An orange a day for better eyesight
People who regularly eat oranges are less likely to develop one of the leading causes of blindness, according to a study. Researchers based in Australia investigated whether eating the citrus fruit affects the likelihood of a person developing macular degeneration. One of the most common causes of vision loss in those aged 60 and over, age-related macular degeneration affects the macula: The central area of the retina. As many as 11 million people in the US have some form of age-related macular degeneration. The condition causes the loss of central vision, which is essential for seeing objects clearly, recognizing faces and tasks like driving. The team at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research assessed data on more than 2,856 Australian adults aged 49 years old on average during a 15 year period. The data was taken from the Blue Mountains Eye Study, one of the world’s largest epidemiology studies which was launched in 1992.
Mini-organs from IIT for hair growth
Scientists from IIT Delhi have developed a silk-based hydrogel that emulates the process of hair growth, an advance that may help screen novel drugs for treating hair loss without using animal tests. A study, published inthe Journal of Cellular Physiology, shows how the three-dimensional mini organs can mimic the different stages of hair growth in humans. Hair loss is a common ailment, and can be stressful for the people experiencing it. A number of factors including genes, illness, trauma and surgeries can lead to temporary or permanent hair loss. However, alopecia is the major reason contributing to permanent hair loss, researchers said.
Herpes and Alzheimer's risk
Herpes virus can increase the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to a study which also found that antiviral drugs can significantly reduce the risk of the neurodegenrative disorder. In a research published in the journal Neurotherapeutics in February this year, Taiwanese epidemiologists looked at subjects who suffered severe herpes infection and who were treated aggressively with antiviral drugs. Scientists in the UK say he study shows that herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) leads to an increased risk of developing the disease. It also supports the viability of a potential way to reduce the risk of the latter. “This provides the first population evidence for a causal link between herpes and Alzheimer's, a hugely important finding,” said Ruth Itzhaki, a professor at the University of Manchester.