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- Written by: Mike Leary
- Category: Science
Vitamin and mineral supplements have become a $32.7bn (£24.2bn) global industry, with over 74% of Americans and two-thirds of Britons admitting to regular use. While these products are marketed as an easy solution to nutritional gaps, research shows their benefits are far from guaranteed. Scientists, including JoAnn Manson from Harvard and Bess Dawson-Hughes from Tufts University, have conducted large-scale studies that question whether these pills truly improve health or, in some cases, may even cause harm.
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- Written by: Mike Leary
- Category: Science
In a surprising discovery that challenges long-held beliefs, researchers have found that some women may have a biological tendency to give birth to children of one particular sex. A large-scale analysis of more than 58,000 women in the United States revealed that genetics, age, and reproductive patterns may subtly influence the sex of offspring. While traditionally seen as a 50/50 chance, the determination of a child’s sex appears to be more complex. The study, led by Jorge Chavarro from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, presents a number of intriguing patterns.
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- Written by: Mike Leary
- Category: Science
Emerging research reveals that stored glucose and brain-produced insulin may be key players in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. These findings open the door to potential therapies that go beyond amyloid plaques and tau proteins - the hallmarks of the disease.
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- Written by: Mike Leary
- Category: Science
An international team of researchers has successfully extended the lifespan of mice by 15–20% and improved their physical and mental health by increasing levels of the Klotho protein. This breakthrough, led by the Institut de Neurociències at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (INc-UAB), suggests new directions for treating age-related diseases and promoting healthy aging in humans.