Heena Sharma Blog

In a recent study, biologists discovered how head injuries adversely affect individual cells and genes that can lead to serious brain disorders . The researchers at the University of California studied more than 6,000 cells in 15 hippocampal cell types -- the first study of individual cell types subject to brain trauma . Each cell has the same DNA, but which genes are activated varies among different cell types. Among the 15 cell types are two that were previously unknown, each with a unique set of active genes. The life scientists provide the first cell 'atlas' of the hippocampus -- the part of the brain that helps regulate learning and memory -- when it is affected by traumatic brain injury . The team also proposed gene candidates for treating brain diseases associated with traumatic brain injuries, such as Alzheimer's disease and post-traumatic stress disorder. "Every cell type is different," said Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, co-senior author of the...

Turns out, playing golf is not only good for your mental and physical health, but it may also help one lead a longer life. Amid a growing body of evidence on the health impacts of the sport, the consensus aims to help current and would-be players maximize the health pros and minimize the health cons of golf, and to guide policy-makers and industry leaders on how best to make golf more inclusive and accessible and so encourage more people from all walks of life to take up the sport. The statement draws on a systematic review of the available published evidence (342 eligible studies) and discussions among an international working group of 25 experts in public health and health policy, and industry leaders. The agreement was reached on 79 statements in three areas. These set out what is currently known about golf's associations with health; the factors that may help or hinder take-up of the sport; and a series of recommendations for golfers, industry leaders, and p...