Slow Thinking - Sluggish Cognitive Tempo - New ADD?
A new "disease" has been creeping into the mental health literature - called Sluggish Cognitive Tempo - or SCT.
Characterized by lethargy, daydreaming, and slow mental processing, SCT is estimated to affect some 2 million children (roughly 6 million have ADHD). One researcher with strong ties to an ADHD drug maker says that SCT "has become the new attention disorder," according to the New York Times.
The concerns include no real diagnostic criteria, and the possibility of increased use of ADD drugs for this possible syndrome.
Peter Roy-Byrne, editor-in-chief of NEJM Journal Watch Psychiatry, expressed concern that SCT "will be used as a convenient easy diagnosis in lieu of evaluating things more carefully, especially from a psychological and behavioral perspective."
If you have not heard about it you certainly will. A Google search shows innumerable references.
I wonder if these new diagnoses are just excuses used to place children on drugs, and have some reservations about this syndrome at this time.
New York Times Article
Monday, April 14, 2014
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Does Viagra Cause Cancer?
Viagra and Cancer?
An intriguing study was recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association concerning an association between Viagra and Melanoma - a serious and frequently fatal cancer.
After adjustment for risk factors men who had regularly or recently used Viagra had twice the risk of developing melanoma.
There was no association between erectile dysfunction and melanoma.
Is this a cause and effect or just an association - more studies are needed.
An intriguing study was recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association concerning an association between Viagra and Melanoma - a serious and frequently fatal cancer.
After adjustment for risk factors men who had regularly or recently used Viagra had twice the risk of developing melanoma.
There was no association between erectile dysfunction and melanoma.
Is this a cause and effect or just an association - more studies are needed.
New Hope for Paralysis?
New Hope for Paraplegia
Researchers have been looking for ways to allow paraplegics to regain some function. Until now there has been little or no progress.
Recently some patients have been able to get some muscle control through implantation of electrical simulators in their back. After a few days they could move their limbs voluntarily!
This certainly is a long way from full function, or "Robocop" type prostheses, but is a very promising first "step".
Researchers have been looking for ways to allow paraplegics to regain some function. Until now there has been little or no progress.
Recently some patients have been able to get some muscle control through implantation of electrical simulators in their back. After a few days they could move their limbs voluntarily!
This certainly is a long way from full function, or "Robocop" type prostheses, but is a very promising first "step".
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
New Breakthrough in Alzheimer's?
Researchers continue to look for causes of Alzheimer's and senile dementia. They have determined several possible culprits, including amyloid, but find that some people have high levels of amyloid without problems. Furthermore, blocking amyloid has no effects.
Now Harvard researchers have discovered a protein, they call REST that may be the magic bullet. REST is present during development in the uterus, and gradually disappears as we get older. But in those older people who resist mental deterioration REST begins to increase as they age. REST seems to protect the brain against damage from amyloid and aging.
Many experts feel this will be the key protein in preventing Alzheimer's.
Autism on the Rise
Autism Very Common?
You may have all heard about the recent study published bu the CDC about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). They said that the prevalence is very high - 1 in 68.
There are several reasons for this high incidence. Aside form more recognition, ASD includes many disabilities not usually considered autism:
Emotional disturbance
Specific learning disability
Speech or language impairment
Hearing or visual impairment
Health or physical disability
Multiple disabilities
Intellectual disability
Developmental delay /preschool
However all these children, including the ones with traditional autism have disabilities; ranging from minor to profound.
We need to find reasons for the development of these disabilities.
Just a note about vaccinations. This has been proven many times NOT to be a cause. Indeed the original researcher has lost his license since he intentionally skewed the data. If more than 5% of the population decides to decrease or stop vaccinations, the discussion of autism will pale against the health implications of blindness, meningitis and retardation, sterility, deaths, and paralysis from the childhood diseases we are preventing.
You may have all heard about the recent study published bu the CDC about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). They said that the prevalence is very high - 1 in 68.
There are several reasons for this high incidence. Aside form more recognition, ASD includes many disabilities not usually considered autism:
Emotional disturbance
Specific learning disability
Speech or language impairment
Hearing or visual impairment
Health or physical disability
Multiple disabilities
Intellectual disability
Developmental delay /preschool
However all these children, including the ones with traditional autism have disabilities; ranging from minor to profound.
We need to find reasons for the development of these disabilities.
Just a note about vaccinations. This has been proven many times NOT to be a cause. Indeed the original researcher has lost his license since he intentionally skewed the data. If more than 5% of the population decides to decrease or stop vaccinations, the discussion of autism will pale against the health implications of blindness, meningitis and retardation, sterility, deaths, and paralysis from the childhood diseases we are preventing.
More Insect Dangers
A New Tick Virus
Most people have heard of Lyme disease, a bacteria which is spread by tick bites and can lead to arthritis if untreated.
Now a new tick transmitted virus has been discovered in Missouri, call the Heartland Virus.
Transmitted by tick bites, it has been found in 7 patients, one of whom who had other medical conditions died. Four others were hospitalized with fever, aches, and low blood counts.
The tick associated was the Lone Star tick, found of course, in the heartland.
Being a virus, we have no specific treatment except to try and eliminate the ticks. This illness should be suspected in people who have unexplained illness that does not respond to regular treatments and have had tick exposures.
Hopefully we will not hear too much about it.
Most people have heard of Lyme disease, a bacteria which is spread by tick bites and can lead to arthritis if untreated.
Now a new tick transmitted virus has been discovered in Missouri, call the Heartland Virus.
Transmitted by tick bites, it has been found in 7 patients, one of whom who had other medical conditions died. Four others were hospitalized with fever, aches, and low blood counts.
The tick associated was the Lone Star tick, found of course, in the heartland.
Being a virus, we have no specific treatment except to try and eliminate the ticks. This illness should be suspected in people who have unexplained illness that does not respond to regular treatments and have had tick exposures.
Hopefully we will not hear too much about it.
More on Fruits and Vegetables - will we ever learn?
A Big Salad can Help You Live Longer
Although this does not seem surprising, researchers continue to look at eating vegetables and longevity.
In a large study of over 65,000 patients, those who ate several servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily had a 33% risk reduction for death over an 8 year period.
Of about 4,500 patients who died, almost twice as many were in the low fruit and vegetable group.
As I tell all my friends - I always make sure I eat a salad every day. So should you!
Although this does not seem surprising, researchers continue to look at eating vegetables and longevity.
In a large study of over 65,000 patients, those who ate several servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily had a 33% risk reduction for death over an 8 year period.
Of about 4,500 patients who died, almost twice as many were in the low fruit and vegetable group.
As I tell all my friends - I always make sure I eat a salad every day. So should you!
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