About: Alan Carpenter

Recent Posts by Alan Carpenter

Light at Night

Light at Night
Accumulating evidence over the past decade suggests that light at night predicts increased risks of multiple adverse health outcomes. Why might this be so? Animal studies show that artificial light exposure at night affects melatonin signaling and disrupts sleep and circadian rhythms, potentially promoting weight gain and obesity. Would nighttime light similarly disrupt human circadian…
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A (Behavioral) Path to Eat Better

A (Behavioral) Path to Eat Better
Factors that promote a better diet Given the massive benefits of eating better, why don’t most Australians (and Americans) eat a healthy diet? What distinguishes people who change their diet for the better and maintain those changes over the long term? Researchers in Western Australia recruited and interviewed 20 residents who self-reported significant positive changes…
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Keep Moving to Manage Knee Osteoarthritis

Keep Moving to Manage Knee Osteoarthritis
What is knee osteoarthritis? Knee osteoarthritis involves progressive, irreversible knee joint dysfunction caused by the breakdown of cartilage in the knee joint. The prevalence of knee osteoarthritis is increases with age. The aging of the American population portends increasing prevalence of knee osteoarthritis in the coming decades. Persons with knee osteoarthritis have reduced physical function,…
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Circadian Rhythms

Circadian Rhythms
What are circadian rhythms? Humans and many other organisms operate on a 24-hour clock. Certain physical, emotional, and behavioral factors change in more or less predictable ways over a 24-hour cycle. Various organs in humans have their own circadian rhythms. Light and dark exert major influence on circadian rhythms. Other factors, such eating, stress, physical…
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