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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
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Signs Of MS Can Appear 15 Years Before Diagnosis, Says Study—And Many Women Miss These Early Clues
It's easy to assume that you'd know when you're dealing with a disease as serious as multiple sclerosis. But it can take years for people with MS to get a proper diagnosis. Now, new research suggests that subtle symptoms of the disease may show up even 15 years before someone gets diagnosed with MS. In case you're not familiar with it, MS (multiple sclerosis) is a chronic condition where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the protective covering of nerve fibers. People can experience a range of symptoms with MS, including vision problems, muscle weakness, tingling in the arms and legs, and muscle spasms, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Some people with MS will eventually develop partial or complete paralysis, per NINDS. The findings of the new JAMA Network Open study are shocking, and raise a lot of questions about how people can tell if their symptoms are due to something minor or a condition as serious as MS. Here's what neurologists want you to know. Meet the experts: Clifford Segil, DO, is a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA; Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, is the medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University. What did the study find? For the study, researchers analyzed the health records of about 2,000 people in British Columbia. They discovered that people who were eventually diagnosed with MS started interacting with the healthcare system more frequently 15 years before they first had symptoms that were later identified as being due to MS. Every person's health journey was different, but the researchers were able to pick up general trends. People who were eventually diagnosed with MS started seeing general practitioners more frequently 15 years before they were diagnosed for symptoms like fatigue, pain, dizziness, and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. In the 12 years before their diagnosis, the patients saw a psychiatrist more often. Eight to nine years before a diagnosis, they had more frequent visits to neurologists and eye doctors, which may have been linked to blurry vision or eye pain. Three to five years before they were diagnosed, they visited the ER and had radiology visits more often. A year before their diagnosis, the patients saw physicians more often across a range of specialties, including neurology, emergency medicine, and radiology. This suggests 'that MS may have started earlier than previously thought,' the researchers wrote in the conclusion. Why might MS be so hard to detect this early? MS can look slightly different for everyone, and there is a wide range of symptoms, points out Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University. MS is an autoimmune disease, and it can cause inflammation throughout the body, he explains. 'With excess inflammation, the body may feel generally dysfunctional,' Sachdev says. Meaning, you can feel lousy overall or in a lot of areas, making it hard for doctors (and you) to pin down what could be behind this. People with MS can also struggle with fatigue, which can be a tough symptom to tie to any one condition, Sachdev says. Symptoms like pain, mood changes, and fatigue tend to be linked more to an MS diagnosis after it's made, because they can be due to a range of health conditions, says Clifford Segil, DO, a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. He says he tends to discover these symptoms when he looks back at patient's health history after an MS diagnosis. What should you do if you're having these symptoms? Doctors say it's a stretch to suggest that you should assume you have MS if you're only dealing with fatigue or mood changes. But Sachdev says you also shouldn't brush off symptoms that just don't quit. 'Health is deeply personal. To manage it, you need to begin with a provider that connects with you,' he says. 'Ideally, you would begin with a single observation or concern that is bothersome. Focusing on this issue with that provider is the place to start.' But Segil stresses the importance of seeing a specialist if you're dealing with several symptoms you really can't explain. 'Whenever you have a constellation of symptoms which are without a clear medical diagnosis, seeing a neurologist may be wise,' he says. They can help take a careful assessment of your health history, along with ordering testing, to see what could be going on. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
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Ozempic May Help Prevent This Medical Emergency, According To New Research
You've probably heard by now that Ozempic may do much more than *just* help you lose weight and manage your blood sugar. Along with lowering the risk of Alzheimer's disease, tamping down PCOS symptoms, and combating a slew of other serious health conditions, three new studies suggest that the medication could help prevent and treat stroke. It may seem like a random link, but doctors say it actually makes a lot of sense. We tapped two neurologists and a doctor who prescribes Ozempic for more details. Meet the experts: Clifford Segil, DO, is a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA; Amit Sachdev, MD, is the medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University; Mir Ali, MD, is medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA What do the studies say? All three studies were recently presented at the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery's annual meeting, and they have a common theme. The first was published in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery. For the study, researchers analyzed data from a global database and a database from the University of Wisconsin, looking at more than 2 million people who had a stroke. Of those, nearly 44,000 were also on Ozempic. The researchers found that people who took Ozempic were less likely to die from stroke, and the differences were huge. In the global database, 5.26 percent of Ozempic users initially died from their strokes, compared to 21.6 percent of those who didn't take the medication. The University of Wisconsin group had similar results: 5.26 percent of Ozempic users died from stroke compared to 26.6 percent of those who didn't take the medication. The next study was also published in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery. It looked at ER records for people who had a stroke and those who were likely using Ozempic. (The researchers looked at medical codes that usually suggest a patient is on Ozempic, but couldn't definitively say they were taking the medication.) The researchers found that people who likely used Ozempic had both a lower risk of stroke and a lower risk of dying from any cause compared to those who didn't take the medication. For the final study, researchers analyzed patient records from six months and 12 months after people had a brain hemorrhage, and a year and two years after having a stroke. The researchers discovered that people who used a GLP-1 receptor agonist medication like Ozempic had a lower risk of cognitive side effects, seizures, future brain bleeds, and death after a brain hemorrhage and stroke. Why might Ozempic help prevent or treat stroke? All of these studies found a link between people who took Ozempic and a lower risk of having stroke or serious complications from a stroke. But it's important to point out that they didn't prove taking Ozempic will have this effect. That said, there are a few reasons why Ozempic may have this impact. It could simply be tied to weight, says Amit Sachdev, MD, medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University. 'Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular health,' he says. 