Latest news with #Ikaria
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
The underrated and wondrously wild Greek island that's been named best to visit in 2025
A gorgeous Greek island that's 'well beyond the usual tourist radar' has been named as one of the best of the country's islands to visit in 2025. According to Lonely Planet, Ikaria is one of the best Greek islands to add to your bucket list. While the island isn't a leading tourist destination, it has been globally recognised for its long-living residents. Ikaria is one of the world's five designated 'Blue Zones', places where people are much more likely to live to 100. But why is it one of 2025's best Greek islands to visit? Lonely Planet reveals: 'It takes effort to get to Ikaria, a wondrously wild island in the eastern Aegean, but those who make it this far too rewarded. 'Ruggedly mountainous, gorge-riven, thickly forested and well beyond the usual tourist radar, this island has its own look and culture.' According to Homeric legend, Dionysus, the god of wine and theatre, was born on Ikaria. At Therma, a spa village on the island, tourists can unwind in Ikaria's hot mineral springs which are thought to soothe arthritis and rheumatism The island is heavily tied to Greek myth and even earns its name from Icarus, the man who flew too close to the sun. Lonely Planet recommends hiring a car to explore the island to make your holiday 'feel like a proper adventure'. The travel guide suggests heading to Seychelles Beach, known for its 'dazzling azure waters'. A picturesque cove, Seychelles Beach has bright pebbles and is backed by rock formations. At Therma, a spa village on the island, tourists can unwind in Ikaria's hot mineral springs which are thought to soothe arthritis and rheumatism. Those looking to emulate the islanders' healthy lifestyle can head into the hills to see the giant rock houses where locals used to hide from pirate attacks. 'These stiff climbs - along with a herb-rich diet - are part of what contribute to the island's extraordinarily high number of centenarians,' reveals Lonely Planet. While Lonely Planet recommends taking a ferry from Kos to Ikaria, it can also be reached by plane from Athens. Those looking to emulate the islanders' healthy lifestyle can head into the hills to see the giant rock houses where locals used to hide from pirate attacks The travel guide suggests that tourists spend two weeks on Ikaria to let the island 'truly work its magic'. And Greece is also home to Europe's best beach, according to a new ranking. Port Glarokavos Lagoon Beach took the crown in a ranking put together by judges at European Beach Destinations. The beautiful Greek beach is located on the country's northern Kassandra Peninsula.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Ikaria Wariootia: The earliest known animal ancestor on the planet has been discovered from South Australia
Scientists have identified Ikaria wariootia , a tiny, wormlike creature that lived over 555 million years ago, as the earliest known bilaterian — an animal with a front, back, and symmetrical sides. Detailed in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , this discovery from South Australia provides crucial evidence for a major evolutionary leap during the Ediacaran period: the origin of bilateral body structure, a key feature of nearly all animals today, including humans. Ikaria Wariootia: A peek into the first bilaterian animals Bilaterians are animals that exhibit bilateral symmetry, meaning their bodies have two symmetrical halves, each mirroring the other. This structure includes distinct head, tail, back, and belly, facilitating controlled movement and internal complexity. Scientists had long hypothesized that the earliest bilaterians would be simple, small, and possess basic sensory organs, but no fossil evidence had confirmed this—until the discovery of Ikaria wariootia . Measuring just 2 to 7 millimeters, this creature is about the size of a grain of rice. Dr. Scott Evans from the University of California, Riverside, explained, 'While we believed such animals existed during this time, we didn't expect them to be easy to identify. When we saw the 3D scans, we knew we had found something significant.' Using advanced 3D laser scanning, the team uncovered the fossil's cylindrical body, clear bilateral symmetry, and signs of musculature, marking a pivotal discovery in understanding early bilaterian life. Insights into ediacaran lie and the evolution of animals This discovery also changes how scientists perceive other Ediacaran organisms. While large, iconic species like Dickinsonia were previously considered evolutionary dead ends without any living descendants, smaller and simpler creatures like Ikaria may represent the earliest ancestors of bilaterians, the group that gave rise to most modern animals. "While Dickinsonia and similar large creatures were likely evolutionary dead ends, we also had many smaller organisms and suspected they might be the early bilaterians we were searching for," said Professor Droser. The identification of Ikaria wariootia bridges the gap between genetic theories and fossil records, confirming that early bilaterians had the body structure and abilities necessary for complex behaviors like directed movement and burrowing. Fossilized burrows provide evidence of purposeful movement in Ikaria Wariootia The discovery is linked to fossilized burrows known as Helminthoidichnites , found in the same geological layers in Nilpena, South Australia. For over 15 years, paleontologists speculated these burrows were created by bilaterians, but the exact organism remained unclear. The size and shape of Ikaria wariootia match these burrows, reinforcing the idea that the creature actively burrowed into oxygen-rich ocean-floor sand in search of organic matter. "Burrows of Ikaria wariootia are found deeper than any other, making it the oldest fossil with this level of complexity," said Professor Mary Droser. The fossil also shows V-shaped ridges in the burrows, indicating that Ikaria used peristaltic locomotion, contracting its muscles like modern worms. This type of movement suggests an advanced level of coordination and sensory input previously unknown in such early animals. Significance of this discovery by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences The discovery of Ikaria wariootia significantly reshapes our understanding of early animal evolution. Dating back 555 million years to the Ediacaran period, it is the earliest known bilaterian fossil, showing bilateral symmetry, a key feature of most modern animals. This discovery bridges the gap between genetic predictions and fossil evidence, supporting the idea that early bilaterians were small, simple creatures with complex capabilities, such as purposeful movement and burrowing. The fossil's association with Helminthoidichnites burrows suggests that Ikaria actively tunneled through oxygenated ocean-floor sand, indicating coordination and sensory input. This finding challenges prior assumptions about the pace of evolution, demonstrating that complex behaviors and body plans could have evolved much earlier than previously thought. Ikaria wariootia provides a crucial insight into the origins of animal complexity, marking a significant milestone in our understanding of the pre-Cambrian evolution of life on Earth. Fossil characteristics of Ikaria Wariootia The Ikaria wariootia fossil exhibits several key characteristics that make it a groundbreaking discovery in the study of early animal evolution. These characteristics are: Bilateral Symmetry The fossil shows clear evidence of bilateral symmetry, meaning it has a defined left and right side that mirror each other. This symmetry is a key trait of bilaterians, the group from which most modern animals, including humans, evolved. Small Size Ikaria wariootia measures just 2 to 7 millimeters long, roughly the size of a grain of rice. Its small size is consistent with its position as an early, simple bilaterian. Cylindrical Body Shape The fossil's cylindrical body, observed through 3D scanning, suggests a simple yet functional body plan, capable of basic movement and burrowing. Musculature Evidence The fossil displays signs of musculature, which support the idea that Ikaria could move in a coordinated manner, likely using peristaltic locomotion similar to modern worms. Burrow Association The fossil is linked to Helminthoidichnites burrows, which are V-shaped and indicative of active tunneling behavior. These burrows suggest that Ikaria moved purposefully through oxygenated ocean-floor sand, searching for organic matter. Complex Locomotion The presence of V-shaped ridges in the burrows indicates Ikaria used a form of peristaltic movement, contracting muscles across its body, highlighting an early form of coordinated, complex movement. Importance of discovery of Ikara wariootia The discovery of Ikaria wariootia provides valuable insights into early animal behavior, particularly in terms of its locomotion and environmental interactions. Here are some key behavioral implications: Purposeful Movement The presence of Ikaria wariootia in association with Helminthoidichnites burrows suggests that it actively tunneled through the ocean-floor sand. This implies that Ikaria was capable of purposeful movement, likely searching for organic matter. Such behavior indicates a level of coordination and sensory input, much like modern worms, which use their muscles to move in a controlled manner. Peristaltic Locomotion The V-shaped ridges observed in the burrows suggest that Ikaria used peristaltic movement—contracting muscles along its body to propel itself forward. This form of locomotion is still seen in modern worms and other simple animals, demonstrating that early bilaterians had complex movement abilities, likely enabling them to explore their environment more effectively. Environmental Interaction The burrowing behavior highlights Ikaria's interaction with its environment, particularly its use of oxygenated sand for shelter and feeding. This shows that early bilaterians were capable of modifying their surroundings, a trait that would evolve in later species to allow more complex forms of behavior, such as constructing