Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Climate change's impact on brain health, pollution's effect on mental health, and nutrition's role in sleep

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Climate change's impact on brain health, pollution's effect on mental health, and nutrition's role in sleep · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

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  Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Morning Medical with Doctor Chow, your daily dose of
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  the latest medical and health news from around the world.
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  I am your host Doctor Chi-Ming Ming Chow.
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  Today, we have a fascinating lineup of topics to discuss, starting with a pressing issue that
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  affects us all.
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  The impact of climate change on brain health.
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  Recent research has highlighted that climate will continue to affect brain health in
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  significant ways.
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  According to a study led by epilepsy researcher, doctor Sanjay Sisodia from
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  University College London.
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  The scale of potential effects of climate change on neurological diseases is likely to be
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  substantial.
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  The study, published in the Lancet Neurology, reviewed 332 articles spanning several decades,
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  and found that the incidence, prevalence, and severity of many neurologic conditions were
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  affected by climate change.
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  In countries such as the United States and South Korea, rising temperatures and humidity
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  extremes have been associated with higher incidences of ischemic stroke.
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  Conversely, cold periods have been linked to an increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage.
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  Patients with multiple sclerosis reported worse symptoms when temperatures were higher than the
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  long term average, and emergency department admissions for migraines also rose on hotter
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  days.
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  Moreover, regional climate related conditions have been associated with tick borne
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  encephalitis and mosquito borne infections.
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  Alzheimer's and dementia related hospital admissions increased in several countries when
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  temperatures climbed.
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  The research indicates that both low and high temperature extremes as well as large
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  temperature fluctuations within a single day can affect neurologic disorders.
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  Doctor Cisodilla explained that the impetus for this review came from listening to the
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  experiences of people with severe epilepsies and their families during heat waves.
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  He realized that the changing climate could have serious negative implications for people
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  with neurological conditions.
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  The research team focused on the most burdensome neurologic conditions worldwide
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  starting with stroke to understand how ambient temperature affects the nervous system.
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  The study points out that rising temperatures challenge the body capacity to maintain a
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  stable internal temperature.
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  Heat can directly impact molecular functions, particularly ion channels.
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  Neurological diseases and their treatments can undermine all aspects of thermoregulation,
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  making it difficult for individuals to adapt to long term rising temperatures and acute
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  temperature elevations, such as those experienced during heat waves.
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  Importantly, high temperatures at night can affect sleep and compromised sleep can worsen
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  underlying neurological conditions like epilepsy.
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  Despite the evident risks, relatively few robust investigations have been conducted to
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  explore the neuro specific effects of climate change.
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  Doctor Larry Junk from the University of Michigan and his co authors noted in an
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  accompanying editorial that the medical profession has largely overlooked the need to
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  educate physicians and medical scientists about the health harms of climate change.
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  A scoping review published in neurology in 2023 evaluated extreme weather events, temperature
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  fluctuations, emerging neuro infectious diseases and the effects of pollution on
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  neurological disorders.
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  The review emphasized that air pollution should be considered alongside climate change because
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  the primary cause of both is the burning of fossil fuels.
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  Air pollution, particularly particulate matter, with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers is
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  a major risk factor for stroke, accounting for about 20% of stroke incidence, mortality, and
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  morbidity.
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  Many neurologists are unaware that air pollution has also been linked with dementia
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  and Parkinson's disease.
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  Overall, the study showed broad and complex adverse effects on the nervous system,
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  especially at temperature extremes to which people are on a Few studies have projected the
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  future effects of climate change on brain health, which could hinder policy development.
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  Doctor Sisodia concluded that we need to be proactive in thinking about and researching the
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  possible effects of climate change on people with neurological diseases.
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  Appropriate and effective adaptation measures must be put in place.
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  While more data is needed, There is already enough evidence to raise serious concerns and
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  to act now.
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  This work was supported by the epilepsy society, And doctor CSodia is also supported by
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  the National BRAIN Appeal Innovation Fund And the United Kingdom Medical Research Council.
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  Another significant concern in today's world is the impact of air and noise pollution on mental
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  health, particularly in young people.
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  A recent longitudinal birth cohort study has shed light on this issue, revealing that early
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  life exposure to common pollutants can have lasting effects on mental health.
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  The study which analyzed data from over 9000 participants in England found that higher
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  exposure to fine particulate matter known as pm2.5 during pregnancy was associated with
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  greater odds of experiencing psychotic episodes and depression.
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  Specifically, the adjusted odds ratio for psychotic experiences was 1.11.
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  With a 95% confidence interval of 1.04to1.19.
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  And for depression, the adjusted odds ratio was 1.10.
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  With a 95% confidence interval of 1.02to1.18.
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  Interestingly, exposure to fine particulate matter during childhood was also linked to
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  higher rates of psychotic experiences, although this association weakened after adjusting for
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  exposure during pregnancy.
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  The findings were published in JAMA Network Open and led by doctor Joanne Newbury, from
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  Bristol Medical School in England.
