Health and people

Brain Gains for Older Adults Who Start Exercising

MONDAY, Nov. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Beginning an exercise program may help protect older adults’ brains or even reverse early mental decline, a small study suggests.

Researchers placed 34 inactive people, aged 61 to 88, on an exercise regimen. It included moderate-intensity walking on a treadmill four times a week for 12 weeks.

On average, heart/lung health improved about 8 percent over that time, the researchers found.

Brain scans also showed an increase in the thickness of the participants’ cortex, the outer layer of the brain that typically shrinks with Alzheimer’s disease. Those with the greatest improvements in physical fitness had the most growth in the cortex, the University of Maryland researchers found.

The thickening of the cortex occurred in both healthy people and those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an early stage of Alzheimer’s disease, the study showed.

The study was published recently in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society.

“Exercise may help to reverse neurodegeneration and the trend of brain shrinkage that we see in those with MCI and Alzheimer’s,” senior study author Dr. J. Carson Smith, an associate professor of kinesiology, said in a university news release.

“Many people think it is too late to intervene with exercise once a person shows symptoms of memory loss, but our data suggest that exercise may have a benefit in this early stage of cognitive decline,” Smith added.

The study can’t prove definitively that exercise led to the brain gains. However, previous studies have found that exercise can benefit other areas of older adults’ brains.

The authors of the new study said further research is needed to determine if moderate physical activity can delay or reverse mental decline and help people remain independent as they age.

More information

The U.S. National Institute on Aging discusses healthy brain aging.

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1YElHDh

Genes May Help Shield Seniors From Mental Decline: Study

MONDAY, Nov. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Humans have evolved to have gene variants that protect older adults from mental decline, new research suggests.

“We unexpectedly discovered that humans have evolved gene variants that can help protect the elderly from dementia,” study co-leader Dr. Ajit Varki, a professor of medicine and cellular and molecular medicine at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, said in a university news release.

“Such genes likely evolved to preserve valuable and wise grandmothers and other elders, as well as to delay or prevent the emergence of dependent individuals who could divert resources and effort away from the care of the young,” Varki added.

Among vertebrates, humans and certain whales are exceptions to the rule that individuals die when they are no longer able to reproduce, the study authors said. This means that older people can continue to pass down important knowledge and help with tasks such as caring for grandchildren.

Varki and colleagues found that levels of a CD33 gene variant that protects against Alzheimer’s are four times higher in humans than in chimpanzees. They also found that the APOE2 and APOE3 gene variants appear to have evolved to protect against dementia.

The study was published Nov. 30 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“When elderly people succumb to dementia, the community not only loses important sources of wisdom, accumulated knowledge and culture, but elders with even mild cognitive [mental] decline who have influential positions can harm their social groups by making flawed decisions,” study co-leader Pascal Gagneux, an associate professor pathology, said in the news release.

“Our study does not directly prove that these factors were involved in the selection of protective variants of CD33, APOE and other genes, but it is reasonable to speculate about the possibility. After all, inter-generational care of the young and information transfer is an important factor for the survival of younger kin in the group and across wider social networks or tribes,” he explained.

More information

The Alzheimer’s Association offers tips to maintain your brain health.

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1lqCoDx

Sugar-Free Sodas, Candy Can Still Damage Your Teeth

MONDAY, Nov. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Even sugar-free sodas, sports drinks and candy can damage your teeth, a new study warns.

Australian researchers tested 23 sugar-free and sugar-containing products, including soft drinks and sports drinks, and found that some with acidic additives and low pH levels (a measure of acidity) harm teeth, even if they are sugar-free.

“Many people are not aware that while reducing your sugar intake does reduce your risk of dental decay, the chemical mix of acids in some foods and drinks can cause the equally damaging condition of dental erosion,” said Eric Reynolds. He is laureate professor and CEO of the Oral Health Cooperative Research Center at Melbourne University.

Dental erosion occurs when acid dissolves the tooth’s hard tissues. “In its early stages erosion strips away the surface layers of tooth enamel. If it progresses to an advanced stage it can expose the soft pulp inside the tooth,” he explained in a university news release.

