Day: 04/05/2023

What Your Body Shape Says About Your Health

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One Piece of the Puzzle

One Piece of the Puzzle

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Your body shape can say quite a bit about your health. But it’s important to remember that it’s just one factor. People of all shapes and sizes can be healthy — or at risk for problems like heart disease or diabetes. You should see your doctor for regular checkups to test your blood pressure, cholesterol, and other measures of your health.

Ectomorph

Ectomorph

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One system separates body shapes into “somatotypes.” The ectomorph type has a narrower frame, thinner bones, and smaller joints, and may be flatter in the chest and butt. Think of the typical build of a distance runner, fashion model, or ballerina. Though you may look skinny and find it hard to put on weight, you can have more body fat than you think, especially as you age. That’s because your body often processes food quickly, which makes it harder to build muscle.

Endomorph

Endomorph

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This somatotype usually has more body fat and muscle, smaller shoulders, shorter limbs, and larger bone structure. Think of football linemen, shot put throwers, or curvier women.  You may gain weight easily, especially in your lower belly and hips, and find it harder to lose. This may be in part because your body is more likely to store “high carb” foods as fat instead of burning them.

Mesomorph

Mesomorph

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This somatotype has an athletic, strong build with wide shoulders, a narrow waist, and low body fat. Think of the typical build of sprinters or soccer players. Because you’re naturally strong and lose and gain weight easily, your body type is well-suited to muscle-building activities like bodybuilding. 

Pear Shape

Pear Shape

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It combines a slimmer “ectomorph” upper body with an “endomorph” lower body. People with this shape have extra fat in the hip and thigh area. It’s more common among women, and it may be part of the reason they often live longer than men. That could be because belly fat, more common in men, is linked to more health problems than lower-body fat. One study found that in some cases fat in the hips and thighs was linked to lower odds for some diseases.

Apple Shape

Apple Shape

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Also called a “beer belly,” it means you have more fat stored around your stomach, while your lower body stays thin. It’s more common in men, and it’s worse for your health than the pear shape. That’s because belly fat is often a sign that you have more fat deeper inside, around your internal organs, as opposed to just beneath the skin. That kind is more closely linked to heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Body Mass Index (BMI)

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Doctors don’t rely on body shape alone to know how healthy you are. They use a few tools to measure how much body fat you have, and BMI is one of them. It’s a number calculated from your height and weight. A score of 25 or more suggests you’re overweight; 30 or more points to obesity. But it doesn’t measure body fat directly or tell you where in your body the fat tends to live.

Waist Size

Waist Size

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This is a simple way to measure how much fat you have around your belly, which can tell you your odds for health problems, like heart disease and type 2 diabetes. To check yours, line up a measuring tape with your belly button and wind it once around. (Don’t suck in your stomach when you measure.) In women, 35 inches or more is a sign of too much belly fat. In men, it’s 40 inches. These numbers may vary slightly if you have a very large body size.

Waist-to-Hip Ratio

Waist-to-Hip Ratio

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It’s another way to gauge the fat around your midsection. Measure your waist just above your belly button and divide that by the measure of your hips at their widest point. Anything greater than 0.85 for women or 0.9 for men puts you in the danger zone for health problems. Is it a better measure than just your waist size? The research isn’t clear. But many studies suggest that both do a good job of predicting health risks.

Bigger Thighs, Better Health?

Bigger Thighs, Better Health?

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Scientists studied about 3,000 adults for more than 12 years and found those whose thighs measured less than 24 1/2 inches were more likely to have heart disease and other health problems. And the problem got worse as thighs got thinner. However, the study didn’t track whether the people’s thighs were larger because of fat, muscle, or both, so it’s hard to tell why they were better off. 

Arm Yourself

Arm Yourself

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When doctors kept track of 4,000 men between ages 60 and 79 to figure out their body composition, they found that along with slimmer waists, bigger arms seemed to predict longer life and better health. Those who had larger mid-arm muscle measurements lived longer. It may simply be that muscular arms reflect a healthier lifestyle, but the muscle itself may also help. 

Exercise to Stay in Shape

Exercise to Stay in Shape

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Often, your body shape is something you’re born with. But no matter what you look like, there are lots of things you can do to be healthy. Exercise can help you get rid of deeper fat and build muscle, even if your weight stays the same. And if you lose weight, regular workouts can help you keep it off. Try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week. Building muscle with weights or yoga can also help. 

Eat for a Healthy Body Shape

Eat for a Healthy Body Shape

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Trans fats and sweetened foods and drinks seem to boost belly fat. Eat a diet focused on vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. And look for lean protein like skinless chicken, fish, eggs, beans, and low-fat dairy.

Higher magnesium intake linked to lower dementia risk

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  • Researchers investigated how magnesium intake influences dementia risk factors.
  • They found that a higher magnesium intake is linked to lower dementia risk.
  • Further research is needed to confirm the results.

In 2019, 57.4 million people had dementia globally. By 2050, this figure is expected to rise to 152.8 million.

As there is currently no cure for dementia, many researchers emphasize preventative strategiesTrusted Source such as diet. Some studies suggest that dietary magnesium is linked to better cognitive functionTrusted Source and may reduce dementia risk.

One studyTrusted Source that followed 1,000 middle-aged adults for 17 years found that those taking the highest levels of magnesium had a 37% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who took the least amount.

