Health-Related News Story
The accuracy and credibility of health-related news article is of significance as incorrect information can be misleading to patients and the general population. This paper will trace the origin of a health-related story and evaluate its accuracy and representativeness of its contents in relation its source article. The health-related story selected for the article was published in the New York Times on 17th February 2016. It is authored by Reynolds and is entitled “Which type of exercise is the best for the brain”. The article reports the findings of a study by Nokia et al. (2016) entitled “Physical exercise increases adult hippocampal neurogenesis in male rats provided it is aerobic and sustained”.
The blog article is credible as it accurately presents the findings of the Nokia et al. (2016) study in a language that is easily understandable even by a lay man. The health news story is current as the study it refers to has just been published in 2016. The information presented in the blog is relevant to my needs as it addresses the benefits of exercise in improving regeneration of brain cells, an aspect I am interested in. The blog is under the wellness section of the online New York Times. It is authored by a blogger by the name of Gretchen Reynolds. The New York Times is a relatively credible source of information on matters pertaining to health. The information in this blog seems to have been published for the purpose of informing readers about the health benefits of exercise.
Regarding the journal article, the goal of the research study is clearly defined. The researchers sought to compare the effects of different forms of physical exercise on adult hippocampal neurogenesis in adult male rats. The research hypotheses for the study are clearly stated. The researchers hypothesized that high-intensity training and resistance training would promote adult hippocampal neurogenesis. They also hypothesized that genetic predisposition would not affect baseline adult hippocampal neurogenesis but exercise activity would enhance this process in low and high response trainer rats. The participants of the study are clearly described. The study was conducted on rat models that had been developed by the researchers through selective breeding. The design and location of the study are clearly described. The study employed an experimental research design and was conducted at the animal research unit of the University of Jyväskylä. No instruments were used to collect data in this study. Rather, the researchers analyzed brain samples from rats using laboratory methods. Consequently, reliability and validity of instruments are not reported for this study.
The results of the study directly address the three hypotheses of the study. The study found that of voluntary wheel training, treadmill training, and scaling of vertical heights, voluntary wheel training elicited the produced the most abundant adult hippocampal neurogenesis in high response trainer rats compared to their sedentary counterparts. The study also found more adult hippocampal neurogenesis in the rats that had been subjected to endurance training as compared to those that had been subjected to resistance training. Resistance training did not lead to any substantial differences in adult hippocampal neurogenesis. The researchers concluded that aerobic sustained physical exercise promotes adult hippocampal neurogenesis. This conclusion is congruent and reasonable with the data analyses and findings of the study. The researchers did not extrapolate their findings to a population identical to the one being studied. Rather, they discuss limitations generalization of the findings of their study such as the fact the study incorporated only male rats. The findings of the study are meaningful to humans as they suggest that aerobic exercise can improve adult hippocampal neurogenesis. These findings have important ramifications for neurodegenerational disease conditions such as Parkinson’s disease as they point towards potential prevention strategies for such diseases.
In summary, the health-related news article succinctly summarized the study article in a language understandable to persons without technical knowledge on the research topic. It was published in a relatively credible media and is timely. Regarding the journal article, its aims, research hypotheses, participants, design, location, and data collection methods are clearly described. The findings of the study directly address its hypotheses. The conclusions of the study are appropriate and congruent with the research design and data analyses.
References
Nokia, M. S,. Lensu, S., Ahtianen, J. P., Johansson, P. P., Koch, L. G., Britton, S. L., & Kainulainen, H. (2016). Physical exercise increases adult hippocampal neurogenesis in male rats provided it is aerobic and sustained. Journal of Physiology.
Reynolds, G. (2016). Which type of exercise is best for the brain? Retrieved from http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/02/17/which-type-of-exercise-is-best-for-the- brain/?r=0
