Medical Bulletin 6/April/2023

Here are the top medical news for the day:

Alzheimer’s disease risk increased in those with early menopause, later start to hormone therapy: Study

Premature menopause, defined as menopause that occurs spontaneously before the age of 40 or due to surgical intervention before the age of 45, has been associated with increased risk of AD dementia.

Women are more likely than men to develop Alzheimer’s disease (AD), with women making up two-thirds of the population living with AD. A new study, led by Mass General Brigham researchers, sheds light on the relationship between the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and age of menopause and use of hormone therapy (HT). The results, published in JAMA Neurology, indicate that early age at menopause may be a risk factor for AD dementia, but that women who were prescribed HT around the age of menopause onset did not show increased risk.

Reference:

MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM,JAMA,doi 10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.0455

Higher than usual lithium levels in potable water may raise autism risk: Study

Because of lithium’s mood-stabilizing effects, some lithium compounds have long been used as a treatment for depression and bipolar disorders. However, there has been debate about whether mothers can safely take lithium during pregnancy amid increasing evidence it is associated with higher risk of miscarriage and cardiac anomalies or defects in newborns.

Pregnant women whose household tap water had higher levels of lithium had a moderately higher risk of their offspring being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, according to a new study led by a UCLA Health researcher.

The study, published April 3 in JAMA Pediatrics, is believed to be the first to identify naturally occurring lithium in drinking water as a possible environmental risk factor for autism.

Reference:

Association Between Estimated Geocoded Residential Maternal Exposure to Lithium in Drinking Water and Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Offspring in Denmark,JAMA Pediatrics,Doi 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.03446

Study shows moderate exercise to be safe for people with muscle pain from statins    

Statins have long been the gold standard for lowering LDL or “bad” cholesterol and preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, but while generally well-tolerated, they can cause muscle pain and weakness in some.

Statin therapy does not exacerbate muscle injury, pain or fatigue in people engaging in moderate-intensity exercise, such as walking, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The findings are reassuring for people who experience muscle pain or fatigue from statins but need to engage in physical activity to keep their cholesterol levels low and their hearts healthy.

Reference:

Neeltje Allard, et al,Prolonged Moderate-Intensity Exercise Does Not Increase Muscle Injury Markers in Symptomatic or Asymptomatic Statin Users,Journal of the American College of Cardiology