SPINAL CORD LECTURE: A free public lecture on spinal cord repair by Prof Anthony Windebank, professor of neurology, Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, in the US takes place tonight at 7.30pm in the Westwood House Hotel, Newcastle Road, Galway city. Prof Windebank will explore how and why spinal cord injury happens and look at the latest research into stem cell treatments.
Prof Windebank is leading a research alliance with the Regenerative Medicine Institute at NUI Galway. See www.remedi.ie or tel: 091 495198.
MISSING PE CLASSES: More than half of Irish school children have only one physical education (PE) class per week, according to a new survey.
The survey, commissioned by the Nutrition and Health Foundation (NHF), also found that 7 per cent of pupils were taking PE in the classroom itself which is not a suitable environment for exercise.
The NHF highlighted the Department of Education recommendation that pupils have 120 minutes of PE per week and the World Health Organisation guideline that children should accumulate at least one hour of moderate activity on most or all days of the week. Dr Donal O'Gorman, chairman of the Exercise and Sport Sciences Association of Ireland, suggests that 120 minutes of PE per week should be mandatory.
FOOD OVER DRUGS: Nutritionist Patrick Holford will host a seminar entitled Food is Better Medicine than Drugs on Thursday at 6.30pm in the Cultivate Centre, Temple Bar, Dublin. Together with medical journalist Jerome Burne, Holford has just written a new book, Food is Better Medicine than Drugs.
In it, they suggest B vitamin niacin is more effective than statins to normalise cholesterol, essential fat supplements are as effective as Ritalin in children with symptoms of ADHD and an amino-acid supplement called 5-HTP and omega 3 fats work better than anti-depressants. See www.foodismedicine.co.uk or call 00 44 2088712949 to book tickets (€22.50) to the seminar.
Holford will also give a talk at the College of Naturopathic Medicine, Griffith College, South Circular Road, Dublin on Friday, October 27th at 6.30pm. His theme then is the role of nutrition in children's intelligence and behaviour. Tickets: €15. Booking on tel: 01 2353094. See also www.naturopathy-ireland.com