Heena Sharma Blog

Compounds found in green tea , carrots and rice have helped reverse Alzheimer's-like symptoms in mice genetically programmed to develop the neurodegenerative disease , a study has found. The study, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, was carried in mice, and many mouse discoveries never translate into human treatments, researchers noted. However, the findings lend credence to the idea that certain readily available, plant-based supplements might offer protection against dementia in humans, they said. "You do not have to wait 10 to 12 years for a designer drug to make it to market; you can make these dietary changes today," said Terrence Town, a professor at the University of Southern California (USC) in the US. "I find that very encouraging," Town said in statement. The study supports the idea that combination therapy, rather than a single magic bullet, may offer the best approach to treating people living with Alzheimer's. Co...

Individuals with tattoos are more likely to be diagnosed with a mental health issue and report sleep problems, a recent study suggests. In a survey-based study published in the International Journal of Dermatology, the researchers also pointed out that people who had tattoos were more likely to be smokers, to have spent time in jail, and to have a higher number of sex partners. The survey was conducted in July of 2016 and resulted in a sample of 2,008 adults residing in the United States. "Previous research has established an association between having a tattoo and engaging in risky behaviours. In an era of the increasing popularity of tattoos, even among women and working professionals, we find these relationships persist but are not associated with lower health status," said Karoline Mortensen, lead author of the study. Read More Business Standard

Substance use disorders are more prevalent--and more severe--among sexual minorities , a recent study suggests. Lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals are more likely than heterosexuals to use alcohol, tobacco or other drugs. The research published in the Journal of LGBT Health provides the context behind the issue by examining the severity of alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse reported by lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals, and people who aren't sure how they identify. "Our findings provide strong evidence that a higher proportion of sexual minority individuals, particularly bisexual individuals and those who are not sure of their sexual identities, have severe alcohol and tobacco use disorders, and those who are 'not sure' also have a higher proportion of severe drug use disorders," said Boyd, lead author of the study. In the past, researchers often focused on any use or misuse of alcohol and drugs, and failed to document the severity ...

A large protein found in spinach may aid in the development of new medications for millions around the world dealing with alcohol use disorders, chronic pain and mood disorders , researchers said. The study, led by researchers from the Purdue University, discovered two peptides which are naturally metabolic products of Rubisco -- a large protein found in many plants like spinach -- that may aid in the development of new medications. "These disorders are currently not adequately managed," said Richard van Rijn, Assistant Professor at Purdue. "Better medications that take a more holistic approach and produce fewer side effects will be beneficial. "We discovered that these peptides selectively activate the known beneficial pathways without activating the 'side-effect pathways' of the receptor," van Rijn added. Read More Business Standard

A recent study has found a link between age-related hearing loss and depression . The findings suggest the greater the hearing loss in elderly individuals, the greater the risk of having depressive symptoms . Thus, the treatment of age-related hearing loss could be one way to head off late-life depression. The study was published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. "Most people over age 70 have at least mild hearing loss, yet relatively few are diagnosed, much less treated, for this condition," said lead author Justin S. Golub. "Hearing loss is easy to diagnose and treat, and treatment may be even more important if it can help ease or prevent depression." Age-related hearing loss is the third-most common chronic condition in older adults. The condition is known to raise the risk of other conditions, such as cognitive impairment and dementia. Read More Business Standard

The risk of developing depression and anxiety is higher among adults with cerebral palsy as compared to their peers without the condition, according to a study. The findings have appeared in the journal JAMA Neurology. A team of researchers led by Dr Kimberley Smith from the University of Surrey and Dr Jennifer Ryan from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland investigated the mental health of those with cerebral palsy and compared it with peers of a similar age, sex, and socioeconomic status, who were not sufferers. Intellectual difficulties, which can affect many with the condition, were also examined to determine if they have an impact on the development of depression and anxiety. Researchers examined up to 28 years of UK primary care data of 1,700 adults aged 18 or older with cerebral palsy, and 5,115 adults who did not have the condition. Researchers found that the risk of depression was 28 per cent higher and the risk of anxiety was 40 per cent higher ...

Whether it is cigarette, alcohol or an unhealthy diet, researchers suggest that these activities can cause many diseases, including high blood pressure, lung cancer, depression and more, especially in men. Getting just 30 minutes of moderate activity a day can help improve your health, including your heart health . Experts from a variety of scientific, medical and public health disciplines have highlighted some of the most important health tips that men can follow for a healthier, fitter life. Have regular check-ups: Even if you feel healthy, regular health checks such as blood pressure, blood sugar levels, prostate checks are essential to catch any problems early and stay in good health. Mental health is just as important, and seeking help for mental health issues, including depression and anxiety, can be critical. Reduce alcohol use: The harmful use of alcohol killed nearly 3 million people in 2016; 75 per cent of whom were men. Drinking too much, or too often, ...

