Category Archives: Medical

Health, Medical, Research, Science

Blood pressure study linked to dementia

MEDICAL RESEARCH

A major study suggests that hundreds of thousands of people could be saved from dementia if blood pressure tablets were used more widely.

Researchers have shown for the first time that aggressively treating high blood pressure – particularly in middle age – could also significantly reduce the risk of dementia later on.

NHS officials are under growing pressure to lower the threshold at which people can be given the drugs, a policy that could make 14million eligible for treatment.

Patients are currently considered to have hypertension – or high blood pressure – only if they have a reading of more than 140/90 mm Hg.

But a study of 9,400 people in the US found cutting the systolic threshold – the higher reading – to 120 instead of 140 slowed cognitive decline.

An ideal blood pressure reading is between 90/60 millimetres of mercury (mm Hg) and 120/80. The first figure is the systolic pressure, the “surge” that occurs with each heartbeat. The second is the diastolic reading, which measures the pressure in the “rest” between heartbeats.

Using the new threshold over eight years reduced rates of dementia and mild cognitive impairment by 15 per cent, according to results presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Chicago.

Similar trials have shown cutting the threshold for treatment would reduce the risk of heart disease by a fifth, and strokes by about a quarter.

Health watchdogs are already reviewing blood pressure guidelines with a view to cutting rates of heart disease and a decision is expected next year.

But they will now face greater pressure to change the rules after the new research, the first to look in detail at the impact of such a policy on dementia.

Study leader Professor Jeff Williamson, of the Wake Forest School of Medicine in North Carolina, said: “These results support the need to maintain well-controlled blood pressure, especially for persons over 50.”

A second study of 670 patients by the University of Pennsylvania found that the lower threshold also showed shrinkage of white brain matter, strengthening the link between blood pressure and dementia.

The US has led the way on blood pressure policy, lowering the treatment threshold in November from a systolic score of 140 to 130.

If the UK followed suit, it would mean an estimated 14million people – a third of all adults – would be eligible. Currently seven million are eligible.

A policy to increase this, however, would be controversial as it would affect many people who until now have been considered healthy. A similar change that lowered the threshold for cholesterol-busting statin drugs in 2014 led to a huge backlash, fueling accusations that health professionals were “over-medicalising” the middle aged.

A spokesperson for Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “This study suggests treating high blood pressure intensively . . . may help to reduce the risk of memory and thinking problems.

“There is robust evidence that what’s good for the heart is also good for the brain and maintaining good vascular health is one of the key things people can do to reduce their risk of dementia.”

But Professor Clive Ballard, of Exeter University, warned: “All anti-hypertensives come with some risk of adverse effects, most seriously for kidney function.”

 

THOSE who feel light-headed when standing up after a long time sitting may be at a greater risk of dementia and stroke, according to a US study of more than 11,000 people.

Scientists at John Hopkins University found those whose blood pressure dropped when they stood up – a problem known as orthostatic hypotension – had twice the risk of suffering a stroke in later life. Their risk of dementia was 54 per cent higher.

Standard
Medical, Research, Science

Breakthrough as vaccine is made possible for Multiple Sclerosis

MEDICAL RESEARCH

SCOTTISH doctors believe they have found the cause of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), paving the way for a vaccine against the devastating condition.

A landmark paper suggests MS develops following two separate common infections, which cause the body to attack itself.

Other factors, such as genetics and lack of sunlight, may also play a role, which explains why MS is more common in certain areas such as the North of Scotland.

But doctors behind the latest discovery believe the development of a vaccine against a common virus may hold the key in future prevention of the disease. The research was published by doctors from the University of Glasgow and Harvard University in the United States.

There are 11,000 Scots with MS, making the disease more common than in most other countries.

The neurological condition is triggered when the immune system, which normally fights infection, attacks nerves, causing pain, fatigue, vision problems and spasms.

But what causes the body to begin attacking itself has never been identified, despite more than 100 years of research.

It has been suggested the disease could be caused by lack of sunlight as it is more common in northern countries.

The latest research claims two common infections – firstly threadworms followed by the Epstein-Barr virus – may be the trigger. The scientists believe MS is a “rare complication” of the body’s response to the infections.

Professor John Paul Leach, consultant neurologist at the University of Glasgow, said: “MS is a condition where the body produces antibodies against itself for reasons that have never been understood and goes against its own nervous system.

“It is odd that we have never found out why some people are more prone than others.

“There is already some evidence that exposure to the Epstein-Barr virus makes it more likely someone will develop MS, but this does not offer the full explanation of why people develop this reaction.

“MS may be the result of not one but two infections in the right order.”

The research was led by Dr Patrick Kearns of the Chan School of Public Health at Harvard, who developed his theory while studying at the University of Glasgow.

Although keen to point out their hypothesis is only a theory, they now plan further research.

In MS, the immune system attacks the layer that surrounds and protects the nerves which damages them, meaning messages become slowed or disrupted.

Threadworms affect around one sixth of the world’s population and are a parasitic infection affecting the gut, common in children.

