant, effects of chemotherapy. But scalp cooling devices, or cooling caps, just may be what chemo patients need to avoid losing their hair while undergoing the treatment.
Chemotherapy is a form of treatment that works by killing quickly dividing cells, the Los Angeles Times wrote. But since that feature of cancer cells is also present in hair cells, that’s the reason why patients undergoing chemotherapy also end up losing their hair.
That isn’t as much of an issue to male patients as it is to females. According to the Daily Mail, over 75 percent of women suffering from cancer fear hair loss most of all when it comes to chemotherapy side effects. The publication also cited a study where one out of ten women admitted that they would rather opt for another form of treatment, or choose to have their treatment reduced if it means avoiding chemo hair loss.
https://t.co/0CY8mpAEzK : #BreastCancer #Chemotherapy – Scalp-Cooling Cap Reduces #HairLoss In Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy http://pic.twitter.com/SijQPnt1x8
— Anto IHQ (@AntoIhq) December 11, 2016
This common fear of hair loss in female cancer patients was shared in a statement from lead researcher Julie Rani Nangia, an assistant professor of medicine at Houston’s Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center. She appeared Friday at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium to reveal the results of trials done with scalp cooling devices, and discussed why avoiding hair loss, or alopecia, is especially important to women who go through chemo.
“Chemotherapy fights cancer by attacking rapidly dividing tumor cells. However, hair cells also divide rapidly so the drugs target them as well, which is what causes alopecia. Hair is important, especially to women. Hair loss can really affect how a patient feels.
If you have a heart attack, you won’t look different, but if you have cancer and lose your hair, everyone knows what you are going through. Some people embrace it, but for others, having something so private made public is embarrassing.”
The L.A. Times wrote about how scalp cooling devices are supposed to work for the people who wear them. And it’s as simple in theory as redirecting the chemotherapy agent in such a way that less of it gets to a patient’s hair follicles. With the scalp cooled to about 66 degrees Fahrenheit, blood vessels are constricted, with blood flow reduced by about 20 to 40 percent. As chemo drugs travel through a person’s bloodstream, that means less drugs reaching the follicles.
Fantastic coverage of the Paxman Scalp Cooler on The One Show – @3MBIC 3D Printed the moulds, great to be involved! https://t.co/cnB8V14dEi
— 3MBuckley Innovation (@3MBIC) August 9, 2016
The researchers worked with 95 women suffering from breast cancer and assigned to wear a scalp cooling device as part of the test, as well as a control group of 47 women with the illness who didn’t get to test the cap. Out of the women in the cooling cap group, 51 percent had a “good amount” of hair after four chemo cycles. This was a sharp contrast to the women in the control group, as the L.A. Times noted that none of them had hair after a similar series of four cycles.
Although the researchers believe that the cooling caps can work on any cancer patient with a solid tumor, Nangia said that her team went with breast cancer patients because of the bigger impact chemo hair loss could have on women. It bears mentioning, though, that the caps cannot be used by anyone suffering from leukemia or other blood cancers, as it works by limiting blood flow.
The scalp cooling device used in the trial is called the Orbis Paxman Hair Loss Prevention System. While the cap is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it will be pushed as an alternative to the FDA-approved DigniCap Scalp Cooling System, should it get the green light from the government.
[Featured Image by Chris Hondros/Getty Images]
Scalp Cooling Devices May Just Prevent Chemo Hair Loss In Patients is an article from: The Inquisitr News
Snoop Dogg's daughter Cori B. is inspiring young girls and women to find beauty in all shades.
Human trials are set to begin next year after researchers uncovered that drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes could be used to slow Parkinson’s disease progression, the Science Daily reports.
Parkinson’s Disease is a “progressive disease of the nervous system,” effecting over 10 million middle-aged and elderly people in the world which seems to get worse over time, but scientists say there may be a breakthrough in medical science since levodopa, which is a drug created in the 1960s to treat Parkinson’s disease.
In a recent study, scientists at the Van Andel Research Institute’s Center for Neurodegenerative Science in Great Rapids, Michigan found that MSDC-0160, which is an insulin sensitizer designed by Kalamazoo, a Metabolic Solutions Development Company, may be able to treat Parkinson’s disease.
In 2012, Dr. Patrik Brundin, who is the “director of Van Andel Research Institute’s Center for Neurodegenerative Science, chairman of The Cure Parkinson’s Trust’s Linked Clinical Trials Committee, and the study’s senior author,” thought MSDC-0160 would be the perfect drug candidate because of its “mode of action, proven safety in people, local availability and the start-up company’s interest in collaborating on drug repurposing initiatives.”
Diabetes #drug slows experimental #Parkinson's progression, human trials to begin next year https://t.co/GsFOdGiGUM @VAInstitute
— Medical Xpress (@medical_xpress) December 7, 2016
After conducting research on the drug for four years, the outcome exceeded his expectations. Brundin said: “We hope this will be a watershed moment for millions of people living with Parkinson’s disease.”
“All of our research in Parkinson’s models suggests this drug could potentially slow the disease’s progression in people as well.”
The co-founder of The Cure Parkinson’s Trust, Tom Isaacs, has been living with Parkinson’s disease for 22 years and says that “our scientific team has evaluated more than 120 potential treatments for Parkinson’s disease, and MSDC-0160 offers the genuine prospect of being a breakthrough that could make a significant and permanent impact on people’s lives in the near future.”
“We are working tirelessly to move this drug into human trials as quickly as possible in our pursuit of a cure.”
There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease and as the human lifespan continues to grow, scientists expect more people to be effected by the disease. However, if the human clinical trials are a success, this could mean that MSDC-0160 would be the world’s first therapy treatment to improve the quality of life and slowing Parkinson’s disease progression.
Parkinson's Disease Cure Update: Diabetes Drug That May Slow Progression Is Being Readied For Trials – Medical Daily https://t.co/0CW9EbzjRW
— Diabetes view (@Diabetesview) December 10, 2016
Those suffering from Parkinson’s disease will be less likely to experience frequent falls and cognitive decline. Brundin stated that MSDC-0160 may even “reduce or delay the need for medications that can have debilitating side effects.”
It was also reported that the laboratory experiments suggested that the new drug may reduce neuroinflammation.
Researchers say Parkinson’s disease and diabetes may seem like completely different diseases, but in fact, studies have shown that “some of the underlying molecular mechanisms share similarities.”
“Whatever the outcome of the upcoming trial for Parkinson’s, we now have a new road to follow,” said Brundin.
The drug used to treat type 2 diabetes have only been tested on mice and it seemed to show signs of improvement in “motor function, maintaining dopamine production, and protecting the cells lost in a number of models of the condition,” according to Claire Bale, who is the head of research at communications and engagement at Parkinson’s UK, which is a charity based in London.
Diabetes drug shown to slow experimental #Parkinsons progression – being trialled next year! https://t.co/ITl2IQuGwT @VAInstitute http://pic.twitter.com/SuSKRFOJTW
— Cure Parkinson's (@CureParkinsonsT) December 8, 2016
There have been other drugs tested, but they often showed signs of serious side effects — the new drug, MSDC-0160, however, seems to have a “better safety profile.”
Clinical trials on humans are set to begin next year but a specific date has not been released. Bale added that researchers are hoping to test “people in the early stages of the disease where the protective properties of the drug are likely to have the greatest impact.”
