Latest news with #UniversityofIllinoisUrbana-Champaign
Arab Times
a day ago
- Health
- Arab Times
MIND diet linked to better focus in children, lower dementia risk in adults
NEW YORK, June 4: A growing body of research suggests that the MIND diet — originally developed to help prevent cognitive decline in adults — may also support attention and cognitive development in children. The MIND diet, short for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay, blends the brain-boosting elements of the Mediterranean diet with the heart-healthy DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet. It emphasizes leafy green vegetables, berries, whole grains, nuts, and fish, while limiting red meat, fried foods, cheese, and sweets. In one new study presented at Nutrition 2023, researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign found that preadolescents who adhered more closely to the MIND diet showed better performance on tests measuring attentional inhibition — the ability to stay focused and resist distractions. The study involved 85 children aged 7 to 11 who recorded their diets over seven days and completed cognitive tasks. Only the MIND diet, not the general Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), was positively associated with better attention. 'These findings suggest that the MIND diet may support cognitive development in children, which is crucial for academic success,' said lead researcher Shelby Keye, PhD. She noted that while prior studies have focused on the MIND diet's benefits for aging brains, its effects in younger populations are still largely unexplored. Researchers now plan to study its impact on even younger age groups, such as toddlers and preschoolers. Meanwhile, a large long-term study involving nearly 93,000 middle-aged and older U.S. adults further reinforces the MIND diet's benefits. Conducted by the University of Hawaii at Mānoa and the University of Southern California, the study showed that participants who closely followed the MIND diet were significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, the findings stem from the Multiethnic Cohort Study, launched in the 1990s, which includes a diverse population of Japanese Americans, Native Hawaiians, Black Americans, Latinos, and whites. Among more than 21,000 individuals who developed dementia, those who adhered to the MIND diet from the outset had a 9% lower risk. Those who improved their adherence over a decade saw a 25% lower risk — benefits observed consistently across all age and ethnic groups. Dr. Song-Yi Park, lead author of the adult study, emphasized that it's never too late to adopt healthier eating habits. 'Improving diet quality over time is important for reducing dementia risk,' she said. One unique feature of the MIND diet is its emphasis on specific brain-protective foods, particularly berries. For example, consuming two or more servings of berries per week earns the highest score in MIND diet assessments due to their strong links with cognitive health. How to follow the MIND diet According to a 2015 study, these guidelines can help individuals achieve an optimal MIND diet score: Leafy green vegetables (e.g., kale, spinach, broccoli, bok choy, mustard greens): at least six servings per weekn Other vegetables: at least one serving per dayn Whole grains: three or more servings per dayn Nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, pistachios): five or more servings per weekn Fish (non-fried): one or more servings per weekn Red meat: less than one serving per weekn Cheese: less than one serving per weekn Fast food and fried items: less than once per weekn Pastries and sweets: fewer than five servings per weekn Dr. Park cautioned that, like all observational studies, the research demonstrates an association rather than direct causation. More intervention-based studies are needed to confirm these outcomes. Experts unaffiliated with the studies, including Dr. Walter Willett of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Dr. Yian Gu of Columbia University Irving Medical Center, noted that the MIND diet is supported by mounting evidence. Willett praised the study's quality and recommended consuming a variety of leafy greens, warning that excessive spinach intake can lead to kidney stones due to its high oxalate content. Gu added that the diet's flexibility and alignment with broader health goals — such as reducing heart disease and cancer risk — make it practical and sustainable. Although more research is needed to confirm causality, current findings underscore the MIND diet's potential as a valuable, lifelong tool for promoting brain health — from childhood through old age.
