health briefs

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Consider Mindfulness for Multiple Sclerosis Mindfulness training may help the estimated 1 million Americans with multiple sclerosis (MS) manage their emotions and process information quicker, according to a new study from Ohio State University. Researchers split 62 people with MS into three groups. The mindfulness group learned such practices as focusing on the breath and doing mental “body scans”. A second group underwent adaptive cognitive therapy training with computerized games that focused on skills like paying attention, switching focus and planning. The third group was a control. After four weeks, those in the mindfulness group were more likely to report being better able to handle their emotions than those in the other groups. The mindfulness group also had higher levels of cognitive processing speed, a reduction in the time it takes to complete mental tasks, along with increased understanding and response times.

Reduce PFAS Exposure to Help Delay Menopause Exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS)—“forever chemicals” often found in nonstick cookware, food packaging and contaminated water—may cause menopause to occur two years earlier in women, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. University of Michigan scientists tracked more than 1,100 women for an average of 17 years and found that those with higher levels of the chemical in their blood experienced menopause an average of two years earlier than those with lower levels. “Even menopause a few years earlier than usual could have a significant impact on cardiovascular and bone health, quality of life and overall health in general among women,” says co-author Sung Kyun Park.