Electrode hope for Parkinson's
Electrically stimulating part of the brain may help reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Japanese surgeons selected five Parkinson's sufferers and put tiny electrodes in an area of their brains that helps control movement.
Patients with the implant had fewer falls and could walk easier.
(Neurosurgery 1999;45:41-49)
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from Zest South Pacific Division health newsletter September 3, 1999
Mental illness linked to crime
A US Government survey has shown that one in six prisoners in American jails have had mental illness.
Compared to other prisoners, the survey showed that these prisoners were more likely to have committed violent crime (53% compared to 46%).
They were also more likely to have committed their crime while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (59% compared to 51%).
Inmates with mental problems were twice as likely to have suffered physical or sexual abuse.
And more than twice as many of them had spent time sleeping in the streets in their year before their crime (20% compared to 9%).
The researchers concluded that to reduce America's crime rate mental patients should receive more care.
(Study by the US Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs)
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from Zest South Pacific Division health newsletter September 3, 1999
Education reduces
risk of dementia
Giving children a better education may reduce their risk of dementia in old age.
American research found that older people who were well educated have more spinal fluid.
For every year of education, patients average 1.8 mililitres more spinal fluid.
A lower level of fluid fluid is a known risk factor for dementia.
(Neurology 1999;53:189-196)
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from Zest South Pacific Division health newsletter September 3, 1999
Two Alzheimer's
breakthroughs
Researchers have found a gene which may cause the memory loss ailment, Alzheimer's disease.
The gene is called apoE-4. When a person gets this gene from both parents, they are far more likely to have mid-life memory loss.
This is considered an early sign of Alzheimer's.
Meantime, researchers have developed a vaccine which prevents a disease like Alzheimer's in mice.
If the results can be duplicated in humans, it is expected to have "a major impact on potential treatment of Alzheimer's disease."
(Neurology 1999;53:201-207; Nature 1999;400:173-177)
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from Zest South Pacific Division health newsletter September 3, 1999
Water cures depression
Drinking more water may be the magic cure for many people's depression. The US
Army wanted to test the limits for soldiers in desert warfare. They cut down
the water intake of a group of soldiers -- and suddenly they had a group of
very depressed men on their hands. When they returned them to normal amounts
of water, their depression went away. So if you or a friend are depressed,
trying drinking much more water. It could be a lot cheaper than drugs.
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PCW May 14, 1999
Share your ideas on Mental Health
Please share with us your knowledge of Mental Health.
Type or paste your message in the frame below. You can expand the size of
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Entered by Phil Ward - Oct 26, 1998
This forum is presented on this website to encourage
people to realise that they are individually responsible for their own
good health. Obviously, not all material presented in this forum is medically
sound. But if what is written here challenges and clarifies your thinking, it
has done its job.