Sleep Loss Increases Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

Experts in the natural health sector have said that losing just one night of sleep can lead to an immediate increase in beta-amyloid, a protein in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease. This is the conclusion arrived at in a new study by researchers at the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The amyloid beta denotes peptides of 36–43 amino acids that are crucially involved in Alzheimer’s disease as the main component of the amyloid plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease is the accumulation of amyloid plaques between nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. In a healthy brain, these protein fragments are broken down and eliminated. However, the researchers said the increase in be-ta-amyloid could raise the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

The Alzheimer’s, which accounts for 60 to 80 per cent of dementia cases, is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. According to ‘Sleep Review,’ the journal for sleep specialists, the new study demonstrates that sleep may play an important role in human beta-amyloid clearance.
Previous studies similarly showed that lack of sleep is bad for health. Regular poor sleep puts affected persons at risk of serious medical conditions, including obesity, heart disease, and diabetes– and it shortens life expectancy.
It is estimated that one in three suffers from poor sleep, with stress, computers and taking work home often blamed. However, the new study shows that the beta-amyloid is a metabolic waste product present in the fluid between brain cells. In Alzheimer’s disease, beta-amyloid clumps together to form amyloid plaques, negatively impacting communication between neurons.
The report stated: “In Alzheimer’s disease, betaamyloid is estimated to increase about 43 per cent in affected individuals relative to healthy older adults. “It is unknown whether the increase in beta-amyloid in the study participants would subside after a night of rest.” Similarly, the researchers also found that study participants with larger increases in beta-amyloid reported worse mood after sleep deprivation.

The study was led by Ehsan Shokri-Kojori, PhD, and Nora D. Volkow, MD, of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). To understand the possible link between betaamyloid accumulation and sleep, the researchers used positron emission tomography (PET) to scan the brains of 20 healthy subjects, aged 22 to 72, after a night of rested sleep and after sleep deprivation (being awake for about 31 hours).
“They found beta-amyloid increases of about five per cent after losing a night of sleep in brain regions including the thalamus and hippocampus regions especially vulnerable to damage in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease,” the report stated.”

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Cafeine Can Help Boost Heart Health - Study

Scientists said drinking coffee and tea every day may actually benefit people with heart troubles.

A new study published in the ‘Journal of the American College of Cardiology,’ has linked caffeine consumption to decreased rates of arrhythmias, or abnormal heart rhythms.

Heart arrhythmia also known as arrhythmia, dysrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, is a group of conditions in which the heartbeat is irregular, too fast, or too slow.

Many types of arrhythmia have no symptoms and when symptoms are present, these may include palpitations or feeling a pause between heartbeats.

More seriously there may be lightheadedness, passing out, shortness of breath, or chest pain. While most types of arrhythmia are not serious, some predispose a person to complications such as stroke or heart failure. Others may result in cardiac arrest.

However, the researchers warned against the consumption of energy drinks that contain high levels of caffeine for anyone with a pre-existing heart condition.

Previous studies suggested that there were potential health benefits associated with drinking coffee include protecting against type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, liver disease, liver cancer, and promoting a healthy heart.

In the new study, they reviewed 11 major international studies involving 360,000 people and found caffeine had no effect on ventricular arrhythmias, which is a type of regular and fast heart rate that arises from improper electrical activity in the ventricles of the heart.

Many clinicians advise patients with atrial or ventricular arrhythmias to avoid caffeinated beverages, while some who dread coffee consumption deliberately keep away from drinking the bevearage on the excuse that they react to it.

Although, there was a public perception, often based on circumstantial experience, that caffeine was a common acute trigger for heart rhythm problems,” the Director of Electrophysiology at Alfred Hospital and Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia, Dr. Peter Kistler said, “Our extensive review of the medical literature suggests this is not the case.”

“The analysis suggests caffeine intake of up to 300 milligrams a day may be safe for patients with arrhythmias. This equates to roughly three cups of coffee.”

They however noted that there may be individual differences in susceptibility to the effects of caffeine on the factors, which trigger arrhythmias in some.

“Caffeinated beverages such as coffee and tea may have long term anti-arrhythmic properties mediated by antioxidant effects and antagonism of adenosine,” Kistler said.

“In numerous population-based studies, patients who regularly consume coffee and tea at moderate levels have a lower lifetime risk of developing heart rhythm problems and possibly improved survival.”-

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Nigerian Mothers Still Shun Exclusive Breastfeeding - Report

Efforts to checkmate the rising cases of infant and child malnutrition across Nigeria are yet to achieve the goal. 

