Media Coverage

The number of Asians and Pacific Islanders with diabetes keeps going up

In 2015, the American Diabetes Association recommended Asian Americans get tested for diabetes at a body mass index of 23, lower than other groups. And they’ve worked from the inside to make their communities healthier. Dr. Namratha Kandula at Northwestern University started a diabetes prevention program for South Asians living near Chicago.

“And so what that means is in addition to talking about diet and exercise. We specifically address the stress that comes from being an ethnic minority in this country.”

To Prevent Heart Attacks, Doctors Try a New Genetic Test

Suppose your young patient has a score indicating a heart attack is likely, perhaps a few decades or more later. If that patient starts taking a statin right away, as opposed to in midlife, will a heart attack be prevented? Dr. Sadiya Sana Khan of Northwestern University emphasized the need for more research. She has a new study showing that, in middle-aged to older adults, CT scans of the heart, which can show the buildup of plaque, are better than genetics in predicting risk. But that leaves a question about how to manage risk in young people, who almost never have visible plaque on a CT scan, even if they are at greater danger for a heart attack later in life. “We need more studies that focus on younger people with follow-up over several decades,” she said. If risk scores in young adults predict a greater likelihood of a heart attack, she asked, will that prediction be borne out when the people are older, at ages when heart attacks are more likely? Or will those with high risk scores instead be needlessly worried about their hearts?

SIDS cause remains a mystery. Scientists think they may have found a promising new clue.

Researchers are one step closer to understanding why some babies are at greater risk of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS – the leading cause of death for infants one month to one year old. Most of the time, SIDS, sometimes called crib death, happens during sleep. One theory for SIDS is a disruption of a baby’s ability to breathe. A new study published in the Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology finds an abnormality in a brain receptor involved in the body’s protective response to gasp for air may play a role. In the 1990s, public health officials began promoting the “Back to Sleep” (now called “Safe to Sleep”) initiative to teach parents how to reduce SIDS risk by making sure babies sleep on their backs. Still, SIDS rates have “plateaued,” said Debra Weese-Mayer, Northwestern University professor of pediatric autonomic medicine, highlighting the importance of continued research, education and outreach.

Can multivitamins improve memory? A new study shows ‘intriguing’ results

“This is intriguing,” says Dr. Jeffrey Linder, chief of general internal medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, who was not involved in the study. But he says the overall effect found in the study was quite small. “It seems like a pretty modest difference,” Linder says. And he points out that the multivitamins had no effect on other areas of cognition evaluated in the study, such as executive function, which may be more important measures.

How to control your cholesterol and when to consider taking statins

Sometimes it may seem as if half the population of the United States takes medication for high cholesterol levels. About 40 million Americans are taking statins such as atorvastatin (Lipitor and generic), lovastatin (Altoprev) and simvastatin (Zocor), which are by far the most commonly prescribed of all types of cholesterol drugs. Statins can be quite effective. Donald Lloyd-Jones, MD, shares advice on how to lower cholesterol. Regular consumption of unsaturated fats (olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds) and soluble fiber (oats, barley, psyllium) may lower LDL cholesterol by about 7 to 15 mg/dL. Limit full-fat dairy, red meat and fried food because their saturated fat can raise LDL, says Donald Lloyd-Jones, chair of preventive medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

Ozempic: How the Diabetes Drug Works and Why It’s Such a Big Deal for Weight Loss

A drug approved by the FDA to treat people with Type 2 diabetes has ignited a craze among social-media influencers, the rich and famous and everyday people alike. Ozempic, made by Novo Nordisk A/S, has gained popularity for its off-label use, helping users drop excess pounds within a matter of months. “It’s very important that diet counseling be given along with the medication,” said Robert Kushner, MD, professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and medical director of Northwestern’s lifestyle medicine center. Many people have regained substantial weight after they stopped using semaglutide or tirzepatide. Researchers are monitoring whether the drugs need to be taken indefinitely to keep weight off, and if that is safe.

Cardiovascular disease is poised to kill more older people

Cardiovascular disease — the No. 1 cause of death among people 65 and older — is poised to become even more common in the years ahead, disproportionately affecting Black and Hispanic communities and exacting an enormous toll on the health and quality of life of older Americans. “Whatever focus we’ve had before on managing [cardiovascular] disease risk in Black and Hispanic Americans, we need to redouble our efforts,” said Clyde Yancy, chief of cardiology and vice dean for diversity and inclusion at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. He was not involved with the research.