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Every day, millions of people must take one or more pills to control their blood pressure and reduce their risk for heart attack or stroke, but if new research pans out, some may be able to scrap their pills for a twice-yearly shot with the same benefits. Given as a shot every six months, zilebesiran suppresses the gene that produces a hormone called angiotensin that causes blood vessels to contract. This contraction causes blood pressure to rise. The new shot isn’t ready for prime time yet, but phase 2 trials are underway. “This approach offers the potential for sustained reduction in blood pressure that may obviate the need for daily pills in select patients and may help overcome some of the challenges with adherence that compromise our ability to effectively treat high blood pressure,” said lead author Dr. Akshay Suvas Desai, medical director of the Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Many people with high blood pressure miss or skip pills because they are overwhelmed and don’t necessarily feel sick, among other reasons. For the study, 107 people with high blood pressure received either varying doses of zilebesiran as a shot, or a placebo injection, and were then followed for 24 weeks. The researchers also looked at the effect of the 800-mg dose of zilebesiran on blood pressure when… read on > read on >

Every week, a group of dancers meets in Chicago. Together, they follow a series of movements under the guidance of an instructor. They flex, and reach, and point as Carly Liegel, community engagement program coordinator for the Joffrey Ballet, leads them through a series of movements with their arms and then their legs. But these aren’t professionals, and they aren’t your average dancers. Each one has Parkinson’s disease, a progressive brain disorder with no known cure that can cause uncontrollable movements and balance issues. In conjunction with Northwestern Medicine, the Joffrey Ballet started offering “Dancing with Parkinson’s” this summer, exploring ballet, jazz, tap and modern dance, as well as a little improvisation, to tunes played live by a pianist. The five-week program has had a surge of interest, so much so that Northwestern is planning another session. “We’ve never had a program that filled up as quickly as this one in the 10 years that I’ve been here,” said Dr. Danny Bega, movement disorders specialist at Northwestern. Ginger Hall, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease two years ago, takes the classes. She knows it’s important to stay active to manage her symptoms. “I do believe that the magic bullet for Parkinson’s is exercise. Even though you can’t gain what you’ve lost, you can keep Parkinson’s at bay,” Hall said in a Northwestern news release. “Post-COVID,… read on > read on >

As older people start to lose some of their mental abilities, regular exercise might slow the progression to dementia, a new study indicates. With five months of physical activity, the mental ability of seniors with so-called mild cognitive impairment improved significantly, researchers in Canada report. They also found that computerized training to improve memory added to the benefits of exercise. But taking vitamin D supplements had no effect on tests of thinking and memory. “There is no cure for dementia, but lifestyle choices can help prevent it and partly counteract the impact of age and chronic diseases on brain health,” said study co-author Louis Bherer. He’s a neuropsychologist and senior scientist and director of EPIC Center at the Montreal Heart Institute. Mild cognitive impairment is the intermediate state between normal brain aging and early dementia, the study authors noted. Research has shown this is the optimal time to implement preventive strategies and early treatment. For the study, Bherer and his colleagues randomly assigned 175 men and women, average age 73, to exercise only three times a week; or to exercise plus vitamin D supplements or computerized cognitive training, or both for 20 weeks. The vitamin D dose was 10,000 IU three times a week. The study found that 20 weeks of aerobic and resistance exercise along with computerized cognitive training, which works to improve memory… read on > read on >

If you just can’t stop biting your nails, picking at your skin or pulling out a hank of hair, especially when you’re stressed out, here’s something to try that just might work. Instead of nibbling, picking or pulling, simply touch your skin gently, such as by lightly rubbing the fingertips, palm or back of arm, at least twice a day. That strategy, called “habit replacement,” helped 53% of participants in a new six-week study cut back on their unwanted behavior, a new study shows. “The rule is just to touch your body lightly,” lead study author Steffen Moritz, head of the clinical neuropsychology working group at University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany, told NBC News. “If you’re under stress, you might perform the movements faster, but not with more self-applied pressure.” These body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRB) are believed to affect about 5% of people worldwide. The new study included 268 people. They either had trichotillomania, a condition in which people respond to stress or soothe themselves by plucking out their hair, or they repeatedly bit their nails or the inside of their cheek. Members of the control group were told they were on a waitlist for treatment (which they received after the study ended). Other participants were taught how to form a replacement habit through a manual and video. Those who bit their nails appeared… read on > read on >

