Artists 'better protected' against dementia, study finds

Art and music are less vulnerable to cognitive decline, a new Canadian study suggests.

Neurologists at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto found that artists suffering from vascular dementia may still be able to draw spontaneously and from memory, despite being unable to complete simple, everyday tasks.

"We discovered that there is a disproportion between the degree that artists lose some of their memory function, their orientation and other day-to-day cognitive functions. But at the same time, some of their art form is preserved," Dr. Luis Fornazzari, a neurological consultant at St. Michael's Hospital memory clinic and lead author of the paper, told CBC News.

Artists compared with non-artists are better protected, he added. "Due to their art, the brain is better protected [against] diseases like Alzheimer's, vascular dementia, and even strokes. They have more reserve in their brain in order to give functions.

"So [we know], based on other neuroscience studies, that art in any of its forms uses different neuronal avenues inside the brain to do their work. And the activity, the talent and the art per se gives reserve when the brain requires that reserve."

'Exceptional' artistic skills

The study, released Thursday in the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, looks at the last few years of the late Mary Hecht, an internationally renowned sculptor, who was able to draw spontaneously as well as complete detailed sketches of faces and figures, from memory, despite suffering from severe vascular dementia.

'Art should be taught to everyone. It's better than many medications and is as important as mathematics or history.'—Dr. Luis Fornazzari, St. Michael's Hospital memory clinic

"Mary Hecht was a remarkable example of how artistic abilities are preserved in spite of the degeneration of the brain and a loss in the more mundane, day-to-day memory functions," Fornazzari said.

Hecht, who died in April 2013 at the age of 81, was wheelchair-bound due to previous strokes. She was unable to tell time, name certain animals or remember any words she was asked to recall.

But she could quickly sketch an accurate portrait of a research student from the hospital's memory clinic. She could also draw a free-hand sketch of a lying Buddha figurine and reproduce it from memory a few minutes later — as well as an accurate sketch of famed cellist Mstislav Rostropovich after learning of his death earlier on the radio.

While she was drawing and showing medical staff her drawings, Hecht spoke articulately without hesitation about art, the researchers found.

"This is the most exceptional example of the degree of preservation of artistic skills we've seen in our clinic," said Dr. Corinne Fischer, director at the St. Michael's Hospital memory clinic.

"Most of the other studies that have been done in this area looked at other kinds of dementia such as Alzheimer's disease or frontal temporal dementia, while this is a case of cognitive reserve in a patient with fairly advanced vascular dementia," she added.

Alzheimer's patients also studied

Fornazzari told CBC that details from previous cases of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease, including one musician who could still play the piano and learn new music, were also included in the study.

One of Hecht's drawings after being diagnosed with advanced vascular dementia. (St. Michael's Hospital)

"We noticed for instance that some of the artists lost their speech. They couldn't talk," he said. "But at the same time, the art was totally preserved. The same [results occurred] not only with painters but with musicians."

In a separate study in 2011, Fischer also looked at bilingual patients with Alzheimer's and discovered they had twice as much cognitive reserve as their counterparts who only spoke one language.

Fornazzari said he believes educators should take the findings seriously and encourage schools to teach the arts – whether sculpture, painting or music – rather than cutting back on them.

"Art opens the mind," he said. "It should be taught to everyone. It's better than many medications and is as important as mathematics or history."

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Personnelle cold and flu products recalled

A cold and flu drug maker is recalling many of its Personnelle products because of a labelling error.

The recall is for certain lots of Personnelle Cold and Flu-in-One Extra Strength and Personnelle Flu Relief, manufactured by Vita Health Products, Health Canada said today.

"Important warnings and overdose information are printed on the inside of the box. Since there are no directions to check the inside of the box, consumers may miss this important consumer safety information," the regulator said.

Consumers who bought the products are asked to read the warnings on the inside of the product's packaging.

Anyone who used the products and has concerns about their health should consult a health-care practitioner.

The Winnipeg-based company and Health Canada said there have been no reports of adverse events associated with the products.

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Que. pharmacists suspend negotiations with government on new act

The Quebec pharmacy owner's association (AQPP) has suspended negotiations with government on the creation of a new act, following disagreements about being allowed to provide certain services.

The association president, Jean Thiffault, says the government unexpectedly proposed a change that would no longer allow pharmacists to carry out some tests on site, like checking patients' blood coagulation.

Thiffault says pharmacists in Quebec have been carrying out these tests for nearly 10 years.