[Featured Image By Zaretskaya/iStock]
Type 2 Diabetes Drug Could Slow Parkinson’s Disease Progression, Human Trials To Begin Next Year, Says Researchers is an article from: The Inquisitr News
With so much to read about Kanye and the K-K-Kardashians, it’s no wonder that news of actual import gets overlooked. After all, why should anyone care about dangerous food additives and questionable growing practices when there are celebrities to watch and selfies to post? Truth is, there’s a whole lot of creepy stuff going on, and precious little of it makes headlines.
Take, for instance, MSG and aspartame. Both are suspected of contributing to and even causing a number of devastating health conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, chronic migraine headaches, and even cancer. When was the last time you heard a news report about either product? The fact that multinational corporations such as Ajinomoto and Monsanto knowingly add potentially deadly chemicals to the foods you eat should scare you into action.
One man’s voice rails against corporate food giants
Stephen Fox, Santa Fe gallery owner and erstwhile editor of the New Mexico Sun News, is an outspoken opponent of Ajinomoto. His consumer protection op-ed pieces have appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, USA Today, and other international publications. When Fox contacted this writer regarding the mess that Monsanto and Ajinomoto are making in Africa and around the world, I already knew enough to eschew migraine-causing MSG and the troublesome artificial sweetener called aspartame. Things revealed in subsequent conversations with Stephen alarmed the journalist in me enough to delve more deeply into the topic.
Fox referred me to an article by journalist Lily Kuo. The former Reuters news reporter whose work has appeared in The Atlantic and the New York Times delivered a disturbing piece about the Ajinomoto company in Quartz Africa magazine on December 8, 2016. MSG danger and the ubiquity of aspartame are the primary focus of the article in which she noted that the Ajinomoto company is in the process of purchasing a 33 percent stake in an African food distribution outfit called Promasidor. The $532 million deal was confirmed by Reuters who noted that PepsiCo also expressed interest in purchasing large stakes in the company that sells aspartame-sweetened drinks, processed foods and seasonings such as MSG in more than half the countries on the continent.
Ajinomoto products have been imported to Africa for years. This big buyout, however, marks the first time that the the largest manufacturer of aspartame on the planet has made such a bold money maneuver in Africa. Corporate investments on the continent are not unheard of, however. In 2015, Kellogg’s shelled out several hundred million dollars to buy a 50 percent stake in Nigeria’s largest food distributor.
Can the United Nations protect us from aspartame and MSG danger?
In 2006, Fox authored a resolution to create a new Undersecretary General for Nutrition at the United Nations. The new position, had it been approved, would serve to protect consumers worldwide from known neurotoxins, suspected carcinogens, and other harmful food additives. Following is a portion of the resolution, as published by Red Ice Creations:
“The General Assembly must recognize that there must be henceforth a cessation of all manufacturing of and addition to foods of carcinogens, neurotoxins, mercurial fungicides used in the international transport of coffee beans, bovine growth hormones, pesticides, herbicides, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, cottonseed oil, steroids, chemicals fed to chickens to accelerate the frequency of their egg laying, bleach used to whiten flour and sugar, “anti-caking agents” like sodium silicoaluminate added to flour, chemicals added to color and preserve meat, artificial sweeteners, hundreds of manufactured food products containing aspartame (also called NutraSweet), methyl bromide, calcium propionate, malathion, parathion, dieldrin, food coloring, sodium erythorbate, BHA, BHT, TBHQ, sulfides and sulfates added to dried fruits, and foods irradiated with radioactive strontium and cesium, just to name a few.”
In a November 17, 2006 press release, Fox offered an open letter to United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon of South Korea. Fox noted that when the United States acts alone, they move too slowly on public health matters and had thus far failed to remove “such ghastly additives like aspartame, sodium nitrites, bovine growth hormones, and hundreds of other harmful chemicals from its own manufactured food products.” But that’s not all Fox had to say to the UN.
“Other nations are not so slow. Even Republics in the most “disadvantaged” parts of the world, even those with the shortest life expectancy, like Somalia, Nepal, Haiti, Liberia and 8 other African nations, recognize what the intolerable biochemical mess USA manufacturers have gotten the USA into. By preventing these corporate errors in their nations, the life expectancy in poorer nations will increase; even while the USA’s decline.”
The resolution, which, according to Fox, was supported by India and 53 co-sponsoring nations, failed to pass.
Bid to ban (or at least properly label) Aspartame products in California goes belly up
In October 2016, Dr. Betty Martini of Mission Possible World Health International published an open letter to Michelle Ramirez of California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Dr. Martini also filed a Citizen Petition to amend Proposition 65 to include aspartame in the Carcinogen Identification Committee (CIC)’s official List of Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity. Had the petition been approved, product packaging would have changed to include a warning about the potential health risks of the ubiquitous artificial sweetener. Dangerous or not, aspartame failed to be added to the list.
Are Aspartame and MSG danger real?
One of the most frightening things we know about aspartame is the way that Ronald Reagan forced its approval on his first full day as United States President on January 21, 1981. On that day, Reagan signed an executive order that severely limited the protective power of the Food & Drug Administration. Simultaneously, Reagan’s personal friend, Donald Rumsfeld, who happened to head the G.D. Searle company at the time, applied (yet again) to have aspartame approved for human consumption. Suddenly, after seven years of being turned down for FDA approval, aspartame became a legal food additive. Four years later, Monsanto bought the Searle company and Donald Rumsfeld received a hefty $12 million bonus.
A January 2007 study published by the International Journal of Experimental and Clinical Pathophysiology and Drug Research clearly indicates that aspartame ingestion alters gene expression in live test animals. Oncogene and tumor suppression genes are especially affected by aspartame. The study concluded that aspartame does indeed cause detectable and detrimental biological effects that include a significant increase in tumors of the lymphatic and central nervous systems. The study also concluded that aspartame ingestion may cause an upswing in kidney and bone marrow cancers. It can also make you fat. In other words, aspartame is not a healthful food additive.
This Is How Aspartame Causes Obesity https://t.co/YuCJOHrpms
— Dr. Joseph Mercola (@mercola) December 6, 2016
MSG (Monosodium glutamate) was discovered by Japanese scientists in 1908 and patented as a flavor enhancer by Ajinomoto shortly thereafter. Recognized by the FDA as “generally safe,” the powdery flavor booster is known to cause a number of adverse reactions in humans. Mayo Clinic says the most commonly reported MSG reactions include severe headaches, heart palpitations, flushing, sweating, chest pain, nausea, and facial tingling, burning or numbness.
MSG or Monosodium Glutamate And Your Health https://t.co/qmu5JPn7c7
— Chiropractor Dr Burt (@chiropracticrss) December 7, 2016
Stephen Fox was right when he told the UN that the United States takes too much time to protect consumers from potentially dangerous products like aspartame and MSG. Perhaps someday, Fox’s vision of a nutritionally aware United Nations Undersecretary General for Nutrition will come to fruition. In the meantime, it’s up to each global citizen to make their own consumer health decisions. The Inquisitr News will keep readers informed of the danger of MSG and aspartame as new information becomes available.
