Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/JVUkY5c6kqw

Overdoing your training for an endurance sport can leave you mentally fatigued.  A French investigation, just published in the journal Current Biology, studied 37 thirty something male athletes during a 9 week training program.

Over-training led to feelings of mental exhaustion but also increased impulsivity with a preference for immediate rather than gratification.  Brain imaging tests confirmed that the altered decision-making was due to diminished prefrontal cortical activation.

This study once again emphasizes that our bodies work best when we moderate our activities.  If you are forced to overindulge, know that you shouldn’t be making any momentous decisions afterwards.

Blain et al. Neuro-computational impact of physical training overload on economic decision-making. Current Biology, 2019 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.054

#Endurancetraining #exercise #exhaustion, decisionmaking 

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/JVUkY5c6kqw

Overdoing your training for an endurance sport can leave you mentally fatigued.  A French investigation, just published in the journal Current Biology, studied 37 thirty something male athletes during a 9 week training program.

Over-training led to feelings of mental exhaustion but also increased impulsivity with a preference for immediate rather than gratification.  Brain imaging tests confirmed that the altered decision-making was due to diminished prefrontal cortical activation.

This study once again emphasizes that our bodies work best when we moderate our activities.  If you are forced to overindulge, know that you shouldn’t be making any momentous decisions afterwards.

Blain et al. Neuro-computational impact of physical training overload on economic decision-making. Current Biology, 2019 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.054

#Endurancetraining #exercise #exhaustion, decisionmaking 

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/XC4XX8lSwtw

Nearly 40% of Americans state that today’s divisive politics are stressing them out.  Even more distressing is that 4% are driven to suicidal thoughts.

Political scientists at The University of Nebraska-Lincoln surveyed some 800 subjects.  The data show that:

• 32% are unnerved by the relentless controversies on cable news.
• 29% lose their tempers more easily.
• 20% have lost friends over political fights.
• 11% report physical health deterioration.

To combat sickening politics, turn off cable news, exercise, get outdoors, and read.  Impose a “no politics” rule when you gather with friends if you want them to remain friends.

Medical University of Vienna. "People in unhappy relationships more likely to have suicidal thoughts." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 7 September 2016. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160907081921.htm

#Politics #illness #suicide 

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/XC4XX8lSwtw

Nearly 40% of Americans state that today’s divisive politics are stressing them out.  Even more distressing is that 4% are driven to suicidal thoughts.

Political scientists at The University of Nebraska-Lincoln surveyed some 800 subjects.  The data show that:

• 32% are unnerved by the relentless controversies on cable news.
• 29% lose their tempers more easily.
• 20% have lost friends over political fights.
• 11% report physical health deterioration.

To combat sickening politics, turn off cable news, exercise, get outdoors, and read.  Impose a “no politics” rule when you gather with friends if you want them to remain friends.

Medical University of Vienna. "People in unhappy relationships more likely to have suicidal thoughts." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 7 September 2016. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160907081921.htm

#Politics #illness #suicide 

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/SmZC939blGs

Choline supplementation may be one important key to preventing the dread dementia of aging.  A mouse model study by the Arizona State University finds that choline blocks formation of amyloid plaques and reduces numbers of microglial scavenger cells that damage normal brain cells.

The researchers fed their experimental animals, genetically prone to develop Alzheimer’s, an amount of choline 4.5 times that of the traditional recommended daily amount but half the allowable daily max.  Only the treated animals maintained normal cognitive abilities and performed well in a maze test.

Choline is found in eggs, beef, pork, chicken, turkey, fish, mushrooms, and readily available oral supplements.  The study suggests a daily consumption level of about 2500 mg. For men and 2000 mg for women.

Ramon Velazquez, Eric Ferreira, Sara Knowles, Chaya Fux, Alexis Rodin, Wendy Winslow, Salvatore Oddo. Lifelong choline supplementation ameliorates Alzheimer’s disease pathology and associated cognitive deficits by attenuating microglia activation. Aging Cell, 2019; DOI: 10.1111/acel.13037

https://nutritiondata.self.com/foods-000144000000000000000-1w.html

#Choline #Alzheimers

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/SmZC939blGs

Choline supplementation may be one important key to preventing the dread dementia of aging.  A mouse model study by the Arizona State University finds that choline blocks formation of amyloid plaques and reduces numbers of microglial scavenger cells that damage normal brain cells.

