Wednesday 31 August 2016

More rough sleepers 'in need of psychiatric support'

Rough sleepers in England are more likely to be suffering from mental health issues, analysis shows. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Zika vaccine trials begin – but fears remain over virus’s impact

The trial comes amid warnings that even infected babies born with normal-sized heads could be at risk of developmental disorders via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..

Zika vaccine trials begin – but fears remain over virus’s impact

The trial comes amid warnings that even infected babies born with normal-sized heads could be at risk of developmental disorders via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..

Junior doctor strikes 'to cause misery' - Jeremy Hunt

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt condemns the latest planned strike by junior doctors in England. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Alzheimer's drug study gives 'tantalising' results

A drug that destroys the characteristic protein plaques that build up in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's is showing "tantalising" promise, scientists say. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Instagram posts can reveal depression before doctors diagnose it

Software that analyses your Instagram photos could one day act as an early warning that you might want to see your physician via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..

Tips for sun protection

Tips for sun protection: ASC uS:

Avoidance
Sunscreen
Clothing
Self-check

Avoidance

The best sun protection is sun avoidance. Seek shade if you can, especially between 10 AM to 4 PM, which are the peak sun hours.

Sunscreen

Use sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor, this is the number on most sunscreen bottles) of 30 to 50, or more, that protects from both Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB) wavelength light. Even though the protection is called "broad", it is not complete. Remember: sun avoidance is the best sun protection. Sunscreens with added UVA protection should contain Titanium dioxide, Zinc oxide, or Parsol 1789, also known as Avobenzone.

Use sun protection if spending time outside for 15 minutes or more. Apply 20-30 minutes before going out and remember to reapply every 2 hours. No sunscreen is truly water proof and it will wash away with sweat, swimming and rubbing.

Clothing

Wear tightly woven, loose fitting (cooler) long sleeved clothing, UV-blocking sun glasses (eyes need sun protection as well) and wide-brimmed hat. Straw hats with holes are not suitable because light still gets through. Wear UV protective "Rash Guard" shirts.

Self-check

Consider monthly self-skin checks/examinations, where you check for any color/size change in skin spots/moles.

Related reading:

The Skin Cancer Foundation's Guide to Sunscreens http://buff.ly/2c84ujA
Sunscreen Fact Sheet - British Association of Dermatologists http://buff.ly/2c8450u
Image source: OpenClipArt.org, public domain. via CasesBlog - Medical and Health Blog More READ

Asthma costs UK health service at least £1bn every year

Figures likely to be substantial underestimate, say researchers

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Antibiotic resistance prompts STI treatment overhaul

WHO issues new guidelines for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis

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Nurse leaders in Scotland have warned of the growing vacancy rate in the profession in the wake of health board workforce projections indicating a further 750 full time staff are set to be recruited in 2016-17

Health board workforce projections indicate 750 more full time staff for 2016-17

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Age, weight, general wellbeing all affect survival after chemotherapy

First national analysis of breast and lung cancer treatment outside clinical trials

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Website maintenance

www.onmedica.com will be offline between 2pm and 3pm on Thursday 1st September
via OnMedica News Read More Here..

Evidence-based policy is good medicine for society’s ills

If medical science cannot live up to its own gold standards of evidence, what hope for rational policymaking in general? via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..

Tuesday 30 August 2016

Healthy Eating Just Got Easier: Introducing EatingWell Frozen Dinners

Healthy Eating Just Got Easier: Introducing EatingWell Frozen Dinners Blog Post

After work most nights you'll find me in the kitchen. I pour a glass of wine, get organized and start cooking. I listen to the radio. Or chat on the phone. I'm not in a hurry. I buzz along at my own pace, winding down from the day.

via EatingWell Blogs - All Blog Posts More READ

Best BBQ Sauces to Buy

Best BBQ Sauces to Buy Blog Post

Nothing beats that summer taste of sweet, smoky ribs or barbecued chicken. But many barbecue sauces are loaded to the max with added sugars. Here's how to find the best BBQ sauce at the store that's tasty without going overboard on the sweet stuff.

via EatingWell Blogs - All Blog Posts More READ

Growing antibiotic resistance forces updates to recommended treatment for sexually transmitted infections

New guidelines for the treatment of 3 common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were today issued by WHO in response to the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. via WHO news Read More Here..

