Lab Report: Health, Science and Medicine

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Specific proteins found in the spinal fluid may help identify people with Alzheimer's years before they develop the disease, according to a study. The test is unproven, and there are no treatments yet for people who are positive, so it is currently being used only for research.

A MATING RACE

Competition may be good for the soul, but not so for the life span, according to a study on longevity. Men who grew up in places where males outnumbered females--and thus had to compete for mates--lived on average three months less than those who came of age in an environment with a more even sex ratio. The authors say the stress of fending off rivals may explain the shorter life spans.

DATA SET

12%

Percentage lower chance of getting pregnant for women whose saliva had high levels of alpha-amylase, a marker of stress, than for women with low levels

80%

Portion of the stomach removed through the mouth in a new weight-loss surgery