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Tag: Risk

Obesity, diabetes may up dementia risk 10 years earlier in men: Study

Others Lifestyle

Men with cardiovascular disease risk factors such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and smoking may have brain health decline, leading to dementia, 10 years earlier than women, finds a study on Wednesday.

Others Lifestyle
The findings of a long- …
=> dementia risk
Obesity, diabetes may up dementia risk 10 years earlier in men: Study =>
)

dementia risk

IANS

Nov 27, 2024 07:41 PM | UPDATED: Nov 27, 2024 07:41 PM | 8 min read

The findings of a long-term study, published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, showed that men with cardiovascular disease risk factors can have dementia onset a decade earlier — from their mid-50s to mid-70s — than similarly affected women who are most susceptible from their mid-60s to mid-70s.

Researchers from Imperial College London, UK found that the most vulnerable regions of the brain are those involved in processing auditory information, aspects of visual perception, emotional processing, and memory. They noted that the damaging effects are just as evident in those who didn’t carry the high-risk APOE4 gene — a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease — as those who did.

“The detrimental impact of cardiovascular risk was widespread throughout cortical regions, highlighting how cardiovascular risk can impair a range of cognitive functions,” said the researchers.

The study included 34,425 participants from the UK Biobank all of whom had had both abdominal and brain scans. Their average age was 63, but ranged from 45 to 82.

The results showed that both men and women with increased levels of abdominal fat and visceral adipose tissue had lower brain grey matter volume.

High cardiovascular risk and obesity led to a gradual loss of brain volume over several decades, said the researchers.

The team thus stressed the need to target “modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity,” to treat or prevent neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s.

The study also emphasises “the importance of aggressively targeting cardiovascular risk factors before the age of 55 years to prevent neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s disease”. These may also prevent other cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarction [heart attack] and stroke”.

While the study is observational and no firm conclusions can be drawn, targeting cardiovascular risk and obesity early may be crucial.

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November 28, 2024
Obesity, diabetes may up dementia risk 10 years earlier in men: Study

Others Lifestyle

Men with cardiovascular disease risk factors such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and smoking may have brain health decline, leading to dementia, 10 years earlier than women, finds a study on Wednesday.

Others Lifestyle
The findings of a long- …
=> dementia risk
Obesity, diabetes may up dementia risk 10 years earlier in men: Study =>
)

dementia risk

IANS

Nov 27, 2024 07:41 PM | UPDATED: Nov 27, 2024 07:41 PM | 8 min read

The findings of a long-term study, published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, showed that men with cardiovascular disease risk factors can have dementia onset a decade earlier — from their mid-50s to mid-70s — than similarly affected women who are most susceptible from their mid-60s to mid-70s.

Researchers from Imperial College London, UK found that the most vulnerable regions of the brain are those involved in processing auditory information, aspects of visual perception, emotional processing, and memory. They noted that the damaging effects are just as evident in those who didn’t carry the high-risk APOE4 gene — a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease — as those who did.

“The detrimental impact of cardiovascular risk was widespread throughout cortical regions, highlighting how cardiovascular risk can impair a range of cognitive functions,” said the researchers.

The study included 34,425 participants from the UK Biobank all of whom had had both abdominal and brain scans. Their average age was 63, but ranged from 45 to 82.

The results showed that both men and women with increased levels of abdominal fat and visceral adipose tissue had lower brain grey matter volume.

High cardiovascular risk and obesity led to a gradual loss of brain volume over several decades, said the researchers.

The team thus stressed the need to target “modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity,” to treat or prevent neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s.

The study also emphasises “the importance of aggressively targeting cardiovascular risk factors before the age of 55 years to prevent neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s disease”. These may also prevent other cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarction [heart attack] and stroke”.

While the study is observational and no firm conclusions can be drawn, targeting cardiovascular risk and obesity early may be crucial.

Source link

November 28, 2024
Know lifestyle modifications to lower the risk of Pancreatic cancer
First Published Nov 20, 2024, 7:03 PM IST | Last Updated Nov 20, 2024, 7:03 PM IST
The two most common presentations of pancreatic cancer are abdominal or stomach pain and jaundice. Pancreas is broadly divided into 3 parts, i.e head, body and tail. Jaundice is most commonly seen in pancreatic head and body cancer, while pancreatic tail cancers present as pain in the left side of the abdomen.

How pancreatic cancer causes jaundice?
We must first understand bile flow’s anatomy and physiology to know this. Bile is produced in liver and stored in gall bladder and then through bile duct it comes down to mix with food to help in digestion. This bile duct comes through the pancreatic head before opening into the food pipe inside the duodenum. So when cancer occurs in the pancreatic head and neck, it gradually increases in size and involves and compresses the bile duct that passes through the pancreas. Thus bile cannot come down from liver and it gradually accumulates in the liver and get absorbed into the stream and causes jaundice

How is pancreatic jaundice different from jaundice seen in hepatitis or liver disease?
Jaundice in pancreatic cancer is called obstructive jaundice, while in hepatitis or liver failure, jaundice is called medical jaundice. In obstructive jaundice, it will be associated with generalised itching over body; jaundice will increase slowly, i.e fist, there will be yellow/brown coloured urine, then sclera (white part of eye will become yellow, the skin over palm & sole becomes yellow and last skin over whole body becomes yellow, stool colour will change to clay colour. When jaundice gets infected, it will cause fever with chills, severe upper abdominal pain, vomiting, and generalised weakness. Also in pancreatic cancer there will be decreased appetite and gradual weight loss.

