Older people with faster decline in memory, thinking skills may have lower risk of cancer death

"Studies have shown that people with Alzheimer's disease are less likely to develop cancer, but we don't know the reason for that link," said study author Julin Benito-Len, MD, PhD, of University Hospital 12 of October in Madrid, Spain. "One possibility is that cancer is underdiagnosed in people with dementia, possibly because they are less likely to mention their symptoms or caregivers and doctors are focused on the problems caused by dementia. The current study helps us discount that theory."

The study involved 2,627 people age 65 and older in Spain who did not have dementia at the start of the study. They took tests of memory and thinking skills at the start of the study and again three years later, and were followed for an average of almost 13 years. The participants were divided into three groups: those whose scores on the thinking tests were declining the fastest, those whose scores improved on the tests, and those in the middle.

During the study, 1,003 of the participants died, including 339 deaths, or 34 percent, among those with the fastest decline in thinking skills and 664 deaths, or 66 percent, among those in the other two groups. A total of 21 percent of those in the group with the fastest decline died of cancer, according to their death certificates, compared to 29 percent of those in the other two groups.

People in the fastest declining group were still 30 percent less likely to die of cancer when the results were adjusted to control for factors such as smoking, diabetes and heart disease, among others.

"We need to understand better the relationship between a disease that causes abnormal cell death and one that causes abnormal cell growth," Benito-Len said. "With the increasing number of people with both dementia and cancer, understanding this association could help us better understand and treat both diseases."

Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed | Amazon Wordpress | rfid blocking wallet sleeves

View the original article here

Read More

Would risk of a coffee lower death from cirrhosis of the liver?

MedlinePlus related sites

Thursday, 3 April 2014 HealthDay News)-coffee drink that can reduce risk of death from specific liver cirrhosis, suggests a large new study suggests.

The study included more than 63,000 Chinese, from 45 to 74 years who lives in Singapore. In 1993, they included information about their diet, lifestyle and medical history, and for an average of nearly 15 years followed. During this period, 114 of the study participants died of cirrhosis of the liver.

Two or more cups of coffee was a day with a 66 percent lower risk of death from cirrhosis of the liver caused by non-viral hepatitis, according to the study published online recently in the journal of Hepatology.

While viruses are responsible for most cases of hepatitis, it can also develop due to alcohol and drug abuse or if the immune system is attacking mistakenly healthy liver cells according to the US national institutes of health.

In the new study coffee consumption has not mitigated, but the risk of death in cirrhosis of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus.

Drinking, tea, fruit juices or soft drinks had no effect on the risk of death from cirrhosis of the liver, while heavy drinking the risk increased, suggest the results.

While the study a correlation between caffeine consumption and lower risk for death by cirrhosis of the liver in certain patients found, it does not prove a cause-and effect relationship.

The study is the first, the different effect show that coffee on the risk of death by non-viral and viral hepatitis associated with cirrhosis of the liver, according to researcher Dr. Woon-Puay Koh, the Duke-NUS graduate medical school Singapore and the National University of Singapore.

"This finding solves the seemingly contradictory results about the effects of coffee in Western and Asia-based studies of death from cirrhosis of the liver,", Koh said in a magazine press release.

"Our finding suggests that while the advantage the coffee may be less obvious as is likely in the Asian population where currently outweighs chronic viral hepatitis B, to change, as the incidence of non-viral hepatitis associated with cirrhosis of the liver is expected to increase, in these regions", said Koh. He attributed an increase of prosperity and "Westernizing" lifestyles in younger groups likely to change.

Cirrhosis of the liver is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). A 2004 report said the cirrhosis 1.3 per cent of all deaths accounts for worldwide per year.

Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full text RSS feed | Amazon Wordpress | Wallet RFID blocking sleeves

View the original article here

Read More

Fruit and vegetables reduce study of risk of death,

MedlinePlus related sites

Tuesday, 1 April 2014 HealthDay News)-filled a diet with fresh produce is good for your health, and now a eat plenty of fruits according to large-scale study, and vegetables can significantly cut the risk of death.

Researchers analyzed the dietary habits of more than 65,000 people in England from 2001 to 2013. They found that those seven or more servings of fresh fruits and vegetables were eaten, one day a 42 percent lower risk of death at any age than those who ate less than one serving per day.

The risk of death was 36 percent with five to seven servings, 29 percent with three to five servings and 14 percent with one to three servings, reduced according to the findings in the Journal of epidemiology and community health.

But the study does not prove that eating lots of fruits and vegetables that can cut the risk of death. It found only an association between fresh produce consumption and lower risk of death.

The researchers that their research results put near explained, that eating seven or more servings of fruits and vegetables decreased the risk of death from heart disease 31 per cent and the risk of death due to cancer by 25 per cent.

Overall seemed vegetables have a greater health benefits than fruit. Each daily supply of fresh vegetables by 16 percent, compared to 13 percent per serving salad and 4 percent per portion of fresh fruit, death overall risk is reduced, the researchers said.

"We all know that eating fruit and vegetables is healthy, but the size of the effect is stunning,", said study author Oyinlola Oyebode, in the Department of epidemiology and public health of at University College London, in a press release of the University.

"Vegetables have a greater influence than fruit, but fruit is still a real difference. If you like carrots or other vegetables snack, then this is a good choice, but if you lust on slightly sweet, a banana or any fruit will do you well, "added Oyebode.

The study found no significant health benefits from fruit juice. And risk of death appeared to increase 17 percent per serving, canned or frozen fruits, the researchers said.

"The most canned fruit contains high glucose levels and cheaper varieties are packed in syrup instead of fruit juice," said Oyebode. "The adverse health effects of sugar can outweigh all benefits."

Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full text RSS feed | Amazon Wordpress | Wallet RFID blocking sleeves

View the original article here

Read More