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Yahoo
2 days ago
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Alcohol-related liver problems escalate in Wisconsin, especially for women, young people
Deaths from liver diseases that result from consuming too much alcohol are escalating dramatically in Wisconsin, and even more alarming, such diseases are showing up more in younger people. The numbers mirror national trends described in a June 11 study in JAMA Open Network, which found a "significant acceleration" in alcohol-associated liver disease deaths during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Nationwide, such deaths increased nearly 9% annually between 2018 and 2022. In Wisconsin, deaths from cirrhosis of the liver — one of several liver diseases tied to alcohol consumption — rose 35% between 2019 and 2023, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's well-documented that Americans began drinking more during the pandemic, and coupled with Wisconsin's deeply entrenched drinking culture, experts worry about the toll they're seeing on people's physical health. Alcohol-related deaths generally, which include myriad other causes besides liver problems, increased three-fold in Wisconsin between 1999 and 2020, a January analysis from the Journal Sentinel found. But experts say multidisciplinary treatment, reduced stigma around alcohol use disorder, and a renewed emphasis on education and prevention could improve the situation. "I think the narrative often in Wisconsin is just, 'Oh, we're just big drinkers,' and that's all there is," said Maureen Busalacchi, director of the Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project at the Medical College of Wisconsin. "The message is not that you can't drink at all. It's more, really think about it, and just drink less." More: Wisconsin's alcohol-related deaths more than tripled since 1999: See the data U.S. dietary guidelines for alcohol urge people of drinking age to limit consumption to one drink or fewer per day for women and two drinks or fewer per day for men. When people consume significant amounts of alcohol over a prolonged period of time, fat begins to turn up in the liver, and then scar tissue, which can lead to cirrhosis, said Dr. Rita German, a transplant hepatologist at UW Health in Madison. Many times, German said, liver disease symptoms such as jaundice, fever and confusion don't show themselves until the disease has progressed, making it harder to treat. Nearly 3,000 Wisconsinites died from alcohol-related liver diseases from 2019 to 2023, CDC data show. The large majority — 2,072 — were from cirrhosis. Deaths from most types of liver diseases due to alcohol consumption increased in those years, including alcoholic fatty liver and alcoholic hepatic failure in addition to cirrhosis. Deaths from alcoholic hepatitis fell slightly. Busalacchi called the numbers a huge concern. Most of these deaths are preventable, she contended. Doctors used to think of alcohol-related liver diseases as affecting people past middle age, German said. But increasingly, that age is dropping. At UW Health's multidisciplinary clinic for patients with such diseases, she said, the average age is now 45, and she's treated some as young as 25. More: Alcohol-related deaths in Wisconsin tripled since 1999. Will a new warning from the surgeon general slow the trend? That may seem to conflict with recent research showing young people, particularly Gen Z, drinking less. But while some are cutting back, those who do drink are drinking more heavily, Busalacchi said. And while alcohol use among Wisconsin high schoolers has generally decreased in recent years, more than one in 10 reported binge drinking in the last 30 days on the state's most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey, done in 2023. The JAMA study noted, in particular, increases in alcohol-related liver disease deaths among adults ages 25-44. Deaths among women also increased disproportionately. Women absorb more alcohol into their bloodstream because they're generally smaller than men and because women's bodies have less gastric alcohol dehydrogenase, the enzyme that breaks down alcohol in the stomach, German said. Thus, they're at greater risk for liver damage. The Medical College of Wisconsin's liver transplant team reports younger and younger women needing transplants due to alcohol consumption, Busalacchi said. More: US to drop guidance to limit alcohol to one or two drinks per day, sources say To catch alcohol-related liver diseases earlier, German said, it's critical that patients be forthcoming about their alcohol use at the doctor's office. And for that to happen, she said, doctors must view alcohol use disorder for what it is — a disease, not a personal failing. People who are concerned about their alcohol consumption may also request an ultrasound of their liver, German said. From there, they can begin treatment if need be. She also sees the benefits in treatment that is comprehensive. At UW Health's clinic, patients not only see doctors like German who attend to the liver, but addiction specialists and counselors to treat underlying mental health conditions that can drive alcohol use. The clinic has treated between 250 and 300 people since it began in 2021. If it's caught in time, fat and scarring in the liver can be reversed by abstaining from alcohol, German said. Busalacchi's work continues to focus on changing societal perceptions on drinking culture. She sees encouraging signs around the state from communities that are offering more education about the consequences of excessive drinking, especially for youth. Some are taking a harder stance on age compliance checks for alcohol sales. Madeline Heim covers health and the environment for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at 920-996-7266 or mheim@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin deaths from alcohol-related liver diseases sharply rise
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Health
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Study inspects generational and geographical differences in dementia prevalence
Due to varied and evolving case definitions, the task of measuring dementia's prevalence across time and borders has been hindered by heterogeneity. As a result, epidemiological indicators of its disease burden have required standardisation in order to allow for meaningful intergenerational and global comparison. In a novel study published in June 2025 in JAMA Open Network, Xiaoxue Dou and colleagues leveraged and standardised three large databases in Europe and the US to explore the prevalence of dementia across multiple geographies with distinct generational cohorts. The authors' analysis shows that dementia prevalence, as well as the risk of developing dementia, is significantly lower in more recent birth cohorts across all studied geographic regions. GlobalData epidemiologists forecast that the diagnosed prevalent cases of dementia are expected to increase from over five million to nearly 5.9 million between 2025 and 2032 in the US and five major European markets (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK). Studies that allow for meaningful comparison of dementia indicators across countries and generational cohorts, such as that of Dou and colleagues, allow for a more nuanced study of dementia to guide clinical authorities and policymakers in their attempts to address the disease's individual and social effects as its burden mounts over time. Dou and colleagues studied the prevalence of dementia across difference age cohorts in the US and Europe using three databases that measure health and aging in older adults: the US Health and Retirement Study, the UK's English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, and Europe's Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (countries included are Austria, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, France, Denmark, Switzerland, and Belgium). Each dataset is nationally representative, and they were conducted between 1994 to 2021, 2002 to 2019, and 2004 to 2020, respectively, and in the aggregate capture 99,420 individuals aged 71 years or older. The authors segmented participants into four-year age groups from age 71 years to 96 years and over. To diagnose dementia in each cohort, the authors utilised a panel of experts whose diagnostic consensus was based on criteria in the third and fourth editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. As displayed in Figure 1, when comparing the frequency of dementia across the three regions, Dou and colleagues found that participants born more recently showed a lower diagnosed prevalence than that of older participants, suggesting a decline in the age-specific prevalence of dementia in all three geographies. The authors attribute this intergenerational heterogeneity to cohort-specific features and life experiences (eg, experiences with catastrophic events such as war, urbanisation, or varying levels of exposure to neurotoxic pollution). In this large-scale study, Dou and colleagues present a compelling study design for cross-country comparisons of dementia prevalence in varying age cohorts. Moreover, they draw attention to important factors influencing the disease burden of dementia in different age groups, many of which are rooted in generation-specific environmental factors and life events. The novel methodology and findings from the authors present opportunities for further comparative research into dementia, as well as a case for policymaking and healthcare investment and practice in dementia care that acknowledges the nuance of intergenerational variation. As societies such as many of those in Europe and North America undergo demographic change to older populations on average, these considerations will be crucial in delivering on the needs of geriatric care. "Study inspects generational and geographical differences in dementia prevalence" was originally created and published by Clinical Trials Arena, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Health
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Heavy cannabis use could pose this threat to the brain
