Alzheimer’s Skin Test — Diabetes Season — Sleep Loss & Weight Gain
Posted on June 2, 2015 by bob in NewsUCanUse
Alzheimer’s Disease & Parkinson’s Skin Test
A small, early study suggests a skin test may someday be able to help diagnose Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Researchers at the Central Hospital at the University of San Luis Potosi in Mexico have found skin biopsies can show the high levels of abnormal proteins often associated with the two diseases. Skin and brain tissue are similar, and so researchers looked at skin as a way to identify and diagnose the disease earlier. Compared to healthy people and those with non-Alzheimer’s dementia, the Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients had seven times higher levels of a protein called tau. The researchers also found that Parkinson’s patients had eight times higher levels of a protein called alpha-synuclein, compared with healthy people. Currently, a definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease cannot be developed for a living person, since the only definitive way to diagnose the disease comes from examining brain tissue from a biopsy. More research is needed to confirm these results.
A Season for Type 1 Diabetes?
Our immune systems vary with the seasons, according to a study led by the University of Cambridge, which help explain why certain conditions such as heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis are aggravated in winter while people tend to be healthier in the summer.
The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, shows that the activity of almost 25% of our genes differs according to the time of year, with some more active in winter and others more active in summer. This seasonality also affects our immune cells and the composition of our blood and adipose tissue (fat).
Scientists have known for some time that various diseases, including cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases such as Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and psychiatric disorders display seasonal variation, as does vitamin D metabolism. However, this is the first time that researchers have shown that this may be due to seasonal changes in how our immune systems function.
Scientists have long known there are more diagnoses of Type 1 diabetes in winter. This study begins to reveal why – identifying a biological mechanism not previously known, which leaves the body seasonally more prone to the autoimmune attack seen in Type 1 diabetes. — ScienceDaily, www.sciencedaily.com/
Sleep Loss & Weight Gain
Losing as little as 30 minutes of sleep per day on weekdays can have long-term consequences for body weight and metabolism, a new study finds. The results were presented in March 2015 at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society. Because of social and work commitments, people often accumulate sleep debt during weekdays and make up for lost sleep over the weekend. But weekday sleep debt may lead to long-term metabolic disruption, which may promote the onset of, or exacerbate the progression of, type 2 diabetes mellitus. The study found that for every 30 minutes of weekday sleep debt at baseline, the risk of obesity and insulin resistance was significantly increased by 17% and 39%, respectively.
Fitness for Two
New research led by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health finds that if one spouse improves his or her exercise regimen, the other spouse is significantly more likely to follow suit. Findings suggest a better approach to helping people boost their physical activity might be to counsel married couples together instead of individually.
The American Heart Association recommends adults exercise at moderate intensity for a minimum of 150 minutes per week or at vigorous intensity at least 75 minutes per week. They found when a wife met recommended levels of exercise at the first visit, her husband was 70% more likely to meet those levels at subsequent visits than those whose wives were less physically active. When a husband met recommended exercise levels, his wife was 40% more likely to meet the levels at follow-up visits.
Long-Term Depression & Stroke Risk
Adults over 50 who have persistent symptoms of depression may have twice the risk of stroke as those who do not, according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Researchers found stroke risk remains higher even after symptoms of depression go away, particularly for women. The study was published online in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The researchers suggest depression may influence stroke risk through physiological changes involving accumulation of vascular damage over the long term. Damage may also be incurred indirectly through depression’s effect on health behaviors, including increased risk of smoking and physical inactivity.
When a Stroke Strikes, Act F.A.S.T.!
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. and a leading cause of disability. It can happen to anyone at any age. A stroke is a brain attack that occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or a blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. Brain cells begin to die.
People can significantly reduce their risk of stroke by controlling risk factors including tobacco and alcohol use, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, transient ischemic attacks (mini strokes), diabetes, obesity and heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation.
It’s critically important to recognize the signs and symptoms of stroke and to call 911 right away. Recognizing stroke symptoms can be easy if you remember to think FAST:
— Face – Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
— Arms – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
— Speech – Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?
— Time – If you observe any of these signs, it’s time to call 9-1-1.
