Health Alert: Suicide Rates Up 35% in Last 20 Years.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the suicide rate in the United States increased from 10.5 to 14 per 100,000 persons between 1999 and 2018, with a much sharper increase in the past decade. The CDC adds that suicide risk is higher among men and those living in rural areas. Dr. Jonathan Singer, the president of the board of directors of the American Association of Suicidology writes, “No one knows why suicide rates are climbing… What we do know is that research on suicide is underfunded, that there are many different pathways people take to become suicidal and to make the decision to die… There’s a need for more folks to be trained in addressing suicide risk, particularly in rural areas, and a need for more research.”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, March 2020
Diet: A Healthy Diet May Reduce Risk for Poor Mental Health in Children.
A review of findings from twelve published studies found that kids who consume a healthy diet have a reduced risk for developing a mental health condition during both childhood and adolescence.
Annals of the National Institute of Hygiene (Poland), January 2020
Exercise: Another Reason to Stay Fit!
The corpus callosum is a band of nerve fibers that connects and helps “integrate” functions between the left and right hemi-spheres of the brain. A review of findings from 20 published studies identified an association between higher cardiorespiratory fitness and greater structural and functional integrity in the corpus callosum.
Physician and Sports Medicine, April 2020
Chiropractic: Trapezius Strengthening Benefits Neck Pain Patients.
Among a group of 40 neck pain patients, those who performed exercises to strengthen the lower trapezius muscles reported greater improvements in cervical function and postural alignment. Doctors of chiropractic often use a combination of spinal manipulation, mobilization, and exercises when treating patients with neck pain.
Medical Science Monitor, March 2020
Mental Attitude: Bilingualism and the Brain.
Past research suggests that speaking a second language may preserve cognitive function later in life. In a new study, researchers looked at MRI brain images of bilingual and monolingual seniors and observed that the brain scans of bilingual participants exhibited less shrinkage in the areas of the brain associated with language processing and control.
Brain Structure & Function, March 2020
Wellness/Prevention: New Biomarker May Help Detect Alzheimer’s Disease.
The PHGDH gene is responsible for the production of RNA and proteins that are critical for brain development and function, which typically declines with age. In a recent study, researcher found that a sharp change in this RNA production later in life may precede Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis by up to two years. The finding suggests that a blood test for these biomarkers may help identify Alzheimer’s disease patients before they begin showing symptoms.
Current Biology, March 2020
