Quick Study: Walking may prevent memory problems in older people

THE QUESTION Might a regular walking regimen protect against the memory loss that occurs when the brain shrinks in old age?

THIS STUDY involved 299 people who averaged 78 years old and had no cognitive problems at the start of the study. The distances they walked weekly were recorded, MRI scans measured their brains' gray matter (the part of the brain responsible for thinking) and they were given standardized cognitive tests. After 13 years, 116 participants had diagnoses of mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Those who walked six to nine miles a week had greater gray matter volume nine years after the start of the study than those who walked less or not at all; walking farther showed no added benefit. They also were half as likely to have developed memory problems in the 13-year span as were the others.

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? Older people. Walking has been shown to boost a person's energy and mood, benefit muscles and bones, help control weight and lower the risk for such health problems as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.

CAVEATS Data on walking distances were based on the participants' reports and were obtained only at the start of the study. The study did not rule out that other factors, such as ill health, might have led to reduced amounts of walking and loss of gray matter volume.

FIND THIS STUDY Oct. 19 issue of Neurology.

LEARN MORE ABOUT memory loss at http://www.familydoctor.org/ and http://www.nia.nih.gov/.

- Linda Searing

The research described in Quick Study comes from credible, peer-reviewed journals. Nonetheless, conclusive evidence about a treatment's effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing or beginning treatment of any kind should consult with a physician.

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Quick Study: Chemotherapy fatigue, prostate cancer surgery

Exercise may reduce chemo-related fatigue.

THE QUESTION Fatigue is a frequent complaint of people getting chemotherapy for cancer. Might exercise change that?

THIS STUDY involved 269 adults (average age, 47) who, as a group, had 21 cancer diagnoses; all were undergoing chemotherapy. All got standard medical care for cancer; some were assigned to supplement that care with nine hours of supervised exercise. The exercise included high-intensity cardiovascular and resistance training and low-intensity relaxation and body awareness techniques; massages also were given. After six weeks, people in the exercise group reported less fatigue and greater vitality and emotional well-being than the non-exercisers. They also were found to have improved aerobic capacity, muscular strength and overall physical functioning.

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? People being treated for cancer with chemotherapy, which uses drugs to kill cancer cells. But the drugs' effect on healthy cells produces a range of side effects, including fatigue. The disease itself also can make people feel unusually tired.

CAVEATS No one with cancer should begin an exercise regimen without first consulting with a doctor. If approval is given, supervision might be suggested; for safety, study participants were closely monitored during all exercise. Exercise regimens that differ from that used in the study might yield different results. Some data came from the participants' responses on questionnaires. Though fatigue was lessened, it remained greater, on average, than in the general population.

FIND THIS STUDY Oct. 13 online issue of BMJ.

LEARN MORE ABOUT chemotherapy at http://www.cancer.gov and http://www.cancer.org.

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Quick Study: Pear-shaped women may suffer worse memory loss than others

THE QUESTION Does an older woman's weight affect the workings of her brain, including her memory?

THIS STUDY analyzed data on 8,745 women, 65 to 79 years old, who were generally in good health and had no evidence of cognitive decline. The women completed standardized tests for mental functioning and had an array of physical measurements recorded, including body mass index (BMI, an indicator of body fatness, based on a person's weight and height). In general, the higher a woman's BMI, the lower she scored on memory tests. The effect was most pronounced among pear-shaped women (whose fat is carried on the hips) than apple-shaped women (who have more of their fat around the waist).

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? Older women. Memory problems are common as people age. Loss of brain cells starts in the early 20s, so forgetting a name or where the car keys are is normal by age 60 or so. Other things have been shown to affect memory, too, including depression, alcohol and drug use, stroke and dementia (which also affects broader thinking ability and involves forgetting how to do once-familiar tasks and how to get someplace frequently visited).

CAVEATS Nearly all study participants were white; whether the finding applies equally to other races is unknown. The reason weight and fat distribution may affect memory remains unclear.

FIND THIS STUDY July 14 online issue of the Journal of the American Geriatric Society.

LEARN MORE ABOUT memory loss at http://www.fda.gov and http://www.familydoctor.org.

-- Linda Searing

The research described in Quick Study comes from credible, peer-reviewed journals. Nonetheless, conclusive evidence about a treatment's effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing or beginning treatment of any kind should consult with a physician.