Reynolds and his colleagues found that most soft drinks and sports drinks caused dental enamel to soften by between 30 percent and 50 percent. Both sugar-free and sugar-containing soft drinks and flavored mineral waters caused measurable loss of the tooth surface.

Of the eight sports drinks tested, six caused loss of tooth enamel. The researchers also found that many sugar-free candies contain high levels of citric acid and can erode tooth enamel.

Just because something is sugar-free doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe for teeth, Reynolds said. The study highlights the need for better product labeling and consumer information to help people choose food and drinks that are safe for their teeth, he added.

Reynolds offered several tips to help you protect your teeth. Check product labels for acidic additives, especially citric acid and phosphoric acid. Drink more water (preferably fluoridated) and fewer soft drinks and sports drinks. And, finally, after consuming acidic food and drinks, rinse your mouth with water and wait an hour before brushing your teeth. Brushing immediately can remove the softened enamel, he said.

More information

The American Academy of Family Physicians outlines how to keep your teeth and mouth healthy.

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1HAY3mZ

Human Brains Aren’t Distinctly Male or Female, Study Says

By Randy Dotinga
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Nov. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — There’s no such thing as a distinctly male or female brain, new research suggests.

An analysis of more than 1,400 MRI scans suggests that biologically unmistakable sex differences don’t extend to the brain. Instead, the brain is home to a mix of masculine and feminine characteristics, the researchers found.

“This is the first study to look at the brain as a whole and ask whether brains are of two types. The answer is no,” said study lead author Daphna Joel, a psychologist and professor at Tel-Aviv University in Israel.

“Each person possesses a unique mosaic of characteristics: some more common in females compared to males, some more common in males compared to females, and some common in both,” Joel said.

The question has been debated throughout the ages: Are human brains as gender-specific as chromosomes and sexual organs are in most people? Or are things more complicated?

To gain more insight, Joel and colleagues analyzed MRI brain scans of 1,400 people. They found that the brains of males and females tended not to stand apart in terms of gray matter, white matter and connections inside the brain. (Gray matter refers to brain cells known as neurons; white matter connects neurons to each other.)

The findings revealed that “many more brains” included both traits that are more common in females and traits more common in men, Joel said.

The researchers also analyzed three previous studies of personality traits, actions and attitudes involving more than 5,500 people. Again, they found that it’s rare for people to be consistently masculine or feminine in the way they act. Instead, people tend to have a mix of male and female traits.

Still, Joel said the new study doesn’t address how your actions reflect your gender. “We did not deal at all with the questions where differences in brain and behavior come from — nature or nurture — nor did we attempt to link differences in brain structure to differences in behavior,” she said.

However, the findings suggest people shouldn’t be treated differently based on their sex, she said.

“For example, single-sex education is often advocated on the basis of the claim that such schools can specifically cater to ‘boy brains’ and ‘girl brains,'” she said.

“Our results undermine the entire concept of boy/girl brains. Who has a boy brain? The few boys who are consistently at the male end?” Joel said. “And if these boys have a ‘boy brain’ then what type of brain do the other boys have?”

In general, she added, any argument “that builds on the assumption that girls’ brains are like this and boys’ brains are like that — or that girls are like this and boys are like that — is in trouble.”

Dr. Meng-Chuan Lai, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto, agreed.

“Over the decades, scientists have already learned that most features of the brain and mind between male and female animals, including humans, are not categorically distinct,” Lai said. It’s akin to body height in humans, she said. “On average, males are taller, but there are many female individuals who are taller than male individuals.”

How does this new research fit in? “This paper strengthens this common scientific view,” said Lai, who wasn’t involved in the study.

The study is published in the Nov. 30 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

More information

For more about the brain, see the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1lqCriC

5 Lip Liner Mistakes You’re Probably Making

Getty Images

Lip liner has acquired a bad rap over the years, and for good reason: Use too dark of a color and you’ll look dated (enter ‘90s grunge flashbacks). Draw too far outside of your natural lip line and you’ll look about as natural as Kylie Jenner. When used correctly, though, a lip pencil can help you achieve the subtle fullness that makes your natural lips stand out that much more. “It adds definition by creating precise lines, works as primer to prevent feathering and creates the illusion of a plumper pout,” explains Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist Kayleen McAdams. Here, she shares the top mistakes liner-lovers make, plus her secrets for getting it right, every time.