[Featured image via JK1991/Thinkstock/Getty Images]
Are Monsanto And The Ajinomoto Company Poisoning Africa? Aspartame, MSG Danger Revealed is an article from: The Inquisitr News
It's common knowledge that the British royal family loves to celebrate Christmas. In addition to upholding traditions that have been passed down over the years, Prince William and Kate Middleton have also made their own since welcoming Prince George and Princess Charlotte. But their enthusiasm for the holiday just got taken to a whole new place. The festive-themed wax figures of Kate, Will, Prince Harry, and Queen Elizabeth II, which aim to raise awareness for Save the Children, were unveiled at Madame Tussauds in London on Tuesday, and to say they're interesting is a bit of an understatement. While Harry rocks a green Christmas sweater complete with a snowman, the queen dons one featuring one of her beloved corgis (did you catch the crown?). But the weirdest outfit definitely goes to Kate and Will, who share a giant, two-person sweater with gingerbread, Christmas tree, and nutcracker designs. But one thing the wax figure artist seems to have forgotten? Their other arms! Sorry in advance for any nightmares this may cause.
Pippa Middleton may not technically be a royal, but all eyes will certainly be on her when she ties the knot with fiancé James Matthews on Saturday, May 20, 2017. Us Weekly confirmed this week that Kate Middleton's younger sister will wed her longtime love at the St Mark's Englefield in Berkshire, UK, and that the couple has already sent their save the dates. After walking down the aisle in the historic church, wedding guests will head to Carole and Michael Middleton's home in Bucklebury for a garden reception. Pippa got engaged to the hedge fund manager - whom she's dated on and off since 2012 - back in July, and was soon seen beaming on the streets of London while showing off her stunning ring.
Many of us were first introduced to the 33-year-old event planner at Kate and Prince William's royal wedding in 2011; Pippa made headlines for her maid of honor gig, and it wasn't long before the public took interest in her life and sweet relationship with Kate. While Kate has reportedly decided to opt out as a member of Pippa's wedding party (she doesn't want to "upstage her sister"), we're sure she'll still have some hand in the big day, as royal author Judy Wade added, "Kate would want to be in the background as much as possible."
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found an increase in cases of autism for babies born to mothers who received a flu vaccination in the first trimester, yet headlines are reporting that no link was found.
#wellbeing,#health,#healthmarket :No link between #flu or flu vaccine in pregnancy and autism: study https://t.co/thOzPftZQq
— Adam akram:wellbeing (@adamwellbeing) December 1, 2016
The study, Association Between Influenza Infection and Vaccination During Pregnancy and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder, was published November 28 in JAMA. This large-scale study looked at the medical records of nearly 200,000 children born between 2000 and 2010 at Kaiser Permanente hospitals in Northern California.
Less than a quarter (23%) of the children’s mothers received flu vaccines while they were pregnant. Of all of the mothers in the study (vaccinated and non-vaccinated), less than 1% were diagnosed with the flu while they were pregnant. The authors found no increased incidence of autism in the children of those mothers who contracted the flu during their pregnancy.
A total number of 3,101 (1.6%) of the children were eventually diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
The study authors found that there was an increased incidence of ASD in children whose mothers received flu vaccines in the first trimester, though they said they could not be sure that it wasn’t coincidence or caused by other factors.
In trimester-specific analyses, first-trimester influenza vaccination was the only period associated with increased ASD risk (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.04-1.39).
The researchers went on to say that they were able to get the numbers lower if they adjusted them in various ways, saying “this association could be due to chance” if they “corrected for the multiplicity of hypotheses tested.”
They said that there was not an increased number of ASD cases in children of mothers who received flu vaccines later in pregnancy.
Maternal influenza vaccination in the second or third trimester was not associated with increased ASD risk.
Despite this finding, news sources around the United States have been proclaiming that this study shows no increased risk of autism in children whose mothers received flu vaccines while pregnant. “Flu or flu shot during pregnancy won’t raise autism risk in child, study finds,” proclaimed the Chicago Tribune. “Study: Flu vaccine in pregnant women not linked to autism risk in children,” said the American Academy of Pediatrics’ News and Journals Gateway. “Flu Vaccine During Pregnancy Not Linked To Autism,” announced NPR.
Flu vaccine safe in pregnancy: study (AAP): A large study offers reassuring news for pregnant women: It's safe t… http://t.co/D0hbRaZ9
— Breaking Online News (@EliteGlobalNews) January 18, 2013
In every case, the fact that a correlation was found between autism and flu vaccination in the first trimester is buried much later in the article, and in some cases the results are further muddied. The Chicago Tribune mentioned the correlation six paragraphs into their report, admitting that there was a “suggestion” of increased risk for autism in the child if the mother received a flu vaccination during her first trimester, but saying “this statistic disappeared after the researchers further refined their analysis” and that “this study was a retrospective look at data, so it can’t prove or disprove any cause-and-effect relationships” about the higher incidence of ASD in those children.
At the very end of their story, Chicago Tribune did say that one pediatrician said more research is needed regarding the higher ASD risk for babies born to mothers who received flu vaccines in their first trimester. They quoted Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park, N.Y.
Additional studies are needed to clarify whether or not there is an association between first-trimester influenza vaccinations and later autism spectrum disorders, so that more informed recommendations can be made to pregnant women.
AAP News and Journals Gateway, too, admitted the link between vaccination in the first trimester and higher rates of ASD diagnosis — seven paragraphs down. They, too, mentioned the study author’s concerns near the end of their story. In the eighth paragraph (out of ten paragraphs total), they quoted the researchers about the need to study this correlation further.
While we do not advocate changes in vaccine policy or practice, we believe that additional studies are warranted to further evaluate any potential associations between first-trimester maternal influenza vaccination and autism.
In the case of NPR, the link between higher incidence of autism and flu vaccination in the first trimester was again buried late in the article. Here, it was mentioned in the sixth paragraph.
Don't miss @JAMAPeds https://t.co/jAgt8zKr0h on @NPR https://t.co/DIkTboLu7x
— JAMAPediatrics (@JAMAPeds) December 4, 2016
“But that could be due to chance, the researchers say,” they wrote, “given the small numbers of children in that group and the multiple hypotheses the study tested.”
NPR also mentioned towards the end of their story that the study did not look at whether the flu vaccines the mothers received contained thimerosal. They wrote that multidose containers of flu vaccine still contain thimerosal, a controversial preservative that contains small amounts of ethyl mercury. The FDA recommended that thimerosal be removed from vaccines given to infants back in 1999 because of concerns about vaccine safety.
It is worth noting that only 23% of the mothers who took part in the study received a flu vaccine at any time during their pregnancies. The number of women receiving flu vaccines during pregnancy has been climbing steadily over recent years. UPI reports that data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that half of pregnant women had received a flu shot in the 2015-2016 season.
Over the past 20 years, credible studies have shown a possible link between autism and vaccination — and credible studies have shown the opposite. The science is far from proven on either side. That said, while the studies that claim to show no link get spread widely in the media, those that raise questions tend to be buried or criticized.
Among the reputable studies that showed possible links between vaccines and are a Utah State University study that found that “an inappropriate antibody response to MMR [vaccine], specifically the measles component thereof, might be related to pathogenesis of autism.” Likewise, a 5-year study of 79,000 children reported in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health found that found boys given Hepatitis B vaccine at birth had a three times increased risk for autism than boys vaccinated later or not at all (nonwhite boys were at greatest risk).
A study on infant monkeys who were given the 1990’s recommended pediatric vaccine regimen showed important brain changes warranting “additional research into the potential impact of an interaction between the MMR and thimerosal-containing vaccines on brain structure and function.” Another study suggested “likely involvement” of thimerosal in vaccines (such as flu shots) “in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.”