How to treat jaundice in pancreatic cancer?
First, a CT scan or MRI scan is done to confirm the diagnosis that jaundice is due to pancreatic cancer. Then a gastro surgeon or g.i. oncosurgeon determines whether the tumour is operable or not. Surgical removal of pancreatic cancer is the best and only way to cure it. If cancer is not spread to other sites of the body and if jaundice is not very high, then the patient is directly operated on with whipped pancreatoduodenectomy surgery. If jaundice is very high or it is infected, then a gastroenterologist will do an ERCP and put a stent inside bile duct to decrease the jaundice and prepare the patient for surgery. After recovering from surgery patient is further treated with chemotherapy to maximize the survival years.

Lifestyle modification to lower risk of pancreatic cancer?
Risk factors for pancreatic cancer can be divided into two types. Modifiable and non-modifiable.

Modifiable risks are alcohol, smoking, consuming tobacco products, a diet rich in saturated fat, high red meat consumption like mutton or beef, smoked and salted food items like tandoori and consuming fewer fruits.

If we avoid these modifiable risk factors and live a healthy life with a diet rich in green/red vegetables and fruits, regular food habits, and exercise or yoga, we can decrease our risk of pancreatic cancer.

Non-modifiable risk factors include genetic mutation, family history, and belonging to a race prone to developing pancreatic cancer. Persons in these categories should get regular health checkups and avoid modifiable risk factors. A happy pancreas leads to a healthy life.

– Dr. Jyotirmay Jena, Consultant – G.I. & H.P.B Surgery, Manipal Hospital, Bhubaneshwar
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November 20, 2024
Lifestyle & risk factor changes improved AFib
Research Highlights:
- A clinical trial with adults who have atrial fibrillation (AFib) and an implanted heart device found similar improvements to the amount of time they experienced arrhythmia regardless of whether they received standard care (education pamphlets about healthy diet and exercise), followed a lifestyle/risk factor modification program, or took metformin and followed a lifestyle/risk factor modification program.
- AFib burden, a measure of how much time a patient experiences atrial arrhythmia, improved during the treatment period — particularly in the standard of care and lifestyle risk factor modification groups.
- Lifestyle and risk factor modification was associated with significant improvements in AFib symptom scores, which measure the patient’s perceptions about the severity of symptoms.
- Initially, treatment with metformin alone tended to show worse AFib burden compared to standard of care, but was not significantly different at later periods in the year, the researchers noted.
- Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at American Heart Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as full manuscripts in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Embargoed until 10:23 a.m. CT/11:23 a.m. ET, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024

This news release contains updated information from the researcher that was not in the abstract.

CHICAGO, Nov. 18, 2024 — Treatment with the Type 2 diabetes medication metformin, lifestyle changes, or a combination of both did not improve atrial fibrillation (AFib) burden or progression when compared with standard care, according to preliminary late-breaking science presented today at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2024. The meeting, Nov. 16-18, 2024, in Chicago, is a premier global exchange of the latest scientific advancements, research and evidence-based clinical practice updates in cardiovascular science.

Metformin is a common medication to treat Type 2 diabetes because it decreases the amount of glucose made in the liver, which helps control blood sugar levels. AFib is the most common form of arrhythmia, an abnormal heart rhythm, and it can lead to stroke, heart failure or other cardiovascular complications. More than 12 million people are projected to have AFib in the U.S. by 2030, according to the American Heart Association’s 2024 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics.

Previous research has indicated that lifestyle/risk factor modification to reduce cardiovascular risk factors can help reduce AFib burden, a quantitative term used to refer to the amount of time a person’s heart is experiencing the abnormal rhythms of AFib. Additionally, the study authors noted that recent genomic and genetic studies have suggested that improving the biochemical levers handling metabolic stress — the response to stressors that can cause an imbalance in energy supplies to cells — might help AFib.

“Interventions including weight loss, exercise and metformin act on an enzyme called AMP kinase, which is the master regulator of metabolic stress in the cells,“ said lead study author Mina K. Chung, M.D., FAHA, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. “In this study, we examined whether interventions including these might reduce AFib burden or progression.”

In this trial, called TRIM-AF, 149 adults who had AFib were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: standard of care (participants received educational pamphlets on healthy diet and exercise without individual counseling); metformin only; a lifestyle/risk factor modification program (including referral to a preventive cardiology team for diet and nutrition counseling as well as for an exercise prescription and to address other cardiovascular risk factors); or both metformin and the lifestyle/risk factor modification program. The patients in the lifestyle/risk factor modification groups were offered a diet and exercise visit every three months in the first year of the study and every six months in the second year.

