Middle-aged adults looking to boost their muscle mass do not need to bulk up on protein, a new study suggests. Researchers found that 10 weeks of strength training plus a moderate amount of protein were enough to build muscle in previously sedentary middle-aged people. And extra protein brought no added gains. The findings run counter… read on > read on >
All Do It Herself:
Astronauts Will Need Tough Workouts on Any Mission to Mars
As NASA astronauts set their sights on reaching Mars and building an outpost on the moon, they are likely to need regular, rigorous exercise to keep their hearts in shape, a new study suggests. Researchers analyzed data gathered from U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly during his year in space from 2015 to 2016 and from Benoît… read on > read on >
Spring Activity Can Sometimes Bring Stress Fractures
If you’re getting back into walking, running or outdoor sports this spring after months on the couch, you could be at risk for a common injury known as a stress fracture. It’s a small break or crack caused by repeated impact on a bone that is starting to weaken from overdoing it, and feet are… read on > read on >
Exercise Boosts Blood Flow to Brain, Keeping it Sharp
Regular aerobic exercise increases blood flow to the brain, which may help slow mental decline in older adults, a new, small study suggests. Researchers from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center looked at 70 men and women diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This means there are slight changes to the brain that affect memory,… read on > read on >
‘Non-Drug’ Approaches Can Fight Depression in People With Dementia
Exercise, mental stimulation and massage are among the drug-free therapies that are as good or better than medication in treating depression in dementia patients, researchers say. They reviewed 256 studies that included a total of more than 28,000 people with dementia with or without major depression. Medications alone were no more effective than usual care… read on > read on >
Can Fitbits, Apple Watch Be a Dieter’s Best Friend?
Looking to shed some of those pandemic pounds? A new analysis says wearables like Fitbit and Apple Watch can help people slim down. The researchers examined studies involving commercial health wearables and adults who were overweight/obese or had a chronic health condition. After daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for a period between a month and a… read on > read on >
Which Kids’ Sports Have Higher Odds for Head Injury?
Researchers outfitted high school athletes with head impact sensors to see which of four popular sports put them at the greatest risk of concussion. No. 1 for both boys and girls: Soccer, according to a study published online recently in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. Blame it on intentional headers, which accounted for 80%… read on > read on >
Some Folks Do Age Slower Than Others
THURSDAY, March 198 2021People really do vary in how fast they age, and the divergence starts in young adulthood, a new study suggests. The researchers found that by the tender age of 45, people with a faster pace of “biological aging” were more likely to feel, function and look far older than they actually were.… read on > read on >
Unhealthy in Your 20s? Your Mind May Pay the Price Decades Later
If you’re a 20-something who wants to stay sharp, listen up: A new study suggests poor health habits now may increase your risk of mental decline later in life. Its authors say young adulthood may be the most critical time for adopting a healthy lifestyle in order to keep your brain sharp when you’re older.… read on > read on >
‘Slow Walkers’ at Higher Odds for Severe COVID-19
If you saunter and shuffle instead of scurry when you walk, you are at higher risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19, British researchers warn. For the study, the investigators analyzed data from more than 412,000 middle-aged Britons and found that among those whose weight was normal, slow walkers were more than twice as… read on > read on >