The father of psychoneuroimmunology

Science

Robert Ader, Who Linked Stress and Illness, Dies at 79

By Paul Vitello

Published: December 25, 2011

Dr. Ader’s findings, now widely accepted, contradicted a previous principle of biochemistry that the immune system was autonomous.

The Fat Trap

The Fat Trap

By TARA PARKER-POPE

Published: December 28, 2011

In the battle to lose weight, and keep it off, our bodies are fighting against us.

This is one of the best articles I have seen that examines the difficulty overweight individuals face in their quest for thinner bodies.

Patterns: Less Salt Isn’t Always Better for the Heart

Patterns: Less Salt Isn’t Always Better for the Heart

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR

Published: November 28, 2011

A study of 28,880 people showed that people who consumed too little sodium were at greater risk for heart problems than people who took in a moderate amount. But too little sodium was almost as bad as too much. Compared with those who excreted 4 to 6 grams of sodium daily, people who excreted 2 to 3 grams were at 19 percent greater risk for death from a cardiovascular event, and the less they consumed the greater their risk.

It Could Be Old Age, or It Could Be Low B12

It Could Be Old Age, or It Could Be Low B12

By Jane Brody

Published: November 28, 2011

Low levels of the essential vitamin can bring on symptoms including muscle weakness, fatigue, shakiness, unsteady gait, incontinence, low blood pressure and depression.

A Serving of Gratitude May Save the Day

A Serving of Gratitude May Save the Day

By JOHN TIERNEY
Published: November 21, 2011
A new series of experiments and studies shows, for the first time, that the feeling of gratitude is linked to lower rates of aggression.

A Watch-and-Wait Prostate Treatment

Health

A Watch-and-Wait Prostate Treatment

By Jane Brody

Published: November 14, 2011

A doctor has proposed the least invasive approach for most men with early-stage cancers that are not particularly aggressive.

In Body’s Shield Against Cancer, a Culprit in Aging May Lurk

Science

In Body’s Shield Against Cancer, a Culprit in Aging May Lurk

By Nicholas Wade

Published: November 21, 2011

Senescent cells seem to be a benign by-product of the body’s defense against cancer, but researchers are growing suspicious of their culpability in aging.