Fast facts on male menopause, caffeine, memory, postpartum, painkillers and more.
By
PT Staff, published on July 01, 2004 - last reviewed on August 18, 2005
Male menopause? There’s scant evidence that so-called
andropause—low testosterone in aging men—causes depression,
says Columbia University psychiatrist Stuart Seidman. Men’s
hormonal changes in later life aren’t as drastic as those that
women face, he says.
Using the Bean
Small, well-spaced cups of coffee throughout the day
are better than a huge mug in the morning, according to a study in the
journal Sleep. Even small doses of caffeine ward off the afternoon slump,
when the body’s desire for a nap is strongest.
Early Baby Blues
Postpartum depression may often start during a
woman’s pregnancy. More than 50 percent of women diagnosed with
postpartum blues have symptoms before they give birth, according to an
Emory University study.
Sustaining Memory
Adults with a family history of Alzheimer’s
disease should watch for vitamin B12 and folate deficiency, a risk factor
for poor recall in those over age 75 who carry a gene related to
Alzheimer’s. About 15 percent of the general population carries the
gene, according to a study in Neuropsychology.
Painkiller Abuse
The first thing some babysitters do is check the
medicine cabinet, says Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on
Drug Abuse, about the rising abuse of painkillers among high school
students. Nearly 10 percent of U.S. 12th-grade students have tried the
prescription painkiller Vicodin, according to government surveys.
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