Further research on the link between magnesium and cognitive status could inform preventative strategies for dementia.

Recently, researchers investigated how magnesium intake over time affects dementia risk. They found that higher magnesium intake is linked to better brain health—especially in women.

“Although more research is needed on this topic, the results of this study suggest that higher magnesium intake is associated with improved brain health and may potentially also be linked to preserved mental function and a reduced or delayed risk of developing dementia,” Dr. Kelly Johnson-Arbor, medical toxicologist, co-medical director, and interim executive director at the National Capital Poison Center, who was not involved in the study, told Medical News Today.

The study was published in the European Journal of Nutrition.

350 vs. 550 mg of magnesium daily

For the study, the researchers included healthcare data from 6,001 participants aged 40–73 years old from the UK Biobank.

Data included blood pressure measurements, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, and dietary magnesium intake over a 24-hour period five times over 16 months.

Over 95% of participants consumed stable amounts of magnesium over the study period. Some, however, increased their intake over time, while others decreased their intake.

In the end, they found that higher dietary magnesium intake was linked to larger brain volumes and smaller white matter lesions (WML)—both of which are indicators of dementia—in MRI scans.

They also found that consuming over 550 mg of magnesium daily is linked to a roughly one-year younger brain age by 55 years old than consuming 350 mg per day, which is close to the average daily intake.

This, they noted, means that increasing magnesium intake by 41% could improve brain health, preserve cognitive ability, and lower dementia risk.

They further found that high dietary magnesium intake was more neuroprotective for women than men, and post-menopausal women compared to premenopausal women.

However, they noted that the decreasing magnesium consumption over time was linked to larger brain volumes in women.

Links between magnesium intake and blood pressure measures were mostly non-significant.

How magnesium lowers dementia risk 

“It’s known that magnesium is a neuroprotector as well as it having positive effects on blood pressure,” Dr. Howard Pratt, D.O., psychiatrist and Behavioral Health Medical Director at Community Health of South Florida, Inc., who was not involved in the study, told MNT.

“High blood pressure in and of itself is a known risk factor for dementia. Increasing dietary intake of magnesium can have positive effects on cardiovascular health with the study subsequently showing a decrease in white matter lesions in middle to early old age,” he added.

Dr. Johnson-Arbor noted that magnesium might help reduce inflammation.

“As we age, we are likely to develop chronic medical conditions, such as kidney disease and vitamin D deficiency, that cause magnesium deficiency. Because magnesium deficiency may lead to decreased cellular messaging and enhanced inflammation within the brain, some studies have suggested that magnesium may be involved in the development of dementia and other neurologic conditions.”
— Dr. Johnson-Arbor

Magnesium’s effects on women’s health

MNT spoke to Dr. Bruce Albala, professor of environmental & occupational health at the University of California, Irvine, Program in Public Health, who was also not involved in the study, to understand what might explain the increased effects of magnesium on post-menopausal women.

“The authors propose that the higher magnesium intake might have resulted in less chronic inflammation in these older women. These results should be viewed as preliminary at this time, especially for the smaller magnesium dietary subgroups,” he said.

“One of the interesting things about estrogen is that it is a vasodilator meaning that it can help lower blood pressure, and post-menopausal women having lower estrogen levels can in fact result in higher blood pressure. This is evidenced by the increase in cardiovascular risks for heart attack in women after menopause.”
— Dr. Howard Pratt

Dr. Johnson-Arbor further noted that the difference might be linked to health conditions that occur at different rates in men and women that may impact the clinical effects of magnesium. She said, however, that the authors did not study the impacts of other health conditions.

Study limitations 

Dr. Albala noted that the study has several limitations. As the researchers did not include a follow-up MRI scan, it remains to be seen whether magnesium is protective later in life as the participants’ average age was 55 years old.

He added that as over 95% of participants had stable magnesium intake over 16 months, they had very little data on how changing magnesium intake over time affects dementia risk.

He further said that magnesium consumption does not necessarily correlate with actual magnesium levels in the body nor how it impacts tissues such as the brain.

Dr. Pratt added that the study investigated risk factors as opposed to dementia diagnoses.

“The thing that limits this study is that a person can have several risk factors for dementia but may never develop it. There are also limitations in the lack of understanding of when and to what extent magnesium exerts its neuroprotective effects on the brain,” he noted.

“Although the study authors took into account factors such as cholesterol levels, history of tobacco use, history of diabetes, physical activity, and alcohol intake when they created their analysis, they did not collect information on other conditions—such as other cancer, kidney disease, or other neurologic conditions—that may have impacted the findings in this study,” Dr. Johnson-Arbor further explained.

Should I take magnesium to ward off dementia?

MNT spoke with Dr. Naomi Jean-Baptiste, a board-certified emergency medicine physician, who was not involved in the study, about the study’s implications. She warned against taking too much magnesium.

“Like all nutrients in the body, there is an ideal range and too much magnesium can be harmful to your body. High levels of magnesium can cause muscle weakness, fatigue, low blood pressure, breathlessness, and even death. So, you must be careful and discuss with your doctor before adding more magnesium to your diet.”
— Dr. Naomi Jean-Baptiste

MNT also spoke with Dr. Jason Krellman, neuropsychologist and assistant professor of neuropsychology at Columbia University Medical Center, who was also not involved in the study, about the findings.

