 |
|
Not enough 'good' cholesterol makes it harder to recover from stroke
November 27, 2007ST. PAUL, Minn. - People are at an increased risk of memory problems and greater disability after stroke if they have low levels of "good" cholesterol and high levels of homocysteine, an amino acid acquired mostly from eating meat. The findings are published in the November 27, 2007, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
"These findings show metabolic stress plays a significant role in stroke recovery," said study author George C. Newman, MD, PhD, with Albert Einstein Healthcare Network in Philadelphia, PA, and member of the American Academy of Neurology.
The study involved 3,680 men and women over age 35 in the United States, Canada, and Scotland who had suffered a mild to moderate stroke within the past three months. The participants underwent cognitive and disability tests and were followed for two years.
Researchers found several factors predicted memory and disability problems after stroke: increased age, non-Caucasian race, recurrent stroke, diabetes, stroke in the left hemisphere of the brain, higher levels of homocysteine and lower levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), otherwise known as "good" cholesterol.
"People with low levels of HDL, high levels of homocysteine, and diabetes are twice as likely as those without such problems to have poorer cognitive function and greater disability after stroke," said Newman. "The study also found stroke recovery was the most difficult for people over the age of 57 with high levels of homocysteine, which is a risk factor for heart problems and associated with low levels of vitamin B6, B12, folic acid and kidney disease."
Newman says it's unclear why these factors are contributing to a slower stroke recovery and more research is needed. "We need to focus our attention on identifying and treating these vascular risk factors since they can be modified."
American Academy of Neurology
Researchers found several factors predicted memory and disability problems after stroke: increased age, non-Caucasian race, recurrent stroke, diabetes, stroke in the left hemisphere of the brain, higher levels of homocysteine and lower levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), otherwise known as "good" cholesterol.
"People with low levels of HDL, high levels of homocysteine, and diabetes are twice as likely as those without such problems to have poorer cognitive function and greater disability after stroke," said Newman. "The study also found stroke recovery was the most difficult for people over the age of 57 with high levels of homocysteine, which is a risk factor for heart problems and associated with low levels of vitamin B6, B12, folic acid and kidney disease."
Newman says it's unclear why these factors are contributing to a slower stroke recovery and more research is needed. "We need to focus our attention on identifying and treating these vascular risk factors since they can be modified."
American Academy of Neurology
Homocysteine Current Events and Homocysteine News RSSGenetic Variants Associated with Vitamin B12
Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and their collaborators at Tufts University and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have identified a common genetic influence on B12 vitamin levels in the blood, suggesting a new way to approach the biological connections between an important biochemical variable and deficiency-related diseases.
Study finds B-vitamin deficiency may cause vascular cognitive impairment
A deficiency of B-vitamins may cause vascular cognitive impairment, according to a new study. Researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University used an experimental model to examine the metabolic, cognitive, and microvascular effects of dietary B-vitamin deficiency.
Compound that helps rice grow reduces nerve, vascular damage from diabetes
You may want to soak your brown rice. Researchers have found that a compound that helps rice seed grow, springs back into action when brown rice is placed in water overnight before cooking, significantly reducing the nerve and vascular damage that often result from diabetes.
NARSAD Researchers Identify Specific Genes and Family Traits Linked to Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder and Depression
New findings from research supported by NARSAD, the world's leading charity dedicated to mental health research, and conducted by Harvard-affiliated scientists are providing important clues into how genes work to impair various aspects of attention, memory and perception -- the behaviors associated with many psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression.
Study identifies trends of vitamin B6 status in US population sample
In an epidemiological study, Tufts University researchers identified trends of vitamin B6 status in a sample of the United States population based on measures of plasma pyridoxal 5'- phosphate (PLP) levels in the bloodstream. Plasma PLP is the indicator used by the federal government to set the current Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamin B6, a nutrient essential for red blood cell function and important for maintaining a healthy immune system and blood glucose levels.
Researchers discover gene behind devastating vitamin B12-related disorder
Swiss, British and Canadian researchers have identified the gene responsible for a rare but serious genetic disorder and have simultaneously provided more clues as to how vitamin B12 works in the body. Their results will be published April 3 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Study links dietary folate intake to genetic abnormalities in sperm
Healthy men who report lower levels of the nutrient folate in their diets have higher rates of chromosomal abnormalities in their sperm, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
New study shows low-fat diets more likely to reduce risk of heart disease than low-carb diets
Low-fat diets are more effective in preserving and promoting a healthy cardiovascular system than low-carbohydrate, Atkins'-like diets, according to a new study by researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.
