Good Living Guide

News

Grandparents Who Babysit Are Less Likely To Develop Dementia And Alzheimer’s

by Leave a Comment

If spending time with your grandkids is your favorite activity, you’ll be happy to know that it’s also one of the best ways to prevent mental decline as you get older.

Researchers have found that spending time with your grandchildren can ward off dementia and Alzheimer’s.

grandparents alzheimer's babysit

On Your Toes

Staying on your toes to watch your grandkids keeps your brain sharp and your body moving.

The close, warm bond you share will help both of you in future years. Children who share a loving bond with their grandparents are less likely to experience depression in later years.

grandparents alzheimer's babysit

It’s Good for Both of You

Researchers say that babysitting your grandkids has many benefits.

  • You ward off loneliness. Loneliness is one of the major causes of failing mental abilities in older people.
  • You stay physically and mentally alert.
  • You and your grandchildren develop good social skills.
  • Grandparents who take care of their grandchildren live longer than those who don’t.

grandparents alzheimer's babysit

Just Don’t Overdo It

Before you run out and kidnap the little darlings, take note. Spending too much time with your grandchildren can be just as bad as not seeing them at all.

What’s too much? According to researchers, grandparents who spent five days a week with their grandchildren were too stressed out to enjoy the interaction.

You’re the best judge of what you can handle. If you’re spending so much time with the munchkins that you’re running yourself ragged, you may want to cut back on “together time.”

Caring Is the Key

If you don’t have any grandchildren to cuddle, don’t worry. The studies also found that sharing a close bond with anyone will give you the same benefits.

Caring and sharing will fill your days, prevent loneliness and keep you mentally strong. It’s a win-win.

 

Lavender Lemonade Recipe

New Cytophone Laser Detects and Destroys Cancer Cells In Bloodstream

Scientists Develop Arthritis Vaccine That Blocks Pain

The Very Best Mosquito Repellent Plants

Coconut Lime Bread Recipe

New Cytophone Laser Detects and Destroys Cancer Cells In Bloodstream

by Leave a Comment

A new medical discovery could make it easier for doctors to contain cancer and keep it from spreading. The treatment uses a cytophone laser to kill cancer cells without surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.

Cytophone Laser

Credit: Ekaterina Galanzha / UAMS

Introducing the Cytophone Laser

Scientists at the University of Arkansas have discovered a way to stop cancer cells in their tracks using a handheld laser device. This breakthrough technique allows doctors to destroy cancer cells before they spread to other parts of the body.

The cancer-killing device is called a Cytophone. It finds cancer cells and destroys them before they can do more damage. The Cytopone:

  • Requires no surgery or incisions.
  • Is painless.
  • Is a simple, handheld device.
  • Works quickly and efficiently.

What is Metastasis, and Why Does it Matter?

One of the biggest concerns related to cancer is the fact that cancer cells metastasize. That means they grow and spread to other parts of the body.

The Cytophone laser could be an answer to this problem. It’s able to pinpoint the cancer cells while they’re in the bloodstream, hunt them down and kill them before they spread.

According to Science Translational Medicine, where the research was published, the “system accurately detected these cells in 27 out of 28 people with cancer, with a sensitivity that is about 1000 times better than current technology.”

What Does This Mean for the Future of Cancer Treatment?

The Cytophone is still in an early stage of development. Vladimir Zharov, the lead researcher on the study, found that the laser was able to destroy 96% of the cancer cells in one patient.

The device gives cancer researchers hope for a simple, noninvasive treatment to prevent cancer from getting worse. It offers a bright glimmer of hope for everyone facing this disease.

21 Popular Breakfast Cereals Contain Cancer-Causing Weed Killer, Tests Reveal

by Leave a Comment

A new report released by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that several popular breakfast foods are contaminated with glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup weed killer. All 21 of the products tested had glyphosate levels that were “higher than what EWG scientists consider protective for children’s health.”

21 Popular Breakfast Cereals Contain Cancer-Causing Weed Killer

The three highest levels of glyphosate were found in Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch at 833 parts per billion (ppb), Cheerios Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal at 729 ppb and Nature Valley Crunchy granola bars, Maple Brown Sugar at 566 ppb. These levels are well over the EWG children’s health benchmark of 160 ppb.