“Further research using highly controlled, experimental conditions and a study design that tracks people’s neurocognitive health over time is needed to study the potential neurological and cognitive benefits of a magnesium-rich diet,” he said.

“However, the study’s promising findings highlight that there are several risk factors for dementia that individuals can identify and reduce through healthy lifestyle choices, including heart-healthy eating habits, aerobic exercise as tolerated, and doing cognitively and socially stimulating activities that you enjoy.”

Alzheimer’s: Could the retina show early signs of disease?

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  • Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, accounts for 60-70% of dementia cases.
  • Diagnosis currently involves many lengthy tests, meaning that treatment may be delayed.
  • A new post-mortem study has found significant changes in the retinas of people who had mild cognitive impairment or AD before death.
  • These findings may lead to a non-invasive diagnosis of AD by retinal screening.

According to the World Health OrganizationTrusted Source, more than 55 million people worldwide have dementia, and some 10 million people are diagnosed with the disorder each year. In the United States alone, about 5.8 million people are living with dementia, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source predicts that the number will rise to 14 million by 2060.

If a person starts to show signs of cognitive impairment, it is important to seek an early diagnosisTrusted Source. Prompt diagnosis of dementia will allow the individual and their carers time to plan for the future, and to access treatments that, although they cannot cure the disease, can slow or delay symptoms, and that can help manage symptoms.

Currently, dementia diagnosisTrusted Source relies on a number of evaluations, including cognitive tests, brain scans, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests, blood tests, psychiatric evaluations, and genetic tests. These can take a long time and be costly, so much recent research has focused on finding faster, less-invasive methods of diagnosing dementia.

BiomarkersTrusted Source are showing promise as a diagnostic tool. Although these are minimally invasive, most involve taking blood or CSF. Newer research has shown that retinal screening may detect signs of AD, making this a potential method for diagnosis.

Now, a post-mortem study has found that people with cognitive impairment or AD have many retinal changes that are not seen in the retinas of cognitively healthy people.

The study, led by researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, is published in Acta Neuropathologica.

“For several years, scientists have been exploring how to use the imaging technology used in ophthalmology to measure levels of Alzheimer’s biomarkers in our eyes. The ability to easily detect the biological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s in the eye is intriguing in that it may provide the ability to detect the disease in a noninvasive manner, in earlier stages before symptoms appear.”

— Dr. Percy Griffin, Alzheimer’s Association director of scientific engagement.

Alzheimer’s and changes in the retina

The researchers examined retinal and brain tissue samples collected over 14 years from 86 human deceased donors with AD or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). These samples were compared with those from cognitively healthy donors.

They found molecular, cellular, and structural changes in the retinas of those with AD and MCI. These changes were not seen in cognitively healthy retinas.

Beta-amyloid plaquesTrusted Source (Aβ) are common in the brains of people with AD, and this study found high concentrations of Aβ in the retinas of those with AD and MCI. Research has shown that Aβ42, a longer molecule form of Aβ is particularly important in AD pathology.

“This study confirms that the same cellular, chemical and molecular changes which are in evidence in the Alzheimer’s brain are evident in the retina.”

— Dr. Howard R. Krauss, surgical neuro-ophthalmologist and director of Pacific Neuroscience Institute’s Eye, Ear & Skull Base Center at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, speaking to Medical News Today.

This study found a high correlation between the presence of Aβ42 in the retina and cognitive impairment.

The retinal biomarkers were not uniformly distributed throughout the retina. There was a much greater density of Aβ42 in the inner and peripheral than in the central retina.

Inflammatory markers in the eyes

The researchers also looked at inflammatory markers in the retinas. Microglia are immune cells, the action of which is changed in people with AD and other forms of dementiaTrusted Source. ResearchTrusted Source has found that overactivated microglia increase Aβ and Tau, and promote neuroinflammation.

In this study, the researchers found that retinal Aβ42 and microgliosis were strongly correlated with cognitive status in both men and women. Women, however, showed higher levels of retinal IBA1+ microgliosis than men.

Dr. Griffin commented on this finding:

“Interestingly, the researchers found higher levels of inflammation in the eyes of women compared to men. Given that more women over the age of 65 are living with Alzheimer’s dementia than men, we need to understand these sex differences and how they contribute to risk.”

Retinal examination could be used for diagnosis

Examination of the retina and optic nerve can now diagnose many health conditions that are seemingly unconnected to the eye. These include hypertension, diabetes, thyroid disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS).

This study adds to evidenceTrusted Source that retinal examination might also be used to diagnose AD.

However, Dr. Krauss cautioned that the technology is still in its early stages.

“Although there have been technologic advances to date which allow finer and finer anatomic retinal evaluation, and correlations with the degenerative changes of Alzheimer’s disease have been described, there is not yet a technology which allows a retinal scan to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease; the hope, however, is that the technology is ‘around the corner’, but much more investment of research time and money is needed.”
— Dr. Howard R. Krauss

“In that this study has been dependent on a direct sampling of retina to allow direct histopathologic, chemical, and molecular analyses, the results are not directly applicable without surgically obtaining retinal tissue, which would be an impractical suggestion in pursuit of a diagnosis, but the study does encourage us to develop non-invasive tests to analyze the retina in vivo,” he said.