"The spirit of this new act is to encourage access," Thiffault told CBC's Daybreak Montreal. "[This change] is coming out of nowhere and has a significant effect on our daily practice."

The act will come into effect Sept. 3, increasing the scope of services pharmacists can offer patients, which will include assessing the need of medication for some minor health problems like cold sores, seasonal allergies and urinary tract infections.

Pharmacists will have to charge patients for services that would be covered by provincial insurance if carried out at a clinic or hosptial.

Quebec's Minister of Health, Réjean Hébert, says pharmacists will have to resume negotiations before any further amendments can be made to the act.

"The law gave [pharmacists] the ability to order a test and interpret it. Now they also want us to cover them carrying out the test, and clearly this is beyond the scope of the law," Hébert told Radio-Canada, adding that he would have to consult with professional governing bodies before making a final decision. "All this will happen around the negotiating table, so I invite them to come back."

On Wednesday, Yves Bolduc, official opposition critic for health, told Radio-Canada that the new act would cost the province about $100 million.

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Contaminated cronut burger cause of 150 illnesses at CNE

Bacteria in the cronut burgers sold by a Canadian National Exhibition food vendor caused roughly 150 people to become ill with food poisoning, according to Toronto Public Health.

The cronut burger, a beef patty between two doughnut-croissant pastries and topped with maple-bacon jam, had been the suspected source, but it was confirmed Friday afternoon.

"We do know from the vast majority of interviews we've done that people became ill directly after eating the cronut burger," said Dr. Dave McKeown, who is with Toronto Public Health.

McKeown said 150 people have now reported getting ill, some within a few hours, after eating at the CNE, up from 100.

''We do know from the vast majority of interviews we've done that people became ill directly after eating the cronut burger.'—Dr. Dave McKeown, Toronto Public Health

Epic Burgers and Waffles, the creator of the cronut burger, voluntarily closed after the initial outbreak of illnesses early this week.

McKeown said staphylococcus aureus was present in lab tests performed on the burger, but officials were still trying to determine what specific ingredient was contaminated.

"Typically the bacteria multiplies in food in the presence of inadequate temperature control or inadequate food hygiene and food handling," McKeown said. "When the bacteria multiplies, it produces the toxin and it's the toxin that causes the illness when ingested.

"The vast majority of people who ingest this toxin can recover quickly," he said, citing concerns for seniors and children.

The bacteria also doesn't have a particular smell or taste so CNE visitors who ate a contaminated burger wouldn't have known until the side-effects, which include nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, were present.

CNE general manager David Bednar confirmed Epic Burgers would remain closed as the investigation continues.

"We have to let this investigation go full cycle," he said. "We've stopped this now. We're confident that it's over, however, going on into the future, whatever additional or different precautions may be necessary we're going to take them."

Three-hour inspection

On Tuesday, 12 people reported feeling ill after eating at the Food Building at the CNE, with five being treated in hospital. The number of those becoming ill after eating at the annual fair spiked as the week went on.

On Wednesday, Epic Burgers was subject to a three-hour inspection; the results of those tests were announced today.

"We have no evidence that any other product at the CNE is contaminated," McKeown said.

Toronto Public Health is now set to interview the remaining people who reported becoming ill and determine when the majority of the illnesses occurred.

McKeown also said it was "too early" in the investigation to determine whether any charges would be laid.

Epic Burgers posted a message on its Facebook page on Thursday saying it would co-operate fully with the investigation and the company stood by its staff and products.

"In the time that we've been operating at the CNE, we have had a clean bill of health and all our staff have been fully trained in food safety," the statement said.

According to Toronto Public Health, prior to the CNE opening food-handler training was provided to more than 1,600 workers, including those employed at Epic Burgers.

A spokesperson confirmed to CBC News that the food vendor was also inspected on the opening weekend Aug. 16 and received a pass mark.

Public health has inspected more than 300 food purveyors at the fair since then.

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Artists 'better protected' against dementia, study finds

Art and music are less vulnerable to cognitive decline, a new Canadian study suggests.

Neurologists at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto found that artists suffering from vascular dementia may still be able to draw spontaneously and from memory, despite being unable to complete simple, everyday tasks.

"We discovered that there is a disproportion between the degree that artists lose some of their memory function, their orientation and other day-to-day cognitive functions. But at the same time, some of their art form is preserved," Dr. Luis Fornazzari, a neurological consultant at St. Michael's Hospital memory clinic and lead author of the paper, told CBC News.

