Aging
Obesity, but not poor diet and inactivity, linked to higher risk of dementia
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 14 hours ago
A large study that followed more than one
million women for nearly two decades has found that obesity in midlife
is linked to a greater risk of dementia later in life; however, poor
diet and lack of exercise are not. The study is published in the
December 18, 2019, online issue of *Neurology®*, the medical journal of
the American Academy of Neurology. “Some previous studies have suggested
poor diet or a lack of exercise may increase a person’s risk of
dementia,” said study author Sarah Floud, PhD, of the Nuffield
Department of Population Health at the University of Oxford in the Un… more »
Large study links sustained weight loss to reduced breast cancer risk
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 day ago
Results show that higher breast cancer risk
from excess body weight can be reversed with weight loss American Cancer
Society A large new study finds that women who lost weight after age 50
and kept it off had a lower risk of breast cancer than women whose
weight remained stable, helping answer a vexing question in cancer
prevention. The reduction in risk increased with the amount of weight
lost and was specific to women not using postmenopausal hormones. The
study appears in *JNCI*. In the United States, more than two in three
adult women are overweight or obese. And while high body… more »
Hydration may affect cognitive function in some older adults
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 6 days ago
Not getting enough water is enough to make you
feel sluggish and give you a headache, but a new Penn State study
suggests it may also relate to cognitive performance. The researchers
investigated whether hydration levels and water intake among older
adults was related with their scores on several tests designed to
measure cognitive function. They found that among women, lower hydration
levels were associated with lower scores on a task designed to measure
motor speed, sustained attention, and working memory. They did not find
the same result for men. The findings were recently publ… more »
Older adults who ‘train’ for a major operation spend less time in the hospital
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 week ago
Older adults who “train” for a major operation
by exercising, eating a healthy diet, and practicing stress reduction
techniques preoperatively have shorter hospital stays and are more
likely to return to their own homes afterward rather than another
facility, compared with similar patients who do not participate in
preoperative rehabilitation, according to research findings. The new
study, which appears as an “article in press” on the *Journal of the
American College of Surgeons* website in advance of print, evaluated a
home-based program of preoperative rehabilitation–called preh… more »
Playing board games may help protect thinking skills in old age
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 3 weeks ago
People who play games – such as cards and
board games – are more likely to stay mentally sharp in later life, a
study suggests. Those who regularly played non-digital games scored
better on memory and thinking tests in their 70s, the research found.
The study also found that a behaviour change in later life could still
make a difference. People who increased game playing during their 70s
were more likely to maintain certain thinking skills as they grew older.
Psychologists at the University of Edinburgh tested more than 1000
people aged 70 for memory, problem solving, thinking spe… more »
Aerobic exercise and heart-healthy diet may slow development of memory problems J
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 3 weeks ago
Cognitive impairment without dementia (CIND),
or mild cognitive impairment, is a condition that affects your memory
and may put you at risk for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. According
to the U.S. National Library for Medicine, signs of mild cognitive
impairment may include frequently losing things, forgetting to go to
events and appointments, and having more trouble coming up with words
than other people of your age. Some experts believe that risk factors
for heart disease also are risk factors for dementia and late-life
cognitive decline and dementia. Recently, researchers exa… more »
Exercise
Good aerobic fitness doesn’t protect children against type 2 diabetes, staying active does
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 day ago
[image: IMAGE] *IMAGE: *Physical
activity, fitness and insulin resistance in children view more Credit:
Eero Haapala Good aerobic fitness does not protect children against
obesity-induced insulin resistance, which is a key risk factor of type 2
diabetes, a new study from Finland shows. However, more physical
activity and less sedentary time were associated with reduced insulin
resistance also in obese children. Published in *Medicine &
Science in Sports & Exercise*, the findings are based on the
Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) Study carried out in
the Universit… more »
Yoga enhances many of the same brain structures and functions that benefit from aerobic exercise
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 6 days ago
Scientists have known for decades that aerobic