Nigeria Natural Health Online gathered that although gradual progress is being made towards the goal, much remains to be done as indicators show that many Nigerian mothers are yet to understand the primary role of exclusive breastfeeding within the first six months of life in the bid to break the vicious cycle of malnutrition and poverty in the country. 

According to the 2016-2017 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2016/17, MICS, Nigeria’s breastfeeding rate remains low overall with only 23.7 per cent of babies born in the country being breastfed exclusively.

It would be recalled that the World Health Organisation, WHO, and the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, recommend that infants should be breastfed within one hour of birth. 

WHO and UNICEF also say infants should be breastfed exclusively for the first six months of life and be breastfed continuously for up to two years of age and beyond. Based on the 2016/17 MICS, women in Northern Nigeria rank lowest in breastfeeding their children exclusively while women in the South-West zone lead in exclusive breastfeeding. 

Health watchers are of the view that although the percentage of mothers exclusively breastfeeding their babies aged under six months, increased from 15.1 per cent to 23.7 per cent, it remains a major crack in the country’s efforts to stop malnutrition in children. 

South-West leads 

A further breakdown of the MICS showed that the South-West has the highest number of exclusively breastfed children with 43.9 per cent and 70.5 per cent predominantly breastfed while the North-West zone has the lowest number of children breastfed exclusively with only 18.5 per cent. About 56.6 per cent were predominantly breastfed. 

The South-South zone followed with 27.2 per cent and 52.5 per cent exclusively and predominantly breastfed; South-East, 25.3 per cent and 47.8 per cent exclusively/predominantly breastfed; North-Central, 24.9 per cent and 45.8 per cent; North-East, 21.3 per cent and 50.4 per cent respectively. 

The survey also found that out of the 60 per cent child deaths attributed directly and indirectly to undernutrition, two thirds of child deaths have been attributed to improper feeding during the first year of existence. 

A comparative analysis of data from the MICS, conducted in 2007, 2011 and 2016/17, revealed that exclusive breastfeeding under six months has gradually improved consistently over the years in all states in the South- West zone and Edo State. 

In a presentation entitled: The Situation of Children & Women in South-West States based on MICS data in the last 10 years (2007 – 2017), UNICEF’s Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation, Specialist, Mr Niyi Olaleye, observed that exclusive breastfeeding is positively related with mother’s education, wealth status and is now practised more in urban areas. 

According to Olaleye, data from the MICS showed that in the South- West zone, Ogun and Ondo states recorded the lowest rates over the years while Osun recorded the most improvement rising from 12.5 per cent in 2007, 40.7 per cent (2011) to 55.3 per cent (2016/17). 

In the South-West zone, according to the 2016/17 MICS, the average rate of infants under six months old who are exclusively breastfed is 43.9 per cent, with the highest rate occurring in Lagos at 51.8 per cent, and lowest in Ondo at 23.5 per cent. 

From the 2007 and 2011 MICS, average rates of infants under six months old exclusively breastfed were 17.1 per cent, and 27.0 per cent, respectively. Rates for Lagos were 20.0 per cent (2007) and 28.1 per cent (2011), while corresponding rates for Ondo were 14.3 per cent, (2007) and 8.6 per cent (2011). 

Quoting the MICS, Olaleye said more women with a live birth in the last two years across the South- West zone are putting their last newborn to the breast within one hour of birth, especially in Ogun. He said early initiation of breastfeeding is practised more in Edo and improved consistently in Ondo. 

WHO recommendation 

According to the WHO, breastfeeding is vital to a child’s lifelong health and reduces costs for health facilities, families, and governments. Breastfeeding within the first hour of birth protects newborn babies from infections and saves lives. 

WHO maintains that infants are at greater risk of death due to diarrhoea and other infections when they are only partially breastfed or not breastfed at all. Breastfeeding also improves IQ, school readiness and attendance, and is associated with higher income in adult life. It also reduces the risk of breast cancer in the mother. 

The world health body also found that breastfeeding all babies for the first two years would save the lives of more than 820,000 children under age five annually. 

In the views of UNICEF Evaluation expert, Maureen Zubie-Okolo, during a media dialogue on MICS 5 2017 and Data- Driven Reporting, education is one of the most important tool in encouraging and promoting the campaign for 100 per cent attainment of exclusive breastfeeding by all mothers in Nigeria. 

She said a key finding in the survey showed that 41.0 per cent of children under five in the country were exclusively breastfed by mothers who had attained one form of higher education or the other. 

Zubie-Okolo said the survey found that 30.6 per centof the children were exclusively breastfed by mothers who completed their secondary school education, 20.8 per cent was attributed to mothers who only attended primary school, 16.9 per cent of the children were born to women who had non-formal education and 19.6 per cent were breastfed by mothers who had no access to any form of education. 

