Tag

Risk Factors

All articles tagged with #risk factors

health9 days ago•7 min saved

Medications Narrow the Obesity-Heart Risk Gap in Older Adults, Lancet Finds

A Lancet analysis of 1 million adults across 110 datasets (1990–2024) finds that people aged 40–79 with overweight or obesity have seen sharper improvements in blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol than normal-weight peers, leading to risk-factor levels by ages 60–70 that rival or exceed those of normal BMI. Younger adults under 40 do not show the same convergence. The changes are likely driven by wider use of affordable antihypertensives and statins, but the study is observational and obesity remains linked to other health risks; obesity drugs were not included, underscoring the need for prevention in youth.

via STAT|

#blood-pressure #cardiovascular-disease #health

health21 days ago•4 min saved

Sex-Specific Dementia Risks: Women Suffer Greater Cognitive Impact From Key Factors

A UC San Diego study of over 17,000 midlife and older adults finds that several dementia risk factors—such as depression, physical inactivity, hearing loss, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes—affect women’s cognition more strongly than men’s, indicating prevention may be more effective when tailored by sex.

via SciTechDaily|

#dementia #health #prevention

health22 days ago•5 min saved

Seeing Ahead: Retina Clues Alzheimer's Risk Revealed by AI

Researchers analyzed 62,876 retinal photos from more than 40,000 UK Biobank participants with deep learning to predict 12 Alzheimer's-related risk factors. They found retinal features like vascular stiffening, reduced vessel density, and thinning of the optic nerve linked to later risk, suggesting retinal imaging could flag at-risk individuals years before symptoms (though it cannot diagnose the disease). The study highlights retina as an integrated biomarker of cumulative risk and was published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

via ScienceAlert|

#alzheimers-disease #artificial-intelligence #health

health26 days ago•3 min saved

Midlife habits lower dementia risk even as total cases rise

Dementia cases are projected to rise with aging populations, but an individual’s risk at a given age has fallen for decades in wealthy countries thanks to better blood pressure and cholesterol management, reduced smoking, and longer education. A Lancet commission estimates up to 45% of dementia could be prevented or delayed by addressing 14 risk factors, with midlife offering the biggest opportunities. Practical steps include treating cardiovascular risks, not smoking, staying physically active, monitoring hearing and vision, continuing to learn, and moderating alcohol; newer findings also hint that vaccines like the shingles vaccine may support brain health.

via vox.com|

#aging #brain-health #dementia

science1 month ago•6 min saved

Women Hit Harder by Some Dementia Risk Factors, Study Finds

A study of 17,182 adults found that certain dementia risk factors have a larger negative impact on women’s cognition than men’s, and that women accumulate more risk factors over life. Depression, inactivity, and sleep problems are more common in women, while hearing loss, diabetes, and heavy alcohol use are more common in men. High blood pressure, hearing loss, and diabetes were linked to greater cognitive decline in women, and higher BMI affected women in their 50s–60s. Conversely, years of education and total cholesterol showed positive associations with cognition. The results suggest sex-specific prevention strategies, though causality can’t be proven, and note that two-thirds of US Alzheimer’s patients are women.

via ScienceAlert|

#cognition #dementia #risk-factors

health1 month ago•6 min saved

HPV vaccination and lifestyle changes may curb rising head and neck cancers

Head and neck cancers, especially oral cavity and pharynx, are rising in the U.S. and globally, with HPV now a leading risk factor. Prevention centers on HPV vaccination (two doses at 11–12 years, can start 9–26, approved up to 45) and lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking and reducing alcohol use, which substantially lower risk. There is no broad screening, and five-year survival is about 70%.

via The Washington Post|

#head-and-neck-cancer #health #hpv

health2 months ago•4 min saved

Celebrity death spotlights atherosclerotic heart disease and prevention

USA TODAY reports that Nicholas Brendon died from atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, with a 90% blockage in his right coronary artery. The piece explains how plaque buildup (atherosclerosis) and long-standing high blood pressure damage the heart, outlines common risk factors (high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking), and stresses that heart disease is largely preventable through lifestyle changes and the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8, including diet, exercise, not smoking, sleep, weight management, and monitoring lipids, blood pressure and glucose.

via USA Today|

#atherosclerosis #health #heart-disease

health2 months ago•26 min saved

Record-Size UK Study Pins 15 Modifiable Drivers of Early Dementia

A landmark UK Biobank study of adults under 65 without dementia tested 39 risk factors across social, genetic, lifestyle, and health domains and identified 15 linked to early dementia, including alcohol use, depression, vitamin D deficiency, and social isolation, making it the largest and most robust analysis of its kind and suggesting multiple modifiable levers to reduce risk.

