CSHL team finds evidence for the genetic basis of autism — Models of autism show that gene copy number controls brain structure and behavior – Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have discovered that one of the most common genetic alterations in autism — deletion of a 27-gene cluster on chromosome 16 — causes autism-like features.
Policies that promote healthy eating, activity and sleep are needed to curb obesity in infants, toddlers and preschoolers – Limiting television and other media use, encouraging infants and young children in preschool and child care to spend more time in physically active play, and requiring child care providers to promote healthy sleeping practices are some of the actions needed to curb high rates of obesity among America’s youngest children.
The good life: Good sleepers have better quality of life and less depression — Study shows that a nightly sleep duration of six to nine hours is associated with higher ratings for quality of life and lower ratings for depression. – Getting six to nine hours of sleep per night is associated with higher ratings for quality of life and lower ratings for depression, suggests a new research presented in Minneapolis, Minn., at SLEEP 2011, the 25th Anniversary Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC (APSS). Results show that people with a “normal” sleep duration of six to nine hours per night had higher self-reported scores for quality of life and lower scores for depression severity compared to short and long sleepers.
Children who sleep less are more likely to be overweight — Longitudinal analysis of sleep in relation to BMI and body fat in children: the FLAME study – Young children who do not get enough sleep are at increased risk of becoming overweight, even after taking account of lifestyle factors, finds a study published on bmj. Sleep is an important determinant of future body composition in young children. Researchers recommend that appropriate sleep habits should be encouraged in all children as a public health measure, and call for more studies to determine whether more sleep or better sleeping patterns impact favourably on body weight and other health outcomes.
Night owls at risk for weight gain and bad diet — People who go to bed late and sleep late eat more fast food and weigh more – Staying up late every night and sleeping in is a habit that could put you at risk for gaining weight. People who go to bed late and sleep late eat more calories in the evening, more fast food, fewer fruits and vegetables and weigh more than people who go to sleep earlier and wake up earlier.
Infants with persistent crying problems more likely to have behavior problems in childhood – Infants who have problems with persistent crying, sleeping and/or feeding – known as regulatory problems – are far more likely to become children with significant behavioural problems, reveals research published ahead of print in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Study: Omega-3 consumed during pregnancy curbs risk for postpartum depression symptoms – Fish has long been considered in myriad cultures to be “brain food,” but only recently has bona fide science begun to support this deep-rooted belief.
As we sleep, speedy brain waves boost our ability to learn — A UC Berkeley study suggests we’re busy recharging our brain?s learning capacity during a dreamless light slumber that takes up half our sleeping hours – During sleep, we’re busy recharging our brain’s learning capacity, which can take up half the night, revealed a new study from the University of California, Berkeley.
New guidelines for preventing falls in the elderly include: start tai chi, cut-back on meds – In the first update of the American Geriatrics Society and the British Geriatric Society’s guidelines on preventing falls in older persons since 2001, they now recommend that all interventions for preventing falls should include an exercise component and that a number of new assessments should be used, including; feet and footwear, fear of falling, and ability to carry out daily living activities.
Poll reveals sleep differences among ethnic groups — National Sleep Foundation’s Annual Sleep in America poll explores sleep issues among Asians, African-Americans, Hispanics and whites – The 2010 Sleep in America poll released by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) reveals significant differences in the sleep habits and attitudes of Asians, Blacks/African-Americans, Hispanics and Whites.
