Eating fish boosts heart health in young women

Women of childbearing age can reduce their risk of heart problems by regularly eating fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids, said a Danish study out Monday. The study is the first to examine younger women, age 15-49, and determine whether fish in their diet has a real impact on their current likelihood of heart problems, instead of their longevity. For instance, "those who rarely or never ate fish had 50 percent more cardiovascular problems over eight years than those who ate fish regularly," the research said. Women who rarely or never ate fish faced a 90 percent higher risk of heart problems than those who ate fish weekly. When researchers looked at hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease in three different assessments...

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Study Finds How Child Abuse Changes the Brain

Children exposed to family violence show the same pattern of activity in their brains as soldiers exposed to combat, scientists said on Monday. LONDON (Reuters) - Children exposed to family violence show the same pattern of activity in their brains as soldiers exposed to combat, scientists said on Monday. In a study in the journal Current Biology, researchers used brain scans to explore the impact of physical abuse or domestic violence on children's emotional development and found that exposure to it was linked to increased activity in two brain areas when children were shown pictures of angry faces. Previous studies that scanned the brains of soldiers exposed to violent combat situations showed the same pattern of heightened...

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Specific Genes Now Linked to ADHD

Four variants in brain pathways have provided a link between ADHD and genetics. Researchers from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have identified four specific gene variations involved in brain signaling pathways that provide evidence of a link between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and genetics. The findings, which were recently published in the journal Nature Genetics, also offer clues for treatment of the disorder. ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder among children, affecting an estimated 3 to 5 percent of school-aged children, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. The disorder is characterized by difficulties with attentiveness, over-activity, impulsivity, or a combination...

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Child 'Sexters' Risk Arrest, But Problem Uncommon

Sexting, or texting sexually explicit material, by kids and teens isn't as widespread as believed, but it can lead to legal trouble. New York (Reuters Health) - Sexually explicit material isn't as widespread on kids' cell phones as some surveys have suggested, researchers have found. But 'sexting'—sending or receiving risqué photos or videos via cell phone—can still mean legal trouble for minors. "Right now, in most areas, it's a criminal offense," said Kimberly J. Mitchell, a psychologist at the University of New Hampshire in Durham and a co-author on two new reports in the journal Pediatrics. "Child pornography is by definition a sexual picture of a minor." In one study, Mitchell and her colleagues estimate that...

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Posted in: HEALTH