Study: Moderate Alcohol Intake Above Age 60 May Be Good For Memory.
ABC World News (10/23, story 11, 0:20, Muir) reported a new study from several universities tonight has found that light to moderate drinking of two drinks a day for men, one for women, after the age of 60 can stimulate cells in the brain leading to better memory.

The Huffington Post (10/23, Emling) reports researchers “found that light to moderate amounts alcohol consumption was associated with better performance on tests of episodic memory among people in this age group.” The study, published in the American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, looked at data from more than 600 patients who also underwent a battery of cognitive and memory test. The result were findings of a “larger hippocampus, the part of the brain that’s key to episodic memory – or the ability to recall details of specific events.”

Related Links:

— “The Surprising Health Benefit Of Alcohol For Older Adults,” Shelley Emling, Huffington Post, October 23, 2014.

The New York Times (10/24, A16, Carey, Subscription Publication) reports that according to two studies published Oct. 23 in the journal Depression and Anxiety, “new recruits enter the Army with roughly the same rates of mental problems as their civilian peers, but those disorders can persist for longer amid the demands of service than in civilian life.” To reach these conclusions, researchers drew on the results of two anonymous “surveys of more than 38,000 men and women in basic training.” The findings suggest that “the higher rates of mental problems are rooted in the rigors of service, not in the loosening of enlistment standards.”Related Links:

— “Studies Link Mental Issues and the Rigor of the Military,” Benedict Carey, New York Times, October 23, 2014.

The Denver Post (10/22, Draper) reported on the impact Alzheimer’s disease has on families and workplaces nationwide and in Colorado, focusing in particular on the special needs of people with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Patients with the early-onset form of the disease are often younger adults with families and careers, and such a diagnosis can be devastating to finances and careers.

Four years ago, the Social Security Administration made it easier and faster for people with early-onset Alzheimer’s to get disability benefits by adding the disease to its “Compassionate Allowance” list. People with early-onset Alzheimer’s also have some protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act. An estimated 200,000 Americans under the age of 65 have Alzheimer’s.

Related Links:

— “Colorado lives, workplaces increasingly robbed by Alzheimer’s disease,” Electa Draper, The Denver Post, October 22, 2014.

The New York Times (10/22, Span) “Well” blog reports that other medical problems can mimic dementia or Alzheimer’s, but fortunately can be improved or reversed. For example, symptoms of chronic depression and alcoholism in an older person may mimic those of dementia. Vitamin deficiencies, anxiety, thyroid deficiency and certain medications may also cause dementia-like symptoms in patients. In general, “dementia tends to develop slowly; family members often realize, in retrospect, that an older person has shown subtle cognitive decline for years,” whereas “when a person’s mental state changes suddenly over a few days or weeks,” clinicians will seek another cause.

Related Links:

— “Is It Really Dementia?,” Paula Span, New York Times, October 21, 2014.

The New York Times (10/21, Brody) “Well” blog reports that teenagers are more likely to be sleep-deprived than any other age group, with studies showing that few get the recommended “eight and a half to nine and a half hours of sleep each night.” Dr. Judith A. Owens, a pediatric sleep specialist and lead author of “a policy statement issued in August by the American Academy of Pediatrics,” said the lack of sleep is associated with health problems, “risk-taking behavior, depression and suicidal ideation, and car accidents.” The piece notes that early school start times, electronic devices, overscheduling, and parental pressure contribute to the problem.

Related Links:

— “Hard Lesson in Sleep for Teenagers,” Jane E. Brody, New York Times, October 20, 2014.

A Wall Street Journal (10/21, Mccabe, Subscription Publication) article reports on virtual reality exposure therapy and its ability to help war veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The article notes that the technique, which has shown to be successful with other conditions, creates a virtual, three dimensional environment for the patient in a safe and controlled place so that they can better confront the people and places that trigger anxiety. According to the experts, the process of healing begins when the patient experiences familiarity of the scenes, suppressing fear neurons and allowing for new information about the event is learned.

Related Links:

— “Virtual Reality Therapy Shows New Benefits,” Caitlan McCabe, Wall Street Journal, October 20, 2014.

HealthDay (10/18, Haelle) reported that, according to a 99-patient study published online Sept. 29 in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, “family rejection could be potentially deadly for teens already at risk for suicide.” After adjusting for confounding factors, researchers found that “boys with feelings of invalidation from their families were almost four times more likely to attempt suicide than boys who didn’t feel rejected.” In fact, “boys who felt rejected most often during the follow-up were eight times more likely to attempt suicide than those who felt accepted by their families.”

Related Links:

— “Family Acceptance Key to Curbing Teen Suicides, Study Shows,” Tara Haelle, HealthDay, October 17, 2014.

HealthDay (10/18, Preidt) reported that, according to a study published Oct. 13 in the American Sociological Review, use of stimulation medications by US children appears to be “30 percent higher during the school year than in the summer.” After analyzing “prescriptions written for stimulants in the United States during the 2007 to 2008 school year,” researchers theorized that “many children may use stimulants to help them meet academic demands.”

Related Links:

— “U.S. Kids Use ADHD Meds More During School Year,” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, October 17, 2014.

Medscape (10/18) reported that, according to a study published in the October issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry, “the likelihood that a child with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) will receive stimulant medication goes beyond their symptoms.” The study of 1,920 children revealed that “low maternal education increases the likelihood that a child with AD/HD will receive medication, whereas immigrant status decreases the odds.”

Related Links:

— Medscape (requires login and subscription)

Reuters (10/17, Seaman) reports researchers from the University of Georgia have found that, while African American teens growing up in poverty are more likely to have chronic illnesses than other kids, emotional support from caretakers can offset the damage from living in a stressful environment. The study examined 420 19-year-old African American adolescents and is published in the journal Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “Mentoring kids in poverty helps lower their health risks: study,” Andrew M. Seaman, Reuters, October 16, 2014.