12, September 2014

AB blood group linked to memory loss and dementia

Is your blood type AB? You could be at a risk of developing dementia.

According to a recent study published in the journal Neurology, those who have AB blood group, the least common blood type, have increased likelihood of developing thinking and memory problems that later on lead to dementia. According to study author Mary Cushman from the University of Vermont, College of Medicine in Burlington blood type and risk of cognitive impairment has a connected link.

The study was part of a larger study (Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke) that included more than 30,000 people followed for an average of 3.4 years. The findings showed that those with AB blood were 82 percent more likely to develop memory problems than others. ‘Blood type is also related to other vascular conditions like stroke, so the findings highlight the connections between vascular issues and brain health,’ Cushman added. 

People with AB blood type made up 6 percent of the group who developed cognitive impairment, which is higher than the 4 percent found in the population. The researchers also looked at levels of factor VIII, a protein that helps blood to clot. High levels of factor VIII are related to higher risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. People with AB blood had a higher average level of factor VIII than people with other blood types.

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

12.09.2014

How dangerous is your child’s internet and smart phone addiction?

The launch of the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus saw a huge furore about what the new phone would provide to its users, its functionalities and all the other things that come with it. While comments about the phone have flooded social media, there is a small space that questions the hype. Are we that dependent on technology, especially phones, that we would spend large amounts of money on another piece of technology? 

Well, all this could be a sign of our growing love for the internet and smartphones that offer us unhindered access to the internet, social networking and our virtual friends. This apathy was highlighted in recent news that a 15-year-old-boy tried to stab his mother with a kitchen knife because she tried to stop his internet access, turned off his computer and took away his smartphone. While no one was injured, this incident highlighted the increasing dependence we have on technology. Incidentally the boy had over 500 friends on various messaging platforms, most of whom he had never met in person.
What is even more shocking is the fact that the boy, when taken for treatment, stripped to protest the fact that he was not given unhindered internet access. 

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

12.09.2014

What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make

Jane Goodall