Mistake: Choosing the wrong hue

To achieve the desired look, you have to choose your liner wisely. If you’re going for the illusion of bigger lips, choose a liner that is one shade darker than your lipstick. Blessed with a naturally plump kisser? Opt for a matching color. McAdams recommends MAC Cosmetics Lip Pencils ($17; nordstrom.com): “The shade range is wide and they have unbeatable staying power.”

Mistake: Lining lips before lipstick

Instead, apply a coat of lipstick first. “The color will help make the rim of your mouth more apparent, so you can go in and build up or define uneven edges,” McAdams says.

Mistake: Working too fast

“Don’t try and conquer the entire circumference of your mouth in one swoop,” McAdams says. Instead, she suggests using small, light-handed strokes. Start by defining the center of lips—cupid’s bow and bottom—then carefully work your way out toward the corners.

Mistake: Not blending enough

The last thing you want to see is a harsh line, especially as your lip color fades throughout the day. Buff the edges with a Q-tip to soften the look of the liner, then swipe on a final coat of lipstick and smooch lips together to blend.

Mistake: Skipping shine

For an extra boost, dab a creamy highlighter on the Cupid’s bow and the center of the bottom lip. “The subtle sheen will reflect light, making lips look shapely,” says McAdams. Try NARS Shadow Stick in Goddess ($28; sephora.com). “It’s meant for eyes, but it also works beautifully on the lips,” she confides.

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1XsFIzt

Minority Patients in ER Less Likely to Get Painkillers for Abdominal Pain

MONDAY, Nov. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Minority patients are much less likely than white patients to be given pain medications when they seek emergency department treatment for abdominal pain, a new study shows.

Minority patients were also more likely to have longer ER waiting and visit times and less likely to be admitted to the hospital, the study revealed.

“These findings add to the overwhelming evidence that racial/ethnic disparities not only exist, but are endemic in health care settings,” study co-author Dr. Adil Haider, director of the Center for Surgery and Public Health at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, said in a hospital news release.

“Particularly important is the fact that these differences in pain medication use were concentrated in hospitals that treated the largest percentages of minority patients and among those reporting the severest pain, indicating that hospital-level factors may play an important role in eliminating disparities” Haider explained.

Researchers reviewed information from more than 6,700 visits to ERs across the United States between 2006 and 2010. About two-thirds of the people in the study were white. Twenty percent of the patients were black, about 14 percent were Hispanic and 5 percent were another race, the study authors noted.

The researchers found that minority patients with new abdominal pain were 22 percent to 30 percent less likely than whites to receive any type of pain medication. They also found that minorities were 17 percent to 30 percent less likely to receive narcotic painkillers.

Overall, pain medications were given to 57 percent of whites. But, in minority patients, just 53 percent of Hispanics, 51 percent of blacks, and 47 percent of people in other racial/ethnic groups were given pain drugs, the study found.

The study is published in the December issue of the journal Medical Care.

“I believe that equality is the cornerstone of medicine, and that it is our responsibility as healthcare providers to address disparities head-on not just in pain management but in all aspects of care,” Haider concluded.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more about pain.

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1QQ3mSi

Doctor-Patient Relationship May Suffer When Technology Takes Over: Study

By Dennis Thompson
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Nov. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Doctors who rely heavily on computers while in the exam room may run the risk of harming their relationships with their patients, a new study suggests.

Patients are less likely to rate their care as excellent when clinicians spend a lot of time on the computer when they are seeing a patient, said study author Dr. Neda Ratanawongsa. She is an associate professor at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), School of Medicine.

The study authors think patients might feel slighted if their doctor spends more time focused on a computer screen than looking over their ailments or listening to their concerns.

“It may be that they aren’t getting the attention or connecting with their provider in a way that they used to, or that they still do with other providers,” Ratanawongsa said.

Federal health care reform has placed great emphasis on the use of electronic health records, making computers a “third wheel in the exam room” that’s “been insinuated into the doctor-patient relationship,” said Dr. Wanda Filer, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Doctors frequently spend much of an office visit at the keyboard, inputting information into a health record rather than giving the patient a once-over, said Filer, who is a family physician in York, Penn.