In addition, a study in The Journal of Child Neurology found a major flaw in a widely-cited study that claimed there was no link between thimerosal in vaccines and autism. The researchers wrote that “the original p value was in error and that a significant relation does exist between the blood levels of mercury and diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder.”
The researchers noted that, like the link between aspirin and heart attack, “even a small effect can have major health implications,” and called on researchers to take a fresh look at that study.
If there is any link between autism and mercury, it is absolutely crucial that the first reports of the question are not falsely stating that no link occurs.
Scientists in other countries have also published research on a possible link between vaccines and autism. One study from Japan’s Kinki University supported “the possible biological plausibility for how low-dose exposure to mercury from thimerosal-containing vaccines may be associated with autism” and another from the University of British Columbia that found “the correlation between Aluminum in vaccines and [autism] may be causal.”
These are just a few of the studies that have raised questions about a link between autism spectrum disorders and vaccines, though they are rarely reported in the press.
It is important to note that the latest study did not definitively prove anything for or against flu vaccine safety during pregnancy. The higher incidence of ASD diagnosis in children whose mothers received a flu vaccination during their first trimester was a relatively small difference — but it was a difference that needs to be acknowledged and studied. It is also important to note that studies have linked many other factors to autism spectrum disorder, as well.
That said, if there is indeed a link between flu vaccination in the first trimester and autism spectrum disorders, burying legitimate scientific concerns under reassuring headlines is putting propaganda before children’s health. This represents neither good science nor good reporting.
[Featured Image by Africa Studio/Shutterstock]
New JAMA Study Finds Link To Flu Vaccination In First Trimester And Autism: So Why Are Headlines Reporting The Opposite? [Opinion] is an article from: The Inquisitr News
Your beautiful four-legged canines can provide long-lasting companionship, sniff out drugs, and help aid law enforcement in solving crimes, but can their fascinating abilities go a step further into the world of medicine?
Can their sixth sense detect cancer in humans before doctors find it? According to a report in iNews, dogs are using their complex sense of smell to help doctors find malignant tumors before they reach a terminal stage.
Canines contain 200 million olfactory cells in their noses says, Global Animal, compared to humans five million which can be used to smell a malignant disease through their runny snouts. The report also describes how scientists have trained dogs to utilize their sensitive noses to sniff out lung cancer in a more recent study published in 2011.
How dogs could revolutionise the detection and treatment of cancerhttps://t.co/eYP7FLVB2C http://pic.twitter.com/RigUK4SWnR
— i newspaper (@theipaper) December 5, 2016
Furthermore, there have been various scientific tests conducted on our furry friends that support the belief in cancer-sniffing dogs. In 2004, James C. Walker, of the Sensory Research Institute at Florida State University, and his fellow colleagues had trained two dogs to detect melanoma tissue samples concealed on the skin of the healthy volunteers. They employed the same methods that experts use in training dogs to sniff out drug trafficking and forensic bombs.
An article from CBS News showcases a few methods of training involving Michael McCulloch, who conducts his work at Pine Street Foundation, a nonprofit group founded in San Anselmo, California. The group’s primary goals are working with cancer patients and their decisions of treatment.
McCulloch and his team trained five dogs that had only the basic obedience training to smell the difference in breath samples of people without and with lung cancer. The human volunteers had to breathe into tubes that would trap their breaths for the dogs to smell. The “tail-waggers” were rewarded with treats if they were to deliver precise results. McCulloch is optimistic that in the future dogs will replace high costs of invasive procedures to detect cancer.
“Who will win out in the end: Is the dog more accurate or is the laboratory more accurate? Is it the lab or the Lab?”
McCulloch adds that dogs would do a much better job at screening potential cancer patients with proper training. It affords dogs the remarkable ability to practice early cancer detection to improve the survival rate of those diagnosed with the often-deadly disease.
NHS Approves cancer detection dogs aren’t #Dogs amazing https://t.co/l1sFbohYx6 @ProstateUK @SU2C @CR_UK @MedDetectDogs http://pic.twitter.com/MO8S1I38QU
— K9Active.co.uk (@K9Active) November 3, 2016
After three weeks of training, the dogs and the team conducted their experiment where each dog was sent into a room to get a smell of some breath samples. A few had samples from people recently diagnosed with breast cancer and lung cancer, and the other samples were from cancer-free volunteers.
Since there are chemicals in chemotherapy treatments, these tests need only newly diagnosed patients that haven’t had any treatments at the time they gave their breath samples; the chemicals would alter the dog’s senses to smelling the isolated disease.
As of today, the cancer-detecting dogs are accepted for the NHS trial, an approval made by Milton Keynes of University Hospital. Reportedly, their trained dogs have detected prostate tumors in urine samples for 93 percent of cases. Researchers hope the trials foster changes in the way practitioners manage cancer screenings and change the way people view dogs tenfold.
Studies like the ones aforementioned are so remarkable because it reminds us of how special our Frisbee-fetching pals are and what they can do with their long snouts.
Dogs are incredibly inspiring and are in a fast race to compete with scientists; the compounds that are in the cancer samples that the dogs detect can be used to create an artificial sniffer so to speak.
Remember that everything you’ve just read today the next time you tell your dog to bring you your newspaper, as he may very well have news for you that the papers and doctors don’t know about, yet!
[Featured image: monkeybusinessimages/iStock by Getty Images]
Apparently, Dogs Have A ‘Sixth Sense’ To Detect Undiagnosed Cancers In Humans is an article from: The Inquisitr News
If you thought Adele's Carpool Karaoke session couldn't be beat, well, you're right. But Madonna's ride with James Corden, which aired last night in the US, is a close second.
In the 13-minute long clip, Madonna educates Corden on traffic laws before the two burst out singing "Vogue." They move onto other Madonna hits, and Madonna dances along in her seat the entire time, and at one point, she even twerks!
Watch the entire video below-- and get ready to laugh, cry, and dance along with Madonna and Corden.
He welcomed partygoers to 2016 during a New Year's Eve gig at Media City Amphitheatre last year, and David Guetta is returning to Dubai this month.
The most popular DJ on the planet – he has collaborated with Akon, Sia and Kelly Rowland to name a few – will be playing a gig at Atlantis the Palm, a venue recently named one of the most geotaggged locations in the UAE on Instagram.
David sold out a show at the same venue in 2014 and we wouldn't be surprised with a repeat performance at the end of the month.
Doors will open at 7pm and he'll hot the stage after midnight. Early bird tickets are on sale for AED295 and can be purchased online at www.platinumlist.net and http://ift.tt/17hUwmM. They'll cost AED345 on the door and VIP and table packages are available by calling 055-200 4321.
It's gonna be a good one!
After kicking off their press tour for La La Land at the LA premiere of the film on Tuesday, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone stepped out together for the movie's hand and footprint ceremony in Hollywood on Wednesday afternoon. Emma wore a gorgeous yellow dress for the special occasion while Ryan looked dapper in a blue suit. During the ceremony, Ryan joked about getting arrested for vandalism, saying, "I'm still, I guess, not completely convinced that we're not going to be arrested for vandalism. I'm going to take your word for it that we're allowed to do this." He then continued, "We had an opportunity to shoot in most of Los Angeles's iconic locations except for this one, so I guess this is the final piece of the puzzle. It's a beautiful way to end this experience."
