Correlation Games

Study reveals what happens when depression, anxiety coincide with minor injury

Their work, published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies, revealed that someone who arrives in the emergency department needing help for a minor injury and who also expresses symptoms of depression and anxiety at that time will likely experience poorer work performance and increased health-related time in bed 12 months out.

Risk of long-term disability in older adults who visit the ED

Older adults who go to the emergency department (ED) for an illness or injury are at increased risk for disability and decline in physical abilities up to six months later, according to a study by Yale researchers.

So, you think maybe Hospitals cause long term disability?


Maybe by addressing acute problems and never even acknowledging existing chronic illnesses?

Maybe?

The Not-So-Fine Points of Progressive Cell Loss

SenatorTom Cotton:

"So, last year, my dad, 70 years old, retired, applied for the first time for a self-carry permit. Why did he do that, I asked. He said somebody has to protect us if ISIS comes over here to cut our heads off."

Sheesh, old men who can't see or hear clearly truly believe they are going to save us all...

Hearing Loss and the paranoia is causes is predictable by that age.
This needs to be recognized as a symptom of sensory impairment, not taken literally.

Epidemiology 101

The Mystery of Urban Psychosis
      Why are paranoia and schizophrenia more common in cities?

What is ... because they are caused by microbes and infection and those are more easily transmitted in crowded conditions, Alex?

Correlation Games

Midlife Health Effects of Cannabis Use Limited to Gum Disease?

Long-term use of cannabis is associated with a significant increase in the risk of developing gum disease but does not appear to be linked to adverse outcomes on other measures of heath, new data suggest.
Madeline H. Meier, PhD, Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, and colleagues found that regular use of cannabis during adulthood was associated with periodontal disease at age 38 years.
However, unlike long-term tobacco use, cannabis was not linked to significant or relevant changes in measures of lung function, systemic inflammation, cardiovascular function, and metabolic health.

Although they don't come out and say it causes periodontitis... they do say it is a long term complication.

It seems more logical to me that people with chronic periodontitis are just more likely to put PAIN REDUCING substances in their mouths.   Like cannabis.

Or Cigarettes .  or Alcohol.   or Hot Sauce.  or Mint.  or Chocolate.   or Gluten.  or SUGAR.

Cannabis is the only one that actually makes the mouth tissues heal better though.

Correlation Games

Why Do Older Fathers Carry Higher Autism Risk?

The mutations in sperm that increase with age are calculated to only cause less than 20% of autism.

They give some scenarios that increase that a little, but they all show this is not primarily a genetic problem.

All the data indicates autism is an infectious/immune problem.
And older people are more likely to have acquired chronic infections.
And infections are contagious FFS!

If subclinically sick old men have transferred certain microbes like flu or strep to their baby-mommies, that would  easily explain this outcome.

Yo Psychs

Six alarming health trends every woman needs to know

More American women are committing suicide. The suicide mortality rate among U.S. women grew 35 percent between 2001 and 2013.

Yeah, ummmm, not to put too fine a point on this- but more women are seeing shrinks and ingesting your dubious drugs than ever before...  maybe that has something to do with it...

Offhand Hypothesis

Whatsamatter with people in Arizona?

Dehydration of the nose and mouth.
In the winter it's really dry outside, but in the summer when it's humid, everyone stays inside with their air conditioning on, which really chaps your skin.
All our old white heads are crispy on the inside. No wonder we're cranky.

Christina will have to figure out Florida.  I'm not going there.

Brain Eating Zombies of the Day

Daniel Freeman and Jason Freeman

Cannabis really can trigger paranoia

The largest ever study of the effects of the main psychoactive component of cannabis suggests that it can cause paranoia in vulnerable individuals....

Well, thanks for your outstanding documentation of the obvious,  here's some other already existing data I found-

Marijuana can cause auditory processing problems.  (you did notice that)

Hearing loss seems to precede paranoia. (that makes sense and explains a whole lot of Arizona now doesn't it?)

Schizophrenics have more ear infections than controls. 

Marijuana also seems to exacerbate psychosis in individuals "familially predisposed" to schizophrenia.

