Millennials may deserve a break from the generation bashing. Baby boomers' alcohol issues are now in the spotlight
The latest from the leading medical journals:
Go harder on blood pressure
Key questions about lowering blood pressure to systolic 120 mmHg have been answered by two new studies showing it is well tolerated and as cost-effective as treating people to 140 mmHg.
In one study of 10,000 people, those on intensive therapy were as likely to take all their medication as those on normal treatment. Even frail, over-75s responded well to the treatment, showing no decrease in quality of life compared to controls.
Meanwhile, a cost-effectiveness study found the extra medication and consultation costs of intensive therapy for lowering blood pressure were offset by the prevention of long-term cardiac complications.
Smashing avo, not grog
Millennials may deserve a break from the generation bashing with baby boomers now in the spotlight for growing problems related to alcohol and drug use.
Risky drinking is going down among all age groups in Australia, barring the over-50s who are increasingly likely to be heavy drinkers and drug users, research shows.
“In Australia, the largest percentage increase in drug misuse between 2013 and 2016 was among people aged 60 and over, with this age group mainly misusing prescription drugs,” the authors wrote.
By 2020, the numbers of people seeking help for substance abuse is expected to treble in the US and double in Europe.
Not to be sniffed at?
Researchers in Canada have found a correlation between the loss of the ability to identify smells and biological markers indicating Alzheimer’s disease.
The study involved 274 people, considered to be at high risk of Alzheimer’s because of a parental diagnosis, taking a multiple-choice scratch and sniff test. An additional 100 people underwent lumbar punctures to measure levels of Alzheimer’s-related proteins in their cerebrospinal fluid.
Those people for whom it was most difficult to identify different odours also exhibited other markers of Alzheimer’s disease, as revealed by additional assessments. The authors suggested that in the future a smell test might be used a predictor for the progression of Alzheimer’s.
What did you say again?
Older adults commonly mishear their doctors, putting them at risk of medical errors, research suggests.
Irish researchers interviewed 100 people aged over-60 about communication breakdown in primary care and hospitals, revealing two in five had misheard their clinician.
The most common reasons for misunderstandings were general hearing loss, followed by consultation content, physician-patient or nurse-patient communication breakdown, hospital setting and the type of language used.
Hearing loss was common in the study group, affecting 57% of the interviewees.
Previous research found improved communication between doctors, nurses and families could prevent one in three medical errors, the authors said.
