Fitmodo: Big Muscles Make You Smarter

Welcome to Fitmodo, your regular weekly round up of the news you need to know to keep your earthly form in top shape — from fitness advice to breakthroughs in medical research.

This week:

Big Muscles Make You Smarter


This might finally be what motivates me to work out.

New results from a recent trial led by the University of Sydney has revealed increased muscle strength leads to improved brain function. With 135 million people forecast to suffer from dementia in 2050, the study’s findings have implications for the type and intensity of exercise that is recommended for our growing ageing population.
[clear]


Australians Are Dying Turning To ‘Alternative’ Cancer Treatments


Every year, thousands of Australians are suffering and dying prematurely because of alternative cancer treatments, according to a special investigation by Dr Paul Willis, director of The Royal Institution of Australia.

The report details the distressingly high number of cancer sufferers who choose to forego conventional treatment altogether in search of an alternative cure.
[clear]


Rates Of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Reach ‘Unprecedented’ Levels In The US


An alarming report put out by the Centres for Disease Control shows that the total combined cases of several sexually transmitted diseases have reached an “unprecedented” high in the United States.

Reports of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis — the three most commonly reported STDs in the United States — reached new heights last year, according to CDC’s new report. Last year alone saw 1.5 million cases of chlamydia, nearly 400,000 cases of gonorrhea, and nearly 24,000 cases of primary and secondary syphilis (P&S) — the most infectious stages of the disease. From 2014 to 2015, cases of P&S jumped a whopping 19 per cent, while cases of gonorrhea and chlamydia shot up 12 and 15 per cent respectively.
[clear]


Scientists Discover What Your Brain Looks Like When You’re On Weed


You ever hit the blunt and start trying to figure out how getting high even works? How does anything work, really? Electricity? Computers? There are infinite mysteries to life, but some dank scientists are trying to figure out one of life’s most important questions — what does your brain look like when you get high?

A team of scientists from around the globe published a study in The Cell that shows the molecular structure of your cannabinoid receptor 1, the receptor in your brain which processes THC.
[clear]


Being Single Is Now A Disability, According To The World Health Organisation


According to the Telegraph, the World Health Organisation will change its definition of disabilities to classify people without a sexual partner as “infertile”. The controversial new classifications will make it so that heterosexual single men and women, as well as gay men and women who are seeking in-vitro fertilisation to have a child, will receive the same priority as couples. This could make access to public funds for IVF available to all.

The move to extend the definition of a disability to include social conditions has, predictably, angered some who consider it overreach by a medical organisation that sets global standards.
[clear]


Also catching our eye:

  • Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack, snack and snack . . . if your day sounds little like this you might have snacking all wrong. Luckily, Popsugar Australia has a solution.
  • A quick power nap can determine the difference between staying productive and coasting through the day like a brain-dead zombie. But how much rest do you actually need to boost your energy levels? Lifehacker Australia has the answers.

The Cheapest NBN 50 Plans

It’s the most popular NBN speed in Australia for a reason. Here are the cheapest plans available.

At Gizmodo, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. We have affiliate and advertising partnerships, which means we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. BTW – prices are accurate and items in stock at the time of posting.