Why stress is aging Readers of Life Extension Update may recall the November 29, 2004 issue which described an association between emotional stress and shortened telomeres, a marker of cellular aging. Now, in research published in the May, 2008 issue of Brain, Behavior and Immunity, a team at the University of California, Los Angeles report that they may have discovered why. Telomeres are caps at the ends of chromosomes (the genetic material of the cell) that contribute to their... Read Full Story

Intestinal Gluten Receptor Is Gateway for Celiac Disease Finding could offer new treatments for other autoimmune disorders, study says THURSDAY, July 24 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers believe they have finally answered a basic question about the cause of celiac disease -- where in the body does the wheat protein gluten enter one's system? A study published in the July issue of Gastroenterology identifies the CXCR3 receptor in the intestine as a gluten gateway. When people with celiac... Read Full Story

Antidepressant Scripts Up 16 Million Over 3-Year Period Psychiatrists wrote 29% of new orders, followed by GPs and primary care docs, survey finds THURSDAY, July 24 (HealthDay News) -- Between 2002 and 2005, the number of prescriptions filled for antidepressant drugs increased from 154 million to 170 million, according to a report released Thursday by the U.S. government. The analysis, by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, of antidepressant prescriptions (not including... Read Full Story

Sleep Needs May Decline With Age Study suggests what some think is insomnia is really natural part of getting older By Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter THURSDAY, July 24 (HealthDay News) -- The reason healthy adults sleep less in their 60s than they did in their 20s might simply be because people need less sleep as they age, new research suggests. If true, the observation could mean that what many elderly people interpret as insomnia could be a completely normal reflection of an age... Read Full Story

Smokers Struck by Influenza Face Higher Mortality Rates Cigarette compounds mimicking viral components caused more severe airway damage in mice THURSDAY, July 24 (HealthDay News) -- In experiments with mice, U.S. researchers have discovered why viral infections have more severe consequences in smokers than in nonsmokers. For example, smokers with influenza are more likely to die than nonsmokers with influenza. The Yale University School of Medicine team found that a combination of... Read Full Story

  Prenatal fish oil may lower child's asthma risk Last Updated: 2008-07-24 16:42:42 -0400 (Reuters Health) By Anne Harding NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Children born to women who took fish oil capsules in late pregnancy are less likely to have asthma at the age of 16, according to a new European Union-funded study. But other researchers must confirm the findings before any general recommendations can be made about taking fish oil during pregnancy, Dr. Sjurdur F. Olsen of Statens Serum... Read Full Story

  Mom's smoking may be linked to depression in child Last Updated: 2008-07-24 16:15:42 -0400 (Reuters Health) NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who smoke during pregnancy may be placing their child at increased risk for internalizing behavior, such as anxiety, depression or withdrawal, researchers from the Netherlands report. Previous research has linked prenatal smoking and "externalizing" behaviors, such as aggression, hyperactivity and delinquency, which may begin in childhood and persist... Read Full Story

Soy Linked to Low Sperm Count By Steven Reinberg HealthDay ReporterWed Jul 23, 11:46 PM ET WEDNESDAY, July 23 (HealthDay News) -- Eating half a serving of soy food a day lowers sperm concentrations and may play a role in male infertility, particularly in obese men, Harvard University researchers report. The reason for this relationship between soy and sperm count isn't clear. However, researchers speculate that soy increases estrogen activity, which may have a negative affect on sperm... Read Full Story

ADHD increasingly common in older kids, CDC says By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical WriterWed Jul 23, 4:18 PM ET More older children are being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder while the rate is holding steady for children under 12, according to a government report released Wednesday. Some experts called the finding surprising, noting that most childhood diagnoses traditionally occur by age 11. The study didn't investigate why the increase in one age group was so much... Read Full Story

Women and Men Urged to Seek 'Preconception Care' Doctors beginning task of implementing government-recommended guidelines By Karen Pallarito HealthDay Reporter TUESDAY, July 22 (HealthDay News) -- It's a good bet mom never told you to speak to your doctor before getting pregnant. But these days, that's exactly what women of childbearing age -- and their male partners -- are being encouraged to do. Experts say most physicians realize the importance of pre-pregnancy counseling and... Read Full Story