Mindfully Healing

The brains and bodies of identical twins were compared over ten years. Stronger leg muscles are linked to better brain ageing, a new study finds. It’s the first time a connection has been found between power in the lower limbs and healthy ageing in normal people. The study suggests that increasing levels of simple exercises like walking or even standing for longer may lead to healthy cognitive ageing. The study followed 324 identical female twins over a ten-year period. Fitness and lifestyle habits were measured by researchers. They also gave

Insomnia is the most common complaint people have about their health. Insomnia is not just “all in your head”, neuroscientists have found. For the first time, seven risk genes have been identified for insomnia. This could be the first step in understanding the biological causes of insomnia. It helps to show that insomnia is not — as is sometimes claimed — just a psychological condition. Professor Van Someren, one of the study’s authors, said: “As compared to the severity, prevalence and risks of insomnia, only few studies targeted its causes.

New study provides insights into how parents pass anxiety and depression onto their children. An over-active network of brain areas is central to how children inherit anxiety and depression from their parents. The network consists of three regions in the brain which work together to control the fear-response. Genes passed down from parents to children influence how these three regions function together, the new study finds. Professor Ned Kalin, one of the study’s authors, said: “Over-activity of these three brain regions are inherited brain alterations that are directly linked to

What makes people stay in relationships and what makes them want to leave? People who are married or just dating give similar reasons for wanting to leave their partner. These are (1) issues with their partner’s personality, (2) a breach of trust (often, cheating) and (3) partner becoming distant or disconnected. People give slightly different reasons for wanting to stay together. For people who are married, the top reasons to stay together are the investment they have already made in the relationship, family responsibilities and the barriers to leaving (e.g.

Study found the diet was linked to improved attention and a higher IQ. A specific type of fatty acids found in foods such as avocados, nuts and olive oil is linked to higher intelligence, new research finds. Monounsaturated fatty acids — or MUFAs — have been regularly linked to health benefits. MUFAs are particularly prevalent in the diet traditionally eaten in Mediterranean countries. The presence of these fatty acids in the diet may help to explain the health benefits of certain types of foods, such as: Olive oil Peanut oil

The link to intelligence is especially strong in women. People with higher intelligence are more likely to use drugs, research finds. The link is particularly strong for women. This is despite the fact that higher IQ is often linked to living a healthier lifestyle. The study’s authors write: “In this, the largest study to date to examine the relationship between childhood IQ and illegal drug use, high IQ scores were associated with increased illegal drug use in adolescence and adulthood. These associations were independent from life-coursesocial position, and associations were

Average intakes of this food exceed the level linked to common mental health problems. A high sugar intake is linked to anxiety and depression, new research finds. The study found the link only in men who consumed over 67g of sugar per day. After five years, their risk of developing common mental health disorders like depression and anxiety was increased by 23%. Worryingly the average amount of sugar consumed by men in the UK is 68.4g. Average intake levels in the US are even higher. Ms Anika Knüppel, the study’s

The magical formula for beauty could be in your walk. Attractiveness is about more than just body shape and facial features — it is also about the way people move. Women who sway their hips while walking increase their perceived attractiveness by 50%, research finds. Men who walk with swagger in their shoulders more than doubled the perception of their attractiveness. Swagger involves dipping the shoulders slightly with each step to create a rolling motion. Dr Kerri Johnson, the study’s first author, said: “People have always tried to identify the