Artists compared with non-artists are better protected, he added. "Due to their art, the brain is better protected [against] diseases like Alzheimer's, vascular dementia, and even strokes. They have more reserve in their brain in order to give functions.

"So [we know], based on other neuroscience studies, that art in any of its forms uses different neuronal avenues inside the brain to do their work. And the activity, the talent and the art per se gives reserve when the brain requires that reserve."

'Exceptional' artistic skills

The study, released Thursday in the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, looks at the last few years of the late Mary Hecht, an internationally renowned sculptor, who was able to draw spontaneously as well as complete detailed sketches of faces and figures, from memory, despite suffering from severe vascular dementia.

'Art should be taught to everyone. It's better than many medications and is as important as mathematics or history.'—Dr. Luis Fornazzari, St. Michael's Hospital memory clinic

"Mary Hecht was a remarkable example of how artistic abilities are preserved in spite of the degeneration of the brain and a loss in the more mundane, day-to-day memory functions," Fornazzari said.

Hecht, who died in April 2013 at the age of 81, was wheelchair-bound due to previous strokes. She was unable to tell time, name certain animals or remember any words she was asked to recall.

But she could quickly sketch an accurate portrait of a research student from the hospital's memory clinic. She could also draw a free-hand sketch of a lying Buddha figurine and reproduce it from memory a few minutes later — as well as an accurate sketch of famed cellist Mstislav Rostropovich after learning of his death earlier on the radio.

While she was drawing and showing medical staff her drawings, Hecht spoke articulately without hesitation about art, the researchers found.

"This is the most exceptional example of the degree of preservation of artistic skills we've seen in our clinic," said Dr. Corinne Fischer, director at the St. Michael's Hospital memory clinic.

"Most of the other studies that have been done in this area looked at other kinds of dementia such as Alzheimer's disease or frontal temporal dementia, while this is a case of cognitive reserve in a patient with fairly advanced vascular dementia," she added.

Alzheimer's patients also studied

Fornazzari told CBC that details from previous cases of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease, including one musician who could still play the piano and learn new music, were also included in the study.

One of Hecht's drawings after being diagnosed with advanced vascular dementia. (St. Michael's Hospital)

"We noticed for instance that some of the artists lost their speech. They couldn't talk," he said. "But at the same time, the art was totally preserved. The same [results occurred] not only with painters but with musicians."

In a separate study in 2011, Fischer also looked at bilingual patients with Alzheimer's and discovered they had twice as much cognitive reserve as their counterparts who only spoke one language.

Fornazzari said he believes educators should take the findings seriously and encourage schools to teach the arts – whether sculpture, painting or music – rather than cutting back on them.

"Art opens the mind," he said. "It should be taught to everyone. It's better than many medications and is as important as mathematics or history."

22.45 | 0 komentar | Read More

Personnelle cold and flu products recalled

A cold and flu drug maker is recalling many of its Personnelle products because of a labelling error.

The recall is for certain lots of Personnelle Cold and Flu-in-One Extra Strength and Personnelle Flu Relief, manufactured by Vita Health Products, Health Canada said today.

"Important warnings and overdose information are printed on the inside of the box. Since there are no directions to check the inside of the box, consumers may miss this important consumer safety information," the regulator said.

Consumers who bought the products are asked to read the warnings on the inside of the product's packaging.

Anyone who used the products and has concerns about their health should consult a health-care practitioner.

The Winnipeg-based company and Health Canada said there have been no reports of adverse events associated with the products.

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Que. pharmacists suspend negotiations with government on new act

The Quebec pharmacy owner's association (AQPP) has suspended negotiations with government on the creation of a new act, following disagreements about being allowed to provide certain services.

The association president, Jean Thiffault, says the government unexpectedly proposed a change that would no longer allow pharmacists to carry out some tests on site, like checking patients' blood coagulation.

Thiffault says pharmacists in Quebec have been carrying out these tests for nearly 10 years.

"The spirit of this new act is to encourage access," Thiffault told CBC's Daybreak Montreal. "[This change] is coming out of nowhere and has a significant effect on our daily practice."

The act will come into effect Sept. 3, increasing the scope of services pharmacists can offer patients, which will include assessing the need of medication for some minor health problems like cold sores, seasonal allergies and urinary tract infections.

Pharmacists will have to charge patients for services that would be covered by provincial insurance if carried out at a clinic or hosptial.

Quebec's Minister of Health, Réjean Hébert, says pharmacists will have to resume negotiations before any further amendments can be made to the act.

"The law gave [pharmacists] the ability to order a test and interpret it. Now they also want us to cover them carrying out the test, and clearly this is beyond the scope of the law," Hébert told Radio-Canada, adding that he would have to consult with professional governing bodies before making a final decision. "All this will happen around the negotiating table, so I invite them to come back."

On Wednesday, Yves Bolduc, official opposition critic for health, told Radio-Canada that the new act would cost the province about $100 million.

22.45 | 0 komentar | Read More

Contaminated cronut burger cause of 150 illnesses at CNE

Bacteria in the cronut burgers sold by a Canadian National Exhibition food vendor caused roughly 150 people to become ill with food poisoning, according to Toronto Public Health.

The cronut burger, a beef patty with maple-bacon jammed between a doughnut-croissant pastry, had been the suspected source, but it was confirmed Friday afternoon.

"We do know from the vast majority of interviews we've done that people became ill directly after eating the cronut burger," said Dr. Dave McKeown, who is with Toronto Public Health.

McKeown said 150 people have now reported getting ill, some within a few hours, after eating at the CNE, up from 100.

''We do know from the vast majority of interviews we've done that people became ill directly after eating the cronut burger.'—Dr. Dave McKeown, Toronto Public Health

Epic Burgers and Waffles, the creator of the cronut burger, voluntarily closed after the initial outbreak of illnesses early this week.

McKeown said staphylococcus aureus was present in lab tests performed on the burger, but officials were still trying to determine what specific ingredient was contaminated.

"Typically the bacteria multiplies in food in the presence of inadequate temperature control or inadequate food hygiene and food handling," McKeown said. "When the bacteria multiplies, it produces the toxin and it's the toxin that causes the illness when ingested.

"The vast majority of people who ingest this toxin can recover quickly," he said, citing concerns for seniors and children.

The bacteria also doesn't have a particular smell or taste so CNE visitors who ate a contaminated burger wouldn't have known until the side-effects, which include nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, were present.

CNE general manager David Bednar confirmed Epic Burgers would remain closed as the investigation continues.

"We have to let this investigation go full cycle," he said. "We've stopped this now. We're confident that it's over, however, going on into the future, whatever additional or different precautions may be necessary we're going to take them."

Three-hour inspection

On Tuesday, 12 people reported feeling ill after eating at the Food Building at the CNE, with five being treated in hospital. The number of those becoming ill after eating at the annual fair spiked as the week went on.

On Wednesday, Epic Burgers was subject to a three-hour inspection; the results of those tests were announced today.

"We have no evidence that any other product at the CNE is contaminated," McKeown said.

Toronto Public Health is now set to interview the remaining people who reported becoming ill and determine when the majority of the illnesses occurred.

McKeown also said it was "too early" in the investigation to determine whether any charges would be laid.

Epic Burgers posted a message on its Facebook page on Thursday saying it would co-operate fully with the investigation and the company stood by its staff and products.

"In the time that we've been operating at the CNE, we have had a clean bill of health and all our staff have been fully trained in food safety," the statement said.

According to Toronto Public Health, prior to the CNE opening food-handler training was provided to more than 1,600 workers, including those employed at Epic Burgers.

A spokesperson confirmed to CBC News that the food vendor was also inspected on the opening weekend Aug. 16 and received a pass mark.

Public health has inspected more than 300 food purveyors at the fair since then.

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IVF technique could be simpler, scientists say

Since the first test-tube baby was born more than three decades ago, in vitro fertilization has evolved into a highly sophisticated lab procedure. Now, scientists are going back to basics and testing a simpler and cheaper method.

In the West, many would-be parents spend thousands of dollars for IVF, which involves pricey incubators and extensive screening. But European and American scientists say a simplified version of the entire procedure aimed at developing countries could be done for about $265 with generic fertility drugs and basic lab equipment that would fit inside a shoebox.

"IVF is made to sound complicated, but the fact is that the early embryo is not very demanding," said Jonathan Van Blerkom, a fertility expert at the University of Colorado.

A human embryo doesn't need much beyond some basic solutions, a steady pH level and constant temperature, he said.

Generic fertility tablets

The simpler approach calls for women to take cheaper fertility tablets to stimulate their ovaries to release more than one egg per month. In conventional IVF, expensive, potent drugs that are injected can produce more than 20 eggs.

Van Blerkom developed the simplified technique after European colleagues asked him how IVF could be done in developing countries.

"My first reaction was, `You've got to be kidding,"' he said.

But with two test tubes and special solutions, "it's possible to generate the exact same conditions, or very similar, to what people are generating in a $60,000 incubator."

