Memory improves in older, overweight women after they lose weight by dieting, and their brain activity actually changes in the regions of the brain that are important for memory tasks, a new study finds. The results were presented today at The Endocrine Society's 95th Annual Meeting in San Francisco. "Our findings suggest that obesity-associated impairments in memory function are reversible, adding incentive for weight loss," said lead author Andreas Pettersson, MD, a PhD student at Umea University, Umea, Sweden. Previous research has shown that obese people have impaired episodic memory, … [Read more...] about Weight Loss Improves Memory and Alters Brain Activity in Overweight Women

Controlling health care costs is crucial for Iowa manufacturers to remain competitive. But a big question for many companies is whether investing in an employee wellness program will cut costs and improve productivity. To help answer that question, a team of Iowa State University researchers is conducting a pilot program with three Iowa manufacturers. "All our evidence says there will be a net positive financial return for the companies," said Mike O'Donnell, program director for CIRAS, the Center for Industrial Research and Service at Iowa State. "While we're relatively sure helping … [Read more...] about Improving Overall Employee Wellness Could Yield Multiple Benefits

Wine has been described as the perfect beverage because the grapes contain all the ingredients necessary to create their transformation. Put grapes in a vat, and over time the yeasts coating the skins set alchemy in motion, converting the sugar in the juice into alcohol. Most adults tend to enjoy a glass or two of wine along with dinner or possibly afterwards as a way to relax. In this article by Eric Asimov, there is more than meets the eye when it comes to what is added to the wine to make it complete. It was just this sort of unbidden fermentation that inspired humans so long ago to spend … [Read more...] about If only grapes were the Whole story??