CBS NEWS – Drugs used to treat anxiety and insomnia are not linked to an increased risk of dementia. That’s the finding of the newest research on tranquilizers, such as Valium and Xanax. A study in the BMJ found no association with dementia. But it recommends that doctors avoid these drugs for senior citizens to prevent other health risks. SOURCE – The BMJ/MedDay/CB
More than three million women in the U-S are at risk of drinking while pregnant. The Centers for Disease Control says that’s because women are drinking while they’re not using birth control – and sometimes even while they’re trying to get pregnant. Alcohol during even the first weeks of pregnancy can cause long-lasting physical and intellectual disabilities. SOURCE – CDC Vital Signs/MedDay/CBS
Parkinsons patients may be at higher risk for falling and hip fractures for years before being diagnosed. Researchers in Sweden studied more than 24-thousand patients. They found that in the 15 years before diagnosis, Parkinson’s disease was associated with a 36-percent higher risk of hip fracture. SOURCE – PLOS Medicine/MedDay/CBS
