Healio (7/26, Rhoades) reported, “Increased social isolation may be linked to greater risks for several adverse health outcomes in older adults, according to a study.” Researchers came to this conclusion after assessing “associations between changes in social isolation and multiple health outcomes – including death, CVD, dementia, stroke and disability — within a sample of 13,649 respondents aged 50 years or older from the 2006 to 2020 Health and Retirement Study waves.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Social isolation increases risk for death, dementia in older adults,”Andrew (Drew) Rhoades, Healio , July 26, 2024

The New York Times (7/28, Belluck ) says researchers on Sunday “reported that a blood test was significantly more accurate than doctors’ interpretation of cognitive tests and CT scans in signaling” Alzheimer’s disease. The study “found that about 90 percent of the time the blood test correctly identified whether patients with memory problems had Alzheimer’s,” while “dementia specialists using standard methods that did not include expensive PET scans or invasive spinal taps were accurate 73 percent of the time” and “primary care doctors using those methods got it right only 61 percent of the time.” The findings were published in JAMA and presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.

Related Links:

— “The New York Times (requires login and subscription)

HCPlive (7/26, Derman) reported that a “study found probable PTSD was prevalent among adults long after the mass violence incidents occurred in their community.” Researchers came to this conclusion after conducting “a cross-sectional survey study from February 2020 to September 2020 with a sample of adults from 6 communities who had most likely experienced a mass violence incidence between 2015 and 2019.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “1 in 4 Adults in the Community Meet PTSD Criteria Following Mass Shooting,”Chelsie Derman , HCPlive, July 26, 2024

Psychiatric News (7/25) reports, “More than half of people incarcerated before the age of 18 go on to be reincarcerated as adults, with bipolar disorder and substance use disorders significantly increasing the odds of recidivism, according to a study.” Researchers found “other reincarceration risk factors that had been previously identified included not graduating college, parental drug use and imprisonment, and childhood and lifetime homelessness.” The findings were published in the Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law.

Related Links:

— “Bipolar Disorder, Substance Use Disorder Raise Odds of Reincarceration of Youths as Adults, Psychiatric News, July 25, 2024

HCPlive (7/25, Derman) reports, “A recent study found physical activity engagement is inversely associated with reducing depression symptoms, and the association was stronger among people with greater pain.” Researchers found “participating in physical activity can help reduce symptoms of depression in individuals with osteoarthritis, especially those with greater pain levels.” The findings were published in PLOS Global Public Health.

Related Links:

— “Physical Activity Linked to Reducing Depression Symptoms, Mediated by Pain,”Chelsie Derman, HCPlive, July 25, 2024