'Reducing excess weight is expected to have a clear and positive impact on overall health, including cardiovascular health.' Clifford Segil, DO, a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, agrees. 'Lowering a person's weight lowers a person's fats circulating through their blood or their lipid level,' he explains. 'High lipid levels, or fats, circulating through your blood can cause clogged pipes in your brain or an ischemic stroke.' But Ozempic and other GLP-1 receptor agonists also help improve a range of health conditions that are linked with stroke, points out Mir Ali, MD, medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA. 'It's hard to say if this is due to improvement in blood sugar control, weight loss, or other health conditions,' he says. More ways to lower your risk of stroke Taking Ozempic isn't for everyone, and doctors stress that we're not quite there yet with actually recommending the medication to lower your risk of stroke. If you want to lower your risk of stroke, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends taking these steps: Focus on your diet. That means eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, and minimizing foods high in saturated fats, trans fat, sodium, and cholesterol. Try to maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or having obesity increases the risk of stroke, Dr. Ali points out. Move regularly. Getting at least 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity physical activity can help. Don't smoke. Smoking is a big risk factor for stroke. Limit . Men should have no more than two drinks a day, while women should have no more than one, per the CDC. However, doctors generally recommend having even less. Do your best to manage underlying health conditions. That includes cholesterol, diabetes, blood pressure, and heart disease—all of which are risk factors for stroke. Of course, if you have a family history of stroke or personal risk factors, it's important to talk to a healthcare professional. They can offer personalized guidance to help keep you healthy. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Experts Say This Common Hobby Will Boost Brain Power At Any Age. Here's Why.
A new study found that playing an instrument could be super beneficial for your brain health. The results suggest the brain processes of older folks who play instruments actually act similar to those seen in younger people. Two doctors break down the study and what it means for you. Hint: It's never too late! If eating whole foods, getting good sleep, regular exercise are already in rotation in your longevity arsenal, consider taking up a new instrument. Research that was recently published in the journal PLOS Biology found that the brains of older musicians actually work a lot like younger people's brains. So, should you pull out your dusty old recorder from elementary school to reap all those longevity benefits? Well, neurologists say there's definitely credence to the link between music and good brain health as you age. Here's why that is. Meet the experts: Clifford Segil, DO, is a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA; Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, is the medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University. What did the study find? The study, which was published in PLOS Biology, studied the brains of 74 people with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure their brain activity. Some of the participants were older musicians, others were older folks who didn't play an instrument, and the rest were young non-musicians. Each was asked to identify syllables that were masked by sounds, mimicking a noisy environment. (Why? Well, as we get older, it's usually harder to perceive and process information, including hearing things in loud areas.) The researchers discovered that the brains of older musicians were better able to process speech in the noisy situations compared to older non-musicians. Specifically, their brains mimicked those of younger non-musicians in how they perceived noise. The researchers concluded that people who played instruments had more 'cognitive reserve' that allowed them to better process sounds in a noisy environment. Why is playing an instrument associated with better brain health? The answer to this is not entirely clear. 'In general, advanced education is associated with a diminished risk of decline with memory later in life,' says Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University. 'We do know that to learn new languages and skills, robust new connections between brain regions must be established. We think that this density of connections help make a brain resilient.' It also takes a lot of brain power to create songs, points out Clifford Segil, DO, a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica. 'The processes in the brain that allow musicians to make music with mixed harmonies, rhythms, and sounds is complex and requires multiple brain region activations to do,' he says. By regularly flexing that skill, you ultimately build up a stronger brain, he explains. If I don't play an instrument, is it too late to start? Nope. Neurologists say you can pick up an instrument any time and still reap the benefits. 'It is never too late to start playing an instrument or singing if we are talking about brain health,' Dr. Segil says. 'The ability to translate a sheet of music into something requires activation of the visual parts or your brain, the auditory parts of the brain, and the association areas of your brain. These can be trained at age 13 or 73 and are healthy your brain at either age.' By the way, Dr. Segil says you don't have to be Taylor Swift or Beyonce to make this flex work for you. "The beautiful brain health reality is playing out of tune or off still will likely increase brain functional connectivity," he says. "Your brain won't know if you are carrying the tune well or bad and will still benefit from making music." What are the other cognitive benefits of playing an instrument? There are actually a ton of cognitive benefits to playing an instrument that go well beyond the longevity-related ones. 