Sleep
Fitful nightly sleep linked to chronic inflammation, hardened arteries
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 1 hour ago
Disrupted nightly sleep and clogged arteries tend to sneak up on us as we age. And while both disorders may seem unrelated, a new study from the University of California, Berkeley, helps explain why they are, in fact, pathologically intertwined. UC Berkeley sleep scientists have begun to reveal what it is about fragmented nightly sleep that leads to the fatty arterial plaque buildup known as atherosclerosis that can result in fatal heart disease. “We’ve discovered that fragmented sleep is associated with a unique pathway — chronic circulating inflammation throughout the blood stream… more »
Aging
Repetitive negative thinking linked to dementia risk
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 1 hour ago
Persistently engaging in negative thinking patterns may raise the risk of Alzheimer's disease, finds a new UCL-led study. In the study of people aged over 55, published in *Alzheimer's & Dementia*, researchers found 'repetitive negative thinking' (RNT) is linked to subsequent cognitive decline as well as the deposition of harmful brain proteins linked to Alzheimer's. The researchers say RNT should now be further investigated as a potential risk factor for dementia, and psychological tools, such as mindfulness or meditation, should be studied to see if these could reduce dementia risk… more »
Blood pressure medications help even the frailest elderly people live longer
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 1 hour ago
Taking blood pressure medication as prescribed helped even the frailest elderly people (65 and older) live longer, and the healthiest older people had the biggest survival boost, according to a large study in northern Italy published today in *Hypertension*, an American Heart Association journal. “We knew that high blood pressure medication was protective in general among older people, however, we focused on whether it is also protective in frail patients with many other medical conditions who are usually excluded from randomized trials,” said Giuseppe Mancia, M.D., lead study autho… more »
Lowering blood pressure reduces risk of developing dementia
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 2 weeks ago
Research completed in NUI Galway has shown that lowering blood pressure by taking blood pressure medications reduces the risk of developing dementia and cognitive impairment by 7%. The findings are published today in a leading international medical journal, the *Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)*. Fourteen randomised controlled trials (96,158 participants) were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Blood pressure lowering with antihypertensive medications reduced the risk of developing dementia or cognitive impairment by 7%, and cognitive decline als… more »
Exercise
Physical activity in all of its forms may help maintain muscle mass in midlife
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 1 hour ago
Hormonal changes during menopause decrease muscle mass, but physical activity might slow the decrement UNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄ – JYVÄSKYLÄN YLIOPISTO SHARE PRINT E-MAIL [image: IMAGE] IMAGE: PHYSICAL ACTIVITY WAS FOUND TO BE POSITIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAINTENANCE OF MUSCLE MASS DURING THE MENOPAUSAL TRANSITION. view more CREDIT: UNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄ A large study of middle-aged women shows that age-related changes in skeletal muscle are part of everyday life for women in their fifties. During this time, women transition from perimenopause to postmenopause and the product… more »
Exercise improves memory, boosts blood flow to brain
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 1 day ago
Scientists have collected plenty of evidence linking exercise to brain health, with some research suggesting fitness may even improve memory. But what happens during exercise to trigger these benefits? New UT Southwestern research that mapped brain changes after one year of aerobic workouts has uncovered a potentially critical process: Exercise boosts blood flow into two key regions of the brain associated with memory. Notably, the study showed this blood flow can help even older people with memory issues improve cognition, a finding that scientists say could guide future Alzheimer’… more »
Replacing time spent sitting with sleep or light activity may improve your mood
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 1 day ago
Moving more and sitting less was a challenge for many of us, even before states started issuing stay-at-home orders. Despite disruptions to our daily work and exercise routines, there are some subtle changes we can make at home to help improve our mental health. New research, published by the *American Journal of Preventive Medicine*, found that substituting prolonged sedentary time with sleep was associated with lower stress, better mood and lower body mass index (BMI), and substituting light physical activity was associated with improved mood and low… more »
The death marker protein cleans up your muscles after exercise
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 1 week ago
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports have demonstrated that physical activity prompts a clean-up of muscles as the protein Ubiquitin tags onto worn-out proteins, causing them to be degraded FACULTY OF SCIENCE – UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN SHARE PRINT E-MAIL [image: IMAGE] IMAGE: A SINGLE, INTENSE 10-MINUTE BICYCLE RIDE PROMPTS A CLEAN-UP OF MUSCLES AS THE PROTEIN UBIQUITIN TAGS ONTO WORN-OUT PROTEINS, CAUSING THEM TO BE DEGRADED. THIS PREVENTS THE ACCUMULATION OF DAMAGED… view more CREDIT: PHOTO: CHRIS AND SIMON BRANFORD. Res… more »
