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Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Pedal for the mind: Cycling linked to lower dementia risk, study finds
NEW DELHI: Individuals who primarily commute by bicycle have a reduced overall risk of developing dementia compared to people who rely on passive transport methods like automobiles, buses, or railways. This was revealed in a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open, analysing data related to 4,79,723 participants across 13 years. The authors of the study said, "Our findings suggest that promoting active travel strategies, particularly cycling, may be associated with lower dementia risk among middle-aged and older adults, which carries substantial public health benefits by encouraging accessible, sustainable practices for cognitive health preservation." They said that cycling and mixed-cycling modes were associated with a lower incidence of all-cause dementia, including early-onset, late-onset and Alzheimer's disease. Neurologists confirm that this recent study reinforces their existing understanding of cycling's positive impact on cognitive function and its ability to lower dementia risk. The research indicates that cycling activates various physiological processes that support mental health. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Physical activities, including walking, cycling, aerobics, and dancing, all improve brain function. Dr Rajul Aggarwal, director, neurology, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, explained that aerobic activities such as cycling boost cerebral blood flow, delivering oxygen and nutrients to crucial brain regions, particularly the hippocampus, which manages learning and memory. Cycling promotes brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) production, a protein that supports synaptic plasticity whilst promoting neuron development and longevity. These processes prevent neurodegeneration, decrease oxidative stress, and reduce beta-amyloid deposits associated with Alzheimer's. Cycling also supports cardiovascular health, reduces inflammation, improves insulin sensitivity, and regulates blood pressure, collectively lowering dementia risk. Global dementia cases are projected to rise from 55 million in 2019 to 139 million by 2050, becoming a major disability factor in elderly people. Young-onset dementia, occurring before 65 years, affects around 3.9 million people globally, requiring more intensive care despite being less frequent than late-onset cases. Dr Vinit Suri, senior neurology consultant, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, indicated that young-onset cases represented 5-10% of all dementia diagnoses. He said the affected people were typically aged 45-65 years, occasionally 30-40 years. "Early detection is vital because symptoms can be confused with stress or mental health issues, delaying diagnosis," said Suri. "Young-onset dementia symptoms include memory loss, planning difficulties, personality changes, language issues, and poor judgement. Younger patients may show work performance changes, financial management problems, and social interaction difficulties. Some cases present movement or visual-spatial issues, depending on the cause. Professional assessment is crucial due to symptom overlap with other conditions." Dr Arun Garg, chairman, neurology and neurosciences, Medanta Medicity, listed the main young-onset dementia causes: "Alzheimer's disease (most common, even in younger individuals), frontotemporal dementia (affecting behaviour and language), vascular dementia (due to stroke or reduced blood flow to the brain), Lewy body dementia, genetic factors (mutations in the APP or PSEN genes). Secondary causes like traumatic brain injury, infections (like HIV), or autoimmune diseases. " While dementia typically appears after age 60, younger people increasingly experience strokes due to smoking, alcohol, hypertension, diabetes, air pollution and sleep apnea, pointed out professor Manjari Tripathi, head, neurology, AIIMS. Multiple strokes can lead to vascular cognitive impairment and vascular dementia, the second most common type after Alzheimer's. Tripathi recommended a balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, sprouts and legumes.
Medscape
12-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Video Game Improves Trauma Triage in EDs
In a secondary analysis of a trial, exposure to an educational video game on trauma triage was associated with a moderate increase in emergency department (ED) physicians' willingness to transfer injured patients to trauma centers and a smaller improvement in their ability to recognize severely injured patients. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a process evaluation of a randomized clinical trial that involved 800 physicians (mean age, 43.7 years) responsible for trauma triage at EDs in levels III-V trauma centers and nontrauma centers across the US. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either usual education (control group) or a customized video game intervention designed to recalibrate trauma triage heuristics. Those in the intervention group played the game for 2 hours, after which all participants completed a 36-case virtual simulation to assess decision-making. Researchers used the signal detection theory and analyzed: Perceptual sensitivity, defined as the ability to distinguish between patients who meet vs do not meet criteria for transfer; and decisional threshold, defined as tolerance for false-positive or false-negative decisions. TAKEAWAY: Exposure to the video game was associated with a significant reduction in undertriage rates (22% vs 38%; P < .001) and a slight increase in overtriage (39% vs 34%; P < .001). < .001) and a slight increase in overtriage (39% vs 34%; < .001). Video game intervention led to a moderate increase in tolerance for false-positive decisions (intervention standard deviation [SD] units, 0.14; control SD units, 0.53) and a moderate (Cohen d = 0.60) increase in willingness to transfer. The intervention group was also associated with a higher perceptual sensitivity (1.00 SD units vs 0.87 SD units; P < .001), indicating a small improvement (Cohen d = 0.20) in recognizing severely injured patients. < .001), indicating a small improvement (Cohen d = 0.20) in recognizing severely injured patients. The intervention's effect was more pronounced among physicians working ≥ 10 shifts per month, who showed a greater reduction in undertriage (40% in the control group vs 22% in the intervention group; P = .05). IN PRACTICE: 'The results of this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial suggest that educational adventure video games have the potential to improve physician performance in time-sensitive conditions and appear to act by increasing physicians' willingness to implement clinical practice guidelines,' the study authors wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Deepika Mohan, MD, MPH, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pittsburgh. It was published online on June 4 in JAMA Network Open . LIMITATIONS: The use of simulation for process evaluation may not fully reflect real-world decision-making. Physicians exposed to the intervention may have had an advantage in completing the virtual simulation. Additionally, the differences in response rates between intervention and control groups, potentially due to perceived differences in honoraria value, could have introduced bias. DISCLOSURES: This study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health. Two authors reported receiving grants from various sources. One author reported receiving $250 to participate in a stakeholder meeting.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
White House blames 'formatting' for errors in RFK Jr.'s MAHA report. Authors push back.
