Here in this section you’ll find abstracted news reports and scientific findings relating to HEALTH & AGING; they may help you in achieving optimum health.

More detailed research findings that need to be incorporated in an anti-aging and longevity approach you will find in the HEALTH, MEDICINE Folder (at E-Books). If you need more details, we give you references, or you can just use key words for simple computer searches.

Study ties return of colon cancer to diet.
Colon cancer survivors who eat a “Western” diet high in red meat, fats, and refined grains (sugars, white flour) are more than three times as likely to have a recurrence as those who consume a “prudent” diet high in fish, poultry, fruits, and vegetables.
Ref.: JAMA, Aug. 15, 2007. Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Bosten, MA.

Muscle-building Creatine may help Parkinson’s patients.
Researchers from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders have started a long-term study using the supplement creatine to help people with Parkinson’s. Previous studies showed that patients taking creatine didn’t get worse over the study period. Studies on animals suggest that creatine improves the cell’s energy metabolism. People enrolled in the long-term study will be taking 10 g of creatine/day; athletes have been using larger amounts without any problems.
Reference: Daily newspapers, 3.23.07. Dr. Debra Babcock, Institute of Neurological Disorders, NIH, US government.

Racial disparities in longevity documented.
According to the Public Policy Institute of California, the average life expectancy for white men in California was 75.5 years, compared to 68.8 years for black men. Heart disease, cancer and stroke were the top 3 causes of death. Accidents and homicide were the 4th and 5th leading causes of death among African American men.
Reference: LATimes, 8.30.07, part B.

Breast implants linked to suicide risk.
Women who received implants for breast enhancement are three times more likely to commit suicide. Deaths related to mental disorders related to alcohol and drug abuse were also three times higher in women who had the procedure.
Ref.: Annals of Plastic Surgery, 8.8.07.

Do older siblings have higher IQs?
Yes, says a study by Dr. Petter Kristensen of the Norwegian National Institute of Occupational Health; researchers studied 241,300 compulsory military examinations. The average IQ for those who grew up as the eldest child - - either because of first-born or because of older siblings death - - slightly exceeded that of men with older siblings.
Ref.: Science News, 7.7.07, p. 14. Also SCIENCE, 6.22.07.

Antibiotics in infancy tied to asthma in later years.
Multiple doses of antibiotics before first birthdays have an increased risk of asthma in later years.
For details: Ref.: Science News, 7.7.07, p. 14. Also the journal CHEST, June 2007.

350 thousand: Number of people in the US with Multiple Sclerosis.

Re. TERRORISM: Do you feel protected?
Make sure to read “Smallpox; unprotected beyond belief!” Click on TERRORISM at Home Page.

How does eating broccoli lower cancer rates?
UCLA researcher Erin Hsu reported that a compound found in broccoli – DIM, diindolylmethane – reduces the production of two compounds necessary for breast and ovarian cancers to spread. Because positive results with DIM on animals (cancer studies) were reported earlier, and DIM appears to be safe, it is already available in various food supplements.

Could FDA and pharmaceutical company drug-pushing be improved with laws like this? China sentenced the former head of their FDA to death for corruption, state media reported. Zheng Xiaoyu was convicted of dereliction of duty and taking bribes from drug companies, the New China News Agency said.
Reference: LATimes, 5.29. 2007, page A4.

Dr. Linda Swanson, MD, cosmetic surgeon (NY University, the “Mecca” of cosmetic surgery). See Websites at E-books. This web-site is phantastic; much better than an entire book on cosmetic surgery, and so visually impressive: www.plasticsurgeryforme.com.