Emma also admitted that she cried when she found out that her hand and footprints would remain outside of the TCL Chinese Theatre, adding, "This is embarrassing. I thought this was maybe the kind of a thing where you come and put your hand prints in cement and then they take them away and put them up somewhere. I was told they're going to stay here, so I cried a little bit inside."
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen drew eyes when they stepped out for the Target premiere of the Toycracker in NYC on Wednesday night. The couple, who stars in the eight-minute holiday musical, put on a loving display as they struck their best poses for the cameras. Also at the event was Olivia Wilde, who made her first red carpet appearance since giving birth to her daughter, Daisy Sudeikis.
It's already shaping up to be a big month for John, who recently dropped his fifth album, Darkness and Light. In addition to making an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with Chrissy last week, the singer stopped by Sesame Street on Tuesday and got the characters to record a special message for his daughter, Luna. Amazing, right?
Yesterday morning, Meghan Trainor appeared on "CBS This Morning" to announce the 2017 Grammy nominees. Not surprisingly, superstars Adele and Beyonce dominated the list-- both women were nominated for three of the four major awards. This year's show, which will be hosted by James Corden, isn't until February 12, but here's the complete list of nominees for you to start speculating.
Album of the Year Nominees
"25," Adele
"Lemonade," Beyoncé
"Purpose," Justin Bieber
"Views," Drake
"A Sailor's Guide to Earth," Sturgill Simpson
Song of the Year Nominees
"Formation," Beyoncé
"Hello," Adele
"I Took A Pill In Ibiza," Mike Posner
"Love Yourself," Justin Bieber
"7 Years," Lukas Graham
Best New Artists Nominees
Kelsea Ballerini
The Chainsmokers
Chance the Rapper
Maren Morris
Anderson .Paak
Record of the Year Nominees
"Hello," Adele
"Formation," Beyoncé
"7 Years," Lukas Graham
"Work," Rihanna featuring Drake
"Stressed Out," Twenty One Pilots
Best Pop Solo Performance
"Hello," Adele
"Hold Up," Beyonce
"Love Yourself," Justin Bieber
"Piece by Piece (Idol version)," Kelly Clarkson
"Dangerous Woman," Ariana Grande
Best Pop Vocal Album
"25," Adele
"Purpose," Justin Bieber
"Dangerous Woman," Ariana Grande
"Confident," Demi Lovato
"This Is Acting," Sia
Best Dance/Electric Album
"Skin," Flume
"Electronica 1: The Time Machine," Jean-Michel Jarre
"Epoch," Tycho
"Barbara Barbara, We Face A Shining Future," Underworld
"Louie Vega Starring...XXVIII," Louie Vega
Best Rock Album
"California," Blink-182
"Tell Me I'm Pretty," Cage The Elephant
"Magma," Gojira
"Death Of A Bachelor," Panic! At The Disco
"Weezer," Weezer
Best Alternative Music Album
"22, A Million," Bon Iver
"Blackstar," David Bowie
"The Hope Six Demolition Project," PJ Harvey
"Post Pop Depression," Iggy Pop
"A Moon Shaped Pool," Radiohead
Best Urban Contemporary Album
"Lemonade," Beyoncé
"Ology," Gallant
"We Are King," KING
"Malibu," Anderson .Paak
"Anti," Rihanna
Best Rap Performance
"No Problem," Chance The Rapper feat. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz
"Panda," Desiigner
"Pop Style," Drake feat. The Throne
"All The Way Up," Fat Joe & Remy Ma feat. French Montana & Infared
"That Part," ScHoolboy Q Featuring Kanye West
Best Country Solo Performance
"Love Can Go To Hell," Brandy Clark
"Vice," Miranda Lambert
"My Church," Maren Morris
"Church Bells," Carrie Underwood
"Blue Ain't Your Color," Keith Urban
Best Jazz Vocal Album
"Sound Of Red," René Marie
"Upward Spiral," Branford Marsalis Quartet with special guest Kurt Elling
"Take Me To The Alley," Gregory Porter
"Harlem On My Mind," Catherine Russell
"The Sting Variations," The Tierney Sutton Band
Best Gospel Album
"Listen," Tim Bowman, Jr.
"Fill This House," Shirley Caesar
"A Worshipper's Heart [Live]," Todd Dulaney
"Losing My Religion," Kirk Franklin
"Demonstrate [Live]," William Murphy
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
"Poets & Saints," All Sons & Daughters
"American Prodigal," Crowder
"Be One," Natalie Grant
"Youth Revival [Live]," Hillsong Young & Free
"Love Remains," Hillary Scott & The Scott Family
Best Latin Album
"Un Besito Mas," Jesse & Joy
"Ilusión," Gaby Moreno
"Similares," Laura Pausini
"Seguir Latiendo," Sanalejo
"Buena Vida," Diego Torres
Best Americana Performance
"Ain't No Man," The Avett Brothers
"Mother's Children Have A Hard Time," Blind Boys Of Alabama
"Factory Girl," Rhiannon Giddens
"House Of Mercy," Sarah Jarosz
"Wreck You," Lori McKenna
Best Spoken Word Album (includes poetry, audio books & storytelling)
"The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo," Amy Schumer
"In Such Good Company: Eleven Years Of Laughter, Mayhem, And Fun In The Sandbox," Carol Burnett
"M Train," Patti Smith
"Under The Big Black Sun: A Personal History Of L.A.Punk (John Doe With Tom DeSavia)," Various Artists
"Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink," Elvis Costello
Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
Benny Blanco
Greg Kurstin
Max Martin
Nineteen85
Ricky Reed
Best Music Film
"Formation," Beyoncé
"River," Leon Bridges
"Up & Up," Coldplay
"Gosh," Jamie xx
"Upside Down & Inside Out," OK Go
Jennifer Aniston was all smiles when she hit the red carpet at the NYC premiere of Office Christmas Party on Monday evening. Clad in a black Brandon Maxwell jumpsuit, the actress appeared to be in good spirits as she posed for pictures alongside her costars, Olivia Munn and Jason Bateman. During the premiere, Jennifer spoke to People about her high school job as a receptionist, saying, "I did work in an office, but I don't think I went to any office parties. I was too young. I was a teenager, after-school receptionist." Over the weekend, Jennifer made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live and jokingly confronted Vanessa Bayer about her Rachel Green impression, making for one of the best moments of the show.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's custody agreement has been approved by a judge, ET reports. In documents obtained by the publication on Dec. 5, it was revealed that the estranged couple's legal agreement was approved on Dec. 2 and grants Angelina physical custody of their six kids; Maddox, Pax, Shiloh, Zahara, and twins Vivienne and Knox. According to the papers, Brad will continue to have agreed-upon therapeutic visits with his children as seen fit by the family's therapist, who "shall at all times consider the best interests of the minor children."
The Allied actor will also continue to attend weekly individual and group therapy and submit random drug and alcohol tests, while the kids will participate in individual counseling. A source close to the former couple revealed that "originally, [Brad] had volunteered to do the drug and alcohol testing himself, but now that a judge has signed off on these docs, it has become mandatory and cannot be reversed without another court filing." The insider also added, "Brad has not seen his children alone without a monitored therapist since the plane incident. Angelina has not left the children's side since the plane incident. She still has not completed her film [First They Killed My Father]. She has been with them the whole time trying to make sure they heal."
