Neat News - Neat things do happen

New research finds that newborns living near greenspaces such as road trees or parks have health benefits which go beyond the fact that more health aware parents tend to live closer to greenspaces.

related: #trees #health #newborn

Scientists managed to prove the effectiveness of a vaccine in mice and non-human primates against the build-up of pathological tau linked to Alzheimer's disease. They plan now for human clinical trials which ideally result in a vaccine against Alzheimer's disease.

related: #vaccine #Alzheimer

Experiments with mice show promise in treating with gold injections an eye problem that can lead to blindness: age-related macular degeneration (AMD). More research is needed.

related: #gold #macular_degeneration #AMD

In experiment with mice, it has been shown that when a particular protein is injected to an injured spinal cord, it can stimulate the production of molecules leading to the regrowth of axons. The research may in the long run be useful in the treatment of spinal cord injury, brain injury, and stroke.

related: #spine #repair

New research finds that stimulating the vagus nerves can reduce depression.

related: #depression #vagus_nerve #stimulation

By a mixture of measures such as cutting on road traffic and pollution from heating and industry, the fine particle and nitrogen dioxide levels in Paris could be reduced from 2005 to 2024 by 55 and 50 percent, respectively.

related: #Paris #air_quality

Following the poor coordination during the Covid-19 crisis, the World Health Organization (WHO) has agreed a treaty to better deal with future pandemics, in particular, by sharing data and by enabling the development of new treatments and vaccines.

related: #pandemic #WHO

Research found that banana skins can be dried and ground into flour that can be used as a partial replacement for wheat. Up to 7.5 percent in cookies are not only healthy but also tasty.

related: #banana #flour

New research found that good nutrition of athletes has in addition to improved performance and other known advantages also the advantage of reducing the risk of injury, particularly for women athletes.

related: #nutrition #athlete #injury

New research with mice found that the proteins called Parkin, PINK1, and OMA1 protect mitochondria, small subunits within a cells that store energy and that can be found in almost all plants and animals. The new insight may help to better understand Parkinson's disease.

related: #mitochondria #protein

A new study finds that following a diet that focuses on plant-based products such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes, and that at the same time reduces processed meats, refined grains, and sugar leads to healthier ageing for people over 70 years.

related: #diet #plants #health

A new chewing gum has been developed that can trap and neutralize some viruses, in particular some types of influenza and herpes viruses.

related: #chewing_gum #influenza #herpes

A new study finds that people who takes statins have a 13 or 12 percent reduced risk to develop dementia or Alzheimer's, respectively, compared to those who do not take these drugs. The effect shows even in people who have low levels of bad cholesterol (LDL-C).

related: #statin #dementia #LDL

Collecting rain water is an environmentally sustainable way to use water and reduce storm water runoff. Unfortunately it is often linked with providing breeding places for mosquitoes. A study found now that just using a primitive device such as a mesh covering (or alternatively an insecticide) can reduce the potential health risks that are associated with the mosquitoes breeding in rain water barrels.

related: #rain #mosquito #collect

Canned tuna may contain some mercury. Now it has been found that when the water brine contains cysteine, 25 to 35 percent of the mercury can be removed from the fish before consumption.

related: #tuna #mercury #cysteine

Many things get more difficult for older adults. New research finds that muscle soreness after exercising seems to be an exception. Older adults experience less muscle soreness after exercise than younger adults.

related: #muscle #soreness #age

A pacemaker has been developed that is smaller than a grain of rice. It can be injected and controlled by light before dissolving. However, it is not yet available for humans.

related: #pacemaker

In a study in Wales with more than a quarter million senior citizens, a surprising link between shingles vaccination and dementia has been found. Those vaccinated in 2013 against shingles were 20 percent less likely to be diagnosed with dementia in 2020 than those not vaccinated.

related: #shingles #vaccination #dementia

In a new study with ten healthy young men it was found that cold water immersion at 14°C for one hour on seven consecutive days significantly improves the cells' protective mechanism and may help prevent diseases. More research, in particular with other cohorts of people, is needed.

related: #cold #health #cell