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New research suggests that a healthful diet in middle age may prevent certain nonmotor symptoms that develop at least 10 years before motor symptoms occur in patients with Parkinson’s disease. According to study author Samantha Molsbery, PhD, of Harvard University, the research, published in Neurology, doesn’t point to causation, and further study is needed to determine whether a healthful diet might help prevent Parkinson’s disease or delay its development in individuals who already experience such nonmotor symptoms as depression, daytime fatigue, and constipation.
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— Kate Jackson, editor |
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Diet and Parkinson’s Disease: What’s the Connection?
While movement problems are the main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, people with the disease often have nonmotor symptoms such as constipation, daytime sleepiness, and depression 10 or more years before movement problems start. A new study suggests that eating a healthy diet in middle age may be linked to having fewer of these preceding symptoms. The study is published in the August 19, 2020, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
“While this study does not show cause and effect, it certainly provides yet another reason for getting more vegetables, nuts, and legumes in your diet,” says study author Samantha Molsberry, PhD, of Harvard University in Boston. “More research is needed to determine whether eating a healthy diet could delay or even prevent the development of Parkinson’s disease among people who have these preceding symptoms already.”
The study involved 47,679 people who were asked about their diet every four years starting in the 1980s when they were middle-aged. Then in 2012, people were asked whether they had two conditions that are common in people who are later diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease: constipation and a sleep disorder called rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, which includes acting out dreams during sleep by movement such as flailing arms or shouting or screaming. In 2014–2015, 17,400 of the participants were asked about five more symptoms that can precede Parkinson’s disease: loss of sense of smell, impaired color vision, excessive daytime sleepiness, body pain, and depression.
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Statins & Ovarian Cancer
Research points to the benefits of the cholesterol-lowering medication for this fifth-leading cause of cancer death. Read more »
Treating Pruritus in Older Adults
It’s one of the most common complaints of older adults. What can be done to relieve the itch? Read more »
Malnutrition in Older Adults With COVID-19 Infection
COVID-19 infection is associated with malnutrition risk, and disease-related malnutrition puts immunocompromised individuals at a higher risk of contracting this disease. Read more » |
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A More Personalized Hearing Experience for Your Patients
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A Disinfectant That Kills COVID-19
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A resource for professionals looking for new opportunities, as well as those physicians just curious to see what's out there, our Physician Recruitment Center gives physician recruiters a powerful tool to fill partnership opportunities, academic appointments, and hospital staff positions. To support your product marketing or recruiting needs, e-mail our experienced account executives today at sales@gvpub.com for more information or call 800-278-4400! |
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Stemming the Virus in Nursing Homes
In an attempt to turn the tide of COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents, who account for roughly 40% of mortality related to the virus, one of the first large clinical trials of an experimental monoclonal antibody involved nursing home residents. It’s significant, according to an account in The New York Times, because older adults living in care facilities seldom have the opportunity to participate in research. Sponsored by Eli Lilly and the National Institutes of Health, the study has already enlisted 125 facilities and aims to involve 500 and to enroll 40 to 80 participants at each site.
Sleep and Alzheimer’s Disease
New research indicates that sleep may have significant benefits for patients with incurable neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Technology is now able to measure brain activity to shed light on the beneficial biological processes that occur during quality sleep. According to a report in Time, the National Institutes of Health is supporting at least half a dozen new studies of the effect of sleep upon dementia.
Obesity and Vaccines
According to reporting by The Philadelphia Inquirer, the obesity epidemic may hinder the ability of a COVID vaccine to stem the spread of the virus. Prior studies indicate that obesity renders a number of vaccines less effective, such as those for rabies, hepatitis, and flu. Researchers in a variety of settings are trying to determine why obesity may interfere with the efficacy of vaccines.
Dementia in the Time of COVID-19
As programs for older adults and their caregivers have shuttered or gone online, isolation has increased and opportunities for social and mental stimulation have dwindled, diminishing health and wellness both for the elderly and those who care for them. Kaiser Health News reports on the consequences and the emerging strategies to fill the gaps. |
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