Drug-induced abortion less safe in Ohio after 2011 law

A law intended to improve the safety of abortion by medication tripled the rate of complications because it stopped physicians from following latest research via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..

Failure of fake babies: Why it doesn’t pay to go with your gut

Many schools give dolls that cry and need changing to teen girls to reduce pregnancy rates. It’s no surprise they seem to have the opposite effect, says Sally Adee via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..

Genetics Behind Response to Parkinson’s Drugs

Since achieving the goals of the “mission impossible” Human Genome Project in 2003, biomedical sciences entered the new era of genetically informed use of pharmaceuticals. The Project helped in our understanding of how genes affect an individual’s response to drugs.

Although it was known for decades that the response to drugs depends on genetic background of each individual, the knowledge of key mechanisms involved in these processes was mostly missing. Genetics finally provided a definite understanding of pharmacokinetics, the branch of science studying what the body does to the drugs. This article will look at how drug response may vary between individuals, and how genetics play an important role in the drug response in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Why drug responses vary

In general, there are three main reasons why response to a particular drug may vary from one individual to another. These factors are:

  1. The responsiveness of the site of drug action
  2. The drug concentration (reflected by its plasma level)
  3. The type or sub-type of the disease itself.

Nonetheless, in most cases, the drug plasma concentration plays the central role. Most of the drugs taken orally undergo metabolism once they enter the body. In this process, the drug will be changed into its active or metabolite form. The rate of metabolism differs between individuals, resulting in different drug plasma concentrations. The drug metabolism process is carried out by various enzymes depending on the nature of the drug. The levels and activity of these enzymes are also different between individuals. This is a critical factor in determining or predicting the response to a drug.

The activity and expression level of enzymes involved in drug metabolism is determined by genes. Even single mutations, or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes’ DNA sequence can cause a huge difference to the individual metabolism of a particular drug. Mutations in genes’ regulatory sequences can also seriously influence the levels of key enzymes.

Parkinson’s disease & drug responses

Parkinson’s disease is an age-related, debilitating neurodegenerative disorder that mainly affects the motor system. People with this disease experience shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement, and difficulties with walking. Parkinson’s disease is marked by a loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain.

Today, one of the treatments to improve the condition of patients involves the use of drugs that mimic or increase levels of dopamine. However, using drugs to regain the normal level of dopamine can be complex, as the level of this neuromediator should not go too high (when it produces undesirable side effects), nor remain too low (when no effect is observed).

It is well established that drugs against Parkinson’s disease have different efficiency between patients. Recent research has revealed genetic determinant of this difference. The findings might inform better drug prescription and allow physicians to tailor targeted therapy for individuals suffering from this neurodegenerative condition.

The pharmacogenetics of the drug levodopa

Levodopa is a common medication for Parkinson’s disease and has been considered a gold standard since the 1960s. The drug is a direct metabolic precursor of dopamine in the body and thus can increase dopamine levels. However, 35-40% of patients develop side effects such as dyskinesia and motor fluctuation after 4-6 years of using it.

A number of studies have revealed various mutations and SNPs in genes related to levodopa metabolism, responsible for these side effects. A recent research study published earlier this year demonstrated that SV2C gene variants may modulate the amount of levodopa and suggests that the dose of levodopa should be reduced in people with this gene variant to prevent possible side effects.

Another study published three years ago showed that the effect of levodopa treatment on motor skills varies between individuals. The treatment in patient with low dopamine transmission gives better motor learning outcomes compared to the same treatment in patients with high dopamine transmission. The authors of the study stated that DRD2 gene polymorphism contributes to these varying outcomes.

Fortunately, the mutations or SNPs in the genes are not always a bad news. Recent research published this year demonstrates that two SNPs in the DRD2 gene brings good outcomes in patients treated with rasagiline monotherapy. Rasagiline is a selective, irreversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase B and has been approved by the FDA as a symptomatic treatment for Parkinson’s disease. This research is the first study to be conducted in patients with early-onset Parkinson’s disease.

