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About 1% of U.S. adults have a gluten intolerance, also called celiac disease, a new study finds. That’s 4 times the level of 50 years ago. The study was based on blood samples taken in the 1950s and now. But gluten-free eating has grown into a fad far broader than the celiac population, the Associated Press (AP) reports. Americans will spend about $7 billion this year on gluten-free foods, the market research firm Mintel said. It’s estimated that about half of the customers do not have any sensitivity to gluten. Some eat gluten-free out of a belief that it will help them lose weight. Some say it makes them feel better. True gluten intolerance (celiac sprue) is diagnosed with blood tests and a biopsy. It causes bloating, diarrhea, pain and other symptoms. The new study suggests that there’s a true increase, not just more awareness and diagnosis. The cause is not known.

Caffeine might help to improve movement for people with Parkinson’s disease, a small new study suggests. But, despite caffeine’s reputation as a stimulant, the study did not show a clear reduction in daytime sleepiness. The study included 61 people with Parkinson’s disease. Before the study, all of them consumed less than 200 milligrams of caffeine daily. That’s equal to about 2 cups of coffee. People were randomly divided into 2 groups. One group took pills containing caffeine twice a day — after they got up and at lunchtime. The pills contained 100 milligrams of caffeine each – similar to a cup of coffee. The other group received look-alike placebo pills that contained no caffeine. After 3 weeks, the dose was doubled, to 200 milligrams twice a day. Tests showed greater speed of movement and less stiffness in those who received the real caffeine pills.

The United States already has fewer doctors than needed. Health care reform, by insuring more people, will only widen the gap, the New York Times reported July 28. The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates that the country will have 62,900 fewer doctors than needed by 2015. That shortage is expected to double by 2025. One major reason is the aging of baby boomers. Older adults tend to need more care. The Affordable Care Act is expected to add 30 million more people to the insured population by 2014. That will further drive up demand for care. The shortage of doctors has several causes, the Times said. Medical school enrollments are not increasing as much as the population. One-third of current doctors are at least 55 years old. Many will retire soon. Younger doctors are working fewer hours. And fewer are choosing primary care.

A new study highlights another possible benefit of cataract surgery — fewer hip fractures. Removing cataracts that cloud vision usually is a safe and quick operation. Success rates are high. Normally, it doesn’t require a hospital stay. The new study focused on a group of 1.1 million Medicare patients who were diagnosed with cataracts. Researchers compared people who had surgery with those who did not. They looked at the rate of hip fractures in the year after surgery. People who had surgery were 16% less likely to have a hip fracture. Benefit was greater for people who had severe cataracts, were at least 75 years old or had many medical problems. The reduction of hip fracture risk was 22% to 28% in these groups. The Journal of the American Medical Association published the study. The New York Times wrote about it August 1.

Mental abuse can harm a child as much as physical or sexual abuse, a new report says. The American Academy of Pediatrics, a group of children’s doctors, issued the report. Psychological maltreatment (abuse) includes ridiculing or humiliating a child. It also includes ignoring a child or withholding affection. Placing him or her in a dangerous situation is another form of abuse. So is cutting the child off from other human contacts. Such abuse has been linked with problems related to brain development and physical growth. It can harm a child’s social interactions, education and behavior. The report says doctors should be alert to signs of psychological abuse. But it admits that this is much harder to spot than physical abuse. Psychological abuse must be a pattern of actions. It’s not just a parent having a bad day. It is more common in families that are under stress.

Yoga may help stroke survivors recover and become more active, a small study suggests. The study included 47 people who had a stroke more than 6 months in the past. They were randomly divided into 3 groups. Two of the groups did yoga twice a week. One of the yoga groups also listened to a relaxation recording 3 times a week. The third group received usual care. The program lasted 8 weeks. Yoga classes were taught by a registered yoga therapist. Yoga poses were modified for people’s needs, but became more challenging each week. People in the yoga groups had greater improvement in balance than those who received usual care. They were less afraid of falling. They also scored higher on measurements of independent living and quality of life. Most stroke rehab programs end after 6 months. But researchers said yoga could be an affordable way to help stroke survivors keep improving.

If you have chest pain, but aren’t having a heart attack, an advanced CT scan can help get you out of the emergency room sooner, a study finds. But it might not be worth the extra radiation and later tests. The study included 1,000 people with chest pain. All had electrocardiograms and blood tests that suggested a heart attack was unlikely. Then they were randomly divided into 2 groups. People in one group got standard tests, such as a stress test. The others got a type of CT scan that gives a detailed view of arteries around the heart. People spent an average of 23 hours in the hospital with the CT scans and 30 hours with standard tests. About 47% were sent home after the CT scans, compared with 12% who had standard tests. The others were admitted. But those in the CT group received 3 times as much radiation as the standard-care group.