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  Doctor Nubry and her colleagues noted that early life exposure to air pollution could be
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  detrimental to mental health due to the extensive brain development and epigenetic
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  processes that occur in utero and during infancy.
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  Their results provide new evidence that early life exposure to particulate matter is
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  prospectively associated with the development of psychotic experiences and depression in
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  youth.
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  While air pollution was primarily linked to psychotic experiences and depression, Noise
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  pollution was found to be more closely associated with anxiety in adolescence and
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  early adulthood.
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  The study showed that individuals exposed to higher levels of noise pollution in childhood
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  and adolescence had elevated odds for anxiety.
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  The adjusted odds ratio for childhood exposure was 1.19.
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  With a 95% confidence interval of 1.03to1.38.
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  And for adolescent exposure, it was 1.22 with a 95% confidence interval of 1.02to1.45.
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  However, the association between noise pollution and anxiety during adolescence also
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  weakened after adjusting for exposure during pregnancy and childhood.
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  Notably, there was no significant association between exposure to higher levels of air
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  pollution and anxiety, highlighting the different impacts of these pollutants on mental
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  health.
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  Commenting on the study, Doctor Martin Clifft from Swansea University, who was not involved
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  in the research emphasize the need for more consideration of the health consequences
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  related to these exposures.
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  He pointed out that while this area has received a lot of recent attention, there
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  remains a large void of knowledge.
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  Doctor Clif highlighted that some of the most dominant air pollutants could impact different
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  mental health diagnoses with the time of life being particularly important in determining how
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  each pollutant affects mental health.
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  He stressed the need to understand the impact of exposure to different forms of pollution
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  during various stages of human development.
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  Beyond the more well known physical risks posed by these pollutants.
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  The study which used data from the Avon longitudinal study of parents and children UK,
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  birth cohort enrolled pregnant women in and around the city of Bristol, England between
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  April 1991 December 1992.
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  A total of 90065 participants were included, with a mean age of 24.5 years at follow-up, and
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  51.4% were female.
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  Among the participants, 19.5 percent reported psychotic experiences, 11.4% reported
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  depression, and 9.7% reported anxiety measured at ages 13, 18, and 24 years.
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  Ps were assessed using a semi structured interview.
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  And depression and anxiety were determined using the diagnostic and statistical manual of
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  mental disorders and the international statistical classification of diseases 10th
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  revision.
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  Air pollution levels were estimated using the effects of low level air pollution, a study in
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  Europe model, While noise pollution levels were estimated using the UK, government's department
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  for environment, food, and rural affairs, 2006 road traffic noise map.
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  The authors also adjusted for several individual family and neighborhood level
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  factors.
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  Despite the study's limitations, including potential residual confounding factors and
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  population selection bias, The findings underscore the critical need to better
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  understand the pathways through which high pollutant exposure leads to negative mental
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  health outcomes over time.
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  The authors called for further longitudinal research using more precise measures of air and
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  noise pollution.
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  And for replication using quasi experimental designs.
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  The opportunity for intervention is enormous.
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  According to the authors.
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  They concluded that there is now a pressing need for more research to understand these
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  associations better and to develop strategies to mitigate the mental health impacts of air
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  and noise pollution.
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  The research was funded by grants from the Welcome Trust, the UK, Medical Research
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  Council, and the Natural Environment Research Council.
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  For better night's sleep, researchers suggest that you might want to consider eating more
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  fruits and vegetables.
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  A new study from Finland has looked into how fruit and vegetable consumption impacts sleep
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  duration among Finnish adults.
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  The research was based on data from the National Fin Health 2017 study, which involved
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  50,043 adults over the age of eighteen.
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  These respondents reported their dietary consumption as well as their sleep habits.
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  The sleep habits were categorized into 3 groups short, normal, and long sleep durations.
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  The study found a clear pattern compared to normal sleepers Short sleepers consumed 37
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  fewer grams of fruits and vegetables per day, while long sleepers consumed 73 fewer grams per
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  day.
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  Consuming more fruits and vegetables appears to support the right amount of sleep.
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  The researchers concluded that there is a consistent pattern where deviation from normal
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  sleep duration is associated with decreased fruit and vegetable consumption.
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  They added that these findings suggest the need for considering sleep patterns and dietary
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  interventions.
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  Further research, including longitudinal studies is needed to better understand the
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  mechanisms underlying these associations, the study noted.
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  However, the key takeaway is that a shortage of sleep coincides with an unhealthy diet.
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  Study co author, Timo Partonan, MD, a research professor at the Finish Institute for health
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  and welfare in Helsinki, Finland, emphasize that sleeping fewer than 7 hours per night or
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  more than 9 hours per night was associated with reduced consumption of fruits and vegetables.
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  According to doctor Pardonin, Wait watching programs need to pay attention to sleep habits
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  as well as a shortage of sleep can ruin or promote the outcomes of these programs.
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  He pointed out that sleep, nutrition, and physical activity form a unity.
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  A positive change in one of these is often reflect in a positive change in the other 2.
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  While the study accounted for each person's chronotype, classifying people as either early
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  birds or night owls, The impact of this trait on the link between sleep duration and fruit
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  and vegetable consumption was minimal, Doctor Parton.
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  Tittopartanen said.
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  Doctor Partanen identified the study as cross sectional by design.
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  Chi-Ming that the researchers were not able to analyze any causal relationships.
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  Despite this, the findings highlight the need to consider sleep patterns dietary
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  interventions.
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  Based on these findings, people should eat more fruits and vegetables daily to get better
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  sleep.
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  Doctor Pardon and recommended He stated sleep, nutrition, and physical activity form a unity.
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  A positive change in one of these is reflected in a positive change in the other 2.
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  New Jersey based dietitian, Aaron Polinski Wade also reacted to these findings, telling Fox
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  News Digital that it is not surprising that increasing your dietary intake of fruits and
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  vegetables may improve both sleep quality and quantity.
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  Pulinski weight explained that fruits and vegetables contain a variety of nutrients that
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  support healthy sleep.
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  Some fruits such as tart cherries and bananas contain melatonin, a hormone that regulates the
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  sleep wake cycle, eating these fruits may increase melatonin levels in the body,
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  promoting better sleep, onset, and quality.
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  Embracing a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can also help increase antioxidant intake,
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  which can reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the body.
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  As these factors are reduced, sleep may improve.
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  Palinski weighed added.
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  Dark, leafy greens like spinach and kale are good sources of magnesium.
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  A nutrient that can also help support sleep.
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  Diodes lacking in magnesium have been found to increase the risk of insomnia.
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  So it makes sense that eating a magnesium rich diet may improve sleep.
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  Fruits and vegetables like spinach and tomatoes also contain an amino acid called tryptophan,
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  which is a precursor to serotonin.
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  Saratonin is a neurotransmitter involved in producing melatonin and aiding in sleep
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  regulation.
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  By increasing your dietary intake of tryptophan, you can promote relaxation and
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  improvements in falling and staying asleep.
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  In today's final segment, we're addressing a popular question Is shrimp good for you?
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  As with many foods, the answer is complicated.
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  A recent article by Eric Vance in the New York Times delves into the health benefits and
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  potential risks associated with consuming shrimp.
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  Americans have a particular fondness for shrimp.
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  While we generally consume less seafood compared to people in countries like Japan and
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  Indonesia, shrimp is a notable exception.
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  On average, Americans eat almost £6 of shrimp per year, making it the most consumed seafood
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  in the United States.
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  This popularity was highlighted recently when the seafood chain red lobster declared
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  bankruptcy, partly due to an all you can eat shrimp promotion that cost the company
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  $11,000,000.
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  So what makes Shrimp a go to choice for many, and is it a healthy option From a nutritional
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  standpoint, shrimp has its pros and cons.
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  On the positive side, shrimp is a good source of protein comparable to that of a rib eye
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  steak.
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  It is high in calcium and vitamin B12 and low in saturated fat, which contributes to its
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  heart healthy profile.
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  Although shrimp is high in cholesterol, current research indicates that dietary cholesterol has
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  a minimal impact on blood cholesterol levels for most people.
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  However, if you're seeking other nutritional benefits commonly associated with seafood,
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  shrimp might not meet your expectations.
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  Shrimp tails are not particularly rich in omega-three fatty acids, iron, or iodine.
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  According to Zack Coin, a nutrition researcher at Stanford University Center for Ocean
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  Solutions, Shrimp can be considered the white meat of the sea.
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  While most seafood is generally more nutrient dense than land based meat, the shrimp species
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  commonly consumed by Americans are relatively low on that list, ranking the Accord and
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  Tilapia.
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  In comparison, chicken contains more protein and seafood like sardines, salmon, and oysters
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  are far more nutrient rich.
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  Beyond human health, there are also environmental considerations when it comes to
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  shrimp consumption.
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  The farming and harvesting methods used for shrimp can have significant ecological impacts.
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  Especially on mangrove forests and sea turtle populations.
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  Sustainable practices and certifications can help mitigate some of these concerns but it's
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  essential to be informed and cautious about where your shrimp is sourced.
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  In summary, while shrimp can be a part of a healthy diet, It is not the nutritional
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  powerhouse that some other seafood options are.
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  It is essential to balance your diet with a variety of nutrient rich foods including other
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  types of seafood to ensure you're getting a comprehensive range of nutrients.
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  As always, consider the environmental impact of your food choices and opt for sustainably
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  sourced shrimp when possible.
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  That wraps up today's episode of Morning Medical with Doctor Chow.
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  Thank you for joining me.
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  As we navigated through these critical health topics.
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  Remember, your health and well-being are influenced by a multitude of factors from the
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  food you eat to the environment you live in.
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  Stay informed, stay healthy, and I look forward to sharing more insights with you in our next
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  episode.
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  Have a wonderful day.