shelters or hunting. Sensory and Nervous System Development The ability to move purposefully and burrow suggests that Ikaria had a developed nervous system that allowed it to respond to its environment and carry out coordinated actions. The presence of muscles, coupled with coordinated movement, implies the evolution of basic sensory input and motor control, essential for more complex behaviors in future animals. Adaptation to the Environment Ikaria's ability to move through oxygenated sand in search of food suggests early adaptations for survival, allowing it to exploit available resources efficiently. This reflects a fundamental aspect of animal behavior—the need to adapt to and interact with the environment to find food, shelter, and mates. Impact of Ikara wariootia on study of early life The discovery of Ikaria wariootia provides valuable insights into early animal behavior, particularly in terms of its locomotion and environmental interactions. Here are some key behavioral implications: Purposeful Movement The presence of Ikaria wariootia in association with Helminthoidichnites burrows suggests that it actively tunneled through the ocean-floor sand. This implies that Ikaria was capable of purposeful movement, likely searching for organic matter. Such behavior indicates a level of coordination and sensory input, much like modern worms, which use their muscles to move in a controlled manner. Peristaltic Locomotion The V-shaped ridges observed in the burrows suggest that Ikaria used peristaltic movement—contracting muscles along its body to propel itself forward. This form of locomotion is still seen in modern worms and other simple animals, demonstrating that early bilaterians had complex movement abilities, likely enabling them to explore their environment more effectively. Environmental Interaction The burrowing behavior highlights Ikaria's interaction with its environment, particularly its use of oxygenated sand for shelter and feeding. This shows that early bilaterians were capable of modifying their surroundings, a trait that would evolve in later species to allow more complex forms of behavior, such as constructing shelters or hunting. Sensory and Nervous System Development The ability to move purposefully and burrow suggests that Ikaria had a developed nervous system that allowed it to respond to its environment and carry out coordinated actions. The presence of muscles, coupled with coordinated movement, implies the evolution of basic sensory input and motor control, essential for more complex behaviors in future animals. Adaptation to the Environment Ikaria's ability to move through oxygenated sand in search of food suggests early adaptations for survival, allowing it to exploit available resources efficiently. This reflects a fundamental aspect of animal behavior—the need to adapt to and interact with the environment to find food, shelter, and mates. Also read: James Webb Space Telescope identified Milky Way's cosmic twin from the universe's first billion years
Times
11-05-2025
- Times
10 of our favourite small-ship cruises
There's much to love about small ships. They can blend into tiny ports and anchorages, often unavailable to bigger ships. There's a deeper connection with where you're sailing, with the crew, with your fellow passengers and with the sea. The food's usually excellent too. Granted, there are no Broadway shows, kids' clubs or casinos — but for small ship aficionados, the rewards more than make up for this. Here are ten of the best voyages to consider. This article contains affiliate links, which can earn us revenue Discover some of the lesser-visited Greek islands on this week-long meander round the Aegean on Variety Cruises's 49-passenger motorsailer, Panorama. After sundowners against a backdrop of Cape Sounion, you'll sail to Ikaria, a 'Blue Zone' known for the longevity of its islanders, and then to Patmos and Lipsi, with a tasting on board of the island's revered aposperitis red wine. Other stops include Kalymnos, famous for its sponge divers, and Levitha, with a population of four and one restaurant. You'll also visit Amorgos, tiny Iraklia and Serifos, with swim stops in pristine bays wherever possible. The cruise is half-board, so you'll eat ashore in local tavernas most Nine nights' B&B — including two in an Athens hotel and seven half-board on Panorama — from £3,651pp, including flights and transfers, departing from Athens on July 2 ( • More great Greek island cruises• Read our full guide to Greece The water in Sardinia's La Maddalena archipelago is the intense aquamarine of the Caribbean, the national park dotted with pale pink granite islands, sculpted by the wind. Join the eight-passenger catamaran Agave to explore this exquisite region on a wellness cruise, with daily stops for swimming, yoga on the beach, snorkelling and paddleboarding. You'll also cross the Strait of Bonifacio to Corsica, sailing along an almost impossibly narrow inlet to Bonifacio town, guarded by a citadel. Food on board (breakfast and lunch are served daily) is organic and locally sourced, while the crew will direct you to the best