As to whether or not Brad will see his children for the holidays, the source says, "If a child says they don't want to see Brad on Christmas, the psychiatrist isn't going to force them. That's the whole purpose of this agreement." Another source claims the agreement is voluntary and only temporary, saying, "It was agreed upon several months ago, which has continued."
Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna welcomed their daughter Dream on Nov. 10, and it didn't take long for the couple and their social media-savvy friends and family to share sweet photos of the little one. It's easy to see how much baby Dream looks like her father and her grandfather, the late Robert Kardashian - and it's especially heartwarming to see how excited and proud Rob is to be a dad. Since Dream's birth, he has posted snaps of her along with messages of gratitude for her safe arrival, and his family members have also gushed about the new Kardashian in their life. In addition to emotional posts, Rob and Chyna also took time to have some fun during the delivery by getting in on the latest viral Mannequin Challenge. Scroll through to see all the photos of baby Dream we've seen so far.
A week after slaying the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show runway, Gigi Hadid took home model of the year at the British Fashion Awards on Monday. The blonde bombshell - dressed in a stunning, silver Atelier Versace two-piece dress and pants set - brought mom Yolanda along to help her celebrate the honor, where the two giggled on the red carpet and flashed matching smiles for photographers. Yolanda, in full-on, adorable mom mode, even fussed with Gigi's dress on the carpet, ensuring her gorgeous daughter had a perfect night. No wonder both Gigi and sister Bella love turning every event into a family affair!
mommy and i loved @trolls! ❣️❣️ http://pic.twitter.com/QANxxxi1rE
- Fergie (@Fergie) December 6, 2016
We don't see much of Fergie and Josh Duhamel's son, Axl, but when we do, it's always a treat. On Tuesday, Fergie posted a clip of her and Axl watching the Trolls movie together, writing, "Mommy and i loved @trolls!" In the video, the 3-year-old is shown dancing on a chair while Justin Timberlake's song "Can't Stop the Feeling" plays in the background. The last time we saw little Axl was at the Avatar-inspired Cirque du Soleil show in LA with his dad.
Looking over the 2017 Grammy nominees, you'll see names like Adele, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Sia, and Ariana Grande. Then, there's Sturgill Simpson. While he's well-known in the country genre, he's not a household name - yet. Since he's going up against Adele, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, and Drake for album of the year (in addition to country album of the year), it's time to get to know the singer!
While Kentucky-born Simpson formed his first band, Sunday Valley, in 2004, he gained critical attention with his solo album, High Top Mountain, released in 2013. His second album, 2014's Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, did even better, peaking at No. 11 on Billboard's Top Country Albums list. A Sailor's Guide to Earth, the album that earned Simpson his Grammy nomination, was released in April and has been climbing the charts. One of the biggest hits of the album is Simpson's cover of Nirvana's "In Bloom." Listen:
Pretty good, eh? We look forward to seeing more from Simpson, and I'm sure we will if he ends up besting the likes of Keith Urban and Loretta Lynn for best country album! (If Bey or Adele don't take album of the year, there will be rioting in the streets.)
Social media went crazy on Tuesday night after Justin Bieber announced he was to perform at Dubai's Autism Rocks Arena May 6, 2017. But it wasn't long before the tour date – falling between a gig on April 24 in San Jose, Costa Rica and Arrihus, Denmark June 5 – was removed from the schedule on his official website.
So it begs the question: Did Justin Bieber's people let the news out too soon?
There was already a buzz that the 22-year-old was returning to the Middle East (he played two nights at the Sevens Stadium in 2013) after 117 Live boss, Thomas Ovesen, was spotted at his recent show in London.
He told The National about his Purpose Tour: "The show is amazing. It is like a Cirque du Soleil meets pop star show."
"It is way bigger," he added about Justin's previous tour Believe, "It also has a water feature and several aerial tricks. He is the biggest touring star in the world. Of course we would like a Dubai show but so does everyone else."
POPSUGAR Middle East contacted 117 Live and they declined to comment.
Stay tuned for an official announcement!
Drunk driving has always been considered dangerous and deemed illegal. However, a new study indicates getting in the driver’s seat while feeling drowsy could be equally risky, and in some cases, riskier. Driving without a good night’s sleep could have the same effect of driving while intoxicated, claimed the study.
Driving while drowsy is as dangerous as being behind the wheel after having had one too many, indicates a new study. Getting proper sleep has long been considered vital for a productive day, and an important factor in maintaining good health. It appears the same principle applies to driving as well.
Drowsy driving is impaired driving: Study by AAA reveals dangers of drowsy driving #EyewitnessWV https://t.co/QnYMX6vDVv
— Eyewitness News (@wchs8fox11) December 6, 2016
The December 2016 study, conducted by the American Automobile Association (AAA), suggests sleepy drivers are a threat to themselves and other vehicles. In fact, drowsy drivers nearly double their risk of getting in a car crash when they get behind the wheel. They surprisingly mimic the same effects brought on by the excessive consumption of alcohol.
Drivers who sleep less than 5 hrs have the same crash risk as a drunk driver! #AAA #DrowsyDriving https://t.co/XJyNauZ2zO http://pic.twitter.com/ywaUCzgXj9
— AAA (@AAAnews) December 6, 2016
According to the study, drivers who managed just five to six hours of sleep during the previous night are about twice as likely to get into an accident as compared to those who slept seven hours or more. The risk just keeps increasing for every hour of sleep that’s either deliberately skipped or lost. Drivers who slept only 4-5 hours are at quadruple the risk of being involved in a crash. Drivers who have slept for just four hours the night before are over 11 times more prone to crashing. In other words, in certain cases, drowsy driving is an even riskier proposition than driving drunk, pointed out an AAA spokesperson.
“If you sleep less than four hours in a given 24 period, you are as impaired as you would be if you are twice the legal limit of alcohol.”
Statistically speaking, a driver who hasn’t slept for more than five hours during the night before, exhibits similar signs to those who are driving under the influence. Legally speaking, a severely sleep deprived driver could be considered intoxicated, with levels around or slightly above the legal .08 blood alcohol limit, observed the report. If the driver compromises even one more hour of his sleep, then his risk of being involved in a crash is 3-4 times higher as compared to someone who is sober.
AAA study finds risks of drowsy driving comparable to drunk driving: https://t.co/m5fBoAR7ZS
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) December 6, 2016
Drowsy driving has been a growing issue over the past several years, noted Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Steve Gaskins, who added that it’s “definitely a problem.” A study conducted by the AAA in 2010 revealed that as many as 7 percent of all crashes and 21 percent of fatal crashes involve drowsy drivers, reported the Tampa Bay Times.
After the 2010 report, public awareness about drowsy driving started to rise, noted Brian Tefft, AAA senior research associate, who wrote the study.
“The federal statistics that have been published by the (U.S. Department of Transportation) has always shown drowsy driving is a factor in 2-3 percent of crashes, but we knew it was probably much higher. When we estimated that drowsiness was a factor in 7 percent of all crashes in our 2010 study, the community started to realize, and we knew this was an underestimated problem. It has been within the past 3-5 years that the public health community and the transportation research community have been waking up to the drowsy driving problem.”
There’s ample evidence and legislation to penalize drivers who indulge in texting, calling, and alcohol. Joy riding and impaired driving are known problems as well. Youngsters and adults are routinely taught and warned about these dangerous habits.
