Category: Persuasion

Prescription drugs taken by millions of people around the world can affect memory.

Memory loss is not always a result of ageing.

Here are five types of drugs that can affect memory.

1. Antidepressants (tricyclic)

The older type of antidepressants — known as tricyclics — have been linked to memory loss.

Some of the drug names include:

• desipramine (Norpramin),
• imipramine (Tofranil),
• clomipramine (Anafranil),
• and doxepin (Sinequan).

Around half of people taking them report problems concentrating and one-third say they have memory loss.

2. Anxiety drugs

Benzodiazepines include drugs marketed under the names Valium, Ativan, Klonopin and Xanax.

These drugs are often prescribed for anxiety and other mental health issues such as OCD, insomnia and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Unfortunately they are also linked to memory loss and even Alzheimer’s.

Dr Helene Alphonso, a psychiatrist and Director of Osteopathic Medical Education at Texas University, said:

“Current research is extremely clear and physicians need to partner with their patients to move them into therapies, like [modern] anti-depressants, that are proven to be safer and more effective.”

3. Statins

Statins are prescribed to many people to keep their cholesterol in a safer range.

The Food and Drug Administration lists memory loss, forgetfulness and confusion as possible side-effects of the drug.

Some people do report memory problems when taking them, but the studies conducted so far are inconclusive.

Statins include:

• Atorvastatin (Lipitor),
• lovastatin (Mevacor),
• fluvastatin (Lescol),
• and pravastatin (Pravachol).

4. Beta-blockers

Beta-blockers slow the heart rate and are used to lower blood pressure.

They are also prescribed to those with congestive heart problems.

Typical names include:

• Carvedilol (Coreg),
• atenolol (Tenormin),
• metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol),
• and propranolol (Inderal),

Beta-blockers, though, may also cause the loss of emotional memories.

They have even been tested as a way of treating post-traumatic stress disorder because of their ability to block emotional memories.

Again, though, the studies are not conclusive.

4. Sleeping aids

People who cannot sleep are sometimes prescribed so-called ‘Z-drugs’.

These include:

• Zolpidem (Ambien),
• eszopiclone (Lunesta),
• and zaleplon (Sonata).

The ‘Z-drugs’ have been linked to memory loss: especially losing the ability to make new memories.

They have also been reported to cause strange behaviours like driving or cooking with absolutely no memory of the event.

What are the alternatives?

Where possible consider a psychological therapy or applicable alternative to using these drugs.

Naturally, you should always consult your physician before making changes to your medication.

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Is drinking a small glass of wine or half a pint of beer a day be good for you?

Some studies have suggested that daily consumption of low-volume alcoholic drinks such as a glass of wine could lower heart disease and death from any cause.

In contrast, new evidence shows that light drinking does not bring any health benefits.

The review also shows that higher consumption levels of alcohol dramatically increases the risk of heart disease and death.

In the United States, one “standard” drink contains nearly 14 grams of pure alcohol, equivalent to a glass of wine at 12 percent alcohol (150 ml), a bottle of beer at 5 percent alcohol (355 ml), or one shot of hard liquor such as whisky, vodka, gin, and rum.

Dr Tim Stockwell, the study’s co-author, said:

“Low-level or moderate drinking is roughly defined between one drink per week and two drinks per day.

That’s the amount of alcohol that many studies, if you look at them uncritically, suggest reduces your risk of dying prematurely.”

But the results from those studies have been influenced by some biases so after adjusting for them:

“…the appearance of the benefit from moderate drinking greatly diminishes and, in some cases, vanishes altogether.”

The review analysed 107 studies examining the association between consumption of alcohol and death.

Dr Stockwell explained:

“This is an overview of a lot of really bad studies.

There’s a lot of confounding and bias in these studies, and our analysis illustrates that.”

Former-drinker bias

A common flaw for those studies was that they included former drinkers in the non-drinkers group.

But it is well-known that if a former drinker has stopped drinking or reduced alcohol intake, it is often because of some health issues.

When compared to abstainers, former drinkers are at a higher risk of early death by 22 percent.