via ZME Science|

#alcohol-use #dementia #health

health2 months ago•268 min saved

Morning Rush: Why Heart Attacks Happen More Often at Daybreak

Cardiologists say heart attacks are most common in the morning (roughly 6 a.m.–noon) due to circadian-related adrenaline and cortisol surges that raise blood pressure, though they can occur anytime; women may have different accompanying symptoms; to lower risk, maintain a consistent sleep routine, limit morning caffeine/exercise, manage stress, and adopt heart‑healthy habits (no tobacco, balanced diet, regular exercise) with regular medical checkups.

via AOL.com|

#cardiology #circadian-rhythm #health

health2 months ago•4 min saved

Look Beyond the Lump: Five Hidden Signs of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer can present without a lump, so doctors highlight five key signs to watch for: a lump or other palpable changes, nipple discharge that may be bloody, green, or black, skin changes such as redness, dimpling, or an orange-peel texture, swelling in the underarm area (axillary mass), and localized breast pain. Age is the biggest non-modifiable risk factor, with genetic mutations, family history, breast density, and prior chest radiation also increasing risk; modifiable factors include obesity, alcohol use, physical inactivity, and hormone replacement therapy. Regular mammograms every two years are recommended for average-risk women aged 40–74, as early detection greatly improves outcomes.

via Prevention|

#breast-cancer #early-detection #health

health2 months ago•264 min saved

Preventable Heart Disease Demands a Proactive Health Shift

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S. despite advances, because risk factors often accumulate for decades before events occur; the PREVENT calculator now helps doctors estimate 10- to 30-year risk and tailor early interventions like diet changes, exercise, and statins. The piece emphasizes that prevention is not just individual responsibility but a societal one, as access to healthy food, safe spaces, time to exercise, and affordable care shape risk—warnings that if current trends persist, more than 40 million Americans could live with cardiovascular disease by 2050.

via AOL.com|

#health #heart-disease #prevent-calculator

health3 months ago•4 min saved

Severe Infections, Especially UTIs, Linked to Higher Dementia Risk in Seniors

A Finnish study of 62,555 people aged 65+ with late-onset dementia (2017–2020) and 312,772 matched controls found 29 risk factors for dementia. Among infections, only urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bacterial infections were linked to dementia, with severe infections—especially UTIs—associated with a 19% higher risk after adjusting for other conditions. The time between infection and dementia diagnosis averaged five to six years. While this suggests infections may contribute to dementia risk, it does not prove causality, and the researchers call for intervention studies. Non-infectious risks included alcohol-related disorders, Parkinson’s disease, and brain disease.

via ScienceAlert|

#dementia #health #infections

health3 months ago•49 min saved

Rising risk and rapid advances in treating testicular cancer in young men

Testicular cancer is rising among men aged 15–49 (about 2,400 UK cases per year). Risk factors include family history, undescended testicles, and possibly early chemical exposure; white ethnicity is linked to higher risk. Common symptoms are a lump or swelling, with pain in about 10% of cases. Early detection is crucial, as cure rates exceed 95%. Treatment usually removes the affected testicle, with chemotherapy if needed; newer robotic lymph-node surgery speeds recovery, as highlighted by Sam Birchall’s experience.

via Daily Mail|

#health #risk-factors #robotic-surgery

health3 months ago•7 min saved

Sex-Specific Parkinson's Patterns Emerge in Large Australian Study

A large Australian Parkinson's Genetics Study (n=10,929) finds Parkinson's disease presents and progresses differently by sex and highlights the prominence of non-motor symptoms. Onset is younger for women (63.7) than men (64.4), and women have more pain and falls, while men show more memory changes and impulsive behaviors. The disease is ~1.5x more common in men; environmental risks (pesticide exposure, traumatic brain injury, high-risk occupations) are common and higher in men. About 25% have a family history; only 10–15% linked to known gene mutations, with most risk due to gene–environment interaction and aging. Limitations include self-reported data, a ~6% response rate, and predominantly European ancestry. Researchers plan to use smartphones and wearables to collect richer data, aiming for earlier risk identification and more personalized management.

via ScienceAlert|

#australia #health #non-motor-symptoms

health4 months ago•6 min saved

Small daily changes could halve dementia risk, Lund study shows

A Lund University study links modifiable lifestyle and health factors—such as smoking, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol—to brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. The research also notes diabetes is tied to amyloid-β accumulation and lower BMI to tau changes, highlighting that healthier habits might delay dementia onset, though findings require further validation.

via SciTechDaily|

#alzheimers-disease #dementia #health