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Drinking alcohol may counteract the symptoms of arthritis
Fiona Wilkinson
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August 2010
A recent study suggests that rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may be less severe in people who consume alcohol compared to non-drinkers.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when the body's immune system attacks itself. Unlike other forms of arthritis, which mainly affect the bones and cartilage, rheumatoid arthritis may also cause swelling in other areas of the body.
The study, published in the journal Rheumatology, included 873 people with rheumatoid arthritis and 1,004 people without the disease. The participants answered questions about their alcohol consumption during the previous month. The researchers also assessed their symptoms with X-rays, blood tests and pain questionnaires.
According to the findings, non-drinkers were about four times more likely to have rheumatoid arthritis than people who drank alcohol at least 10 days per month. Alcohol consumption was also linked to fewer and milder symptoms. However, the study does not prove that alcohol has a protective effective against rheumatoid arthritis. The details of this potential relationship are unclear, and other factors may be involved.
The study is also limited because it relied on the participants’ memory of their alcohol consumption. Additional research that closely monitors blood alcohol levels is needed to confirm these early findings.
Alcohol may interact with some drugs, herbs and supplements that are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. For instance, alcohol may increase the risk of liver damage when taken with methotrexate or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
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Mediterranean diet linked with lower breast cancer rates
Deep brain stimulation may help with Alzheimer's disease
The Mediterranean diet may be linked to a lower risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women, researchers report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
The Mediterranean diet is rich in heart-healthy fiber, fish, fruits, vegetables and unsaturated fats like olive oil. It includes moderate amounts of alcohol and is low in meats, dairy products and saturated fats.
Several cancers, including colon cancer and breast cancer, are less common in Mediterranean countries compared to northern Europe. It has been suggested that certain elements of the diet, such as eating low amounts of saturated fats and high amounts of unrefined carbohydrates, may offer protective effects against cancer.
Deep brain stimulation may be safe and beneficial for patients with early Alzheimer’s disease, according to a small study. Deep brain stimulation has been used to treat neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor.
Treatment involves surgically implanting a neurostimulator into the brain. This battery-operated medical device delivers electrical stimulation to specific areas of the brain that may be associated with a person’s neurological symptoms. Treatment is limited to patients not responsive to medication.
In the phase I safety trial, six patients with early signs of Alzheimer’s underwent deep brain stimulation. All patients were released from hospital 2-3 days after surgery and received continuous brain stimulation for 12 months. They continued taking their prescribed anti-Alzheimer’s medications during the study.
