A class of sedatives called benzodiazepines, which include meds like Ativan, Valium and Xanax, could be linked to higher odds for miscarriage if taken during pregnancy, new research finds. The findings held even after accounting for possible confounding factors such as anxiety and insomnia, the Taiwanese research team said. Looking at data on about 3… read on > read on >
Two types of mental health treatment are equally effective in treating fibromyalgia patients, Swedish researchers report. They compared traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to what is known as exposure-based CBT. In traditional CBT, patients receive several treatment strategies, such as relaxation, exercise or ways to manage negative thoughts. Patients in exposure-based CBT are repeatedly exposed… read on > read on >
A common stomach bug may play a part in Alzheimer’s disease risk. New research found that older folks infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) had greater odds for developing Alzheimer’s, the most common type of dementia. “Given the global aging population, dementia numbers are expected to triple in the next 40 years,” said study co-author… read on > read on >
In preliminary findings, Swedish researchers say taking a cholesterol-lowering statin could also slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The study can’t prove cause-and-effect, but might pave the way to a trial that could confirm such a link, said study author Sara Garcia-Ptacek, an associate professor of neuroscience at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. The study… read on > read on >
For the growing number of American seniors who live alone, having a beloved dog or cat by their side could help them maintain a healthy brain. New research on more than 7,900 people averaging 66 years of age found that those who lived alone were able to stave off losses in memory and thinking if… read on > read on >
Getting your preventive screening colonoscopy could be even more of a lifesaver than you thought, a new analysis finds. The two gold standard tests for spotting cancers and polyps of the colon — colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy — offer double the benefit determined in prior studies, conclude a team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),… read on > read on >
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 27, 2023 (HealthDay news) — A rising tide of cannabis-related mental health problems is resulting from the widespread legalization of recreational weed in the United States, warns a new evidence review. Nearly one in five Americans aged 12 and older used marijuana in 2021, and more than 16 million meet the criteria for… read on > read on >
Patients with Parkinson’s disease call it “D-Day,” the date they were told they had the incurable movement disorder. Now, a new study suggests they might be getting the wrong message when they get the news. “A lot of people say ‘I’m sorry, you have Parkinson’s,’” said lead author Dr. Indu Subramanian, a movement disorders neurologist… read on > read on >
When hospitals support trauma survivors’ mental health during and after treatment, patients are less likely to return in crisis, researchers report. There’s no uniform guidance on how to offer mental health services to these patients, noted lead study author Laura Prater. Fewer hospital readmissions are a good sign that people’s mental health needs are being… read on > read on >
It may not take as strict a diet as thought to keep type 1 diabetes under control: New Swedish research shows that a moderate low-carb diet still helped people with type 1 diabetes stick to blood-sugar targets. “The study shows that a moderate low-carbohydrate diet lowers the average blood sugar level and that more patients… read on > read on >
