Immune Boost; Hacker Seizures; Good Job, Great Mind

Thursday, May 8

In tonight's Medical Watch -- how mood drugs can enhance the immune system.

Immune Boost
A new study finds anti-depressants aimed at reducing stress and improving mood also boost immune function. The finding in the latest issue of Biological Psychiatry may have life saving implications. Stress has a negative impact on immune function allowing for the spread of cancer and infectious diseases. Researchers tested those with HIV and found when taking anti-depressants their body's own immune system launched killer cells to attack the virus better than those not taking the drugs.

Hacker Seizures
Hackers reach through the computer to sicken people online. Some people who logged onto the Epilepsy Foundation website suffered migraines and near seizures. That's because the site contained links to rapidly flashing images. Someone infiltrated the site planting the links and other seizure stimulating pictures. The FBI is investigating and all postings have been restricted on the epilepsy website.

Good Job Great Mind
If you are mentally fatigued at the end of your workday you'll have the stamina to stay sharp well into old age. Jobs that require analysis, problem solving, planning, organizing, and thinking on your feet build up what doctors call a cognitive reserve. Duke University scientists have been studying World War II veterans since 1990. They discovered those with complex jobs that had more intellectual demands performed significantly better on mental function tests with fewer incidence of age-related dementia than those with more physically demanding jobs.