The metformin-only group, the lifestyle/risk factor modification group and the combination lifestyle/risk factor modification and metformin group — but not the standard of care group — lost weight by the one-year follow-up but did not meet activity or fitness targets.

The study was open label, meaning both the researchers and participants knew which groups participants were in and which interventions they were receiving. Participants enrolled in the study had AFib and an implanted cardiac device, such as a pacemaker or implantable cardiac defibrillator, which could record the daily AFib burden, or average percentage of time each day they spent experiencing arrhythmia. Participants were followed for up to two years after enrollment in one of the four groups.

After the one-year follow-up, the analysis found:
- The AFib burden decreased over time in the standard of care group, the lifestyle/risk factor modification group, and the lifestyle/risk factor modification and metformin group. The metformin group initially tended to show worsened AFib burden compared to standard of care, but at later time periods was not significantly different from baseline or standard of care, the researchers noted.
- There were no significant differences in AFib burden change between the four groups.
- The median baseline AFib burden was 5.5% in the standard of care group, 1.8% in the metformin group, 2.1% in the lifestyle/risk factor modification group and 6.5% in the combined lifestyle/risk factor and metformin group.
- At 9-12 months, median AFib burden was 0.67% (relative change -73.5%) in the standard of care group, 0.62% (relative change -48.9%) in the metformin group, 0.13% (relative change -85.9%) in the lifestyle/risk factor modification group and 0.90% (relative change -72.4%) in the combined lifestyle/risk factor modification and metformin group, the researchers noted.
- More than one-third of the study’s participants, in the two metformin groups, either did not start or had to stop the medication due to gastrointestinal side effects, which include diarrhea, nausea and stomach discomfort, the researchers noted.
- All three intervention groups experienced weight loss (an average of 2.4% of their starting body weight in the metformin group, 2.1% in the lifestyle/risk factor modification group and 4.4% in the combined lifestyle/risk factor modification and metformin group), while the standard care group did not significantly change (lost 0.5%).
- Neither of the lifestyle modification groups—those taking metformin and those not taking it—achieved the target weight-loss goal, an average of 10% of participant’s starting body weight, and fitness targets (2 MET improvement on stress testing) set for the study. Device-recorded physical activity times did not increase, and fitness, assessed through exercise testing, showed no significant improvement.
- However, the researchers did see an improvement in atrial fibrillation symptom scores in the two lifestyle modification groups. According to Chung, this reinforces how exercise and weight loss may help people feel better.
“We were especially surprised by the decrease in AFib burden in the standard of care group. We analyzed periods before randomization and saw in all groups that the AFib burden increased. Then, upon randomization, we saw a decrease in AFib burden in all groups,” said Chung, who was also vice chair of the joint American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology 2023 Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Atrial Fibrillation.

“It is possible that the written [Cleveland Clinic] literature on diet and exercise we distributed to the standard of care group for participation in the study could have had a greater effect on reduction of AFib burden than we thought. This was a group of patients who were motivated with discussions to join a lifestyle/risk factor modification study. I think one of the key messages from this study is that talking to patients with AFib about lifestyle/risk factor modification and giving them written instructions or more intensive individualized instructions performed well. The metformin group also experienced a notably high rate of intolerance, which could have increased stress, and we do not know yet whether those who tolerated the metformin had other improvements,” Chung said. “However, at this time, metformin alone should not be recommended as an upstream therapy for atrial fibrillation. The combination of metformin and lifestyle/risk factor modification appeared to show some benefits, but these only reached levels similar to the standard of care arm.”

The researchers said they will continue to analyze the data to determine if people who tolerated metformin and stayed on it for two years have a reduction in AFib burden They will also examine AFib burden changes in people who had a higher AFib burden when they enrolled in the study.

One message from this research is the importance of randomized studies that compare interventions. “Prior nonrandomized studies have suggested a benefit of metformin in reducing AFib, however, non-randomization may have introduced bias,” Chung said.

The TRIM-AF study had several limitations, including its small size. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic began in the middle of the study, which made it difficult to recruit participants and conduct in-person visits. Chung noted that they adapted by changing the protocol to allow virtual visits and by reducing the sample size from 200 to 150 participants. The study will complete two-year follow-up in the fall of 2025.

Study details, background and design:
- The ongoing, two-year follow-up study, which started in 2018, is being conducted at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
- The study population included 149 adults who had AFib at the time of enrollment. Adults were evenly randomized into four treatment groups: 37 in the metformin only group; 35 in the lifestyle/risk modification group; 38 in the combined metformin and lifestyle/risk modification group; and 39 in the standard of care group.
- At study enrollment, 118 (79.2%) participants had a diagnosis of hypertension; 13 (8.7%) had a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes; 57 (38.3%) had a diagnosis of coronary artery disease; 102 (68.5%) had a pacemaker; and 47 (31.5%) had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics between the groups, except there were more patients with hypertension in the two groups not receiving metformin compared to the two groups that received metformin (86.5% and 72%, respectively).
- Study participants had an average age of 74. 61% of participants self-identified as men; 39% as women. 96.6% of the participants identified as white adults, 2.7% as Black adults and 0.7% as Asian adults.
Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the manuscript. The study was funded by grants from the American Heart Association Atrial Fibrillation Strategically Focused Research Network and the Soter Kay Foundation.

