Physical Activity and Cognitive Health, Revisited
Neurology Summary and Comment
Rx: 30 minutes of brisk walking daily to maintain cognition despite vascular risk factors
By Brandy R. Matthews, MD
August 2, 2011
Covering:
Vercambre M-N et al., Arch Intern Med 2011 Jul 25; 171:1244
Screening for Orientation to Time as an Indicator of Cognitive Dysfunction
Neurology Summary and Comment
Disorientation to month or year in patients aged 65 and older predicted dementia or delirium.
By Brandy R. Matthews, MD
June 14, 2011
Covering:
O'Keeffe E et al., J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2011 May; 82:500
Is Insomnia a Disease?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Or, is it a normal part of life that's been medicalized by available treatment?
By Abigail Zuger, MD
August 23, 2011
Covering:
Moloney ME et al., Am J Public Health 2011 Aug; 101:1429
Retroviral Etiology for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Questioned
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
New data challenge the association between a murine retrovirus and CFS — and the existence of the virus in the prostate cancer cell line from which it was first identified.
By Richard T. Ellison III, MD
June 22, 2011
Covering:
Knox K et al., Science 2011 May 31
Paprotka T et al., Science 2011 May 31
Alberts B., Science 2011 May 31
Autism Risk in Children with Older Autistic Siblings Is Higher than Expected
In a large prospective study, the risk was 19%.
Family Pediatrics: Don't Forget About Parents of Depressed and Anxious Children
Simultaneous screening for psychopathology in parents and children is feasible.
By Martin T. Stein, MD
June 22, 2011
Covering:
Vidair HB et al., J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2011 May; 50:441
Developmental Pathway to Depression in Children of Mothers with Postpartum Depression
Insecure attachment in infancy and low ego resilience predict adolescent depression.
By Martin T. Stein, MD
June 15, 2011
Covering:
Murray L et al., J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2011 May; 50:460
New Molecular Discoveries in Autism
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Gene expression in the cortex of autistic and nonautistic individuals was markedly different.
By Anthony L. Komaroff, MD
July 12, 2011
Covering:
Voineagu I et al., Nature 2011 Jun 16; 474:380
Korade Nature 2011 Jun 16; 474:294
Does Cannabis Impair Cognition in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis?
Neurology Summary and Comment
Information-processing speed, executive function, and visuospatial perception were significantly worse among long-term cannabis users than among nonusers in a cross-sectional study of MS patients.
By Nadia Solowij, PhD
June 7, 2011
Covering:
Honarmand K et al., Neurology 2011 Mar 29; 76:1153
Nonmemory Symptoms Can Lead to Misdiagnosis in Early-Onset Alzheimer Disease
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
Initial and final diagnoses were incorrect in about half of patients with atypical presentations.
Predicting Alzheimer Disease with Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Neurology Summary and Comment
Thinner cortex in specific brain regions was associated with deterioration from normal cognition to Alzheimer disease in two separate cohorts of elders.
By William J. Jagust, MD
June 14, 2011
Covering:
Dickerson BC et al., Neurology 2011 Apr 19; 76:1395
Medically Unexplained Symptoms in Patients with Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures
Neurology Summary and Comment
These symptoms sometimes developed after PNES diagnosis but were not associated with cessation of PNES.
By Jaime Toro, MD
June 7, 2011
Covering:
McKenzie PS et al., J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2011 Mar 18
Cell Phone Text Messages Aid in Smoking Cessation
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Sample message: "TODAY is the start of being QUIT forever, you can do it! [sic]"
By Bruce Soloway, MD
July 14, 2011
Covering:
Free C et al., Lancet 2011 Jul 2; 378:49
Bennett DA and Emberson JR., Lancet 2011 Jul 2; 378:6
Behavioral Outcomes of Infants with Persistent Dysregulation of Crying, Sleeping, and Feeding
Children with persistent regulatory problems in infancy were significantly more likely to experience behavioral problems in childhood than children without such symptoms.
Safety of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Medications in Children and Adolescents
The absolute risk for cardiovascular events in stimulant users was low and did not differ significantly from risk in nonusers.
Environmental Exposure to Parental Depression Is Linked with Childhood Depression
Significant associations between parent and child symptoms of depression were found in both genetically unrelated and genetically related parent–child pairs.
By Martin T. Stein, MD
May 25, 2011
Covering:
Lewis G et al., J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2011 May; 50:451.e1
Low Apgar Scores Linked with ADHD
In a population-based study, Apgar scores were inversely associated with risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Adult-Supervised Alcohol Use Doesn't Teach Adolescents to Drink Responsibly
Supervised use is associated with more alcohol-related harmful consequences in teens.
Prematurity is a Risk Factor for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in School-Age Children
Even moderately preterm infants are at increased risk.
Is Severe Stress Associated with the Development of Multiple Sclerosis?
Neurology Summary and Comment
Nurses' Health Study data show no link between self-reported severe stress events and the initial development of MS.
Epileptic vs. Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures: What Are the Distinguishing Signs?
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
Six signs were found to consistently distinguish epileptic from nonepileptic seizures, but eyewitnesses did not identify those signs accurately.
Memantine Is Not Effective for Mild Alzheimer Disease
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
Off-label use of memantine for mild AD is not supported by the findings of a meta-analysis that focused specifically on patients with mild disease.
By Martin Rhys Farlow, MD
May 17, 2011
Covering:
Schneider LS et al., Arch Neurol 2011 Apr 11
New Genes Associated with Alzheimer Disease
Neurology Summary and Comment
Two large genome-wide association studies revealed at least four new susceptibility loci for AD.
By Brandy R. Matthews, MD
May 10, 2011
Covering:
Naj AC et al., Nat Genet 2011 May; 43:436
Hollingworth P et al., Nat Genet 2011 May; 43:429
A New Look at General Anesthesia and the Developing Brain
A growing body of evidence suggests that the developing brain is uniquely vulnerable to anesthetic agents.
By Sandra Juul, MD, PhD
May 4, 2011
How Feasible Is Screening for Autism in Practice?
In a busy practice, 80% of eligible toddlers were screened at either a well child or sick visit.
