MORE MEDICAL NEWS BRIEFS
Adults Diagnosed with Depression Twice as Likely to Get Dementia Later in Life.
From USA Today—250,000 Danish citizens diagnosed with depression were 2.4 times more likely to have dementia later in life than those folks without depression. This study is “strong evidence that depression is not only an early symptom of dementia, but also depression increases dementia risk.” What is not known is the reason for this disparity. Is it dietary, genetic, social-related, or medication-related?
Intermittent Fasting May be Best Way to Help People with Type 2 Diabetes Lose Weight
From Health Day—Restricting eating at times (intermittent fasting) improves blood sugar levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes and helps them lose weight. Type 2 diabetics “who ate only between noon and 8 pm lost more daily weight than those who counted calories.”
Replacing Mayonnaise and Margarine with Olive Oil Tied to Reduced Risk for Mortality from Dementia Among US Adults
From Healio—Olive oil may reduce the risk for mortality from dementia among American adults. A study of the death records of over 90,000 U.S. citizens showed the subsequent risk for dementia was reduced in patients who had a higher intake of olive oil than high-fat-containing mayonnaise and margarine.
High Vitamin E Intake Appears to be Protective Against the Development of Chronic Kidney Disease
From Renal and Urology News—High intake of Vitamin E may protect against development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). A study of over 20,000 patients who took vitamin E showed that those who took the largest amount of vitamin E were 14% less likely to develop CKD than patients who took none or the least amount of vitamin E.
Long COVID is Particularly Problematic for People With Pre-Existing Arthritis
From Med Page Today—Patients with Long COVID, as well as arthritis, had worse pain and greater functional limitation compared to their status prior to COVID -19 infection. They also complained of increased fatigue and “markedly more breathlessness when climbing stairs.”
High Carbohydrate Intake Associated with Higher Risk of Mortality
A study of over 135,000 patients showed that a high carbohydrate diet correlated with a higher risk of total mortality, while total fat and individual types of fat were related to lower mortality. Total fat and “types of fat” were not associated with cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and cardiovascular death. Saturated fat was not associated with stroke. All data from this study totally contradict the dietary guidelines recommended and followed for the last fifty years. The conclusion states “Global dietary guidelines should be reconsidered in light of these findings.”
Deaths from Excessive Alcohol Consumption Rising in U.S.
According to NBC News—The rate of alcohol-related deaths in women in the U.S. has risen faster than those of men. Men still outnumber women overall in deaths from alcohol consumption.
CDC Will Soon Release Info on Annual Booster Shots for COVID-19
According to Fox News—The CDC will likely announce this Fall guidance for annual COVID-19 booster shots. It is anticipated to become similar to annual influenza vaccination.
Signs Point to a Mild COVID-19 Wave in Late Summer
According to CNN—Data from the CDC posted this week show many indicators of a mild increase in hospital admissions, ER visits, and positive COVID tests. Health experts don’t expect the cases to be severe, but there will be a surge later this summer. NPR says hospitalizations jumped 10%, mostly in the southern states.
Obesity Cardiomyopathy Identified as Distinct Pathology Tied to Sudden Death
According to MedPage Today—Data from autopsies showed that 53 of 6400 people who died with obesity also had cardiomegaly and enlarged, hypertrophic heart muscle.
Unprocessed Food Intake Tied to Higher Cardiovascular, All-Cause Mortality Rates for People With Type 2 Diabetes Regardless of Nutritional Quality of the Rest of Their Food
Healio reports—Unprocessed food intake was associated with higher cardiovascular and all-cause mortality for people with Type 2 Diabetes.
Metformin May Benefit Older Patients Following Injury or Illness
HealthDay says—Metformin targets aging cells that affect muscle function. The cells release chemicals linked to inflammation that can harden or scar tissues. Metformin reduces muscle wasting.
Combining Aerobic Exercise with Cognitive Training May Improve Cognition
Healio Reports—The combination improved cognition better than exercise alone.
Older Adults Get Greater LDL Lowering with Statins Than Younger Patients
Annals of Internal Medicine—84,000 Danish patients age 75 and up had greater LDL lowering than patients in their 50’s on the same dose (low to moderate dose) of a statin. The “take home message” is older adults can effectively start statins at a lower dose to lessen side effects.
Outdoor Cold Air Exposure Helps Improve Croup Symptoms in Children
Pediatrics—For children with acute croup, stridorous breathing can be relieved significantly by exposing the child to cold air outside the home for 30 minutes. This is not a new revelation. This phenomenon has been known forever, and I’ve even told parents of croupers to take their child out into the cool night air to get relief. A single dose of dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, plus exposure to outside air, improved 49.2% of children with stridor.
COVID-19 Worsens Kidney Function in those with Chronic Kidney Disease
Healio says—Patients with Stage 3-4 Chronic Kidney Disease saw increased odds of a rapid decline in kidney function during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seventy-six percent of patients experienced worsened eGFR. The reason for this remains to be found.
Reference: AAFP Family Medicine Today 2023 July 25.
Dehghan M, et al. Associations of fats and carbohydrate intake with cardiovascular disease and mortality in 18 countries from five continents: a prospective cohort study. Lancet 2017 Nov 4;390(10107):2050-2062.
AAFP Family Medicine Today 2023 July 31.
AAFP Family Medicine Today 2023 Aug 2.
