Dear Health-Conscious Friend,
If you sometimes find yourself struggling to remember names phone numbers or fond memories, youre not alone. Research shows an astonishing 76% of Americans suffer from memory lapses and decreased alertness.
But the good news is
scientists have invented a remarkable new device that can help doctors diagnose memory problems quickly. And speedier detection of these problems can mean quicker treatment!
Ill tell you all about the new memory test in todays Monday Edition of Health News Weekly. Youll also find out why some doctors believe placebo treatments could be a quick fix for some aches and pains
So keep reading if youre ready to learn about these and more hints for healthy living!
New Device Speeds Alzheimers Detection for Faster Treatment
Patients may soon be able to take a brief, inexpensive test to detect signs of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A new device developed by the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University could make the test a simple part of your routine yearly doctors office visit!
The Georgia Tech and Emory devicecalled DETECTadministers a ten-minute test to gauge reaction time and memory. These functions, when impaired, are associated with the earliest stages of Alzheimers disease.
The test is a shorter version of the traditional pen and paper test that typically lasts about an hour and a half. Using DETECT, a doctor could repeat the test periodically to evaluate any changes in brain functions.
DETECT includes an LCD display in a visor equipped with an onboard computer. It also uses noise reduction headphones and a controller to allow user input.
The LCD display presents the visual portion of the test. The patient hears verbal instructions through the headphonesand the controller records the wearers response.
A variety of visual and auditory stimuli, such as different pictures and words, assess brain function. Doctors evaluate responses based on age, reaction time and memory capabilities.
DETECT software can track cognitive capabilitiesand declineyear to year during annual appointments.
Preliminary analysis of the first 100 patients of a 400-person clinical study indicates the 10-minute DETECT test has similar accuracy to the 90-minute pen and paper test!
DETECTs creators have formed a company, called Zenda Technologies, to commercialize the device for cognitive impairment and other conditions.
The device is expected to be commercialized later this year.
Some Doctors Believe Feeling Lousy
Is All in Your Mind!
Almost half of Chicago internists say they believe in the power of placebos. And to back this beliefthese doctors often prescribe them to patients who believe they are ill!
A University of Chicago research team sent surveys about placebo use to 466 internists at the University of Chicago, Northwestern University and the University of IllinoisChicago.
Half of the doctors responded. And 45 percent of the respondents said they had prescribed a placebo at least once during their years of practice.
A placebooften called a sugar pillhas no medicinal value. The researchers said a majority of doctors in the study believe a mind-body relationship can affect your health.
One in three of the doctors who prescribed placebos told their patient the placebo was a substance that may help and will not hurt.
And one in five told their patient it is medication.
Only four percent of the doctors who prescribed placebos actually told their patient they were prescribing a placebo!
The research team said placebo use is ethically debatable. Some argue patients should know they are being given a placebo.
Others see no problem with the placebo effect. This refers to the fact that some patients will get better either spontaneously or because they believe they are being treatednot because of the medicine itself.
Almost all doctors surveyed said they believed placebos could be therapeutic for patients. The majority also believed in the possibility of positive benefits of meditation yoga relaxation techniques biofeedback prayer and spirituality and a good doctor-patient rapport.
The findings were reported in the January issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Fast Fact
Dried plumsalso known as prunesare more than a natural remedy for promoting regular bathroom visits!
Prunes are a rich source of antioxidants that fight the superoxide anion radical. This free radical can cause structural damage to your cellsthe type of damage thought to be a primary cause of cancer.
So try prunes as a quick, tasty snack. They can do your body a world of good!
Natures Secret Weapon to Help Energize
Your Body and Burn Excess Fat!
When your energy levels run low, it can really make your day dragand keep you from enjoying daily activities.
But heres some good news! Italian researchers report that the dietary supplement L-carnitine can decrease fatigue and boost mental function in older people.
L-carnitine helps your cells produce energy from fat. The highest concentrations of the substance are found in parts of the body with high energy demands, such as the skeletal muscles and the heart.
As you age, the amount of L-carnitine in your body declinesespecially after age 70.
Dr. Mariano Malaguarnera and colleagues from the University of Catania conducted a study to determine the effects of L-carnitine on people 100 and older.
Malaguarneras team randomly gave 66 male and female centenarians either 2 grams of L-carnitine or a placebo daily for six months.
At the end of the study, researchers found that cholesterol levels fell significantly among participants taking the supplement.
The L-carnitine group also gained an average of 8 pounds of muscle mass and lost an average of 4 pounds of fat!
Participants in the L-carnitine group also reported significant reductions in mental, physical and overall fatigue. The placebo treatment had no effect on fatigue.
The individuals who took the supplement also scored higher on a test of mental function after treatment, while there was no change in the placebo group.
Researchers say study participants tolerated the L-carnitine supplement well and reported no serious side effects.
Health E-Hints
An Effective Kitchen Cure-All?
For centuries, folks have been using vinegar for everything from making pickles and salad dressing, to cleaning coffee makers and killing weeds!
Recently, some small studies even suggest apple cider vinegar may help with serious health problems such as:
Blood sugar problemsSeveral studies indicate that vinegar may help lower glucose levels. For instance, one 2007 study of 11 people with type 2 diabetes found that two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bed lowered glucose levels in the morning by 4%-6%!
Blood pressure and heart healthAnother study in rats found that vinegar could lower high blood pressure. A large epidemiological study also found that people who ate oil and vinegar dressing on salads five to six times a week had lower rates of heart disease than people who didnt.
High cholesterolA 2006 study showed evidence that vinegar could lower cholesterol. However, the study was done in rats, so its too early to conclude how it might work in people.
The evidence backing these claims is still anecdotal. But more folks seem to be turning to grandmas tonics to cure what ails them!