She noted that a mother’s education has a great impact on the nutritional status of the child, as children born by mothers who were either unable to attain any form of education or only had access to lower education, were the ones mostly faced with issues of malnutrition. 

 “The survey proves that with more number of educated mothers in the country, the higher the chances of an increased percentage of children exclusively breastfed as a result of access to adequate information and a better understanding of the benefits of feeding a child with only breast milk within the first six months after birth. She said exclusive breastfeeding is key to fighting child malnutrition as it is more resilient in fighting malnutrition. 

What breastfeeding is UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Mrs. Ada Ezeogu said breastfeeding simply means feeding of an infant or young child with breast milk rather than using infant formula or any other milk from baby bottle while exclusive breastfeeding means giving the baby only breast milk for the first six months of his life without water or any form of liquid. 

Ezeogu regretted that achieving exclusive breastfeeding has remained a challenge in the country because of the practice of adding water to breastfeeding. “Most parents see breast like any other food that you eat and drink water at the end but the breast milk has enough water to meet the needs of the child. It contains all the nutrients that a child needs to grow and survive and, in fact, over 88 per cent of the breast milk is water. 

So you don’t need to add any water for the baby, otherwise, you will be taking the space of the nutrients from the milk in the baby’s stomach.” 

She encouraged mothers to ensure that babies that are less than six months do not take water, adding that, “if you give water, the baby will not be able to get sufficient milk and nutrient requirements and he will be malnourished. “In addition to water, breast milk contains nutrients such as protein, vitamins, iron, minerals and fats, etc. 

What stands breast milk out? Of the eight major preventive interventions for child development and survival, analysis showed that exclusive breastfeeding has the most impact. Ezeogu who noted that breastfeeding alone could contribute 13 per cent reduction in child mortality, added that breastfeeding is at the very top of interventions for child survival. 

“Babies who are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their lives have lower risk of respiratory infection, urinary tract infections, ear infections (acute otitis media), fewer bouts of diarrhoea and sudden infant death syndrome. Sudden infant death is unexplainable death of children. 

“Breastfeeding also protects the baby from chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes mellitus. Also, the breast milk contains antibodies that are transferred to the baby. The benefits are not only pronounced in childhood but also in adulthood. 

It has been proven that children that are exclusively breastfed has higher IQ than those not breastfed. The longer you breastfeed the child, the less chances of his suffering from depression and attention issues when he becomes an adult.”

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Third Hand Smoke Increases Lung Cancer Risk - Experts

Experts have now come to the conclusion that third hand smoke increases the risk of lung cancer and have cautioned that tobacco should never be smoked indoors to ensure cleaner air.

A new study released by researchers from San Diego University in Carlifonia, United States (US), found that high levels of third hand smoke can linger in gambling casinos, on walls, furniture, and in carpets months after smoking is eliminated.

That, according to them raised the risk of lung cancer. The chemical residues, such as nicotine, cotinine, and the potent lung carcinogen known as NNK, can harm people’s health when they’re exposed to them, even if they aren’t smokers themselves. In 2017, the researchers reported that brief exposure to third hand smoke was associated with low body weight and immune changes in juvenile mice.

In the follow-up study, which was published in ‘Clinical Science, the researchers found that exposure early in life to third hand smoke was associated with an increased risk and severity of lung cancer in mice.

Third-hand Smoke is the poisonous chemical residual of tobacco smoke contamination that clings to clothing, wall, furniture, carpet, cushions, hair, skin and other materials after the cigarette is extinguished. Usually, the nicotine residues soak into a smoker’s skin and clothing even if they smoke outside.

Studies have confirmed that third hand smoke in indoor environments is widespread, and usual cleaning methods don’t remove it.

Since exposure to third hand smoke can occur through inhalation, ingestion, or through the skin, young children who crawl and put objects in their mouths are more likely to come in contact with contaminated surfaces and are the most vulnerable to its harmful effects.

Previous study at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) identified third hand smoke as a health hazard 10 years ago.

In the new study, a strain of mice that is susceptible to lung cancer was housed with fabric infused with third hand smoke from the age of four to seven weeks.

The mice ingested a dose comparable to the ingestion exposure of a human toddler living in a home with smokers.

Forty weeks after the last exposure, the mice were found to have an increased incidence of lung cancer (adenocarcinoma), larger tumors, and a greater number of tumors, compared to control mice.

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Heavy Smartphone Use Could Raise Anxiety, Depression - Research Findings

Scientists said getting addicted to smartphones to the point of obsession was unhealthy. A new study findings published in the journal ‘Neuro- Regulation,’ suggested that the convenience of smartphones could facilitate overuse and addiction and may increase the chances of users developing anxiety, loneliness and depression.