Tobacco smoke has been shown to damage to the cilia that protect the Eustachian tube from infection.

That took me a couple hours.  And I am pretty stoned...
Maybe you "experts" should do a little background and follow-up research in your subject area instead of alarming everyone with simplistic conclusions from your superficial and superfluous experiment.

Viva la Vagus!

How your gut feeling shapes fear

In the behavioural studies, the researchers determined that the rats were less wary of open spaces and bright lights compared with controlled rats with an intact vagus nerve. “The innate response to fear appears to be influenced significantly by signals sent from the stomach to the brain,” says Meyer.

Nevertheless, the loss of their gut instinct did not make the rats completely fearless: the situation for learned fear behaviour looked different. In a conditioning experiment, the rats learned to link a neutral acoustic stimulus – a sound – to an unpleasant experience. Here, the signal path between the stomach and brain appeared to play no role, with the test animals learning the association as well as the control animals. If, however, the researchers switched from a negative to a neutral stimulus, the rats without gut instinct required significantly longer to associate the sound with the new, neutral situation. This also fits with the results of a recently published study conducted by other researchers, which found that stimulation of the vagus nerve facilitates relearning, says Meyer.

abstract


High fat, low carbohydrate diet limit fear and aggression in göttingen minipigs.      Free PMC Article

High fat, low carbohydrate diets have become popular, as short-term studies show that such diets are effective for reducing body weight, and lowering the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. There is growing evidence from both humans and other animals that diet affects behaviour and intake of fat has been linked, positively and negatively, with traits such as exploration, social interaction, anxiety and fear. Animal models with high translational value can help provide relevant and important information in elucidating potential effects of high fat, low carbohydrate diets on human behaviour. Twenty four young, male Göttingen minipigs were fed either a high fat/cholesterol, low carbohydrate diet or a low fat, high carbohydrate/sucrose diet in contrast to a standard low fat, high carbohydrate minipig diet. Spontaneous behaviour was observed through video recordings of home pens and test-related behaviours were recorded during tests involving animal-human contact and reaction towards a novel object. We showed that the minipigs fed a high fat/cholesterol, low carbohydrate diet were less aggressive, showed more non-agonistic social contact and had fewer and less severe skin lesions and were less fearful of a novel object than minipigs fed low fat, high carbohydrate diets. These results found in a porcine model could have important implications for general health and wellbeing of humans and show the potential for using dietary manipulations to reduce aggression in human society.

Ingestion of Lactobacillus strain regulates emotional behavior and central GABA receptor expression in a mouse via the vagus nerve.    Free PMC Article

There is increasing, but largely indirect, evidence pointing to an effect of commensal gut microbiota on the central nervous system (CNS). However, it is unknown whether lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus could have a direct effect on neurotransmitter receptors in the CNS in normal, healthy animals. GABA is the main CNS inhibitory neurotransmitter and is significantly involved in regulating many physiological and psychological processes. Alterations in central GABA receptor expression are implicated in the pathogenesis of anxiety and depression, which are highly comorbid with functional bowel disorders. In this work, we show that chronic treatment with L. rhamnosus (JB-1) induced region-dependent alterations in GABA(B1b) mRNA in the brain with increases in cortical regions (cingulate and prelimbic) and concomitant reductions in expression in the hippocampus, amygdala, and locus coeruleus, in comparison with control-fed mice. In addition, L. rhamnosus (JB-1) reduced GABA(Aα2) mRNA expression in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, but increased GABA(Aα2) in the hippocampus. Importantly, L. rhamnosus (JB-1) reduced stress-induced corticosterone and anxiety- and depression-related behavior. Moreover, the neurochemical and behavioral effects were not found in vagotomized mice, identifying the vagus as a major modulatory constitutive communication pathway between the bacteria exposed to the gut and the brain. Together, these findings highlight the important role of bacteria in the bidirectional communication of the gut-brain axis and suggest that certain organisms may prove to be useful therapeutic adjuncts in stress-related disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Paternal Endowments

This study seems to be getting a lot of press-

Huge study links older dads with kids' psych woes

Compared with kids of the youngest dads, those fathered by men at age 45 and older faced risks almost 25 times greater for bipolar disorder; 13 times greater for ADHD; more than three times greater for autism; almost three times greater for suicide attempts; and about two times greater for schizophrenia and substance abuse.