local restaurants every Seven nights' half-board from £2,485pp, including onboard wellness activities, departing from Olbia on July 19 ( Fly to Olbia • Best things to do in Sardinia• More Mediterranean cruises Indonesia's Raja Ampat is a mystical landscape of some 1,500 forested karst islands plunging into turquoise sea that's home to over 1,600 species of fish and more than 500 types of coral. The snorkelling here is truly spectacular, whether you're drifting over underwater canyons teeming with fish or marvelling at enormous manta rays gliding just beneath you. Take it all in from the plush superyacht Aqua Blu, where 30 crew look after 30 guests in barefoot luxury and the exquisite, Indonesian-inspired menu is designed by the Australian superstar chef Benjamin Seven nights' full board from £8,073pp, including wine with meals, activities, transfers, laundry and wi-fi, departing from Sorong on January 3, 2026. Fly to Sorong via Jakarta • Asia's best cruises The Caribbean's jewel-like Grenadines can only be explored by small ship and a week on the sleek, 112-passenger SeaDream II is akin to having your own superyacht, right down to the free-flowing champagne and the giant inflatable slide suspended from the pool deck. Snorkel in the Tobago Cays, where sea turtles graze the seagrass beds and chill out on chic little Bequia. There's a day in Mayreau at Salt Whistle Bay, a perfect horseshoe of white sand, as well as calls at Martinique and St Lucia's Rodney Bay. On board, you can spend a night under the stars if you wish; just ask the crew to rope off the big lounger on the foredeck for Eight nights' all-inclusive — including one in a Barbados hotel and seven on board — from £4,865pp, including flights, transfers, VIP fast track on arrival in Barbados and tips, departing from Barbados on November 23 The Australian-owned Travelmarvel has chartered the smart, 110-passenger Caledonian Sky for a series of cruises this summer; a good chance to explore Greece and Turkey in considerable comfort. Cabins are reminiscent of a country house hotel and there's a lovely sundeck. This cruise mixes mainstream ports with the less-visited — you'll stop in Mykonos and Patmos, for example, but there's also a day on Milos, a morning call at dreamy, uninhabited Delos, a day on Lesbos and, this being an Australian company, an in-depth visit to the Anzac sites on Turkey's Gallipoli peninsula before sailing into Istanbul and flying back from Seven nights' full board from £2,195pp, including flights, excursions, wine with meals and tips, departing from Athens on July 14 ( Book before May 31 • Great cruises in the eastern Mediterranean• • Discover our full guide to Turkey Bask in the warmth of the tropics on a pre-Christmas getaway to Panama and Costa Rica, sailing on the 312-passenger Star Pride, which will be dwarfed by the bigger ships on a daytime transit of the Panama Canal. There's time to explore Panama City's Casco Viejo, its tangle of narrow streets and flower-filled plazas a contrast to the shimmering high rise of downtown. From there on, though, you'll be immersed in the lush landscapes of the Pacific coast, with opportunities for ziplining, snorkelling and nature treks in Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa Rica. On Panama's Isla Parida, the crew lay on a lavish beach party Eight nights' full board from £2,738pp, including one night in Panama City, seven on board, flights and transfers, departing from Colon on December 13 • Read our full guide to cruises Some of Alaska's isolated little ports can feel swamped when there are big ships in town. But this week on the tiny, 76-passenger Wilderness Discoverer, part of the UnCruise fleet, takes you deep into the wilds. Spend the week pottering through a jigsaw of forested islands, kayaking, hiking, whale-watching and exploring rock-strewn beaches, vast faces of ice and wooded shoreline by skiff. Search for brown and black bears, fattening up for the winter at this time of year, moose, sea otters, bald eagles, orcas and sea lions, without a single tour group in Seven nights' all-inclusive from £3,357pp, including transfers and activities, departing from Juneau on September 14 ( Fly to Juneau Join Noble Caledonia's all-suite, 118-passenger Island Sky for a cultural odyssey along the Iberian peninsula to Morocco. You'll join the ship in Vigo and sail to Porto for a tour and port tasting. There's a day in the glorious old city of Coimbra and a visit to Lisbon, with an option to explore the green Alentejo region and tuck into lunch at a vineyard. Island Sky sails up the Guadalquivir River into the heart of Seville and then passes through the Strait of Gibraltar to Tangier, for a tour of the ornate, mint-fragranced Donabo Gardens, the Medina and the souk. Details Seven nights' full board from £4,695pp, including flights, drinks with meals, tours, activities and tips, departing from Vigo on September 19 ( You'll have to wait until next year to try this new itinerary from Riviera Travel but it'll be worth the wait as the price is competitive compared to similar small-ship Croatia cruises. You'll sail on the 36-passenger