Not just alcohol, but salt too damages your liver

Too much of salt can damage liver

High intake of salt not only increases the blood pressure but can also damage liver in adults, a US study warns. When researchers administered adult mice with high-salt diet, they noticed significant changes in their liver such as decrease in cell proliferation, change in the shape of cells and early death of cells. All these lead to liver fibrosis, a condition that leads to excessive accumulation of scar tissue and gradually lead to live failure. Salt helps regulate water movement within the body and carry out the nerve impulses. The study was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Read more here.

Gamers using thin avatars are more likely to be physically active

Gamers who use thin avatars in games are more likely to do more physical activity compared to those using obese avatars, a University of California study shows. The participants were randomly assigned to a normal weight or obese avatar as well as normal weight or obese opponent in a tennis game. It was found that participants, even with higher BMI (body mass index), showed increased physical activity when they used thin avatars compared to those using obese avatars. Researchers feel it has real-world implications and these video game avatars can be used to encourage people to increase physical activity. The study was published in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. Read more here.

Keeping mind active can delay Alzheimer’s

Keeping the mind active can delay Alzheimer’s disease even though it can’t cure it, a new study suggests. Researchers from Mayo Clinic found that people who are more mentally active and carry APOE4 (a gene linked to Alzheimer’s) show lower deposition of amyloid protein in the middle age. Increased deposition of this protein in brain tissue leads to Alzheimer’s disease. “The takeaway message from the research is that keeping your mind active is very important in delaying symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease," said lead author Prashanthi Vemuri. The study was published in the journal Neurology. Read more here.

Sharing videos can empower people with intellectual disabilities

Recording and sharing videos of people with intellectual disabilities on YouTube can help encourage people with similar condition, a Canadian study suggests. Researchers from Concordia University helped eight intellectually disabled people write and direct short videos highlighting important aspects of their lives. These videos were then shared with a focus group to get their feedback before it was uploaded on YouTube. When the videos were shown to people with similar intellectual disabilities, they praised it and felt inspired by the success of their peers. The study was published in the journal Social Inclusion. Read more here.

Short-term memory linked to distraction

People with short-term memory are more likely to get distracted while driving and doing other high pressure activities, claims a US study. Researchers from Simon Fraser University used electroencephalogram (EEG) to study memory and distraction in people. They found that people who did well in memory tests handled distractions better compared to those who didn’t perform well and couldn’t suppress distractions in time. Distraction is a leading cause of injury and even death while driving. The study was published in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences. Read more here.

Compiled by Abhijit Ahaskar