Statements and conclusions of studies that are presented at the American Heart Association’s scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association’s policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. Abstracts presented at the Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, rather, they are curated by independent review panels and are considered based on the potential to add to the diversity of scientific issues and views discussed at the meeting. The findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

The Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers and the Association’s overall financial information are available here.

Additional Resources:

###

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for a century. During 2024 – our Centennial year – we celebrate our rich 100-year history and accomplishments. As we forge ahead into our second century of bold discovery and impact, our vision is to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
Source link
November 19, 2024
Lifestyle & risk factor changes improved AFib
Research Highlights:
- A clinical trial with adults who have atrial fibrillation (AFib) and an implanted heart device found similar improvements to the amount of time they experienced arrhythmia regardless of whether they received standard care (education pamphlets about healthy diet and exercise), followed a lifestyle/risk factor modification program, or took metformin and followed a lifestyle/risk factor modification program.
- AFib burden, a measure of how much time a patient experiences atrial arrhythmia, improved during the treatment period — particularly in the standard of care and lifestyle risk factor modification groups.
- Lifestyle and risk factor modification was associated with significant improvements in AFib symptom scores, which measure the patient’s perceptions about the severity of symptoms.
- Initially, treatment with metformin alone tended to show worse AFib burden compared to standard of care, but was not significantly different at later periods in the year, the researchers noted.
- Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at American Heart Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as full manuscripts in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Embargoed until 10:23 a.m. CT/11:23 a.m. ET, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024

This news release contains updated information from the researcher that was not in the abstract.

CHICAGO, Nov. 18, 2024 — Treatment with the Type 2 diabetes medication metformin, lifestyle changes, or a combination of both did not improve atrial fibrillation (AFib) burden or progression when compared with standard care, according to preliminary late-breaking science presented today at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2024. The meeting, Nov. 16-18, 2024, in Chicago, is a premier global exchange of the latest scientific advancements, research and evidence-based clinical practice updates in cardiovascular science.

Metformin is a common medication to treat Type 2 diabetes because it decreases the amount of glucose made in the liver, which helps control blood sugar levels. AFib is the most common form of arrhythmia, an abnormal heart rhythm, and it can lead to stroke, heart failure or other cardiovascular complications. More than 12 million people are projected to have AFib in the U.S. by 2030, according to the American Heart Association’s 2024 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics.

Previous research has indicated that lifestyle/risk factor modification to reduce cardiovascular risk factors can help reduce AFib burden, a quantitative term used to refer to the amount of time a person’s heart is experiencing the abnormal rhythms of AFib. Additionally, the study authors noted that recent genomic and genetic studies have suggested that improving the biochemical levers handling metabolic stress — the response to stressors that can cause an imbalance in energy supplies to cells — might help AFib.

“Interventions including weight loss, exercise and metformin act on an enzyme called AMP kinase, which is the master regulator of metabolic stress in the cells,“ said lead study author Mina K. Chung, M.D., FAHA, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. “In this study, we examined whether interventions including these might reduce AFib burden or progression.”

In this trial, called TRIM-AF, 149 adults who had AFib were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: standard of care (participants received educational pamphlets on healthy diet and exercise without individual counseling); metformin only; a lifestyle/risk factor modification program (including referral to a preventive cardiology team for diet and nutrition counseling as well as for an exercise prescription and to address other cardiovascular risk factors); or both metformin and the lifestyle/risk factor modification program. The patients in the lifestyle/risk factor modification groups were offered a diet and exercise visit every three months in the first year of the study and every six months in the second year.

The metformin-only group, the lifestyle/risk factor modification group and the combination lifestyle/risk factor modification and metformin group — but not the standard of care group — lost weight by the one-year follow-up but did not meet activity or fitness targets.

The study was open label, meaning both the researchers and participants knew which groups participants were in and which interventions they were receiving. Participants enrolled in the study had AFib and an implanted cardiac device, such as a pacemaker or implantable cardiac defibrillator, which could record the daily AFib burden, or average percentage of time each day they spent experiencing arrhythmia. Participants were followed for up to two years after enrollment in one of the four groups.

