NPR (7/27, Hamilton) reports the findings from “two studies presented Monday at this year’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference” suggest that “vaccines that protect against the flu and pneumonia may actually protect people from Alzheimer’s, too.” University of Texas researchers in the first study “combed through millions of medical records in a national database” and found that “people who got at least one flu shot had a 17% reduction in risk,” and those “who got regular vaccinations saw their risk drop another 13%.” The second study by Duke University and the University of North Carolina examined “the medical records of more than 5,000 people who were at least 65 years old,” and found people “who received a pneumonia vaccine before age 75 were at least 25% less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.”

CNN (7/27, Kane, Lamotte) reports experts “say more studies are needed to pin down the relationship between getting those vaccines and the reduced risk.” The article adds, “If getting vaccinated for flu or pneumonia, just on its own, can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, then these are important messages to get out to the public, Alzheimer’s Association chief science officer Maria Carrillo told CNN.”

Related Links:

— “Flu Shot And Pneumonia Vaccine Might Reduce Alzheimer’s Risk, Research Shows, “Jon Hamilton, NPR, July 27, 2020

The Washington Post (7/24, Blakemore, Blakemore) reported data from six recent studies indicate that while “more education and higher incomes are associated with a lower risk of depression and discrimination for white people and black women…for high-achieving black men, more success actually increases the likelihood they will experience symptoms of depression and anxiety.” The researchers wrote in a separate article, “Race alone may not be the issue here. Instead, it is an issue of race and gender, that may stem from hopelessness, inequality and blocked opportunities.” Click here to learn more about the studies referenced in this article.

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— “The Washington Post, Requires Subscription

HealthDay (7/23, Preidt) reports, “Hundreds of suicides could be prevented in the United States each year if the minimum age for buying a handgun was raised to 21 in the 33 states that have a minimum age of 18,” investigators concluded after analyzing “data on suicides by teens ages 13-20 in the 46 states that didn’t change their handgun sales policies between 2001 and 2017.” The study revealed that “a minimum age of 18 to buy a handgun was associated with 344 extra deaths on average among young people ages 18-20 during the study period,” whereas “a minimum age of 21 to buy a handgun was associated with an 18% lower rate of suicide among those ages 18-20.” The findings were published online July 22 in the BMJ.

Related Links:

— “With Tighter Handgun Laws, U.S. Would See Fewer Suicides by Young People, ” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, July 23, 2020

Healio (7/23, Gramigna) reports, “The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as infection with the virus, appeared associated with increased risk for development of general psychiatric disorders and loneliness,” researchers concluded after examining available data on some “15,530 participants who served as the first wave of the Understanding Society COVID-19 study.” The findings were published online ahead of print in the September issue of the journal Psychiatry Research.

Related Links:

— “COVID-19 pandemic, infection increase risk for general psychiatric disorders, loneliness, “Joe Gramigna, Healio, July 23, 2020

Newsweek (7/22, Gander) reports, “Both our genes and our lifestyles may explain why some people maintain good memory into their 90s,” research indicated.

HealthDay (7/22, Reinberg) reports that in a study involving “100 people without dementia, average age 92, who were followed for up to 14 years,” researchers sought to find out why “some people in their 90s stay sharp whether their brain harbors amyloid protein plaques – a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease – or not.” The study revealed that “a combination of genetic luck and a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle” were probably why these people maintained cognitive resilience as nonagenarians. The findings were published online July 22 in the journal Neurology.

Related Links:

— “Genetics and Lifestyle May Explain Why Some Have Sharp Memory in Their 90s, “Kashmira Gander, Newsweek, July 22, 2020

Health IT Analytics (7/22, Kent) reports, “Dementia-associated common gene variants or the APOE e4 genotype can more than double dementia risk, but good cardiovascular health can halve dementia risk,” researchers concluded after analyzing data from “data from 1,211 participants in the offspring cohort of the…Framingham Heart Study, the longest-running cardiovascular disease study in the US.” The findingswere published online in the journal Neurology.

Related Links:

— “Genetics, Cardiovascular Health Both Contribute to Dementia Risk, ” Jessica Kent, Health IT Analytics, July 22, 2020

Psychiatric News (7/22) reports, “Deaths involving illicit opioids, stimulants (such as methamphetamine), heroin, and cocaine rose dramatically between 2015 and the end of 2019,” the American Medical Association’s Opioid Task Force concluded in a new report. In addition, the report “showed a 37.1% decrease in opioid prescribing; wider use of state Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs; and increasing numbers of doctors trained to prescribe buprenorphine (a medication used for treating opioid use disorder).” In a press release, Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA, chair of the AMA Opioid Task Force, “emphasized the importance of naloxone, a drug that can be used to reverse an opioid overdose in an emergency. ‘If it weren’t for naloxone, there likely would be tens of thousands additional deaths,’” she stated.

Related Links:

— “Deaths From Illicit Opioids Rise Dramatically While Deaths From Prescription Opioids Fall, Psychiatric News, July 22, 2020

HealthDay (7/21, Reinberg) reports, “As many as 40% of LGBTQ youth and more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth contemplated taking their life in the past year, according to a new report” issued by the nonprofit Trevor Project. The “2020 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health” also revealed that “one in three LGBTQ youth said they had been threatened or harmed because of their sexual identity.”

Related Links:

— “Many LGBTQ Youth Suffer From Mental Health Woes, “Steven Reinberg, HealthDay, July 21, 2020

Medscape (7/21, Davenport, Subscription Publication) reports, “The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdown are associated with increased depression and lower levels of life satisfaction – but primarily in specific demographic and socioeconomic groups, new research shows.” One “survey of more than 72,000 individuals in the United Kingdom shows that young adults, those in lower income groups, and those who had been diagnosed with a mental illness were most affected.” The “second survey showed that the pandemic triggered poorer mental health among more than 1400 patients with mental illness or their caregivers.” The findings of both “studies were presented during a dedicated session at the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) 2020 Congress.”

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— Medscape (requires login and subscription)

Psychiatric News (7/21) reports research “describes how COVID-19-related fear and food insecurity are likely contributing to higher levels of depression in U.S. adults.” Investigators “focused on the responses of thousands of U.S. adults to an online survey in late March,” finding that “of the nearly 10,368 adults surveyed (average age 47 years),” those “respondents who identified as female, single, Hispanic, and/or not working reported higher depressive symptoms than other respondents.” Respondents “with higher levels of COVID‐19 fear and moderate-to-high levels of food insecurity reported more depressive symptoms than people with less fear and low or no food insecurity,” whereas “respondents who expressed greater optimism, control over factors impacting their lives, and greater connection with others reported fewer depressive symptoms.” The findings were published online July 15 in the journal Depression & Anxiety.

Related Links:

— “COVID-19 Fear, Food Insecurity May Worsen Depressive Symptoms, Survey Finds, Psychiatric News , July 21, 2020