by Alzheimer’s Research UK Many older adults who have trouble sleeping take medication to help them sleep. New research, presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2019, suggests certain groups of people who take sleep medication may be at a higher risk of developing dementia. Two different studies have investigated the link between sleep medication and...
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Broken heart syndrome linked with cancer
by Karen Astle, American Heart Association One in six people with broken heart syndrome had cancer and they were less likely to survive for five years after it occurred, according to new international research in Journal of the American Heart Association. Broken heart syndrome, also called takotsubosyndrome, occurs when the heart’s main pumping chamber temporarily enlarges and doesn’t pump well. Although the syndrome may feel like a heart attack, with...
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Early drug intervention reduces risk of cardiovascular events in rheumatoid arthritis sufferers
by Rebecca Biason, University of Toronto People who develop rheumatoid arthritis as older adults benefit from early and sustained use of a drug called Methotrexate (MTX), a recent study led by University of Toronto researcher Jessica Widdifield has found. The study, the first of its kind to examine the evidence around the effect of timing of MTX initiation in relation to long-term...
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Alzheimer’s drug trial targets by-product of gum disease
by Alzheimer’s Research UK The pharmaceutical company, Cortexyme, Inc. has outlined a trial of potential Alzheimer’s drug that targets toxic substances released by P. gingivalis, a bacteria linked to gum disease. In a poster presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference today (Wednesday, July 17), researchers provided an overview of the development of the drug, known as COR388, and how they are working to test its ability to slow the progression...
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Brain-mimicking chip uses different-colored light to learn and forget
The human brain is still a far more powerful computer than anything it itself has created so far. It’s no wonder then that engineers have recently focused on trying to emulate the structure of the brain with artificial synapses. Now, a team of researchers has made a new artificial synapse design that works using a light-based biotechnology technique called optogenetics. The field...
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Can the Rife machine treat cancer?
By Jon Johnson Reviewed by Yamini Ranchod, PhD, MS A Rife machine produces low energy electromagnetic waves that are similar to radio waves. Proponents claim that using the device on the body can cure cancer and treat other conditions, such as HIV. There is no evidence that Rife machines have any effect on cancer or can cure HIV....
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Cigarettes marketed as “natural” and “organic” are loaded with nicotine and toxicants, just like other cigarettes
Descriptors such as “natural” and “made from organic tobacco” in the marketing of Natural American Spirit cigarettes imply reduced risk of toxic exposures. Studies show that smokers perceive these cigarettes as being less harmful than other brands, which is why they choose them. There is very limited data on the levels of key harmful chemicals in Natural American Spirit cigarettes. To learn more, University of...
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Sugary drinks linked to breast cancer in new study — experts weigh in
Juice and soda lovers might have been concerned this week to see the release of a study in the British Medical Journal which found the consumption of sugary drinks to be “positively associated with the risk of overall cancer and breast cancer.” The study, which spanned over 100,000 people in France, included both sugary sodas and 100 percent fruit juice. Mathilde Touvier, PhD, principal investigator of the study, and...
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Simple Ways To Prevent Falls In Older Adults
As we age, the risk of falling increases and becomes increasingly perilous. A fall can be a real health set-back for a frail, elderly person. And, more older adults are dying from falls today than they used to 20 years ago. A recent study showed that more than 25,000 U.S. adults aged 75 years or...
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Ticks spread plenty more for you to worry about beyond Lyme disease
by Jerome Goddard, The Conversation When it comes to problems caused by ticks, Lyme disease hogs a lot of the limelight. But various tick species carry and transmit a collection of other pathogens, some of which cause serious, even fatal, conditions. In fact, the number of tick-borne disease cases is on the rise in the United...