This month’s healthy news and notes

New Dubai store caters to women's cycling; researchers make a puzzling connection; new centre in Abu Dhabi emphasises early screening and prevention.

Bonnie Tu, known as the 'Grandmother of Cycling', is the creator of the brand Liv. She's seen here in March 2015 during the opening of the first Liv store in Dubai. Satish Kumar / The National

New store fills gap in market with bikes and gear for women

The Middle East’s first cycling store for women has opened in Dubai, selling bicycles and equipment for all budgets and purposes.

Liv was created by the avid cyclist and chief executive of Giant Bicycles, Bonnie Tu, who has been dubbed the “Grandmother of Cycling” and was at the store’s opening at Box Park on Al Wasl Road this month. Tu launched the brand in 2007 after struggling to find cycling gear specifically for women. There are now eight dedicated Liv stores around the world. “The Liv name came from a Latin word that means ‘peace’ and that’s how I feel when I’m on a bike. I’m peaceful, happy and at home with my surroundings,” Tu said. The Dubai store will stock a range of bikes including entry-level road, mountain and commuter bikes as well as high-end offerings. It also organises women-only community rides, technical workshops and coaching sessions. To find out more, visit the LivCyclingME Facebook page.

Puzzles key to good mental health

Think crosswords and Sudoku are just for fun? Think again. Research conducted in Finland has concluded that crosswords and other mental puzzles can help to reduce the risk of dementia in later life. Led by Professor Miia Kivipelto from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, the research team studied 1,260 people, from the ages of 60 to 77, to determine the effects of cognitive training, combined with healthy eating and regular exercise, including muscular and cardiovascular training. Publishing their results in British medical journal The Lancet, the researchers found that after two years, the test group recorded higher overall function (25 per cent better than the control group). The biggest difference was in mental function. The test group scored 83 per cent higher in executive functioning (organising and regulating thought processes) and 150 per cent higher in processing speed.

Health-screening centre opens

A new health centre has opened at Abu Dhabi’s Marina Mall with an emphasis on early detection and prevention of diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. The Marina Health Promotion Centre is modelled on the Korean Medical Prevention and Screening System and is a first for the UAE. “Early detection and prevention saves a lot of money and helps individuals to better manage chronic illnesses or achieve total treatment,” said Dr Ali Obaid Al Ali, the chief executive of VPS Healthcare, which operates the centre.

UAE Ministry of Health statistics show that cancer is the third leading cause of death in the country after cardiovascular diseases and accidents. It accounts for almost 500 deaths each year.

Screening packages will be recommended to patients after consultation with a physician at the centre.

Ladies’ run club launches

Nike has launched a women-only running club in Dubai. An extension of its Nike+ Run Club, the group meets at the Nike Store at Boxpark, Al Wasl Road, Dubai, every Monday at 7pm and covers between 1 and 5 kilometres. More information, plus registration details, can be found on nike.com.

Seaside stretch

Start the day with hatha yoga on the South Lawn at The Beach, opposite JBR, Dubai. The free classes are held every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 7am to 8am, until April 25. For more info, email [e-mail].