Health Alert: Influenza and Stroke Risk.
Using data from the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System, researchers report that individuals diagnosed with influenza-like illness have up to a 39% increased risk for stroke in the near future.
BMC Public Health, May 2021
Diet: Mediterranean Diet May Protect the Brain.
According to a study that reviewed brain imaging and cerebrospinal fluid samples, greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet—an eating pattern focused on eating fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish, olive oil, and whole grains while avoiding red and processed meats, dairy, saturated fats, and refined sugars—is associated with less build-up of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain, which are often observed in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Neurology, May 2021
Exercise: Sedentary Behavior Linked to COPD.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease that makes breathing difficult, and it is a leading cause of death in the United States. An analysis of data from the Chronic Disease and Lifestyle Population Survey in Sichuan Province of China identified an association between the amount of time an individual spends engaged in sedentary behaviors and an elevated risk for COPD.
Medicine, May 2021
Chiropractic: Fascial Manipulation Reduces Pain and Disability.
A systematic review found that manipulative therapy to improve fluidity between soft tissue layers, which often become denser and stiffer with age and injury, can improve pain and disability in patients with musculoskeletal pains. Doctors of chiropractic are trained to provide several forms of manual therapy, including fascial manipulation, in the treatment of back pain, neck pain, and other musculoskeletal conditions.
Journal of Bodywork Movement Therapies, January 2021
Mental Attitude: Chronic Sinusitis May Affect the Brain.
An analysis of brain scans and mental health assessments of over 1,200 adults revealed that people with moderate-to-severe sinus inflammation exhibited altered activity in the frontoparietal network in the brain, which is important for problem solving and decision making.
JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, April 2021
Wellness/Prevention: Sleep Is Important to Avoid Dementia Risk.
Following an analysis of data concerning nearly 8,000 adults, researchers report that sleeping six or fewer hours a night in middle age is associated with a 30% increased risk for dementia in old age. The findings suggest that screening for sleep issues in middle age may aid in the prevention of dementia later in life.
Nature Communication, April 2021
