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Physician, Writer and Bird Photographer. Translating Neuroscience Research Into Better Care for Brain Disorders.
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- December 18, 2013
- 10:07 AM
- 917 views
A Screening Tool For Autism Spectrum in Adults
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Progress in the early diagnosis of autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is being made for young children.However, there has been less attention to the diagnosis of autism in adults.Many adults with autism and ASD passed through childhood before much was known about these disorders.This means many adults with ASD may still be not be diagnosed and are not being referred for potentially beneficial services.A recent study from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden supports the validity of a new s........ Read more »
Eriksson JM, Andersen LMJ, Bejerot S. (2013) RAADS-14 Screen: validity of a screening tool for autism spectrum disorder in an adult psychiatric population. Molecular Autism. DOI: 10.1186/2040-2392-4-49
- December 16, 2013
- 10:14 AM
- 1,034 views
Genetic Factors Contribute to Being Skinny
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
An increasing body of research supports a genetic contribution to obesity.However, relatively few genetic studies of the opposite or lean phenotype have been done.The lean phenotype is important to study because being very underweight is linked to mortality risk and several clinical disorders including anorexia nervosa.Typically, I review neuroscience research manuscripts from other scientists in Brain Posts.Today I want to summarize some of my own research published recently in the journal PLOS........ Read more »
Yates WR, Johnson C, McKee P, Cannon-Albright LA. (2013) Genetic Analysis of Low BMI Phenotype in the Utah Population Database. PLOS One. info:/10.1371/journal.pone.0080287
- December 12, 2013
- 11:56 AM
- 1,170 views
Regular Exercise Linked to Lower Dementia Risk in Men
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Tiger Woods Practices at 2010 PGA ChampionshipThere has been quite a bit of news coverage of the recent release of a study of the effects of a healthy lifestyle.This study led by Peter Elwood examined the rates of chronic diseases and dementia in a cohort of 2,235 men assessed in 1979 in the city of Caerphilly, United Kingdom.The authors identified five healthy lifestyle variables in the original assessment including smoking status, BMI, fruit and vegetable consumption, regular exercise and reas........ Read more »
Peter Elwood, Julieta Galante, Janet Pickering,Stephen Palmer,Antony Bayer,Yoav Ben-Shlomo,Marcus Longley,John Gallacher. (2013) Healthy Lifestyles Reduce the Incidence of Chronic Diseases and Dementia: Evidence from the Caerphilly Cohort Study. PLOS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081877
- December 10, 2013
- 11:42 AM
- 1,006 views
Football Concussion, CTE and Brain Pathology
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
The relationship between football-related head injury and brain disorders is an important research topic.Case reports of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) continue to emerge among retired NFL football players.In a previous post, I have summarized a Mayo Clinic study finding limited evidence for increased brain injury in a cohort of high school football players.In another related post, I summarized research demonstrating college football players with sport-related head trauma had evidence of........ Read more »
Hazrati LN, Tartaglia MC, Diamandis P, Davis KD, Green RE, Wennberg R, Wong JC, Ezerins L, & Tator CH. (2013) Absence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in retired football players with multiple concussions and neurological symptomatology. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 222. PMID: 23745112
- December 5, 2013
- 11:39 AM
- 833 views
Low Testosterone and Diabetes Risk
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Several years ago I published a research study that showing testosterone augmentation improved metabolic syndrome and insulin sensitivity in men with type 2 diabetes.Testosterone appears to influence weight including abdominal fat deposition. The mechanism for this relationship is unclear. Additionally, the relationship between testosterone and diabetes risk is unclear.A recent study from Taiwan has provided some additional insight into the role of low testosterone and diabetes risk.Ho and colle........ Read more »
Chen-Hsun Ho,1,2 Hong-Jeng Yu,2 Chih-Yuan Wang,3 Fu-Shan Jaw,4 Ju-Ton Hsieh,2 Wan-Chung Liao,5 Yeong-Shiau Pu,2 and Shih-Ping Liu2,*. (2013) Prediabetes Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Testosterone Deficiency, Independent of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome. PLoS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074173
- December 3, 2013
- 11:22 AM
- 801 views
Testosterone Replacement Linked to Weight Loss
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
The hormone testosterone has significant effects on brain function and structure.In the next few posts, I will review several recent research studies related to testosterone.Testosterone deficiency or hypogonadism is more common in obese compared to non-obese.The mechanism for this relationship is unclear. However, a recent study has outlined the effect of testosterone replacement on body weight.AA Yassin and G Doros examined the longitudinal changes in weight, waist circumference and body mass ........ Read more »
Yassin A, & Doros G. (2013) Testosterone therapy in hypogonadal men results in sustained and clinically meaningful weight loss. Clinical obesity, 3(3-4), 73-83. PMID: 24163704
Vigen R, O'Donnell CI, Barón AE, Grunwald GK, Maddox TM, Bradley SM, Barqawi A, Woning G, Wierman ME, Plomondon ME.... (2013) Association of testosterone therapy with mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke in men with low testosterone levels. JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association, 310(17), 1829-36. PMID: 24193080
- December 2, 2013
- 01:02 PM
- 901 views
Adoption Linked to Higher Adult Alcohol and Drug Abuse
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Adoption research can provide a unique perspective for understanding genetic and environmental contributions to brain disorders.In the adoption process, biological (genetic) influences occur outside the biological environment.A variety of adoption studies show genetic influences for risk of childhood and adult brain and behavior disorders. Adoptees with a biological parent with alcohol or drug abuse have higher rates of substance disorders even when raised in adoptive family environments without........ Read more »
Yoon G, Westermeyer J, Warwick M, & Kuskowski MA. (2012) Substance use disorders and adoption: findings from a national sample. PloS one, 7(11). PMID: 23166740
- November 27, 2013
- 11:08 AM
- 743 views
Tools for Measurement of Alzheimer's Disease
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Brain Hippocampus Highlighted in GreenThere are a multitude of tools that provide measurements of cognitive and physical function.Choosing the best tools to assess and monitor Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia is an important clinical task.A research team from the Netherlands recently reviewed the assessment of cognitive and physical assessment in older adults with dementia.Their goal was to provide a recommended set of tests that would improve consensus and aid in the research in ........ Read more »
Bossers WJ, van der Woude LH, Boersma F, Scherder EJ, & van Heuvelen MJ. (2012) Recommended measures for the assessment of cognitive and physical performance in older patients with dementia: a systematic review. Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders extra, 2(1), 589-609. PMID: 23341825
- November 26, 2013
- 11:55 AM
- 795 views
Dietary Nuts, Cancer, Heart Disease and Death
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
There is a growing body of research linking dietary nut consumption with reduced risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.A recent large study adds to our understanding of this link.Ying Bao and colleagues published the results of a large epidemiological study using women participating in the Nurse's Health Study and men participating in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.Approximately 120,000 participants in these two studies were followed over a period of 30 years.During the course of t........ Read more »
Bao Y, Han J, Hu FB, Giovannucci EL, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC, & Fuchs CS. (2013) Association of nut consumption with total and cause-specific mortality. The New England journal of medicine, 369(21), 2001-11. PMID: 24256379
- November 25, 2013
- 11:30 AM
- 1,025 views
Brain Adaption in Developmental Mathematics Disorder
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Disability in learning mathematics is a common condition affecting about 5% of the population.I have previously posted a research review on the topic of developmental mathematics disorder, also known as dyscalculia here.A recent imaging study sheds some light on some of the brain correlates of developmental mathematics disorder.Cappelleti and Price from the University College of London studied a group of eleven individuals with developmental mathematics disorder.Subjects in the study were adults........ Read more »
Cappelletti M, & Price CJ. (2013) Residual number processing in dyscalculia. NeuroImage. Clinical, 18-28. PMID: 24266008
- November 20, 2013
- 11:20 AM
- 830 views
Preterm Birth: Exploring the Link to Low Socioeconomic Status
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Previous posts in this series looked at the brain disorders linked to preterm birth including ADHD, autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and learning disability. There is a strong incentive for public health prevention interventions to reduce the number and severity of preterm birth.These efforts require better understanding of the specific risk factors and mechanisms for preterm labor and birth.Known risk factors for preterm birth include:Previous preterm birthFirst pregnancyLow socioec........ Read more »
Räisänen S, Gissler M, Saari J, Kramer M, & Heinonen S. (2013) Contribution of risk factors to extremely, very and moderately preterm births - register-based analysis of 1,390,742 singleton births. PloS one, 8(4). PMID: 23577142
- November 19, 2013
- 11:06 AM
- 739 views
Maternal Influenza A (H1N1) As A Risk Factor for Preterm Birth
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
This is the fourth in a series of posts examining recent research related to preterm birth.Preterm birth appears to significantly increase for a variety of brain disorders. Reducing the number of preterm births is a promising prevention strategy for childhood and adult brain disorders.Multiple types of infection appear to increase risk for preterm birth. A recent study examined the effect of maternal H1N1 influenza infection on preterm birth risk.Doyle and colleagues conducted a linkage study us........ Read more »
Doyle TJ, Goodin K, & Hamilton JJ. (2013) Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes among Pregnant Women with 2009 Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) Illness in Florida, 2009-2010: A Population-Based Cohort Study. PloS one, 8(10). PMID: 24205364
- November 14, 2013
- 12:00 PM
- 1,459 views
Preterm Birth and Risk of Adult Bipolar Disorder
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
In the previous two posts, I reviewed recent studies of childhood outcome following preterm birth.These posts highlighted the increased risk for childhood anxiety, ADHD and autism as well as increased risk for learning disability and cerebral palsy.Preterm birth appears related to the risk for adult brain disorders including schizophrenia.A recent study from Sweden provides some additional insight into the common risk for preterm birth to influence rates for a variety of adult brain disorders.No........ Read more »
Nosarti C, Reichenberg A, Murray RM, Cnattingius S, Lambe MP, Yin L, MacCabe J, Rifkin L, & Hultman CM. (2012) Preterm birth and psychiatric disorders in young adult life. Archives of general psychiatry, 69(6). PMID: 22660967
- November 13, 2013
- 12:29 PM
- 844 views
Preterm Birth and Childhood Brain Disorders II
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
This is the second in a series of three posts examining the role of preterm birth in later child and adult brain disorders.In a previous post, I reviewed a recent study showing evidence on increased risk for anxiety disorder, ADHD and autism in preterm birth children by age 7 years of age.In this post I want to review and comment on a large French study of outcome in a cohort of very preterm children.Marrett and colleagues summarized the key elements in the design of their research:Sample: All p........ Read more »
Marret S, Marchand-Martin L, Picaud JC, Hascoët JM, Arnaud C, Rozé JC, Truffert P, Larroque B, Kaminski M, Ancel PY.... (2013) Brain injury in very preterm children and neurosensory and cognitive disabilities during childhood: the EPIPAGE cohort study. PloS one, 8(5). PMID: 23658763
- November 12, 2013
- 11:14 AM
- 1,167 views
Preterm Birth and Risk of Childhood Brain Disorders I
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
This will be the first in a series of posts on preterm birth. Preterm birth may not seem on the surface important in brain disorders.However, an increasing body of research is showing the importance of preterm birth in later development of childhood and adult brain disorders.An important contribution to this area of research is an Australian study using structured psychiatric assessment in a series of children at age seven who had been born prematurely.The key elements of this study design inclu........ Read more »
Treyvaud K, Ure A, Doyle LW, Lee KJ, Rogers CE, Kidokoro H, Inder TE, & Anderson PJ. (2013) Psychiatric outcomes at age seven for very preterm children: rates and predictors. Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines, 54(7), 772-9. PMID: 23347471
- November 1, 2013
- 12:19 PM
- 789 views
Speech Markers of Alzheimer's Disease Progression
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Sensitive, reliable and inexpensive markers of disease progression in Alzheimer's disease are needed.It is known that language and speech domains are impaired with Alzeimer's disease.What is not known is whether speech performance can be used in the diagnosis and monitoring of progression in Alzheimer's disease (AD).A recent case series published in the journal Brain supports the potential for expanded use of speech assessment in AD.Ahmed and colleagues reported their findings in a group of 15 p........ Read more »
Ahmed S, Haigh AM, de Jager CA, & Garrard P. (2013) Connected speech as a marker of disease progression in autopsy-proven Alzheimer's disease. Brain : a journal of neurology. PMID: 24142144
- October 31, 2013
- 10:34 AM
- 865 views
Genetic Testing for Alzheimer's Disease Risk
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Molecular model image of Apolipoprotein ERisk for Alzheimer's disease and other brain disorders is a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors.A recent research mansuscript published novel candidate genes for Alzheimer's disease risk.Some of these new genes are likely to advance our understanding of the genetics and molecular biology of the disease.Alzheimer's disease has been know to be linked to the Apolipoprotein E gene for quite some time. Individuals with one or two........ Read more »
Jean-Charles Lambert et al. (2013) Meta-analysis of 74,046 individuals identifies 11 new susceptibility loci for Alzheimer's disease. Nature Genetics. DOI: 10.1038/ng.2802
Kim J et al. (2009) The role of apolipoprotein E in Alzheimer's disease. Neuron. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2009.06.026
- October 30, 2013
- 11:26 AM
- 918 views
The Genetics of Educational Attainment
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
I ran across an interesting genetic study examining the potential genetic contributions to educational attainment. There have been quite a few genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of intelligence quotient (IQ).... Read more »
Rietveld CA, Medland SE, Derringer J, Yang J, Esko T, Martin NW, Westra HJ, Shakhbazov K, Abdellaoui A, Agrawal A.... (2013) GWAS of 126,559 individuals identifies genetic variants associated with educational attainment. Science (New York, N.Y.), 340(6139), 1467-71. PMID: 23722424
- October 28, 2013
- 01:38 PM
- 824 views
Epidemiology of Concussion Sequelae in High School Footballers
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
The recent PBS Frontline series on concussion sequelae in the NFL is an important advance in the discussion on this important topic. Significant research is needed to better understand the risk of football-related brain injury.An additional important issue on this topic related to the interaction between sport-related brain trauma and developmental stage. Football training and full-contact games begin during elementary school in many parts of the U.S. So this is not just an NFL........ Read more »
Savica R, Parisi JE, Wold LE, Josephs KA, & Ahlskog JE. (2012) High school football and risk of neurodegeneration: a community-based study. Mayo Clinic proceedings. Mayo Clinic, 87(4), 335-40. PMID: 22469346
- October 22, 2013
- 11:34 AM
- 847 views
Does Ice Use Improve Baseball Pitching Performance?
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
If you watch the 2013 World Series that opens tomorrow night, you are likely to see pitchers using ice on their pitching arms between innings.The use of ice on key muscles between use seems counterintuitive. Isn't it best to key a muscloskeletal region warm? After all, we "warm-up" before using muscles all the time in a variety of activities.I had thought that icing was designed primarily to reduce muscle stiffness and soreness during the recover period.However, I recently ran into a........ Read more »
Bishop SH, Herron R, Ryan G, Katica C, & Bishop P. (2013) THE EFFECT OF INTERMITTENT ARM AND SHOULDER COOLING ON BASEBALL PITCHING VELOCITY. Journal of strength and conditioning research / National Strength . PMID: 24077378
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