Good Health Choices New Zealand – August 2019

TEXT

JULIA BRAYBROOK

PHOTOGRAPHY

GETTY IMAGES AND SUPPLIED

Here to help

A new study challenges the idea of the
‘bystander effect’, a phenomenon where
individuals are less likely to offer help
when others are present. Research
published in the journal American
Psychologist – the largest ever study
of real-life conflict – saw a team
of researchers analyse unique CCTV
recordings of 219 arguments and assaults
in inner city Amsterdam, Lancaster and Cape
Town. They found that in 91 percent of situations
at least one bystander intervened, whether it was
gesturing for the aggressor to calm down, physically blocking the aggressor
or pulling them away, or consoling the victim. There was no difference in
the rates of intervention between the three cities – even in Cape Town,
which is perceived as less safe – and researchers also found that victims
were more likely to receive help when there were more bystanders around.

SLEEP ON IT

New research highlights the importance of a good night’s

sleep for the elderly. A study published in the Journal of

Neuroscience saw researchers scan the brains of 95 healthy

older adults – some as old as 100 – using positron emission

tomography, a technology that’s capable of detecting beta-

amyloid and tau proteins in the brain. They found that adults

who reported declining sleep quality in their 40s and 50s had

more beta-amyloid protein in their brains later in life, while

researchers found more tau proteins in those who reported

worse sleep in their 50s and 60s – both of which are associated

with a higher risk of developing dementia. Based on the

findings, researchers recommend doctors ask older patients

about changing sleep patterns and intervene to improve sleep

• whether that’s treating sleep apnoea or insomnia, or starting
  sleep counselling – to help delay symptoms of dementia.

HEART TO HEART

A study by the University of Toronto supports

soy’s heart-healthy benefits. Researchers looked at

46 randomised clinical trials spanning from 1981 to 2013,

and found that soy lowered both total cholesterol and

LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol, a benefit that appeared

steady across all 46 trials. While it wasn’t a major

reduction – an average of five percent – study

co-author John Sievenpiper says “if you put that

together with other plant-based foods in a

portfolio, you get a much stronger effect”.

MEDICAL

MARVEL

Scientists may have found an

innovative, eco-friendly way to

reduce malaria. A collaboration

between Swedish and American

researchers led to the discovery

that a neurotoxin called PMP

targets the mosquitos that carry

malaria. The toxin is related to

the botulinum and tetanus

toxins, both of which are

poisonous for humans, but

PMP1 doesn’t appear to affect

vertebrates or even other

insects – though more research

is needed. Plus, the insecticide

would be protein-based,

meaning it should harmlessly

break down in the environment

afterwards, and, unlike

chemical-based insecticides,

mosquitos shouldn’t develop

a resistance to it.

Soy lowered total cholesterol and ‘bad’ cholesterol