“We’ve taken this technology and we’ve embraced it, but I think a lot of us don’t believe it’s ready for prime-time,” she said. “We’ve got this interloper in the exam room, but it’s not there to help with the medical side as much as it’s there to check boxes for insurers.”

The two-year UCSF study involved 71 encounters among 47 patients and 39 clinicians at a safety net clinic, which serves people with less access to health care.

About 83 percent of patients whose doctors barely bothered with the computer rated their care as excellent in follow-up surveys, the study showed.

On the other hand, only 48 percent of patients whose doctors engaged in heavy computer use felt they’d received excellent care, according to the research published online Nov. 30 in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

Doctors who spend a lot of time looking at the computer may not be as focused on their patient and can miss crucial information provided during the encounter, Ratanawongsa said.

“If you’re not paying attention to a person, you can miss very important cues, especially nonverbal cues like the expression on their face or their body language,” she said.

That could be more of a problem at safety-net clinics, where patients are less likely to understand basic health information and more likely to face a language barrier, said Richard Frankel, a professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine, in Indianapolis.

“One way of knowing if a person is following along and understanding what you’re saying is by observing their nonverbal behavior,” said Frankel, who wrote an editorial that accompanied the study.

As federal requirements for electronic health records increase, the demands they place on doctors will increase, Ratanawongsa added. “If anything, things will intensify with the new records,” she said.

Filer said she makes a point of not using the computer during an examination. “I prefer to come back and document at a nurse’s station, and dedicate my time in the exam room to the patient,” she explained.

But Frankel said that approach might be counter-productive. “We know the most accurate and complete information is obtained at the point of care, rather than an hour later or a day later,” he said.

To help keep their focus on the patient, doctors might consider bringing a scribe into the exam room to take notes during the office visit, Ratanawongsa said.

Doctors also might turn the computer screen so that the patient can see it as well, Frankel said. That way, the computer could become a tool that helps a physician educate their patient on their own health status. Patients looking over a doctor’s shoulder also might be able to catch any errors or typos in their health record.

Patients who feel they’re being ignored thanks to the computer should say something to their doctor, Frankel added. “If you don’t speak up, the behavior will never get corrected,” he said.

Finally, Filer believes that more pressure needs to be placed on federal officials and computer software vendors, to make electronic health records more of a help than a hindrance in the exam room.

“We need the next generation of electronic health records, and we need them to be designed so they’re a tool and not a means to an end,” she said. “It needs to be a support, and not a hindrance, to the doctor-patient relationship.”

More information

For more on electronic health records, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1QQ3mSb

Dangerous ‘Kissing Bug’ Spreads to More Than Half of U.S.

kissing-bug

A dangerous insect known as the “kissing bug” has crawled its way through more than half of the U.S., health officials said.

The blood-sucking bugs that usually feed on the faces of their victims have been reported in 28 states, mostly in the South, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The kissing bug recently made its way to Georgia, Alabama and California, although health officials said the insect has been around the U.S. since the 1850s.

The insect, also called the triatomine bug, resembles a cockroach and has been known to carry a parasite that causes Chagas disease, which can be fatal if left untreated, the CDC said. There are currently about 300,000 cases of Chagas in the U.S., although most of those people were infected in Latin America, according to the agency.

It’s rare to contract Chagas from the kissing bug and it takes more than just a single bite, CDC spokeswoman Amy Rowland told TIME in an email. According to Rowland, transmission only occurs when the bug’s feces gets rubbed into a break in the skin or comes in contact with the eye.

The bugs are typically found outdoors but they can tend to hide under beds and mattresses, according to the CDC.

This article originally appeared on Time.com.

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1LJ658c

These Period Tracker Apps Will Make Monitoring Your Cycle So Much Easier

Photo: Getty Images

Thanks to technology, the days of marking upcoming periods with a red dot in our calendars are officially behind us. As the New York Times recently noted, there are now more than 200 period tracking apps available in the App store. These downloads (many of them free) take the guesswork out of your menstrual cycle by monitoring your periods, notifying you when you’re most fertile, and alerting you to impending PMS. Some even offer additional perks like access to exclusive online forums, health tips on what to expect at different times of the month, and personalized horoscopes that are synced to your cycle. I downloaded about a dozen of the most popular apps available to see which work best. Here, my top four picks.

