NIH Research Matters for February 6, 2012—risk factors for heart disease, ancient roots of social networks, and restricted diet affects surgery risk

The February 6, 2012, NIH Research Matters is now available. In this week’s edition: Fending Off Cardiovascular Disease A new study confirms that controlling traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure, substantially lowers the chance of major events like heart attack or stroke over the course of a lifetime. Ancient Roots of Social Networks Modern social networks, from small networks of friends and family to entire countries, are based on cooperation. A new study suggests that our early ancestors may have had social networks strikingly similar to those of modern societies. Restricted Diet Affects Surgery Risk Several days on a restricted diet may help the body better cope with the stress of surgery. New findings from a mouse study point the way toward potential strategies for reducing surgical risks in people. Editor’s Picks from past issues: How Often Should Women Have Bone Tests? Body Produces “Industrial” Lubricant for Metal Hip Implants Research Matters 2011 Recap Looking Inside Viruses Gene Therapy Helps Patients with Hemophilia NIH Research Matters is on Facebook! Join us at www.facebook.com/ResearchMatters, and write on our wall. NIH Research Matters is also available as an RSS News Feed. Point your RSS reader to http://www.nih.gov/researchmatters/feed.xml (to learn more about RSS, visit http://www.nih.gov/news/rss.htm).