The researchers fed their experimental animals, genetically prone to develop Alzheimer’s, an amount of choline 4.5 times that of the traditional recommended daily amount but half the allowable daily max.  Only the treated animals maintained normal cognitive abilities and performed well in a maze test.

Choline is found in eggs, beef, pork, chicken, turkey, fish, mushrooms, and readily available oral supplements.  The study suggests a daily consumption level of about 2500 mg. For men and 2000 mg for women.

Ramon Velazquez, Eric Ferreira, Sara Knowles, Chaya Fux, Alexis Rodin, Wendy Winslow, Salvatore Oddo. Lifelong choline supplementation ameliorates Alzheimer’s disease pathology and associated cognitive deficits by attenuating microglia activation. Aging Cell, 2019; DOI: 10.1111/acel.13037

https://nutritiondata.self.com/foods-000144000000000000000-1w.html

#Choline #Alzheimers

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/EgRJcmO3kns

Many studies convince us that healthy eating, consuming more fruits and vegetables while moderating intake of carbs, fat, and meats, reduces cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.  Now an Australian meta-analysis presents proof that such a moderating diet will also keep your kidneys in work order.

The researchers analyzed 18 separate studies following some 630,000 participants over about 10 years.  A consistently healthy diet was associated with a 30% lower incidence of kidney disease.

One study after another sings the praises of abundant fruits and vegetables in your diet.  If you want a long life, you must respect and maintain your body’s equipment and especially your brains, heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver.

Katrina E. Bach, Jaimon T. Kelly, Suetonia C. Palmer, Saman Khalesi, Giovanni F. M. Strippoli, Katrina L. Campbell. Healthy Dietary Patterns and Incidence of CKD. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 2019; CJN.00530119 DOI: 10.2215/CJN.00530119

#Fruits #vegetables #kidneydisease

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/EgRJcmO3kns

Many studies convince us that healthy eating, consuming more fruits and vegetables while moderating intake of carbs, fat, and meats, reduces cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.  Now an Australian meta-analysis presents proof that such a moderating diet will also keep your kidneys in work order.

The researchers analyzed 18 separate studies following some 630,000 participants over about 10 years.  A consistently healthy diet was associated with a 30% lower incidence of kidney disease.

One study after another sings the praises of abundant fruits and vegetables in your diet.  If you want a long life, you must respect and maintain your body’s equipment and especially your brains, heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver.

Katrina E. Bach, Jaimon T. Kelly, Suetonia C. Palmer, Saman Khalesi, Giovanni F. M. Strippoli, Katrina L. Campbell. Healthy Dietary Patterns and Incidence of CKD. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 2019; CJN.00530119 DOI: 10.2215/CJN.00530119

#Fruits #vegetables #kidneydisease

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/JpZFL6rGnfY

Slogans seem more believable if the words appear in alphabetic order or nearly so.  A University of  Texas study, just published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology, explores this phenomenon in detail.

Ten advertising claims, either written in an alphabetic sequence or not, were presented to a focus group and rated for truthfulness.  The truth ratings were significantly higher for those sound bites that flowed in alphabetic order..  For instance, “Bufferin Eases Pain” is more believable than “Pain Eased By Bufferin.”

The advertising agencies employ this brain preference to control your buying habits.  Knowledge is power.  Now you are aware of this advertising trick, so look for it in the advertising pitches you see and hear.

 Dan King, Sumitra Auschaitrakul. Symbolic Sequence Effects on Consumers’ Judgments of Truth for Brand Claims. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 2019; DOI: 10.1002/jcpy.1132

#Alphabeticorder #advertising #truth

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/JpZFL6rGnfY

Slogans seem more believable if the words appear in alphabetic order or nearly so.  A University of  Texas study, just published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology, explores this phenomenon in detail.

Ten advertising claims, either written in an alphabetic sequence or not, were presented to a focus group and rated for truthfulness.  The truth ratings were significantly higher for those sound bites that flowed in alphabetic order..  For instance, “Bufferin Eases Pain” is more believable than “Pain Eased By Bufferin.”

The advertising agencies employ this brain preference to control your buying habits.  Knowledge is power.  Now you are aware of this advertising trick, so look for it in the advertising pitches you see and hear.

 Dan King, Sumitra Auschaitrakul. Symbolic Sequence Effects on Consumers’ Judgments of Truth for Brand Claims. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 2019; DOI: 10.1002/jcpy.1132

#Alphabeticorder #advertising #truth