After the one-year follow-up, the analysis found:
- The AFib burden decreased over time in the standard of care group, the lifestyle/risk factor modification group, and the lifestyle/risk factor modification and metformin group. The metformin group initially tended to show worsened AFib burden compared to standard of care, but at later time periods was not significantly different from baseline or standard of care, the researchers noted.
- There were no significant differences in AFib burden change between the four groups.
- The median baseline AFib burden was 5.5% in the standard of care group, 1.8% in the metformin group, 2.1% in the lifestyle/risk factor modification group and 6.5% in the combined lifestyle/risk factor and metformin group.
- At 9-12 months, median AFib burden was 0.67% (relative change -73.5%) in the standard of care group, 0.62% (relative change -48.9%) in the metformin group, 0.13% (relative change -85.9%) in the lifestyle/risk factor modification group and 0.90% (relative change -72.4%) in the combined lifestyle/risk factor modification and metformin group, the researchers noted.
- More than one-third of the study’s participants, in the two metformin groups, either did not start or had to stop the medication due to gastrointestinal side effects, which include diarrhea, nausea and stomach discomfort, the researchers noted.
- All three intervention groups experienced weight loss (an average of 2.4% of their starting body weight in the metformin group, 2.1% in the lifestyle/risk factor modification group and 4.4% in the combined lifestyle/risk factor modification and metformin group), while the standard care group did not significantly change (lost 0.5%).
- Neither of the lifestyle modification groups—those taking metformin and those not taking it—achieved the target weight-loss goal, an average of 10% of participant’s starting body weight, and fitness targets (2 MET improvement on stress testing) set for the study. Device-recorded physical activity times did not increase, and fitness, assessed through exercise testing, showed no significant improvement.
- However, the researchers did see an improvement in atrial fibrillation symptom scores in the two lifestyle modification groups. According to Chung, this reinforces how exercise and weight loss may help people feel better.
“We were especially surprised by the decrease in AFib burden in the standard of care group. We analyzed periods before randomization and saw in all groups that the AFib burden increased. Then, upon randomization, we saw a decrease in AFib burden in all groups,” said Chung, who was also vice chair of the joint American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology 2023 Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Atrial Fibrillation.

“It is possible that the written [Cleveland Clinic] literature on diet and exercise we distributed to the standard of care group for participation in the study could have had a greater effect on reduction of AFib burden than we thought. This was a group of patients who were motivated with discussions to join a lifestyle/risk factor modification study. I think one of the key messages from this study is that talking to patients with AFib about lifestyle/risk factor modification and giving them written instructions or more intensive individualized instructions performed well. The metformin group also experienced a notably high rate of intolerance, which could have increased stress, and we do not know yet whether those who tolerated the metformin had other improvements,” Chung said. “However, at this time, metformin alone should not be recommended as an upstream therapy for atrial fibrillation. The combination of metformin and lifestyle/risk factor modification appeared to show some benefits, but these only reached levels similar to the standard of care arm.”

The researchers said they will continue to analyze the data to determine if people who tolerated metformin and stayed on it for two years have a reduction in AFib burden They will also examine AFib burden changes in people who had a higher AFib burden when they enrolled in the study.

One message from this research is the importance of randomized studies that compare interventions. “Prior nonrandomized studies have suggested a benefit of metformin in reducing AFib, however, non-randomization may have introduced bias,” Chung said.

The TRIM-AF study had several limitations, including its small size. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic began in the middle of the study, which made it difficult to recruit participants and conduct in-person visits. Chung noted that they adapted by changing the protocol to allow virtual visits and by reducing the sample size from 200 to 150 participants. The study will complete two-year follow-up in the fall of 2025.

Study details, background and design:
- The ongoing, two-year follow-up study, which started in 2018, is being conducted at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
- The study population included 149 adults who had AFib at the time of enrollment. Adults were evenly randomized into four treatment groups: 37 in the metformin only group; 35 in the lifestyle/risk modification group; 38 in the combined metformin and lifestyle/risk modification group; and 39 in the standard of care group.
- At study enrollment, 118 (79.2%) participants had a diagnosis of hypertension; 13 (8.7%) had a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes; 57 (38.3%) had a diagnosis of coronary artery disease; 102 (68.5%) had a pacemaker; and 47 (31.5%) had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics between the groups, except there were more patients with hypertension in the two groups not receiving metformin compared to the two groups that received metformin (86.5% and 72%, respectively).
- Study participants had an average age of 74. 61% of participants self-identified as men; 39% as women. 96.6% of the participants identified as white adults, 2.7% as Black adults and 0.7% as Asian adults.
Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the manuscript. The study was funded by grants from the American Heart Association Atrial Fibrillation Strategically Focused Research Network and the Soter Kay Foundation.

Statements and conclusions of studies that are presented at the American Heart Association’s scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association’s policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. Abstracts presented at the Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, rather, they are curated by independent review panels and are considered based on the potential to add to the diversity of scientific issues and views discussed at the meeting. The findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

The Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers and the Association’s overall financial information are available here.

Additional Resources:

###

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for a century. During 2024 – our Centennial year – we celebrate our rich 100-year history and accomplishments. As we forge ahead into our second century of bold discovery and impact, our vision is to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
Source link
November 19, 2024
Macron to attend ‘high risk’ France-Israel football match | France

Emmanuel Macron will attend the France-Israel football match at the Stade de France on Thursday in a gesture of “fraternity and solidarity” after attacks on Jewish fans in Amsterdam last week.

Thousands of extra police will be on duty for the game taking place against a backdrop of high tension caused by the conflict in Gaza.

The Elysée said the president’s presence on Thursday aimed to “show his entire and full support for the French team as he does every match” but also “send a message of fraternity and solidarity after the intolerable acts of antisemitism that followed the match in Amsterdam”.

Five people needed hospital treatment and up to 30 were injured in “hit-and-run” attacks in Amsterdam after a match between the Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv and hosts Ajax, with police making more than 60 arrests.

Authorities said the Israeli victims were chased and beaten by youths on mopeds after social media calls to target Jews. Maccabi fans were also filmed attacking locals, burning a Palestinian flag and chanting racist anti-Arab slogans.

