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A class of sedatives called benzodiazepines, which include meds like Ativan, Valium and Xanax, could be linked to higher odds for miscarriage if taken during pregnancy, new research finds. The findings held even after accounting for possible confounding factors such as anxiety and insomnia, the Taiwanese research team said. Looking at data on about 3 million pregnancies, “we found that benzodiazepine use during pregnancy was associated with an approximately 70% increased risk of miscarriage,” wrote a team led by Fei-Yuan Hsiao at Taiwan University’s Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy. Based on the findings, they urge that doctors “meticulously balance” the risks and benefits of benzodiazepines whenever they consider prescribing the drugs to pregnant women who are dealing with insomnia or other psychiatric issues. In the new study, miscarriage was defined as loss of pregnancy between the first prenatal visit with a doctor (typically around the 8th week of gestation) and before the 20th week. Hsiao’s group looked at data from over 3 million pregnancies among Taiwanese women, out of which 4.4% resulted in a miscarriage. Focusing on the women’s prescription drug use during pregnancy, the study found that using a benzodiazepine boosted the odds for miscarriage by 69%. That number was “consistent” regardless of confounding factors and the duration of benzodiazepine use. The study was published Dec. 27 in the journal JAMA Psychiatry. Hsiao’s group… read on > read on >

A common stomach bug may play a part in Alzheimer’s disease risk. New research found that older folks infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) had greater odds for developing Alzheimer’s, the most common type of dementia. “Given the global aging population, dementia numbers are expected to triple in the next 40 years,” said study co-author Dr. Paul Brassard, an associate professor of medicine at McGill University in Montreal. “However, there remains a lack of effective treatment options for this disease.” For the study, he and his colleagues analyzed health data gathered between 1988 and 2019 from more than 4 million people in the U.K. They found that people 50 and older with symptomatic H. pylori infections had an 11% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s. H. pylori, a stomach bug found in two-thirds of people worldwide, can cause indigestion, gastritis, ulcers and even stomach cancer. The new findings add to previous evidence on the potential role of infections in Alzheimer’s development. They also open up the potential for investigating whether eradicating H. pylori could prevent Alzheimer’s in some people. “We hope the findings from this investigation will provide insight on the potential role of H. pylori in dementia, in order to inform the development of prevention strategies, such as individualized eradication programs, to reduce infections at the population level,” Brassard noted in a McGill news release.… read on > read on >

In preliminary findings, Swedish researchers say taking a cholesterol-lowering statin could also slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The study can’t prove cause-and-effect, but might pave the way to a trial that could confirm such a link, said study author Sara Garcia-Ptacek, an associate professor of neuroscience at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. The study was observational, meaning that it was a look at past data, not a gold standard “prospective” trial. The Swedish team analyzed data on 15,500 people diagnosed with dementia who also had heart issues suggesting that they might benefit from using a statin. About 11,000 of them did go on to use a statin. Tracked for three years, “people with Alzheimer’s dementia treated with statins had better cognitive development over time,” Garcia-Ptacek said in an institute news release. That was true “even though they were more likely to have diagnoses such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, all of which are risk factors for dementia,” she added. However, the findings, published Dec. 20 in the journal Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy, remain preliminary. “The results of the study do not mean that we now have evidence that people with dementia should be treated with statins,” Garcia-Ptacek stressed. “But on the other hand, we can’t see any support for not doing so. So, if a person needs statins for high… read on > read on >

For the growing number of American seniors who live alone, having a beloved dog or cat by their side could help them maintain a healthy brain. New research on more than 7,900 people averaging 66 years of age found that those who lived alone were able to stave off losses in memory and thinking if they had a pet. Pet ownership didn’t seem to affect the cognition of older folks who lived with others, however. Loneliness — or the lack of it — may be key here. Owning a cat or dog “is related to reduced loneliness, a important risk factor for dementia and cognitive decline,” wrote a team led by Ciyong Lu, of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China. They published their findings Dec. 26 in the journal JAMA Network Open. The researchers noted that people are increasingly living solo as they age — 2021 data found 28.5% of all Americans were residing in single-person households. Numerous studies have found that “older persons living alone are at high risk of developing dementia,” Lu’s group noted. Could life with a four-legged friend cut that risk? The new study was based on data collected on thousands of British people aged 50 or older whose lifestyles and mental acuity were tracked between 2010 and 2019. Just over half (56%) were women. The team assessed whats known as… read on > read on >

At least 251 cases of lead poisoning linked to tainted fruit puree pouches have now been reported in 34 states, U.S. health officials said. That’s up from 205 cases reported in the last weekly tally, the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention noted in its latest update. States reporting new cases to CDC now include Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia. Exactly how many cases have been reported in each state is unclear because the CDC has withheld state-specific counts, pointing to patient privacy, CBS News reported. The median age for cases in the investigation “is nearly 2 years old,” a CDC spokesperson told CBS News, though reports have come in for children as old as 9. Federal officials have urged state health departments to seek out cases of lead poisoning, which could be missed if children who ate the lead-tainted applesauce don’t get blood tests from their doctor for the toxic metal. AustroFoods, which makes the now-recalled WanaBana, Weis and Schnucks brand cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches, said Monday it will reimburse customers for up to $150 for lead tests. Meanwhile, the FDA reported earlier this month that cinnamon samples gathered at a facility… read on > read on >

