The IAA One Minute Blog

Researchers say they have developed a way to use biomarkers found in a blood test to diagnose bipolar disorder more accurately.

New Test for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed with major depressive disorder because both have numerous overlapping symptoms but need different pharmacological treatments.

While current blood tests can correctly diagnose up to 30 percent of bipolar cases, a new test that makes use of biomarkers could allow physicians to differentiate between major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, researchers said.

Researchers said from 2018 to 2020 in Britain, some 3,000 participants completed an online mental health assessment of more than 600 questions. The assessment covered a range of topics that may be relevant to mental health disorders, including past or current depressive episodes, generalized anxiety, symptoms of mania, family history, or substance abuse. Then about 1,000 were selected to send in a dried blood sample from a finger prick, which the researchers analyzed for more than 600 different metabolites using mass spectrometry.

The research was published in “JAMA Psychiatry.”

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder affects about 80 million people globally, but for nearly 40 percent of patients, it is misdiagnosed as major depressive disorder.

Bipolar disorder, formally called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).

When you become depressed you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in activities. When your mood shifts to mania or hypomania (less extreme than mania) you may feel euphoric, full of energy or unusually irritable. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior, and the ability to think clearly.

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A new study finds that the Mediterranean diet may prevent PTSD symptoms.

New Study on Mediterranean Diet and PTSD

The brain and the gastrointestinal system which includes the stomach, intestines and colon, send signals back and forth through a complex system of nerves, hormones and chemicals. As a result, poor gut health has been linked to several mental illnesses, such as PTSD.

Post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is a trauma-based mental-health disorder. People living with PTSD have an increased risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, autoimmune disease, and premature death.

To study the relationship between PTSD and the human gut microbiome, researchers collected patient data from two studies—one in 2005 and another in 2013—which involved tens of thousands of female participants.

Researchers selected 191 women: 44 with PTSD symptoms, 119 who had experienced trauma, but no PTSD symptoms and 28 who experienced neither.

All the participants provided stool samples, once at the beginning of the study and again six months later. The reason for the samples was to have microbial DNA information and to confirm that the participants gut microbiome was stable over six months.

The researchers then looked at associations between overall microbiome makeup and other individual factors, such as a person’s symptoms, body mass index, age, and diet.

The team found certain factors (BMI, depression, antidepressant use) were associated with microbiome structure.

The Results

The scientists then assessed the relationship between diet and PTSD symptoms, finding that participants who followed a Mediterranean diet had fewer PTSD symptoms. Several components of the Mediterranean diet, such as fiber and omega-three fatty acids—are known to support gut health, which in turn can influence brain function.

Eating red and processed meats were associated with having PTSD symptoms. Eating plant-based foods was not associated with having PTSD symptoms.

The team then examined the link between symptoms and microbiome makeup. They found that a microbiome called Eubacterium eligens was protective at four different time points. E. eligens was positively associated with components of the Mediterranean diet, such as vegetables, fruits and fish. It was negatively associated with red or processed meat, which people following a Mediterranean diet typically limit or avoid.

The findings were published in the journal, “Nature Mental Health.”

Around four percent of the world’s population has had PTSD in their lifetimes.        

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Scientists have discovered two genes that may trigger Raynaud’s disease, a condition that can cause fingers and toes to go cold and numb because of the constriction of tiny blood vessels under the skin.

New Study on Raynaud’s Disease

The study included UK Biobank data from more than 440,000 people. Researchers identified 5,147 cases of Raynaud’s. Sixty-eight percent were Primary Raynaud’s, the most common form of the disease. Another 439, 294 records served as controls.

The scientists found that one gene variant affects how blood vessels narrow. Those with the variant had a higher number of a particular receptor for hormones that are released under stress or cold. Another gene variant affects how blood vessels relax.

The results of the study could lead to more effective treatments. Drugs could be developed that target this hormone receptor.

The study was published in the journal “Nature Communications.”

Symptoms of Raynaud’s

Symptoms of Raynaud’s disease include:

•  Areas of the skin that turn white then blue
• Cold fingers or toes
• Numb, prickling feeling or stinging pain upon warming or stress relief

There are two main types of the condition:

1. Primary Raynaud’s: This most common form isn’t the result of another medical condition. It can be so mild that treatment is not sought out. It can also go away on its own.
2. Secondary Raynaud’s: This form develops due to another health condition. Although this form is less common, it tends to be more serious.