exercise strengthens the brain and contributes to the growth of new
neurons, but few studies have examined how yoga affects the brain. A
review of the science finds evidence that yoga enhances many of the same
brain structures and functions that benefit from aerobic exercise. The
review, published in the journal *Brain Plasticity*, focused on 11
studies of the relationship between yoga practice and brain health. Five
of the studies engaged individuals with no background in yoga practice
in one or more yoga sessions per week over a peri… more »
The relationship between migraine and exercise
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 6 days ago
A recent study published in the journal
*Cephalalgia*, the official journal of the International Headache
Society, highlights an overlooked relationship between migraine and
exercise. The study, entitled “Anxiety sensitivity and intentional
avoidance of physical activity in women with probable migraine”, was led
by Samantha G Farris, from Rutgers, Department of Psychology, the State
University of New Jersey, NJ, USA. Migraine affects around 10-15% of
the population around the globe, and among its most common diagnosis
criteria include a throbbing, unilateral head pain, hypersensiti… more »
Play sports for a healthier brain – Even football, soccer, hockey athletes have healthier brains
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 week ago
There have been many headlines in recent years
about the potentially negative impacts contact sports can have on
athletes’ brains. But a new Northwestern University study shows that, in
the absence of injury, athletes across a variety of sports — including
football, soccer and hockey — have healthier brains than non-athletes.
“No one would argue against the fact that sports lead to better
physically fitness, but we don’t always think of brain fitness and
sports,” said senior author Nina Kraus, the Hugh Knowles Professor of
Communication Sciences and Neurobiology and director of … more »
Being active reduces risk of prostate cancer
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 week ago
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in
men in the UK , yet we still don’t know all of its causes. The largest
ever study to use genetics as a measurement for physical activity to
look at its effect on prostate cancer, reveals that being more active
reduces the risk of prostate cancer. Over 140,000 men were included in
the study, of which, 80,000 had prostate cancer. This new study,
published in the *International Journal of Epidemiology* today [5
December], was led by the University of Bristol and co-funded by World
Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and Cancer Research UK (CRUK). … more »
Moderate intensity physical activity associated with lower risk of diabetes
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 week ago
Daily exercise at moderate intensity is
associated with beneficial levels of a hormone that may lower risk of
diabetes, according to a study published in *Endocrine Connections*. Men
who were physically active at moderate intensity for 30 minutes a day,
released higher levels of a hormone that reduces appetite and blood
sugar levels. These findings may suggest that even lower intensity of
daily habitual physical activity could help prevent metabolic diseases
such as diabetes. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to metabolic
complications such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity, and … more »
Medicine and Supplements
Sinuses bothering you? Use those nasal sprays regularly
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 day ago
Nasal saline and corticosteroid sprays are
pretty standard treatment for individuals battling chronic
rhinosinusitis (CRS). They thin out thick mucus buildup and help ease
the swelling in the nasal cavity that are the bane of anyone who has
battled what physicians often refer to as the asthma of the sinuses. If
used consistently and appropriately, these nasal sprays can lessen the
need for antibiotics and oral steroids that are needed when symptom
severities flare, according to a recent study from Dr. Ahmad Sedaghat,
an ear, nose and throat specialist at the University of Cincinnati… more »
Aspirin may no longer be effective as cardiovascular treatment
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 week ago
A new paper in *Family Practice*, published by
Oxford University Press, found that the widespread use of statins and
cancer screening technology may have altered the benefits of aspirin
use. Researchers concluded that aspirin no longer provides a net benefit
as primary prevention for cardiovascular disease and cancer. Nearly
half of adults 70 years and older have reported taking aspirin daily
even if they don’t have a history of heart disease or stroke. Overall,
an estimated 40% of adults in the United States take aspirin for primary
prevention of cardiovascular diseases, making it… more »
Scientists discover multiple mechanisms at work in widely-used diabetes drug metformin
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 2 weeks ago
Salk Institute [image: IMAGE] *IMAGE:
*Computational analysis revealing targets of metformin. view more
Credit: Salk Institute Metformin is the most commonly prescribed type 2
diabetes drug, yet scientists still do not fully know how it works to
