Mental Attitude: Lack of Sleep Increases Chance of False Memories. In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers suggest that
sleep deprivation could increase an individual's risk for creating false memories. The team found that sleeping for five hours or
less per night or not sleeping for 24 hours are both linked to false memory formation. This finding has several implications, in
particular it questions the reliability of eyewitnesses who have experienced long periods of restricted or deprived sleep.
Psychological Science, July 2014
Health Alert: Fist Bumps More Hygienic? If you want to avoid germs, experts suggest you may want to start fist bumping
instead of shaking hands. In evaluating three forms of hand-to-hand contact (handshake, high-five, and fist bump), researchers
found that a handshake transmitted twice as many potentially disease-causing bacteria as a high-five, and nine-times more than
a fist bump! Research leader Dr. Dave Whitworth adds, "If the general public could be encouraged to fist bump, there is
genuine potential to reduce the spread of infectious diseases." American Journal of Infection Control, August 2014
Diet: High-Fat Diet May Lead to Reduced Sense of Smell. A new report from Florida State University has found that mice
fed a high-fat diet lost a great deal of their sense of smell. After being fed a diet high in fat for six months, researchers
discovered that the number of neurons that encode odor signals in the rodents' brains had been reduced by half. The researchers
add that they would not be surprised if similar principles exist in people, as there are many similarities between the structure
and molecular function of the olfactory system between mice and humans. The Journal of Neuroscience, May 2014
Exercise: Running Could Add Years to Your Life. A 15-year study suggests that runners may live an average of three years
longer than individuals who do not run. The research team found that runners had a 30% lower risk of death from any cause and
a 45% lower risk of death from heart disease or stroke compared to non-runners during the 15-year study period.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, August 2014
Chiropractic: Pregnancy-Related Low Back Pain & Chiropractic Care. A systematic review of published evidence
regarding chiropractic care for low back pain during pregnancy found positive outcomes for the six studies that met the
reviewer's inclusion criteria. Since low back pain is common during pregnancy, the author of the review notes the need for more
studies and controlled trials to determine the efficacy of chiropractic care for this class of patients.
Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics, July 2008
Wellness/Prevention: Probiotics Could Be Used to Prevent Obesity. Scientists have discovered that when mice are given a
probiotic that produces a specific therapeutic compound in the gut called N-acyl-phospatidylethanolamine (NAPE), it stops
weight gain, insulin resistance, and other health complications related to a high-fat diet. In the study, mice that received the
NAPE-producing probiotic had significantly reduced food intake, lower body fat, and lower levels of triglycerides in their liver
cells compared with mice that received a control probiotic. Researchers hope to test this approach in humans, but first need
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval to do human clinical trials. Journal of Clinical Investigation, June 2014
Quote: “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy. They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”
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