Latest Research Issue 5
Mental Attitude: Are Girls Around the World Smarter Than Boys?
After analyzing educational data collected during a ten-year period concerning 1.5 million 15-year-old boys and girls from around the world, an international team of researchers from the University of Missouri and the University of Glasgow claims that girls outperform boys in reading, math, and science in 70% of the countries they studied. This finding challenges the widely-held belief that boys generally perform better in these subjects. Study author Dr. David Geary adds, "Even in countries where women's liberties are severely restricted, we found that girls are outperforming boys in reading, mathematics, and science literacy by age 15, regardless of political, economic, social, or gender equality issues and policies found in those countries."
Intelligence, January 2015
Health Alert: Colon Cancer Rates on the Rise Among Americans Under 50.
An analysis of National Cancer Institute data reveals that overall colon cancer rates fell by roughly 1% every year between 1975 and 2010. However, the rate of colon cancer among people ages 20 to 34 actually rose 2% annually and individuals between ages 35 and 49 saw a half-percent yearly increase during the same time period. Study co-author Dr. Jason Zell writes, "Multiple research organizations have shown that colon cancer is rising in those under 50, and our study found the same, particularly among very young adults… Which means that the epidemiology of this disease is changing, even if the absolute risk among young adults is still very low."
Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology, December 2014
Diet: Green Tea Ingredient May Help Kill Oral Cancer Cells.
Scientists have found that a compound in green tea called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) may trigger a cycle that kills oral cancer cells while leaving other cells alone, though the precise mechanism is unknown. Because this process appears to happen without causing any damage to the surrounding healthy tissue, this findings may lead to treatments for oral as well as other types of cancer in the future.
Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, January 2015
Exercise: Talk Yourself Up!
Cyclists who underwent motivational self-talk training experienced enhancements in their power output and breathing capacity that led to improvements on time trials that were not achieved by cyclists in a control group that received no such training.
International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, March 2015
Chiropractic: New Study Demonstrates Positive Changes Following Chiropractic Care.
Using a special x-ray process called video fluoroscopy, researchers were able to produce real-time video images that demonstrate the benefits of spinal manipulation performed by chiropractors. In the study, they identified spinal joint fixations and then observed the joint’s behavior after a chiropractic physician adjusted that region of the spine. The video showed a significant improvement in motion on the treated vertebrae, supporting the use of chiropractic care to restore joint motion.
Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research, February 2015
Wellness/Prevention: Good Bedtime Habits Result in Better Sleep for Kids.
Sleep researchers say that children obtain better sleep in the presence of household rules and regular sleep-wake routines. Researchers evaluated 1,103 American households with children ages 6 to 17 years old and found that within the family dynamic, a consistent bedtime routine improved sleep, whereas television use in the bedroom generally was associated with reduced sleep. Researcher Dr. Orfeu Buxton adds, "Good quality and sufficient sleep are vital for children. Just like a healthy diet and exercise, sleep is critical for children to stay healthy, grow, learn, do well in school, and function at their best."
Sleep Health, January 2015