NDTV
6 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Study Explores Factors Behind Minority Voter Support For Donald Trump
A new study published in Psychological Science suggests that support for "strong", rule-breaking political leaders is not exclusively linked to right-wing ideology. The research indicates that ethnic minorities, regardless of their political affiliation, may be more inclined to favour such leaders compared to White individuals who identify as left-leaning. This tendency appears to be connected to lower levels of generalised trust, with groups exhibiting less trust in others showing greater support for authoritative leadership styles. The findings published in Psychological Science challenge traditional assumptions about the factors influencing political preferences for dominant figures like former President Donald Trump. While support for strong leaders has often been associated with conservative viewpoints, the study suggests that ethnicity and levels of trust play significant roles. Prior research in political psychology has largely focused on the impact of personality traits and ideological values on leadership preferences. This research has generally concluded that individuals on the political right are more likely to desire leaders who are assertive, unwavering, and willing to disregard rules to achieve their aims. However, these earlier studies primarily relied on data from White populations. As minority populations grow, it is increasingly important to understand how ethnic background influences leadership preferences. Recent trends, such as increasing support for Donald Trump among Latino and Black voters, indicate that existing explanations may be incomplete. "I was born in the Netherlands to parents of Indian origin and spent much of my formative years in Japan and in Texas. As an adult, I have been at institutions of higher learning in different regions of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands," said study author Krishnan Nair, a postdoctoral research associate with the Illinois Strategic Organisations Initiative at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. "The experiences I have had interacting with people from varying ethnic, religious, political, and linguistic backgrounds have fuelled my interest in better understanding differences in attitudes and values between different groups. This project is a reflection of that." The researchers hypothesised that generalised trust - a broad belief in the reliability of others - could help explain why certain groups are attracted to strong leaders. They proposed that groups with lower levels of trust would be more likely to support leaders who promise control, order, and punishment of wrongdoers, even if it means compromising democratic norms.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NANO Nuclear closes $105m in common stock private placement
US-based nuclear energy and technology company NANO Nuclear Energy has completed its previously announced private placement of 3.8 million shares of common stock at $27 per share for raising gross proceeds of approximately $105m. The net proceeds expected for NANO Nuclear are around $99m, after deducting offering expenses. The infusion of capital raises NANO Nuclear's cash position above $210m. These funds will enable the company to accelerate the development of its micro-nuclear reactors. The company also plans to expand its nuclear energy-related businesses, pursue strategic acquisitions and propel its growth trajectory towards generating its initial revenue. Primary investors in the private placement included institutional entities, including a globally recognised investment manager and a mutual fund focused on long-term investments. NANO Nuclear Energy Founder and Chairman Jay Yu stated: 'This achievement was made possible through the participation of well-known, long-term fundamental institutional investors who understand not only the nuclear energy renaissance we are participating in, but the specific potential for NANO Nuclear's technologies and business plans. 'We expect this capital will accelerate our near and longer-term valuation catalysts, particularly given the high technology readiness level of our KRONOS MMR microreactor (being developed in conjunction with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) and our planned commencement of geological site characterisation activities, including subsurface drilling investigations, for this reactor, which would be first research microreactor built on campus grounds in the US by an advanced reactor company. These activities will lead to the submission of our KRONOS MMR construction permit applications to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission thereafter.' Titan Partners Group, a division of American Capital Partners, served as the exclusive placement agent for the transaction. Legal counsel was provided by Ellenoff Grossman & Schole for NANO Nuclear, and Lucosky Brookman for the placement agent. NANO Nuclear has committed to filing a registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission by 10 June 2025 for the resale of the shares issued in the private placement. "NANO Nuclear closes $105m in common stock private placement" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
CNBC
6 days ago
- Health
- CNBC
I'm a dietician and microbiome researcher: The gut-friendly breakfast I eat every day
