Dec 29, 2006

jet-setting geriatric rodents

This may be one of the most banal and offensive things I have read today. (excepting the rhesus macaque burn model, hypothermia as "treatment" for artificially induced stroke, and a correlational study between dental health of female monkeys who never brush their teeth and bone density) Granted. It's only 3:30 AM.

Study shows jet lag may be harmful

A study done on mice has shown that jet lag may not only be a nuisance to frequent fliers but could be also be a health risk.

The University of Virginia released the study that showed that a majority of the elderly mice they were testing died while being subjected to the equivalent of a flight from Washington-to-Paris once a week for eight weeks, The Washington Post reported.

Jet lag is usually accompanied by grogginess, burning eyes, headaches, insomnia and fatigue. Experts said that the study is the first real scientific look into the effect of jet lag.


That claim is beyond ridiculous. Please. Like shift-work and jet lag and other circadian jolts haven't been studied before??? By experts, do they mean the folks who conceived of this nonsense?

I have yet to find the original article (or even names of the authors), but it was apparently in the Wasington Post recently. It's possible that they have recycled an article from a few months ago, which I wrote about here.

0 Comments: