Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Latest Health Research

Diet

Perception of lower socioeconomic standing stimulates appetite

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 29 minutes ago
------------------------------ Recent research suggests that the psychological consequences of being in a disadvantaged position in society may stimulate appetite and increase eating regardless of one's ability to access healthier foods. These findings, out from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, add a new dimension to previous findings suggesting that the increased risk for obesity among people who are poorer and socioeconomically disadvantaged is due primarily to economic barriers that prevent access to healthier foods ... more »

Kids' Arthritis Linked With consumption of fish during pregnancy or early life

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 hours ago
Exposure to heavy metals through fish consumption in utero or during the first year of life was associated with a five-fold increased risk of subsequent development of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), Swedish researchers found. The odds ratio for JIA among children whose mothers ate fish more than once a week during pregnancy was 4.5 (95% CI 1.95-10.4, *P*<0 .001="" according="" and="" colleagues="" erik="" from="" in="" kindgren="" link="" md="" p="" ping.="" ping="" to="" university="">And for children who themselves consumed fish more than once a week during the first year o... more »
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 day ago
Have you ever tried to stay away from fast food, but found hard-to-ignore signals that represent its availability - like neon lights and ads - are everywhere? If you're stressed, tired or otherwise straining your brain power, you may find it harder to ignore cues in the environment that signal something rewarding. That's what a UNSW Sydney experiment by a group of psychologists - published today in high-impact journal *Psychological Science* - has shown. "We knew already that participants find it hard to ignore cues that signal a large reward," says study lead Dr Poppy Watson at UNS... more »

Quitting alcohol may improve mental well-being, health-related quality of life

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 day ago
Quitting alcohol may improve health-related quality of life for women, especially their mental well-being, according to a study from Hong Kong published in *CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal)*. "More evidence suggests caution in recommending moderate drinking as part of a healthy diet," says Dr. Michael Ni, School of Public Health and The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, University of Hong Kong (HKU). The study carried out by Dr. Xiaoxin Yao, Dr. Michael Ni, Dr. Herbert Pang and colleagues at HKU included 10 386 people from the FAMILY Cohort in Hong Kon... more »

Which nutritional supplements people take or the diets they adhere to actually protect them against cardiovascular problems and death?

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 day ago
A new umbrella review of meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials appeared in the *Annals of Internal Medicine*. Researchers analyzed 277 randomized controlled trials--in which nearly 1 million adults participated--to find out how various nutritional supplements and diets influenced mortality rates and cardiovascular outcomes. Of the 16 nutritional supplements considered, only two seemed beneficial: folic acid and omega-3, long-chain fatty acids. The findings suggest that taking folic acid may protect against stroke and that taking omega-3s may reduce the risk of heart att... more »

Milk and dairy products can help prevent chronic disease

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 6 days ago
An adequate consumption of milk and dairy products at different life stages can help prevent various chronic diseases. For example, there is a positive link between the moderate intake of milk during pregnancy and birth weight, length, and bone mineral content during childhood. In addition, a daily intake of milk and dairy products among elderly people may reduce the risk of frailty and sarcopenia. These are just some of the conclusions of a systematic review of 14 articles dealing with the role of milk and dairy products in the prevention of chronic diseases. The findings of the ... more »

Students chowing down tuna in dining halls are unaware of mercury exposure risks

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
A surprising number of students eating in university dining halls have been helping themselves to servings of tuna well beyond the amounts recommended to avoid consuming too much mercury, a toxic heavy metal. Researchers at UC Santa Cruz surveyed students outside of campus dining halls on their tuna consumption habits and knowledge of mercury exposure risks, and also measured the mercury levels in hair samples from the students. They found that hair mercury levels were closely correlated with how much tuna the students said they ate. And for some students, their hair mercury measur... more »

Higher salt intake can cause bloating

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
A study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that individuals reported more gastrointestinal bloating when they ate a diet high in salt. The scientists re-analyzed data from a large clinical trial--the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension-Sodium trial (DASH-Sodium)--conducted two decades ago, and found that high sodium intake increased bloating among trial participants. The researchers also found that the high-fiber DASH diet increased bloating among trial participants compared to a low-fiber control diet. The study was published June 1... more »

Heart-healthy effects of soy

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
[image: IMAGE] *IMAGE: *Soy bean, tofu and other soy products. Photo 127219018 © Yuttadanai Mongkonpun - Dreamstime.com. view more Credit: Yuttadanai Mongkonpun - Dreamstime.com Researchers at the University of Toronto have found a consistent cholesterol-lowering effect for soy protein, with pooled data from dozens of clinical trials that span the last two decades. The study calls into question the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's current proposal to revoke the health claim for soy protein and heart disease. "At no time since the original claim for soy as a reducer of serum chole... more »

22 percent of young men, 5 percent of young women engage in 'disordered eating' to bulk up

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Summary:New research finds that adolescents who see themselves as puny and who exercise to gain weight may be at risk of so-called muscularity-oriented disordered eating behaviors. ------------------------------ Adolescents who see themselves as puny and who exercise to gain weight may be at risk of so-called muscularity-oriented disordered eating behaviors, say researchers led by UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals. The researchers found that 22 percent of males and 5 percent of females ages 18-to-24 exhibit these disordered eating behaviors, which are defined as including at least o... more »

Goat milk kefir is proven to be good for your health

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
University of Córdoba Kefir is a fermented dairy product that is gradually becoming more and more common to see on the shelves of Spanish shops and supermarkets. Since it is a milk-based product, made from lactic acid and alcoholic fermentation, it is assumed to have several health-enhancing functions resulting from its protein and peptide content with biological activity (molecules made up of amino acids, smaller than proteins, that are beneficial for one's health). However, to date there had never been a complete analysis of what kinds of peptides goat milk kefir has. So, a Univer... more »

Milk: Best drink to reduce burn from chili peppers

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
People who order their Buffalo wings especially spicy and sometimes find them to be too "hot," should choose milk to reduce the burn, according to Penn State researchers, who also suggest it does not matter if it is whole or skim. The research originated as an effort by the Sensory Evaluation Center in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences to identify a beverage to clear the palates of participants in tasting studies involving capsaicin. An extract from chili peppers, capsaicin is considered an irritant because it causes warming and burning sensations. "We were interested ... more »

Could coffee be the secret to fighting obesity?

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
University of Nottingham Scientists from the University of Nottingham have discovered that drinking a cup of coffee can stimulate 'brown fat', the body's own fat-fighting defenses, which could be the key to tackling obesity and diabetes. The pioneering study, published today in the journal *Scientific Reports*, is one of the first to be carried out in humans to find components which could have a direct effect on 'brown fat' functions, an important part of the human body which plays a key role in how quickly we can burn calories as energy. Brown adipose tissue (BAT), also known as br... more »

Nutrition is the missing ingredient in home health today

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
- Real-world data from Advocate Health Care and Abbott shows prioritizing nutrition care for home health patients helped keep them out of the hospital - Improved health outcomes from nutrition intervention and educational support could help save millions of dollars in healthcare costs annually New research from Advocate Health Care and Abbott found that prioritizing nutrition care* for home health patients at risk for malnutrition had a dramatic impact on helping keep them out of the hospital - resulting in millions of dollars in healthcare cost savings. Nearly 5 m... more »
Exercise

Elbows key for walkers' efficiency

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 11 hours ago
Wandering through the Harvard campus one day in 2015, graduate student Andrew Yegian recalls how something unusual caught his eye. 'I noticed a person running with straight arms', he explains. This really stood out for Yegian, as runners usually bend the elbow, while walkers keep their arms straight, which made him wonder: 'If straight arms are better for walking, why aren't they better for running, and vice versa?' he puzzled. Was there a trade-off between the cost of keeping the elbow bent and swinging the arm at the shoulder that could benefit runners? Could walkers conserve ene... more »

Exercise improves brain function in overweight and obese individuals

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 12 hours ago
New findings out of the University of Tübingen show that, on top of its benefits for metabolism, mood, and general health, exercise also improves brain function. In recent studies, researchers learned that obese and overweight individuals are prone to insulin resistance in the brain, where it provides information about current nutritional status, as well as the rest of the body. So researchers wanted to know whether exercise can improve insulin sensitivity in the brain and improve cognition in overweight individuals. In the current study, led by Dr. Stephanie Kullmann, 22 sedentary... more »

Resistance exercise reduces excess fat around the heart

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 6 days ago
Excessive fat tissue around the heart may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This study looked at what effect aerobic and resistance exercise had on this fat tissue called epicardial and pericardial adipose tissue. This was a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial that included 50 physically inactive adults with abdominal obesity who had 12 weeks of high-intensity endurance or resistance training or no exercise as a control group for comparison. Change in fat tissue around the heart was measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Researchers report endurance and r... more »

Timing of exercise may be key to successful weight loss

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 6 days ago
In a study of 375 adults who have successfully maintained weight loss and who engage in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity, most reported consistency in the time of day that they exercised, with early morning being the most common time. The *Obesity* study also found that being consistent in the timing of physical activity was associated with higher physical activity levels, regardless of whether people exercised consistently during the morning, afternoon, or evening. "Our findings warrant future experimental research to determine whether promoting consistency in the... more »

Taking to the treadmill can ease period pain

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 6 days ago
A treadmill exercise regime can reduce period pain and improve long-term quality of life, according to a new study published in the journal *Contemporary Clinical Trials*. Researchers conducted a trial over a seven-month period to see how treadmill exercise benefited women suffering from primary dysmenorrhea, commonly known as period pain. Women aged between 18 and 43 were asked to take part in a supervised aerobic training regime three times a week for four weeks, beginning the day after the end of their menstrual period, followed by unsupervised home exercise for six months. Their... more »

Extreme exercise can strain the heart without causing permanent damage

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Researchers have found no evidence of elevated cardiac risk in runners who completed a 24-hour ultramarathon (24UM), despite the transient elevation of blood biomarkers that measure cardiac health. According to the study in the journal *Heliyon*, published by Elsevier, trained runners were more likely than their novice counterparts to experience raised levels, reflecting the greater cardiac load and pituitary-adrenocortical response to extremely strenuous exercise. "Experienced runners performed with greater intensity and speed, which placed strains on their hearts. Novice runners r... more »

Increased walking activity associated with long-term health benefits

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
Short term pedometer-based walking interventions can have long-term health benefits for adults and older adults, according to new research published in the open-access journal *PLOS Medicine* on 25 June. Tess Harris and colleagues from St George's University of London, UK and other institutions, conducted two trials of walking interventions which aimed to increase step count and physical activity. Not only did the investigators see sustained increases in physical activity at 3-4 years in the intervention group participants, they also noted fewer cardiovascular events and fractures.... more »
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
A Finnish study demonstrates that as little as half an hour of light exercise per week effectively protects against subarachnoid haemorrhage, the most lethal disorder of the cerebral circulation. Among disorders of the cerebral circulation, subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is the most lethal kind, with as many as half of those affected dying within three months. As the related mortality rate is high, a feverish search for predisposing factors has been underway across the globe for the past few decades. Previously, smoking and high blood pressure have been observed to heighten the
Aging

Poor quality social relationships linked to bone loss in postmenopausal women

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 12 hours ago
Poor quality social relationships that contribute to psychosocial stress may be associated with bone loss in postmenopausal women, suggests research published online in the *Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health*. Psychosocial stress is a well-established risk factor for many chronic diseases and previous research has suggested that a number of psychosocial stressors, such as increased major life events, lower levels of optimism, life satisfaction and education, and may be associated with fractures. Psychosocial stress refers to the emotional and physiological reactions experie... more »

Sedentary time increases after retirement -- especially in women

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 day ago
The transition to retirement changes the way people use their time and how actively they exercise. Evaluating a person's daily sedentary time using questionnaires is difficult. Therefore, the study measured changes in the sedentary time of aging workers with the help of a motion sensor attached to the wrist. Doctoral Candidate Kristin Suorsa discovered that the daily sedentary time increased by more than one hour in women when they made the transition from working life to retirement. The most substantial change was observed in women who retired from the service sector and physical ... more »

Aerobic exercise and resistance training preserves muscle mass in obese older adults

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 5 days ago
As obesity increases in aging Western populations, frailty--which is exacerbated by obesity--is becoming a greater health concern and a major healthcare cost. Now, researchers report July 3 in the journal *Cell Metabolism* that combining aerobic exercise and resistance training helps elderly obese individuals preserve muscle mass and reverse frailty as they work to lose weight. Based on a small clinical trial, the study showed that patients who completed these exercises had increased muscle protein synthesis and preserved muscle quality compared to control groups. In a previous stu... more

