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Dementia Gender Disparities and the Health Risks of 'Clear' Vapes · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

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  Welcome to another episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  I'm your host, Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow, and today we're diving into some intriguing findings about dementia and its
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  differing impact on men and women.
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  This is a critical topic as dementia affects millions worldwide, and understanding these
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  differences can guide more effective care and support.
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  A recent study, which is the largest of its kind, has shed light on how dementia progresses
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  differently in men compared to women.
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  The study, conducted by Dr.
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  Jay Lusk and his colleagues at the University of North Carolina, analyzed data from over 5.7
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  million Medicare patients over an eight-year period.
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  Their findings were published in JAMA Neurology, and they provide significant
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  insights into the gender disparities in dementia outcomes.
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  The researchers discovered that men have higher mortality and hospitalization rates after a
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  dementia diagnosis when compared to women, even after accounting for age and comorbidities.
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  Specifically, the crude one-year mortality rate for men was 27.2 percent, compared to 21.8
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  percent for women.
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  This indicates a substantial difference in survival outcomes post-diagnosis.
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  Moreover, the study showed that men were more likely to use healthcare services such as
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  hospice care, neuroimaging, and hospitalizations for neurodegenerative
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  diseases.
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  These findings suggest that the disease course in men may be more aggressive or that there may
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  be differences in how men and women access or are provided care.
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  Dr.
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  Lusk highlighted that although more women are diagnosed with dementia, men tend to experience
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  worse outcomes after their diagnosis.
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  This could be due to a variety of factors, including biological differences.
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  For instance, the researchers speculated that the presence of a second X chromosome or
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  lifetime exposure to hormones like estradiol might provide some protective effects for women
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  against certain types of dementia or ischemic vascular damage.
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  It's important to note that while the study provides valuable insights, it also has
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  limitations.
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  The research focused on Medicare beneficiaries in the United States, so the findings may not
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  be applicable to other countries or healthcare systems.
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  Furthermore, the analysis was based on diagnosis codes and claims data, which can
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  sometimes be inaccurate or misclassified.
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  Despite these limitations, the study offers a crucial perspective on how gender differences
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  influence dementia outcomes.
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  Understanding these patterns can help in developing targeted interventions and support
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  systems that consider the unique needs of men and women living with dementia.
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  Turning our attention now to a topic that's been making waves in the vaping
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  community—"clear" vapes.
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  These are marketed as a cleaner alternative to traditional flavored e-cigarettes, but recent
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  findings suggest they may actually have more severe health effects than other types of
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  vapes.
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  According to an observational cohort study published in the Journal of the American Heart
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  Association, "clear" e-cigarettes have been linked to disproportionately greater
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  cardiovascular effects.
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  The study, which is part of the Cardiovascular Injury due to Tobacco Products 2.0 study, found
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  that smokers of "clear" e-cigarettes experienced significantly greater increases in
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  blood pressure, heart rate, and mean arterial pressure compared to non-users and those using
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  menthol or other flavored vapes.
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  The research, led by Dr.
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  Naomi Hamburg from Boston University, revealed that "clear" vapers had acute increases in
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  systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate.
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  Specifically, the systolic blood pressure increased by nearly 10 millimeters of mercury,
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  and heart rate surged by 10 beats per minute.
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  These findings suggest that the synthetic coolants present in "clear" vapes may
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  facilitate deeper inhalation and higher exposure to e-liquid aerosol and nicotine,
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  leading to these pronounced hemodynamic effects.
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  Despite their marketing as "clear," these e-cigarettes were found to contain synthetic
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  coolants like WS-3 and WS-23, menthol, and other flavorants.
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  This raises concerns as these "clear" products might bypass flavor bans, making them
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  particularly appealing to those seeking flavored options.
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  The presence of these additives could be misleading, as the "clear" label might imply a
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  lack of flavoring, while in reality, they contain substances that could have significant
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  health impacts.
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  The study involved young adults aged 18 to 45 from Boston and Louisville, Kentucky, who had
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  no pre-existing cardiovascular risk factors.
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  Participants were divided into groups of "clear" vape users, other vape users, and
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  non-users.
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  The controlled smoking conditions revealed acute changes in cardiovascular metrics,
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  highlighting the potential risks associated with "clear" vapes.
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  While the study's findings are compelling, it's important to note its limitations, such as the
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  small sample size of "clear" e-cigarette users.
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  Dr.
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  Hamburg and her team emphasized the need for further research to fully understand the impact
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  of synthetic cooling agents on the cardiovascular system.
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  As always, it's crucial for individuals to be aware of the potential health risks associated
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  with vaping and to consider these findings when making decisions about their use.
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  And that brings us to the end of today's episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  I hope you found these insights into dementia and vaping informative.
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  As always, stay informed, stay healthy, and I'll see you next time for more updates from
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  the world of medicine and health.
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  Thank you for listening.