Behind the Headlines

Your guide to the science that makes the news

Healthy diet could cut risk of Alzheimer's disease

Tuesday Mar 31 2015

MIND diet may 'halve' the risk of Alzheimer’s disease

"A new diet could more than halve a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease," the Mail Online reports. In a new study, researchers looked at the effects of three diets on the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease…

Crossing your fingers may help reduce pain

Friday Mar 27 2015

Crossing your fingers may help relieve pain

"Crossing your fingers might reduce pain," says The Guardian. The study behind the news found crossing your fingers may confuse the way your brain processes feelings of hot and cold…

Milk and dairy 'good for the brain' claim unproven

Thursday Mar 26 2015

"Three glasses of milk every day ‘helps prevent Alzheimer's and Parkinson's’," is the misleading headline in The Daily Telegraph. The study it reports on only found that a high-dairy diet was linked to increased levels of an…

Study finds link between air pollution and stroke risk

Wednesday Mar 25 2015

"Air pollution is linked to an increased risk of stroke," BBC News reports, prompted by a large global study in The BMJ. Researchers found an association even with brief upsurges in air pollution levels…

Are power naps a 'five-fold' memory booster?

Tuesday Mar 24 2015

"A 45-minute power nap can boost your memory five-fold, study finds," The Independent reports. However, this impressive claim is let down by the small size of the study…

Do people with depression perceive time differently?

Friday Mar 13 2015

"How depression affects our sense of time: Hours drag on and even stand still," is the somewhat over-hyped headline from the Mail Online. As the old saying goes – Time flies when you’re having fun. So does the reverse also ring true?…

Ultrasound 'breakthrough' in treating Alzheimer’s - in mice

Thursday Mar 12 2015

"Alzheimer's breakthrough as ultrasound successfully treats disease in mice," The Guardian reports. New research found high-energy sound waves helped remove abnormal clumps of proteins from the brains of mice, and also improved their memory…

Diet, exercise and brain training may help keep the mind 'sharp'

Thursday Mar 12 2015

Diet, exercise and brain training may help prevent dementia

"Dancing, doing Sudoku and eating fish and fruit may be the way to stave off … mental decline," The Guardian reports. A Finnish study suggests a combination of a healthy diet, exercise and brain training may help stave off mental decline...

Autism-related genes linked to cognitive ability

Wednesday Mar 11 2015

Autism shares genes also associated with high intelligence

"Autism is linked to higher intelligence," the Mail Online reports. A new study found evidence that certain genetic variations associated with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) were linked to greater cognitive ability in non-autistic individuals…

No proof 'alcohol will make you more gorgeous'

Thursday Mar 5 2015

"How having just the one drink can make you look more gorgeous, according to science," The Independent reports. But the "science" turns out to be an experiment carried out under highly artificial conditions…