Citation errors and phantom research used as scientific evidence to bolster Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s landmark 'Make America Healthy Again' commission report were apparently due to 'formatting issues,' according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to establish a commission that was tasked with investigating chronic illnesses and childhood diseases, which culminated in the 'Make Our Children Healthy Again' assessment that was published May 22. However, researchers listed in the report have since come forward saying the articles cited don't exist or were used to support facts that were inconsistent with their research. The errors were first reported by NOTUS. 'I understand there were some formatting issues with the MAHA report that are being addressed and the report will be updated,' Leavitt told reporters May 29. 'But it does not negate the substance of the report.' She also didn't say whether the report was generated by artificial intelligence, or AI, as some have questioned. Although it's difficult to determine whether scientific articles are generated or 'touched up' by AI, there are telling signs, said Yuan Luo, professor and chief AI officer at Northwestern University's clinical and translational sciences institute. Some of those signs may include citation gaps, factual inconsistencies and irrelevant conclusions derived from random research. MAHA report: RFK slams processed foods, pesticides, vaccines as harmful to kids The MAHA report erroneously said an article on the impact of light from computer monitors was published in the journal Pediatrics when it wasn't, according to the study's author Mariana Figueiro, a professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The report also cited Figueiro's research as evidence that electronic devices in children's bedrooms disrupted sleep onset. However, she said the study was on college students and researchers measured melatonin suppression, not sleep. 'The study is ours, but unfortunately, the conclusions in the report are not accurate and the journal reference is incorrect,' Figueiro told USA TODAY via email. 'We have other papers on the topic… but again, none of them were performed with children.' The MAHA report also cited Columbia University epidemiologist Katherine Keyes as first author of a study on anxiety in adolescents. As first reported by NOTUS and confirmed by USA TODAY, Keyes said she did not write the paper cited by the MAHA report. 'I was surprised to see what seems to be an error in the citation of my work in the report, and it does make me concerned given that citation practices are an important part of conducting and reporting rigorous science,' Keyes told USA TODAY via email. Keyes has studied the topic and published a recent study in JAMA Network Open that adolescent girls had higher levels of depressive symptoms than boys, but her study's figures did not match what the MAHA report cited. She said her earlier research on depression and anxiety symptoms yielded results 'that are generally in the ballpark of the MAHA report, although I'm not sure where their exact ranges are drawn from.' Keyes said she would be happy to send information to the MAHA committee to correct the report, but she doesn't know where to reach the report's authors. Ivan Oransky, co-founder of Retraction Watch, a site that tracks retractions in scientific journals and research, said the MAHA report seemed to share characteristics similar to other AI-generated work. AI papers 'tend to hallucinate references,' he said. 'They come up with references that share a lot of words and authors and even journals, journal names, but they're not real." HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said the report has been updated to correct "minor citation and formatting errors." "But the substance of the MAHA report remains the same - a historic and transformative assessment by the federal government to understand the chronic disease epidemic afflicting our nation's children," he said. "Under President Trump and Secretary Kennedy, our federal government is no longer ignoring this crisis, and it's time for the media to also focus on what matters." Oransky noted the MAHA report comes as Kennedy said he may prohibit government scientists from publishing research in major peer-reviewed medical journals such as JAMA, Lancet and New England Journal of Medicine 'because they're all corrupt.' Kennedy proposed an HHS publication where government scientists could publish research findings. "When scientific reform is weaponized to only denigrate science and scientists whose studies contradict your beliefs or your wishes, we get to a very dark place,' Oransky said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: RFK Jr.'s MAHA report errors: Was it AI or 'formatting issues?'
The Herald Scotland
30-05-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
RFK Jr.'s MAHA report errors: Was it AI or 'formatting issues?'