control blood sugar levels. In a collaborative effort, researchers from
the Salk Institute, The Scripps Research Institute and Weill Cornell
Medical College have used a novel technology to investigate why it
functions so well. The findings, which identified a surprising number of
biochemical “switches” for various cellular processes, could a… more »
Aspirin can be considered a possible clinical option to other, more costly treatment and preventive options for migraines
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 2 weeks ago
According to a new reportin *The American
Journal of Medicine*, published by Elsevier, aspirin can be considered
an effective and safe option to other, more expensive medications to
treat acute migraines as well as prevent recurrent attacks. A review of
randomized evidence suggests efficacy and safety of high dose aspirin in
doses from 900 to 1,300 milligrams taken at the onset of acute
symptoms. The data also support a lower dose of from 81 to 325
milligrams as a possible preventive option. “Aspirin provides a possible
clinical option for primary healthcare providers to relieve … more »
Cannabis reduces headache and migraine pain by nearly half
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 3 weeks ago
Inhaled cannabis reduces self-reported
headache severity by 47.3% and migraine severity by 49.6%, according to a
recent study led by Carrie Cuttler, a Washington State University
assistant professor of psychology. The study, published online recently
in the *Journal of Pain*, is the first to use big data from headache and
migraine patients using cannabis in real time. Previous studies have
asked patients to recall the effect of cannabis use in the past. There
has been one clinical trial indicating that cannabis was better than
ibuprofen in alleviating headache, but it used nabilone,… more »
HPV vaccines & vaccine schedules in adolescent girls and boys
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 3 weeks ago
New evidence published in the Cochrane Library
today provides further information on the benefits and harms of
different human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines and vaccine schedules in
young women and men. HPV is the most common viral infection of the
reproductive tract in both women and men globally (WHO 2017). Most
people who have sexual contact will be exposed to HPV at some point in
their life. In most people, their own immune system will clear the HPV
infection. HPV infection can sometimes persist if the immune system does
not clear the virus. Persistent infection with some ‘hig… more »
Diet pills, laxatives used for weight control linked with later eating disorder diagnosis
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 3 weeks ago
Among young women without an eating disorder
diagnosis, those who use diet pills and laxatives for weight control had
higher odds of receiving a subsequent first eating disorder diagnosis
within one to three years than those who did not report using these
products, according to a new study led by researchers from Harvard T.H.
Chan School of Public Health and Boston Children’s Hospital. “We’ve
known that diet pills and laxatives when used for weight control can be
very harmful substances. We wanted to find out if these products could
be a gateway behavior that could lead to an eating… more »
Sleep
Good sleep patterns offset genetic susceptibility to heart disease and stroke
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 15 hours ago
Getting a good night’s sleep could be
beneficial for long-term health. A pioneering new study led by Dr. Lu
Qi, director of the Tulane University Obesity Research Center, found
that even if people had a high genetic risk of heart disease or stroke,
healthy sleep patterns could help offset that risk. The study is
published in the *European Heart Journal*. The researchers looked at
genetic variations known as SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) that
were already known to be linked to the development of heart disease and
stroke. They analysed the SNPs from blood samples taken from m… more »
Nightly sleep disturbance linked to daily risk of migraines x
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 2 days ago
*Sleep fragmentation predicted migraine risk a
day later while sleep duration and low sleep quality were not
associated with risk of migraines * Nearly half of all patients who
suffer migraines report sleep disturbance as a trigger for their
headaches. But the relationship between sleep and migraine headaches is
not well understood or well-studied. Investigators from Brigham and
Women’s Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have conducted
the largest prospective study using objective measures of sleep to date
to evaluate the relationship between sleep and migraine head… more »
Take long naps? Sleep more than nine hours a night? Your stroke risk may be higher
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 week ago
People who take long naps during the day or
sleep nine or more hours at night may have an increased risk of stroke,
according to a study published in the December 11, 2019, online issue of
*Neurology*®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
People who took a regular midday nap lasting more than 90 minutes were
25 percent more likely to later have a stroke than people who took a
