People who have poor sleep or do not get enough sleep have higher levels of inflammatory markers C-reactive protein, IL-6, and fibrinogen, indicating increased inflammation in their bodies, researchers have found. Inflammation is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Data from a recent study were presented Sunday, November 14, 2010 at the American [...]

OSU.edu – Exposure to even dim light at night is enough to cause physical changes in the brains of hamsters that may be associated with depressed mood, a new study shows. Researchers found that female Siberian hamsters exposed to dim light every night for eight weeks showed significant changes in a part of the brain [...]

Northwestern.edu – Estrogen is an elixir for the brain, sharpening mental performance in humans and animals and showing promise as a treatment for disorders of the brain such as Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. But long-term estrogen therapy, once prescribed routinely for menopausal women, now is quite controversial because of research showing it increases the risk [...]

Salk.edu – Fisetin, a natural phytochemical found in strawberries and other fruits and vegetables, slows the onset of motor problems and delays death in three models of Huntington’s disease, according to researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. The study, published in the online edition of Human Molecular Genetics, sets the stage for further [...]

HopkinsMedicine.org – Low levels of vitamin D, the essential nutrient obtained from milk, fortified cereals and exposure to sunlight, doubles the stroke risk in whites, but not in blacks, according to a new report by researchers at Johns Hopkins. Stroke is the nation’s third leading cause of death, killing more than 140,000 Americans annually and [...]

UCSF.edu – Cutting back on salt in teenagers’ diets by as little as one-half teaspoon, or three grams, a day, could reduce the number of young adults with high blood pressure by 44 to 63 percent, according to new research presented Sunday, November 14, 2010 at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2010 meeting in [...]