They speculate a lot about mutations in sperm, but I'm skeptical of that.
Older fathers probably have higher incidence and more severe chronic illnesses that they transmit to their children.
The most obvious way to test my infection hypothesis is to see if there is a difference between present vs. absent fathers.

Brain Eating Zombies of the Day

Oh, you can be sure the pharmas are salivating over this...  a simple way to find kids who "need" pre-emptive antidepressant therapy...  cha ching!

Saliva test may identify boys at greatest risk of depression

Ian Goodyer of the Cambridge University's Department of Psychiatry said teenage boys with symptoms of depression and raised levels of the stress hormone cortisol were up to 14 times more likely to develop major depression than those without these traits.
...The researcher team collected samples of saliva from hundreds of teenagers and measured the levels of cortisol, as well as self-reported information on symptoms of depression. The researchers divide the data of the teenagers into one of four groups depending on their cortisol levels and symptoms of depression.

It has been known since 1958 that infection and bacteremia raise cortisol levels.  They should have checked those kids mouths and blood as soon as they found high levels.   Not wait for them to get clinically depressed...   sheesh.

Correlation Games

Earlier depression treatment prevents heart attacks, strokes, study shows

Sugary foods linked to fatal heart disease

Antidepressants improve glycemic control

Ummmm No

Caffeine use disorder: A widespread health problem that needs more attention

A recent study coauthored by American University psychology professor Laura Juliano indicates that more people are dependent on caffeine to the point that they suffer withdrawal symptoms and are unable to reduce caffeine consumption even if they have another condition that may be impacted by caffeine—such as a pregnancy, a heart condition, or a bleeding disorder. 
These symptoms combined are a condition called "Caffeine Use Disorder."

That is a glucose metabolism problem, not a caffeine addiction.   Caffeine reduces insulin resistance, that's why people drink it.
Stop making up illnesses and doing bullshit research and try lowering those people's carbohydrate intake instead.

Brain Eating Zombie of the Day

NPR.
See the pro-carbohydrate bias.

Chowing Down On Meat, Dairy Alters Gut Bacteria A Lot, And Quickly 

Looks like Harvard University scientists have given us another reason to walk past the cheese platter at holiday parties and reach for the carrot sticks instead:
Switching to a diet packed with meat and cheese — and very few carbohydrates — alters the trillions of microbes living in the gut, scientists Wednesday in the journal Nature.
The change happens quickly. Within two days, the types of microbes thriving in the gut shuffle around. And there are signs that some of these shifts might not be so good for your gut: One type of bacterium that flourishes under the meat-rich diet has been linked to inflammation and intestinal diseases in mice.
...
In particular, microbes that "love bile" — the Bilophila — started to dominate the volunteers' guts during the animal-based diet. Bile helps the stomach digest fats. So people make more bile when their diet is rich in meat and dairy fats.
A study last year found that blooms of Bilophila cause inflammation and colitis in mice.

Ummm, no it didn't.
If you actually read the damn study-  you will see that the mice were bred to produce colitis symptoms.   
They are deficient in IL-10, an immune molecule.
Those Il-10 deficient mice got colitis from a high fat diet and Bilophila bacteria overgrowth.
Normal mice DID NOT.

Brain Eating Zombie of the Day

 Kathryn Orzech, Ph.D

Lack of Sleep in Teens Linked to Higher Risk of Illness

"We showed that there are short-term outcomes, like more acute illness among shorter-sleeping adolescents, that don't require waiting months, years or decades to show up," Orzech continued. "Yes, poor sleep is linked to increased cardiovascular disease, to high cholesterol, to obesity, to depression, etc., but for a teenager, staying healthy for the dance next week, or the game on Thursday, may be more important. This message from this study is clear: Sleep more, and more regularly, get sick less."