View the original article here

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Quick Study: Testosterone supplement may have cardiovascular risks for older men

THE QUESTION Testosterone supplementation has been shown to build muscle and strength in older men, who often experience a drop in this male hormone. But does it do the same if the men are not fully healthy?

THIS STUDY involved 209 men, who averaged 74 years old and had low testosterone levels and mobility problems. High blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, high levels of blood fats and heart disease were also common in the group. They were randomly assigned to apply a testosterone gel (Testim) or a placebo gel daily. After six months, those using testosterone recorded greater improvements in lower-extremity strength and physical functioning. However, twice as many men in the testosterone group were evaluated for a medical problem. This included 23 men who had a cardiovascular problem (including high blood pressure, arrhythmia, stroke and a need for stenting), compared with five men in the placebo group, and seven (vs. one) who had an atherosclerosis-related problem (including heart attack, angioplasty and coronary artery bypass).

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? Older men. Testosterone, which the body produces naturally, is key to the growth and functioning of male sexual organs and for the development of male characteristics. A decline in testosterone level that often accompanies aging can lead to low energy and loss of sexual desire as well as a loss of muscle mass. Supplementation is sometimes used to replace what the body no longer produces.

CAVEATS The study was stopped early because of the high incidence of cardiovascular problems among men using the testosterone gel. The study authors noted that, because of the relatively small number of problems, "the differences detected between the two trial groups may have been due to chance alone." The gels used in the study were provided by Auxilium Pharmaceuticals; one of the study's 26 authors received fees from the company.

FIND THIS STUDY July 8 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

LEARN MORE ABOUT testosterone therapy at http://my.clevelandclinic.org and http://www.mayoclinic.com.

-- Linda Searing

The research described in Quick Study comes from credible, peer-reviewed journals. Nonetheless, conclusive evidence about a treatment's effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing or beginning treatment of any kind should consult with a physician.

View the original article here

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Quick Study:

Fever reducer may dampen effectiveness of shots.

THE QUESTION Acetaminophen is often given to infants who have just been vaccinated to keep them from developing a fever. Might this affect the vaccine?

THIS STUDY involved 459 healthy infants who were getting normal childhood vaccinations or booster shots against pneumococcal disease, Haemophilius influenza type B (Hib), diphtheria, tetanus, polio, whooping cough and rotavirus. They were randomly assigned to be given acetaminophen every six to eight hours for 24 hours after their shot or no acetaminophen. Within four days, about 42 percent of the infants given acetaminophen after their first vaccination developed a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher, compared with 66 percent of similar babies not given acetaminophen. After booster shots, the fever rate was 36 percent with the drug, 58 percent without it. However, blood tests revealed what doctors call a "weakened immune response" in infants given acetaminophen, meaning they had fewer antibodies against the diseases, lowering the protection that vaccination provides.

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? Infants due for vaccinations. Mild fever often follows vaccination as the body responds to what it perceives as an invasion. Doctors and parents worried about higher-grade fever and febrile convulsions (a seizure triggered by fever) often give such medicines to prevent fever.

CAVEATS The study tested only the effects of acetaminophen. The effects of ibuprofen, which also can reduce fever, were not tested. The study was funded by GlaxoSmithKline, which makes the vaccines used in the study.

FIND THIS STUDY Oct. 17 issue of the Lancet.

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Quick Study: Pace of dementia seems unaffected by fish oil

THE QUESTION Might taking fish oil supplements slow the mental decline of people with Alzheimer's disease?

THIS STUDY randomly assigned 402 people, who averaged 76 years old and had mild to moderate Alzheimer's, to take two grams of fish oil (containing docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA) or a placebo daily. About a fourth of the participants had MRI scans of their brains done at the beginning and end of the study. Everyone's cognitive and functional abilities were tested periodically. After 18 months, ratings on standardized scales showed virtually no difference in the amount of cognitive decline, including such things as memory, attention, language and orientation, between people who took the supplements and those who did not. Also, MRIs revealed essentially no differences between the two groups in the rate at which their brains were shrinking, which occurs with dementia.

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? People with Alzheimer's disease, a progressive brain disease that gradually destroys people's memory and thinking ability, eventually making it impossible for them to continue their normal daily activities. At least 5 million Americans have the disease, a number that is expected to increase dramatically as the population ages.

CAVEATS The authors suggested that the findings might be different if people were to start taking fish oil earlier, before any symptoms of Alzheimer's were present. Two of the 12 primary authors were employees of Martek Biosciences, which makes DHA and provided the supplements and placebos for the study.

