Mental Attitude: Diabetes and Parkinson’s Risk.
Following a review of patient data concerning over eight million individuals, researchers report that type 2 diabetics have a 32% increased risk for developing Parkinson’s disease. The researchers note their “findings may reflect shared genetic predisposition and/or disrupted shared pathogenic pathways with potential clinical and therapeutic implications.”
Neurology, June 2018
Health Alert: There’s No Such Thing As “Healthy Obesity”.
An analysis of thirty years of data concerning over 90,000 American women showed that obese women who were metabolically healthy (normal blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar) for over twenty years still had a 57% elevated risk for cardiovascular disease. Lead researcher Dr. Matthias Schulze explains, “If you are obese, but free of disease like diabetes or hypertension, it does not mean you are free of the risk for cardiovascular disease… You are still at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared to normal-weight healthy women.”
The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, May 2018
Diet: Cutting Down on Meat and Dairy May Reduce Heart Failure Risk.
Middle-aged men who eat a lot of meat, dairy, and other high-protein foods may be increasing their risk for heart failure. A review of 22 years of data concerning 2,400 Finnish men found that those with a high-protein diet had a 33% increased risk for heart failure, and the risk increased if their primary sources of protein were animal meat or dairy. Researcher Dr. Jyrki Virtanen notes, “Our findings indicate the high protein intake may have some adverse effects on health, especially if the protein is coming from animal sources.”
Circulation: Heart Failure, May 2018
Exercise: Exercise Reduces Fall Risk in Kidney Patients.
Falls are a leading cause of death and injury among seniors, especially those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). An analysis of data concerning 157,753 adults age 65 and over found that CKD patients who regularly exercised had a 32% reduced risk for experiencing a fall.
Preventing Chronic Disease, June 2018
Chiropractic: Manipulative Treatment Beneficial for Low Back Pain.
In a recent study, researchers randomly assigned 68 patients suffering from non-specific chronic low back pain to receive either five manipulative therapy treatments or five sham treatments over a one-month period. Following the conclusion of care, the investigators reported that the patients in the manipulative treatment group experienced significant improvements in pain and disability that were not observed in the sham treatment group. The findings reveal the beneficial role that manipulative therapy treatments, such as those provided by doctors of chiropractic, can have in the management of non-specific chronic low back pain.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, May 2018
Wellness/Prevention: Sleeping in on the Weekends May Help You Live Longer?
New research suggests that too little sleep during the work week can be counteracted by sleeping in on the weekends. A study involving nearly 44,000 people showed that the risk of early death among individuals who got less sleep during the week and more sleep on the weekends differed very little from those who averaged seven hours per night on both weekdays and weekends. The findings suggest we shouldn’t feel guilty about sleeping in on the weekends.
Journal of Sleep Research, May 2018