Health & Wellness
Offering additional support for moms who had prenatal depression or gave birth by emergency C-section may benefit their babies’ sleep, say researchers.
11
March
2019
Newborn babies sleep less on average if their mothers do not have a university degree, according to a new University of Alberta study investigating the effects of socio-economic status on children’s well-being.
Analyzing data from 619 infants and their mothers, the research team found that infants less than three months of age born to mothers without a university degree slept an average of 13.94 hours per day—23 minutes less than infants born to mothers with a university degree, and just short of the National Sleep Foundation guidelines of 14 to 17 hours of sleep per day.
“Sleep affects a baby’s growth, learning and emotional development, and is one of the most common concerns of new parents,” said Piush Mandhane, who carried out the study with fellow U of A pediatrics professor Anita Kozyrskyj and her master’s student Brittany ...
Headlines
13
March
2019
U of A lab receives funding to help prevent opioid addiction in chronic pain patients
Pharmacology lab upgrades among 16 U of A projects sharing more than $3 million in new grants.
The microbiome of the human gut—the ecosystem of bacteria and other microbes that thrive within it—has become the latest frontier of research into a list of ailments that range from allergies to …
12
March
2019
U of A autonomous systems research receives $14.9-million funding boost
New provincial grants will also advance post-secondary collaborations aimed at preventing superbugs and developing quantum technologies.
The University of Alberta has been put in the driver’s seat of a $14.9-million Centre for Autonomous Systems in Strengthening Future Communities, thanks to funding from the provincial government and …
05
March
2019
COMMENTARY || Do we really need to take 10,000 steps a day?
It's appropriate for many people but the most important thing is to be as active as you can, say researchers.
Regular walking produces many health benefits, including reducing our risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and depression.
Best of all, it’s free, we can do it anywhere and, for most of us, it’s …
21
February
2019
U of A scientists discover a hidden cause of encephalitis
Discovery of viral culprit may open new areas of research to develop potential therapies.
A virus previously considered to be relatively harmless has been pinpointed by University of Alberta researchers as a cause of encephalitis.
The finding identifies a pathogen named pegivirus as …
12
February
2019
Should you stretch before working out?
It depends on what you need to do the exercise properly, say U of A experts in the second of our two-part series on stretching.
Just as we were getting used to the idea of a dynamic, task-related movement to warm up before we exercise, it appears that stretching of any type will have a similar negative impact on …
11
February
2019
Why static stretching may not be as effective as you think
Holding stretches can weaken muscles but may be worth it if you need the flexibility, say U of A experts in the first of our two-part series on stretching.
The thing about professional football that renowned health-fad skeptic Timothy Caulfield finds most incredible isn’t the feats of athleticism, the big hits or even the moments of grace that emerge …
08
February
2019
U of A’s popular ‘Surgery 101’ podcasts add children’s content
Kid-friendly educational series expands on medical podcasts that have generated 5.1 million downloads worldwide.
The University of Alberta’s Surgery 101—the free surgery podcasts that have garnered huge followings over the past 10 years—is aiming to spark career interest much earlier with its new podcast …
07
February
2019
Heart health messages for women may backfire, say U of A researchers
Information needs to be better tailored to women’s needs and circumstances to avoid making them feel guilty, study shows.
Messages meant to empower women with heart disease to live a healthier lifestyle may have the opposite effect, according to University of Alberta research.
“Women are told they need to exercise …
06
February
2019
Discovery may bolster chemotherapy potency while protecting the heart from side-effects
U of A medical researchers take significant step toward improving cancer care.
Researchers from the University of Alberta may have found a way to make chemotherapy more effective at treating cancer while blocking its harmful side-effects on the heart.
While chemotherapy can …
30
January
2019
Improved AI-based tool increases accuracy of schizophrenia diagnosis
U of A researchers use machine learning to identify schizophrenia from patient brain scans.
A tool developed by University of Alberta researchers using machine learning diagnoses schizophrenia more accurately than other AI-based systems, according to a new study.
The tool, called …
30
January
2019
U of A scientists first to pinpoint a cause of pigmentary glaucoma
Discovery identifies gene that causes common form of blindness worldwide, potentially leading to new treatment for glaucoma.
An international team of researchers has identified a gene responsible for the onset of pigmentary glaucoma, which may lead to new therapies for the condition.
“People who traditionally we …