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Cats have a long history of boosting people’s moods and brightening their days. And that’s probably true for kids on the autism spectrum as well, new research shows. The small study suggests that adopting a shelter cat may help reduce separation anxiety and improve empathy in kids with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). “Cats, and companion animals in general, offer unconditional acceptance and someone to talk to that listens, and caring for an animal can help with learning responsibility,” said study author Gretchen Carlisle. She’s a research scientist at the Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction at the University of Missouri, in Columbia. ASD is a brain disorder that affects social skills, communication and impulse control. In the United States, it affects one child in 54, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new study included 11 families that had children with autism between the ages of 6 and 14. The families were followed for 18 weeks after adopting a shelter cat. The researchers used standardized social skills and anxiety scales to pick children who were likely to respond well to a pet. The cats were also screened for temperament. Overall, parents reported an instant bond between child and cat, and the bond remained strong over time even with the added responsibility of caring for the pet. The researchers found that the… read on > read on >

Delicious but deadly: Eating fried food is tied to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, a new study suggests. The risk rises with each additional 4-ounce serving per week, a research team in China found. For the study, the investigators analyzed 19 previously published studies. They combined data from 17 studies, involving more than 560,000 people with nearly 37,000 major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack or stroke. The researchers also used data from six studies, involving more than 750,000 participants and nearly 86,000 deaths over an average of 10 years. The study findings showed that compared with those who ate the lowest amount of fried food per week, those who ate the most had a 28% greater risk of major cardiovascular events, a 22% higher risk of heart disease and a 37% higher risk of heart failure. These risks substantially increased by 3%, 2% and 12%, respectively, with each additional 4-ounce weekly serving, according to Pei Qin, of Shenzhen University Health Science Center, in Guangdong, China, and colleagues. The report was published online Jan. 19 in the journal Heart. How fried foods might increase the development of cardiovascular disease isn’t clear, but several explanations are possible, the study authors noted in a journal news release. Fried foods contain harmful trans fatty acids from the hydrogenated vegetable oils often used to cook them,… read on > read on >

A promising step toward using retinal cell transplants to treat blindness is reported in a new study. Adult retinal stem cells from deceased human donors survived when they were transplanted into the eyes of non-human primates, according to the researchers. The cells were taken from the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). It is a layer of cells that supports and nourishes the retina, the light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye. It helps maintain normal vision. RPE dysfunction can result in disorders such as macular degeneration and can cause blindness, which affects about 200 million people worldwide. “The results of this study suggest human adult donor RPE is safe to transplant, strengthening the argument for human clinical trials for treating retina disease,” said co-lead investigator Timothy Blenkinsop. He’s an assistant professor of cell, developmental and regenerative biology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York City. For the study, his team transplanted cell-derived patches under the primates’ maculas. The transplants remained stable and integrated for at least three months with no serious side effects, such as being attacked by the immune system or light sensitivity, according to the report published Jan. 14 in the journal Stem Cell Reports. The stem cell-derived RPE assumed some of the function of the original RPE, and also supported a photoreceptor that helps with functions… read on > read on >

Marijuana addiction increases the risk of death by suicide, homicide and other causes (such as car crashes) in youth and young adults with mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, a new study warns. For the study, the researchers reviewed data on nearly 205,000 young people, aged 10 to 24, in Ohio who were diagnosed with mood disorders from July 2010 through December 2017. Marijuana addiction (“cannabis use disorder”) was reported in more than 10% of people in the study. It was most common among those who were older, male, Black, and those with bipolar or other mood disorders, and a prior history of self-harm and previous mental health service use, including psychiatric hospitalization and emergency department visits. “We also found that cannabis use disorder was significantly associated with self-harm,” said study author Cynthia Fontanella, as well as “death by unintentional overdose and homicide.” She stressed however that the study couldn’t prove cause and effect. Fontanella is an associate professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral health at Ohio State University, in Columbus. “Marijuana use and addiction is common among youth and young adults with mood disorders, but the association of this behavior with self-harm, suicide and overall mortality risk is poorly understood in this already vulnerable population,” Fontanella said in a university news release. “These findings should be considered as states contemplate legalizing medical… read on > read on >

