Article Source: Reuters

After slow progress, finding could lead to better treatments, scientists say

LONDON - Scientists say they have solved a crucial puzzle about the AIDS virus after 20 years of research and that their findings could lead to better treatments for HIV.

Learn more...

Article Source: Reuters

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia (Reuters) - U.S. health officials have leveraged the star power of first lady Michelle Obama to roll out a new campaign against obesity, a preventable condition that drains billions of dollars from the economy.

Obama, who plans to take on childhood obesity as a cause, headlined the launch on Thursday of Surgeon General Regina Benjamin's blueprint for what can be done at home, school and work to reverse the epidemic.

In her first initiative since becoming "America's doctor," Benjamin issued a report on the consequences of obesity to start a national dialogue on the subject."The number of Americans, like me, who are struggling with their weight and health conditions related to their weight remains much too high," she said.

Learn more...

Article Source: CSMonitor

New research shows that older women who lift weights build more than muscle. Weight lifting also appears to lead to better brain health. In today’s Science Times, Roni Rabin writes:

Older women who did an hour or two of strength training exercises each week had improved cognitive function a year later, scoring higher on tests of the brain processes responsible for planning and executing tasks, a new study has found. The improvements … included an enhanced ability to make decisions, resolve conflicts and focus on subjects without being distracted by competing stimuli.

Learn more...

Article Source: CSMonitor