Out of the 21 items tested, glyphosate levels were highest in the following products:

  • Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch (833 ppb)
  • Cheerios Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal (729 ppb)
  • Nature Valley Crunchy granola bars, Maple Brown Sugar (566 ppb)
  • Nature Valley Granola Cups, Almond Butter (529 ppb)
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheerios (400 ppb)
  • Nature Valley Baked Oat Bites (389 ppb)
  • Nature Valley Crunchy granola bars, Oats and Honey (320 ppb)
  • Nature Valley Crunchy granola bars, Peanut Butter (312 ppb)
  • Nature Valley Granola Cups, Peanut Butter Chocolate (297 ppb)
  • Cheerios Oat Crunch Cinnamon (283 ppb)

The report comes less than a month after a California jury awarded a couple more than $2 billion in damages after determining their cancer was caused from long-term exposure to Monsanto’s glyphosate-based Roundup.

Although the tested products have detectable levels of glyphosate that the EWG considers unsafe, the levels are well within the EPA’s legal limit of 30 parts per million for glyphosate on oats. It appears there is no end in sight to the ongoing debate concerning glyphosate’s alleged cancer-causing properties. What is your opinion on this subject?

 

Energy Drink Addiction Leaves Mom with Pacemaker at 32

Lavender Lemonade Recipe

Rescued Pit Bull Cries Watching Mufasa’s Death In ‘The Lion King’

Scientists Develop Arthritis Vaccine That Blocks Pain

The Very Best Mosquito Repellent Plants

School Bully Assault Nearly Blinds Teen

Children With Autism Locked In Dark Bathroom And Punished With Loud Whistles By Florida Teachers

Housework Keeps Brain Young, Research Suggests

by Leave a Comment

Who would think that doing housework is a way to keep our brains young? Now every time you tackle vacuuming, mopping the floors, changing the beds, and doing laundry, think of them as exercises that are good for your brain! All those chores that we think of as being dull, boring, tiring, and far from pleasant can be included in light activity that reduces brain aging.

Housework Keeps Brain Young

What does Physical Activity do?

New research by the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) indicates that even light activity creates larger brain volume and therefore healthy brain aging. Active individuals who engage in regular physical activity have lower vascular and metabolic risk factors.

Guidelines

The 2018 Physical Activity-Guidelines for Americans recommends that greater than 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous (MV) physical activity (PA) each week has substantial health benefits. Even modest levels of physical activity strongly improve one’s health. There is quite a difference between a person being sedentary and being modestly active.

Housework Keeps Brain Young

Impact of the Activity

This Framingham Heart Study had 2,354 participants, 1,276 of which were women, had a mean age of 53 years, and 1,099 met the PA guidelines. It found that each added hour of light-intensity activity was equal to approximately 1.1 years less brain aging. That is an achievable level of volume and intensity according to Nicole Spartano, PhD, research assistant professor of medicine at BUSM.

In individuals that do not meet the PA guidelines, every hour of light-intensity PA and doing at least 7,500 steps each day also meant higher total brain volume, which equals 1.4 to 2.2 years less aging of the brain. Active people also have lower odds for health problems that include diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.

Additional Exploration

Spartano emphasized that there is a need to explore what impact physical inactivity has on brain aging in different ethnic, race, and socio-economic groups, and she is leading an investigative team. She is grateful to acknowledge the important funding for this research from the American Heart Association, the National Institute on Aging, and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Scientists Develop Arthritis Vaccine That Blocks Pain

by 16 Comments

Arthritis causes severe joint pain, and this pain is often managed with prescription medications. While painkillers may be effective in the short-term, their long-term use can be detrimental to your health. Luckily, scientists have discovered a new arthritis vaccine that could potentially eliminate the need for pain medications and dependence on them for arthritis patients.

Arthritis Vaccine

Arthritis is one of the most common joint disorders, and it becomes increasingly common with age. This condition can be a result of chronic wear and tear, autoimmune inflammatory diseases, or infection. There are two main types of arthritis: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis Vaccine

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It occurs when the cartilage on the ends of the long bones wears down. This cartilage degeneration leads to joint stiffness, pain with movement, and bone deformities. It is most common in the knees, hips, hands, back, and neck.

Pain medications are often prescribed to control this pain, but long-term use can lead to increased sensitivity to pain, addiction, higher risk of depression, and more. In addition, painkillers can decrease immune function and increase the risk of infection and developing other diseases.

Arthritis Vaccine

The main cause of osteoarthritic pain has been found to be nerve growth factor (NGF), which is produced by the immune system. Scientists have discovered an arthritis vaccine that can cause the body to produce antibodies against this growth factor, causing NGF to become neutralized and eliminating pain entirely.

There is still more research that needs to be done to prove the effectiveness of this vaccine in humans before it is widely released and available to the public. However, it shows a lot of potential for alleviating the pain associated with arthritis. Along with preventing pain, this vaccine can also eliminate pain medication dependence and serve as a much more cost-effective solution for this problem.