MS Equator, which was refitted in 2023. The itinerary explores the islands of Krk and Rab, with a cruise through the striking, bone-white Kornati archipelago. There's a day in historic Zadar and a visit to Mali Losinj, its waterfront lined with the elegant houses of former sea captains. Wherever possible, the ship ties up to rocks and trees in deserted bays and you can jump straight off the stern into the cool blue of the Adriatic. Dinners are on your own ashore, a chance to try local seafood and enjoy the buzz of pretty coastal Seven nights' half-board from £1,899pp, including flights, transfers and eight activities, departing from Opatija on May 4, 2026 This unusual cruise offers a happy combination of hiking Turkey's picturesque Lycian Way, visiting archaeological sites with an expert, swimming in the late-season but still-warm Aegean and relaxing on a luxurious gulet, the 16-passenger Sunworld IX, all polished wood and plush lounging areas on deck. You'll hike ancient mule tracks and shepherds' paths for five or six miles every day, following the course of a 2,000-year-old aqueduct part of the way, while the gulet sails to the end point of the walk. Points of interest include the ghost town of Kayakoy, Simena — an age-old citadel surrounded by a jumble of Lycian sarcophagi — and Patara, the capital of Roman Seven nights' full board from £3,095pp, including activities and wine with dinner, departing on October 12 ( Fly to Dalaman
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE World-famous US neighborhood that's now dementia capital of America... and the surprising plan to rectify it
It's the birthplace of hip-hop, rap and Yankees baseball. Lush gardens and parks dot the neighborhood of 1.4million, with authentic Puerto Rican, Italian and Mexican restaurants on every corner. It's also America's Alzheimer's capital. The Bronx has the highest rate of Alzheimer's disease in the nation, tied with Baltimore and Miami. One in six adults over 65 in the New York City borough are diagnosed with Alzheimer's, compared to around one in 10 nationally. Researchers believe the Bronx became an Alzheimer's hotspot due to its long history of poverty rates well above the national average and a large minority population that has historically been more likely to be struck by the disease. The area also has New York City's highest rate of food insecurity, leading residents to turn to ultraprocessed foods shown to induce harmful inflammation in the brain. Healthcare providers in the Bronx have now launched a four-week pilot program to emulate Ikaria, Greece, a small island in the Aegean Sea. The island of 8,300 is one of the world's five Blue Zones, areas where residents regularly live well into their 80s, 90s and even 100. One of three Ikarians, for example, live past age 90. One man named Stamatis Moraitis, who was born on Ikaria but moved to the US for work, was given a death sentence lung cancer diagnosis in 1976 and just nine months to live. After moving back home to Ikaria, he survived another 45 years until age 98. Residents of the Bronx, in comparison, tend to live to 81, still more than the national average but the lowest out of all five New York City boroughs. The Bronx program, dubbed the 'Blue Zones Challenge,' has recruited 100 Bronx residents of varying ages, races and backgrounds to follow in the footsteps of Ikarians. The only enrollment requirement was living in the Bronx, and participants were encouraged to eat more foods aligned with the Mediterranean diet like salmon and arugula. They then were tasked with journaling their habits for four weeks. The experts running the program told the goal isn't to completely reverse the risk of Alzheimer's in just a month. Instead, they hope it will help residents adopt long-term healthy habits shown to combat the disease. Dr Edward Cisek, chief research, grants and evaluation officer at CaringKind, one of the two organizations in charge of the Blue Zones Challenge, told this website: 'It's not expected huge changes are going to happen in four weeks. It's to set residents up for success.' The program will run through May 27, 2025, and the team will unveil the findings next month. The team is looking to find if the majority of the 100 participants are able to experience notable changes like losing weight, having more energy or improvements in chronic conditions like diabetes. They hope the program may inspire larger initiatives reaching the rest of New York City. Nearly 7million Americans over age 65 have Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia. According to the Alzheimer's Association, New York state has the third-highest percentage of over-65s with Alzheimer's disease at nearly 13 percent, trailing only behind Washington DC and Maryland. This adds up to roughly 427,000. In the Bronx, 17 percent of adults over 65 - about 35,700 - have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. The national rate is 11 percent. In a 2023 report, Alzheimer's Association researchers said the higher rates could be due to the demographics in the Bronx. The latest Census data shows 57 percent of