Dr Stockwell said:

“We’ve put Band-Aids on all of these bad studies to try and explore how these different characteristics result in the appearance of health benefits.”

Their analysis reveals that occasional drinking (9 g of alcohol per week) or light drinking (less than 24 g a day; one or two drinks a day) didn’t reduce the likelihood of death.

There was a slight increased risk of death among those who drank more than two a day (25 g to 44 g of alcohol per day).

The risk of death was greatly increased among heavy drinkers (45 g or more of alcohol per day).

Dr Catherine Lesko from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said:

“There’s this question about whether low-level drinking is beneficial, and I think I’d take this to mean that it’s really not particularly beneficial.

I don’t know that it’s harmful, very low-level drinking.

But a lot of the results are reinforcing the harmful effects of even moderate to high level drinking.”

Drinking even at lower amounts caused more dramatic effect on women’s health than men.

Ms Patricia Aussem, a counsellor at Partnership to End Addiction, explained:

“Women experience alcohol differently than men because of biological factors.

Even when drinking the same amount of alcohol, women will have higher blood alcohol levels, feel intoxicated more quickly and take…

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Lose weight with no effort using the ripple effect.

People whose partners are trying to lose weight also lose weight themselves — without trying, research demonstrates.

The non-dieting member of a couple lost an average of 4 lbs of their body weight, even though they made no effort to diet or increase their exercise.

Dubbed ‘the ripple effect’, weight loss spreads out from the person who is dieting to close others.

Professor Amy Gorin, the study’s first author, said:

“When one person changes their behavior, the people around them change.

Whether the patient works with their healthcare provider, joins a community-based, lifestyle approach like Weight Watchers, or tries to lose weight on their own, their new healthy behaviors can benefit others in their lives.”

For the study, one half of 130 couples either joined a diet programme or were put in a self-guided control group.

After six months, the untreated spouses of people in both groups had lost an average of over 4 lbs.

In other words, whether their spouse was following a specific diet programme or in the control group, their partner often lost weight.

In fact, around one-third of ‘untreated’ partners lost at least 3 percent of their body weight in six months.

Professor Gorin said:

“How we change our eating and exercise habits can affect others in both positive and negative ways.

On the positive side, spouses might emulate their partner’s behaviors and join them in counting calories, weighing themselves more often, and eating lower-fat foods.”

It is not yet known if the weight loss ripple effect includes other members of a household and not just couples.

The study was published in the journal Obesity (Gorin et al., 2018).

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How schizophrenia and high intelligence are linked.

High IQ could protect against schizophrenia amongst those at genetic risk from developing the condition, a study finds.

The findings are in stark contrast to the conventional wisdom that those with high intelligence are at increased risk of developing schizophrenia.

A large study has found that intelligence actually has a protective effect.

The study’s lead author, Dr Kenneth S. Kendler, said:

“If you’re really smart, your genes for schizophrenia don’t have much of a chance of acting.”

The study was conducted by researchers at Lund University in Sweden and Virginia Commonwealth University.

It included data from 1.2 million Swedish males born between 1951 and 1975 whose IQ and any hospitalisations for schizophrenia were tracked over 24 years.

Dr. Kendler explained the results:

“What really predicted risk for schizophrenia is how much you deviate from the predicted IQ that we get from your relatives.

If you’re quite a bit lower, that carries a high risk for schizophrenia.

Not achieving the IQ that you should have based on your genetic constitution and family background seems to most strongly predispose for schizophrenia.”

It may be that factors which reduce intelligence, such as childhood trauma, can also contribute to the risk of schizophrenia.

There was no evidence that, for the most intelligence people, there was a higher risk of schizophrenia:

“The question is, might we see some upward bump at that high level of intelligence where really brilliant people have increased risk for the disease and we show no such trend.”

The study was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry (Kendler et al., 2014).

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Consuming two servings a week of these foods increases the odds of heart disease and death.

A large, long-term study has found that unprocessed red meat and any type of processed meat are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and death.