Hannah Holscher, a registered dietitian and microbiome researcher, teaches classes about nutrition at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is also the Director of the Nutrition and Human Microbiome the lab on the school's campus in Champaign, Holscher and her team analyze biological samples like blood, stool and urine, and sift through large data sets from existing microbiome research to better understand "how the microbes in our body are able to break down components in foods that our own human enzymes can't digest," she told CNBC Make It in work helps inform how people should eat to maintain or improve their health and well-being. She also uses what she's learned while studying the human microbiome to shape her own Holscher makes sure to get one vital nutrient in as often as possible for optimal gut health: "[I] try to get my recommended amount of fiber every day, which is going to be right around 25 grams." On average, American adults typically eat just 10 to 15 grams of total fiber a day, according to Harvard Health Publishing. To prioritize her gut health, Holscher frontloads her day with foods rich in dietary fiber or probiotics. Some fiber-rich foods are leafy greens, berries, apples, avocados and chia seeds A typical breakfast for Holscher looks like: "I work really hard to try to prioritize consuming different plant-based foods: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes." ,
Newsweek
7 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
New Study Reveals Why Trump Is So Popular Among Minority Voters
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new study could shed light on one reason President Donald Trump may have gained ground with minority voters, who previously supported Democrats, in the 2024 presidential race. Why It Matters Trump's 2024 victory was in part due to his relative strength among Latino, Black and Asian and Pacific Islander voters who have drifted away from Democrats. The question about why these voters shifted rightward has perplexed some on the left, who are seeking to win them back in the 2026 midterms and beyond. The new study, published this month in Psychological Science, offers one explanation about this phenomenon. What to Know Ethnic minorities were closer in their attitudes about "strong leaders" to right-leaning white Americans compared to left-leaning white Americans, according to the study. Trump has in the past been compared to a "strong leader," defined by the study as leaders who are "tough, ironfisted, and viewed by supporters as dedicated to the pursuit of their goals." The study focused on minorities both in the U.S. and Europe—not on Trump specifically, though Krishnan Nair, a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who is an author of the study, told Newsweek it could have implications on his electoral strength with some voting groups. A woman holds a sign that reads "Latinos for Trump" at the Orange County Fair and Event Center, April 28, 2016, in Costa Mesa, California. A woman holds a sign that reads "Latinos for Trump" at the Orange County Fair and Event Center, April 28, 2016, in Costa Mesa, California. DAVID MCNEW/AFP via Getty Images The study found that levels of "generalized trust," which is the level of trust a person has in others living around them, is a key factor in shaping leadership preferences. It noted that while there have been decades worth of studies on support for strong leaders among the right, those studies have mostly been made up of white participants. "Minorities across ethnic and political backgrounds are generally closer to right-wing Whites than to left-wing Whites in their preference for strong leaders," Nair said. "That's important because Trump being this prototypical strong leader, we also see a minority shift toward Trump even as Trump's rhetoric is viewed by a lot of people as being racially insensitive or offensive." Minorities may have lower levels of generalized trust if they are recent immigrants from countries with lower generalized trust or due to their social standing in the U.S, he said. Nair explained how this could translate to support for strong leadership. "Imagine yourself in a group and you don't trust others in the group, to cooperate, you think others might be likely to exploit you," he said. "In this situation, there's this idea that having a strong leader who punishes those who are rule breakers or don't cooperate or might exploit you, that reduces that kind of behavior and creates more cooperation or harmony." New data analysis released this week from Catalist showed how Democrats last ground among different racial groups in recent years. In 2024, 85 percent of Black voters supported former Vice President Kamala Harris—down from 89 percent who backed former President Joe Biden in 2020 and 93 percent who backed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016. Meanwhile, 54 percent of Latino voters supported Harris—down from 63 percent who supported Biden in 2020 and 70 percent who backed Clinton in 2016. Sixty-one percent of Asian American and Pacific Islander voters backed Harris, compared to 65 percent who voted for Biden in 2020 and 70 percent who voted for Clinton in 2016, according to Catalist. What People Are Saying Nair told Newsweek: "I think this perception of your leader as being someone who's tough, strong and dominant, that could potentially play role in increasing support among minority voters, potentially. But that's something you need a lot more research on." William Frey of the Brookings Institution wrote in a December 2024 report: "This year's very real shift among Latino or Hispanic voters is only a bit sharper than the one observed in the Bush-Kerry election of 2004, after which more Latino or Hispanic voters returned to the Democratic fold. Indeed, the shift away from 2020 and earlier elections among more vulnerable members of these minority groups could very well be a blip that was part of a nationwide reaction to the high price of groceries, housing, and other necessities that accompanied a once-in-a-century pandemic, which led to similar rightward political shifts in other developed countries." What Happens Next It will be closely watched whether Democrats can win back voters who shifted toward Republicans in upcoming elections, including early tests for the parties in the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races later this year. It's yet to be seen whether this is part of a longer-term trend.