Diet quality may affect risk of frailty in older adults

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 6 days ago
Poorer overall diet quality was linked with an increased risk of becoming frail in a study of U.S. community-dwelling older adults, published in the *Journal of the American Geriatric Society*. The quality of the overall diet appeared to be more important than protein intake for a lower risk of frailty. During 4 years of follow-up, 277 of the 2154 participants--who were 70-81 years and characterized as "robust" or "pre-frail" at the start of the study--developed frailty. Poor- and medium-quality diets were associated with a 92% and 40% higher incidence of frailty compared with good... more »

How to tell elderly patients not to bother with cancer screening

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Over the past decades, the idea that all adults should get regularly screened for cancer -- with mammograms, colonoscopies and prostate specific antigen blood tests -- has been conveyed to the public time after time. But current clinical guidelines recommend against screening many older adults, such as those with less than 10 years' life expectancy. For doctors, talking to a patient about the idea that they've "aged out" of cancer screening can be a challenging conversation. Now, to better inform these conversations, Johns Hopkins researchers have studied the perspectives of both cl... more »

Pear-shaped is better for postmenopausal women, even if they are normal weight

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
European Society of Cardiology [image: IMAGE] *IMAGE: *Among postmenopausal with normal body mass index, higher trunk fat is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, whereas higher leg fat is associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. view more Credit: *European Heart Journal* Postmenopausal women who are "apple" shaped rather than "pear" shaped are at greater risk of heart and blood vessel problems, even if they have a normal, healthy body mass index (BMI) according to new research. In fact, the study, which is published in the *European Heart Journa... more »

milk and dairy prodprevent chronic disease

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 6 days ago
An adequate consumption of milk and dairy products at different life stages can help prevent various chronic diseases. For example, there is a positive link between the moderate intake of milk during pregnancy and birth weight, length, and bone mineral content during childhood. In addition, a daily intake of milk and dairy products among elderly people may reduce the risk of frailty and sarcopenia. These are just some of the conclusions of a systematic review of 14 articles dealing with the role of milk and dairy products in the prevention of chronic diseases. The findings of the ... more »

Pink noise boosts deep sleep in mild cognitive impairment patients

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Gentle sound stimulation played during specific times during deep sleep enhanced deep or slow-wave sleep for people with mild cognitive impairment, who are at risk for Alzheimer's disease. The individuals whose brains responded the most robustly to the sound stimulation showed an improved memory response the following day. "Our findings suggest slow-wave or deep sleep is a viable and potentially important therapeutic target in people with mild cognitive impairment," said Dr. Roneil Malkani, assistant professor of neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and ... more »

Low social engagement may be a marker of cognitive vulnerability in older adults

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Social relationships are essential to aging well; research has shown an association between lack of social engagement and increased risk of dementia. A new study by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that higher brain amyloid-β in combination with lower social engagement in elderly men and women was associated with greater cognitive decline over three years. The results of the study were published last month in the *American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry*. "Social engagement and cognitive function are related to one another and appear to decline together," said... more »

Keeping active or becoming more active in middle and older age linked to longer life

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
------------------------------ Keeping physically active or becoming more active during middle and older age is associated with a lower risk of death, regardless of past activity levels or existing health conditions, suggests a large UK study published by *The BMJ* today. At the population level, meeting and maintaining at least the minimum public health recommendations (150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity) would potentially prevent 46% of deaths associated with physical inactivity, say the researchers. Previous studies have linked physical activity to lower ... more »

Low-carb 'keto' diet ('Atkins-style') may modestly improve cognition in older adults

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
In a pilot study of 14 older adults with mild cognitive problems suggestive of early Alzheimer's disease, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report that a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet may improve brain function and memory. Although the researchers say that finding participants willing to undertake restrictive diets for the three-month study -- or partners willing to help them stick to those diets -- was challenging, those who adhered to a modified Atkins diet (very low carbohydrates and extra fat) had small but measurable improvements on standardized tests of memory compared wi... more »

Study ties poor sleep to reduced memory performance in older adults

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
Georgia Institute of Technology [image: IMAGE] *IMAGE: *A new study has found that variability in night-to-night sleep time and reduced sleep quality adversely affect the ability of older adults to recall information about past events. view more Credit: Georgia Tech A new study has found that variability in night-to-night sleep time and reduced sleep quality adversely affect the ability of older adults to recall information about past events. The study also found unexpected racial differences in the type of sleep patterns tied to lower memory performance across both younger and olde... more »
Supplements

Which nutritional supplements people take or the diets they adhere to actually protect them against cardiovascular problems and death?