Methods for identification of patients who might experience side effects from using the dopamine agonists are also being explored. Recent findings from a group of Australian researchers provide preliminary evidence that dopamine gene profiling may be useful for identifying people at risk of developing side effects from dopamine agonists, the drug called ropinirole in particular. This study also explored the usefulness of an individualized treatment approach.

Unfortunately, the therapeutic options for patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease are very limited at the present time. Personalised genetic profiling may advise the optimal strategy for using this limited arsenal of therapeutic tools in each individual case. This approach will minimize the potential side effects and optimize drug efficiency.

New drugs for Parkinson’s are being developed, and there are several very interesting candidates in the pipeline. But it may still take many years to find something more efficient than we have now. In the meantime, it will be useful to dedicate more  research to the issue of genetically determined drug response in relation to Parkinson’s disease. This will likely enable physicians to adjust treatments for individual patients and thus provide them with significant health benefits in the short term.

References

Altmann, V., Schumacher-Schuh, A., Rieck, M., Callegari-Jacques, S., Rieder, C., & Hutz, M. (2016). Influence of genetic, biological and pharmacological factors on levodopa dose in Parkinson’s disease Pharmacogenomics, 17 (5), 481-488 DOI: 10.2217/pgs.15.183

Connolly, B., & Lang, A. (2014). Pharmacological Treatment of Parkinson Disease JAMA, 311 (16) DOI: 10.1001/jama.2014.3654

MacDonald, H., Stinear, C., Ren, A., Coxon, J., Kao, J., Macdonald, L., Snow, B., Cramer, S., & Byblow, W. (2016). Dopamine Gene Profiling to Predict Impulse Control and Effects of Dopamine Agonist Ropinirole Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 28 (7), 909-919 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_00946

Masellis, M., Collinson, S., Freeman, N., Tampakeras, M., Levy, J., Tchelet, A., Eyal, E., Berkovich, E., Eliaz, R., Abler, V., Grossman, I., Fitzer-Attas, C., Tiwari, A., Hayden, M., Kennedy, J., Lang, A., Knight, J., & , . (2016). Dopamine D2 receptor gene variants and response to rasagiline in early Parkinson’s disease: a pharmacogenetic study Brain, 139 (7), 2050-2062 DOI: 10.1093/brain/aww109

Pearson-Fuhrhop, K., Minton, B., Acevedo, D., Shahbaba, B., & Cramer, S. (2013). Genetic Variation in the Human Brain Dopamine System Influences Motor Learning and Its Modulation by L-Dopa PLoS ONE, 8 (4) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061197

Image via PublicDomainPictures / Pixabay.

via Brain Blogger Read More Here..

Night-time operations could double risk of death

2.17 times higher mortality risk from night surgery

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Brexit and cancer research

What does Brexit mean for Cancer Research UK?
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Breast cancer and HRT

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'I was given paracetamol after heart attack'

Lisa Price shares her account of when she was misdiagnosed after her heart attack. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Record high numbers of diabetes amputations

20 diabetes amputations every day, says Diabetes UK

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The scary reality of medical U-turns, and how to stop them

From peanut allergy to cancer, total reversals in medical advice are strikingly common. Why did it go so wrong, and how can we make sure we get it right next time? via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..

Third of heart attack cases misdiagnosed at first

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Pharmacists call for more integrated future with GPs

Pharmacists could take charge of repeat prescriptions

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GPs must have longer patient consultations, says BMA

BMA calls for 25 consultations per day maximum restriction

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'I didn't know drinking would harm my child'

South Africa has the highest reported rate of babies born with foetal alcohol syndrome - Nomsa Maseko reports from the Western Cape. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Autism in girls and women 'undiagnosed'

Millie is 14, and was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome two years ago - a condition that often goes undiagnosed in women and girls. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Monday 29 August 2016

Deadly bagpipe infection is health warning to all wind musicians

Without regular cleaning, the moist interiors of wind instruments make an ideal home for moulds and fungi that can cause life-threatening lung conditions via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..