About two to five percent of the population is affected, more often women.

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Health experts are redefining cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, prevention and management, according to a new American Heart Association Advisory published in “Circulation.”

Experts Define CKM

Various aspects of cardiovascular disease overlap with kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity.

For the first time, the American Heart Association defines the overlap in these conditions as cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. People who are at risk for cardiovascular disease may have CKM syndrome. 

The new approach includes:

• CKM syndrome stages ranging from 0 (no risk factors) to stage 4, the highest risk range with established cardiovascular disease. Stage 4 may also include kidney failure. Each stage correlates to specific screenings and therapies.
• Collaborative approaches among multiple specialties to treat the whole patient
• Screenings for and addressing social factors that impact health
• Suggested updates to the algorithm that helps healthcare professionals predict a person's likelihood of having a heart attack or stroke

According to the American Heart Association, one in three U.S. adults have three or more risk factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease and/or kidney disease.

Stages of CKM

CKM affects nearly every major organ in the body, including the heart, brain, kidney, and liver. However, the biggest impact is on the cardiovascular system, affecting blood vessels and heart muscle function, the rate of fatty buildup in arteries, and electrical impulses.  

CKM related screening is intended to detect cardiovascular, metabolic and kidney health changes early:

1. Stage 0: No CKM risk factors
2. Stage 1: Excess body fat and/or an unhealthy distribution of body fat, such as abdominal obesity, and/or impaired glucose tolerance, or prediabetes
3. Stage 2: Metabolic risk factors and kidney disease
4. Stage 3: Early cardiovascular disease without symptoms in people with metabolic risk factors or kidney disease or those at high predicted risk for cardiovascular disease
5. Stage 4: Symptomatic cardiovascular disease in people with excess body fat, metabolic risk factors or kidney disease

The purpose of these stages is for people to work toward “regressing” to a lower stage.

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Switching the types of carbs you eat may help prevent weight gain, a study finds.

Quality vs Quantity

Researchers in the United States analyzed more than two decades of data from almost 137,000 people and found less weight gain among those who ate more whole grains, fruit and non-starchy vegetables and fewer refined grains, starchy vegetables and sugary drinks.

The study shows it is the quality of carbohydrates in a person’s diet that is important, rather than the amount.

The study found less weight gain among people who avoided:

• Foods made from refined grains, especially white flour products
• Starchy vegetables
• Sugar sweetened beverages
• White rice

To take a closer look at carbohydrate quality on weight gain, the study examined participants enrolled in long-term studies.

The participants were, on average, in their 40s, 50s, or 60s. When they joined the research, they were free of chronic health conditions. Researchers followed them for at least two decades.

At the beginning and every two to four years, participants filled out questionnaires that asked about medical history, lifestyle, and other health-related factors. They were also asked every four years to fill out a form that assessed diet.

Overall, the average weight gain was 3.3 pounds every four years. Which over an average of 24 years amounted to 19.4 pounds.

The results showed that:

• A 3.5 ounce a day increase in starch—was also associated with a 3.3 pound weight gain every four years
• The same increase in sugar was also associated with a 1.9 pound weight gain over the same time period

In contrast:

• One third of an ounce per day of added fiber was linked to 1.7 pounds less weight gain over four years
• Replacing two servings of starchy vegetables with equal servings of whole grains daily meant 4.1 pounds less weight gain over four years
• Consuming whole fruits was associated with 4.4 pounds less weight gain over four years
• Switching to non-starchy vegetables was associated with four pounds less weight gain over four years

The study was published inn “BMJ.”

What are Carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates—fiber, starches and sugars—are essential food nutrients that your body turns into glucose to give you the energy to function.

Your digestive system breaks down carbs into glucose or blood sugar. Your bloodstream absorbs glucose and uses it as energy to fuel your body.

The amount of carbs you consume affects your blood sugar. Taking in a lot of carbs can raise blood sugar levels.

There is not a set amount of recommended daily carbs. Your age, gender, medical conditions, activity level, and weight loss goals, all affect the amount that is right for you.

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