Healio (9/18, Gramigna) reported, “Alcohol-induced loss of consciousness appeared associated with a subsequent increase in dementia risk,” investigators concluded after analyzing “data of 131,415 participants in seven cohort studies conducted in the U.K., France, Sweden and Finland.” Included in the data were people “aged 18 to 77 years, were free of diagnosed dementia and reported alcohol consumption at baseline.” The findings of the “multicohort study” were published online in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “People who lose consciousness due to alcohol at greater risk for dementia “Joe Gramigna, Healio, September 18, 2020

Medscape (9/17, Yasgur, Subscription Publication) reports, “Vitamin B1 deficiency may play a role in the development of alcohol-related dementia,” investigators concluded after exploring in a medical literature review “the hypothesis that the accumulation of iron in the brain is caused by a breakdown of the blood-brain barrier…attributable to thiamine depletion induced by alcohol consumption.” The findings were published online Aug. 18 in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

Related Links:

— Medscape (requires login and subscription)

HealthDay (9/17, Preidt) reports, “Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may significantly increase the risk of dementia later in life,” investigators concluded after analyzing data from “13 studies from four continents that included a total of nearly 1.7 million people.” The analysis revealed that “people with a history of PTSD were up to two times more likely to develop dementia than those who never had PTSD.” The findings of the systematic review and meta-analysis were published online Sept. 16 in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “PTSD May Be Tied to Greater Dementia Risk “Robert Preidt, HealthDay, September 17, 2020

As part of its “#AskReuters Twitter chat series,” Reuters (9/17, Lockwood) “gathered a group of experts to share their tips on coping with isolation, caregiving and more” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the experts quoted was Howard Liu, MD, MBA, “chair of University of Nebraska Medical Center’s department of psychiatry and spokesperson for the American Psychiatric Association,” who said, “Role modeling is so important for kids, and that includes role modeling vulnerability as parents.” Dr. Liu advised parents, “When we are grieving, don’t hide. It’s OK for kids to see your tears. When we are down, it’s OK to let them know you are seeing a therapist or psychiatrist.”

Related Links:

— “Tips for managing mental health during COVID-19 “Beatrix Lockwood, Reuters, September 17, 2020

Healthcare Finance News (9/16, Lagasse) reports that “in 2020, virtual care is expected to account for more than 20% of all medical visits in the U.S., which in turn is projected to drive $29 billion in total healthcare services,” according to Doximity’s 2020 State of Telemedicine Report. The report “also found that up to $106 billion of current U.S. healthcare spend could be virtualized by 2023.”

Related Links:

— “Telehealth is expected to drive $29 billion in healthcare services in 2020 “Jeff Lagasse,Healthcare Finance News, September 16, 2020