EpiPen maker to sell cheaper generic version

The maker of the EpiPen allergy drug will start selling a generic version in the wake of criticism about steep price increases. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

How a pig transformed my autistic son's life

A mother has told BBC 5 live Daily's Adrian Chiles how a pet pig transformed their autistic son's life. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Do women sync up? No, but we can’t resist menstruation myths

There seems to be no end to the studies asking how menstruation and ovulation changes a woman's behaviour, but most of the evidence for this is poor via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..

14 Ways Our Editors Get Their OWN Kids to Eat Healthy

14 Ways Our Editors Get Their OWN Kids to Eat Healthy Blog Post

Do you remember the Easy-Bake Oven? This pink countertop masterpiece was a gift from my mom on my 6th birthday. As I ripped open the chocolate cake mix and stirred it together with a matching small pink spatula, my eyes lit up at the wonder of this gooey batter turning into a dessert. When the timer went off and we used the small pizza paddle-looking tool to pull out the cake I thought, "This is it. This is what I want to do forever." My mom's gift not only provided a sweet treat but it spurred my love of cooking.

via EatingWell Blogs - All Blog Posts More READ

The Science of Doping: Gaming Hormones, Asthma Drugs, and More

From WSJ: Doctors often prescribe tamoxifen to breast cancer patients to keep their tumors from growing. But the drug is also used by doping athletes looking to get ahead of the competition. How does it give them an edge, biologically? Watch the video below:



Earlier this year, British cyclist Simon Yates was caught up in a doping controversy related to terbutaline, a common asthma medication. Athletes can take the inhaled version if they get a doctor's note. But current testing methods can't differentiate between this and other banned versions. Watch the video below:



Related:

The Science of Doping: How Testosterone-Boosting Drugs Work http://buff.ly/2bYWulU

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Zika virus: Singapore confirms 41 locally transmitted cases

Singapore has confirmed 41 cases of the Zika virus in people who had not travelled to Zika-affected areas, meaning the virus has spread locally. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Sunday 28 August 2016

US pregnancy-related deaths are rising and have doubled in Texas

The US is one of only eight countries in the world where the rate of maternal mortality has gone up instead of down in the last few decades via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..

Saturday 27 August 2016

Does Moderate Alcohol Consumption Improve Brain Function?

It is well documented that excessive consumption of alcohol is linked to various serious health problems. Heavy drinking is a known risk factor for diseases such as cardiovascular problems, some types of cancer, cirrhosis, dementia, depression, pancreatitis and high blood pressure, among others.But what about low-to-moderate alcohol consumption?

A number of studies published in recent years present a view rather different from the traditional negative assumptions. Contrary to popular beliefs, they claim that moderate alcohol intake can be beneficial.

Let’s first define what is heavy and what is moderate drinking. If you are a male and drink at least 15 drinks every week, then you are considered a heavy drinker. If you are female, 8 drinks per week are enough to put you in this category. On the other hand, if you are a male and do not exceed 2 drinks per day you are a moderate alcohol consumer. For a female, the limit is 1 drink per day.

It is important, however, to remember that the above numbers are based on average statistics: some people are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol than others. This sensitivity depends on the level of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase in the liver, which metabolizes ethanol and removes it from the body. When the level of this enzyme in an individual is low (as often is the case in many people with Asian background, for example), the effects of low alcohol doses are much more pronounced.

Studies show that moderate alcohol intake can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, dementia, depression, stroke, breast and colon cancer. However, there is always a risk that moderate alcohol consumption can lead to much heavy drinking.

One recently published prospective study examined the influence of moderate alcohol consumption on the development of depression. This study was extensive and included over 5,500 men and women, all of whom had no previous depression or any alcohol-related problems. All participants were moderate drinkers and were followed for a period of seven years. The results clearly show that low and even moderate alcohol consumption reduced the risk of depression development compared to non-drinkers. However, heavy drinkers are known to be in greater danger of developing depression. Another interesting fact demonstrated by this study is that moderate wine consumption has a better protective role in the prevention of depression than any other kind of alcohol beverage.