Clue

clue-period-tracker-app

How it works: Of all the period tracker apps I downloaded, Clue was by far my favorite and the one I’ll likely continue to use. Not only does it have a sleek, easy-to-use interface, but it also gets bonus points in my book for not having tons of flowers in the design (seriously, almost all the other apps were covered in pink and purple daisies).

To get started, you’ll be prompted to answer a few basic questions about your health (date of birth, date of your last period, weight, height, etc.). After you complete the questionnaire, you can begin monitoring your current cycle to track your upcoming period, fertile window, and when you might experience PMS.

If you use the app only occasionally, you’ll still be able to get a quick picture of your cycle. But if you log on daily and are diligent about recording your “data” (how many hours of sleep you got the night before, whether or not you exercised, etc.), Clue is able to convert that information into insights—so you’ll eventually have a better idea of how your cycle affects the way you feel at different times of the month.

Download it: Free on iTunes and Google Play

Eve

eve-period-tracker-app

How it works: Like Clue, Eve asks you to complete a brief questionnaire about your health when you first download the app. Eve also closely resembles Clue with its cycle chart (that similarly lets you toggle between a circle or calendar view). There’s also a “Feed” tab where you can log how you’re feeling each day.

What really differentiates Eve from other period tracker apps, though, is its active community. There, you can connect with other users in a variety of different forums like “Love & Sex” and “Sexplanations.” (Note: while online communities are a great resource for sharing experiences and getting ideas, we wouldn’t recommend taking health advice straight from message boards like these—if you have a medical question, always be sure to consult your doctor).

Download it: Free on iTunes

P.C.

pc-period-tracker-app

How it works: Try not to let the slightly vague name and magenta flower logo deter you: the P.C. app has an extremely user-friendly interface and loads of handy tools. I like the quick-view homepage (above, left) that gives you a top-line overview of where you’re at in your cycle, as well as the “Reports” where you can track your health more closely. If you’re trying to conceive, the “Intercourse” report (above, right) would be particularly helpful for monitoring your most fertile days.

Download it: Free on iTunes and Google Play

Mood Horoscope and Period Tracker

horoscope-period-tracker-app

How it works: Finally, if you’re the kind of person who loves reading a daily horoscope, this app is for you. It’s definitely more horoscope- than period-tracker focused, but provides personalized horoscopes based on where you’re at in your cycle, making it a fun complement to the more cycle-focused apps on this list.

Download it: Free on iTunes

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1NlKcBn

Fitness in Youth Can Pay Off Decades Later: Study

MONDAY, Nov. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Hitting the gym or playing field in your 20s may bring health benefits that last a lifetime, new research suggests.

The study of nearly 5,000 young adults found that those with good heart/lung fitness had a lower risk of heart disease and death later in life.

One cardiologist who reviewed the study wasn’t surprised by the finding.

“Despite all the remarkable medical and technological advances in the treatment of heart disease, it remains clear that the best prescription for adults is to be active and routinely exercise,” said Dr. Kevin Marzo, chief of cardiology at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y.

The new study was led by Dr. Joao Lima of Johns Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore and focused on people who were between 18 and 30 at the start of the study. All of them underwent treadmill exercise tests to assess their cardiorespiratory fitness.

Over a median follow-up of nearly 27 years, 273 (5.6 percent) of the participants died and 193 (4 percent) had heart disease-related problems. Overall, 73 of the deaths were heart-related.

Fitness levels in youth seemed to matter, Lima’s team reported. The treadmill tests the young adults took included as many as nine two-minute stages of gradually increasing difficulty.

According to the researchers, for each additional minute the participants were able to stay on the treadmill, they had a 15 percent lower risk of death over the course of the study, and a 12 percent lower risk of heart-related death, specifically.

Some of the participants had another treadmill test seven years into the study. In that group, a one-minute reduction in being able to remain on the treadmill was associated with a 21 percent increased risk of death and a 20 percent increased risk of heart-related death, the team said.

The bottom line, according to the researchers, is that “efforts to evaluate and improve fitness in early adulthood may affect long-term health at the earliest stages” of heart disease.