Many retirees opt to volunteer as a way to help others, but new research suggests this act can also benefit volunteers’ brain health. Volunteering later in life may provide protection for the brain from both cognitive (mental) decline and dementia, according to researchers. Their findings were presented this week at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. Older adults who volunteered had better memory and executive function than their peers who did not engage in these acts of service. “Volunteers are cornerstones of all communities and imperative to the success and impact of many organizations, including the Alzheimer’s Association,” said Donna McCullough, Alzheimer’s Association chief mission and field operations officer. “We hope these new data encourage individuals of all ages and backgrounds to engage in local volunteering — not only to benefit their communities, but potentially their own cognitive and brain health,” she said in an association news release. Supporting educational, religious, health-related and other charities offers people a variety of benefits. These include a chance to be more physically active, increased opportunities for social interaction and mental stimulation. For the study, researchers looked at volunteering habits among more than 2,400 ethnic and racially diverse older U.S. adults who were part of the Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences Study (KHANDLE) or the Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans (STAR).… read on > read on >

Researchers around the world are working to tease out the mechanisms behind Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Now, a new study points to so-called systemic inflammation. British researchers found that inflammation — activation of the body’s innate immune system — is associated with a small but statistically significant later risk of dementia. They reported their findings July 19 in the journal PLOS ONE. “In this study, we found associations between higher systemic inflammation levels and risk of being diagnosed with dementia three to 11 years later, although the increase in risk is small,” said study author Krisztina Mekli, of the University of Manchester in England. “This association, of course, does not mean causality, therefore, further research is needed to understand and evaluate the potential mechanism,” Mekli said in a journal news release. “In addition, high levels of inflammation might be one of the biomarkers which helps to identify people who have elevated risk of developing dementia in the near future.” The U.S. National Cancer Institute defines systemic inflammation as a serious condition involving inflammation throughout the whole body. This may be caused by an infection, trauma, surgery, ischemia (lack of blood supply to a part of the body), or certain conditions, such as an autoimmune disorder or pancreatitis. Data from the U.K. Biobank on a half-million people showed the association between dementia and… read on > read on >

ChatGPT may have some of the reasoning skills doctors need to diagnose and treat health problems, a pair of studies suggests — though no one is predicting that chatbots will replace humans in lab coats. In one study, researchers found that — with the right prompting — ChatGPT was on par with medical residents in writing up a patient history. That’s a summary of the course of a patient’s current health issue, from the initial symptoms or injury to the ongoing problems. Doctors use it in making diagnoses and coming up with a treatment plan. Recording a good history is more complicated than simply transcribing an interview with a patient. It requires an ability to synthesize information, extract the pertinent points and put it all together into a narrative, explained Dr. Ashwin Nayak, the lead researcher on the study. “It takes medical students and residents years to learn,” said Nayak, a clinical assistant professor of medicine at Stanford University, in California. Yet, his team found that ChatGPT was able to do it about as well as a group of medical residents (doctors in training). The catch was, the prompt had to be good enough: The chatbot’s performance was decidedly subpar when the prompt was short on detail. ChatGPT is driven by artificial intelligence (AI) technology that allows it to have human-like conversations — instantly generating… read on > read on >