However, researchers listed in the report have since come forward saying the articles cited don't exist or were used to support facts that were inconsistent with their research. The errors were first reported by NOTUS. "I understand there were some formatting issues with the MAHA report that are being addressed and the report will be updated," Leavitt told reporters May 29. "But it does negate the substance of the report." She also didn't say whether the report was generated by artificial intelligence, or AI, as some have questioned. Although it's difficult to determine whether scientific articles are generated or "touched up" by AI, there are telling signs, said Yuan Luo, professor and chief AI officer at Northwestern University's clinical and translational sciences institute. Some of those signs may include citation gaps, factual inconsistencies and irrelevant conclusions derived from random research. MAHA report: RFK slams processed foods, pesticides, vaccines as harmful to kids The MAHA report erroneously said an article on the impact of light from computer monitors was published in the journal Pediatrics when it wasn't, according to the study's author Mariana Figueiro, a professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The report also cited Figueiro's research as evidence that electronic devices in children's bedrooms disrupted sleep onset. However, she said the study was on college students and researchers measured melatonin suppression, not sleep. "The study is ours, but unfortunately, the conclusions in the report are not accurate and the journal reference is incorrect," Figueiro told USA TODAY via email. "We have other papers on the topic... but again, none of them were performed with children." The MAHA report also cited Columbia University epidemiologist Katherine Keyes as first author of a study on anxiety in adolescents. As first reported by NOTUS and confirmed by USA TODAY, Keyes said she did not write the paper cited by the MAHA report. "I was surprised to see what seems to be an error in the citation of my work in the report, and it does make me concerned given that citation practices are an important part of conducting and reporting rigorous science," Keyes told USA TODAY via email. Keyes has studied the topic and published a recent study in JAMA Network Open that adolescent girls had higher levels of depressive symptoms than boys, but her study's figures did not match what the MAHA report cited. She said her earlier research on depression and anxiety symptoms yielded results "that are generally in the ballpark of the MAHA report, although I'm not sure where their exact ranges are drawn from." Keyes said she would be happy to send information to the MAHA committee to correct the report, but she doesn't know where to reach the report's authors. Ivan Oransky, co-founder of Retraction Watch, a site that tracks retractions in scientific journals and research, said the MAHA report seemed to share characteristics similar to other AI-generated work. AI papers "tend to hallucinate references," he said. "They come up with references that share a lot of words and authors and even journals, journal names, but they're not real." HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said the report has been updated to correct "minor citation and formatting errors." "But the substance of the MAHA report remains the same - a historic and transformative assessment by the federal government to understand the chronic disease epidemic afflicting our nation's children," he said. "Under President Trump and Secretary Kennedy, our federal government is no longer ignoring this crisis, and it's time for the media to also focus on what matters." Oransky noted the MAHA report comes as Kennedy said he may prohibit government scientists from publishing research in major peer-reviewed medical journals such as JAMA, Lancet and New England Journal of Medicine "because they're all corrupt." Kennedy proposed an HHS publication where government scientists could publish research findings. "When scientific reform is weaponized to only denigrate science and scientists whose studies contradict your beliefs or your wishes, we get to a very dark place," Oransky said.
Hindustan Times
29-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Losing just 6 kg in your 40s could lower your risk of disease and add years to your life: Study
You might think that once you hit your 40s, it's too late to lose weight and make a real difference but a massive Finnish study tracking over 23,000 people for up to 35 years says otherwise. The research found that adults who lost weight naturally during their 40s without surgery or weight-loss meds lived longer and enjoyed better health than those who stayed overweight. Even small amounts of weight loss had a positive impact, proving it's never too late to take control of your health. (Also read: What women should really eat: Nutritionist busts 16 common diet and weight loss myths every woman should know ) A recent study published in JAMA Network Open revealed that people who moved from being overweight to a healthy weight during midlife experienced a 48% lower risk of chronic diseases and a 19 percent lower risk of death in the following decades. The weight loss didn't have to be drastic either, on average, participants lost just 6.5 percent of their body weight, which is about 13 pounds for someone weighing 200 pounds. This study tracked participants for 22 to 35 years, using data from British and Finnish workers. They were grouped by weight changes in their 40s: healthy weight, weight loss, weight gain, or staying overweight. Although small, the weight loss group showed significant health benefits. Over time, losing weight lowered risks of heart disease, cancer, strokes, asthma, and lung disease, even when diabetes was excluded, compared to those who stayed overweight. The study's timing is key, conducted when surgical and drug-based weight-loss options were rare, participants relied on diet and exercise alone, proving these accessible methods work. Lead author Dr. Timo Strandberg noted the benefits of midlife weight loss may take decades to show, echoing similar long-term findings from Chinese research. Those who lost weight also saw lower blood pressure and cholesterol and kept up their physical activity, unlike other groups whose activity declined. Maintaining weight loss over time is tough, in these studies, over 1,200 participants stayed overweight, while only a small fraction managed to lose weight and keep it off. Many research reports highlight how challenging long-term weight management really is for adults. However, the findings mostly apply to white European populations, so their relevance to other ethnic groups might vary. The researchers also couldn't confirm whether the weight loss was intentional, though it likely was given the participants' age and health. Many expect weight loss benefits to show up quickly and dramatically, but this study says otherwise. The biggest health gains from losing weight in midlife may take decades to appear. Knowing this can encourage those starting their journey now while helping set realistic expectations. For those in their 40s carrying extra weight, the message is clear: it's never too late to make a change. Even modest, steady weight loss can bring lasting health benefits, adding years and vitality to life. Instead of seeing midlife as too late for change, it could be the ideal time to invest in your future health. Though losing weight can become harder with age, the potential rewards in disease prevention and longevity make the effort well worth it.
