Senior Health: Mobile robots could help the elderly live fuller lives ♦ Smart walkers for elderly with new technology ♦ Swap the couch for a walk to avoid an early death

Increased activity in older brains may point to new avenues for treating memory loss Scientists have examined activity in a little-studied part of the brain associated with memory and found for the first time the reason that neurons there become more active in old age, findings that may suggest a new target for future therapies to combat memory loss in aging and Alzheimer's

Researchers identify possible physiological cause of brain deficits with aging Like scratchy-sounding old radio dials that interfere with reception, circuits in the brain that grow noisier over time may be responsible for ways in which we slow mentally as we grow old.

Mobile robots could help the elderly live fuller lives Mobile service robots developed by computer scientists could soon be helping elderly people stay independent and active for longer. The project, which includes artificial intelligence and robotics experts, will include a large-scale evaluation where robots will be deployed within the extra-care homes of LACE Housing Association in the UK, to care homes in Greece and to elderly people's own homes in Poland, for one year.

Smart walkers for elderly with new technology Researchers have developed a smart walker prototype that supports independent living among the elderly by making the traditional walker smart. They have retrofitted it with sensors and digital software that analyze user's physical condition and daily activities. This allows the device to collect useful information on user's daily rhythm, walking distances, duration and speed of walking, in addition to hand grip strength. Such information can then be used to monitor user's wellbeing and physical condition.

Swap the couch for a walk to avoid an early death Swapping just one hour of sitting with walking or other physical activity each day decreases your chance of an early death by 12 to 14 percent, according to a University of Sydney study of over 200,000 Australians.

Health News: India sets 12,000 standards for food additives ♦ Can you actually hear 'inaudible' sound? ♦ Ultrasound accelerates skin healing, especially for diabetics and the elderly

India sets 12,000 standards for food additives NEW DELHI: Food safety regulator FSSAI has finalised 12,000 standards for food additives and ingredients in line with global safety standards Codex, in order to do away with lengthy process of product approval.

Can you actually hear 'inaudible' sound? Are wind farms harmful to humans? This controversial topic makes emotions run high. To give the debate more objectivity, an international team of experts dealt with the fundamentals of hearing in the lower limit range of the audible frequency range (i.e., infrasound), but also in the upper limit range (i.e., ultrasound).

Findings identify receptors modulating macrophage responses to spinal cord injury A new study sheds light on opportunities to modulate macrophage responses after spinal cord injury, potentially reducing -- or even reversing -- damage and the resulting side effects

Ultrasound accelerates skin healing, especially for diabetics and the elderly Healing times for skin ulcers and bedsores can be reduced by a third with the use of low-intensity ultrasound, scientists have found

Surgeries before college athletics may result in more injuries during college play Athletes who've had lower extremity surgeries before going on to play in college, might be at a higher risk for another surgery independent of gender and sport, say researchers presenting their work today at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla.

New Rules Make Chicken Safer ♦ Idiosyncratic' brain patterns in autism ♦ Increase in falls among the elderly ♦ Citrus scent inhibits liver cancer

FSIS RELEASES NEW SALMONELLA, CAMPYLOBACTER PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR POULTRY

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that its new pathogen performance standards for Salmonella and Campylobacter in ground poultry and chicken parts will prevent about 50,000 illnesses each year. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service’s (FSIS) proposed changes to the Salmonella and Campylobacter Verification Testing Program create brand-new standards for Salmonella and Campylobacter in chicken breasts, legs and wings, and.. Continue Reading

Researchers discover 'idiosyncratic' brain patterns in autism

New research suggests that the various reports -- of both over- and under-connectivity -- may, in fact, reflect a deeper principle of brain function. The study shows that the brains of individuals with autism display unique synchronization patterns, something that could impact earlier diagnosis of the disorder and future treatments Continue Reading

Study suggests increase in falls among the elderly

Over a 12-year period, the prevalence of falls among older adults appeared to be on the rise, a new American nationally representative study says Continue Reading

Citrus scent inhibits liver cancer

As main component of essential oils, terpenes can inhibit the growth of different cancer cells. Researchers have analyzed this process in liver cancer cells in detail. Their shed light upon the molecular mechanisms that resulted in cancer cells stop growing, following the application of (-)-citronellal, and they proved that the olfactory receptor OR1A2 is the crucial molecule for that purpose. In future, the olfactory receptor could serve as target for liver cancer diagnosis and therapy Continue Reading