Medical | Science Research

Research Shows Growing IQs

Is Humanity Getting Smarter?

Standardized Intelligence Quotient (IQ) test scores have been going up, according to researchers, and the tests show that the intelligence displayed by human beings, as recorded in these tests, is increasing all over the world, regardless of factors such as race and culture. Researchers from around the world agree that the result does seem to be that people are getting smarter, and the big question now is: how? Why? The reason that people are getting smarter is a mystery, though many theories abound.

The Art of Measuring Intelligence

Professionals are still debating: What exactly is intelligence? However, most tests that display the results of intelligence quotients are testing the cognitive abilities, along with the innate verbal and math skills of the test takers. Intelligence tests are highly political because the results often show disparities between racial and social groups. In the past, the results of IQ tests have been used to discriminate against racial and cultural groups, even when the IQ tests were not fair and balanced, but highly skewed to report favorable results from a particular group. But, while the exact definition of intelligence is still under debate, for those researchers who have decided the matter is settled, IQ tests are standardized, delivered to different groups, and then studied.

Still Showing Differences in Races and Cultures

Even though tests show that the IQs of all people are increasing, regardless of their race or culture, the tests still show that there are disparities between the groups. There are many theories as to why this is, and even more questions as to why we seem to be getting smarter as a race. Theories to that include things like the increase of literacy in the human race. Research does indicate that if a child learns to read, that their intelligence is greatly increased. Also, more people in the world have access to healthy foods, and better nutrition has been shown in controlled studies to yield higher intelligence. Hopefully our increasing IQs will help us get over differences among people.

Filed Under: Medical, Research Tagged With: Art of Measuring Intelligence, Differences in Races and Cultures, Growing IQs, Intelligence

Pet Insurance or Medicine Research Gives Job Seekers a Chance for Career Change

People can easily get tired or bored performing the same tasks day after day. When a routine is devised it can be hard to break from it and change. Our careers are no different. Some jobs require similar actions or repetitive tasks. Yet there are some career routes that don’t have these same mundane tasks. A career in the research field is just one of those types of jobs that can change from day to day.

Research-related careers can vary from the gathering of information, organizing data and interpreting the data to come to a final conclusion. Beyond the wide range of tasks that are involved in research, the subject involved with the research can vary. There are companies that research pet longevity in those who have pet insurance or how a specific medication reacts to a group of patients–these are just some of the examples of certain research topics. The wide range of subjects, research groups and possibilities makes a career in research interesting and ever changing.

Depending upon the area of research, a degree from a college or university may be required. Although some of the tasks (such as gathering information and data) might not need a college degree, it’ll depend upon the company that is hiring and the subject matter that is being researched. Since a college degree is not always required, the research field is a great place for those that do not have a degree or are currently enrolled and looking to get their foot in the door. It also does not mean that this career field is only restricted to college degree holders.

A similar day-to-day job can be quite frustrating. Venturing out into a career in research might just give people that “something new every day” job that they are dreaming about.

Filed Under: Medical, Research Tagged With: Education, Employment, Research

Research Shows Medication Warnings Don’t Sink In

Fairness in Advertising But is Anyone Listening?

Over ten years ago, the United States changed the laws so that prescription makers could advertise their drugs directly to the public. What developed can only be called an American original in advertising: 30-second advertisements for prescriptions that can only be administered by doctors, directed straight to possible consumers the doctors patients, also known as the American population. A detail in the legislation forced advertisers to state side effects of the drug along with its benefits, but recent research shows that the hurried, subtle voices that list off deadly dangers of medications have little impact on consumers when compared to the way the drug’s benefits are listed (or in the case of erectile dysfunction drugs, heavily hinted at).

Side Effects May Include:

Drug advertising was kicked off with ads for Viagra. Viagra ads are estimated to have established an enormous demand for the drug as a cure-all for men’s erectile difficulties. In the study about drug advertising, researchers had volunteers sit through contemporary drug advertisements, and then list their benefits and side effects. The data showed that the viewers in the study remembered the benefits with strong accuracy, but that very few could list the possible side effects for a specific drug. For example, even though a 30-second ad for a cholesterol-lowering medication listed things like liver problems, depression, gallstones, inflammation of the gallbladder, and muscle aches, viewers of the ad who correctly identified the medication’s benefits were rarely able to accurately recall the potential side effects.

Advertising Controversy Continues

The research has fueled debate in medical circles over the wisdom of advertising prescriptions directly to patients. A common problem faced by medical experts is that of prescription shoppers influenced by the direct advertising who come to the doctors office with a certain symptom, expecting to automatically receive a prescription for the drug they think will help them. Though advertising pharmaceuticals directly to consumers has increased drug company profits, but also increased doctors headaches in dealing with patients. The recent study shows that people are less informed about drug effects than they think.

