Cutting calories may speed the progression of the fatal neuromuscular disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) because of changes that occur at the molecular level, a study from York University has found. The research, which looked at the effects of caloric restriction in a mouse model of ALS, found that restricting caloric intake to 60 per […]
Wearing red at the Olympics may give an athlete an easy advantage, according to a York University study that shows perceptions of motion are subconsciously affected by colour. “All things being equal between two figure skaters – including their actual speed on the ice – the judges will perceive a skater in red is moving […]
It may not be the fountain of youth, but researchers at York University have discovered that regular exercise can effectively turn back the clock for aging skeletal muscle. The study, “Molecular basis for an attenuated mitochondrial adaptive plasticity in aged skeletal muscle,” was recently published in the journal Aging. The results indicate that the elderly are […]
Playing video games for hours on end may prepare young Billy to become a laparoscopic surgeon one day, a study from York University has shown. The findings, published online in the journal CORTEX, demonstrate that playing video games reorganizes the brain’s activity and can lead to better control of skilled movements. Alterations to the brain’s […]
Last summer, a number of York undergraduates won the chance to spend their 16-week break doing research and getting paid for it. Funded by national grants, they worked with York biology and chemistry professors on projects ranging from how wood thrushes care for their young to how to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. They were […]
Tai chi can help mitigate musculoskeletal disorders caused by extended computer use and provide a lift in mood, says a study led by York University researchers. The study looked at female computer users at the University, measuring levels of physical fitness and psychological well-being in more than 50 staff members who participated in a twice-weekly […]
Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and York University have found that using granite sand as playground surfacing reduces the risk of arm fractures in children. The researchers compared the sand surfacing to frequently used wood-chip surfaces. The study is published this week in the open-access journal PLoS Medicine. Falls on a playground may […]
Being seriously overweight will cut your life short, even if you experience no major health problems as a result of your condition, according to a new study by researchers in York University’s Faculty of Health. The study examined the mortality risk of more than 6,000 Americans aged 18 to 65 years over a nine-year span using […]
York University researchers have identified a cell-signalling process that stimulates blood vessel growth and may help break the cycle of diabetes by making it easier for patients to exercise. Professor Tara Haas (right) and colleagues in York’s Muscle Health Research Centre studied stimuli that can cause blood vessels in muscle to grow. Their research aims […]
A gene mutation found in some people with autism appears to disrupt very early stages of brain development and contribute to the nervous system deficits that are the hallmarks of autism disorder, a York University study has found. The study traces the link from autism and a mutated gene to the molecular mechanisms of cell […]
York’s Michael Vesia, a PhD candidate in kinesiology in the Faculty of Health, is the winner of a 2009 Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Synapse Mentorship Award worth $5,000 for his work in organizing a Brain Day at the University. Brain Day was originally designed by Vesia and Portage Trail Middle School Grade 8 teacher […]
John Batasar is taking part in a groundbreaking York University study to determine the health and fitness effects of off-road motorcycle & all-terrain vehicle (ATV) riding, reported The Globe and Mail July 2. The York research is the first comprehensive fitness probe of recreational off-roaders. The final phase of the three-year, three-part study is still under […]