Gastroenterology Advisor (9/25, Lopez) reports “there is a high prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) among individuals with anxiety and depression, and research points to a bidirectional causal relationship, according to study results published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.” The researchers said, “This systematic review and meta-analysis showed a high prevalence of common psychological comorbidities among individuals with GERD, with up to one-third and one-fourth of subjects affected by anxiety and depressive symptoms, respectively.”

Related Links:

— “GERD and Anxiety and Depression: The Bidirectional Causal Relationship,”Maria Arini Lopez, Gastroenterology Advisor, September 25, 2023

The New York Times (9/25, Richtel) reports “many online marijuana dispensaries do not enforce age limits on purchases, and they have other lax policies that enable minors to buy cannabis on the internet, according to a new studypublished” in JAMA Pediatrics. The research “found that 18.8 percent of dispensaries, or nearly one in five, ‘required no formal age verification at any stage of the purchasing process.’ And that more than 80 percent accepted ‘nontraceable’ payment methods, like prepaid cards or cash, thus ‘enabling youth to hide their transactions,’ the authors noted.”

Related Links:

— “Online Marijuana Shops Make It Easy for Minors to Buy, Study Finds,” Matt Richtel, The New York Times , September 25, 2023

Healio (9/22, Rhoades) reported, “Among older adults, more time spent being sedentary was significantly associated with a higher incidence of dementia, a study…found.” Investigators came to this conclusion after analyzing data on nearly 50,000 adults, aged 60 and older. The findings were published in JAMA.

Related Links:

— “Study ties sedentary lifestyle to dementia risk,”Andrew Rhoades, Healio , September 22, 2023

Healio (9/22, Cooper) reported, “Complex PTSD was significantly associated with the severity of psychotic symptoms among people who experienced developmental trauma though symptom severity had no relationship with the broader diagnosis of ICD-11 PTSD, data show.” The findings were published in The Lancet Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Complex PTSD linked to psychotic symptoms following developmental trauma,”Justin Cooper, Healio , September 22, 2023

HealthDay (9/22, Reinberg) said, “While the start of the school year can give kids and teens the chance to reconnect with friends and enjoy school sports and activities, it can also trigger stressors that send many to the emergency [department] for mental health woes, a…report shows.” For children between 5 and 17, “emergency department visits for depression, suicidal thoughts, stress and substance abuse increased significantly in the fall and remained high through the spring, the report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.”

Related Links:

— “Kids’ ER Visits for Mental Health Crises Rise When School Term Begins,”Steven Reinberg, HealthDay, September 22, 2023