The Paris police prefect Laurent Nuñez said the game in Paris was “high risk” and security would be “extremely reinforced”. He said the arrangements were highly unusual for a national team match.

Nuñez said police had not demanded a limit on the number of fans allowed inside the stadium. The French Football Federation said the number of tickets on sale had reached about 20,000 – a quarter of the stadium’s capacity.

Even with the reduced ticket sales, between 4,000 and 5,000 police officers and gendarmes will be mobilised, compared with a maximum of 1,300 for a French national team match in a sold-out stadium. They will be deployed inside and outside the Stade de France, on public transport and in Paris. In addition, 1,600 security staff have been drafted in for the game. An elite police unit has been assigned to protect the Israeli team.

“The [interior] minister has made available to me the resources of the internal security force, which will enable us to be extremely reactive and prevent any excesses, any disturbances to public order, either during the match, or in the immediate vicinity of the match, or on the route of spectators who will be going to the match,” Nuñez said.

Femke Halsema, the mayor of Amsterdam, said the attacks there had been carried out by “antisemitic hit-and-run squads” leaving at least five people in hospital. Israel sent planes to evacuate the fans after the violence.

Amsterdam’s police chief, Peter Holla, said there had been “incidents on both sides” and that Maccabi fans tore down a Palestinian flag from the facade of a building in the city centre, vandalised a taxi and shouted anti-Palestine insults.

The Israeli authorities have advised supporters not to attend the match in France and said Israelis abroad should avoid “recognisable Israeli or Jewish symbols”.

“The National Security Council recommends that Israelis abroad act with precaution (…) especially during the coming week, to completely avoid travelling to sports meetings and cultural events involving Israelis, especially to the upcoming match of the Israeli team in Paris,” the Israeli authorities said in a statement.

“Groups that want to attack Israelis have been identified in a number of European cities … at the time of the planned match of the Israeli national team”, the Israeli national security council said on Sunday. It named Brussels, a number of British cities, Amsterdam and Paris.

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November 11, 2024
Dementia risk factors you can control: Essential lifestyle changes for a healthier brain | Health

Dementia is a progressive neurological disorder that affects millions of people globally, disrupting memory, thinking and reasoning. While it is natural for cognitive abilities to decline with age, dementia signifies a more profound and irreversible loss of these functions.

Know the essential lifestyle changes that can help you manage dementia. (Photo by Pixabay)

Dementia proofing:

To understand how we can prevent or manage this condition, it’s important to explore the key risk factors involved. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Neha Sinha, dementia specialist, CEO and co-founder of Epoch Elder Care, shared, “First, let’s talk about how genetic predisposition also plays a role. If there’s a family history of neurodegenerative disorders, the likelihood of developing the same increases. While getting older is inevitable, age remains one of the most significant risk factors for dementia, especially for those over 60 years.”

According to her, lifestyle choices are something we can control. She suggested,
“Habits like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can dramatically increase the risk of dementia. Cardiovascular health also plays a crucial role. Conditions like atherosclerosis and high blood pressure are other known risk factors. Additionally, isolation, poor social engagement and a sedentary lifestyle further heighten the likelihood of dementia.”

Excessive screen time can cause ‘digital dementia’ (File Photo)

Neha Sinha cautioned, “Poor nutrition and a diet high in processed foods and low in nutrients deprive the brain of essential vitamins, antioxidants, and healthy fats it needs to function at its best. Diabetes and high cholesterol have also been linked to increased risk of dementia. Recognising these factors enables individuals and healthcare systems to collaborate in minimising the impact of dementia and supporting healthier ageing for all.”

From genes to habits:

Bringing his expertise to the same, Dr Kersi Chavda, Consultant – Psychiatry at PD Hinduja Hospital and MRC in Khar, revealed, “About 5% to 8% of all people over the age of 65 have some form of dementia, and this number doubles every five years above that age. It’s estimated that as many as half of people 85 years of age and older have dementia.”

“The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s, affecting about 60–70% of people with dementia worldwide. Early signs include forgetting recent events or conversations. Vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, and that associated with neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disorder,” Dr Chavda added.

Dementia can affect people differently, depending on the area of the brain that’s damaged. Dr Chavda highlighted, “Treatments include medication, therapy, diet, and exercise. There are also support groups for people with dementia and their caregivers. People with a family history of dementia have a greater chance of developing it with increasing age. Certainly, genes, specifically APOE alleles, are associated. Brain injury: If you’ve had a severe brain injury, you’re at a higher risk for dementia. Poor circulation to the brain causes an issue; hence, the need to avoid smoking, keep blood pressure under control, and maintain cholesterol and diabetes.”

One of the things that can help patients of dementia, according to a study published in The National Institute for Dementia Education, is discussing past events with them(Pexels)

Asserting that diet plays a role, Dr Kersi Chavda advised, “Avoid polyunsaturated fats and sugars. And maintain some exercise routines daily to control obesity. Cognitive activity is a must, which also means that social withdrawal is avoidable. One must also attempt to control illnesses like depression and sleep disorders. Excessive alcohol and smoking are also associated with an increase in dementia, probably due to their effects on vascularity in the brain. Eventually, one cannot do anything about one’s genetic makeup, but one can attempt to modify one’s lifestyle choices.”

