Risk of Stroke by Geographic Region

  The lifetime risk of stroke for men and women over age 25 globally is 25%.
  In an NEJM  study, large geographic variations were found. In 2016, the highest-risk regions were East Asia (38.8%), Central Europe (37.1%), and Eastern Europe (31.6%). The lowest region of stroke risk was sub-Saharan Africa (11.8%).
NEJM 20 Dec 2018; 379:2429-2437

UH OH: A History of Drug Treatment for ADHD dramatically Increase Risk of Parkinson's Disease

  From a report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention 3/4 of children with ADHD are prescribed amphetamine or methylphenidate. A study from the U of Utah school of Dentistry provides  provocative findings. Individuals with ADHD are 2-3 times more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than those without.
  Further, those with ADHD who were prescribed psychostimulant drugs were 8 to 9 times more likely to develop Parkinson's.
Neuropsychopharmacol 2018;43(11):2548-2555

Bullying Hurts the Brain !

  Investigators at King's College London in their IMAGEN project found that bullying was associated with decreases in the volume of particular brain structures namely the caudate and putamen. These structural changes could increase the likelihood of mental illness such as higher levels of generalized anxiety identified in their study population by age 19.
Synonymous terms in this study: bullying and peer victimization.
Mol Psychiatry. 12 Dec  2018

Improve your Memory: DANCE and Tai Chi !

  In an analysis of from 32 randomized, controlled trials  mind-body exercises, particularly dance and tai chi, was shown to improve learning, verbal fluency, working memory, cognitive flexibility and global cognition in older adults.
  Further only MODERATE exercise intensity of 60-120 minutes per week was necessary to significantly increase global cognitive scores.
J AM Geriatr Soc. 2018 Dec 18

African Folk Remedy's for Seizures Molecular Mechanism discovered

  The leaf extract from the shrub Malotus oppositifolius helps to control seizures. Now researchers at UC Irvine have identified two components from the leaf extract activate KCNQ2/3, a potassium channel essential for controlling electrical activity in the brain.   These two components together are highly effective at activating these potassium ion channels and preventing seizures.
  Isovaleric acid, a component of valerian root is one of these active compounds in this African folk remedy.
  Amazing.
Nat Comun. 2018;9(1):3845

Stiff Aorta Predicts Dementia

  From the Cardiovascular Health Study, researchers found that individuals with high carotid-femoral pulse wave velocities (consistent with increased aortic stiffness) were 60% more likely to develop dementia during the following 15 years.
J Alzheimers Dis. 2018;66(1):297-306

High Cortisol Associated with Impaired Memory

  From the Framingham heart study, researchers found that middle-aged individuals with high levels of cortisol in their blood have impaired memory compared to those with normal cortisol.
  Hmm...stay tuned.
Neurology. 2018 Oct 24