Diabetes
Diabetes linked to cognitive decline in older adults
A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society confirms that older adults with type 2 diabetes may have a steeper mental decline as they age. It also suggests that the longer a person has had diabetes, the more substantial the cognitive decline over time.
Researchers looked at the association between diabetes and late-life cognitive impairment in 5,907 men and 6,326 women who were, on average, in their early 70s. They were tested for memory, thinking, and other cognitive abilities and retested 2 years later. The women had a third test around the 4-year mark. In general, the researchers found that men and women with diabetes performed poorly on the initial cognitive tests and showed a marked decline on subsequent tests. Participants with longer-standing diabetes tended to show a steeper decline.
Possible reasons for the cognitive decline include the damage that diabetes causes to blood vessels that supply the brain, diminishing blood flow and contributing to cognitive problems. People with diabetes also have chronically high levels of insulin, and some research suggests that elevated insulin levels may boost the body's levels of amyloid-beta protein, which can build up and form the plaques seen in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.
Heart disease
Fatty liver disease may raise risk of heart disease in overweight children
Researchers have found that fatty liver disease, which affects more than 6 million children in the United States, may be a precursor of cardiovascular disease in overweight and obese children. Fatty liver disease is the most common cause of liver disease in children and is characterized by the presence of oily droplets of triglycerides in liver cells. It's most prevalent in children of Hispanic and Asian ethnicity.
The study, published in the journal Circulation, found that overweight children with fatty liver disease had higher levels of fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure than overweight children who didn't have fatty liver disease. The researchers suggest that all overweight and obese children be screened for fatty liver disease because it may serve as a marker of possible future heart disease.
Eating disorders
Testosterone may help prevent eating disorders
An ongoing study of twins in Michigan has found that females who were in the womb with male twins have a lower risk of developing an eating disorder than females who were in the womb with female twins. Previous research has shown that females in the womb with males are exposed to higher levels of testosterone.
The study, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, indicates that testosterone exposure could have a protective effect against the development of eating disorders. While the societal pressure to be thin has typically been used to explain the prevalence of eating disorders in women, this study suggests that biological influences may play in important role as well. LPN
Did you know?
Adequate prenatal levels of vitamin D may protect babies against early tooth decay. A study conducted by the University of Manitoba and reported at the International Association for Dental Research has found that mothers of children who developed cavities at an early age had significantly lower vitamin D levels in their blood during pregnancy than mothers whose children had no cavities.
Vitamin D levels in the blood of 206 women were measured during the second trimester of pregnancy, which is when primary teeth begin to develop and calcify. Only 21 women, or 10.5%, had adequate vitamin D levels. When the infants were approximately 1 year old, their teeth were checked for cavities and enamel defects: 22% had noticeable enamel defects and 34% had early childhood tooth decay.
Although the study looked at a small population of women, it's the first known study that's looked at the link between mothers' vitamin D blood levels and the oral health of their infants, and future studies are needed to confirm the results.