Dr. Griffin also stressed the need for more research:

“Research in this space is still in the early stages, and this tool must be studied in larger, more diverse populations to understand how or if retinal imaging may be a useful Alzheimer’s screening tool in all populations.”

“The Alzheimer’s Association believes in the importance of identifying easy-to-use, non-invasive, relatively inexpensive methods for early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, and has supported a considerable amount of research in this area,” he added.

Healthy body, healthy mind

The findings of this study suggest that retinal examination could one day be a simple, non-invasive test for early AD. But it is unlikely to be soon.

In the meantime, Dr. Krauss advised:

“Consider that the most effective tools today in slowing the progress of Alzheimer’s disease are the same key factors in achieving and maintaining wellness, in general: lifestyle; in other words, don’t wait until you are ill to become well; stop smoking now; stop alcohol and ‘drugs’ now; eat prudently, exercise, sleep well, reduce stress and have regular checkups, vaccinations, and health screenings while you are ‘healthy’.”

Weight loss may cut risk of heart disease and diabetes, even if you regain some weight

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  • Compared to people who received minimal or no weight loss support, people who lost weight through an intensive behavioral weight loss program had lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose levels for at least 5 years after completing the program.
  • Lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose levels should theoretically translate into a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes, but there are currently few studies that prove this.
  • The findings of this study suggest that joining a behavioral weight loss program grants long-term health benefits even if weight is regained.

In the United States, nearly 1 in 3 adultsTrusted Source (30.7%) are overweight, and more than 2 in 5 adults (42.4%) have obesity. The problem is not limited to America. WorldwideTrusted Source, nearly 2 in 5 adults (39%) were overweight in 2016, and more than 1 in 10 (13%) were obese.

These statistics are concerning because carrying excessive weightTrusted Source significantly increases a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (mainly heart disease and stroke), diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders (especially osteoarthritis), and some cancers.

To avoid these problems, programs have been designed to help people lose weight by changing their behavior related to diet, exercise, and lifestyle. Most of these behavioral weight management programs, or lifestyle modification programs as they are also known, are effectiveTrusted Source at helping people lose weight over a 12-month period.

Now, researchers at the University of Oxford want to understand whether behavioral weight management programs have long-term benefits beyond a year.

“Many people fear that weight loss attempts result in rapid weight regain and even over-shooting, so people might end up heavier than before the weight loss attempt. There was a fear that this would mean that weight loss did not benefit health long-term. We wanted to assess what really happens after weight loss attempts finish.”

– Prof. Paul Aveyard, Ph.D., professor of behavioral medicine at the University of Oxford and senior co-author

Prof. Aveyard and his coworkers reviewed randomized controlled trials from around the world to compare long-term health outcomes in people who participated in an intensive behavioral weight management program and others who received minimal or no weight loss support.

Their findings appear in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

What are behavioral weight management programs?

The goal of a behavioral weight management programTrusted Source is to help individuals achieve and maintain a healthy weight through long-term changes in their eating and physical activity behaviors.

These programs usually involve weekly one-on-one or group sessions with trained professionals such as dietitians, exercise specialists, or psychologists who provide education, counseling, and support to help participants adopt healthier habits and make sustainable changes in their daily lives.

One good example of these programs is the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) Lifestyle Change Program, which was developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Review of 17,000 studies

The researchers searched for randomized clinical trials that reported cardiovascular and metabolic (diabetes-related) outcomes in overweight or obese adults who participated in behavioral weight management programs.

The outcomes they focused on were:

  • the occurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD-related death
  • the occurrence of type 2 diabetes and hypertension
  • changes in systolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol, blood glucose, and insulin measures.

Among 17,085 studies, they found only 124 randomized control trials which reported on at least one cardiometabolic outcome with at least 12 months of follow-up.

Lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose

The researchers found clear evidence that, compared with lower-intensity behavioral weight management programs or no weight loss support, behavioral weight management programs resulted in lower systolic blood pressure, lower total cholesterol-to-good cholesterol ratio, and lower HbA1c (a measure of blood sugar levels over the previous 3 months).

These improved cardiovascular risk factors, except for glycemic control, persisted throughout the 5 years following the end of the program, although weight regains reduced these favorable effects over time.

The available data suggested that behavioral weight management programs also delayed the onset of heart disease and diabetes. Still, too few studies have measured these diseases to enable researchers to make high-certainty conclusions.

Dr. Lawrence J. Appel, the C. David Molina professor of medicine and director of the Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research at Johns Hopkins University, who was not involved in the study, was surprised by the “legacy effect” of weight loss on blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose.

“I was surprised because usually risk factors often track with weight changes,” Dr. Appel told MNT.

“The results provide reassurance that on average, there are long-term, albeit attenuated, benefits once a weight control program ends.”

– Dr. Appel

Dr. Naveed Sattar, Ph.D., professor and honorary consultant of cardiovascular & metabolic health at the University of Glasgow, who was not involved in the study, praised the research and told MNT that “the data do seem to suggest that the longer one loses weight for, the longer will be reductions in cardiovascular risk factors and so the greater the chances for a reduction in cardiovascular outcomes.”