Drowsy driving is as bad as driving drunk, says new study https://t.co/gau31mLMZq via @todayshow
— AAA (@AAAnews) December 6, 2016
However, there’s virtually no strict law about drowsy driving, and those in existence are rarely enforced. Sleep deprivation or sleep debt is a rising problem among teenagers, old people, and average adults as well. Shockingly, even those who claim to function on less sleep have significantly higher risk of crashing.
[Featured Image by Vladimir Pcholkin/Getty Images]
Drunk Or Drowsy Driving Is The Same? Intoxication And Lack Of Sleep Are Equally Dangerous On Road, Claims AAA Study is an article from: The Inquisitr News
Over 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, and the number is rising. The good news is that genetics play only a small part in determining whether you’ll develop the disease, and there are many ways you can protect your brain.
According to Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation (ARPF), someone develops Alzheimer’s disease every 68 seconds and the debilitating disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. That said, there are many science-backed, proven ways that you can prevent Alzheimer’s or slow its effects.
From foods to activities to supplements, here are 21 ways that you can keep your brain healthy and protect yourself from Alzheimer’s.
1. Stay physically active.
Research shows any type of aerobic exercise can actually improve brain volume and slash the risk of Alzheimer's disease by 50%.
— BridgePoint Health (@SpecialtyHosp) November 14, 2016
Doing at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, five days a week, cuts your risk of Alzheimer’s in half. ARPF recommends activities such as walking, jogging and climbing stairs.
Exercise may reduce chance of getting Alzheimer's disease. https://t.co/KtXTXR9V2R http://pic.twitter.com/UCIrK9Rvnc
— Muscle & Fitness (@muscle_fitness) November 16, 2016
It’s also important to add in some weight-bearing exercise, since muscle building increases blood circulation to your brain. Adding in balance and coordination exercises will help even more, as they’ll help keep you mentally alert and further strengthen your brain.
2. Keep learning.
New findings in brain research on Alzheimer's disease. We still need to keep learning new things to keep that part…https://t.co/IICQHSaEKF
— B (@artexpress94) February 19, 2016
One of the most important ways to protect your brain and memory is to keep learning new things. Dr. Weil reports that one study showed that those who regularly give their brains workouts with activities like taking classes, reading books, learning new skills and even going to the theater were found to have 2.6 times lower risks of Alzheimer’s disease.
3. Drink coffee.
Latest science from @coffeeandhealth: #Coffee fights #dementia, 3 cups can cut risk of Alzheimer's by 25% https://t.co/C3v7qGIjpu
— BCA (@BritCoffAssoc) December 2, 2016
It turns out you have a good excuse for that caffeine habit. According to Jean Carper in the book, “100 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer’s and Age-Related Memory Loss,” one study in Europe found that drinking three to five cups of java a day in your midlife years can reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 65% later in life. Theories are that caffeine reduces dementia-causing amyloid in the brain.
4. Protect your head.
Head injury patients develop brain clumps associated with Alzheimer’s disease https://t.co/b8HLUIP55X
— Matti Wäänänen, MD (@mattiwaananen) February 7, 2016
This should be common sense, but the numbers are dramatic. Alzheimer’s is four times more common in seniors who suffered a head injury early in life, and pro football players develop memory-related diseases 19 times more often than the rest of the population.
5. Maintain a healthy weight.
Study: Weight in middle age may influence whether a person develops Alzheimer's disease, when http://t.co/WDKfvCDG7z http://pic.twitter.com/GXj11VWFsG
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) September 1, 2015
Studies have found that overweight people are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, while obese individuals are three times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s, ARPF says.
6. Eat apples every day.
Recent #studies link #apples with #improving #symptoms of #Alzheimer's disease, could also prevent development. http://pic.twitter.com/r56H5UuE1R
— NatureSeal (@NatureSeal) June 23, 2016
Apples contain the “memory chemical” acetylcholine, says Dr. Thomas Shea of the University of Massachusetts, who recommends consuming two to three apples a day or 16 ounces of apple juice.
7. Get lots of Omega 3s.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids Could Prevent Alzheimer's Disease – Medical Daily https://t.co/zBhwsXB5iT
— News & Alerts (@AlertsandNews) October 28, 2016
Omega 3 fatty acids have been found to have a dramatic effect on halting memory loss. Scientists have discovered that omega-3 fatty acids may slow the growth of two distinct types of brain lesions that are found in Alzheimer’s disease. Omega 3s can be found in fish such as salmon. Vegetarians can get omega 3s from sources like flax seed, hemp seed and walnuts.
It’s also important to reduce intake of unhealthy Omega 6 fats, which are overly abundant in American diets.
Dr. Weil says that no piece of nutritional advice may be more important than consuming more omega-3 fatty acids and fewer omega-six fatty acids. He says that adding wild-caught fatty fish such as Alaskan salmon to your diet is a good way to do this, as well as reducing consumption of fried food, which tends to be saturated with omega-6-rich soybean oil.”
8. Take your vitamins (and minerals).
B vitamins may prevent brain shrinkage and cognitive impairments such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease
— Shaneli (@shanelzz_) November 20, 2016
The Impact of Vitamin E and Other Fat-Soluble Vitamins on Alzheimer´s Disease. https://t.co/V42CPVCuf5 #vitaminA http://pic.twitter.com/1oAkzEjKIY
— Vitamin A papers (@vitamin_A_paper) October 30, 2016
Magnesium Supplement to Treat Alzheimer’s Disease https://t.co/QoeIsjGLar via @knowingneurons
— Andrea Bell (@IM_AndreaBell) August 1, 2016
Some vitamins can really help protect your brain, whether from food sources or supplements. Some of the best include Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin B12, Folate and Magnesium.
9. Manage stress.
Study: Some evidence of link between stress, Alzheimer's disease discovered https://t.co/ZonkcindXq #alzheimers #stress
— Meghan Walker (@drmeghanwalker) November 30, 2016
Stress can have a profoundly negative effect on the brain, specifically the hypocampus. Chronic stress can deprive the brain of oxygen and hinder the growth of nerve cells. Experts advise working to reduce stress through deep breathing and relaxing activities such as playing music, practicing yoga, going for walks, prayer and reading for pleasure.
10. Do puzzles (yes, still).
Puzzles, brain games may slow symptoms, but not disease process behind Alzheimer's http://t.co/4CKNCMwWy9 via @TIMEHealth
— Alice Park (@AliceParkNY) June 10, 2015
Recently, headlines have proclaimed that mental exercises like crossword puzzles, sudukos and brain teasers may not prevent Alzheimer’s disease after all, but there’s more to the story than what’s in the headlines.
Researchers found results in one study that showed that people who report higher levels of intellectual stimulation throughout their lifetimes don’t actually exhibit lower levels of protein plaques and other signs of Alzheimer’s compared to those who don’t, Time reports. That said, they noted that the researchers still found that staying mentally and socially active can push back the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease by years.
In addition, this was just one study, and previous studies have shown remarkable benefits for those who do mental exercises. In one startling study published in the Archives of Neurology, for instance, researchers reported that elderly patients who engaged in those sorts of activities had dramatically healthier brains, CBS reports.
The elderly participants with the most puzzles and books under their belt had brains comparable to those of the healthy controls who were fifty years younger.
11. Spice up your life.
Research shows curcumin, a nutrient in turmeric, could be effective in preventing Alzheimer’s disease. https://t.co/CVZNvkDIz9 @thehealthguy
— Steven F. Hotze, MD (@HotzeHealth) November 12, 2016
Adding turmeric to your regular diet can have a protective effect on your brain. Some studies have shown that curcumin, found in the curry spice turmeric, suppresses the buildup of beta-amyloid, a main component in the harmful plaques in the Alzheimer’s-afflicted brain.