If your child is in sports camp this summer, you’ll want them to have fun and stay safe. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) offers some tips on dealing with existing medical conditions, staying hydrated and heat safe, avoiding weather dangers and protecting skin from the sun. “Just as parents don’t drop off their children at a pool without a lifeguard, they shouldn’t send young athletes to camp without this vital information,” said Scott Sailor, former president of NATA, in an association news release. Before camp, make sure your child has had a physical exam and that you’ve completed any questionnaires about existing medical conditions and medications, NATA recommends. If your child takes medication regularly, find out who will be in charge of administering it. Also, double check that the medication will not cause adverse side effects from sun exposure or strenuous exercise. Ask whether the camp has medical insurance in case of an injury, illness or accident, NATA recommends. If your child’s sport requires particular equipment, check it for proper fit and condition. Make sure new shoes and equipment are broken in. Your child should take along a water bottle to stay hydrated during activities and in the dorm at night during sleep-away camp. Pack towels and flip flops for showers. Remind your child not to share water bottles and towels to prevent spreading… read on > read on >

Whether your child attends a year-round school or one on a traditional calendar, parents can take steps to make classroom reentry healthier for kids with asthma. Asthma causes an estimated 13.8 million missed school days each year, according to the Respiratory Health Association. That’s more than any other chronic illness. Having an inhaler on hand at school is one important step for kids with asthma. If your child experiences frequent asthma symptoms, visit a doctor as soon as possible, the Respiratory Health Association recommends. Make sure your child has a written Asthma Action Plan that you can share with the school nurse. Help your child practice taking asthma medication. Make sure your child understands how important it is to keep the medicine close by at all times. Call or visit the school or district to fill out any needed consent forms so your child can carry an inhaler at school. Save the prescription label from your child’s asthma medication to provide with the form. Keep an extra quick-relief inhaler where needed, whether in the home or at school. Talk with teachers to make sure they understand your child’s asthma “triggers,” recognize asthma symptoms and know what to do if symptoms happen, the association recommends. Hand-washing and covering the mouth while coughing is important to prevent common cold and flu viruses that can make asthma symptoms… read on > read on >

Dehydration brings lots of risks — including urinary tract infections (UTIs). An expert offers some tips for avoiding these painful infections without sacrificing summer fun. “Patients can experience more UTIs during the summer due to inadequate fluid intake, especially in the historic heat waves we’ve been experiencing,” said Dr. Maude Carmel, a urology specialist at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. “Dehydration is a leading risk factor for UTIs,” she added in a center news release. To help reduce your chances of getting a UTI in the summer, Carmel recommends staying hydrated by drinking at least two liters (68 ounces) of fluid every day. Urinate frequently — go to the bathroom at least every three hours, she advised. Also, avoid constipation, and urinate after intercourse. While cranberry supplements can reduce some risk of infection, cranberry juice is too diluted to treat UTIs, Carmel noted. Signs of a urinary tract infection can include burning sensation or pain with urination, increased urinary frequency, urinary urgency and blood in the urine. Many other conditions can mimic the symptoms of a UTI, but the infection can be diagnosed with a urine culture. A urinalysis, or dipstick test, is not enough, said Carmel, an associate professor of urology. Someone experiencing symptoms that suggest UTI should see a primary care physician. A urologist can help narrow down the cause of frequent… read on > read on >

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Experimental Shot Given Every Six Months Controlled High Blood Pressure in Early Trial

Dancing With Parkinson’s: New Program Helps Patients Control Movements

Exercise and Cognitive Training Slow Thinking Declines. Vitamin D? Not So Much

Bite Your Nails or Pick at Your Skin? A New Study Has a Solution for That

Volunteering Late in Life May Keep Alzheimer’s Away

Link Seen Between Inflammation, Alzheimer’s

AI Came Close to Residents, Medical Students With Clinical Reasoning in Studies

Here’s How to Make Summer Sports Camp a Safe Adventure for Your Kid

Does Your Child Have Asthma? Here’s How to Prepare Them to Go Back to School

Steer Clear of UTIs This Summer