Body matters.

Making a point A major review of the effectiveness of acupuncture has concluded that it is hard to find a difference between 'true' and 'sham' versions. The research comes just a week after a similar review suggested that both could prevent headache. It looked at trials involving 3,000 patients with arthritis, migraine, low back pain and post-operative pain. The results questioned the 'traditional foundation' of acupuncture. While traditional acupuncturists insert needles in acupuncture points located along what they describe as 'energy meridians' - a concept for which many scientists say there is no evidence - sham acupuncture places needles away from these points. Feeling forgetful? Try eating less Eating less may help older people improve their memory according to the results of a recent German survey. The findings suggest simple lifestyle changes could prevent or delay the onset of Alzeimers and help treat dementia. The study was done by a neurology team at the University of Munster who divided 50 people with an average age of 60 into three groups. One group cut their daily calories by 30 per cent, one group had no eating restrictions and the third group ate more food containing unsaturated fatty acids. The only group to demonstrate any change was the one that cut its daily calorie intake which showed a ten to 20 per cent improvement in a memory test. New hope for nasty skin condition Scientists are moving closer to identifying the multiple genetic faults which may cause psoriasis. This could mean improved treatments for the painful skin condition, they say. The journal Nature Genetics reports three studies, which bring the number of suspect genetic locations to ten. However, a UK dermatologist warns that hopes that the research would swiftly lead to new treatments for patients could be unrealistic. Some of the highlighted genes are already targeted by effective psoriasis therapies - others may become targets for the psoriasis treatments of the future. No single gene or gene variation is responsible for the disease - instead, scientists believe that a number of variations trigger the condition. Food packaging fertility fear Chemicals commonly found in food packaging, upholstery and carpets may be damaging women's fertility, say US scientists. A study by the University of California and published in the journal Human Reproduction measured levels of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in the blood of 1,240 women. Those with higher levels were more likely to take longer to get pregnant. UK experts say more research is needed to confirm a link. PFCs are useful in industry because they are resistant to heat, and have the ability to repel water and oil. However, high concentrations have been linked to organ damage in animals, and the chemicals have the ability to persist for long periods in the body.

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