regular nap lasting from one to 30 minutes. People who took no naps or
took naps lasting from 31 minutes to one hour were no more likely to
have a stroke than people who took naps lasting… more »
Skipping one night of sleep may leave insomniacs twice as impaired
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 week ago
A new study conducted by researchers at
Washington State University shows that individuals with chronic
sleep-onset insomnia who pulled an all-nighter performed up to twice as
bad on a reaction time task as healthy normal sleepers. Their findings
were published today in the online journal *Nature and Science of
Sleep*. Poor daytime functioning is a frequent complaint among those
suffering from insomnia, said lead author Devon Hansen, an assistant
professor in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine and a researcher in
the WSU Sleep and Performance Research Center. However, previous …
Science underestimated dangerous effects of sleep deprivation
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 3 weeks ago
Michigan State University’s Sleep and Learning
Lab has conducted one of the largest sleep studies to date, revealing
that sleep deprivation affects us much more than prior theories have
suggested. Published in the *Journal of Experimental Psychology:
General*, the research is not only one of the largest studies, but also
the first to assess how sleep deprivation impacts placekeeping – or, the
ability to complete a series of steps without losing one’s place,
despite potential interruptions. This study builds on prior research
from MSU’s sleep scientists to quantify the effect lack of … more »
Lack of sleep may explain why poor people get more heart disease
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 3 weeks ago
Insufficient sleep is one reason why
disadvantaged groups have more heart disease. That’s the finding of a
study published today in *Cardiovascular Research*, a journal of the
European Society of Cardiology (ESC).1 People with lower socioeconomic
status sleep less for a variety of reasons: they may do several jobs,
work in shifts, live in noisy environments, and have greater levels of
emotional and financial stress. This was the first large
population-based study to examine whether lack of sleep could partly
explain why poor people have more heart disease. It found that short
sleep e… more »
Mindfulness
Mindfulness training may help lower blood pressure
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 week ago
As the leading cause of death in both the
United States and the world, heart disease claims nearly 18 million
lives every year, according to the World Health Organization. Many of
these deaths are due to hypertension, or abnormally high blood pressure,
and could be prevented through medication or lifestyle changes such as
healthier eating, weight loss and regular exercise — but behavior change
is often challenging. That’s where mindfulness may be useful, says Eric
Loucks, an associate professor of epidemiology, behavioral and social
sciences, and medicine at Brown University. “We… more »
General Health
Early-life exposure to dogs may lessen risk of developing schizophrenia
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 15 hours ago
Ever since humans domesticated the dog, the
faithful, obedient and protective animal has provided its owner with
companionship and emotional well-being. Now, a study from Johns Hopkins
Medicine suggests that being around “man’s best friend” from an early
age may have a health benefit as well — lessening the chance of
developing schizophrenia as an adult. And while Fido may help prevent
that condition, the jury is still out on whether or not there’s any
link, positive or negative, between being raised with Fluffy the cat and
later developing either schizophrenia or bipolar disorder…. more »
A strong link between non-HDL cholesterol levels and long-term risk for cardiovascular disease in people aged under 45 years
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 1 week ago
– Study is the most comprehensive analysis of
long-term risk for cardiovascular disease related to non-high-density
lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol – including almost 400,000 people from
19 countries who were followed for up to 43.5 years (median 13.5 years
follow-up) between 1970 to 2013. – This longer-term evidence may be
particularly important in people aged under 45 years. – Depending on
cholesterol level and number of cardiovascular risk factors, men and
women aged under 45 years have a 12-43% or 6-24% risk (respectively) of
having fatal or no… more »
Analysis of US life expectancy
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report – 3 weeks ago
JAMA *Bottom Line:* Examining life expectancy
in the United States over nearly 60 years and identifying factors that
contributed to recent increases in mortality were the focus of this
expansive report. Researchers used data from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and the U.S. Mortality Database to analyze
changes in life expectancy and mortality rates, and they reviewed
epidemiologic literature to add context to the vital statistics and
explore explanations for the trends. Life expectancy increased almost 10
years, from 69.9 years in 1959 to 78.9 years in 2016, but the… more »
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