Overconsumption of processed foods disrupts focus

Diets high in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) negatively impact the brain’s ability to focus and increases risk of developing dementia, says a study published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring (April). Researchers from Monash, São Paulo and Deakin universities examined the diets and cognitive health of over 2,100 Australian dementia-free adults. Study participants consumed 41 percent of their daily energy from UPFs — soft drinks, packaged salty snacks and ready-made meals — closely mirroring the national Australian average of 42 percent.

“For every 10 percent increase in UPF a person consumed, we saw a distinct drop in a person’s ability to focus. In clinical terms, this translated to consistently lower scores in standardised cognitive tests measuring visual attention and processing speed,” says lead author Dr. Barbara Cardoso, nutritional biochemist at the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food at the Victorian Heart Institute, Monash University.

Excessive screentime triggers behavioural changes in children

Rising digital screens viewing time among children is causing behavioural changes, with many showing signs of poor concentration, loneliness and sleep disturbances, according to a study conducted by Sawai Man Singh Hospital, Jaipur. Senior psychologist Dr. Jayshree Jain observed 150 children in the 10-16 age group for the study.

The study found that 72 percent of the children used mobile phones for three-six hours daily. While 60 percent of them reported trouble focusing while studying, 48 percent exhibited irritability and aggressive behaviour, and 41 percent suffered sleep disruption due to late-night smartphone usage. Additionally, 35 percent of children reduced communication with family members. “Other behavioural issues include lying to parents about screen usage and frequent checking of social media. Parents should set time limits, create phone-free routines such as keeping devices aside during meals, and encourage children to engage in sports, reading and creative pursuits. Spending quality family time can also foster positive behaviour among children,” says Dr Jain, who also reported symptoms of anxiety and depression in several children.

Intense 30-minute exercise per week improves long-term health

Just 30 minutes of high-intensity exercise per week improves cardiovascular fitness, which plays a major role in long-term health, says a study of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). That works out to roughly 4.5 minutes per day.

“The biggest reported challenge regarding exercise is lack of time. But with intense, short workouts, this is no longer a valid excuse. Cardiovascular fitness is the best indicator of current and future health. Good cardio fitness reduces the risk of over 30 lifestyle diseases as well as premature death by 40-50 percent,” says Ulrik Wisløff, a professor at NTNU and head of the Cardiac Exercise Research Group (CERG). CERG first documented these effects in a 2006 study that analysed health information of 60,000 people. Since then, additional large studies from Norway and other countries have reported similar findings.

Vitamin D helps breast cancer patients improve chemo outcomes

A new study of Brazil’s Botucatu School of Medicine at São Paulo State University has found that low doses of vitamin D improve chemotherapy treatment outcomes. Researchers examined 80 women over age 45 who were preparing to begin treatment at the school’s oncology outpatient clinic. Participants were split into two equal groups. One group received a daily dose of 2,000 IU (international units) of vitamin D, while the other group was given placebo tablets. All women underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment administered before surgery to shrink tumours.

After six months, the difference between the two groups was notable. Among those taking vitamin D, 43 percent experienced complete disappearance of cancer after chemotherapy. In comparison, only 24 percent of those in the placebo group recorded the same result. “Even with a small sample of participants, it was possible to observe a significant difference in the response to chemotherapy. These are encouraging results that justify a new round of studies with a larger number of participants for greater understanding of the role of vitamin D in increasing the response to chemotherapy treatment and, consequently, in the greater likelihood of breast cancer remission,” says Eduardo Carvalho-Pessoa, president of the São Paulo Regional Brazilian Society of Mastology.