July 31, 2025

Health

Study Finds  

  • Americans born in 1990 face a 4× higher risk of rectal cancer (and 2× higher for colon cancer) than those born in 1950.
  • Early-onset GI cancers rose 14.8% between 2010 and 2019; pancreatic rates climbed 4.34% per year in 25–29-year-olds.
  • Obesity (BMI ≥30), Western diets, and fatty liver disease drive most of these cancers, which are sporadic, not inherited.
  • Younger patients often face delayed diagnoses, more aggressive treatment with marginal benefit, and greater “financial toxicity.”

 NPR - Scientists have revealed the strongest evidence yet that lifestyle changes, including diet, exercise and brain training, can help keep your brain young. The POINTER study involved over 2,100 people in their 60s and 70s who were not regular exercisers. These individuals displayed normal memory and thinking abilities but were at an elevated risk for cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.

During the two-year study, half of the participants were asked to devise a plan for better eating habits and more exercise. The other half entered an intensive, highly structured program. Both groups showed improvement on tests of memory and cognition, but the intensive group did better. The results focus on normal brain aging, not Alzheimer's disease. However, the research shows that the change in behavior could help delay the onset of dementia, including Alzheimer's.

No comments: