Mental Attitude: Does Alzheimer’s Disease Affect Diabetics Differently? In an eighteen-month study, researchers explored whether or not Alzheimer’s disease affected patients with diabetes differently than non-diabetics. While they did not detect much difference in cognitive decline between the groups, functional decline was more pronounced in patients with both diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Clinical Therapeutics, February 2015
Health Alert: Lyme Disease More Widespread Than Believed. According to a new report, prolonged illness in Americans with Lyme disease is more prevalent, serious, and costly than previously thought. Investigators found Lyme disease patients are nearly five times more likely to have post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome-related symptoms such as fatigue, nerve pain, joint pain, and memory and thinking problems. They also found that Lyme disease costs up to $1.3 billion dollars per year to treat. Researcher Dr. Emily Adrion explains, “Regardless of what you call it, our data show that many people who have been diagnosed with Lyme disease are in fact going back to the doctor complaining of persistent symptoms, getting multiple tests and being retreated… it is clear that we need effective, cost-effective, and compassionate management of these patients to improve their outcomes, even if we don’t know what to call the disease.” PLOS ONE, February 2015
Diet: Corn Oil Lowers Cholesterol. A new study claims that corn oil significantly lowers cholesterol more than extra virgin olive oil. In the study, participants consumed four tablespoons of corn oil or extra virgin olive oil in addition to their normal diet. The results revealed that total cholesterol decreased by 8.2% in the group that consumed corn oil and just 1.8% for extra virgin olive oil group. Corn oil lowered bad cholesterol (LDL) by 10.9% while extra virgin olive oil only lowered LDL by 3.5%. Lead researcher Dr. Kevin C. Maki adds, “These findings add to those from prior research supporting corn oil’s positive heart health benefits, and align with recommendations to replace saturated fats with unsaturated fats, such as those found in corn oil.”
Journal of Clinical Lipidology, February 2015
Exercise: Exercise During Dialysis Improves Energy in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients. Fatigue is a common complaint by chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on dialysis. A small study involving 66 CKD patients found that those who participated in a physical and mental exercise program twice a week for two months experienced significant decreases in fatigue when compared with those who did not participate in such a program. The authors of the study conclude, “With respect to the findings of the study, this method of treatment is recommended due to being cost efficient, easy, applicable, and flexible for alleviating the effect of fatigue on the personal, psychological, and social aspects of life quality in patients on hemodialysis.” Nephro-Urology Monthly, July 2014
Chiropractic: Resolution of Motor Tics & ADHD. A recent case study involved a 10-year-old boy with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who also suffered from involuntary motor tics. A thorough examination revealed cervical dysfunction dating back to at least when the boy was four months old. Chiropractic care focused on adjustments of the first cervical vertebra and mechanical traction. Following the first treatment, the patient exhibited improvements in both behavior and focus and no longer required pharmaceutical management for his ADHD symptoms after two months of care. After ten months of care, the boy experienced a complete resolution of his motor tics. Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research, November 2014
Wellness/Prevention: Prevent Breast Cancer. In a cumulative examination of research done on environmental factors associated with breast cancer, experts recommend the following actions to minimize an individual’s risk: engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity, avoid a high-fat diet, reduce alcohol intake, and be cognizant when taking estrogen and synthetic progestagen hormonal therapy. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, January 2015
Quote: “Don’t write so that you can be understood, write so that you can’t be misunderstood.” ~ William Howard Taft

I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.