Twice weekly consumption of processed meat, red meat, or poultry — but not fish — increases the rate of cardiovascular disease by 3 to 7 percent.

What is more, bi-weekly consumption of processed meat or even unprocessed red meat — but not fish or poultry — is linked to a 3 percent increase in the risk of death.

Past studies have also found that a higher intake of red meat can lead to several health issues such as cancer.

A study by Dr Smith and colleagues  suggested that processed meats and red meats are the foods most strongly linked to weight gain.

Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously suggested that processed foods can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

Professor Norrina Allen, the senior author of this study, said:

“It’s a small difference, but it’s worth trying to reduce red meat and processed meat like pepperoni, bologna and deli meats.”

Dr Victor Zhong, study’s first author, said;

“Modifying intake of these animal protein foods may be an important strategy to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death at a population level.”

The research team analysed data from 6 different studies that included 29,682 adult participants with a 30 year follow-up.

It might be better to cut down on these types of foods in our diet and replace them with other protein sources such as seeds, nuts, dairy products, legumes, fish, and seafood.

Professor Linda Van Horn, study co-author, said:

“Fish, seafood and plant-based sources of protein such as nuts and legumes, including beans and peas, are excellent alternatives to meat and are under-consumed in the U.S.”

The study was published in JAMA Internal Medicine (Zhong et al., 2020).

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The advice comes from a study of chronic inflammation in the body.

The number one cause of memory loss is simply aging.

A little forgetfulness is normal and does not necessarily indicate a problem.

However, there are ways to fight against this natural process and retain a better memory.

The three best ways to avoid memory loss later in life are:

1. Eating an anti-inflammatory heart-healthy diet,
2. getting enough sleep,
3. and exercising regularly.

The advice comes from a study of chronic inflammation in the body.

Inflammation in middle age is linked to memory and thinking problems later on, research shows.

The main problem is chronic inflammation that continues for months or even years.

Symptoms of chronic inflammation include joint pain and stiffness, digestive problems and fatigue.

Dr  Keenan A. Walker, the study’s first author, said:

“Many of the processes that can lead to a decline in thinking and memory skills are believed to begin in middle age, and it is in middle age that they may also be most responsive to intervention.

Our results show that chronic inflammation may be an important target for intervention.

However, it’s also possible that chronic inflammation is not a cause and instead a marker of, or even a response to, neurodegenerative brain diseases that can lead to cognitive decline.”

The study followed 12,336 people for an average of 20 years.

All were given blood tests for inflammation markers.

The results showed that people with the highest levels of inflammation also had the worst thinking and memory skills.

Those with the highest levels of inflammation had 8 percent worse scores on cognitive tests than those with the lowest levels.

Dr  Walker continued:

“Chronic inflammation is tough on the body, and can damage joints, internal organs, tissue and cells.

It can also lead to heart disease, stroke and cancer.

While other studies have looked at chronic inflammation and its effects on the brain in older people, our large study investigated chronic inflammation beginning in middle age and showed that it may contribute to cognitive decline in the decades leading up to old age.”

The study was published in the journal Neurology (Walker et al., 2019).

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The beneficial effects of exercise on the hippocampus, an area critical for memory and learning.

Being physically active is essential for maintaining mental health and what is more, improves hippocampal function related to learning and memory, a study shows.

Exercise stimulates the production of chemical signals important for neuronal development in the hippocampus.

Mr Ki Yun Lee, the study’s first author, said:

“The hippocampus is a crucial area for learning and memory, and therefore cognitive health.”

During physical activity our muscle fibres contract and by doing so certain chemical compounds are released into the blood vessels and circulated around the body, including the hippocampus.

Swimming, cycling, bicep curls, push-ups, sit-ups, squats, are examples of sporting activities that involve muscle contraction (tightening, lengthening, or shortening of muscles).

The researchers wanted to find out how muscle signals are converted and used for neuronal activity and development in the hippocampus.

Knowing the beneficial effects of exercise on the hippocampus could lead to specific exercise-based interventions to overcome neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Hippocampal neurons

For this study, samples containing mice muscle cells were obtained and kept in the lab in cell culture plates.

