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The first story describes a new found benefit of taking estrogen. If Parkinson's Disease runs in your family, this may be especially important for you.
Ovary removal increases risk of Parkinson's disease
14 April 2005 - Roxanne Khamsi
Women who have had both their ovaries removed are at double the normal risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to a study of medical records stretching back half a century.
Women's ovaries produce significant amounts of the hormone estrogen, which has been shown to protect certain types of nerve cell. "It acts on cells to make them less susceptible to toxins," says Kieran Breen, director of research at the Parkinson's Disease Society in London.
Walter Rocca of the Mayo Clinic searched medical records from 1950 to 1987 from Olmstead County in Minnesota. In addition to searching through the historical data, Rocca and his team conducted thousands of medical checks to follow-up patients among the 5,000 women in the dataset. About half of the women in the study had undergone an ovariectomy.
Doctors sometimes suggest an elective ovariectomy - removal of the ovary - for patients who must have an abdominal hysterectomy - removal of the uterus. This extra step eliminates the future risk of ovarian cancer. But the new findings cast some doubt on whether this is the wisest choice for all patients.
Of the 2,485 women who had one or both ovaries removed, 43 developed Parkinson's symptoms, 25 of whom developed the full-blown disease. In contrast, among the roughly 2,500 women who did not undergo ovariectomy, only 29 developed symptoms, with 18 cases of full Parkinson's.
Removing the second ovary put patients at greater risk.
When considering ovariectomy as a preventative measure, Rocca's team advises women to examine their family medical history for either cancer or Parkinson's disease. "You have to weigh the two sides and decide," says Rocca.
An alternative would be to have the ovaries removed and then to take estrogen therapy.
Dr. Rehert
Next for my over 50 y/o patients who ask me why I advise them to take a baby aspirin every day . . . here's the story.
Daily aspirin advised for those over 50
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
April 13, 2005
April 13, 2005
CARDIFF, Wales -- A researcher at Cardiff University's medical school in Wales says everyone over the age of 50 should take a mini-aspirin daily to reduce the risk of stroke.
Prof. Peter Elwood claimed the occurrence of strokes and heart attacks can be reduced by about a third with a low-dose aspirin taken daily, London's Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday.
Elwood, who has studied the effects of aspirin for 30 years, spoke at a London conference organized by the Aspirin Foundation. "We feel the time is now right for this debate. People should be given the evidence of the benefits and risks so that they can decide what they want to do," he said.
Another researcher, Antony Bayer, senior research fellow in geriatric medicine at Cardiff, said 80 percent of North American specialists believe aspirin should be given to patients with dementia and cardiovascular risk factors. A research paper calling for a debate on the use of aspirin in older people has been accepted for publication by the British Medical Journal. But the subject is contentious, since aspirin also raises the risk of bleeding, the newspaper reported.
http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20050413-031243-9529r
Prof. Peter Elwood claimed the occurrence of strokes and heart attacks can be reduced by about a third with a low-dose aspirin taken daily, London's Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday.
Elwood, who has studied the effects of aspirin for 30 years, spoke at a London conference organized by the Aspirin Foundation. "We feel the time is now right for this debate. People should be given the evidence of the benefits and risks so that they can decide what they want to do," he said.
Another researcher, Antony Bayer, senior research fellow in geriatric medicine at Cardiff, said 80 percent of North American specialists believe aspirin should be given to patients with dementia and cardiovascular risk factors. A research paper calling for a debate on the use of aspirin in older people has been accepted for publication by the British Medical Journal. But the subject is contentious, since aspirin also raises the risk of bleeding, the newspaper reported.
http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20050413-031243-9529r
But remember - aspirin, like all therapies, has its risks as well as its benefits.
And on a lighter note, here's a look into the future from Sony Corporation. Won't this be something when it's perfected?
Sony Invention Beams Sights, Sounds Into Brain
LONDON (Reuters) - If you think video games are engrossing now, just wait: PlayStation maker Sony Corp (SNE.N). has been granted a patent for beaming sensory information directly into the brain.
The technique could one day be used to create videogames in which you can smell, taste, and touch, or to help people who are blind or deaf. The U.S. patent, granted to Sony researcher Thomas Dawson, describes a technique for aiming ultrasonic pulses at specific areas of the brain to induce "sensory experiences" such as smells, sounds and images.
"The pulsed ultrasonic signal alters the neural timing in the cortex," the patent states. "No invasive surgery is needed to assist a person, such as a blind person, to view live and/or recorded images or hear sounds."
The above is not meant to be medical advice or a substitute for professional evaluation or treatment. Seek the advice of your physician or healthcare provider before any modification in the treatment of any medical condition. Also, please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc.
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