COVID-19
Study Says Long COVID May Cause Face Blindness: COVID-19 is known to cause some people to lose taste and smell, and to instill "brain fog," as well.Now, new research published in Cortex, links it to face blindness – or prosopagnosia -- the inability to recognize faces."Self-report survey data from 54 respondents with long COVID showed that a majority reported reductions in visual recognition and navigation abilities," researchers wrote. "COVID-19 can produce severe and selective neuropsychological impairment similar to deficits seen following brain damage, and it appears that high-level visual impairments are not uncommon in people with long COVID."
COVID Raises Risk for Long-Term GI Complications: People who have had COVID-19 have a 36% overall higher risk of developing gastrointestinal (GI) problems in the year after infection than people who have not had the illness, a large new study indicates. The results were published online in Nature Communications.
Who Is Most Likely to Get Long COVID? Patient Data May Tell: Certain groups of people – like women, smokers, and those who had severe COVID-19 infections – are at a higher risk of long COVID, a review of more than 800,000 patients has found. Having other conditions – like anxiety, depression, asthma, diabetes, and being immunocompromised – were also connected to a higher likelihood of getting long COVID Yet, researchers also found that patients who had at least two doses of the COVID vaccine had a significantly lower risk of getting long COVID down the line. The research, published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine , combined 41 previously published articles.
Treating Long-COVID Brain Fog With ME/CFS Guidelines: Medscape
Cleveland Clinic researchers find sleep disturbances prevalent in long COVID: Study shows 41% of patients with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 had moderate to severe sleep issues and that Black patients were three times more likely to develop these disturbances. The findings were published in Journal of General Internal Medicine.
You're less likely to get long COVID after a second infection than a first: The chances of long COVID — a suite of symptoms including exhaustion and shortness of breath — falls sharply between the first and second infections, according to recent research. But the risk does not fall to zero, according to the latest results of an ongoing survey of more than 500,000 people in the U.K. through March 5.
PAIN
Migraine and Cluster Headaches are Linked to Your Body's Internal Clock Researchers published a meta-analysis, along with an accompanying editorial, in the online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Data on migraine and cluster headaches shows a strong correlation between these headaches and the time of day, with a circadian pattern present in 71 percent of cluster headache patients and 50 percent of migraine patients. The study’s author says the findings help illuminate why headaches happen at consistent times and potentially open the door to new circadian-based treatment options.
Patients with chronic pain value empathic doctors who validate concerns and communicate clearly:Physician empathy and physician communication were strongly associated with patient satisfaction with medical care for chronic low back pain. Researchers argue that patients with chronic pain highly value physicians who are empathic and who make efforts to more clearly communicate treatment plans and expectations. The Annals of Family Medicine
Pulsed radiofrequency with steroid injection brings sciatica relief: Researchers found that a minimally invasive procedure combined with epidural steroid injection treatment led to superior pain reduction and disability improvement over one year in patients with sciatica. The results of the study were published in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The combined treatment performed better than steroid injections alone.
Dedicated protocol of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is more effective than the drug treatment available today for fibromyalgia caused by head injury: Researchers from Tel Aviv University compared treatment with a dedicated protocol of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to the pharmacology (drugs) treatment available today for patients suffering from fibromyalgia as a result of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The researchers found that the dedicated hyperbaric oxygen therapy is much more effective in reducing pain than the drug treatment, and it even resulted in the healing of 2 out of 5 patients. PLOS One
Equine-facilitated therapy improved the functioning of patients with low back pain: Patients with chronic low back pain may benefit from equine-facilitated therapy (EFT), a new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows. During a 12-week intervention, the perceived amount of pain decreased, and the ability of daily functioning improved among EFT participants. The findings were published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
New Guidelines for Cannabis in Chronic Pain Management Released: Developed by a group of Canadian researchers, clinicians, and patients the guidelines note that cannabinoid-based medicines (CBM) may help clinicians offer an effective, less addictive, alternative to opioids in patients with chronic noncancer pain and comorbid conditions. "We don't recommend using CBM first line for anything pretty much because there are other alternatives that may be more effective and also offer fewer side effects." The guidelines were published online March 27 in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.
Volunteering or donating to charity could help ease your physical pain, study suggests: A new, first-of-its-kind study suggests that volunteering with any organisation, or donating money to charity, reduces the effects of physical pain on the ability of people to work, with volunteering having a larger effect than donating to charity. Journal of Psychosomatic Research
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Interested in CBD? You’re Not Alone. 30% of US Adults Are Too: Healthline recently conducted a survey among more than 8,800 US adults to find out what questions, concerns, and preferences people generally have about using CBD products.Results showed that 30% of respondents are either currently using CBD products as part of their lifestyle routine or are interested in trying them. That’s a significant number considering hemp-derived CBD was legalized in the US a little over four years ago.
