Category: Scientific/Technical Items
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USDA Researchers Claim Low Seafood Intake Linked to Cognitive Decline
Research presented at the Experimental Biology 2014 meeting has apparently confirmed the importance of dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), concluding that lower intakes of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA) were predictive of cognitive decline. According to an April 27, 2014, press release, scientists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Research…
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Mother’s Diet Before Conception Can Allegedly Modify Child’s DNA
Researchers have reportedly found that nutrient levels in a pregnant woman’s diet before conception can permanently affect how the child’s genes function. Paula Dominguez-Salas et al., “Maternal nutrition at conception modulates DNA methylation of human metastable epialleles,” Nature Communications, April 2014. The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) researchers selected 167 pregnant women…
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Study Examines Alternative Hormonal Receptor Affected by BPA
A recent study has reportedly identified an alternative hormonal receptor that mediates bisphenol A (BPA), raising questions about the purported link between BPA exposure, diabetes and obesity. Marie Tohmé, et al., “Estrogen-related receptor γ is an in vivo receptor of bisphenol A,” The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, April 2014.…
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Caffeine Keeps Employees Ethical, Study Says
A recent study has found that sleep deprivation can lead to unethical behavior, but caffeine can counteract the effect. David T. Welsh, et al., “Building a Self-Regulatory Model of Sleep Deprivation and Deception: The Role of Caffeine and Social Influence,” Journal of Applied Psychology, March 2014. Researchers kept volunteers awake overnight then gave half of…
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Pomegranate Juice Allegedly Linked to Heightened Neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s Disease
University of Pittsburgh and Purdue University researchers have purportedly found that pomegranate juice (PJ) heightened neurodegeneration in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease (PD) by increasing nigrostriatal terminal depletion, dopamine neuron loss, the inflammatory response, and caspase activation. Victor Tapias, et al., “Pomegranate Juice Exacerbates Oxidative Stress and Nigrostriatal Degeneration in Parkinson’s Disease,” Neurobiology of Aging,…
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Cereal Box Characters Allegedly See Eye-to-Eye with Consumers
Researchers with Cornell University and the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity have reportedly found that eye contact with cereal box spokes-characters “increased feelings of trust and connection to the brand, as well as choice of the brand over competitors.” Aviva Musicus, et al., “Eyes in the Aisles: Why is Cap’n Crunch Looking…
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New Research Targets Role of Parental Obesity in Autism Spectrum Disorders
A study examining the link between parental body mass index (BMI) and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) has reportedly claimed that paternal obesity “is an independent risk factor for ASDs in children.” Pal Suren, et al., “Parental Obesity and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders,” Pediatrics, April 2014. Noting that previous research focused only on the role…