Category: news-perspectives

People who eat healthier diets may also be less likely to lose mental sharpness as they get older, a new study finds. The study included nearly 28,000 older adults from 40 countries. Researchers gave them tests of mental sharpness and asked them questions about diet. Then they kept track of people for about 5 years. In that time, tests showed that 14% of those with the healthiest diets had a decline in thinking and memory. Among people with the least healthy diets, 18% suffered declines. Better diets were those that included more fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, whole grains and soy. Diets classified as poorer in quality included those with more red meat, deep-fried foods, alcohol and sweets. The study was not able to show whether diet actually caused the difference between the 2 groups.

Fecal transplant is just what it sounds like – implanting a healthy stool sample into a sick patient. According to researchers, more than 75% of patients who were treated with a fecal transplant for recurrent infections had sustained symptom relief. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention blame these bacteria for 500,000 infections and 29,000 deaths in 2011 alone. The most serious infection is caused by the bacteria Clostridium difficile (C. diff), which can be picked up in hospitals.The study was covered by HealthDay and published in the May 5th issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.           

Recent research suggests that sitting for long periods is harmful even for those who get regular exercise. But a new study finds that getting up and moving for just 2 minutes each hour can help reverse those effects. The study used data from a national health survey. People wore devices that measured their movement throughout the day. Researchers kept track of people for 3 years. In that time, 137 died. Researchers found that those who had short spurts of light activity were less likely to die during the study than those who just sat for a long time. For example, people may have spent the time in walking, cleaning or gardening. Doing these things for as little as 2 minutes an hour, instead of 2 minutes of sitting, reduced the risk of early death by 33%, the study found.

Since California started restricting foods sold from school vending machines and snack bars, students have become a bit less likely to be overweight. But almost all of the change occurred in high-income neighborhoods, a study found. The study spanned the years 2001 through 2010. In 2004, California banned the sale of sugary drinks and high-fat milk in schools other than high schools. Further restrictions took effect in 2007. This law set limits on fat and sugar content of snack foods sold in schools. The study included 2.7 million fifth graders. Researchers looked at their body mass index, a measurement of weight in relationship to height. The proportion of students who were overweight or obese rose slightly over the whole study period, from 43.5% to 45.8%. But the growth was halted or reversed in the years after the 2 laws took effect.

People with an abnormal heart rhythm may have a higher risk of stroke if they also have certain changes in part of the heart, a new study suggests. The study looked at 169 people with atrial fibrillation. This condition causes part of the heart to quiver rather than beat normally. People in the study received a type of MRI before having a procedure to treat the abnormal rhythm. This type of MRI shows heart muscle movement, among other things. Researchers looked at the MRI results. They compared people who did or did not have a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). They saw differences in the heart between these two groups. The function of the upper left chamber (atrium) was different in those who had a history of stroke or TIA. Researchers said that seeing these features on an MRI may show a higher risk of stroke.

People who engage in arts and crafts, use computers or have an active social life may stay mentally sharp longer as older adults, a new study suggests. The study included 256 adults, ages 85 or older. They had normal brain function when the study began. Researchers asked them about their activities, both current and earlier, during middle age. During the next 4 years, nearly half developed mild cognitive impairment. This is a problem with memory or thinking that can lead to dementia. Researchers adjusted their numbers to account for differences in sex and education. They found that people who were involved in artistic pursuits during midlife and later life were 73% less likely to develop brain problems than others. Those who did crafts, used computers or had an active social life had half the risk of brain problems of those who did not do these things.

Working up more of a sweat when you exercise may help you live longer, two new studies find. And for most people more vigorous exercise appears to be safe, a third study suggests. All of the studies focused on middle-aged or older adults. One included more than 204,000 people. Researchers kept track of them for more than 6 years. They were divided into groups based on how much of their exercise was vigorous, such as running, compared with moderate activity, such as brisk walking. Those who said up to 30% of their exercise was vigorous were 9% less likely to die during the study than those who did no vigorous activity. The death rate was 13% lower for those who did more than 30% vigorous exercise. A second study had similar results. The journal JAMA Internal Medicine published both of them. The journal Circulation published the third study, which looked at cardiac arrest risk.

Breast milk bought online may contain some cow’s milk, a new study finds. In the study, about 10% contained cow’s milk. Researchers bought 102 samples of human milk advertised online. They tested the DNA in each sample. DNA in 10 samples showed that they contained at least 10% cow’s milk. The authors said sellers could have added the cow’s milk to stretch out the amount of breast milk they could sell. A prior study by the same researchers found that milk bought from online sites also may contain germs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not recommend buying milk online. It has not banned the practice, however. Milk banks are another way to obtain breast milk. They test and pasteurize the milk. But they can’t supply everyone. They usually are restricted to babies with medical issues. The journal Pediatrics published the study. HealthDay News wrote about it April 6.

The number of newborns getting treated for narcotic withdrawal has sharply increased in the last decade, a new study suggests. The study looked at neonatal abstinence syndrome. This is a group of symptoms that affect newborns who were exposed to narcotics in the womb. These can be illegal drugs such as heroin. They also can be prescription opioid drugs such as oxycodone. In 2004, 7 of every 1,000 newborns were treated in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) for this condition. By 2013, that had risen to 27 of every 1,000. These newborns also stayed longer in the hospital. They accounted for 7 times as many NICU days in 2013 as in 2004. The average hospital stay rose from 13 to 19 days. The study was based on information from 299 NICU units in the United States. The New England Journal of Medicine published the study online April 26.

Pharmacists may have a role to play in helping people on blood thinners take their pills on schedule, a new study finds. The study used information on outpatients in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health system. The 5,400 people in the study group got prescriptions for the drug dabigatran (Pradaxa). This blood thinner is prescribed for many people with an abnormal heart beat called atrial fibrillation. It helps to prevent clots that can cause strokes. Researchers interviewed pharmacists at 41 VA centers. They asked the pharmacists about how the VA center educated people about the drug and kept track of them. Practices varied. About 28% of those in the study did not take the medicine as directed. Patients were more likely to take their medicines correctly if pharmacists, rather than doctors’ offices, did the follow-up. They also were less likely to miss doses.