HEALTH TRENDS

New programme strength trains your brain

The brain needs exercise in much the same way muscles do, and the right mental workouts can significantly improve basic cognitive functions.

Scientists believe that intelligence can expand and fluctuate according to mental effort, therefore, a new web-based company in San Francisco, United States, has developed the first 'brain-training programme' designed to actually help people improve and regain their mental sharpness.

Called Lumosity, it was designed by some of the leading experts in neuroscience and cognitive psychology from Stanford University.

Lumosity is more than an online place to exercise your mental skills. They have integrated the brain-training exercises into a web-based programme that allows you to systematically improve your memory and attention skills. The programme keeps track of your progress and provides detailed feedback on your performance and improvement. It constantly modifies and enhances the games you play to build on the strengths you are developing - much like an effective exercise routine requires you to increase resistance and vary your muscle use.

In randomised, controlled clinical trials, Lumosity was shown to significantly improve basic cognitive functions. One study showed students improved their scores on math tests by 34 per cent after using Lumosity for six weeks, significantly greater gains than those made by other students in the same class, who were not training with the Lumosity programme.

The company said its users have reported clearer and quicker thinking, improved memory for names, numbers, directions, increased alertness and awareness, elevated mood, and better concentration at work or while driving.

Garlic helps prevent lung cancer

A recent study suggests that eating raw garlic twice a week can decrease your chances of getting lung cancer significantly.

Research performed at Jiangsu Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in China stated that "garlic may potentially serve as a chemo-preventive agent for lung cancer", suggesting its ability to prevent the risk of lung cancer.

The report suggests that by eating two cloves of raw garlic per day, smokers can reduce their risk of lung cancer by nearly 30 per cent.

For centuries garlic has been used for a number of health benefits, including boosting the immune system and cardiovascular health.

A compound in garlic called diallyl sulphide is an antibiotic, anti-fungal body that is released when a garlic bulb sprouts into cloves, and it may be responsible for garlic's long history of traditional medicine.

The more sex you have, the more money you make - study

According to a recent study, persons who have sexual intercourse at least four times per week make approximately five per cent more in salary.

Nick Drydakis of the Lord Ashcroft International Business School at Anglia Ruskin University in England and a fellow at the Institute for the Study of Labor in Germany analysed a one-year survey of 7,500 Greek households.

"Using two-stage estimations, we examined the relationship between adult sexual activity and wages," Drydakis noted in a statement.

He said they found that those who had sex at least four times a week had higher salaries, but pointed out that the finding is a correlation, not a cause and effect.

He theorised that more sex made people healthier and happier, and those people tend to make more money. Additionally, higher wages may increase the value and attractiveness of a person who dates.

Those who benefited the most from the link between frequent sex and higher income were those ages 26-50.

"Wages are higher for those health-impaired employees who are sexually active," the study said.

Contemporary social analysis suggests health, cognitive and non-cognitive skills and personality are important factors that affect wage level, life and job satisfaction, cognitive functioning and reasoning ability. Sexual activity might also be of interest to social scientists, since sexual activity is considered to be a barometer for health, quality of life, well-being and happiness, Drydakis said.

The data were gathered in 2008 in the Greek Behavioral Study, conducted by the University of Piraeus, the University of Central Greece and the Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences.