Premature CVD Linked to Worse Midlife Brain Health

A prospective US cohort study indicated that premature cardiovascular disease (CVD before 60 years) is associated with worse midlife cognition and white matter health, which is not entirely driven by stroke/TIA and even independent of CVD risk factors. The study included 3,146 participants, who were 18-30 years at baseline (1985-86, […]


CBT Efficacy for Depression More Durable Than Pharmacotherapies

A comprehensive meta-analysis concluded that cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is effective for depression across different formats, ages, target groups, and settings, and as effective as pharmacotherapies at the short term, but more effective at the longer term. The analysis included 409 trials (518 comparisons) with 52,702 patients. CBT had moderate […]


Antihypertensives Stimulate Type 2 and 4 Angiotensin II Receptors Linked to Lower Dementia Risk

A US cohort study suggested that initiation of medications for high blood pressure that stimulate vs inhibit type 2 and 4 angiotensin II receptors may result in a lower risk of incident dementia. The study included 57 773 patients aged 65 years or older with incident high blood pressure from January […]


Troponin and Natriuretic Peptide Change with Intensive BP Control

A US study showed that intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) lowering increased hs-cTnT (high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T), mediated by reduced kidney filtration; and decreased NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide), mediated by the drop in SBP. The observed changes in hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP levels with intensive SBP lowering were associated with […]


Micronutrient Supplementation and CVD Risk

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled intervention trials of micronutrients on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and clinical events concluded that some but not all micronutrients may be beneficial. The analysis identified a total of 884 randomized controlled intervention trials evaluating 27 types of micronutrients among 883,627 participants (4,895,544 person-years). […]


No Survival Benefit for Invasive Management of Stable CAD

An interim report of a US randomized trial in patients with stable coronary disease and moderate or severe ischemia concluded that there was no difference in all-cause mortality for an initial invasive strategy compared with an initial conservative strategy, with lower risk of cardiovascular mortality but higher risk of non-cardiovascular […]