[kbajorin]

1. Attenuating non relevant differences absolutely makes sense. Attenuating is used in the context of controls to eliminate confounding variables.

2. I'm unsure how this scientific research shows bias. Small sample size, perhaps, but not much in the way of bias. You on the other hand are taking a scientific study as a personal assault on your lifestyle. The article doesn't even claim that the changes in white matter have adverse health effects.

here is an excerpt: It's also not clear whether the structural changes have any implications for people's health.

3. Yes, I did mean to type owls there.