Brain Health & Wellness

Find the latest on enhancing brain health, and get tips on memory improvement and stress management. Live smart and stay sharp at any age.

Source: http://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/

Where infants sleep may affect how long they are breastfed

A new study indicates that mothers who frequently sleep, or bed-share, with their infants consistently breastfeed for longer than mothers who do not bed-share. Also, pregnant women who expressed a strong motivation to breastfeed were more likely to bed-share frequently once their baby was born. The findings, which come from a study of 678 women in a randomized breastfeeding trial who were recruited at mid-pregnancy, question whether recommendations to avoid bed-sharing due to concerns such as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) may impede some women from achieving their breastfeeding goals and could thereby prevent women and their children from experiencing all of the short- and long-term benefits of breastfeeding.

Originally published at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160206085628.htm

Researchers link compulsive Facebook checking to lack of sleep

If you find yourself toggling over to look at Facebook several dozen times a day, it's not necessarily because the experience of being on social media is so wonderful. It may be a sign that you're not getting enough sleep.

Originally published at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160204151052.htm

Every hour spent inactive can increase risk of Type 2 diabetes

Experts have found that even extreme exercise after a whole day of sitting at your desk (pictured) won't undo the damage prolonged inactivity can cause.

Read the rest at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3429150/Sitting-raise-diabetes-risk-gym-won-t-help-hour-spends-inactive-increase-chance-developing-Type-2-fifth.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Taller people have a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes but greater risk of cancer

German scientists working with colleagues at Harvard found height has an important impact on mortality, increasing the risk of breast and colon cancer as well as melanoma.

Read the rest at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3429114/How-HEIGHT-affects-health-Taller-people-lower-risk-heart-disease-diabetes-greater-risk-cancer.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Study links irregular sleep schedules to adverse metabolic health in women

Frequent shifts in sleep timing may be related to adverse metabolic health among non-shift working, midlife women, new research shows. Results show that greater variability in bedtime and greater bedtime delay were associated with higher insulin resistance, and greater bedtime advance was associated with higher body mass index (BMI).

Originally published at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160201125510.htm

Heart drug statins DOUBLES the risk of diabetes according to 'alarming' 10-year study

Healthy patients taking the heart drug statins have a significantly higher risk of new diabetes, study from University of Texas has found.

Read the rest at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3425192/Heart-drug-statins-DOUBLES-risk-diabetes-according-alarming-10-year-study.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490