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

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November 10, 2024
Dementia risk factors you can control: Essential lifestyle changes for a healthier brain | Health

Dementia is a progressive neurological disorder that affects millions of people globally, disrupting memory, thinking and reasoning. While it is natural for cognitive abilities to decline with age, dementia signifies a more profound and irreversible loss of these functions.

Know the essential lifestyle changes that can help you manage dementia. (Photo by Pixabay)

Dementia proofing:

To understand how we can prevent or manage this condition, it’s important to explore the key risk factors involved. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Neha Sinha, dementia specialist, CEO and co-founder of Epoch Elder Care, shared, “First, let’s talk about how genetic predisposition also plays a role. If there’s a family history of neurodegenerative disorders, the likelihood of developing the same increases. While getting older is inevitable, age remains one of the most significant risk factors for dementia, especially for those over 60 years.”

According to her, lifestyle choices are something we can control. She suggested,
“Habits like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can dramatically increase the risk of dementia. Cardiovascular health also plays a crucial role. Conditions like atherosclerosis and high blood pressure are other known risk factors. Additionally, isolation, poor social engagement and a sedentary lifestyle further heighten the likelihood of dementia.”

Excessive screen time can cause ‘digital dementia’ (File Photo)

Neha Sinha cautioned, “Poor nutrition and a diet high in processed foods and low in nutrients deprive the brain of essential vitamins, antioxidants, and healthy fats it needs to function at its best. Diabetes and high cholesterol have also been linked to increased risk of dementia. Recognising these factors enables individuals and healthcare systems to collaborate in minimising the impact of dementia and supporting healthier ageing for all.”

From genes to habits:

Bringing his expertise to the same, Dr Kersi Chavda, Consultant – Psychiatry at PD Hinduja Hospital and MRC in Khar, revealed, “About 5% to 8% of all people over the age of 65 have some form of dementia, and this number doubles every five years above that age. It’s estimated that as many as half of people 85 years of age and older have dementia.”

“The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s, affecting about 60–70% of people with dementia worldwide. Early signs include forgetting recent events or conversations. Vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, and that associated with neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disorder,” Dr Chavda added.

Dementia can affect people differently, depending on the area of the brain that’s damaged. Dr Chavda highlighted, “Treatments include medication, therapy, diet, and exercise. There are also support groups for people with dementia and their caregivers. People with a family history of dementia have a greater chance of developing it with increasing age. Certainly, genes, specifically APOE alleles, are associated. Brain injury: If you’ve had a severe brain injury, you’re at a higher risk for dementia. Poor circulation to the brain causes an issue; hence, the need to avoid smoking, keep blood pressure under control, and maintain cholesterol and diabetes.”

One of the things that can help patients of dementia, according to a study published in The National Institute for Dementia Education, is discussing past events with them(Pexels)

Asserting that diet plays a role, Dr Kersi Chavda advised, “Avoid polyunsaturated fats and sugars. And maintain some exercise routines daily to control obesity. Cognitive activity is a must, which also means that social withdrawal is avoidable. One must also attempt to control illnesses like depression and sleep disorders. Excessive alcohol and smoking are also associated with an increase in dementia, probably due to their effects on vascularity in the brain. Eventually, one cannot do anything about one’s genetic makeup, but one can attempt to modify one’s lifestyle choices.”

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

Source link

November 10, 2024
Healthy lifestyle choices can offset genetic risk for brain diseases

Christopher D. Anderson, MD, MSc, chief of the Division of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and associate neurologist in the Department of Neurology and Center for Genomic Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, is the corresponding author and Jonathan Rosand, MD, MSc, co-founder of the McCance Center for Brain Health and neurologist in the Department of Neurology and Center for Genomic Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, is an author of a paper published on November 6, 2024, in Neurology^®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, “Health-related behaviors and risk of common age-related brain diseases across severities of genetic risk.”

How would you summarize your study for a lay audience?

In this study, we explored whether healthy lifestyle choices, measured by a Brain Care Score (BCS), can lower the risk of stroke, late-life depression (LLD) and dementia, in individuals who are genetically predisposed to these conditions. Developed by Mass General Brigham researchers, the BCS is a brain health tool that measures healthy lifestyle choices in the form of a score that then reflects combined risk for the most common causes of age-related brain health conditions.

From the data we analyzed, we found in individuals with a higher BCS, which reflects healthier habits, had a significant decrease in their risk of stroke, LLD and dementia even when they had a higher genetic predisposition to these conditions. This protective lifestyle effect was strong enough to offset the increased risk from genetics. Our findings suggest that individuals who adopt healthy lifestyle choices can protect their brain health, regardless of their genetic risk.

How does your new study differ from your previous publications?

In previous research, we found a higher BCS is associated with a decreased risk of stroke, LLD and dementia. In this study, we discovered that this association extends to individuals who are genetically predisposed to these brain conditions.

How did you conduct your study?

