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Category: brain

Published on Leave a comment on Study Finds Tylenol Use During Pregnancy Safe

Is Tylenol (acetaminophen) use during pregnancy actually linked or a cause of autism? A large recent study says NO - there is no link between acetaminophen (also called paracetamol) use during pregnancy and autism. Whew..

The long-running well-done study conducted in Hong Kong did NOT find a link with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the children born to women who took paracetamol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy. Dose taken and timing (taken early or late in pregnancy) did not change the results of the study. The study included 708,020 mother-child pairs (of these approximately 43.3% had prenatal paracetamol exposure). and they were studied for many years.

For years Tylenol was considered safe to take during pregnancy for pain and fevers. Apparently it is still safe.

From Medical Xpress: Should pregnant women worry about taking Tylenol? 20-year sibling-matched study finds no link to autism or ADHD

Tylenol (also known as acetaminophen or paracetamol) is one of the most widely used over-the-counter options for easing pain and reducing fever, including during pregnancy. More recently, safety concerns around use during pregnancy have gained attention, with claims of a possible link between prenatal exposure and autism in children increasingly appearing in news headlines and prime-time debates. ...continue reading "Study Finds Tylenol Use During Pregnancy Safe"

Published on Leave a comment on Many Studies Link A Commonly Used Pesticide To Health Harms

It has long been known that the pesticide chlorpyrifos has harmful health effects on humans, especially developing fetuses and children. Unfortunately, it is still in use.

A recent review of nearly 300 studies looking at chlorpyrifos found that the pesticide has harmful effects throughout the body, also causes DNA damage, harms children's brains and nervous systems, causes cancer.and that harmful effects are found at levels that are considered safe by the EPA. Unfortunately, more health harms are found each year.

While the pesticide is no longer allowed to be used for household use in the US (remember cans of Raid cockroach killer?), it is still allowed to be used on farms, in greenhouses, golf courses, and more. Keep in mind that industry-funded studies of chlorpyrifos have been used to shape federal policy and exposure limits for decades.

In other words, federal standards do not protect public health. Why is that not surprising?

Excerpts from the investigative journalism site U.S. Right To Know: Nearly 300 studies link the common pesticide chlorpyrifos to multi-organ damage, DNA disruption, and chronic disease 

Key findings:

    • A review of nearly 300 studies summarizes evidence that chlorpyrifos may harm multiple systems throughout the body, including the brain, hormones, liver, gut microbiome, muscles, reproductive organs, and bones.
    • The review describes DNA damage, chromosome instability, and epigenetic changes that may alter how genes function long after exposure.
    • Some harmful effects appear at exposure levels below those considered safe under current pesticide exposure testing standards.

...continue reading "Many Studies Link A Commonly Used Pesticide To Health Harms"

Published on Leave a comment on The Supplement Glucosamine May Accelerate Dementia

The popular supplement glucosamine has been taken for decades for joint health. However, new research suggests that regular use of the  supplement can increase the risk for developing dementia, specifically increasing the progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia.

Not only did it accelerate the progression from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease, but it also worsened survival.

Uh oh. It seems that so many supplements start out looking good, but turn out to have a dark side.

From Medical Xpress: A popular joint pain supplement may accelerate dementia

New research has found an association between taking glucosamine, a popular over-the-counter supplement used for joint pain, and a higher likelihood of progressing from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease. The finding by University of Florida neuroscientists is based on a large retrospective analysis of patients' records as well as supporting data from advanced imaging technology used to scan human brain specimens and Alzheimer's disease mouse models. ...continue reading "The Supplement Glucosamine May Accelerate Dementia"

Published on Leave a comment on Egg Consumption Is Beneficial For Brain Health

Remember when health advice was to limit egg consumption, that they had too much cholesterol, and to only eat egg whites? Well.... studies in the last decade have proven that advice as being 100% wrong for a number of reasons. It turns out that eggs are a great source of a number of nutrients (e.g., choline) needed for brain health and memory function.

A recent study found that frequent egg consumption by persons (mean age 59 years at the start of the study) lowers the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). The researchers found that there was a 27% decreased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease among persons who ate at least 5 eggs a week, but even eating fewer eggs was beneficial. The participants were followed for 15 years.

Other studies have also found a decreased risk of AD in persons eating eggs frequently - with one study finding that more than one egg consumed per week reduced the risk of developing AD up to 47%.

Some key nutrients necessary for brain health that are provided by eggs are: choline, the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, tryptophan, phospholipids, and an omega-3 fat known as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). The researchers viewed the nutrients in eggs as being "neuroprotective" (protecting neurological function).

From Medical Xpress: Egg consumption associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease

Consumption of eggs is associated with a lower risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease for those 65 years and older, according to researchers at Loma Linda University Health. Eating one egg per day for at least five days a week reduces the risk of Alzheimer's by up to 27%, researchers found. ...continue reading "Egg Consumption Is Beneficial For Brain Health"

Published on Leave a comment on Large Review Finds Alzheimer’s Disease Drugs Don’t Work

A large review found that the Alzheimer's drugs now available (very expensive!) actually do not slow down the disease. They don't work. In other words, they should never have been approved.

The authors of the study said it appears that the drugs result in little to no difference ("no clinically meaningful effect") in a range of measures, including reducing dementia severity. And their use increases the risk of bleeding and swelling of the brain.

A few years ago journalists uncovered that there was significant fraud involved in the research and drug approvals (not surprising when so much money is involved).

For decades, Alzheimer's research mainly (only) focused on abnormal protein deposits in the brain (amyloid plaques) and misfolded protein tau tangles in the brain. But many researchers are suggesting that other causes of Alzheimer's should be looked at, including viral causes and chronic inflammation.

Excerpts from The Conversation: Alzheimer's Drugs Offer Little Benefit, Major Review Finds - And the Reasons Go Deeper Than the Science

How is it possible to spend tens of billions of dollars developing drugs to treat a serious disease that affects millions of people, and yet end up with something that does not work? This is a mystery that has bedevilled Alzheimer’s research for years. ...continue reading "Large Review Finds Alzheimer’s Disease Drugs Don’t Work"

Published on Leave a comment on Chronic Wasting Disease Now Found In 37 States

Yikes! Another state has detected its first case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer. It's Delaware!

This is worrisome because not only is this prion disease continuing its march throughout the USA and Canada in deer, moose, and elk, but scientists worry that it may cross species at some point and infect humans. Note that chronic wasting disease is always fatal. 100% of the time.

CWD is a neurologic prion disease similar to "mad cow disease" (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) in cattle and Creutzfeldt-Jakob's disease in humans. There is no vaccine, treatment, or cure for the disease.

From CIDRAP: Delaware becomes 37th state to detect CWD within its borders

With Delaware reporting its first detection of chronic wasting disease (CWD) yesterday, the fatal neurodegenerative disease has now been found in 37 US states. ...continue reading "Chronic Wasting Disease Now Found In 37 States"

Published on Leave a comment on High-Dose Flu Vaccines Lower the Risk of Developing Dementia
Human brain Credit: Wikipedia

The risk of developing dementia increases as a person ages. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) the risk of dementia was 4% by the time a person is 75, and 20% by age 85, and even higher after 85 years of age. Thus the interest in ways to prevent the onset of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.

One way to lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease is getting vaccinated, including the shingles and flu vaccines, after the age of 60. A recent study found that getting vaccinated with high dose flu vaccines in adults 65 years and older (instead of standard dose) reduces the odds of developing Alzheimer's disease even more.

A possible reason for the protective effect of the flu vaccine, especially the high-dose vaccine, is that vaccination strengthens immune defenses and reduces inflammation. Inflammation is thought to play a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Excerpts from CIDRAP: High-dose flu vaccine tied to lower Alzheimer’s risk in older adults

Receiving a high-dose flu vaccine is associated with a significantly lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease than a standard-dose vaccine in adults aged 65 and older, according to a large observational study published in Neurology. The findings add to a growing body of evidence linking vaccination, and possibly immune system activity, to reduced dementia risk. ...continue reading "High-Dose Flu Vaccines Lower the Risk of Developing Dementia"

Published on Leave a comment on Measles Can Be Deadly
Child with measles rash Credit: CDC

In the year 2000 the United States had a "measles elimination status" meaning measles had been eliminated in the US, but that's now over. So far in 2026 there have been 1671 measles infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In this past week alone there were almost 100 new cases, almost all in Utah.