Ummmm, No.    Correlation does not imply causation.  Even if it is chronological.
Who gave you a PhD?

Disturbed sleep IS A SYMPTOM of subclinical illness.

Try the reverse configuration-  get sick less, sleep better.

Not so Happy Hour

Symptoms of Parkinson's disease linked to fungus

The scientists discovered that the volatile organic compound 1-octen-3-ol, otherwise known as mushroom alcohol, can cause movement disorders in flies, similar to those observed in the presence of pesticides, such as paraquat and rotenone. Further, they discovered that it attacked two genes that deal with dopamine, degenerating the neurons and causing the Parkinson's-like symptoms.

Many, many fungi produce this compound and they grow on wheat and nuts and in dirt and the damp corners of your house.

1-octen-3-ol is also a mosquito attractant.

Beer Consumption Increases Human Attractiveness to Malaria Mosquitoes

Higher levels of exhaled breath (as measured with a CO2 analyser) were not associated with higher attractiveness and beer consumption did not affect CO2 expiration rate. We postulate that the metabolism of alcohol following beer consumption induces changes in breath and odour markers (i.e. increases the production of kairomones such as 1-octen-3-ol) that increases attractiveness to Anopheles gambiae.

Yeah, that just figures.   Beer and nuts.   My father's favorite things.   He can barely keep the liquid in the glass or swallow the damn peanuts, but will never give them up.

Update- the other person I know with tremors eats peanut butter every day.

Or Maybe Not

A Gene May Cause Impulsive Behavior During Bad Economic Times

DRD2 is a gene for the D2 dopamine receptor.
You wanna know what else affects that and causes an increased stress response?  Strep Infections. 
And you know what gets sidelined in bad economic times?   Non Emergency Medical Care.

Yes, Yes, No.

Tired, Moody and Pregnant? Exercise May Be the Answer

Exercise may improve the mood of pregnant women and help to reduce levels of fatigue reports new research published in Psychology & Health The study, by Anca Gaston and Harry Prapavessis at the University of Western Ontario, examined whether a four week exercise intervention programme would result in improvements in the psychological well-being of previously inactive pregnant women. The results were clear, with participants reporting significant improvements in their mood during the programme. They also saw reduced levels of fatigue, suggesting that pregnant women should be encouraged to engage in regular exercise to improve both psychological and physical well-being.

This also strongly suggests that this is a glucose metabolism problem.
Pregnant women produce more insulin, which definitely affects moods and causes fatigue.

Brain Eating Zombie of the Day

Dr Peter Jonason
Study finds night owls more likely to be psychopaths

Dr Peter Jonason, from the UWS School of Social Sciences and Psychology, assessed over 250 people's tendency to be a morning- or evening-type person to discover whether this was linked to the 'Dark Triad' of personality traits. The results, published in Personality and Individual Differences found students who were awake in the twilight hours displayed greater anti-social tendencies than those who went to bed earlier. "Those who scored highly on the Dark Triad traits are, like many other predators such as lions and scorpions, creatures of the night," he says.

You know who else are creatures of the night?   Frakkin Insomniacs.  Geniuses.   And artists.  And musicians.  And writers.  And scientists.  And computer geeks.  And soldiers.  And nurses.  And ambulance drivers.  The opposite of predators.
And you know who does seem to universally have the Dark Triad traits?   Psychs.  Righteous and imperious and exploiting the most vulnerable of us all.

This observation has been obvious since the dawn of civilization.
Your urge to identify and magnify the importance of correlations is a symptom.
Heal Thyself, Maniac.

Real Quiz

High-Fat Diet May Increase Alzheimer's Risk

Participants were randomly assigned to follow a high saturated fat, high glycemic index diet or a low saturated fat, low glycemic index diet for four weeks. Both groups ate the same number of total calories. Samples of cerebral spinal fluid were collected at the beginning and end of the study through a lumbar puncture.
After four weeks, those on the high saturated fat diet saw an increase in LD amyloid-beta levels, while those on the low saturated fat diet saw a decrease in LD amyloid-beta.

Please explain what is wrong with the experimental design and why this study should be soundly ignored.