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A fainting-related fall that caused nerve damage in his right hand could explain why Leonardo da Vinci’s painting skills declined later in life, a new paper suggests. The report, published as the world marks the 500th anniversary of the artist’s death, contradicts the common belief that da Vinci’s difficulties stemmed from a stroke. To arrive at that conclusion, the report authors compared a drawing of an elderly da Vinci with an engraving of the artist and inventor when he was younger. They also studied a biography of da Vinci. The drawing shows da Vinci’s right arm in folds of clothing as if in a bandage, with his right hand suspended in a stiff, contracted position, according to the paper published May 3 in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. “Rather than depicting the typical clenched hand seen in post-stroke muscular spasticity, the picture suggests an alternative diagnosis such as ulnar palsy, commonly known as claw hand,” study co-author Dr. Davide Lazzeri said in a journal news release. Lazzeri is a plastic surgeon at the Villa Salaria Clinic in Rome. Based on the drawings, he said it’s likely that the ulnar palsy was caused by injury to the right limb when da Vinci fell after fainting. The ulnar nerve runs from the shoulder to little finger. It manages nearly all of the hand muscles… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Visiting a gynecologist is important for women to maintain reproductive and sexual health. Most females should begin seeing a gynecologist at the age of 21, or earlier if they are sexually active, says the University of California at Santa Barbara. Women should expect the following at a gynecologist visit: Taking basic measurements, such as weight and blood pressure. Being asked questions about sexual history and menstrual cycles. Getting a physical examination of the breasts and genitals. Feelings of anxiety are normal, but doctors encourage patients not to worry. These exams are common procedures for doctors, and are typically quick and painless, the school says.

You know the value of exercise for maintaining good health and managing chronic conditions like arthritis, but you also know how hard it is to fit daily workouts into a busy schedule to meet weekly minimums. As an alternative, many people try to cram in a week’s worth of fitness on the weekends. While this approach has been met with skepticism in the past (along with worry about injuries), new research shows that you can get exercise’s health benefits this way. A British study published in JAMA Internal Medicine says there’s no reason to abandon exercise completely if you can’t do it during the work week. Packing exercise into your weekend is actually a viable option. Based on surveys from 63,000 people, any exercise is better than none. Researchers found that people who exercise at a high rate on weekends — getting in the recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous activity — had about 30% lower risk of early death than people who don’t exercise at all. Another interesting finding: People who exercise more often but for shorter blocks of time can also lower their risk for chronic conditions — yes, even if they fail to total 150 minutes a week. The bottom line? Get up and move whenever you can. Note: If you aren’t in shape, get your doctor’s… read on >

“Get your head in the game!” Coaches say it to players all the time to get them to focus. The same advice can help you be more enthusiastic about your workouts. Here are five ideas: 1. Set both short-term and long-term goals based on your current abilities. Celebrate each one as you reach it and then re-set it. According to the American Council on Exercise, a goal should meet five different criteria to be effective. Make sure each goal is: Specific: You should be able to articulate it in one simple sentence. Measurable: The goal should be something you can see, like an amount of weight lost or duration of a workout. Attainable: The goal should represent a challenge to you, but not be impossible to reach. Relevant: It should be important to you and your life. Time-Bound: The time you allot to reach the goal shouldn’t be open-ended, which could lead to procrastination. Set a reasonable time period for achieving it. 2. Identify what type of pre-exercise prep gets you psyched, such as quiet focused breathing or loud pulsing music. 3. Develop and repeat a mantra, an uplifting statement of what you know you can do. This will help you develop a positive attitude and have an unshakable belief in yourself. It will naturally get stronger as you reach goals. 4. Practice mental toughness.… read on >

Up all night, stressing out, feeling pressured. Cramming for college finals can bring all that, plus have students reaching for fatty, sugary foods, a new study suggests. “Stress has long been implicated in poor diet. People tend to report overeating and comfort eating foods high in fat, sugar and calories in times of stress,” said study leader Nathalie Michels, from Ghent University, in Belgium. “Our findings looking at the eating habits of students during exam periods confirm this stress-induced dietary deterioration hypothesis,” Michels added. For the study, her team looked at the responses of 232 students at universities in Belgium who completed an anonymous online survey. The participants completed the survey before and after a month-long examination period in 2017. The students were asked about their stress levels and changes in their eating habits. During the exam period, students were less likely to follow a healthy diet, and only one-quarter of them met the World Health Organization-recommended intake of 400 grams of fruit and vegetables a day. The researchers also found that students with higher levels of stress tended to snack more often. The study was presented this week at the European Congress on Obesity in Glasgow, Scotland. Such research should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. “A healthy diet is needed for optimal academic and mental performance. Unfortunately, our findings suggest… read on >

Even if they never use a condom during sex, gay men whose HIV is undetectable due to ongoing antiretroviral treatment cannot infect their male partner, new research reveals. “Whether men who are in monogamous relationships in these circumstances chose to use or not to use condoms is up to them, but there is no need to do so to prevent HIV transmission to the negative partner,” said the new study’s lead author, Dr. Alison Rodger. She’s a professor of infectious diseases with the Institute for Global Health at University College London in England. Rodger said the study provides “conclusive evidence” that the risk of transmission through sex is zero when virus levels are fully suppressed by antiretroviral therapy (ART). An earlier phase of the study proved the same was true for heterosexual couples. The finding — from the largest investigation of its kind — lends support to a public health campaign launched in 2016 by more than 850 HIV organizations in 96 countries. Known as the “U=U Campaign,” it stands for “undetectable equals untransmittable.” The new study, published May 2 in the online edition of The Lancet, spanned 14 countries and eight years. It included nearly 1,000 gay couples, each with one HIV-positive man and one without the virus. On average, HIV-positive partners said they had been on ART for four years prior to the… read on >

