Health Buzz: Biomarker CRP Isn't Cause of Heart Disease and Other Health News

Study Says C-Reactive Protein, Though Linked to Heart Disease, Doesn't Cause It

High blood levels of C-reactive protein, a biomarker used to predict heart disease, can foretell heart disease but do not cause the disease, Reuters reports. High levels of CRP, as the protein is called, are probably caused by tissue inflammation, researchers from Europe and North America concluded after studying almost 30,000 patients with heart disease. The study's lead author wrote that making drugs targeted to lower CRP would not prevent heart disease, Reuters says.

Consider these 6 ways to reduce inflammation without a statin or a heart test. Here are 12 things you should know about aspirin. And for the latest news on heart health and heart problems, see U.S. News's Heart Center.

14 Medical Pioneers Who Aren't Holding Back

In 25 or 50 or 75 years, today's scourges—cancer, heart disease, diabetes—may have receded into medical lore as 21st-century versions of childbirth fever (it once killed a quarter of the women who delivered at some hospitals) or tuberculosis (the cause of 1 in 4 deaths in Europe in the first half of the 20th century).

If these diseases fade, thanks will be owed to medical pioneers like the 14 you can read about here. U.S. News has assembled a roster of smart and imaginative researchers whose impatience with conventional boundaries and penchant for pushing past them have made this group leaders in their field. These pioneers have long been deep into such projects as seeking a way to erase traumatic memories and building new body parts from scratch—long enough that some of their discoveries, like the use of an electromagnet to treat severe depression, merit a term that researchers hate to use: breakthrough.

Researchers spotlighted include a team that's using gene therapy to reverse near-blindness, a man who's developing an artificial pancreas for people with diabetes, and a woman whose work may help unlock the mysteries of aging and cancer.

3 Tips for Boosting Your Fitness as You Age: One Triathlete's Advice

Unlike good wine, most athletes don't improve as they age. U.S. News's Katherine Hobson talked to one triathlete to find out how her performance keeps improving after three decades of competition. Her 3 tips for boosting your fitness as you age include adding protein to your diet, especially after heavy exercise. Many nutritionists say that including some protein at every meal helps you feel fuller and can aid in weight control, Hobson reports. If you work out a lot, a session with a sports nutritionist may help you tailor your diet to your particular needs. And to get the most out of your workout, figure out what your short- and long-term goals are, Hobson writes. Thinking about why you are going to the gym and what you plan to do there, for example, will help you avoid wasting workout time.

Consider Smart Fitness for Grown-Ups, a 10-week workout routine. The routine was designed by an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine and directs PRIMA, the Performance and Research Initiative for Masters Athletes. The 10-week workout's four components address flexibility, aerobic fitness, load-carrying exercise, and equilibrium and balance. Learn a fitness trainer's workout tricks for older adults, and here's how to avoid losing muscle as you age.

— Megan Johnson

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