One test tube is used to prepare a solution including carbon dioxide, which creates the ideal conditions for fertilization. That's piped into a second tube, where one egg and a few thousand sperm are added, before being placed in a heating block. After about two to three days, any resulting embryo is examined under a microscope before being transferred into the woman.

Van Blerkom and colleagues estimated that about half of all people seeking infertility treatment could potentially be helped by the method. Those who have complicated infertility problems, like men with severe sperm problems or women with very few eggs left, will still need standard IVF.

In an ongoing trial in Belgium, researchers are comparing the techniques. Women under 36 seeking IVF for the first time are given a mild dose of injectable fertility drugs. If at least eight eggs are retrieved, half undergo traditional IVF, and half use the simpler method.

A specialist who doesn't know which technique was used picks the best-looking embryo to be transferred.

For the more than 100 women treated so far, the pregnancy rate was about 34 percent for both methods. So far, 14 babies have been born using the simplified method and 13 babies from traditional IVF.

The World Health Organization estimates there are between 120 and 160 million couples struggling with infertility worldwide.

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Artists 'better protected' against dementia, study finds

Art and music are less vulnerable to cognitive decline, a new Canadian study suggests.

Neurologists at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto found that artists suffering from vascular dementia may still be able to draw spontaneously and from memory, despite being unable to complete simple, everyday tasks.

"We discovered that there is a disproportion between the degree that artists lose some of their memory function, their orientation and other day-to-day cognitive functions. But at the same time, some of their art form is preserved," Dr. Luis Fornazzari, a neurological consultant at St. Michael's Hospital memory clinic and lead author of the paper, told CBC News.

Artists compared with non-artists are better protected, he added. "Due to their art, the brain is better protected [against] diseases like Alzheimer's, vascular dementia, and even strokes. They have more reserve in their brain in order to give functions.

"So [we know], based on other neuroscience studies, that art in any of its forms uses different neuronal avenues inside the brain to do their work. And the activity, the talent and the art per se gives reserve when the brain requires that reserve."

'Exceptional' artistic skills

The study, released Thursday in the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, looks at the last few years of the late Mary Hecht, an internationally renowned sculptor, who was able to draw spontaneously as well as complete detailed sketches of faces and figures, from memory, despite suffering from severe vascular dementia.

'Art should be taught to everyone. It's better than many medications and is as important as mathematics or history.'—Dr. Luis Fornazzari, St. Michael's Hospital memory clinic

"Mary Hecht was a remarkable example of how artistic abilities are preserved in spite of the degeneration of the brain and a loss in the more mundane, day-to-day memory functions," Fornazzari said.

Hecht, who died in April 2013 at the age of 81, was wheelchair-bound due to previous strokes. She was unable to tell time, name certain animals or remember any words she was asked to recall.

But she could quickly sketch an accurate portrait of a research student from the hospital's memory clinic. She could also draw a free-hand sketch of a lying Buddha figurine and reproduce it from memory a few minutes later — as well as an accurate sketch of famed cellist Mstislav Rostropovich after learning of his death earlier on the radio.

While she was drawing and showing medical staff her drawings, Hecht spoke articulately without hesitation about art, the researchers found.

"This is the most exceptional example of the degree of preservation of artistic skills we've seen in our clinic," said Dr. Corinne Fischer, director at the St. Michael's Hospital memory clinic.

"Most of the other studies that have been done in this area looked at other kinds of dementia such as Alzheimer's disease or frontal temporal dementia, while this is a case of cognitive reserve in a patient with fairly advanced vascular dementia," she added.

Alzheimer's patients also studied

Fornazzari told CBC that details from previous cases of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease, including one musician who could still play the piano and learn new music, were also included in the study.

The late Mary Hecht was able to draw detailed sketches of faces and figures from memory, despite suffering from severe vascular dementia. (St. Michael's Hospital)

"We noticed for instance that some of the artists lost their speech. They couldn't talk," he said. "But at the same time, the art was totally preserved. The same [results occurred] not only with painters but with musicians."

In a separate study in 2011, Fischer also looked at bilingual patients with Alzheimer's and discovered they had twice as much cognitive reserve as their counterparts who only spoke one language.

Fornazzari said he believes educators should take the findings seriously and encourage schools to teach the arts – whether sculpture, painting or music – rather than cutting back on them.

"Art opens the mind," he said. "It should be taught to everyone. It's better than many medications and is as important as mathematics or history."

22.45 | 0 komentar | Read More