Being stopped and questioned by a police officer can be a stressful encounter for anyone, but it is especially hazardous for those with autism. Things can go so wrong that the person with autism winds up in jail because of miscommunications and misunderstandings. Previous research has found that an estimated 1 in 5 teens with autism will be stopped and questioned by police before age 21. And people with disabilities, including autism, are five times more likely to be jailed than those without disabilities. One child development expert laid out the scenarios that can lead to disaster during a police stop. “A simple traffic stop can have tragic consequences for an individual with ASD [autism spectrum disorder],” said Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park, N.Y. “If a police officer does not recognize that the driver has autism, then they may misinterpret the failure to make eye contact, answer questions appropriately, or follow simple commands,” he explained. “If this happens, the police officer may become more wary and feel defied or threatened — which could then lead to escalation of the situation — with greater agitation or withdrawal by an individual with ASD,” Adesman noted. “Adolescents and adults with autism may respond inappropriately to questions or commands from a police officer or get agitated,… read on >

In the ABCs of vitamins, B12 is often overlooked. But it’s essential for the making of nerve and red blood cells, as well as DNA along with many other body processes. Adults and teens need just 2.4 micrograms a day, but you can fall short even on this small amount. You’re at particular risk of a B12 deficiency if you’re a vegetarian because animal foods, like meat and dairy, are the only foods that deliver it. If you have a health problem that affects nutrient absorption, like Crohn’s disease, have had bariatric surgery or take certain medications, you also run the risk. So do people over 50 because of changes in stomach acids. Common medications that can affect your body’s B12 levels: PPIs such as omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid), used for treating heartburn or GERD. H2 receptor antagonists such as famotidine (Pepcid) and ranitidine (Zantac), also used for treating those and other conditions. Metformin, the diabetes drug. A deficiency can develop slowly over time or come on rather fast. Possible warning signs include emotional or thinking problems, fatigue, weakness, weight loss, constipation, and numbness or tingling in hands and feet. These can also be symptoms of many other conditions, but it takes only a blood test to diagnose a B12 deficiency. If you don’t eat animal-based foods, you can boost B12 with fortified soy… read on >

Living well starts at the grocery store: When you choose the right foods, it’s easy to cook and eat healthfully. As a general rule, shop mostly along the perimeter of the store. This is where you’ll find fresh foods, such as the dairy, meat, fish and fresh produce that should be the foundation of your meals. Some of the most nutritious vegetable staples available year-round are sweet potatoes, broccoli, carrots and spinach. These are versatile choices that are not only great side dishes, but also part of many courses from a variety of cuisines. Most people aren’t aware how much out-of-season produce adds to their food bill, so stick with what’s in season or go with frozen, especially when it comes to berries and exotic fruits such as mango. Seasonal foods also taste better, so consider buying them in bulk when available and freezing portions for future use. Avoid most of the aisles and freezer cases jammed with prepared foods like frozen dinners. They cost more and are usually loaded with sugar and salt. One inner aisle you should visit is the one with grains. That’s where you’ll find whole grains and whole grain flours to boost your fiber intake, and provide other nutrients typically missing from refined flour foods. Also stock up on dried peas and beans. To make shopping efficient, keep a running… read on >

Want a quick brain boost? A morning session of exercise and short walks throughout the day provide a number of brain benefits for older adults, a new study says. The findings show that people should avoid uninterrupted sitting to maintain good mental function throughout the day. The study also indicates that moderate-intensity exercise such as brisk walking should be encouraged to maintain brain health, according to researcher Michael Wheeler. “Relatively simple changes to your daily routine could have a significant benefit to your cognitive health. [The study] also reveals that one day we may be able to do specific types of exercise to enhance specific cognitive skills such as memory or learning,” Wheeler added. He’s a doctoral student at the University of Western Australia’s Heart and Diabetes Institute. The study included more than 65 men and women, aged 55 to 80, in Australia. The researchers examined how moderate-intensity exercise on a treadmill in the morning with and without 3-minute walking breaks during an 8-hour day of extended sitting affected different kinds of mental function. Decision-making throughout the day was improved when the participants did the morning exercise session, compared with uninterrupted sitting, according to the study. It also found that the morning bout of exercise combined with a number of short light-intensity walking breaks throughout the day led to improvements in short-term memory, compared with… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

New Theory Sheds Light on Leonardo da Vinci’s Artistic Decline

Health Tip: What to Expect From a Gynecologist Visit

The Surprising Benefits of Weekend Workouts

Mental Prep for Better Performance

As Finals Draw Near, College Kids’ Diets Worsen

HIV Meds Cut Transmission Risk to Zero, Even Without Condoms: Study

For People With Autism, Encounters With Police Can Turn Dangerous

Could You Be Short on Vitamin B12?

An Expert’s Guide to Healthier Grocery Shopping

Morning Exercise Kick-Starts Seniors’ Brains