Dr. Sonia Henry directs echocardiography at North Shore-LIJ Health System in New Hyde Park, N.Y. She said the findings highlight “the importance of promoting and mandating exercise and fitness early on.”

The study was published online Nov. 30 in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

More information

The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has more about physical activity and your heart.

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1Ss9NbK

After Concussion Symptoms Fade, Slowed Blood Flow in Brain May Persist

By Amy Norton
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Nov. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Young football players who suffer a concussion can show signs of reduced blood flow in the brain, even after their symptoms have subsided, a new, preliminary study suggests.

Using an advanced form of MRI, researchers found that concussed football players typically showed lower blood flow in the brain eight days after the injury. That was despite the fact that their symptoms had usually gone away by that point.

However, the study involved just 18 athletes and it’s too early to know what the findings might mean, experts said.

“Does the decreased blood flow indicate a window of cerebral [brain] vulnerability? Nobody has shown that yet,” said Kenneth Podell, co-director of the Methodist Concussion Center in Houston.

According to Podell, who was not involved in the study, it’s remarkable that the athletes’ brain blood flow actually declined as their concussion symptoms improved, since that’s counterintuitive on the surface.

But if the symptoms have gone away, Podell said, it’s not clear that the blood flow change would be something to worry about — especially if it’s short-lived.

Study leader Dr. Yang Wang, an associate professor of radiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, called the findings “interesting,” but just a first step.

“We don’t have enough data to tell parents or doctors what to do at this point,” Wang said.

He was to present the findings Monday at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, in Chicago. Research presented at meetings should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

The study comes at a time of growing concern over the possible long-term effects of concussions — especially repeated concussions — in young athletes. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 248,000 U.S. children and teens land in the ER each year because of a concussion suffered during sports or other physical activities, like bike riding.

Concussions can cause a range of symptoms: a headache that gradually worsens, nausea, dizziness, confusion and irritability are among them.

Of the sports that carry a concussion risk, football has gotten the most scrutiny — partly because of high-profile cases in which professional football players suffered long-term damage attributed to repeated blows to the head.

Just last week, the family of football great Frank Gifford announced that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) prior to his death at the age of 84 in August. CTE, which is linked to repeated hits to the head and concussions, has been detected in many ex-NFL players in recent years. It can only be diagnosed after death, but typical symptoms include depression, aggressive behavior, impulse control issues and loss of memory.

But, Podell pointed out, no one knows whether kids and teenagers who play football suffer any lasting brain damage from knocks to the head, including those that cause a concussion.

Still, Podell said, young athletes’ concussions must be taken seriously: They should be removed from the field and not allowed to return to activity — physical or mental — until their symptoms have resolved and a doctor gives the OK.

The problem, both Podell and Wang said, is that doctors have to rely on imperfect measures — including whatever a young athlete says about their symptoms. And kids who are in a rush to get back in the game might not tell the truth.

An objective biological marker — whether it’s measured with a brain scan or a blood test — is the “holy grail” of concussion research, Podell said. That could give doctors a more precise way to diagnose concussion, and to gauge whether a patient has recovered.

However, no one knows whether the MRI technique used in this study could be the answer. Wang said much more research is needed.

The current findings are based on 18 football players, with an average age of 18, who’d suffered a concussion. Each athlete had their symptoms evaluated and underwent brain scans one day after the injury, and again one week later. The researchers used an advanced MRI method that can measure blood flow in the brain.

On average, the study found, the athletes’ symptoms had faded by the second evaluation. But their brain blood flow had actually declined. No such change was seen in a comparison group of 19 uninjured players.

According to Podell, larger, longer-term studies are needed to know how long the reduced blood flow lasts — and, even more importantly, what it means.

“Right now,” he said, “the best road back from concussion is a gradual return to physical and mental activities. Parents should seek help from a professional with expertise in concussion.”

But Podell also cautioned against getting overly alarmed by the concussion risk that comes with sports.

“Sports, including contact sports, have a lot of value,” he said. “And keeping kids out of contact sports won’t eliminate their concussion risk.”

Falls and car crashes are actually the leading causes of hospitalization for concussion among children and teenagers, according to the CDC.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on sports-related concussions.

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1QPRiQY