For Aging Women Sleep Disturbance Accompanies Mental Decline

July 26, 2007

As part of an osteoporosis study, Columbia University researchers tracked sleep patterns and cognitive function in women over the age of 65. Cognitive decline tended to coincide with sleep disturbance. But which causes which? Too soon to say.

These were healthy women living in the community. Most similar research on sleep disorders and dementia has focused on nursing-home populations

Refine results into clinically useful categories:

Patient Education Materials
Only future research will tell whether sleep loss causes cognitive loss, or vice versa. Meanwhile, what information can you offer patients about strategies to avoid cognitive decline?

Alternative-Complementary Medicine
Patients concerned about their mental function may want to know about herbal remedies for insomnia.

No Comments » | Dementia | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by Cranky Aged Mama

Most Herbal Med Users Ignore Even Positive Evidence

May 24, 2007

A study based on the annual National Health Interview Survey shows that most people pay no attention to clinical studies about herbal supplements they are taking. This is especially true among women and people in that large and aging population of “yuppie” baby boomers—non-Hispanic whites younger than 60—as well as (go figure) college graduates.

Is this an opportunity in disguise? Another recent survey suggests that after age 60, at least, many people want to know more about herbs and supplements.

SearchMedica organizes the results into clinically useful categories to speed your search for relevant information:

Evidence-based Medicine and Meta-Analysis
A quick look at this search category shows plenty of rigorous studies about each of the herbs mentioned in the most recent study: garlic, ginseng, kava-kava, soy, and St. John’s wort.

Clinical Trials for Patients
There are also plenty of clinical trials recruiting people to test herbal medicines for this and that. Perhaps this would be a wake-up call for some patients.

No Comments » | Alternative Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by Cranky Aged Mama