Running May Be Good for Knees

About 25% of seniors have had them

(NEWSER) - "Silent strokes" may be taking a toll on seniors' memory. A new study shows that seniors who have suffered such strokes—they don't have obvious symptoms but leave behind dead brain cells—do worse on memory tests, reports USA Today . It's no small thing: An estimated 1 in 4 seniors have had the strokes. More»

Don't start too fast; wear the correct shoes; eat right

(NEWSER) - With winter showing signs (well, in some places) of easing off, it’s time for a lot of us to get back into running. But beginner or old hand, Megan Kretz cautions, beware these mistakes:

• Too much, too soon: Stick to the 10% rule when increasing distance (ie, if you’re running 25 miles next week, don’t go past 27.5 the next), and if you’re adding distance, don’t go for more speed, as well.

French prez 'felt faint,' undergoing medical tests

(AP) - Nicolas Sarkozy “felt faint” during his usual morning jog today, reports the Guardian, and was admitted to the hospital where he was under observation and undergoing further tests. Elysee Palace declined to comment further, saying it would release further details this afternoon. The energetic French president is known as something of a fitness fanatic. More»

(NEWSER) - Runners may be safer going barefoot than stuffing their feet into pricey sneakers with thick, synthetic heels, Wired reports. Research shows that the modern jogging shoe, first sold by Nike in the 1970s, hasn't prevented injuries and may even be causing them. Barefoot running—or running with geeky, minimalist footwear like the Vibram Fivefingers—could be much healthier. More»

(NEWSER) - A landmark study of rhesus monkeys suggests one way to live to a ripe old age in good health: Eat less. A lot less. Monkeys on a strict diet over the past 20 years—as in, a whopping 30% fewer calories than normal—have proven to be a healthier bunch than a control group, with fewer cases of cancer, diabetes, and heart and brain disease, reports the New York Times. More»