CBD Compounds May Help Reverse Opioid Overdoses: Researchers are studying how specific components of cannabidiol (CBD) may supplement the opioid overdose drug naloxone. The initial finding indicated that CBD derivatives made naloxone treatment more effective, even against the opioid fentanyl. This latest study adds to existing research suggesting that CBD may provide a benefit in treating opioid overdoses, addiction cravings, and withdrawal symptoms. Study presented at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society
Recreational Cannabis Tied to Unintended Harms, Benefits: Recreational cannabis is associated with an increase in car crash fatalities but a decrease in opioid-related overdose deaths, according to a study published in the March issue of Social Science & Medicine. "The results suggest that a potential unintended consequence of recreational markets is increased cannabis-intoxicated driving and crash deaths, and, hence, a potential need for policies focused on reducing driving under the influence of cannabis," the authors write.
70% of Cannabis Products Have Less THC Than They Claim: Researchers have found that many of the cannabis products they tested had lower amounts of THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, than what was listed on the label. Cannabis flower refers to the dried flower bud of a female cannabis plant. THC is the main intoxicating compound in the cannabis plant. PLoS ONE.
FDA ACTION
• Approves over the counter Narcan, opioid overdose drug
• Withdrew approval of Makena. This drug was approved to reduce the risk of preterm birth in women pregnant with one baby who have a history of spontaneous preterm birth.
PREVENTION
Exercise
Yoga Linked With Improved Gait Speed, Lower-Extremities Strength in Older Adults: In a systematic review published in Annals of Internal Medicine, the researchers identified 33 randomized, controlled trials of yoga-based interventions including 2,384 adults aged 65 years and older. The studies mainly involved Iyengar or chair-based yoga methods. The study population included community-dwelling seniors, nursing home residents, and individuals with chronic diseases. Overall, individuals who were randomized to engage in a yoga practice showed improved gait speed and lower extremity strength, compared with controls who were inactive or received an education intervention, with moderate-certainty evidence. The researchers also found low-certainty evidence in favor of yoga for improved balance and for a composite measure of physical function, and low-certainty evidence in favor of yoga for improved handgrip strength.
One or Two High-Step Days May Reduce Mortality Risks: Taking 8,000 steps or more for just 1 or 2 days a week was linked to a significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, according to a study of about 3,000 adults. In a study published in JAMA Network Open, the researchers reviewed 10-year follow-up data for 3,101 adults aged 20 years and older who were part of the 2005 and 2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Physical exercise helps to improve symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease: Findings from the first Cochrane review of the available evidence found that any type of structured exercise is better than none. The review looked at 156 randomised controlled trials comparing physical exercise with no physical exercise or with different types of exercise, and it included a total of 7,939 people from around the world, making it the largest and most comprehensive systematic review to study the effects of physical exercise in people with Parkinson’s Disease.
Exercise may reduce negative effects of unhealthy sleep duration on longevity: Sleeping too little or too long is linked with a shorter life, but scientists have found that physical activity counteracts some of these negative effects. The research in more than 90,000 adults is published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).1 “The study showed that increased physical activity levels weakened the mortality risks associated with short or long sleep duration.
Diet/Nutrition
E.coli from Ground Meat May Cause Over 480,000 UTIs Every Year: According to a recent study published in the medical journal One Health, E. coli from meat products may be a major cause of urinary tract infections in the U.S. Foodborne zoonotic E. coli strains were linked with urinary tract infections, and researchers estimated it causes between 480,000 and 640,000 urinary tract infections in the United States each year.To avoid infection, wash your food and hands thoroughly, stay hydrated, take showers instead of baths and urinate after intercourse.
A Daily Coffee May Reduce Your Type 2 Diabetes Risk Drinking coffee every day may help lower your risk of type 2 diabetes, according to new research. The report, published in the journal Clinical Nutrition Wednesday, found that having one additional cup of coffee each day was linked to a 4 to 6% lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
The Harvard Diet May Increase Your Chances of Living Longer by 20%: A new study has found that four specific eating plans were all linked to greater longevity. One plan in particular, the Harvard Diet, is gaining attention. It was developed for the study and includes aspects of MyPlate as well as the Mediterranean diet. the Harvard Diet, or Healthy Eating Plate, is almost identical to MyPlate, which was developed by the USDA in June 2011. However, there are a few important differences. “Both concepts recommend 1/2 of your plate/meal serving should consist of fruits/vegetables, 1/4 from whole grains, and 1/4 from proteins. The difference is that the Harvard Diet advises a larger proportion of vegetables versus fruit than MyPlate does.
Eating Sugary, High-Fat Foods Can Rewire Your Brain to Crave Sweets: The study, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, found that foods high in fat and sugar activate the dopaminergic system — a region in the brain responsible for motivation and reward. As a result, the brain begins to seek out those unhealthy treats.