12. Maintain a healthy mouth.
#DidYouKnow: Tooth loss and Gum disease increases the risk of Alzheimer's Disease. Your mouth and health have a direct link
— Smiles By Hillside (@SmilesByHillsid) June 21, 2016
From Alzheimer's disease to heart disease, keeping your mouth healthy can help prevent serious illnesses https://t.co/HOGMSxxxjp
— Natural White (@natural_whiten) July 7, 2016
Infections such as cold sores and gum disease have been linked to dramatically higher incidences of Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have found that infections of all types — such as the flu, Lyme Disease and gastric ulcers — make the brain more vulnerable to Alzheimer’s. Infections of the mouth were found to be especially harmful, though.
Dr. Ruth Itzhaki of the University of Manchester in England estimates the cold-sore herpes simplex virus is linked to 60% of Alzheimer’s cases. The theory is that infections trigger excessive beta amyloid that kills brain cells.
13. Quit smoking and drinking heavily.
Heavy smoking and drinking leads to early onset of Alzheimer's disease, say US researchers. http://ift.tt/2heeY2l
— BBC Health News (@bbchealth) April 17, 2008
Researchers have found that people who smoke and drink heavily develop Alzheimer’s years earlier than the rest of the population. Science Daily reports that researchers found that people who were heavy drinkers developed Alzheimer’s 4.8 years earlier than those who were not heavy drinkers and heavy smokers developed the disease 2.3 years sooner than people who were not heavy smokers.
Those who were heavy drinkers and smokers, plus carried the Alzheimer’s gene fared the worst, developing the disease an average of 8.5 years sooner than the rest of the population.
14. Eat your veggies.
1-2 servings of green vegetables a day was the equivalent of being 11 years younger. #Alzheimer’s disease http://t.co/IVwjld6lDb via @WSJ
— Olga Afonsky (@olgaafonsky) April 21, 2015
Imagine that! A diet high in vegetables and low in animal fat can prevent Alzheimer's and heart disease and just… https://t.co/WLTEqQzKVC
— Tatum Rebelle (@TatumRebelle) January 8, 2016
The Alzheimer’s Association recommend eating lots of fruits and vegetables, particularly those with dark skins such as spinach, beets, red bell peppers, onions, eggplants, prunes, blackberries, strawberries, red grapes, oranges, and cherries. Some evidence suggests that green, leafy cruciferous vegetables are especially protective.
15. Search the web. Yes, really.
UCLA on Alzheimer’s reports that MRIs showed that online searches actually helped improve brain function in elderly test subjects.
Google. Doing an online search can stimulate your aging brain even more than reading a book, says UCLA’s Gary Small, who used brain MRIs to prove it. The biggest surprise: Novice Internet surfers, ages 55 to 78, activated key memory and learning centers in the brain after only a week of web surfing for an hour a day.
16. Take up yoga.
A new study on #Alzheimer’s #Disease reveals that #yoga & #meditation can help remaining #happy and #mindful. https://t.co/G0yQOSlV5Y
— YogaMeditation&more (@yogaholicz) September 26, 2016
The Scientific & Medical Network reports that a recent study compared the benefits of yoga and meditation with doing brain exercises like crossword puzzles. While both groups benefited in memory skills after three months, the yoga group also enjoyed additional benefits such as superior visual and spatial memory skills and less anxiety, which is also associated with Alzheimer’s.
17. Meditate.
Studies continue to show that meditation can play an important role in slowing Alzheimer's disease: https://t.co/IsZyZElFWx
— Alzheimers.net (@Alzheimersnet) September 23, 2016
Yoga and Meditation Can Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease in Just 3 Months https://t.co/sAsi1OWYSq
— Natural Blaze (@Natural_Blaze) December 5, 2016
Meditation helps in multiple ways when it comes to warding off Alzheimer’s. It’s been found to reduce blood pressure, helps relieve stress, and improves breathing. Studies have found that its benefits extend past that, though.
Andrew Newberg of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that meditating for 12 minutes a day for two months improved blood flow and thinking in seniors with memory problems. Brain scans have been found to show that people who meditate regularly have less cognitive decline and brain shrinkage (a classic sign of Alzheimer’s) as they age.
18. Avoid chronic illness.
Managing chronic illness like diabetes and heart disease could lead to prevention of Alzheimer’s. http://t.co/ok4CAJp
— Health Guidance (@HGCCharlotte) September 14, 2011
Chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease have all been found to correlate with Alzheimer’s. A study published in the journal Dementia & Geriatric Cognitive Disorders also found that people in their 40s who had mildly elevated cholesterol were at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s later in life.
19. Challenge your brain.
How to prevent Alzheimer's disease. Challenge your brain, stay active.https://t.co/v8kqJ2lTIC
— Deplorable RichPerez (@richjohnperez) September 19, 2016
Find ways every day to give your brain a workout. Simple ways to do this include keeping a running tally of your bill as you grocery shop and challenging yourself to regularly memorize poetry or proverbs.
20. Get enough sleep.
Sleep Quality Linked to Alzheimer's Disease: https://t.co/yTTocsK2iy #Alzheimers #Sleep
— Book a Care Staff (@bookacarestaff) November 29, 2016
Dr Mark Schauss was a recent guest on the podcast. Enjoy his article: Sleep to Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease https://t.co/LSzEzXhKOE #health http://pic.twitter.com/ELeBVbvZBy
— Tom Hewett (@tomhewettcoach) November 30, 2016
It’s imperative to get regular, restful sleep in order to protect your brain from Alzheimer’s. Experts recommend 8 hours per night of undisturbed sleep.
Lack of sleep interferes with the brain’s ability to function properly, along with leaving you irritable and interfering with your body’s ability to regenerate. It’s also linked to many other conditions that adversely affect brain health, such as chronic stress and illness.
21. Stay social.
Loneliness and Social Isolation May Be Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease, Study Finds. #alzchallenge #alzheimers https://t.co/LxENgstk9J http://pic.twitter.com/8KfKe3Nl2S
— AlzQoLChallenge (@AlzChallenge) December 2, 2016
Having close friends and staying in contact with family members offers a protective effect against the damaging effects of Alzheimer’s disease.
Science Daily reports that researchers at Rush University Medical Center found that strong social networks had a dramatic effect on Alzheimer’s patients:
The relationship between the amount of Alzheimer’s disease pathology and cognitive performance changed with the size of the social network. As the size of the social network increased, the same amount of pathology had less effect on cognitive test scores.
In other words, for people whose Alzheimer’s wasn’t very progressed, social network size had little effect on their mental abilities. However, as the disease progressed, the protection that social networks had on their mental abilities increased. Even when the subjects’ brains had the tangles and plaques indicative of Alzheimer’s disease, their brains continued to perform better if they had a larger social network.
Our findings suggest that social networks are related to something that offers a ‘protective reserve’ capacity that spares them the clinical manifestations of Alzheimer’s disease.
The takeaway from all of this? Take good care of yourself now — physically, mentally and psychologically — to take good care of your brain for the long term.
[Featured Image by Halfpoint/Shutterstock]
21 Science-Backed Ways To Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease is an article from: The Inquisitr News