As cannabis is legalized in more states across the country, new research points to the negative side effects of partaking too much. Researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus looked into the impact of recent and lifetime cannabis use on brain function during cognitive tasks. The study, published in the journal JAMA Open Network, is the "largest of its kind," according to the university, using brain imaging technology to examine the effects of cannabis use on 1,000 young adults from 22 to 36 years old. Daily Marijuana Smokers Face Higher Risk Of Heart Attack, Stroke, Says American Heart Association Study The cannabis users were tested on their "working memory," which is the ability to retain and use information to perform tasks, like solving a math problem. Neural response was measured through seven cognitive tests – probing working memory, reward, emotion, language and motor skills – such as "tapping a finger to map brain control, relational assessment and theory of mind." Read On The Fox News App The results showed that 63% of heavy lifetime cannabis users demonstrated reduced brain activity while completing a working memory task. Meanwhile, 68% of recent cannabis users exhibited a similar impact. Older Americans Turn To Marijuana For Better Sleep And Pain Relief: Here's What To Know The researchers concluded that cannabis had a "statistically significant effect" on brain function during working memory tasks, but was less significant in other tasks. There was reduced brain activity in areas involved in important cognitive functions like decision-making, memory, attention and emotional processing. Lead study author Joshua Gowin, PhD, assistant professor of radiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, stressed the importance of studying the effects of cannabis on health as it continues to "grow globally." "By doing so, we can provide a well-rounded understanding of both the benefits and risks of cannabis use, empowering people to make informed decisions and fully comprehend the potential consequences," he said in a press release. Marijuana Use Linked To Increased Asthma Risk In Youth, Study Says: 'Worrisome' Health Implications Refraining from cannabis use before a cognitive task could help improve performance, according to Gowin and his team. "People need to be aware of their relationship with cannabis, since abstaining cold turkey could disrupt their cognition as well," Gowin said. "For example, heavy users may need to be more cautious." "There are a lot of questions … regarding how cannabis impacts the brain," he went on. "Large, long-term studies are needed to understand whether cannabis use directly changes brain function, how long these effects last and the impact on different age groups." Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter Neurosurgeon Dr. Paul Saphier, MD, pointed out that the overall study sample size is large, but that only about 8% of participants were reported as "heavy" users. "While the study appears to be designed well … I'd like to see a larger sample size of heavy users compared to either moderate or non-users to draw any definitive data," the doctor, who was not involved in the study, shared with Fox News Digital. For more Health articles, visit Saphier, founder of Coaxial Neurosurgical Specialists in New Jersey, noted that he is "not surprised" by the study findings. "Heavy use of cannabis over one's lifetime may ultimately lead to decreased cognitive/memory tasks," he confirmed. "This also supports a relatively common and well-articulated lifestyle mantra of 'everything in moderation,' with the obvious exceptions of in-arguably deleterious activities/lifestyle choices." The neurosurgeon added that he looks forward to a "more well-rounded and higher enrollment study of heavy and moderate users, so I can offer more definitive data to my own patients."Original article source: Heavy cannabis use could pose this threat to the brain
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Mass Shootings in the US Fast Facts
A dangerous pace of mass shootings escalated in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic and has persisted since then. Last year, the United States recorded 515 mass shootings, the lowest total in a year since 2019, before the pandemic began. 2021 remains the worst year for mass shootings in the US since GVA began tracking them in 2013, with 689 across 44 states and Washington, DC. GVA data shows mass shootings increased after May 2020, compared with trends in previous years. Shootings doubled in July 2020 compared with the year before, as researchers noted in the journal JAMA Open Network in analyzing GVA data between April 2020 and July 2021. The increase in mass shootings coincided with an overall rise in gun violence during the pandemic. The US firearm homicide rate in 2020 was the highest recorded since 1994, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Between 2019 and 2020, the overall firearm homicide rate increased about 35%, according to the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. CNN reports mass shootings based on data from the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit organization that tracks gun violence in the United States. CNN and the GVA define a mass shooting as one that injured or killed four or more people, not including the shooter. The number of mass shootings and casualties is not exact and subject to change as reports from law enforcement, media and other sources GVA relies upon are updated and verified. These charts include US mass shootings to date that fall under this definition and are updated as soon as new data is available from GVA. Data may lag behind breaking news reporting. —CNN's Jacqueline Howard and Lauren Mascarenhas contributed to this report