However, Dr. Sattar noted that, in clinical trials to date, “changes in risk factors appear modest so any apparent cardiovascular benefits […] are likely rather modest with somewhat greater benefits in reducing risk of diabetes (as weight loss is more strongly linked to diabetes risk than it is to atherosclerosis)”

Benefits on heart health persist as weight is regained slowly

In 2022, the same research group published another studyTrusted Source focusing on weight regain. They found that people who participated in behavioral weight management programs lost more weight (-2.8 kg) than those who received no support. It took an average of 5 years for the weight of people in the two groups to become similar.

This means that weight regain is slower than most people imagine. The reduced […] cardiovascular and metabolic disease [risk factors] persist because weight loss persists for longer on average than most people think- both last for at least five years. […] Even if weight is regained, which most people do, the health benefits persist.

– Prof. Aveyard

Prof. Aveyard went on to explain that: “[c]ardiovascular disease occurs because over time, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and the high blood sugar gradually fur up our arteries [a process called atherosclerosis], leading to heart attack and stroke. If blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar are lower, then the arteries fur up less, reducing the risk of these problems over a lifetime.”

Dr. Sattar noted that “the process of atherosclerosis […] takes years to develop, and to slow atherosclerosis likely will take a few years, especially if the risk factors are only modestly altered, as they are with modest weight loss.” He added that statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) and blood pressure-lowering medications give faster clinical benefits than weight loss, but “weight loss gives other benefits that [these drugs] do not.”

Cardiovascular benefits from other weight loss methods

“There is also evidence that big weight loss achieved by surgery lowers important cardiovascular outcomes, but that such benefits may be greater for heart failure and kidney outcomesTrusted Source, something not looked at in this paper,” Dr. Sattar said.

Trials with newer weight loss drugs such as semaglutide or tirzepatide may not definitively prove the cardiovascular benefits of weight loss as the drugs may directly affect such outcomes, Dr. Sattar told MNT.

“But they could go some way to convince cardiologists to consider weight loss more often in the management of their patients,” he noted.

Dementia: Scientists find specific brain regions damaged by high blood pressure

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Uncontrolled high blood pressure may cause damage to the brain. TEK IMAGE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images

  • High blood pressure is a known risk factor for developing dementia.
  • Researchers recently identified the specific areas of the brain that may be damaged by high blood pressure and are linked to the development of dementia.
  • Further studies may help researchers identify patients at high risk of cognitive impairment.

More than 55 million people globallyTrusted Source have dementia — an umbrella term for a number of diseases causing memory loss and cognitive declineTrusted Source.

While scientists are still not sure what causes dementia, they know certain conditions may impact whether a person develops dementia or not. One of these is high blood pressure.

Previous researchTrusted Source shows people with high blood pressure have a greater risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Now, researchers from the University of Edinburgh in the U.K. and Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow, Poland, have discovered the specific areas of the brain that may be damaged by high blood pressure and are linked to the development of dementia.

The study was recently published in the European Heart Journal.

What is blood pressure? 

A person’s blood pressure is the amount of force the heart uses to pump blood through the arteries.

When the doctor takes your blood pressure, they get two different numbers. The top number measures the systolic pressure when the heart pumps blood out of the heart and into the arteries. The bottom number measures the diastolic pressure when the heart rests between heartbeats. Both are measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).

For example, normal blood pressure is less than 120mmHg systolic pressure and less than 80mmHg diastolic pressure (but more than 90mmHg systolic and 60mmHg diastolic).

When the systolic pressure creeps into the 130s and diastolic pressure into the 80s, that is considered the start of high blood pressure. Anything over 140mmHg systolic pressure and 90mmHg or higher diastolic pressure is stage 2 high blood pressure.

What is high blood pressure? 

High blood pressure — clinically known as hypertension — occurs when the force blood needs to move through the arteries becomes too high.

This can happen if the arteries become damaged or narrower due to cholesterol-containing plaque inside the walls of the arteries.

Certain factors may increase a person’s risk for developing high blood pressure, including:

How does high blood pressure affect the brain? 

According to Prof. Tomasz Guzik, professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Edinburgh in the U.K. and Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow, Poland, and the lead author of this study, having high blood pressure can harm the structure and function of the brain in different ways.

“For instance, hypertension can severely impact the blood vessels in your brain, leading to their reshaping, hardening, and the development of clogged arteries. When blood pressure is elevated, the increased pressure is transmitted from larger blood vessels to smaller ones in the brain, leading to their dysfunction and a condition known as small vessel diseaseTrusted Source,” he told Medical News Today.

“[When blood pressure is elevated] this not only affects the blood supply to the brain but also enhances pathological processes such as inflammatory activation andneurodegenerationTrusted Source. These factors contribute to dementia, memory loss, and impairment of various cognitive functions.”
— Prof. Tomasz Guzik

Additionally, Prof. Guzik said, high blood pressure can also damage the white matterTrusted Source in the brain.

“The white matter is composed of nerve fibers that transmit information between different brain regions, and damage to this area can lead to impaired cognitive function and increase the risk of stroke,” he explained.

“This highlights the importance of monitoring and managing blood pressure levels to prevent damage to the white matter and associated cognitive impairments,” he said.

The hypertension-dementia link

For this study, Prof. Guzik and his team used a combination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of brains, genetic analyses, and observational data from thousands of participants of the UK Biobank, COGENTTrusted Source, and the International Consortium for Blood PressureTrusted Source.

