People with Alzheimer's who exercise regularly had less brain damage than those who did not exercise, a preliminary study suggests. The findings may indicate that staying physically fit could slow the brain shrinkage associated with Alzheimer's disease and lead to development of a treatment, researchers hope.

Researchers from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City studied 57 people with early Alzheimer's. Their physical fitness was assessed by measuring their peak oxygen demand while on a treadmill, and brain shrinkage was estimated by MRI scans

Screening young athletes who participate in competitive sports for potentially fatal heart problems before they compete could save lives, a study has concluded.

The new study recommends performing the electrocardiogram (ECG), which records heart activity, while exercising because that can diagnose four times as many abnormalities as while resting. The study found that a large number of previously healthy people collapse and die from undiagnosed heart abnormalities, such as sudden cardiac arrest on the playing ground

The controversial anti-obestity drug rimonabant, marketed as Acomplia, has been approved for National Health Service (NHS) use in the England and Wales. The National Institute for Healthcare and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has approved use of this diet drug in people who are clinically obese or people who are seriously overweight with complications such as diabetes.

The drug, made by Sanofi-Aventis, is approved for sale in Britain and elsewhere in the European Union but was rejected by a U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel in June 2007 because of concerns the drug increases the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts

The German cabinet has earmarked 30 million euros ($46.7 million) until the end of 2010 to combat mounting obesity in the general population. The national program is intended to improve the well-being, productivity and quality of life of Germans, the health ministry said.

The "In Shape" program, prepared by Health Minister Ulla Schmidt in cooperation with Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Minister Horst Seehofer, aims to cut disease related to obesity noticeably by 2020. The national level program will aim to achieve the target by educating the youth on healthy eating and sports, as well as tougher standards for school lunches

Brain injuries from falling account for half of all elderly deaths, a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says. In 2005, brain injuries accounted for 50 percent of unintentional fall deaths and 8 percent of nonfatal fall-related hospitalizations among older adults.

Traumatic brain injuries, which are caused by a bump or blow to the head due to a fall, caused nearly 8,000 deaths and 56,000 hospitalizations in 2005 among Americans 65 and older, the study found