In the know
Sunny disposition
Want the latest health intel? We’ve combed the science journals so you don’t have to
8 The number of personality traits that may help you to live beyond 100, a new study* has found. Thirtyfive traits were identified in 19 centenarians, eight of which most shared: vitality (participating in activities); commitment (to family, work, goals); staying social; intellectual motivation; control; intelligence; positivity and resilience.
SIN TAX
It’s official: hearing bad grammar causes physical signs of stress, according to researchers at the University of Birmingham. Looking at heart rate variability (HRV – the time between heart beats, which decreases when you’re stressed), the team found a significant reduction when 41 Englishspeaking adults heard linguistic violations (aka, grammar errors), signalling subjects’ distress.
LIPID ASSETS
Research* has found that being sedentary in childhood can raise cholesterol levels by more than two thirds by the time you’re in your mid-twenties, increasing your risk of premature death. But light activity (long walks, swimming) may completely reverse this – and is more potent than moderate-to-vigorous activity in lowering lipid levels (a measure of cholesterol).
DREAM ON
Daydreaming may play a role in neuroplasticity (where your brain changes structure as a result of new habits). When researchers* tracked neurons in the visual cortex of mice in a quiet, waking state, they found the neurons lit up in the same way as when they looked at an actual image, suggesting that daydreaming could influence the brain’s ability to reshape itself.
Go outside – no, really. Those who spend more time in daylight experience better mental health. So says a team of researchers at Australia’s Monash University who linked exposure with reduced risk of major depressive disorder. The cross-sectional analysis of 87,000 adults also found that, conversely, greater exposure to electric light at night – which disrupts the circadian rhythm – increases depression risk, along with anxiety and bipolar disorder.
PHONE-MO
Ahem, are you listening? Phubbing – �
