Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/T3iMfBq7uok

Researchers from Norway’s University of Bergen now deliver conclusive proof that bacteria hiding in dental plaque and causing gingivitis move from mouth to brain and there produce a toxin that kills brain cells.

Several months ago, I presented a study in mice that demonstrated this same gum-brain connection.  The Norwegian researchers now prove it in humans with DNA-tracking evidence. They extend this finding by identifying a toxic enzyme released by the bacteria that destroys vital brain cells.   The investigators detected the toxin in 96% of the brains from 53 deceased Alzheimer’s victims they studied.  Even more exciting is the fact that they developed a drug that blocks this enzyme’s effect, and they are planning tests of it.

All research discoveries in medicine and in every other field are only conclusively proven when they are independently confirmed.  I am delighted that this is now the case for the gingivitis-Alzheimer’s link.  If you want to hold onto your mind over your lifetime, you best be brushing and regularly flossing.

Stephen S. Dominy, Casey Lynch, Florian Ermini, etal. Porphyromonas gingivalis in Alzheimer’s disease brains: Evidence for disease causation and treatment with small-molecule inhibitors. Science Advances, 2019; 5 (1): eaau3333 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aau3333

#Gingivitis #Alzheimers

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/T3iMfBq7uok

Researchers from Norway’s University of Bergen now deliver conclusive proof that bacteria hiding in dental plaque and causing gingivitis move from mouth to brain and there produce a toxin that kills brain cells.

Several months ago, I presented a study in mice that demonstrated this same gum-brain connection.  The Norwegian researchers now prove it in humans with DNA-tracking evidence. They extend this finding by identifying a toxic enzyme released by the bacteria that destroys vital brain cells.   The investigators detected the toxin in 96% of the brains from 53 deceased Alzheimer’s victims they studied.  Even more exciting is the fact that they developed a drug that blocks this enzyme’s effect, and they are planning tests of it.

All research discoveries in medicine and in every other field are only conclusively proven when they are independently confirmed.  I am delighted that this is now the case for the gingivitis-Alzheimer’s link.  If you want to hold onto your mind over your lifetime, you best be brushing and regularly flossing.

Stephen S. Dominy, Casey Lynch, Florian Ermini, etal. Porphyromonas gingivalis in Alzheimer’s disease brains: Evidence for disease causation and treatment with small-molecule inhibitors. Science Advances, 2019; 5 (1): eaau3333 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aau3333

#Gingivitis #Alzheimers

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/vHPivGIBS9Q

This week the  FDA released warnings that vinpocetine, available in the USA over-the-counter as a dietary supplement and around the world as the prescription drug Cavinton, can harm a developing baby causing miscarriage or birth defects.  

Vinpocetine is readily available online via Amazon and other outlets.  It is also called Periwinkle Liquid Extract.

Vinpocetine has been touted as a help for dementia, age-related macular degeneration, hearing loss, tinnitus, hot flashes, seizures, chronic fatigue syndrome, and even bed-wetting.  As is the case for all drugs marketed as food supplements, it has not undergone rigorous testing, and claims of its effectiveness for any of these problems are unproven.

All women of child-bearing age should avoid using Vinpocetine.  All of you should think twice about regularly using dietary supplements because lax regulations offer no guarantee of safety or effectiveness.

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/statement-warning-women-childbearing-age-about-possible-safety-risks-dietary-supplements-containing

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-175/vinpocetine

#Vinpocetine #foodsupplement #pregnancy #fetaltoxin #dementia #maculardegeneration #deafness

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/vHPivGIBS9Q

This week the  FDA released warnings that vinpocetine, available in the USA over-the-counter as a dietary supplement and around the world as the prescription drug Cavinton, can harm a developing baby causing miscarriage or birth defects.  

Vinpocetine is readily available online via Amazon and other outlets.  It is also called Periwinkle Liquid Extract.

Vinpocetine has been touted as a help for dementia, age-related macular degeneration, hearing loss, tinnitus, hot flashes, seizures, chronic fatigue syndrome, and even bed-wetting.  As is the case for all drugs marketed as food supplements, it has not undergone rigorous testing, and claims of its effectiveness for any of these problems are unproven.

All women of child-bearing age should avoid using Vinpocetine.  All of you should think twice about regularly using dietary supplements because lax regulations offer no guarantee of safety or effectiveness.

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/statement-warning-women-childbearing-age-about-possible-safety-risks-dietary-supplements-containing

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-175/vinpocetine

#Vinpocetine #foodsupplement #pregnancy #fetaltoxin #dementia #maculardegeneration #deafness

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/xUVxPZ6K6pE

The egg debates continues, and, if you love eggs, you’ll love the latest Finnish study just published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  They conclude that an egg a day will not increase your risk of stroke.

The study looked at nearly 2000 men 42 to 60 years of age.  Over a 21 year followup, the risk of stroke was not increased by a moderate intake of dietary cholesterol and an average of one egg a day.

All the controversy about eggs and dietary is probably not over.   Meanwhile, you can safely enjoy up to two 3 egg omelettes every week without any pangs of guilt.