Diet
Experts debate saturated fat consumption guidelines for Americans
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 5 days ago
Researchers weigh the evidence on saturated fat and heart disease AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR NUTRITION SHARE PRINT E-MAIL Should public health guidelines recommend reducing saturated fat consumption as much as possible? Nutrition experts are tackling that controversial question head-on in a new series of papers outlining key points of agreement–and disagreement–in how to interpret the evidence and inform health guidelines. Ronald Krauss, MD, of Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute, and Penny Kris-Etherton, PhD, of Pennsylvania State University, present their positions in … more »
Eating whole grains could help lower diabetes risk
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 1 week ago
Large study looks at which types of carbohydrates affect risk of developing type 2 diabetes A new analysis of more than 200,000 people found that eating high-quality carbohydrates, such as whole grains, was associated with a lower risk for type 2 diabetes. “High intake of carbohydrates has been suggested to be associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes,” said research team leader Kim Braun, PhD, from Erasmus University Medical Center and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “We looked at whether this effect is different for high-quality carbohydrates and low-quality carb… more »
Study pinpoints top sources of empty calories for children and teens
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 1 week ago
Children of all ages are consuming high amounts of added sugars and solid fats AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR NUTRITION SHARE PRINT E-MAIL Rockville, MD (June 1, 2020) – A new study of children and teens found that more than 25% of the calories they consume were considered empty – those from added sugars and solid fats. The top sources of these empty calories were soft drinks, fruit drinks, cookies and brownies, pizza, and ice cream. “Our findings suggest a need for continued research into what children and adolescents are eating,” said Edwina Wambogo, PhD, who was a recent postdoctoral … more »
Dieting? Studies weigh in on opportunities and risks
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 1 week ago
Virtual conference presents progress and pitfalls in understanding the best way to lose excess weight Many of us are eating differently during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some are taking the stay-at-home lifestyle as an opportunity to work on weight loss goals. Get the latest research findings on fad diets, losing weight and healthful eating at NUTRITION 2020 LIVE ONLINE, a virtual conference featuring leading nutrition experts from around the world. NUTRITION 2020 LIVE ONLINE is hosted by the American Society for Nutrition (ASN), the preeminent professional organization for nutritio… more »
Eating more fibre can improve life expectancy
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 1 week ago
Eating more fibre can improve life expectancy for those with diabetes, Otago researchers say. Type 2 diabetes has reached epidemic proportions worldwide, is associated with serious medical complications, and increases the risk of dying from COVID-19. Two recent studies from University of Otago researchers have shown eating more dietary fibre improves life expectancy, although food processing may remove these benefits. One study, a review published in *Plos Medicine*, used data collected from 8300 adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes to show that those with a higher fibre intake fac… more »
Adding a blend of spices to a meal may help lower inflammation
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 2 weeks ago
Adding an array of spices to your meal is a surefire way to make it more tasty, but new Penn State research suggests it may increase its health benefits, as well. In a randomized, controlled feeding study, the researchers found that when participants ate a meal high in fat and carbohydrates with six grams of a spice blend added, the participants had lower inflammation markers compared to when they ate a meal with less or no spices. “If spices are palatable to you, they might be a way to make a high-fat or high-carb meal more healthful,” said Connie Rogers, associate professor of nutr… more »
Eating fish reduces risk of cardiovascular disease
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 2 weeks ago
A diet rich in fish or omega 3 modulates the concentration of lipids that are passed on to cells by lipoproteins and reduces the likelihood of atherosclerosis. UNIVERSITAT ROVIRA I VIRGILI SHARE PRINT E-MAIL [image: IMAGE] IMAGE: NÚRIA AMIGÓ AND XAVIER CORREIG, RESEARCHERS OF THE UNIVERSITAT ROVIRA I VIRGILI, CARRIED OUT THE STUDY TOGETHER WITH RESEARCHERS FROM HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL, HEADED BY SAMIA MORA. view more CREDIT: URV A study by researchers from the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) and Harvard Medical School has found that consuming omega 3 primarily through fish, b… more »
Coffee linked to lower body fat in women
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 2 weeks ago