Upon analysis, researchers identified changes in nine areas of the brain related to high blood pressure and worsened cognitive function.

These areas include the putamenTrusted Source responsible for learning and motor control. Previous research links dysfunction of the putamenTrusted Source to Alzheimer’s disease.

Other areas impacted by high blood pressure included the white matter areas, the anterior thalamic radiationTrusted Source, anterior corona radiataTrusted Source, and the anterior limb of the internal capsuleTrusted Source.

The anterior thalamic radiation is involved in planning and executing both simple and complex behaviors, while the anterior corona radiata helps support decision-making and management of emotions. And the anterior limb of the internal capsule assists with cognitive processing, motivation, and decision-making.

Will this help assess future disease risk?

Prof. Guzik said the next step in this research will be to design clinical trials and studies focused on imaging the brain areas his research team identified to see if their assessment can help in identifying patients at high risk of cognitive impairment.

“This can provide clinicians with novel tools for future-oriented precision medicine diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Looking closer at these brain areas can also tell us much more about how (the) brain functions in the condition of hypertension and identify new ways of improving this function,” he said.

After reviewing this research, Dr. Raphael Wald, a neuropsychologist at Marcus Neuroscience Institute, part of Baptist Health, told Medical News Today it would be helpful for clinicians if similar studies could lead to a formal set of guidelines and protocols for identifying individuals at risk for stroke.

“This can become another tool that doctors have to assess a person’s risk for stroke. We can also use this information as a means of detecting specific types of strokes depending on how patients present. It will also allow us to look further into ways to protect these areas of the brain when they are at risk,” he said.

Not a coincidental correlation

Medical News Today also spoke with Dr. Sandra Narayanan, a vascular neurologist and neuro-interventional surgeon at Pacific Stroke & Neurovascular Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California, about this study.

She pointed out that high blood pressure is a modifiable finding and said research suggests that the dysregulation of blood pressure, white matter disease phenomena, and cognitive dysfunction go hand-in-hand, and are not coincidental.

“Knowing that it’s a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease can help primary care providers, cardiologists, neurologists, and other health care providers adequately advise patients and families to get this risk factor very aggressively under control,” Dr. Narayanan explained.

“We know that high blood pressure, like a lot of other medical conditions, is not optimally controlled either from the beginning or during the course of that patient’s lifespan, much less during the course of the day. So in many patients, it requires not just [one] medicationTrusted Source, it requires sometimes multiple medications to control [the] patient’s blood pressure,” she added.

And, Dr. Narayanan said, lowering high blood pressure may also require control of a person’s other medical conditions.

“An example is someone who has a comorbid vascular conditionTrusted Source, diabetes, (or) obesity. Controlling those other medical conditions — losing weight for example — can cause better blood pressure control. And co-managing those other medical conditions with honest conversation and frequent check-ins can really benefit the long-term cognitive performance and lifespan quality of life of these patients,” she detailed.

VTE Risk in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Increases With More Lines of Chemotherapy

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Prospective study in heavily treated population is warranted, researcher says

As lines of therapy increased for recurrent ovarian cancer, so did the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), a retrospective study showed.

Almost 80% of VTEs occurred in patients who had received three or more chemotherapy regimens. Almost three-fourths of the events occurred while patients were on chemotherapy.

Although VTE did not adversely affect overall survival (OS), the events were associated with significant morbidity, including hospital admission and bleeding complications related to anticoagulation, reported Erika J. Lampert, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic, at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO)opens in a new tab or window annual meeting.

“We found among our patients with VTE that two-thirds had an intermediate- or high-risk Khorana score of 2 or greater,” said Lampert. “However, a Khorana score of 2 or higher was not predictive of a VTE during third-line treatment. We calculated a Khorana score for all patients at the start of their third line of chemotherapy. There was no significant difference between the patients who did not develop a VTE and those who did.”

“One in five patients with recurrent ovarian cancer developed a VTE,” she added. “This is higher than previous estimates in the literature and likely reflects the heavily treated nature of our cohort. … The risk of VTE was higher while receiving chemotherapy and with increasing lines of chemotherapy. This suggests that a prospective study of VTE risk in a heavily treated recurrent ovarian cancer population is certainly warranted.”

Malignancy creates a hypercoagulable state that confers an increased risk of VTE, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). In patients with primary ovarian cancer, VTE is associated with a 2.5 to 4.7 times greater risk of death, as well as lower quality of life. Previous studies estimated the incidence of VTE at 5.2% in primary ovarian canceropens in a new tab or window and 7% in second-line recurrentopens in a new tab or window ovarian cancer.

Limited data have accumulated regarding the incidence and predisposing factors for VTE in a heavily treated recurrent ovarian cancer population, said Lampert. Given the substantial morbidity and mortality risk associated with VTE, multiple studies have examined thromboprophylaxis for patients with cancer.

The Khorana scoreopens in a new tab or window is used to predict the risk of VTE in patients with solid tumors initiating chemotherapy, Lampert noted. The score incorporates information such as a patient’s prechemotherapy platelet and white blood cell count, as well as hemoglobin and body mass index. A score ≥2 represents high risk for VTE. The randomized AVERT trialopens in a new tab or window showed that thromboprophylaxis with apixaban significantly reduced the risk of VTE in patients initiating chemotherapy for cancer with a Khorana score ≥2.