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 day ago
A new umbrella review of meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials appeared in the *Annals of Internal Medicine*. Researchers analyzed 277 randomized controlled trials--in which nearly 1 million adults participated--to find out how various nutritional supplements and diets influenced mortality rates and cardiovascular outcomes. Of the 16 nutritional supplements considered, only two seemed beneficial: folic acid and omega-3, long-chain fatty acids. The findings suggest that taking folic acid may protect against stroke and that taking omega-3s may reduce the risk of heart att... more »

Are testosterone-boosting supplements effective? Not likely

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
------------------------------ Men who want to improve their libido or build body mass may want to think twice before using testosterone-boosting supplements -- also known as "T boosters" -- as research shows these alternatives to traditional testosterone replacement therapy may not have ingredients to support their claims, according to Mary K. Samplaski, MD, assistant professor of clinical urology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. "Many supplements on the market merely contain vitamins and minerals, but don't do anything to improve testosterone," says Samplaski. "Often, people ... more »

Vitamin E taken as part of a dietary supplement also increases the chances of lung cancer spread

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
A new study explains why lung cancer spreads faster in patients with certain genetic changes, and suggests that taking vitamin E, long thought of as preventive, may cause the same spread. Led by researchers at NYU School of Medicine and Perlmutter Cancer Center, experiments in mice and human tissue revealed how mechanisms that protect cancer cells from the byproducts of their own aggressive growth are connected by the protein BACH1 to cancer cell migration and tissue invasion. Published online on June 27 in the journal *Cell*, the study results reflect the nature of cancer cells, wh... more »
risk... more »

Current research into the roles of choline and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in maternal and infant nutrition

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
A review paper in the the journal *Nutrients*, highlighs current research into the roles of choline and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in maternal and infant nutrition. National data shows that most adult Americans, more than 90%, do not have adequate dietary intake of choline and DHA, this is found to be especially true in women of child-bearing age and pregnant women. Choline and DHA play a significant role in infant brain and eye development, with inadequate intakes leading to visual and neurocognitive deficits. The review paper findings suggest a link between intake of DHA and... more »
General Health

Adults with type 2 diabetes face high risk of dying from cancer

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 6 days ago
Cancer has overtaken cardiovascular disease as the most common cause of death in Scottish adults with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in the *Journal of Diabetes Investigation*. Investigators examined the causes of death of people with type 2 diabetes in Ayrshire and Arran, Scotland between 2009 and 2014 and compared them with national mortality rates. The most common cause of death was cancer (27.8%) followed by heart disease (24.1%). The study's results confirmed an increased risk of early death in individuals with type 2 diabetes compared with the general populaton.

Cholesterol that is too low may boost risk for hemorrhagic stroke

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
- Current guidelines recommend lowering cholesterol for heart disease risk reduction. New findings indicate that if cholesterol dips too low, it may boost the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, according to researchers. Over a period of nine years, a Penn State-led study examined the relationship between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol -- LDL, commonly known as "bad" cholesterol -- and hemorrhagic stroke. This type of stroke occurs when a blood vessel bursts in the brain. The researchers found that participants with LDL cholesterol levels below 70 mg/dL had a higher risk of hemorrhagic ... more »

Early warning signs of eating disorder

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Early warning signs that someone may have an eating disorder have been revealed in a large-scale data study conducted by Swansea University researchers. The results, published in the *British Journal of Psychiatry* by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, showed that people diagnosed with a disorder had higher rates of other conditions and of prescriptions in the years before their diagnosis. The findings may give GPs a better chance of detecting eating disorders earlier. Eating disorders - such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder - affect an estimated 1.6 ... more »

Health checks from age 40 avoid 'black hole'

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Seeing a health professional for a full health screening - even when you feel healthy - from around age 40 enables people to make changes when problems first set in, experts say. Flinders University research on a group of 561 seemingly healthy adults found that there was an average of five unidentified health problems per person, including undiagnosed blood pressure or early hearing loss. The 21 health domains tested hearing, memory, lung function, foot sensation, balance, diet and physical activity. In the 561 seemingly healthy community-dwelling adults aged 40 to 75 years, the ... more »

