Courtesy of: Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna
Mental Attitude: Subjective Cognitive Decline May Predict Mortality Risk. Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) describes a state in which a person feels their thinking abilities have worsened, but this decline cannot be verified by standardized tests. In a study involving 1,741 seniors, those who reported SCD had an elevated risk for death during the following five years. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, September 2018
Health Alert: Gum Disease and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Compared to seniors with normal cognitive function, patients with Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, or subjective cognitive decline are more likely to have periodontitis. The results suggest that poor oral health may indicate an individual has an elevated risk for future cognitive difficulties. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, October 2018
Diet: Vitamin D Supplements May Aid Weight Loss in Obese Kids. Childhood and adolescence obesity represent a major health problem worldwide, as it can lead to the development of expensive, serious, and debilitating health complications later in life. A study that involved 232 obese children and adolescents revealed that those given vitamin D supplements had significantly lower body mass index and body fat and improved cholesterol levels after one year. These findings suggest that vitamin D supplementation could be part of an effective strategy to address childhood obesity and reduce the risk of serious health problems, such as heart disease, later in life. European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology, September 2018
Exercise: Exercise Helps Eliminate Toxic Proteins from Muscles. A new animal-based study has found that daily exercise helps facilitate the elimination of proteins and organelles in the muscles that are no longer functional. Investigators say the removal of these components is vital, because when they accumulate, they become toxic and contribute to muscle cell impairment and death. Principle investigator Dr. Julio Cesar Batista Ferreira explains, “Imagine the muscles working in a similar manner to a refrigerator, which needs electricity to run. If this signal ceases because you pull the plug on the fridge or block the neurons that innervate the muscles, before long, you find that the food in the fridge and the proteins in the muscles will start to spoil at different speeds according to their composition.” Scientific Reports, September 2018
Chiropractic: Manipulation Plus Exercise Can Help Patients with Shoulder Pain. Americans make over seven million doctor visits each year for shoulder and upper arm pain. A review of past research has found quality evidence that a treatment plan that combines thrust manipulation with specific exercises can reduce pain and improve function in patients with rotator cuff dysfunction. Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, September 2018
Wellness/Prevention: Don’t Smoke! As if there were not already enough reasons to stop smoking or never start in the first place, new research indicates that smokers with diabetes have an elevated risk for foot ulcers and more severe foot ulcers should they occur. Journal of Diabetes Investigation, October 2018
Quote: “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” ~ Desmond Tutu
Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna