July 31, 20094:50 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Cancer survivors are at an increased risk for psychosocial distress

According to findings from an analysis of responses from almost 127,000 participants involved in a national health interview survey, which was conducted by the US Census Bureau, cancer patients who survive at least five years are more likely to experience psychological distress compared to those without cancer. As compared to those who have never suffered cancer, long-term cancer survivors were 40% more likely to experience serious distress, according to Karen E. Hoffman, M.D., of Brigham Women’s Hospital in Boston, and colleagues. The authors commenting on the findings wrote, “Prompt diagnosis and treatment of mental distress can have a positive impact on the functioning, quality of life, and overall well-being of survivors.” The study, which was published in the July 27 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, found that out of the 127,000 participants, 4,636 participants had been diagnosed with cancer for at least five years; the other 122,220 respondents had been cancer free. “The increased risk of serious psychosocial distress and the need to screen for it should be communicated to the primary care physicians and other providers…” they added. Click here to read an article from Reuters that discusses the study further.

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July 30, 20098:06 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

The existence of synergistic memory impairment is prevalent in individuals with alcoholism and co-occurring HIV infection.

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July 24, 20096:12 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Fetal Alcohol Disorders and ADHD: Study Comparison

While children with fetal alcohol disorder and ADHD share many behavioral attributes, the reality is that severity of abnormal behavior is not the same for both groups. According to a study reported online in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research, children with fetal alcohol disorders have more severe behavioral problems compared to children with ADHD. Children with fetal alcohol disorders typically have weaker emotional processing and social cognition abilities. According to Rachel Greenbaum, Ph.D., at the University of Toronto, “Behaviorally, FASDs and ADHD can look quite similar, particularly with respect to problems with very limited attention, physical restlessness, and extreme impulsivity.” This study should be one of many reminders of the dangers of using alcohol during pregnancy. Click here to read an article from Medpage Today that discusses the study more.

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July 23, 200912:23 pm
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Wastewater Used To Map Illicit Drug Use

A study published in the July issue of Addiction examined the waste water from 100 different communities in order to assess the levels of cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine (BZE) and methamphetamine. The findings were consistent with the authors’ expectations. Urban areas showed higher levels of cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine than rural areas. However, there were no notable differences in levels of methamphetamine between rural and urban communities. According to J. Banta-Green, of the University of Washington in Seattle, and colleagues, “This demonstration provides the first evidence of the utility of wastewater-derived community drug loads for spatial analyses… such data have the potential to improve dramatically the measurement of the true level and distribution of a range of drugs. Drug index load data provide information for all people in a community and are potentially applicable to a much larger proportion of the total population than existing measures.” This study confirms the infectious problem that meth has become in all communities. It is cheap and easily accessible and does not appear to discriminate in its destruction of lives. There must be something that we (communities in America) can do differently. Click here to read an article from Scientific American that discusses the study more.

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July 22, 200912:55 pm
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

MRI scans predict likelihood of cognitive impairment in healthy seniors

MRI findings were used to track cognitive impairment in otherwise healthy seniors. Researchers used MRI scans to detect white matter lesions, which predicted risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, which can led to Alzheimer’s and other conditions causing dementia. Additionally, healthy older individuals with the greatest detection of white matter lesions were more likely to develop persistent cognitive impairment. According to Lisa Silbert, MD, of Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, “We need to determine factors that can decrease the accumulation of white matter hyperintensities over time… we also need to determine how to identify those who are vulnerable to this accumulation so they can be targeted for potential early prevention or treatment methods.” Click here to read an article from Medpage Today that discusses the study more.

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July 17, 20097:43 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

DASH Diet Combats Mental Decline

Findings recently presented at the International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease indicate that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in salts, sweets, and red meat, may actually slow cognitive decline. The diet used in the study was the “Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension” (DASH). While these findings certainly bring great hope, DASH was very difficult for the patients to adhere to, according to Heidi Wengreen, PhD, RD, assistant professor of nutrition at Utah State University, Logan and lead author of the study. Dr. Wengreen went on to say that the reported difficulty of adhering to the diet could hamper the diet’s success as a practical intervention. The study followed 3,831 people over the age of 65 years who participated in the Cache County (Utah) Study on Memory, Health and Aging. According to Ron Munger, PhD, a professor of nutrition at Utah State, who worked on the study, “No one in our study was actually able to follow the DASH plan 100%.” Click here to read an article from that discusses this study more.

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July 16, 20094:50 pm
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Second Generation Antipsychotic Drugs May Lower Mortality in Schizophrenia

There has been little research conducted about the effects of second generation antipsychotic drugs on mortality rate among schizophrenia patients. However, they (antipsychotic drugs) have always been widely believed to lessen mortality among this population. Findings from a study published online recently in the Lancet assert that patients with schizophrenia taking second generation antipsychotic drugs will actually live longer than patients that do not use antipsychotic medications. In particular clozapine (Clozaril), which has long been laden with medical community concerns over its safety, is associated with a greatly reduced mortality rate in schizophrenia patients and more so than any other antipsychotic drug. According to Jari Tiihonen, MD, of the University of Kuopio in Kuopio, Finland, and colleagues, “Restrictions on the use of clozapine should be reassessed.” Click here to read an article from Medpage Today that discusses this study more.

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July 15, 20094:47 pm
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

A Couple Drinks a Day May Keep Dementia Away

The International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease brought forth a number of findings from unique clinical studies. One of these findings was related to the protective effects of alcohol related to dementia. The study found that one or two drinks a day, and not any more than that, lessens the chances for older adults ages 75 and up to develop dementia. According to Kaycee Sink, MD, of Wake Forest University School in Winston-Salem, N.C, “Among cognitively normal older adults, one to two alcoholic drinks a day is associated with a 37% decreased risk of dementia over six years.” The moderate drinkers had a lower risk of dementia than those that did not drink alcohol at all and compared to individuals that drink more than two drinks a day. However, Dr. Sink was careful to point out that despite these findings, she does not recommended that anyone who is a nondrinker begin the use of alcohol to prevent dementia. She went on to say that patients who had been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment were shown to function at lower levels cognitively with any amount of alcohol. According to Maria Carrillo, PhD, director of medical and scientific relations at the Alzheimer’s Association, “Physicians need to be clear with their patients exactly what is meant by ‘light,’ ‘moderate’ and ‘heavy’ drinking.” Click here to read an article from Medpagetoday that discusses this study more.

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July 14, 20094:45 pm
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Physical Activity May Slow Cognitive Decline

It is already known that exercise improves mood, lessens the likelihood of depression, and is generally healthy for you. However, a new study has found a connection between regular exercise and the decline of the mind. According to findings recently presented at the Alzheimer’s 2009 International Conference on Alzheimer’s disease, regular activity can significantly slow cognitive decline. In particular, a simple activity like walking 20 to 30 minutes a day appears to have protective benefits. According to Deborah E. Barnes, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco, “What we found with our research is that even if you stop exercising for a while, when you return to regular activity, you really don’t lose much when compared to people who are continually sedentary.” The study was composed of 3,075 men and women, ages 70 to 79, who were enrolled in the Health Aging and Body Composition Study. The researchers assessed level of activity based on self-reports from each participant. The mean rate of decline among those that had sedentary lifestyles was .62 points a year; however, those that walked 20 to 30 minutes a day experienced cognitive decline at .4 points per year, a significant decrease. Click here to read an article from CNN that discusses the study more.

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July 10, 20096:46 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Anxiety & Depression Associated With Increased Chest Pain

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