Yearly Archives: 2020


Colchicine Reduced CVD Risk

A randomized, controlled, double-blind trial showed that 0.5 mg of colchicine once daily significantly reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in patients with chronic coronary disease in Australia and the Netherlands. The trial included 5522 patients, >80% male, 35 to 82 years of age (2762 assigned to colchicine and 2760 to […]


Long Naps Risky

A meta-analysis suggested that long naps (more than 60 mins) were associated with a 30% greater risk of all-cause death and 34% higher likelihood of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to no napping. When night-time sleep was considered, long naps were linked with a higher risk of death only in those […]


State-of-the-Art for Saturated Fats and Health

A state-of-the-art review for saturated fats and health challenges current guideline recommendation to limit dietary saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake. Food sources of SFAs contain different proportions of various fatty acids in addition to other nutrients that can substantially influence their observed physiological and biologic effects. Most recent meta-analyses of […]


Taking BP-lowering Drugs at Night Beneficial

A multicenter, controlled, prospective endpoint trial confirmed that routinely taking blood pressure (BP)-lowering medications at bedtime, as opposed to upon waking, resulted in improved ambulatory BP control (significantly enhanced decrease in asleep BP and increased sleep-time relative BP decline, i.e. BP dipping) and markedly reduced major cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. […]


Aspirin Increases GI Bleeding Risk in the Elderly

Data extracted from a primary prevention trial showed that aspirin significantly increases overall gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding risk in the elderly. The trial was conducted throughout 2010–2017 (n=19 114) in community-dwelling persons aged ≥70 years with low-dose enteric-coated aspirin or placebo. Over a median follow-up of 4.7 years (88 389 person years), there […]


LDL-C Targets Called into Question

An analysis with critically reviewing the clinical outcomes of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of cholesterol reduction challenges the current approach to cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention through targeted reductions of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Drug treatment to reduce LDL-C to target levels (30% and 50% or more reduction for individuals […]


2020 Report for Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care:

Excessive alcohol consumption, traumatic brain injury, and air pollution have been added to the 2017 Lancet Commission’s list of nine potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia, including less education, hypertension, hearing impairment, smoking, obesity, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes, and low social contact. Together the 12 modifiable risk factors may account […]


Predictors of Brain Function in the Oldest-Old

A US longitudinal observational cohort study suggests that APOE*2 allele and lower pulse pressure predicts resistance to amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition in advanced aging. Of 100 participants, mean age at last cognitive evaluation was 92.0 years (range 86-100). Mean follow-up time from baseline to last measured Aβ status was 12.3 years […]


Plant Protein Linked to Lower Mortality

A US prospective observational cohort study revealed that higher plant protein intake was associated with reductions in risk of overall and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. The study included 237 036 men (57%, median ages 62.2) and 179 068 women (median age 62.0). Based on 6 009 748 person-years of observation, 77 614 deaths (18.7%; 49 297 […]


CBT on Par with Medication for Insomnia

A sequential multiple-assignment randomized trial concluded that behavioral therapy (BT) and zolpidem medication produced equivalent response and remission rates for insomnia. Adding a second treatment produced an added value for those whose insomnia failed to remit with initial therapies. The study included 211 adults (132 women; mean age, 45.6 years) […]