HEALTH NEWS   ·         Greater antioxidant intake linked with less abdominal aortic calcification ·         Half of adult ticks in the Northeast carry Lyme disease bacteria, study reveals ·         Could mulberry extract be the key to fighting obesity-induced reproductive dysfunction? ·         Aerobic exercise: A powerful ally in the fight against Alzheimer's ·         Your ability to balance on one leg reflects your brain health ·         Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation enhances tai chi chuan–linked benefits, study claims       Greater antioxidant intake linked with less abdominal aortic calcification Jiangsu University (China), January 13 2025 (Life Extension).  A study reported in Nutrition Journal uncovered an association between consuming a diet that was higher in antioxidant nutrients and reduced calcification of the abdominal aorta. The aorta is the body's main artery, which arises from the heart to deliver oxygenated blood to the body through branching arteries. Calcification of the aorta occurs in atherosclerosis, the cause of cardiovascular disease. The study included 2,640 men and women aged 40 and older. Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index (CDAI) scores, which were based on the intake of vitamins A, C, and E, carotenoids, selenium and zinc, were determined from questionnaire responses from NHANES participants, who were evaluated according to low, middle or high scores.   Higher Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index scores were associated with reduced abdominal aortic calcification. There was also an association revealed between high Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index scores and a low risk of severe calcification. Individuals with high Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index scores had a 64.8% lower adjusted risk of severe abdominal aortic calcification compared with those who were among the low scoring group.