Anna M Abdollahi, Heli E K Virtanen, Sari Voutilainen, Sudhir Kurl, Tomi-Pekka Tuomainen, Jukka T Salonen, Jyrki K Virtanen. Egg consumption, cholesterol intake, and risk of incident stroke in men: the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2019; DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqz066

#Egg #cholesterol #stroke

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/xUVxPZ6K6pE

The egg debates continues, and, if you love eggs, you’ll love the latest Finnish study just published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  They conclude that an egg a day will not increase your risk of stroke.

The study looked at nearly 2000 men 42 to 60 years of age.  Over a 21 year followup, the risk of stroke was not increased by a moderate intake of dietary cholesterol and an average of one egg a day.

All the controversy about eggs and dietary is probably not over.   Meanwhile, you can safely enjoy up to two 3 egg omelettes every week without any pangs of guilt.

Anna M Abdollahi, Heli E K Virtanen, Sari Voutilainen, Sudhir Kurl, Tomi-Pekka Tuomainen, Jukka T Salonen, Jyrki K Virtanen. Egg consumption, cholesterol intake, and risk of incident stroke in men: the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2019; DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqz066

#Egg #cholesterol #stroke

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/c5Y0tyBw3Lk

Staggering numbers of children risk irreversible injuries to their developing brains everyday as they climb on a variety of wheeled play vehicles.  A new study from The University of  Michigan surveyed over 1300 parents of children from 4 to 13 years to assess their children’s use of protective helmets and defensive measures in the streets.

Parents admit that their children don’t use helmets 61% of the time while riding scooters, during 58% of skateboard sessions, and on 18% of bike rides.  Twenty-seven percent of children ride their bikes and other play vehicles in streets and most of these streets have no bike lanes.  

National statistics show that 50 children an hour every hour visit an emergency department because of injuries sustained on bikes, scooters, and skateboards.  Many of these accidents involve younger children who should be directly supervised by their parents.  For your older kids, review helmet use and restrict their rides to car-free bike lanes and trails.

Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan. "Nearly 1 in 5 parents say their child never wears a helmet while riding a bike: National Poll focuses on children's street smarts, including bike, skateboard, scooter and road safety." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 20 May 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/0

#Bicycles #scooters #skateboards #helmets #bikelanes

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/c5Y0tyBw3Lk

Staggering numbers of children risk irreversible injuries to their developing brains everyday as they climb on a variety of wheeled play vehicles.  A new study from The University of  Michigan surveyed over 1300 parents of children from 4 to 13 years to assess their children’s use of protective helmets and defensive measures in the streets.

Parents admit that their children don’t use helmets 61% of the time while riding scooters, during 58% of skateboard sessions, and on 18% of bike rides.  Twenty-seven percent of children ride their bikes and other play vehicles in streets and most of these streets have no bike lanes.  

National statistics show that 50 children an hour every hour visit an emergency department because of injuries sustained on bikes, scooters, and skateboards.  Many of these accidents involve younger children who should be directly supervised by their parents.  For your older kids, review helmet use and restrict their rides to car-free bike lanes and trails.

Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan. "Nearly 1 in 5 parents say their child never wears a helmet while riding a bike: National Poll focuses on children's street smarts, including bike, skateboard, scooter and road safety." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 20 May 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/0

#Bicycles #scooters #skateboards #helmets #bikelanes

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/ldtCbVQLkSc

Those who tend to be anxious have a 6th sense superpower that effectively protects them from danger.  A new study from Caltech’s cognitive neuroscience department shows that anxious individuals more effectively flee from subtle dangers.

The study participants were challenged with a series of virtual reality threats characterized as slow that are impending or fast that are immediate.  Brain activity was assessed by real time MRI.  

The most anxious individuals did a better job of dodging slow threats while all participants performed about the same with fast threats.  If you tend to be anxious and take a lot of ribbing about your risk aversion from your friends and family, just tell them that you have a very special sense that someday may save you and also them from disaster.

Bowen J. Fung, Song Qi, Demis Hassabis, Nathaniel Daw & Dean Mobbs. Slow escape decisions are swayed by trait anxiety.  Nature Human Behaviour (2019) .  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-019-0595-5

#Anxiety #danger #risk #superpower

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/ldtCbVQLkSc

Those who tend to be anxious have a 6th sense superpower that effectively protects them from danger.  A new study from Caltech’s cognitive neuroscience department shows that anxious individuals more effectively flee from subtle dangers.

The study participants were challenged with a series of virtual reality threats characterized as slow that are impending or fast that are immediate.  Brain activity was assessed by real time MRI.  

The most anxious individuals did a better job of dodging slow threats while all participants performed about the same with fast threats.  If you tend to be anxious and take a lot of ribbing about your risk aversion from your friends and family, just tell them that you have a very special sense that someday may save you and also them from disaster.

Bowen J. Fung, Song Qi, Demis Hassabis, Nathaniel Daw & Dean Mobbs. Slow escape decisions are swayed by trait anxiety.  Nature Human Behaviour (2019) .  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-019-0595-5

#Anxiety #danger #risk #superpower