MD Magazine (4/14, Campbell) reports researchers are “shedding light on a potential link between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia in patients with stable coronary artery disease [CAD].” The 303-patient study revealed that “patients who survived a recent myocardial infarction (MI) and had PTSD were at a greater risk of developing myocardial ischemia than those who did not have PTSD.” The findings were published online April 14 in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “PTSD Associated With Increase of Mental Stress Induced Myocardial Infarction, “Patrick Campbell, MD Magazine, April 14, 2020

Psychiatric News (4/14) reports that in a viewpoint published online April 10 in JAMA Internal Medicine, Sandro Galea, MD, of Boston University School of Medicine; Raina M. Merchant, MD, of Perelman School of Medicine; and Nicole Lurie, MD, of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations in Norway, “recommended three steps they believe can help…address the likely rise of mental disorders and related challenges from the” COVID-19 pandemic. The three steps include making “plans to address loneliness and its aftereffects as populations physically isolate and to develop ways to intervene,” having “mechanisms in place for surveillance, reporting, and intervention, particularly when it comes to domestic violence and child abuse,” and bolstering “the mental health system.”

Related Links:

— “Take Steps Now to Mitigate Mental Health Effects of COVID-19, Psychiatric News, April 14, 2020

HealthDay (4/14, McNiff) reports, “Teenagers who use marijuana to fall asleep may be setting themselves up for insomnia later in life,” researchers concluded after analyzing “the sleep habits and history of marijuana use among 1,882 teens from Colorado.” The study revealed that “roughly one-third of the participants who started using marijuana before age 18 had insomnia later in life.” In comparison, just “20% of the other participants – who either never became regular marijuana users or started their use at age 18 or older – had insomnia in adulthood.” The findings were published online in the journal Sleep.

Related Links:

— “Using Pot to Help You Sleep? It Could Backfire, “Serena McNiff, HealthDay, April 14, 2020

Psychiatric News (4/14) reports that in a viewpoint published online April 10 in JAMA Internal Medicine, Sandro Galea, MD, of Boston University School of Medicine; Raina M. Merchant, MD, of Perelman School of Medicine; and Nicole Lurie, MD, of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations in Norway, “recommended three steps they believe can help…address the likely rise of mental disorders and related challenges from the” COVID-19 pandemic. The three steps include making “plans to address loneliness and its aftereffects as populations physically isolate and to develop ways to intervene,” having “mechanisms in place for surveillance, reporting, and intervention, particularly when it comes to domestic violence and child abuse,” and bolstering “the mental health system.”

Related Links:

— “Take Steps Now to Mitigate Mental Health Effects of COVID-19, Psychiatric News, April 14, 2020

According to HealthDay (4/13, Norton), “people who carry a gene called APOE4 face an increased risk of Alzheimer’s,” an effect that “may be lessened if they” carry another gene called “klotho.” Investigators arrived at that conclusion after “collecting data on more than 20,000 people age 60 and up – some with Alzheimer’s, some with milder impairment, and some with intact thinking and memory skills.” The study revealed that “among APOE4 carriers, those who also had one copy of the protective klotho variant were 30% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s by age 80.” It does not appear, however, “that the klotho variant protected people who did not carry the APOE4 variant.” The findings were published online April 13 in JAMA Neurology. MedPage Today (4/13, George) also covers the study.

Related Links:

— “Certain Gene Might Help Shield At-Risk People From Alzheimer’s, “Amy Norton, HealthDay, April 13, 2020