Likening the overuse of smart phones to any other type of substance abuse, the researchers, suggested that many smartphone users were also addicted to the constant pings, chimes, vibrations and other alerts from the devices, adding that they were unable to ignore new emails, texts and images.


Consequently, Quoting Dr. Erik Peper, a professor of health education at that at San Francisco State University, the ‘PsychCentral’ reported him saying: “The behavioural addiction of smartphone use begins forming neurological connections in the brain in ways similar to how opioid addiction is experienced by people taking Oxycontin for pain relief gradually.”

Moreover, an addiction to social media technology may actually have a negative effect on social connections, the report stated. Dr. Peper and Dr. Richard Harvey, an associate professor of health, found that students who used their phones the most reported higher levels of feeling isolated, lonely, depressed and anxious.

The survey involved 135 San Francisco State students, according to ‘PsychCentral’. Just as individuals can train themselves to eat less sugar, Peper said people could take charge and train themselves to be less addicted to phones and computers.

He consequently suggested turning off push notifications and only responding to email and social media at specific times and scheduling periods with no interruptions to focus on important tasks.

Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear that can be mild or severe and it could present in many form including panic attacks, anxiety attacks, phobia, and social anxiety, while depression is a mental health disorder characterised by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life.

The researchers believe the loneliness was partly a consequence of replacing face-to-face interaction with a form of communication where body language and other signals could not be interpreted.

They also found that those same students almost constantly multitasked while studying, watching other media, eating or attending class. This constant activity is problematic as it allowed little time for bodies and minds to relax and regenerate.

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FAO Wares Of Rinderpest Resurgence

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, UN, has begun massive awareness creation over rinderpest disease outbreak in the Nigeria. 

This was contained in a statement signed by National Communication Officer, FAO, David Karls, Friday, which said the move was made known by the Country Representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, FAO, Suffyan Koroma, who said that a special awareness creation programme will alert livestock farmers and pastoralists in Nigeria on the likely re-emergence of rinderpest. 

Koroma said the awareness creation became necessary and was to keep farmers and pastoralists on the alert, what to do when signs of the devastating animal disease or other Transboundary Animal Diseases, TADs, are noticed on their livestock. 

He said the programme sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN), as part of support to the government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), aims to raise awareness among pastoralists of the dangers of this disease that killed millions of animals before it was pronounced globally eradicated in 2011. 

According to him rinderpest, also a TAD was stamped out but virus samples were kept by some institutions for research purposes. 

At an African regional conference in 2015, five countries, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan, agreed that the Virus Containing Materials, VCM, kept in laboratories should either be destroyed or sent to the Pan African Veterinary Centre of the African Union, AU-PANVAC, in Ethiopia for safekeeping.

However, some laboratories in universities and other research institutes retained the VCM. This action gave vent to the expressed anxiety that it might be reintroduced, either through accidental spillage or other human errors and it will spread to grazing areas. 

“This awareness campaign began in 2017 during a Livestock stakeholders’ strategic communication meeting to keep the participants abreast on disease recognition and the need for early warning in the case of reemergence. “The distribution of awareness-creation posters to livestock farmers across 18 states, three each from the six geopolitical regions of the country compliments the radio broadcast.” 

He also explained the listening of groups, which he said were delineated in the states, added that earlier in March the campaign was monitored, as the radio broadcast begun on the March 27, 2018 and will run for six weeks. 

According to him (Koroma) before the distribution of the awareness-creation posters, the message was to be broadcasted on the platforms of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, regional stations in Enugu, Ibadan and Kaduna in four different languages of Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa and Fulfulde contains information regarding the highly contagious epidemic animal diseases, rinderpest and TADs poses. “The intention is to keep the world and our country free from Rinderpest, and to protect our animals from other dangerous animal diseases. 

We have to be vigilant and to immediately alert veterinary services providers to prevent further spread of infections on our animals. The message will be broadcasted twice a week, Tuesday and Thursday morning and evening for six weeks to ensure effective penetration to the target audience”, Koroma said. 

He said livestock farmers are tasked to ensure that they report unusual behavior among their animals, as other known TADs like foot and mouth disease, contagious bovine, pleuropneumonia, lumpy skin disease, sheep and goat pox, peste des petits ruminants, African swine fever, rabies and brucellosis are equally as dangerous and needs to be tackled as soon as they are noticed. 

The message will be closely monitored by the members of the listening groups identified in the states, which include federal/state veterinary and animal husbandry officials, members of relevant interest groups, cattle breeders, farmers and owners as well as female pastoralists. 

Meanwhile, he disclosed that FAO in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had sponsored some experts to destroy the remaining rinderpest specimen kept in some university laboratories in Sokoto and Borno States.

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