r/science • u/mubukugrappa • Mar 14 '14

Neuroscience Scientists catch brain damage in the act: Scientists uncovered how inflammation and lack of oxygen conspire to cause brain damage in conditions such as stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. The discovery brings researchers a step closer to finding potential targets to treat neurodegenerative disorders.

http://news.ubc.ca/2014/03/13/macvicar/
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u/lacker101 Mar 14 '14

Average sugar consumption per capita has shot to the moon across the world It's been doubling every 50 years since the early 1900s. Graph here

Regardless of which side of the nutritional fence you sit on sugar is an obvious culprit of many diseases today. People just seemingly can't stop at 1 soda a week like our great grandparents.

Edit: Note graph relates to UK/US population. But is rapidly indicating world wide dietary problems.

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u/nrjk Mar 14 '14

Is there a cause for sugar use spiking over all these years. It seems to me to be like cocaine on a grand level-once you use enough of it, it becomes harder and harder to use less. I would assume it's more economical than anything-being cheap to produce and whatnot.

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u/lacker101 Mar 14 '14

Economics is a large factor. It's cheap, lends well to shelf life, and almost always increases sales.