Medical Bulletin 18/November/2023

Here are the top medical news of the day:

Sleep restriction increases insulin resistance in women

A study funded by the National Institutes of Health has found that chronic insufficient sleep can increase insulin resistance in otherwise healthy women, with more marked effects in postmenopausal women. The findings highlight the importance of adequate sleep in minimizing the risk for type 2 diabetes.

The current study enrolled only women and sought to determine if a prolonged, mild restriction of sleep – a reduction of just 1.5 hours each night – increased women's blood glucose and insulin levels.

The researchers found that restricting sleep to 6.2 hours or less per night over six weeks increased insulin resistance by 14.8% among both pre- and postmenopausal women, with more severe effects for postmenopausal women – as high as 20.1%.

Reference: Zuraikat FM, et al. Chronic Insufficient Sleep in Women Impairs Insulin Sensitivity Independent of Adiposity Changes: Results of a Randomized Trial. Diabetes Care. 2023. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc23-1156

Substituting plant-based foods for animal-based foods is beneficial for cardiometabolic health and all-cause mortality

A new study has found that substituting plant-based foods for animal-based foods is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and all-cause mortality. The study, reviewed and analyzed data from 24 prospective cohort studies involving over 300,000 participants.

The researchers found that replacing processed meat with nuts, legumes, or whole grains was associated with a 27%, 23%, and 36% lower risk of CVD, respectively. They also found that replacing eggs with nuts was associated with a 17% lower risk of CVD.

Reference: Neuenschwander, M., Stadelmaier, J., Eble, J. et al. Substitution of animal-based with plant-based foods on cardiometabolic health and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. BMC Med 21, 404 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-023-03093-1

New study finds link between hippocampus shrinkage and cognitive decline

A new study published in Neurology has found a link between shrinkage in the hippocampus area of the brain and cognitive decline, even in people who don't have amyloid plaques in the brain. The hippocampus plays a role in memory.

With the rise of new drugs that can target the amyloid-beta plaques in the brain that are an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease, new ways are needed to determine whether memory loss and thinking problems are due to Alzheimer’s disease or another neurodegenerative disorder.

Reference: American Academy of Neurology

Journal: Neurology