Another prospective study included over 13,600 people that were followed for a period of ten years. The results show that moderate alcohol intake in females can reduce the risk of depression.

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the serious diseases for which there is no real cure at present time. Because of that, it is important to find risk factors promoting its development, as well as factors which can reduce that risk. Some researchers are focusing on the role of alcohol consumption in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. One of the main features of Alzheimer’s disease is an aggregation of beta-amyloid in the human brain.

A recent Finnish study was examining the connection of aggregation of beta-amyloid in the human brain and alcohol consumption. The results of this study show that the aggregation of beta-amyloid in the human brain is lower among beer drinkers. There was no connection between lower amounts of beta-amyloid in the human brain and consumption of any other types of alcohol.

In another study, over 3,000 people were examined for a period of six years. Some of the participants suffered from milder forms of memory loss. The alcohol intake also varied among the subjects. The results clearly show that moderate alcohol intake had a protective effect on memory for individuals which had no previous memory problems.

The problems with memory can be caused by vascular problems. Since the benefit of moderate alcohol intake on the cardiovascular system is well known, scientists thought that it may work the same way in the prevention of memory problems. They followed a group of nearly 8,000 people and recorded their alcohol consumption and symptoms of memory problems. Their main conclusion was that moderate alcohol consumption can reduce the risk of dementia in people above 55 years of age. There is a large number of studies which were done on this topic and the conclusions were the same: moderate alcohol consumption reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment.

Recent reports also brought to light the findings that moderate alcohol consumption can influence the size of the hippocampus in elderly population. Compared to abstainers, moderate drinkers have a larger hippocampus and better episodic memory.

So, the scientific data point to the benefits of moderate drinking: it may help to keep a higher level of cognition and prevent age-related deterioration of brain functions. The key is not to go over your limit. Keep your alcohol intake on a moderate level and stay healthy.

References

Downer, B., Jiang, Y., Zanjani, F., & Fardo, D. (2014). Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Cognition and Regional Brain Volumes Among Older Adults American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, 30 (4), 364-374 DOI: 10.1177/1533317514549411

Gea, A., Beunza, J., Estruch, R., Sánchez-Villegas, A., Salas-Salvadó, J., Buil-Cosiales, P., Gómez-Gracia, E., Covas, M., Corella, D., Fiol, M., Arós, F., Lapetra, J., Lamuela-Raventós, R., Wärnberg, J., Pintó, X., Serra-Majem, L., & Martínez-González, M. (2013). Alcohol intake, wine consumption and the development of depression: the PREDIMED study BMC Medicine, 11 (1) DOI: 10.1186/1741-7015-11-192

Kok, E., Karppinen, T., Luoto, T., Alafuzoff, I., & Karhunen, P. (2016). Beer Drinking Associates with Lower Burden of Amyloid Beta Aggregation in the Brain: Helsinki Sudden Death Series Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 40 (7), 1473-1478 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13102

Lang, I., Wallace, R., Huppert, F., & Melzer, D. (2007). Moderate alcohol consumption in older adults is associated with better cognition and well-being than abstinence Age and Ageing, 36 (3), 256-261 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afm001

Neafsey, E., & Collins, M. (2011). Moderate alcohol consumption and cognitive risk Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment DOI: 10.2147/NDT.S23159

Image via Unsplash / Pixabay.

via Brain Blogger Read More Here..

Mind-controlled nanobots could release drugs inside your brain

DNA origami bots have been triggered to release drugs inside cockroaches, prompted by changes in a person’s brain activity via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..

Friday 26 August 2016

Failure of fake babies: Why it doesn’t pay to go with your gut

Many schools give dolls that cry and need changing to teen girls to reduce pregnancy rates. It’s no surprise they seem to have the opposite effect, says Sally Adee via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..

Semen reshapes immune system to boost chances of pregnancy

As well as fertilising the egg, semen seems to dampen a female's immune system, making it more likely that an embryo will survive via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..

Mind-controlled nanobots could release drugs inside your brain

DNA origami bots have been triggered to release drugs inside cockroaches, prompted by changes in a person’s brain activity via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..

US pregnancy-related deaths are rising and have doubled in Texas

The US is one of only eight countries in the world where the rate of maternal mortality has gone up instead of down in the last few decades via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..

Doubts over teen pregnancy prevention scheme

Baby simulator doll may actually cause more pregnancies

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NHS trusts make progress in tackling deficits

But concerns remain that tackling the £22bn funding gap will damage care

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Debunking Zambia's prostate cancer myths

The lone Zambian voice trying to trying to raise awareness about the dangers of prostate cancer. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Campaign group attacks NHS shake-up plans

38 Degrees says integration plans will see bed cuts, A&E closures and sell-offs

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'Unsafe' child A&E unit closed

Shortage of trained and experienced staff forced temporary closure of Stafford unit

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Government urged to stress dangers of even moderate drinking

Campaigners say public needs to know that alcohol causes some forms of cancer

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On The Pulse - August 2016

Active surveillance might be better in advanced kidney cancer
via OnMedica Blogs Read More Here..

Thursday 25 August 2016

US plan to fend off Zika with sterile mosquitoes faces catch-22

A project to unleash genetically modified mosquitoes in Florida to stop Zika could backfire if it ignores public protest and goes ahead, says Jamais Cascio via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..

What value do GPs offer?

Truly understanding the complexities and demands of working in an out-of-hospital environment key to value what GPs offer

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Ultrasound brain zap wakes man from minimally conscious state

After a jolt to his thalamus, a man who showed almost no awareness or movement began to communicate, fist-bump, and trying to walk again via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..

Mind-controlled nanobots could release drugs inside your brain

DNA origami bots have been triggered to release drugs inside cockroaches, prompted by changes in a person’s brain activity via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..

Offer European NHS workers ‘automatic’ British citizenship

Think-tank warns that drastic action is needed to protect NHS from exodus of workers

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Rotavirus shows big decline since vaccine campaign

Recorded cases have dropped 84% in the three years since vaccinations started

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Eastern Mediterranean conflict jeopardising decades of health gains

Life expectancy decreasing, child mortality rising and infrastructure in many nations 'shattered'

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Childhood head injuries have long-term effects

Study shows increased risk of physical or mental health problems

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Study reveals mental cost of epilepsy in pregnancy

Women with epilepsy have lower self-esteem and suffer greater social strain

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Wednesday 24 August 2016

Face transplant patient: 'Now I have hope'

Patrick Hardison, the volunteer fireman who underwent the world's most extensive face transplant, on his new-found hope. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Is Being Clever Dangerous For Your Health?

The idea that how smart you are might be connected with how healthy you are is not new. Those who studied social sciences have probably seen the published works on the subject dating back to 1980s.

The problem is not so easy to study academically, though. It is hard to separate the influence of various social factors on both intelligence level and health from a pure connection between health and brightness. As a result, many of the existing studies have been inconclusive. Factors such as age, sex, social and economic level, and education of the study cohort may seriously affect the conclusions. However, when these factors are taken into account, or the study groups are designed in a way minimizing their influence, rather interesting findings emerge.

To measure the cleverness, most studies use IQ. With all its disadvantages, IQ testing still remains the most reliable measure of intelligence. This article will briefly outline the results of studies investigating possible effects that different IQ levels might have on the health.

First, it is important to ask how IQ and health could be connected. Social components are relatively obvious: lower IQ might mean lower level of knowledge about healthy living, for instance. Also, the gradual progression of some chronic diseases may affect cognitive functions leading to lower IQ in unhealthy people. A published analysis showed that long-term sick leave and disability pension are often related to low cognitive abilities. Obviously, this effect is secondary and does not confirm the link between the initial IQ before the disease and the risk of developing this particular disease.

Apart from these obvious connections, there are genetic and physiological components. Recent research data suggest (twin studies in particular) that 60% of factors influencing our intelligence level are dictated by our genes.

There are many genes that directly or indirectly can influence our IQ: these are the genes involved in functioning of the brain, efficiency of neurotransmission, production of neuromediators and so on. The proteins produced by these genes work on multiple levels, and not only in neurons. They may, for instance, regulate the blood supply to the brain or other organs, or availability of various nutrients to neurons or other cells. These proteins may work in different cells of our body performing similar functions. If a gene works not particularly well in the brain cells, it is also likely to underperform elsewhere. At least, this is a general scientific assumption. However, the same gene may have different effects in different cell types, and therefore the link is not so obvious and not so easy to investigate.

It is interesting to mention what the published studies do not confirm. The data show no gender differences in correlations between mortality/morbidity and the IQ level. One study published in the British Medical Journal also demonstrated quite clearly that there is no correlations between high IQ in childhood and morbidity/mortality rates later in life. In both cases the social factors such as social class and culture were taken into account.

Links between IQ and specific diseases

One study demonstrated that high IQ in men was correlated with the incidence of coronary heart disease, although when socio-economic variables were taken into account the relation was not very strong.

Another study showed that atherosclerosis and hypertension could be linked to lower IQ. This relationship might, to a certain degree, reflect social phenomena, as those with higher IQ levels tend to be better informed and live healthier life styles.

Studies have also shown that a lower IQ in children can lead to obesity in adulthood.

Many of the diseases mentioned above can be causes of, or lead to, stroke. Therefore, it is not surprising that a low IQ is linked to a higher risk of stroke. The latter conclusion in regards to the stroke risk stands even when socioeconomic variables are rigorously taken into consideration.

Psychiatric disorders have also long been considered to have a very close link with high IQ. Many geniuses were known to have rather strange or unpredictable characters, suffered from mood disorders and depression. Indeed, statistics shows that creative people with higher IQ are more likely to suffer from bipolar disorder and mood swings. Most studies done on this subject were small but all show similar results nonetheless.

One study among the students in Swedish schools found that those with higher grades were more likely to show signs of bipolar disorder. However, the study also demonstrated that students with the lowest grades were twice more likely to show signs of bipolar disorder compared to the average students. Interestingly, a New Zealand study showed similar associations between low IQ and psychiatric disorders.

Another study published in The Archive of General Psychiatry showed that people with higher IQ were less likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. This study has considered socioeconomic variables, as discussed earlier.

Interestingly, a recent study published this year found a higher risk of developing glioma, a type of brain tumor, among university-educated people. The risk is 19% higher in educated men and 23% higher in women with a university degree. The reasons for such correlation remain speculative.

The findings discussed above highlight that both low and high IQ levels can be associated with certain risks. Lower IQ might be linked with poorer general health, while high IQ level is associated with higher chances of psychiatric disorders. It is important to emphasize, however, that these correlations are not very strong – having a specific IQ level, whether it is low or high, does not automatically load your body with associated health problems of any kind. Further research are needed to see how the health and intelligence are connected on genetic and physiological levels: I’m sure there are lots of surprising discoveries there!

References:

Batty, G. (2006). Does IQ explain socioeconomic inequalities in health? Evidence from a population based cohort study in the west of Scotland BMJ, 332 (7541), 580-584 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.38723.660637.AE

Dennis, M., Francis, D., Cirino, P., Schachar, R., Barnes, M., & Fletcher, J. (2009). Why IQ is not a covariate in cognitive studies of neurodevelopmental disorders Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 15 (03) DOI: 10.1017/S1355617709090481

Hauser, R., & Palloni, A. (2011). Adolescent IQ and Survival in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 66B (Supplement 1) DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbr037

Khanolkar, A., Ljung, R., Talbäck, M., Brooke, H., Carlsson, S., Mathiesen, T., & Feychting, M. (2016). Socioeconomic position and the risk of brain tumour: a Swedish national population-based cohort study Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health DOI: 10.1136/jech-2015-207002

Lager, A., Bremberg, S., & Vagero, D. (2009). The association of early IQ and education with mortality: 65 year longitudinal study in Malmo, Sweden BMJ, 339 (dec11 1) DOI: 10.1136/bmj.b5282

Wraw, C., Deary, I., Gale, C., & Der, G. (2015). Intelligence in youth and health at age 50 Intelligence, 53, 23-32 DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2015.08.001

Image via venturaartist / Pixabay.

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