Newsbriefs: Probiotics; Depression; AD & Marijuana; Cognitive Decline

Probiotics May Benefit Your Blood Pressure

Probiotics are not only good for your digestive system, they may also be good for your blood pressure, according to a study published July 21, 2014 in the journal Hypertension. Researchers analyzed data from nine studies involving 543 adults with normal or elevated blood pressure levels in an effort to gauge the effects of consuming probiotic foods, such as yogurt, fermented and sour milk and cheese, or supplements that contain the beneficial bacteria. They found that participants who had consumed probiotics for more than two months had an average reduction in systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) of 3.6 mm Hg and an average reduction in diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) of 2.4 mm Hg. The effects were most obvious in participants whose blood pressure exceeded 130/85 mm Hg, and in those who consumed probiotic foods that contained more than one type of bacteria. The results suggest that “regular consumption of probiotics can be part of a healthy lifestyle to help reduce high blood pressure,” the study’s lead author said.

Study: Combined Treatment Best for Depression

A combination of talk therapy and antidepressants is most effective in lifting depression, suggests a study published online August 20, 2014 in JAMA Psychiatry. Researchers followed 452 adults with depression who are randomly assigned to either treatment with antidepressant medications alone, or antidepressant medication combined with cognitive therapy (a form of therapy that focuses on changing negative thinking patterns). Participants received treatment for six months after their depression lifted to ensure that they had recovered fully. Researchers found that the combination of therapy and medication was most effective overall, with 73 percent of participants reaching full recovery versus 63 percent of participants who received only medication. In participants with mild depression or chronic severe depression, the scientists found no difference between the two treatment modalities. But in participants with short-term severe depression, the combined treatment was associated with full recovery in 81 percent of participants, versus just 52 percent of those who received antidepressants only, and fewer serious events, such as suicide attempts, medical hospitalization, and psychiatric hospitalization.

Rx for Alzheimer’s Disease—Marijuana

Marijuana might be an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). That’s the conclusion of laboratory research reported online July 7, 2014 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease that found that in cellular experiments, extremely low doses of the marijuana compound delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, curtailed the production of toxic beta-amyloid proteins and reduced their tendency to form sticky clumps in the brain. The aggregation of beta-amyloid plaques is a hallmark of AD. THC was also associated with improvements in the functioning of the brain’s mitochondria, which help supply brain cells with energy and promote signal transmission among cells. The researchers hope to use their findings to develop an effective AD treatment in the future. However, “careful monitoring and control of drug levels in the blood and system are very important for therapeutic use, especially for a compound such as THC,” the study’s lead author cautioned, warning against use of marijuana by individuals to prevent AD before its safety for general use is established.

Cognitive Decline May Raise Stroke Risk

Many studies have shown that stroke can promote cognitive decline, but research published Aug. 7, 2014 in the journal Stroke is the first to suggest that cognitive decline might raise risk for stroke. Researchers analyzed data on more than 7,200 participants in a long-term study whose average age was about 72. The participants were tested every three years on cognition, memory, and other mental abilities, Those with the lowest test scores were 61 percent more likely to suffer a stroke than those with the highest scores. The study suggests that thinking and memory problems could help identify people at higher risk for stroke so that they can receive treatment. MMM

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