According to an SGO clinical practice statementopens in a new tab or window, “High-risk outpatients with gynecologic cancer initiating chemotherapy may be offered thromboprophylaxis.”

Lampert and colleagues performed a retrospective analysis to report VTE incidence in patients with heavily treated recurrent ovarian cancer, assess the impact of VTE on survival and surrogates for quality of life, and evaluate predictors of VTE to identify patients who might benefit from thromboprophylaxis. Data for the analysis came from records of patients treated for epithelial ovarian cancer at the Cleveland Clinic from 2007 to 2020. The analysis was limited to patients who received at least second-line therapy.

The analysis included 345 patients, 22% of whom developed a VTE. A review of baseline characteristics showed no significant differences between patients who had VTEs and those who did not. The VTE group had received five lines of chemotherapy versus four for the patients who did not develop a VTE (P=0.012). The total VTE count consisted of DVT in 40 patients, PE in 30, and both in five.

Of the 56 patients who had a VTE during chemotherapy, 44 had received three to more than eight lines of chemotherapy, while 12 had received two lines.

Patients with and without VTE had similar survival. However, 54.5% with VTE required hospital admission, and 11.7% had bleeding complications related to anticoagulation.

Lampert and colleagues compared Khorana risk scores in patients with and without VTE during the third line of chemotherapy. Among 15 evaluable patients who had VTE, seven had a Khorana score of 1 (low risk) and eight had an intermediate-/high-risk score (P=0.24).

In a multivariate analysis, the number of lines of chemotherapy emerged as an independent predictor of VTE risk (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.02-1.28, P=0.026). Age, body mass index, and American Society of Anesthesiology risk score were not predictive.

The study is “clinically interesting and very relevant” to clinical practice, said Alex Melamed, MD, of the Mass General Cancer Center in Boston, during a discussion that followed the presentation. Noting that “people have to remain alive long enough to get a DVT for you to measure them and categorize them as having a DVT,” he asked Lampert whether the investigators accounted for immortal time biasopens in a new tab or window in calculating survival.

“That’s an excellent point, and we did not incorporate that into the survival analysis,” she responded. “Certainly, when we look to publish this work, we will look into that.”

Obesity’s Impact on Uterine Cancer Risk Greater in Younger Age Groups

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Overall risk and risk of endometrioid subtype 20- to 30-fold greater in women younger than 35

TAMPA, Fla. — Obesity poses a significantly greater risk of uterine cancer in younger women as compared with their older counterparts, an analysis of a database from Taiwan showed.

The relative risk of uterine cancer in women with obesity versus normal-weight women increased from 2.6 in the 65+ age group to as much as 39 times greater in women 20 to 24. The risk of endometrioid uterine cancer, the histology most closely associated with obesity, increased from 3.0 in the 65+ age group to 19 and 32 in the 25-34 and 20-24 age groups, respectively.

Among women who met body mass index (BMI) criteria for overweight, the risk of uterine cancer ranged from 1.3 to 7.7 times greater across age groups as compared with normal-weight women, reported Chelsea Stewart, MD, of the University of California Los Angeles, at the Society of Gynecologic Oncologyopens in a new tab or window annual meeting.

“This is the first study to investigate the risk of endometrial cancer based on BMI and age,” said Stewart. “Previous studies lacked information on age and cell type and/or did not evaluate risk of endometrial cancer at a specific age.”

“Overall, compared to normal-weight patients, those who are obese or overweight have a higher risk of uterine cancer,” she added. “Specifically, obesity in younger patients poses a significantly higher risk compared to older patients, up to almost 40-fold higher. Future research should evaluate risk of uterine cancer adjusted for duration of obesity, fat distribution, and lean versus fat mass.”

During a discussion that followed the talk, Megan Clarke, PhD, a research scientist at the National Cancer Institute, asked Stewart for more specifics about the data: the number of cases of uterine cancer in the youngest age group (20-24) with obesity and the confidence intervals associated with the statistically significant risk conferred by obesity in that age group.

Stewart said 11 cases of uterine cancer occurred in women with obesity versus three normal-weight women in the 20-24 age group, and the confidence intervals associated with the risk in that age group ranged from 11 to 139. The researchers performed additional analyses for patients and controls younger than 30 and obtained results associated with a P value <0.001, she added.

In response to another question from Clarke, Stewart said the researchers did not have information about women who had hysterectomies and did not know whether those women had been excluded.

Multiple studiesopens in a new tab or window have documented increasing rates of obesity and a corresponding increaseopens in a new tab or window in rates of uterine cancer. However, studies to date have lacked data directly linking BMI to cancer. U.S. databases do not have the necessary information, leading Stewart and colleagues to analyze records from Taiwan’s Health and Welfare Data Science Center linked to the Statistical Yearbook of Health Promotion. Investigators normalized BMI categories according to Taiwanese standards: normal weight, 18.5-23.0; overweight, 24-27; and obese, ≥27.

From 2008 to 2018, uterine cancer incidence increased from 10 cases per 100,000 to 15.4 per 100,000, representing a 5.9% annual increase. During the same time period, the proportion of overweight and obese individuals increased from 28.4% to 32.4%.