'Playing an instrument requires eye hand coordination, eye and ear coordination, and higher processing when adding rhythms to this process,' Dr. Segil says. This means that multiple parts of your brain need to be activated at once to make music—and that's healthy for your brain, he says. Plus, the ability to read music is similar to the ability to read in another language, per Dr. Segil, and reading music or a second language "requires different brain pathway activation than reading in your primary language and therefore is good for brain health.' But of course, Dr. Sachdev warns that you shouldn't force yourself to learn to play an instrument if it's not your thing. 'The most important thing to remember is that you want to pursue it to support your mental health and wellness,' he says. 'It needs to be fun.' Dr. Sachdev points out that you can also just do your brain a solid by socializing with people. And if you happen to do a hobby together with them, even better. 'Pursue your passions, new or old, with a group of like-minded folks,' he says. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Study Finds That A Blood Test For Diabetes Might Actually Predict Alzheimer's Progression
A new study suggests a simple blood test could tell who is at higher risk for rapid cognitive decline with Alzheimer's. The study found that people with higher insulin resistance were up to four times more likely to have rapid cognitive decline. Here's what to know about the test and how to get one. Historically, it has been quite difficult for doctors to predict how fast patients will experience cognitive decline with Alzheimer's disease, especially since the neurodegenerative disease impacts people differently based on a slew of factors. But new research has discovered that a specific blood test may help doctors get more answers, which could, in theory, help them respond more quickly with appropriate treatment and providing patients with more information. (But of course, experts first need to gather more data and perform further studies on the test.) The test measures insulin resistance, a condition where the body's cells don't respond properly to insulin, a hormone that helps escort blood sugar into cells for energy. The latest study finds a link between insulin resistance and Alzheimer's disease progression, helping doctors and patients glean more information about what may be in store. Here's what the study found, plus what neurologists want you to know. Meet the experts: Clifford Segil, DO, is a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA; Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, is the medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University. The study, which was presented at the European Academy of Neurology Congress 2025, analyzed health records of 315 people without diabetes who had cognitive deficits. Of those, 200 had confirmed cases of Alzheimer's disease. All of the patients had their insulin resistance checked using something called the Triglyceride-Glucose (TyG) index, a way to check insulin resistance, based on fasting triglyceride (a type of fat in the blood) and blood sugar levels, at the start of the study and three years later. The researchers discovered that patients in the mild cognitive impairment group with higher TyG levels had their cognitive health deteriorate a lot faster than those who were lower on the TyG index. Ultimately, the researchers found that people with higher TyG levels were up to four times more likely to have rapid cognitive decline compared to those who were lower on the scale. For starters, this type of blood test isn't actually new. We're just discovering new ways it can be used. The TyG index is already used to look for insulin resistance in people, so technically, you could get this test now if your doctor thought that it was medically appropriate. Just know that it's usually used in the context of diabetes or when your doctor suspects you might have diabetes. The test appears to be pretty accurate in predicting rapid mental decline. The researchers found that people with high TyG ended up losing more than 2.5 points on the Mini Mental State Examination per year, which is a standardized test used to look at cognitive function in older adults. In Alzheimer's disease, insulin resistance is thought to interfere with how the brain uses glucose (blood sugar). It's also believed to promote the build-up of amyloid, or proteins deposits in the brain that are linked with Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, insulin resistance can disrupt the blood-brain barrier and fuel inflammation in the brain. All of these are linked with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease. 'Insulin resistance often reflects features of overall health," says Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University, pointing out that a major contributor to insulin resistance is higher bodyweight. 'If the overall health of the body is not optimal, then the brain will not be well supported and can be less resilient.' But the link between insulin resistance and Alzheimer's disease is still being explored, says Clifford Segil, DO, a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. So, while it's clear that it seems to play some role, it's hard to tell what it's specifically doing as it relates to brain health. Your doctor can order one of these tests for you. However, neurologists say there are better options right now if you're concerned about Alzheimer's disease development and are looking for answers. 'Some tests that are more specific for Alzheimer's are serum amyloid and tau levels,' Dr. Sachdev sys. 'Tests that help predict risk for the anti-amyloid therapies used in Alzheimer's is the APO-E genotype. These studies are useful today in understand risk of dementia, type of dementia, and risk of treatment.' Dr. Segil says that doctors are 'extremely cautious' about using blood tests like TyG to determine if someone is at risk for developing dementia in the first place. 'There remains an extremely high number of false positive results in patients receiving various blood tests being marketed to determine if you are at risk for getting dementia,' he says. However, this specific study is exploring the test to see how quickly someone who already has cognitive decline will progress—and that usage is still being explored. All of this doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't get a TyG test. Just know that your doctor is more likely to use it while checking you for early signs of diabetes versus Alzheimer's disease right now. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Research Says This Daily Practice Could Stave Off Memory Loss. Here's What Doctors Say.