In this study, we examined whether an individual’s BCS affects their genetic risk of stroke, LLD and dementia. After analyzing data from over 368,000 individuals in the UK Biobank, we discovered that a higher BCS significantly reduced the risk of stroke, late-life depression and dementia in individuals who had inherited an increased genetic risk for those conditions. Strikingly, we found that even a small 5-point increase in the BCS, through steps such as quitting smoking or controlling blood pressure, is strongly linked to a lower risk of brain diseases.

What are the implications?

Our work emphasizes how powerful healthy lifestyle choices can be, even for those of us who, because of our genes, are at higher risk of deterioration in our brain health as we age. For all of us, including those with higher genetic risk, the BCS offers a simple and direct guide to what we can do to protect our brains as we age. Patients can feel empowered to continue to modify behaviors to improve their health outcomes, regardless of their genetic risk.

What are the next steps?

We are working to update the BCS to make it even more user-friendly, allowing people to identify areas where they can improve their brain care without requiring detailed information about their medical histories. We are also studying how best to engage communities around the world with brain care tools that can enable them to take good care of their brains, prevent dementia, stroke, and depression, and thereby help themselves and their loved ones to flourish.

Authorship: In addition to Anderson and Rosand, Mass General Brigham authors include Sandro Marini, Tamara N. Kimball, Ernst Mayerhofer, Reinier W.P. Tack, Jasper R. Senff, Savvina Prapiadou, Jonathan Duskin, Christina Kourkoulis, Nirupama Techoor, Rudolph E. Tanzi, Sanjula D. Singh and Livia Parodi.

Source:

Journal reference:

Marini, S., et al. (2024) Assessment of Health Disparities and Sexual Orientation Response Choices Used in Two US National Population-Based Health Surveys, 2020‒2021. Neurology. doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000210014.

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November 7, 2024
Healthy lifestyle choices can offset genetic risk for brain diseases

Christopher D. Anderson, MD, MSc, chief of the Division of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and associate neurologist in the Department of Neurology and Center for Genomic Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, is the corresponding author and Jonathan Rosand, MD, MSc, co-founder of the McCance Center for Brain Health and neurologist in the Department of Neurology and Center for Genomic Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, is an author of a paper published on November 6, 2024, in Neurology^®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, “Health-related behaviors and risk of common age-related brain diseases across severities of genetic risk.”

How would you summarize your study for a lay audience?

In this study, we explored whether healthy lifestyle choices, measured by a Brain Care Score (BCS), can lower the risk of stroke, late-life depression (LLD) and dementia, in individuals who are genetically predisposed to these conditions. Developed by Mass General Brigham researchers, the BCS is a brain health tool that measures healthy lifestyle choices in the form of a score that then reflects combined risk for the most common causes of age-related brain health conditions.

From the data we analyzed, we found in individuals with a higher BCS, which reflects healthier habits, had a significant decrease in their risk of stroke, LLD and dementia even when they had a higher genetic predisposition to these conditions. This protective lifestyle effect was strong enough to offset the increased risk from genetics. Our findings suggest that individuals who adopt healthy lifestyle choices can protect their brain health, regardless of their genetic risk.

How does your new study differ from your previous publications?

In previous research, we found a higher BCS is associated with a decreased risk of stroke, LLD and dementia. In this study, we discovered that this association extends to individuals who are genetically predisposed to these brain conditions.

How did you conduct your study?

In this study, we examined whether an individual’s BCS affects their genetic risk of stroke, LLD and dementia. After analyzing data from over 368,000 individuals in the UK Biobank, we discovered that a higher BCS significantly reduced the risk of stroke, late-life depression and dementia in individuals who had inherited an increased genetic risk for those conditions. Strikingly, we found that even a small 5-point increase in the BCS, through steps such as quitting smoking or controlling blood pressure, is strongly linked to a lower risk of brain diseases.

What are the implications?

Our work emphasizes how powerful healthy lifestyle choices can be, even for those of us who, because of our genes, are at higher risk of deterioration in our brain health as we age. For all of us, including those with higher genetic risk, the BCS offers a simple and direct guide to what we can do to protect our brains as we age. Patients can feel empowered to continue to modify behaviors to improve their health outcomes, regardless of their genetic risk.

What are the next steps?

We are working to update the BCS to make it even more user-friendly, allowing people to identify areas where they can improve their brain care without requiring detailed information about their medical histories. We are also studying how best to engage communities around the world with brain care tools that can enable them to take good care of their brains, prevent dementia, stroke, and depression, and thereby help themselves and their loved ones to flourish.

Authorship: In addition to Anderson and Rosand, Mass General Brigham authors include Sandro Marini, Tamara N. Kimball, Ernst Mayerhofer, Reinier W.P. Tack, Jasper R. Senff, Savvina Prapiadou, Jonathan Duskin, Christina Kourkoulis, Nirupama Techoor, Rudolph E. Tanzi, Sanjula D. Singh and Livia Parodi.

Source:

Journal reference:

Marini S, et al. “Health-related behaviors and risk of common age-related brain diseases across severities of genetic risk” Neurology. DOI: WNL-2024-102529R1

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November 7, 2024