When the muscle cells were grown, they began to contract and release chemical signals in the plates.

Then those cultures containing chemical signals were added to another culture which held hippocampal neurons and astrocytes (supportive cells).

The team also used various techniques to track neurons’ electrical activity and so they were able to examine how the hippocampal cells were influenced by the chemical signals.

They found that hippocampal neurons, when receiving the chemical signals from contracting muscles, started to produce larger and more frequent electrical signals.

These suggest that neurons of the hippocampus were flourishing and healthy while at the same time developing a powerful network.

Furthermore, they looked at the mediating role of astrocytes in order to understand what biological mechanism links exercise to brain health.

Mr Lee said:

“Astrocytes are the first responders in the brain before the compounds from muscles reach the neurons.”

When astrocytes were removed from the cell cultures, the team saw that hippocampal neurons began to generate more electrical signals.

This indicates an absence of astrocytes, Mr Lee said:

“Astrocytes play a critical role in mediating the effects of exercise.

By regulating neuronal activity and preventing hyperexcitability of neurons, astrocytes contribute to the balance necessary for optimal brain function.”

He added:

“Ultimately, our research may contribute to the development of more effective exercise regimens for cognitive disorders such as ‘s disease.”

The study was published in the journal Neuroscience (Lee et al., 2023).

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The findings may result from it being hard to tell whether society is progressing or not and a natural bias in the way memory works.

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Children with the biomarker for this chemical were twice as likely to have ADHD as those without.

A commonly used household pesticide has been linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and young teens.

Pyrethroids, a type of pesticide, were introduced as a supposedly safer alternative to organophosphates.

Organophosphates were banned for residential use in the US 15 years ago.

But the research may question the safety of their replacement.

Dr Tanya Froehlich, a developmental paediatrician who led the study, said:

“Given the growing use of pyrethroid pesticides and the perception that they may represent a safe alternative, our findings may be of considerable public health importance.”

The results come from 687 children who were followed as part of the 2000-2001 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

This collected information about hyperactivity and impulsivity as well as biomarkers of pyrethoid exposure.

The results showed that children with the biomarker were twice as likely to have ADHD as those without.

The connection was much stronger in boys than girls.

Dr. Froehlich said:

“Our study assessed pyrethroid exposure using 3-PBA concentrations in a single urine sample.

Given that pyrethroids are non-persistent and rapidly metabolized, measurements over time would provide a more accurate assessment of typical exposure and are recommended in future studies before we can say definitively whether our results have public health ramifications.”

The study was published in the journal Environmental Health (Wagner-Schuman et al., 2015).

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New brain cells in the hippocampus — an area critical for memory — were reduced by 40%.

Even moderate alcohol intake could reduce the brain’s ability to produce new cells by 40 percent, research suggests.

Regularly having as little as 3 to 4 alcoholic drinks could reduce the structural integrity of the adult brain.

Ms Megan Anderson, the study’s first author, said:

“Moderate drinking can become binge drinking without the person realizing it.

In the short term there may not be any noticeable motor skills or overall functioning problems, but in the long term this type of behavior could have an adverse effect on learning and memory.”

The conclusions come from a rodent study in which the animals were given the equivalent amount of alcohol to reach the legal driving limit.

This amount of alcohol did not have much effect on their motor coordination.

However, the results showed that the production of new brain cells in the hippocampus — an area critical for memory — were reduced by 40%.

Ms Anderson said:

“…this substantial decrease in brain cell numbers over time could have profound effects on the structural plasticity of the adult brain because these new cells communicate with other neurons to regulate brain health.

If this area of your brain was affected every day over many months and years, eventually you might not be able to learn how to get somewhere new or to learn something new about your life.

It’s something that you might not even be aware is occurring.”

Drinker who are ‘at risk’ are currently defined as men who have 14 drinks per week or more and women who have 7 or more per week.

Ms Anderson said:

“This research indicates that social or daily drinking may be more harmful to brain health than what is now believed by the general public.”

The study was published in the journal Neuroscience (Anderson et al., 2012).

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