The Epstein-Barr virus is one of the most common viruses in humans and is the cause of glandular fever, although many people only suffer mild symptoms.

Dr Kearns said: “MS is a terrible condition but there is a fascinating aspect about it which is that its distribution around the world has been really well studied, so it’s easy to compare rates between regions.

“It also affects people when they are young, and rates are increasing, which means some aspect of the environment has to be changing that’s driving the disease.

“Some evidence has found high rates of MS in areas where there were military troops stationed in the Second World War, such as the Faroe Islands and Shetland.

“I believe the missing link may be threadworm infection. This is a very common condition in children and is also common in soldiers living in barracks. In areas where soldiers were billeted during the war it would have spread to local populations.

“There is already a strong and undeniable link between the Epstein-Barr virus and MS. I believe that what may be causing MS is a rare, late complication of exposure to these two infections.

“It may be a good idea for public health officials to treat worms at a population level. But the real benefit would be developing better tools to target the Epstein-Barr virus with a vaccine or drugs.”

Factors such as lack of sunlight or vitamin D have previously been suggested as triggers for MS.

But Dr Kearns believes the evidence for these is “not very strong” and does not fully explain the differences in MS rates around the world. However, he said some people may be more susceptible than others due to genetic factors.

There is currently no cure for the condition, but some treatments can slow its progress.

The research was first published in the journal Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.

Dr Sorrel Bickley, head of biomedical research at the MS Society, said: “This study puts forward an interesting idea and we look forward to seeing how this could be proven or disproven.

“MS is unpredictable and different for everyone and we urge anyone concerned about symptoms to speak to their GP.”

 

MULTIPLE Sclerosis is a neurological disease that can affect the brain and spinal cord.

The condition’s symptoms are wide-ranging and can include problems with vision, arm or leg movements, sensation or balance.

In some cases, the disease can be mild but in others it can cause serious disability.

Average life expectancy is reduced in people with MS.

The immune system attacks the layer that surrounds and protects the nerves – the myelin sheath. This then damages and scars the sheath, and potentially the underlying nerves, meaning that messages travelling along them can become slowed or disrupted.

This can cause a range of symptoms including fatigue, difficulty walking, vision problems, numbness or tingling in different parts of the body and muscle stiffness and spasms.

Symptoms may come and go in phases, known as relapsing remitting MS, or get steadily worse over time.

Roughly between two and three women have MS for every man with the condition. In Scotland the rate is about 209 MS patients per 100,000 population compared to 164 per 100,000 in England.

Standard
Health, Medical, Research, Science

Brain health linked to how young or old you feel

NEUROSCIENCE STUDY

Besides improving your physical and mental health, feeling younger can also slow down the rate of brain ageing, finds a study.

THE young at heart often insist you are only as old as you feel.

A newly released study has proved they are right, finding that those who feel younger than they are show fewer signs of brain ageing.

Neuroscientists who gave a group of people aged 59 to 84 MRI scans found that those who said they felt younger had more grey matter in their brains and did better in memory tests.

The researchers suggested that those who feel their age or older have picked up on small cognitive changes in their brain, such as mild memory loss. The study, carried out by the University of Seoul in South Korea, is the first to link how old people feel with the physical signs of brain ageing.

Co-author Dr Jeanyung Chey said: “We found people who feel younger have the structural characteristics of a younger brain.

“Importantly, this difference remains robust even when other possible factors – including personality, subjective health, depressive symptoms or cognitive functions – are accounted for. If somebody feels older than their age, it could be a sign for them to evaluate their lifestyle, habits and activities that could contribute to brain ageing and take measures to better care for their brain health.”

The researchers asked 68 healthy people whether they felt older or younger than they were, or whether they felt their age. When their brains were scanned, those who felt younger had more grey matter in key regions such as the hippocampus which is linked to memory.

The scans showed their brains had actually aged less than those of people who felt older, as grey matter tends to decline with age.

The youthful-feeling group also did better in memory tests, including tasks such as recalling details from a story 15 to 30 minutes after hearing it. The researchers suggested that those who feel older may be able to sense the ageing process in their brain as their loss of grey matter may make cognitive tasks more challenging.

Another possibility is that those who feel younger are more likely to lead a more physically and mentally active life, which could cause improvements in brain health. Previous studies have suggested that asking people how old they feel can predict if they will develop dementia, become frail or be taken to hospital. Those who feel older than their age are also more likely to be overweight and suffer illnesses associated with being obese.

Dr Chey, whose study was first published in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, said: “Why do some people feel younger or older than their real age?

“Some possibilities include depressive states, personality differences or physical health.

“However, no one had investigated brain ageing processes as a possible reason for differences in subjective age.”

The results suggest that feeling older than one’s age may reflect relatively faster ageing brain structures. Those who feel younger have better-preserved and healthier brain structures.

Some of the biggest changes in grey matter based on age perception were found in the inferior pre-frontal cortex, which helps in suppressing irrelevant information. Loss in this region could cause age-related problems in tasks requiring focus and concentration.

Standard