Magnesium-Rich Diet Linked to Lower Dementia Risk: Investigators studied over 6000 cognitively healthy individuals, aged 40-73, and found that those who consumed more than 550 mg of magnesium daily had a brain age approximately 1 year younger by age 55 years, compared with a person who consumed a normal magnesium intake (~360 mg/day). The study was published online March 10 in the European Journal of Nutrition.
Low-Volume, Daily Alcohol Consumption Not Protective Against Death: Daily low or moderate alcohol intake is not significantly associated with all-cause mortality risk, but risk increased at higher consumption levels, particularly for women, according to a review published online March 31 in JAMA Network Open. Abstract/Full Text
Mediterranean, Low-Fat Dietary Programs Beneficial for Elevated Cardiovascular Risk: Mediterranean and low-fat dietary programs seem beneficial for reducing mortality and morbidity among patients with elevated cardiovascular risk, according to a review published online March 29 in The BMJ. The researchers found that at last reported follow-up, Mediterranean dietary programs proved superior to minimal intervention for prevention of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, stroke, and nonfatal myocardial infarction (odds ratios, 0.72, 0.55, 0.65, and 0.48, respectively) based on moderate-certainty evidence. In addition, low-fat programs proved superior to minimal intervention for prevention of all-cause mortality and nonfatal myocardial infarction (odds ratios, 0.84 and 0.77, respectively) based on moderate-certainty evidence. For both dietary programs, the absolute effects were more pronounced for high-risk patients. For mortality and nonfatal myocardial infarction, there were no convincing differences seen between Mediterranean and low-fat programs. Little or no benefit was seen for the remaining five dietary programs versus minimal intervention. Abstract/Full Text
How Wild Blueberries May Help Lower Blood Pressure and Boost Your Brain: People who consumed a drink made out of freeze-dried wild blueberry powder once a day for 12 weeks saw a reduction in their systolic blood pressure of 3.59 millimeters of mercury (mmHg), compared to people who consumed a drink made from a placebo powder. Wild blueberry powder drinkers also saw improvements in their blood vessel function. Other studies have also found that eating blueberries — or blueberry compounds known as anthocyanins — improves vascular function. The study was published March 25 in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Sleep
Strong Support for CBT as First-Line Treatment for Insomnia in Seniors: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) should be the first-line therapy for insomnia in seniors, but many clinicians are unaware of its benefits, experts say. American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) 2023 Annual Meeting
Disordered Sleep Tied to a Marked Increase in Stroke Risk: Results of a large international study show stroke risk was more than three times higher in those who slept too little, more than twice as high in those who sleep too much, and two to three times higher in those with symptoms of severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The study also showed the greater the number of sleep disorder symptoms, the greater the stroke risk. The 11% of study participants with five or more symptoms of disordered sleep had a fivefold increased risk for stroke. The findings were published online April 6 in the journal Neurology.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may directly cause early cognitive decline: Researchers from the UK, Germany, and Australia have shown for the first time that in middle-aged men, OSA can also cause early cognitive decline, even in patients who are otherwise healthy and not obese. The results are published in Frontiers in Sleep.
New national indicator report details importance of prompt sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment: The Count on Sleep partnership, a collaboration between several professional and patient-focused organizations, has released a national indicator report for obstructive sleep apnea through a grant awarded to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the symptoms, risk factors, prevalence, and burden of obstructive sleep apnea and serves as a resource for both the public and the health care communities on the importance of diagnosis and long-term treatment.
Poor sleep may bolster genetic susceptibility to asthma, potentially doubling risk: Poor quality sleep may bolster a person’s genetic susceptibility to asthma, potentially doubling their risk of being diagnosed with the condition, suggests a large UK Biobank study, published in the open access journal BMJ Open Respiratory Research.
Vitamins/Supplements
Prenatal Supplements Fail to Meet Nutrient Needs: In a new study published this month in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, investigators observed what many physicians have long suspected: most prenatal vitamins and other supplements do not adequately make up the difference of what food-based intake of nutrients leave lacking. Despite patients believing they are getting everything they need with their product purchase, they fall short of guideline-recommended requirements.
Do B Vitamins Reduce Parkinson's Risk? Increasing intake of folate and vitamin B6 beyond recommended daily levels offers no protective benefit against Parkinson's disease (PD), a new study shows.Though there was some evidence that vitamin B12 early in life was associated with decreased PD risk, the findings were inconsistent and were only observed in people whose daily intake was 10 times the recommended level. The findings were published online March 20 in Movement Disorders.