Measles infections (which are bad enough) can have very serious complications, including death. According to the CDC these include severe ear infections (leading to hearing loss), severe diarrhea, pneumonia (can cause death), encephalitis (brain swelling) resulting in permanent brain damage, complications during pregnancy, and even the rare fatal condition subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) that can occur years later (typically 4 to 8 years later).

Scary facts about measles (from the CDC): about 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the US who get measles is hospitalized, about 1 child out of every 1000 who get measles will develop encephalitis (brain swelling), and nearly 1 to 3 of every 1000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications.

Yeah, the measles vaccine works, but only if you get vaccinated. By the way, a measles infection is especially deadly to babies because they are still too young to get vaccinated - which normally occurs at 12 to 15 months of age,

Excerpts from rom CIDRAP (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy): US nears 1,700 measles cases, with 73 new infections in Utah

US measles cases climbed by almost 100 in the past week, reaching 1,671 infections, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its weekly update. The vast majority of the 96 new cases are in Utah. ...continue reading "Measles Can Be Deadly"

Published on Leave a comment on Consuming Coffee Or Tea Daily Associated With Lower Risk of Dementia
Cup of coffee Credit: Wikipedia

Once again, a recent study found that daily consumption of coffee has health benefits.

Recent research found that drinking a moderate amount of coffee (2 to 3 cups of daily) or 1 to 2 cups of tea daily was associated with a lower risk of dementia and better cognitive function. Decaf coffee appeared to have no effect on risk of dementia or cognitive functioning.

Persons with the highest intake (2 to 3 cups or more daily) of caffeinated coffee had an 18% lower risk of dementia compared with those who drank little or no caffeinated coffee. The large study followed people for as long as 43 years.

From Medical Xpress: Consuming 2–3 cups of coffee daily associated with lower dementia risk, better cognitive function

A new prospective cohort study by investigators from Mass General Brigham, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard analyzed 131,821 participants from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS), finding that moderate consumption of caffeinated coffee (two to three cups a day) or tea (one to two cups a day) reduced dementia risk, slowed cognitive decline, and preserved cognitive function. ...continue reading "Consuming Coffee Or Tea Daily Associated With Lower Risk of Dementia"

Published on Leave a comment on Link Between Forever Chemicals and Multiple Sclerosis

Scientists have long known about some factors linked to a higher risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS).These include low levels of sunlight exposure, low vitamin D blood levels, smoking, and being infected with the Epstein Barr virus in adolescence and adulthood (infectious mononucleosis). Recent research has identified another risk factor - exposure to mixtures of PFAS and PCBs.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks myelin in the central nervous system, including the brain.

Researchers in Sweden found that people exposed to both PFAS and PCBs, resulting in higher levels of these chemicals in the blood, are at higher risk for MS. And the higher the levels of both in the blood, the higher the risk. The research was important in that it showed the need to look at mixtures of chemicals people are exposed to (real life!), not just chemicals in isolation.

PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated substances) are commonly known as "forever chemicals" due to their buildup and persistence in people and the environment. They are of great concern because they are endocrine disruptors, have harmful health effects (e.g., cancer, kidney disease, fertility problems), and unfortunately are found in many products that people use daily (e.g., nonstick pots, nonstick finishes). In the study, PCB exposure was primarily from foods, especially Baltic Sea fish, and water.

Bottom line: We can't avoid all exposures to environmental toxins, but we can lower our exposures, for example, by avoiding nonstick cookware. [More tips on avoiding harmful chemicals.]

From Medical Xpress: Exposure to PFAS and PCBs linked to higher odds of multiple sclerosis

People who have been exposed to both PFAS and PCBs are more likely to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). These new research findings are based on analyses of blood samples from more than 1,800 individuals in Sweden, one of the most comprehensive studies to date on the influence of chemical environmental exposure on the development of MS. ...continue reading "Link Between Forever Chemicals and Multiple Sclerosis"