FIND THIS STUDY Nov. 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association .

LEARN MORE ABOUT Alzheimer's disease at www.nia.nih.gov and www.alz.org.

- Linda Searing

The research described in Quick Study comes from credible, peer-reviewed journals. Nonetheless, conclusive evidence about a treatment's effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing or beginning treatment of any kind should consult with a physician.

View the original article here

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Quick Study: Short interval between miscarriage and new pregnancy may have merit

THE QUESTION Does the chance of having a successful pregnancy after a miscarriage depend on when you try again?

THIS STUDY analyzed data on 30,937 women, most in their mid-20s, who became pregnant after miscarrying during their first pregnancy. About 41 percent were pregnant again within six months of the miscarriage, 25 percent six to 12 months later, 10 percent after 12 to 18 months, 6 percent 18 to 24 months later and 18 percent after 24 months. Women who conceived again within six months had the best outcomes and fewest complications. They were 34 percent less likely to have another miscarriage, 52 percent less likely to have an ectopic pregnancy and slightly less likely to have a baby born prematurely, weighing less than normal or delivered by Caesarean section than were women who conceived again six to 12 months after a miscarriage. They were more apt, though, to have induced labor. Women who did not conceive again for more than two years had the highest risks, including nearly double the likelihood of an ectopic pregnancy.

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? Women who have a miscarriage, which is usually defined in the United States as the loss of a pregnancy from a natural cause before the 20th week. Often the cause is unknown and not preventable. In many cases, a miscarriage happens before a woman realizes she is pregnant.

CAVEATS The study, conducted in Scotland, included women who had miscarried before the 24th week of pregnancy, rather than the 20th. It did not include women who were carrying more than one baby. Women who took longer to become pregnant again may have had fertility problems that affected their pregnancy outcome. Only minimal data, if any, were available on other factors that might have affected the women's pregnancies, such as smoking and weight.

FIND THIS STUDY Aug. 5 online issue of BMJ.

LEARN MORE ABOUT miscarriage at http://www.nichd.nih.gov and http://www.mayoclinic.com.

-- Linda Searing

The research described in Quick Study comes from credible, peer-reviewed journals. Nonetheless, conclusive evidence about a treatment's effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing or beginning treatment of any kind should consult with a physician.

View the original article here

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Quick Study: Using sunscreen may reduce risk of deadly skin cancer

THE QUESTION Can the most deadly form of skin cancer, melanoma, be prevented with sunscreen use?

THIS STUDY randomly assigned 1,621 adults who lived in a sunny climate to use sunscreen daily or whenever they wanted to for at least four years. Daily users were to put sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 16 on their head, neck, arms and hands every morning and reapply it after heavy sweating, bathing or spending a long time in the sun. The others could use a sunscreen with any SPF; about 35 percent used it once or twice a week at most, and 38 percent never used it. Participants also took either a beta-carotene supplement or a placebo daily, to test whether the supplement might enhance protection. Sun exposure was found to be similar between the groups, as was their use of other means of sun protection, such as wearing a hat or seeking shade. Nearly 15 years after the start of the study, 11 melanomas had been detected among the daily sunscreen users, compared with 22 among the others, for a 50 percent reduction. Invasive melanomas were 73 percent less common in the daily-use group. Beta carotene showed no beneficial or harmful effect.

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? Adults who spend time in the sun. Harmful exposure can occur in any season and at any temperature, wintertime included. The sun's ultraviolet rays penetrate the skin and damage cells, which can lead to skin cancer over the long term. Basal cell and squamous cell are the most common types of skin cancer, but melanoma is the most dangerous and is reportedly occurring with increasing frequency. Melanoma accounts for about 75 percent of skin cancer deaths.

CAVEATS Results might have been different if sunscreen users had been compared with those who never used it; the authors wrote, however, that asking a group to use a fake sunscreen would have been unethical. The effect on children was not tested.

FIND THIS STUDY Dec. 6 online issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology (jco.ascopubs.org).

LEARN MORE ABOUT melanoma at www.cancer.gov and www.skincancer.org.

- Linda Searing

The research described in Quick Study comes from credible, peer-reviewed journals. Nonetheless, conclusive evidence about a treatment's effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing or beginning treatment of any kind should consult with a physician.

View the original article here

Read More