Vitamin B12 function may be diminished by excessive folate
In a study of adults aged 20 and over, researchers at Tufts University showed that homocysteine and methylmalonic acid are at much higher levels in individuals who have a combination of vitamin B12 deficiency and high blood folate levels than in individuals who are also vitamin B12 deficient but have normal folate levels.
Impact of elevated homocysteine levels on vision under study
Homocysteine, an amino acid believed to contribute to heart attack, stroke and dementia, likely also is a player in retinal damage and vision loss, researchers say.
More Homocysteine Current Events and Homocysteine News Articles
 | The Homocysteine Revolution by Kilmer S. McCully More than 30 years ago, a young Harvard pathologist offered the medical community a theory for the cause of one of today's biggest killers-- heart disease. It is called the Homocysteine Theory and is the medical breakthrough that inspired Andrew Weil to label Dr. McCully as "a visionary medical pioneer well ahead of his time". This discovery has the potential to save millions, yet ironically... |
 | Homocysteine: The New "Cholesterol" by Jack Challem, Victoria Dolby A more accurate marker for heart... |
 | Homocysteine in Health and Disease High levels of homocysteine, a sulfur-containing amino acid derived from methionine, have recently been identified as a very important risk factor in cardiovascular disease. Homocysteine abnormalities are also thought to contribute to birth defects and dementia. There are many common genetic disorders and problems (such as vitamin deficiency) that adversely affect the metabolism of homocysteine.... |
 | The H Factor Solution: Homocysteine, the Best Single Indicator of Whether You Are Likely to Live Long or Die Young by James Braly, Patrick Holford Staying healthy, happy, clearheaded, and full of energy into old age - this is what we all want. But insuring that we do depends on how well we can "read" the state of our health. What if there was a single test that could do that, as well as point the way to a superhealthy future? Fortunately, there is. This test measures your level of homocysteine, an amino acid that is found naturally in... |
 | Focus on Homocysteine and the Vitamins Involved in Its Metabolism by Christina Bolander-Gouaille During the last 10-12 years, the research on homocysteine has become very active. About 1500 of articles are now published each year on homocysteine and the vitamins involved in its metabolism. A disturbed homocysteine metabolism can be an underlying factor for pregnancy complications and fetal malformations, cardiovascular disease, dementia, psychiatric and neurologic disorders and... |
 | Homocysteine and Vascular Disease This state-of-the-art review provides an in-depth and critical summary of homocysteine from its molecular basis to clinical relevance and current clinical trials of folic acid and vitamin B6. Written by leading workers in the field, the book provides an authoritative, comprehensive and thoroughly up-to-date overview for scientists and clinicians and any others engaged in the field. It will... |
 | STOP HOMOCYSTEINE through the METHYLATION PROCESS: The Key to controlling homocysteine and SAM and their effect on heart disease, aging, cancer, osteoporosis, depression, AIDS and other diseases by Paul Frankel, Fred Madsen, James Lembeck, Julian Whittaker |
 | Homocysteine: Related Vitamins and Neuropsychiatric Disorders by Christina Bolander-Gouaille, Téodoro Bottiglieri During the last 15 years the research on homocysteine and the vitamins involved in its metabolism has become very dynamic. About 1,500 publications on the subject are now published each year. The research has long mainly focused on the association between homocysteine and cardiovascular disease, but also pregnancy complications/ fetal malformations. There is, however, an increasing interest in... |
| The Heart Revolution The B Vitamin Breakthrough that Lowers Homocysteine, Cuts the Risk of Heart Disease... by Kilmer (M.D.) & McCully, Martha McCully | |
| Homocysteine in alcoholic atrophy. (Elevated Levels in Chronic Alcoholics).: An article from: Clinical Psychiatry News by Diana Mahoney This digital document is an article from Clinical Psychiatry News, published by International Medical News Group on September 1, 2002. The length of the article is 604 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web... |
| © 2008 BrightSurf.com |