A history of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection vs cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is associated with a doubled risk for dementia in older adults, according to study findings published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. Mounting evidence suggests that infection with HSV has a role in the development of Alzheimer disease (AD) or dementia. However, this relationship has not been fully elucidated. For the study, researchers sourced data from the Prospective Investigation of Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) which was a cohort study initiated in 2001 in Sweden. In this study, individual ..read more

Exposure to certain antiseizure medications (ASMs), including levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, and lamotrigine, during pregnancy is associated with a lower risk for major congenital malformations (MCMs), according to study results published in JAMA Neurology. Due to lack of updated information in epilepsy and pregnancy registries, researchers compared the 8 most commonly used ASM monotherapies during pregnancy with regard to risk for MCMs in offspring of mothers with epilepsy. Eligible participants were women with epilepsy receiving ASMs at the time of conception and enrolled in the International ..read more

HealthDay News — Individuals with a history of cognitively stimulating occupations from ages 30 to 65 years have lower risk for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in later life, according to a study published online April 17 in Neurology. Trine H. Edwin, M.D., Ph.D., from Oslo University Hospital in Norway, and colleagues examined the association between registry-based trajectories of occupational cognitive demands from ages 30 to 65 years and clinically diagnosed MCI and dementia at age 70 years and older. Occupational cognitive demands were measured by routine task intensity (RTI ..read more

HealthDay News — The majority of people experiencing homelessness have mental health disorders, according to a review published online April 17 in JAMA Psychiatry. Rebecca Barry, Ph.D., from the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analyses to examine the prevalence of mental health disorders among adults experiencing homelessness globally. Based on 85 included studies (48,414 participants), the researchers found that the current prevalence of mental health disorders among people experiencin ..read more

Counterfeit versions of Botox (botulinum toxin) have been identified in multiple states and have resulted in harmful reactions, according to the Food and Drug Administration. As of April 12, 2024, 19 people have reported significant side effects linked to counterfeit Botox products or mishandled botulinum toxin in 9 states (Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, and Washington). These adverse events included blurred or double vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, slurred speech, constipation, incontinence, shortness of breath, ge ..read more

Among patients discharged home after hospitalization for mild to moderate stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), about one-third are referred to community-based rehabilitation therapy, according to a study in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. The results are based on an observational, secondary analysis of data from the COMPASS (Comprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02588664) study, which compared the effectiveness of a comprehensive postacute transitional care program to usual care for patients with stroke or TIA. The study included 40 ..read more

Remifentanil may increase morphine consumption after surgery and increase complications, although evidence does not support incidence of chronic postsurgical pain after cardiac surgery. These study findings were reported in the Journal of Clinical Pain. Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the effect of remifentanil on acute and chronic postsurgical pain after cardiac surgery. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were collected from 5 databases, and a random-effect model with the generic Mantel-Haenszel method was preferred for integrating risk ratios (RRs). Th ..read more

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifaceted developmental disorder consisting of persistent deficits in social communication and interaction, as well as restricted, repetitive behaviors, interests, and activities.1 Some individuals with ASD learn to use certain behaviors and strategies to minimize or conceal their symptoms so they can be perceived as neurotypical. The term “masking” (also referred to as “camouflaging”) is used to describe these coping strategies.1-5 Masking may offer certain benefits to people with ASD, but it also can lead to delayed diagnosis or treatment, and may nega ..read more

Placental pathology is associated with reductions in postnatal cortical gray matter, cerebellar, and total brain volumes in neonates with congenital heart disease (CHD), according to study results published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Researchers conducted a single-center, prospective, observational study to expound upon the placenta-heart-brain axis and identify possible early biomarkers for adverse neurodevelopment in neonates with CHD. The study involved neonates requiring cardiac surgery or cardiac catheterization within 6 months of life who were patients at Wilhelmin ..read more

Older patients with traumatic blunt head injuries are at high risk for sustaining serious intracranial injury, even with low-risk mechanisms of injury, such as ground-level falls, according to study results published in Annals of Emergency Medicine. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are prevalent among older patients with trauma with this population accounting for 45%-58% of hospitalizations for TBI. TBI has a clear clinical impact in older patients, but there is limited data on its clinical effects. Researchers conducted a secondary analysis between April 2006 and December 2015 to explore the c ..read more