Other
Losing Any Amount of Weight is Good for Your Heart — Even if You Gain Some Back: A new analysis from the American Heart Association showed that weight loss reduced certain risk factors of cardiovascular disease even if some weight was regained later. The protective effects of weight loss appear to benefit heart health for several years. People who participated in behavioral weight loss programs also saw improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, and certain risk factors for type 2 diabetes. These findings were part of a new research analysis on heart health and behavioral weight reduction programs published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes
Hormonal Birth Control, No Matter Which Kind, Linked to Breast Cancer, Study Finds: Past research has shown that hormonal contraceptives containing both estrogen and progestin are linked to a slight increase in breast cancer risk. Now, a new study reports that progestin-only birth control has a similar breast cancer risk. Experts, however, say the overall risk from both types of birth control remain relatively low. study PLOS Medicine.
The 5 Biggest Changes in the 2023 Adult Vaccine Schedules This year’s five most important changes from the ACIP's new adult schedule for 2023, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine include: COVID vaccines now front and center. New emphasis on polio vaccination and Inclusion of some nonvaccine products (such as monoclonal antibody products)
Time out: We all need a three-day weekend: new empirical research shows that the extra time off is good for our health. Assessing changes in daily movements before, during and after holidays, researchers found that people displayed more active, healthy behaviours when they were on holiday, even when they only had a three-day break. “In this study, we found that movement patterns changed for the better when on holiday, with increased physical activity and decreased sedentary behaviour observed across the board. “We also found that people gained an extra 21 minutes of sleep each day they were on holiday, which can have a range of positive effects on our physical and mental health. For example, getting enough sleep can help improve our mood, cognitive function, and productivity. It can also help lower our risk of developing a range of health conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depression.
TREATMENT
ECT for Severe Depression Tied to Improved Cognition in Seniors: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in older patients with refractory depression and bipolar disorder has been linked to improvement in some key cognitive measures, allaying fears that the treatment could have a deleterious impact in this patient population, new research shows."The current findings suggest older adults of more advanced age — 70-79 vs 50-59 years old, may actually show greater improvement in attention and executive function after undergoing ECT for refractory depression." American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) 2023 Annual Meeting
Advanced Prostate Cancer: Experts Say This Double Therapy Can Help: Results of a clinical trial, published March 27 in The Lancet OncologyTrusted Source, support the use of the drug enzalutamide alongside androgen deprivation therapy for men with metastatic prostate cancer. This trial, known as ENZAMET, was carried out by researchers around the world
A Better, Lower-Cost Option for Mild to Moderate Depression? A mindfulness-based cognitive therapy self-help (MBCT-SH) intervention in which patients were supported by a trained practitioner led to better clinical outcomes at lower cost than practitioner-supported cognitive-behavioral therapy self-help (CBT-SH), new research shows. The study was published online March 22 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Is It Time to Stop Treating High Triglycerides? Recent trial evidence has failed to show a cardiovascular benefit to treating high triglycerides. The publication of the PROMINENT trial, where pemafibrate successfully lowered high levels but was not associated with a lower risk for cardiovascular events, reinforced the point. Is it time to stop measuring and treating high triglycerides? Medscape https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990126
Transcatheter Arterialization Safe for Limb-Threatening Ischemia: Transcatheter arterialization of the deep veins is safe for patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia and no conventional surgical or endovascular revascularization treatment options, according to a study published online March 29 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
ECT vs Ketamine for Major Depressive Disorder: New Data: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) appears to have a small advantage over ketamine for improving depressive symptoms in adults with a major depressive episode, results of a new review show. Findings suggest that the therapeutic advantage may be smaller than what was demonstrated in prior analyses." The study was published online in JAMA Psychiatry.
Phototherapy a Safe, Effective, Inexpensive New Option for Dementia? Phototherapy is a safe, effective, noninvasive, and inexpensive way of boosting cognition for patients with dementia, new research suggests. It may be "one of the most promising interventions for improving core symptoms" of the disease. A new meta-analysis shows that patients with dementia who received phototherapy experienced significant cognitive improvement, compared to those who received usual treatment. However, there were no differences between study groups in terms of improved depression, agitation, or sleep problems. The study was published online April 5 in Brain and Behavior.
OTHER
How Bone Density May Be Linked to Dementia Risk: Researchers say a loss in bone density may be linked to an increased risk of dementia.They aren’t sure why there may be a connection, but they note that low bone density and dementia tend to occur in older age. Daily activity and a healthy diet are two ways to improve overall bone health. study published in Neurology,
The Abortion Pill: Mifepristone Remains Available After Latest Court Ruling
Cancer, Heart Disease Vaccines May Be Ready by 2030, Moderna Says: Vaccines for the world's most deadly diseases, like cancer and heart disease, will likely be ready by 2030 and could save millions of lives, according to the top doctor at one the world's leading drug companies. The announcement is yet another sign of what many are calling "the golden age" of vaccine development, which is largely credited to the pandemic's use of mRNA technology to create COVID-19 vaccines. Medscape
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