residents are Hispanic and 28 percent are Black, more than any other New York county. Both of these groups have the highest rates of Alzheimer's disease nationally. The Alzheimer's Association reports Black Americans over 65 are more than twice as likely as their white peers to be struck by the condition, and Hispanics are 1.5 times more likely. Recent research shows this could be due to Black and Hispanic populations having higher rates of cardiovascular conditions that affect the blood vessels. Heart disease can damage blood vessels and reduce the amount of blood that flows to the brain. Over time, this kills off brain tissues and cells, leading to dementia, particularly vascular dementia. Diabetes, which is twice as common in Black adults, also weakens blood vessels in the brain and leads to inflammation. Socioeconomic status may also be a factor in the Bronx's wave of Alzheimer's disease. The Bronx is one of America's most impoverished urban counties and the poorest in New York state, with 28 percent of residents living below the poverty line. Nationwide, 11 percent of Americans live in poverty. The median household income in the Bronx in 2022 was $47,260, about 41 percent less than $80,610 nationally. These factors are more likely to lead residents to turn toward cheap, ultraprocessed foods loaded with saturated fats, sugars and artificial additives. These foods have been shown to increase inflammation and oxidative stress, an imbalance between disease-fighting antioxidants and harmful free radicals. Free radicals attack cell DNA and promote the growth of toxic amyloid-beta and tau proteins shown to cause Alzheimer's. In Ikaria, meanwhile, residents over age 85 have a one in 10 chance of developing Alzheimer's disease. That's the same risk for Americans 20 years younger. By the time the average US adult reaches 85, they are three times more likely to develop the disease than an 85-year-old in Ikaria. Ikaria also has about half America's rate of heart disease. This is largely because Ikarians traditionally follow the Mediterranean diet, which has been hailed as the healthiest eating plan in the world. The diet emphasizes vegetables, dark leafy greens, olive oil, avocadoes, whole grains and nuts and seeds. These foods are rich in nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to reduce levels of harmful inflammation and protect neurons from damage. Research in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease also suggested omega-3s reduce levels of amyloid-beta and tau proteins. Ikaria's long life expectancy may also be due to most people living a more relaxed lifestyle. To shift the Bronx's health closer toward Ikaria, the Blue Zones Challenge emphasizes lifestyle changes like choosing foods more closely aligned with the Mediterranean diet. Eleonora Tornatore-Mikesh, president and CEO of CaringKind, points toward a 2024 Lancet study that round addressing 14 lifestyle factors lowered the risk of dementia by about 40 percent. These included addressing diet, obesity, diabetes and physical inactivity. She told that while certain factors like genetic predisposition can't easily be reversed, the Blue Zones Challenge focuses on factors that are within the average person's grasp. She said: 'This is the portion you can control: lifestyle. We can't fix all things, but we know lifestyle changes can impact good healthcare.' The only requirement to sign up for the challenge was being a resident from the Bronx. Dr Anderson Torres, CEO of Bronx-based elderly care organization RAIN Total Care who is also a participant in the challenge, told because Alzheimer's is so prevalent in the area that the team didn't need to specifically seek out a particular group of people for this initial study. 'By being from the Bronx, we are all at risk,' he said. The 100 participants enrolled in the study were told to download a journaling app and keep track of everything they ate, as well as habits like exercising. They weren't given specific instructions but were instead told to be more intentional with their habits. For example, instead of choosing fried chicken, opt for grilled. Participants are also encouraged to add more dark, leafy greens and healthy fats to their meals and suggest their peers try the same. 'These lifestyle changes work best when you do them with other people,' Dr Cisek said. Tornatore-Mikesh told this website the team chose four weeks because research suggests that's how long it takes to create a habit. The hope, she said, is to lay the groundwork for participants to make longer-term changes. Dr Torres, who treats many Bronx-based patients with Alzheimer's, is participating in the challenge himself. He said that while he has just under three weeks left, small habits like weighing himself every day have caused him to lose weight. And as a type 2 diabetic, he has noticed fewer blood sugar spikes since swapping out fried foods for healthier choices like arugula and lean meats. If the other 99 participants experience similar improvements and can start forming similar habits, the researchers plan to expand the efforts to the rest of New York City.
