Tracker on how to avoid death
Norwegian researchers have developed a novel activity tracker that uses heart rate data to customise the amount of exercise one needs to reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Heart rate is the single-most accurate reflection of the body’s response to activity. The study described the science behind Personal Activity Intelligence (PAI), the first activity tracking score that uses heart rate to help people achieve optimal health. “The health benefits of regular exercise are well established but individuals do not know how much they need to prevent cardiovascular disease and premature death,” said lead author Dr Javaid Nauman, researcher at Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. “People may be insufficiently active because they do not have personalised, meaningful information,” Dr Nauman noted. PAI translates heart rate data from walking, swimming, dancing, cycling etc and from personal information (age, gender, resting) into one simple score.
Parkinson’s now easier to detect
Parkinson’s is a cause of concern since time immemorial but now, scientists at the University of Edinburgh have said that they have developed a way of detecting a molecule that can help them to detect the onset of Parkinson’s faster than before. Using samples of spinal fluid from patients, the researchers said while the latest test still needs to be validated with a larger sample group, they are optimistic that they can help improve diagnosis of the disease earlier than expected. The test involves detecting a protein molecule called alpha-synuclein, which forms sticky clumps called lewy bodies inside the brain cells of people with Parkinson’s and some types of dementia.
mediterranean diet can help help patients
The Mediterranean diet is associated with a reduced risk of death in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease such as coronary artery disease and stroke, says yet another study on the diet’s impact. “The Mediterranean diet is widely recognised as one of the healthier nutrition habits in the world,” said one of the researchers Professor Giovanni de Gaetano from IRCCS Neuromed Institute in Pozzilli, Italy. “We found that among those with a higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet, death from any cause was reduced by 37 per cent in comparison to those who poorly adhered to this dietary regime,” de Gaetano said. While beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet is well documented, research so far has focused on the general population, which is mainly composed of healthy people.