While insomnia is one of the most common symptoms of menopause, undergoing surgical menopause is likely to worsen the sleep disorder , warns a new study. Surgical menopause is often accompanied by more psychological and physical difficulties and nearly 20 per cent of post-menopausal women reported sleep disturbances. Research has linked insomnia to high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, diabetes and other ailments. "Early surgical menopause is known to be associated with more severe menopause symptoms," said JoAnn Pinkerton from the University of Virginia in the US. "That is why it is important to assess sleep quality in women after surgery that leads to menopause, because insomnia and disrupted sleep can cause fatigue, mood changes and lower quality of life," Pinkerton added. Read Complete Article Business Standard

Findings of a recent study suggest that a major traumatic injury - such as car crashes and falls - could increase the risk of mental health diagnoses and even suicide . The research has been published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). "Major trauma was associated with a 40 per cent increased rate of hospital admission for 1 or more mental health diagnoses," writes Dr Christopher Evans of Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, with co-authors. "The most common mental health diagnoses were alcohol abuse, other drug abuse disorders and major depressive disorders." There is little evidence on the link between major injury and later mental health issues. This large study, based on more than 19 000 patients in Ontario, contributes to the literature on this important topic. Most participants who had experienced major trauma were male (70.7 per cent), lived in urban areas (82.6 per cent) and had accidental (89 per cent) rather than in...

According to a recent study, young athletes who have good sleep after sustaining a concussion are more likely to recover within two weeks. Those who don't have good sleep quality often take longer to recover, sometimes longer than 30 days. The study abstract, 'Association between Sleep Quality and Recovery Following a Sport-Related Concussion in the Pediatric Population', will be presented on November 3 at the American Academy of Pediatrics 2018 National Conference and Exhibition, in Orlando. Researchers at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children examined data from four outpatient clinics in North Texas that specialise in treating concussions , analysing records from 356 athletes younger than 19 who were diagnosed with a sport-related concussion between October 2015 and June 2017. Researchers looked at overall sleep quality for these young athletes by asking them to complete a commonly used sleep questionnaire. Those athletes who reported a score of five...

As we age, we may develop certain disabilities that make it difficult to walk, climb, balance, or maintain our fine motor skills . In turn, these changes can affect our ability to perform routine, daily tasks. However, according to a new research, it is often possible to treat these difficulties before they lead to disability. A team of researchers examined information from a study called SHARE. It involved a survey of people aged 50 and older across most European Union countries and Israel every two years. This survey collected information about health, social and economic status, and participants' social and family networks . A total of 30,434 people participated in this survey. The research team who studied the information from SHARE published their findings in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. For example, having good muscle strength helps us maintain the ability to function well. Research suggests that a minimum level of strength is needed for go...

Free online casino games may be an alternative to paid gambling, but it is linked to a higher risk of monetary gambling as well as problems related to it including abuse issues, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), stress, depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder, warns a new research. The study showed that adolescents who participated in free online games called social casino games, were significantly more likely to participate in monetary gambling, either online or land-based forms. These social casino games may also have higher odds of winning than monetary gambling, giving young people the false impression that they are luckier or better at gambling. "Adolescents' participation in seemingly risk-free social casino games is a concern because we know that early exposure to gambling activities is a risk factor for developing gambling problems in the future," said Tara Elton-Marshall, lead Researcher at Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (C...

Language people use in their Facebook posts can predict a future diagnosis of depression as accurately as the tools clinicians use in medical settings to screen for the disease, suggests new research. "Social media data contain markers akin to the genome," said one of the researchers Johannes Eichstaedt from University of Pennsylvania in the US. "With surprisingly similar methods to those used in genomics, we can comb social media data to find these markers. Depression appears to be something quite detectable in this way," Eichstaedt said. For the study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the researchers identified data from nearly 1,200 people consenting to share Facebook statuses and electronic medical-record information. They then analysed the statuses using Machine Learning techniques to distinguish those with a formal depression diagnosis. Analysing social media data shared by the particip...

As per a new study, pregnant women who have suffered from depression or bipolar disorder recognise baby faces and how babies laugh or cry differently. This happens even if they are not currently experiencing depressive or manic symptoms, although the authors stresses that research would be needed to confirm any long-term effects. Researchers compared 22 pregnant women, currently well but with a history of depression, and seven with bipolar disorder who were also currently well, against 28 healthy pregnant women. They also tested 18 non-pregnant women, as controls. Between the 27th and 39th weeks of pregnancy , all the women were tested for how they responded to a series of happy or sad faces, and to laughter and crying, of both babies and adults. Specifically, the women were asked to rate how happy or distressed the infants were based on infants' facial and vocal displays of emotion. They were also asked to identify adult facial expressions of emotion across varyi...