Want to get the most out of your COVID-19 vaccine? Make sure you get some good rest before you get your shot, sleep experts say. That’s because adequate sleep is an important factor in a strong immune system. “As COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed, it is of utmost importance that patients continue to prioritize their sleep to maintain optimal health,” American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) president Dr. Kannan Ramar said in an academy news release. “Getting sufficient, high-quality sleep on a regular basis strengthens your body’s immune system and optimizes your response to a vaccine.” Several studies have found an association between sleep and vaccination response. For example, a 2020 study in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine found that flu vaccines appear to be more effective in people who get a sufficient amount of sleep during the two nights prior to receiving the shot. Other studies have reported similar findings about patients’ response to vaccines for hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Dr. Khurshid Khurshid is director of the UMMHC/UMMS Center for Neuromodulation at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, in Westborough, Mass. He said, “The role of sleep in boosting innate and acquired immune response is significant. All people, particularly health workers, should be aware of the immunity-boosting effects of sleep. Studies have shown that normal sleep after vaccination strengthens the immune response… read on > read on >

It may take a village to support teens’ mental health, whether it’s during the pandemic or later. One option is having school-based mental health programs that offer peer support leaders. A new C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health at Michigan Medicine found that one in three parents are strongly in favor of a peer support program. The poll also asked questions that got at the heart of pros and cons of this type of program. “Peers may provide valuable support for fellow teens struggling with emotional issues because they can relate to each other,” said Mott Poll co-director Sarah Clark. “Some teens may worry that their parents will overreact or not understand what they’re going through. Teachers and school counselors may also have limited time to talk with students in the middle of other responsibilities.” Teen mental health is a big issue, with one in five teens experiencing symptoms of a mental health disorder, such as anxiety or depression, according to a Michigan Medicine news release. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens. Previous research suggests that up to half of children and teens with a treatable mental health disorder don’t get help because of several barriers. Even teens who don’t have a diagnosed condition may experience occasional issues that can increase the risk of developing depression. And three-quarters… read on > read on >

Noninvasive electrical stimulation of the brain, fine-tuned to specific “circuitry” gone awry, might help ease obsessive-compulsive behaviors, an early study hints. Researchers found that the brain stimulation, delivered over five days, reduced obsessive-compulsive tendencies for three months, though in people who did not have full-blown obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It’s too early to say whether the approach can be translated into an OCD therapy, said researcher Shrey Grover, a PhD student in psychological and brain sciences at Boston University. “We need more research to replicate these findings. It will take time before this is widely available.” But the work, described online Jan. 18 in Nature Medicine, builds on a body of research into the underpinnings of OCD. Research has shown that people with OCD have difficulty processing “rewards” from the environment, Grover explained. So they become reliant on certain rituals, whether it’s compulsively washing their hands, making sure household items are placed a particular way or checking that appliances are turned off. Scientists have also found that certain brain activity patterns are associated with those symptoms. In fact, abnormalities in the brain’s circuitry are involved in a number of psychiatric conditions, according to Dr. Alon Mogilner, director of the Center for Neuromodulation at NYU Langone Health, in New York City. “Neuromodulation” is a broad term for therapies that use electrical pulses to alter the firing patterns… read on > read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

The Family Cat Could Be Good Medicine for Kids With Autism

Fried Food a Big Factor in Heart Disease, Stroke

Promising Steps Toward Retinal Cell Transplants to Fight Blindness

Pot Use Ups Odds for Suicide in Young People With Bipolar Disorder

Getting the COVID Vaccine? A Good Night’s Sleep Will Help

Many Parents Support ‘Teens Helping Teens’ Mental Health Programs at Schools: Poll

A Promising New Therapy Against OCD?

The Family Cat Could Be Good Medicine for Kids With Autism

Fried Food a Big Factor in Heart Disease, Stroke

Promising Steps Toward Retinal Cell Transplants to Fight Blindness