The risk of uterine cancer in overweight versus normal-weight women was 1.3-fold higher in women older than 65 (P<0.001), increasing with age to 7.7-fold higher for women 20-24 (P=0.003). For the comparison of obese versus normal-weight women, the risk of uterine cancer in the 65-or-older age group was 2.6-fold greater, increasing with declining age:

  • 55-64: 3.8
  • 45-54: 4.2
  • 35-44: 10.0
  • 25-34: 16.2
  • 20-24: 38.9

From 2014 to 2018, the risk of endometrioid uterine cancer for obese versus normal-weight women increased from 3.0 per 100,000 in women 65 or older to 31.8 per 100,000 among women 20-24. The risk of serous, carcinosarcoma, and malignant mesenchymal uterine cancer also increased across the age groups.

Stewart acknowledged several limitations to the study: no information on duration of obesity, the lower number of patients in younger cohorts, lack of diversity in the population studied, and the lack of information on genetic risk and use of unopposed estrogen.

The study did not address potential explanations for the association between obesity and uterine cancer. One recent investigationopens in a new tab or window applied Mendelian randomizationopens in a new tab or window to more than a dozen possible molecular risk factors for uterine cancer. The study uncovered “strong evidence” that fasting insulin, bioavailable testosterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) mediate the effect of BMI on uterine cancer risk. The study did not address the variable effect of BMI on cancer risk by age group.

Johnson & Johnson to pay $8.9 billion to settle lawsuits over ‘cancer-causing’ talc

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Johnson & Johnson faces tens of thousands of lawsuits in North America as people claimed that its baby powder and other talc-based products cause cancer 

Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay $8.9 billion to settle lawsuits claiming that its talcum powder products caused cancer. The move will potentially end the years-long legal fight over the issue.

The US-based pharmaceutical and baby products company said that the proposed settlement, which still needs the approval of a bankruptcy court, “will equitably and efficiently resolve all claims arising from cosmetic talc litigation”. 

Johnson & Johnson faces tens of thousands of lawsuits in North America as people claimed that the baby powder and other talc-based products cause cancer. 

J&J has never admitted wrongdoing, but the company stopped selling its talc-based baby powder in the United States and Canada in May 2020. 

A company release mentioned that the claims related to cancer are premised on the allegation that cosmetic talc causes ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. J&J claims this has been rejected by independent experts as well as governmental and regulatory bodies for decades. 

Erik Haas, J&J’s vice president of litigation, said in a statement: “The company continues to believe that these claims are specious and lack scientific merit.” 

Haas added, “However, as the Bankruptcy Court recognised, resolving these cases in the tort system would take decades and impose significant costs on LTL and the system, with most claimants never receiving any compensation.” 

“Resolving this matter through the proposed reorganisation plan is both more equitable and more efficient, allows claimants to be compensated in a timely manner, and enables the Company to remain focused on our commitment to profoundly and positively impact health for humanity,” it added. 

The company said that its subsidiary LTL Management LLC has re-filed for voluntary bankruptcy protection to obtain approval of a reorganisation plan that “will equitably and efficiently resolve all claims arising from cosmetic talc litigation”. 

The company said that the amount is an increase of $6.9 billion over the $2 billion previously committed in connection with LTL’s initial bankruptcy filing in October 2021. 

Radio signals from Earth-like exoplanet hint at existence of life, astronomers say

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The astronomers said that the waves needed to be very strong to get detected over such long distances 

Astronomers have discovered repeating radio signals from an Earth-like exoplanet as well as from the star that it is orbiting situated at a distance of 12 light-years from Earth, which they believe hints at the existence of life on the exoplanet.

As per the astronomers, the radio signals suggest that the Earth-sized exoplanet may have an atmosphere and a magnetic field.

Along with pointing needles of the compass in the north direction, the magnetic field of the Earth deflects high energy plasma and particles, regularly blasted out of the sun, and helps preserve its atmosphere and sustain life on the Earth.

Hence, the astronomers indicated that the possibility of the existence of a magnetic field on the Earth-like exoplanet, called YZ Ceti b, probably hints at the habitability of life on that planet.

Astronomers Jackie Villadsen and Sebastian Pineda from Bucknell University (US) and University of Colorado (US), respectively, detected a repetitive radio signal emanating from star YZ Ceti with the use of Karl GJansky Very Large Array, which is a radio telescope operated by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory of US National Science Foundation, PTI reported.   

The findings of astronomers have been published in the journal Nature Astronomy. “Whether a planet survives with an atmosphere or not can depend on whether the planet has a strong magnetic field or not,” Pineda explained. 

The radio signal was first isolated by Villadsen while she poured over data at her home on a weekend. “We saw the initial burst and it looked beautiful,” Pineda said. 

“When we saw it again, it was very indicative that, OK, maybe we really have something here,” he added. The interactions between the planet’s magnetic field and the star it orbits have led to the rise of the stellar radio waves detected by astronomers, they detected. 

However, they stated that for detecting such waves over long distances, the waves need to be very strong. The official further stated that they were in search of a method to witness these invisible magnetic fields of such tiny, distant Earth-sized planets. 

Previously, astronomers have detected magnetic fields on massive Jupiter-sized exoplanets. “If the planet has a magnetic field and it ploughs through enough star stuff, it will cause the star to emit bright radio waves,” the researchers concluded.