Evidence Emerges That Older Brains Still Create New Neurons
But researchers found that a protein associated with helping new neurons to make connections in the brain decreased with age.
Los Angeles Times:
Surprise! Scientists Find Signs Of New Brain Cells In Adults As Old As 79
Do we continue to add new neurons to our brain circuitry throughout our lives? Or does our neuron count remain fixed once we reach adulthood? The scientific debate rages on. In a report published Thursday in Cell Stem Cell, scientists from Columbia University present new evidence that our brains continue to make hundreds of new neurons a day, even after we reach our 70s, in a process known as neurogenesis. (Netburn, 4/5)
In other public health news —
Los Angeles Times:
In L.A. Today, Fitness Can Mean IV Drips, Vitamin Shots And A Daily Freeze At -292 Degrees
When Amber Dodson needs a break from her rigorous workout regimen, she steps nearly naked into a high-tech machine that looks like a giant energy drink can. Only her head is visible as the temperature in the chamber plummets to minus 292 degrees Fahrenheit for three minutes, liquid nitrogen vapor billowing down the sides. "I tend to get extremely inflamed and I don't like taking days off," said Dodson, 36, who pays $299 a month for up to 30 sessions at Coast Cryo in Marina del Rey. "It's been a lifesaver because I can't deal with sore muscles and bad sleep." (White, 4/5)
KPCC:
In The Eugenics Era, Mexican American Women Were Prime Targets Of Sterilization In California
Franco was one of about 20,000 people sterilized in California institutions between the early 1920s and the 1950s. Once a patient was given to the state, administrators had the final word on sterilizations. It was a power granted to them by eugenics laws passed in the 1910s. (Cross, 4/5)
KPCC:
LA Ranks 4th For Bed Bug Infestations, So Don't Let Them Bite
So how common are bed bugs throughout L.A., beyond this one case? The short answer is very. Last year, the city ranked fourth in the nation for bed bug infestations. (Carpenter, 4/5)