Month: April 2014

Having diabetes or high blood pressure in middle age may increase the risk of memory and thinking problems later, new research suggests. The study included more than 1,400 people. Their average age was 80. They had either normal brain function or mild cognitive impairment. This is a milder form of thinking and memory problems that can lead to dementia. People received MRI scans and tests of their memory and thinking skills. Researchers also looked at medical records. They noted who had been diagnosed with high blood pressure, diabetes or both during middle age (40 through 64). On average, people who developed diabetes in middle age were twice as likely to have mild cognitive impairment as those without the condition. Their brains were about 2.9% smaller. The hippocampus, a part of the brain important in memory, was 4% smaller.

Many people treated for kidney stones may have problems afterward that send them to the hospital, a new study finds. Researchers looked at data on 93,000 U.S. patients who received treatment for kidney stones. About 14% had problems that required a hospital stay or emergency room treatment during the next 30 days, the study found. The average cost of treating these problems was $30,000. The study looked at 3 types of treatment. Shock-wave lithotripsy uses shock waves, applied outside the body, to break up the stones. The pieces then pass out of the body through urine. Uteroscopy uses instruments attached to a long tube to find the stone and break it up. The pieces are removed with a tiny basket or through the urine. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is used for larger stones. Instruments inserted into a small incision in the kidney are used to break up and remove the stone.

Specific training methods can reduce the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in children by up to 72%, a new report says. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published the report. ACL tears are common knee injuries in sports. Rates have been rising among child and teen athletes, especially girls. ACL injury risk increases at age 12 for girls and at age 14 for boys. Female athletes ages 15 to 20 account for the largest numbers of these injuries. Training programs that involve repeated jumps and strengthening exercises for the legs can help prevent ACL tears, the report says. Teaching players how to avoid risky knee positions also helps, the AAP says. The AAP urges coaches to learn about these types of training and use them to protect young athletes. The report also discusses treatment. New techniques have helped make surgery an option for more young athletes.