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Beth Newcomb

This food-scanning app might change how you shop (KTLA)

By In the News

KTLA featured commentary from USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology faculty member Cary Kreutzer on the growing popularity of food-scanning apps used to guide grocery choices. Kreutzer cautioned consumers against relying on such tools without understanding how foods are evaluated. “Look at how they’re doing their scoring,” Kreutzer advised. “Look at who’s on their board. Do they have scientists or researchers that are helping put information together?”

Ovaries could unlock secrets of longevity (Time)

By In the News

Time featured research discussing how ovarian aging relates to long-term health and age-related disease risk, including insight from USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology faculty member Bérénice Benayoun. “Menopause is the worst thing that happens for women’s health because it’s literally the start of everything that’s going to go wrong in an accelerated manner,” Benayoun said, highlighting the dramatic health impacts that follow the decline of ovarian function as women age.

Meditation may lower risk of dementia, new study reveals – and experts say they now think they know why (Daily Mail)

By In the News

Daily Mail featured research led by Mara Mather on how breathing exercises may reduce risk factors for dementia. “We found that daily sessions involving breathing slowly to increase oscillations in heart rate tends to decrease levels of amyloid-beta in the blood, Mather said. “Amyloid-beta is a peptide (a small protein) that is a normal byproduct of cellular activity that is, like other metabolic waste products, usually cleared out of the brain and body. However, if production levels are too high or clearance rates are not high enough, amyloid-beta levels increase and can start to aggregate (stick together) in the brain, forming amyloid-beta plaque, a signature feature of Alzheimer’s disease.”