Women exposed to common antibacterial chemical more likely to break a bone

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
Women exposed to triclosan are more likely to develop osteoporosis, according to a study published in the Endocrine Society's *Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism*. Triclosan is an endocrine-disrupting chemical being widely used as an antibacterial in consumer goods and personal care products, including soaps, hand sanitizers, toothpaste, and mouthwash. A person can be exposed to triclosan via consumer products and contaminated water. The FDA also banned triclosan from over-the-counter hand sanitizer in recent years. "Laboratory studies have demonstrated that triclosan m... more »
Medicine

Antidepressants reduce deaths by more than a third in patients with diabetes

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Antidepressants reduce deaths by more than a third in patients with diabetes and depression, according to a study published in the Endocrine Society's *Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism*. People with diabetes are two to three times more likely to have depression than people without diabetes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Half to three-quarters of people with diabetes and depression go undiagnosed, despite therapy and medicine being very effective. "The incidence of major depressive disorder amongst individuals with diabetes is signi..

Statin use reduces mortality and stroke risk in dementia patients

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
The use of statins is significantly associated with a reduction in the risk of mortality in dementia patients, new research presented today at the 5th European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress has shown. The study, which analysed 44,920 Swedish dementia patients from the Swedish Dementia Registry between 2008-2015, found users of statins had a 22% lower risk of all-cause death compared to matched non-users. The research ...

Many grandparents' medicines not secure enough around grandchildren

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
[image: IMAGE] *IMAGE: *A new national poll asked grandparents where they store their medications when their grandchildren are around. view more Credit: University of Michigan Whether it's a rare treat or a weekly routine, spending time with grandchildren brightens life for many older adults. But a new poll suggests many of them could do more to reduce the risk of their medications harming their grandchild. More than 80% of the grandparents polled say they keep their medication in the same place as usual when their grandchildren visit their house - and 72% keep them in their purse...

Cholesterol medication could invite diabetes

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
A study of thousands of patients' health records found that those who were prescribed cholesterol-lowering statins had at least double the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The detailed analysis of health records and other data from patients in a private insurance plan in the Midwest provides a real-world picture of how efforts to reduce heart disease may be contributing to another major medical concern, said Victoria Zigmont, who led the study as a graduate student in public health at The Ohio State University. Statins are a class of drugs that can lower cholesterol and blood pres... more »

Commonly prescribed drugs could increase the risk of dementia, says a new study

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
The study, carried out by experts from the University of Nottingham and funded by the NIHR School for Primary Care Research, found that there was nearly a 50% increased risk of dementia among patients aged 55 and over who had used strong anticholinergic medication daily for three years or more. Anticholinergic drugs help to contract and relax muscles. They work by blocking acetylcholine, a chemical that transmits messages in the nervous system. Doctors prescribe the drugs to treat a variety of conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bladder conditions, allergi... more »
Sleep

Short sleep duration and sleep variability blunt weight loss

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
This is one of the conclusions of the Predimed-Plus study, Prevention with the Mediterranean Diet, which has been published in the June issue of the *International Journal of Obesity*. It is the first study to examine whether the quality of sleep is related to weight loss and a reduction in adipose tissue. In their study, the researchers from the Human Nutrition Unit of the Rovira i Virgili University, in conjunction with other research groups involved in the Predimed-Plus study, assessed the changes in weight and adiposity - body fat - of the 1,986 individuals who took part in the ...

Disrupted sleep in one's 50s, 60s raises risk of Alzheimer's disease

Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Protein tangles in the aging brain throw sleep rhythms out of sync, likely leading to memory loss University of California - Berkeley [image: IMAGE] *IMAGE: *Greater levels of pathological tau protein, primarily in the brain's medial temporal lobe (orange and yellow at bottom in cross section of the brain), were associated with weaker synchrony of... view more Credit: UC Berkeley image by Matthew Walker and Joseph Winer People who report a declining quality of sleep as they age from their 50s to their 60s have more protein tangles in their brain, putting them at higher risk of deve... more »
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
Georgia Institute of Technology [image: IMAGE] *IMAGE: *A new study has found that variability in night-to-night sleep time and reduced sleep quality adversely affect the ability of older adults to recall information about past events. view more Credit: Georgia Tech A new study has found that variability in night-to-night sleep time and reduced sleep quality adversely affect the ability of older adults to recall information about past events. The study also found unexpected racial differences in the type of sleep patterns tied to lower memory performance across both younger and olde... more »

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