Go healthy for good – October 2017

A large Danish study of people affected by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has documented that, between the ages of 12 and 15, girls are 3.5 times more likely, and boys are 2.5 times more likely than their unaffected peers to become parents. People with ADHD also have more children by the age of 25. Previous studies showed a link between ADHD and risky sexual behaviour, but researchers were surprised to learn how strong the link is.—Medscape

Eating red meat, either processed or unprocessed, is associated with an increased risk of death. A large study spanning 15 years found that those eating the most meat were 23 per cent more likely to die, compared to those eating the least. Meat increased the risk of death from cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease, diabetes, infections, kidney disease and especially liver disease. After analysis, researchers concluded that oxidative stress from the various components of meat was the main contributor to these fatal diseases.—MedPage Today/PCRM

We know that breastfeeding is the best nutrition for babies. Now a new study shows that 30 per cent of the beneficial bacteria in a baby’s intestinal tract comes directly from the mother’s milk and a further 10 per cent comes from the mother’s skin during breastfeeding. This transfer of beneficial bacteria continues for as long as breastfeeding continues and is known to play a major role in protecting children from a range of immune disorders like Type 1 diabetes, allergies, asthma and inflammatory bowel disease.—UCLA

Being overweight as a child increases the risk of colon cancer and depression later in life. Research shows overweight boys who mature to be overweight men had twice the risk of colorectal cancer in later life. If they lose weight by the time they are young men, however, the risk returns to normal. Meanwhile, overweight kids who become overweight adults have a four-fold increased risk of later depression.—CBS/Indian Express

Researchers have concluded that air pollution is responsible for 20 per cent of dementia and accelerated cognitive decline among those with a genetic predisposition. A California study found that older women who carry the ApoE “Alzheimer’s gene” and who live in neighbourhoods with high levels of particulate air pollution have an 80 per cent higher risk of accelerated global cognitive decline and a 90 per cent higher risk of dementia. Following this lead, researchers exposed mice to high levels of air pollution and found their brains developed more amyloid deposits and neurotoxins, akin to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.—Nature

Dr Nerida McKibben is the host of Hope Channel’s health and wellness show, Go Healthy For Good. To find out more, go to www.hop.ec/gohealthyforgood.