Filed Under: Education, Medical, Research Tagged With: Advertising, Fairness, Medication, Side Effects

Research on the Dangers of Deep Vein Thrombosis

Research Highlights a Hidden Danger

Deep Vein Thrombosis, or DVT , is a condition in which blood clots in deep veins in the body. The blood clots can then break loose and cause stroke, heart attacks, paralysis, or death. Most people have never heard of DVT, but about 600,000 people in the US are hospitalized with it every year, and roughly half of those people die from it. Research shows that DVTs are becoming increasingly common these days, due to lifestyles in which people sit still for a long time. While DVTs are more common among people who spend a lot of time on air flights, they particularly affect people who spend long times sitting down, period, whether that be in a long commute, or doing long hours researching a topic on the Internet.

Risk Factors for DVTs

Certain people are more at risk for DVTs than others. People who have recently had hip or knee joint replacements, those who’ve suffered a broken hip, or any type of serious trauma that requires long periods of rest to recuperate are all at risk for having a DVT. But since a DVT is formed when blood coalesces in one area for two long, forming a clot, people of any age are susceptible to the condition. But obese people who sit down for hours at a time are in the highest risk factor, exceeding the dangers posed by pregnancy, age, and family history with clots and strokes.

Fighting DVTs with Activity

The researchers also show that the best way to avoid having a DVT is by partaking in regular breaks from sitting or lying down. You have to get up and move around for a few minutes, do some light stretches, and walk around in order to keep healthy blood flow and avoid the formation of clots. If you do end up having a DVT incident such as a heart attack or stroke, your doctor may have to prescribe blood-thinning medication (anticoagulant) to prevent a recurrence.

Filed Under: Education, Medical, Research Tagged With: Deep Vein, Hidden Danger, Risk Factors for DVTs, Thrombosis

Stem Cell Research Continues Growth

Image via Wikipedia

Medical Research and Stem Cells

Medical research continues to focus on the effects of using stem cells to cure diseases and ailments long though incurable. There are currently 32 science journals solely dedicated to the subject of stem cell research. The treatments that are being developed might make conditions like Parkinson’s disease and many forms of cancer a thing of the past. There is heavy research into how to use stem cells to cure spinal cord injuries like the one that disabled actor Christopher Reeve. Stems cell treatments are currently being used to successfully treat paralyzed lab rats. Use on humans is yet to be clinically tried.

Current Use of Stem Cells in Medicine

The biggest use of stem cells today is in hematopoietic cell transplantation, (HCT) which is used to help cancer patients regrow the bone marrow that forms healthy blood cells. HCT treatment is an adult stem cell procedure, meaning that a healthy, live adult – usually a close relation to the patient – provides stem cells that are then processed and delivered into the patient. If all goes well, the patient’s body will accept the stem cells, which will them regrow the bone tissue damaged by cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. There are currently around 45,000 patient in the United States who receive HCT every year. But researchers say HCT is still not a miracle cure, and that recipients of adult stem cells are still more prone to a recurrence of cancer than those who were able to rebuild their bone tissues naturally, though factors such as age and overall health are included in the study.

Future Use of Stem Cells

The future of stem cell therapies will probably yield dozens of new treatments, but what people are most looking forward to are cures for severe problems such as the regrowth of severed spinal cords. Stems cells are controversial because of the issue of using stem cells from fetal cells. But the strongest research by far has focused on stem cells that originate from adults, as well as stem cells present in the blood of umbilical cords.

Filed Under: Education, Medical, Research Tagged With: hematopoietic cell transplantation, Stem Cells, treatments, Use of Stem Cells

Study Says Astronauts Need Harder Workouts

: Image by NASA on The Commons via Flickr

Hard Workouts in Space

A research paper published recently says that it’s harder than ever to get a good workout in Outer Space. Taken from data gathered by astronauts spending time on the International Space Station, the paper shows that not only do muscles weaken and atrophy in microgravity environments, but their strength when measured by mass and size goes down, too. The research is expected to provide better information on how to keep astronauts fit during a space flight, as well as how to measure their physical recovery between flights.

The Orbiting Space Gym

Astronauts have now been doing cardiovascular workouts in space for 30 years; the first piece of exercise equipment in orbit was an exercise bike on the American space station ‘Skylab.’ But the recent paper shows the increased need for resistance training – weight lifting – in space. This poses a peculiar problem, since everything in orbit is essentially weightless. However, NASA has developed a device called the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device, or ARED. The ARED is kind of like those multi-purpose resistance machines advertised on television, except it can only be purchased in easy three easy installments of one million dollars. The device can be configured to provide resistance exercises for upper and lower body workouts. The research paper shows that the ARED needs to get a lot more use if astronauts want to stay healthy.

Effects of Microgravity

Though people think space is a zero-gravity environment, it’s actually one of microgravity. However, the distinction is lost on the human body, which is designed to operate under the constant resistance of Earth’s gravity. Things as easy as getting up from the sofa and grabbing a beverage are tiny workouts throughout the day. These get missed by astronauts, who literally only have to lift a finger to get themselves out of bed on the space station. The good news of the paper is that if astronauts spend two or more hours per day working out with resistance training, the effects of microgravity life are greatly reduced, even though this may make astronauts feel like they’re living on an orbiting gym.

Filed Under: Medical, Research, Space Tagged With: Astronauts, Effects of Microgravity, Orbiting, Space