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 27, 2023 (HealthDay news) — A rising tide of cannabis-related mental health problems is resulting from the widespread legalization of recreational weed in the United States, warns a new evidence review. Nearly one in five Americans aged 12 and older used marijuana in 2021, and more than 16 million meet the criteria for a diagnosis of cannabis use disorder, the researchers wrote. Further, nearly half of those with cannabis use disorder have another psychiatric condition like anxiety, major depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, said review author Dr. David Gorelick, a professor of psychiatry the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. “There is a lot of misinformation in the public sphere about cannabis and its effects on psychological health, with many assuming that this drug is safe to use with no side effects,” Gorelick said in a university news release. “It is important for physicians and the public to understand that cannabis can have addictive effects and to recognize signs and symptoms in order to get properly diagnosed and treated,” he added. Weed use accounts for 10% of all drug-related ER visits in the United States, according to the review published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine. There are seven recognized disorders related to cannabis use, the report noted. Some include cannabis-induced anxiety disorder, cannabis-induced psychotic disorder, cannabis-induced sleep disorder… read on > read on >

Blue Ridge Beef, a maker of raw pet foods, has announced it is recalling some of its products for kittens and puppies because of possible contamination with salmonella and listeria. After being notified earlier this month by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that health officials found salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in certain products, the North Carolina company recalled specific lots of its Kitten Grind, Kitten Mix and Puppy Mix pet foods, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in a news release. The recalled products, which were sold mostly in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, were distributed between Nov. 14 and Dec. 20, the FDA said. So far, no illnesses related to the recalled products have been reported, the FDA said. The potentially contaminated products have use by dates of N24 1114 to N24 1224. Those dates, as well as lot numbers, are located on the silver tabs at the end of the products, which come in tubes. Salmonella and listeria infections can strike both pets and people, and humans can become infected while handling contaminated pet products. Thoroughly washing your hands and cleaning surfaces that come in contact with the products is advised, the FDA said. Symptoms of salmonella and listeria infection for humans can include nausea, vomiting, fever and diarrhea, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control… read on > read on >

When hospitals support trauma survivors’ mental health during and after treatment, patients are less likely to return in crisis, researchers report. There’s no uniform guidance on how to offer mental health services to these patients, noted lead study author Laura Prater. Fewer hospital readmissions are a good sign that people’s mental health needs are being met at home. “Being in the emergency department is traumatic in its own right, plus returning to the scene where you first received care following an injury or assault is not ideal,” Prater said. “Managing trauma and the mental health fallout from that trauma is best done at home, where you’re in a safe location.” Prater is now assistant professor of health services management and policy at Ohio State University’s College of Public Health. She completed the study while at the University of Washington. Her team studied five years of data on patients who experienced traumatic incidents such as motor vehicle crashes, shootings and domestic violence. The first-of-its kind analysis included 171 patients who were seen at a University of Washington trauma center. They were randomly chosen to receive standard care or a comprehensive mental health intervention. The intervention had three parts: having trauma survivors describe their personal concerns; coordinating hospital care and providing enhanced mental health treatment; and round-the-clock access to support after patients left the hospital. Three to… read on > read on >

It may not take as strict a diet as thought to keep type 1 diabetes under control: New Swedish research shows that a moderate low-carb diet still helped people with type 1 diabetes stick to blood-sugar targets. “The study shows that a moderate low-carbohydrate diet lowers the average blood sugar level and that more patients can keep their blood sugar within the target range, which is considered beneficial in reducing the risk of organ damage for people with type 1 diabetes,” said study first author Sofia Sterner Isaksson, a dietician pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Gothenburg. With type 1 diabetes, the pancreas makes little or no insulin to help blood sugar enter cells for use as energy. Without insulin, blood sugar builds up and can cause serious organ damage. Researchers noted that, for safety’s sake, anyone with type 1 diabetes considering major changes in carb intake should first consult their health care provider. They said that’s especially true for children with type 1 diabetes. For the study, they randomly assigned 25 men and 25 women with type 1 diabetes (average age: 48) to eat a traditional diet with 50% of energy from carbs or a moderate low-carbohydrate diet with 30% of energy from carbs. All had elevated blood sugar levels, and they took insulin shots or used an insulin pump. A continuous blood… read on > read on >

It’s never too late for an expectant mom to adopt healthy habits for her baby and herself. The American Heart Association (AHA) offers some heart-healthy tips. “Pregnancy is often a pivotal time in a woman’s life, from both short- and long-term perspectives,” said Dr. Michelle Albert, immediate past president of the American Heart Association (AHA). “For some, it may be their first experience with a major medical condition, for most, it’s a natural time to be more forward-thinking about their own health, as well as that of their baby,” Albert said in an AHA news release. Poor heart health, including conditions such as preeclampsia, puts both mothers-to-be and their children at risk, according to the AHA. A 2022 study found that only about 40% of women in the United States who gave birth had good heart health before pregnancy. Excess weight was the major driver of poor pre-pregnancy health, according to the AHA. “Getting regular prenatal care as well as post-pregnancy cardiovascular risk factor management, if appropriate, along with making healthy lifestyle changes can improve the pregnancy and birth experience,” Albert said. “Just as importantly, taking these steps may lead to a longer, healthier life for mom and baby.” The AHA said health care providers can make a difference by paying close attention to a woman’s heart health during pregnancy and promoting lifestyle changes. If… read on > read on >

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Xanax, Valium in Pregnancy May Raise Miscarriage Risk

Common Stomach Bug Is Linked to Higher Alzheimer’s Risk

Statins Might Slow Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease

Pets Bring Health Boost to Single Seniors’ Brains: Study

Cases of Lead Poisoning Linked to Fruit Puree Pouches Reaches 251

Marijuana Use Increasingly Linked to Addiction, Psychosis

Blue Ridge Beef Raw Pet Food Recalled Due to Salmonella Risk

Post-Trauma Support Can Prevent Repeat Hospitalizations

Even a Little Less Carb Intake Can Help Folks With Type 1 Diabetes

Expecting? Stay Heart-Healthy for You and Your Baby