New research suggests practicing having a positive mindset could influence your memory down the road. There was a small link between participants who reported higher levels of wellbeing and those who performed better on memory tests. Here's what you need to know about mental health and its ties to your brain health. There is nothing worse than being told to "stay positive" after a rough day at the office, bad doctor's visit, or messy breakup. Yet, while it can be incredibly difficult to stay positive during difficult times in your life (and, of course, anxiety and depression are very, very real), new research suggests that striving to stay positive could influence your memory down the road. Of course, memory is complex, and it's impossible to stay upbeat and slap a smile on all the time, but these findings definitely provide a good reminder to focus on the good in your life. Because when you're able to proactively change your mindset, you might be better off down the road! Here's exactly what the study found, plus, what doctors want you to keep in mind when taking this information into consideration. Meet the experts: Clifford Segil, DO, a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA; Thea Gallagher, PsyD, a clinical assistant professor at NYU Langone Health and a cohost of the "Mind in View" podcast The study, which was published in the journal Aging & Mental Health, analyzed data from nearly 11,000 women and men who participated in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, a long-term research study on adults over the age of 50. During the 16 year study, the participants answered questions on their wellbeing and memory every two years. Wellbeing questions included things like, 'I can do the things that I want to do,' and 'I feel that life is full of opportunities,' while the memory tests challenged the participants to recall 10 words immediately and then with a delay. The researchers found a small link between people who said they had higher levels of wellbeing and those who performed better on the memory tests. They also found that the link was still there, even after the researchers adjusted for participants who had depression. 'Higher levels of wellbeing are associated with better memory function over 16 years,' the researchers wrote in the conclusion. 'Better wellbeing may be a protective factor in retaining memory function from middle to later adulthood.' The researchers defined 'psychological wellbeing' as the balance between psychological, social, and physical challenges a person faces, along with their available resources to meet those challenges. The researchers refer to psychological wellbeing as a 'multifaceted construct' of emotional health (like happiness and confidence) and effective functioning (control over your life and your sense of purpose). The study didn't dive into this exact question (i.e. figuring out why they saw these results with participants), but experts certainly have a few theories. 'Feeling happy and smiling has been shown to increase brain neurotransmitter levels like serotonin,' says Clifford Segil, DO, a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. (In case you're not familiar with it, serotonin is considered a feel-good hormone, and it plays a role in regulating your mood and boosting feelings of happiness.) 'Feeling well is healthy and good for your brain health,' Dr. Segil says. 'Many patients with memory loss have lost the ability to feel happiness and wellbeing, which is bad for their brain health.' Good psychological wellbeing may also serve as a 'protective factor' for your brain, says Thea Gallagher, PsyD, a clinical assistant professor at NYU Langone Health and a cohost of the "Mind in View" podcast. 'Depression and anxiety can add stress to your life, and that can impact your memory and how well your brain works,' she says. So, it makes sense that being free from anxiety and depression have the opposite effect. We've already established that your mental health could have an impact on your brain health, but prior research already shows it has a major effect on your physical health. 'We have a lot of data to support the concept that stress, anxiety, and depression can take years off of your life,' Gallagher says. 'It impacts our whole health and our physical health.' On the flip side, thinking positively about life may be more helpful for life in the long-run, she says. And yes, your attitude can have an impact on your health outcomes, Dr. Segil adds. 'Fear about having a chronic neurological condition like memory loss often causes worsening memory loss,' he says. Again, some amount of stress and anxiety in life is normal. But trying your best to look at the glass as half-full, it may end up doing your health—and your memory—a solid in the long-term. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