*Compounds in coffee may have anti-obesity properties* Women who drink two or three cups of coffee a day have been found to have lower total body and abdominal fat than those who drink less, according to a new study published in *The Journal of Nutrition*. Researchers examined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, organised by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States and looked at the relationship between cups of coffee drunk per day, and both total body fat percentage and abdominal or ‘trunk’ fat (adiposity). They found that women aged 20-4… more »
General Health
Outdoor light at night was linked to a higher risk of breast cancer
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 5 days ago
Outdoor light at night was linked to a higher risk of breast cancer in a study published in the *International Journal of Cancer*. For the study, investigators analyzed residential outdoor light at night estimated from satellite imagery in 1996 and assessed rates of breast cancer over 16 years of follow-up in 186,981 postmenopausal women. Compared with the lowest level of exposure to outdoor light at night, the highest exposure was associated with a 10% higher risk of developing breast cancer during follow-up, after controlling for confounding factors. “The small number of studies to … more »
PSA screening: Benefit does not outweigh harm
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 1 week ago
Some men benefit from an earlier cancer diagnosis; however, more men are at risk of overdiagnosis and treatment-related complications; studies have yet to show whether a risk-adapted approach will affect this conclusion INSTITUTE FOR QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY IN HEALTH CARE SHARE PRINT E-MAIL The benefit of population-based PSA screening for men with an average risk of prostate cancer does not outweigh the harm caused. This is the conclusion drawn by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) in its final report after evaluating the worldwide evidence from stu… more »
Social isolation increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and death from all causes
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 2 weeks ago
Those who are socially isolated are over 40% more likely to have a cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke, than those who were socially integrated, new research has shown SPINK HEALTH SHARE PRINT E-MAIL (Vienna, Friday, 22 May, 2020) Those who are socially isolated are over 40% more likely to have a cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke, than those who were socially integrated, new research has shown. The German study, due to presented tomorrow at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Virtual Congress, found that those who are socially isolate… more »
Our mental health and mortality have a strong correlation with the amount of autonomy we have at our job
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 2 weeks ago
As millions continue working from home during the pandemic or are required to report to jobs as essential employees, many have raised questions about how these work conditions impact our health — and not just as they relate to COVID-19. A new study from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business finds that our mental health and mortality have a strong correlation with the amount of autonomy we have at our job, our workload and job demands, and our cognitive ability to deal with those demands. “When job demands are greater than the control afforde… more »
Virus
Six feet not far enough to stop virus transmission in light winds
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 2 weeks ago
Current social distancing guidelines of 6 feet may be insufficient, because a mild cough occurring in low wind speeds of 4-15 kph can propel saliva droplets 18 feet AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS SHARE PRINT E-MAIL [image: IMAGE] IMAGE: SALIVA DROPLETS CAN TRAVEL LARGE DISTANCES, DEPENDING ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS SUCH AS WIND SPEED, TEMPERATURE, PRESSURE AND HUMIDITY. WIND SHOWN BLOWING LEFT TO RIGHT AT SPEEDS OF 4 KPH (TOP)… view more CREDIT: IMAGE COURTESY OF THE AUTHORS WASHINGTON, May 19, 2020 — Airborne transmission of viruses, like the virus causing COVID-19, is no… more »
Antiviral drug can speed up recovery of COVID-19 patients
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 2 weeks ago
An international team of researchers led by Dr. Eleanor Fish, emerita scientist at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, and professor in the University of Toronto’s Department of Immunology, has shown for the first time that an antiviral drug can help speed up the recovery of COVID-19 patients. According to the new study, published today in *Frontiers in Immunology*, treatment with interferon(IFN)-α2b may significantly accelerate virus clearance and reduce levels of inflammatory proteins in COVID-19 patients. The research team found that treatme… more »
Further evidence does not support hydroxychloroquine for patients with COVID-19
Jonathan Kantrowitz at Health News Report – 2 weeks ago
The anti-inflammatory drug hydroxychloroquine does not significantly reduce admission to intensive care or death in patients hospitalised with pneumonia due to covid-19, finds a study from France published by *The BMJ* today. A randomised clinical trial from China also published today shows that hospitalised patients with mild to moderate persistent covid-19 who received hydroxychloroquine did not clear the virus more quickly than those receiving standard care. Adverse events were higher in those who received hydroxychloroquine. Taken together, the results do not support routine use … more »
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