Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is the most common cause of spinal cord dysfunction in older persons. The aging process results in degenerative changes in the cervical spine that, in advanced stages, can cause compression of the spinal cord. Symptoms
What is cervical spondylotic myelopathy? Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a compression of the spinal cord in the neck. CSM often affects older adults. In people with CSM, changes in the bones, discs and ligaments of the spine cause pr
Proteinuria is a common finding in adults in primary care practice. An algorithmic approach can be used to differentiate benign causes of proteinuria from rarer, more serious disorders. Benign causes include fever, intense activity or exercise, dehydr
What is bipolar disorder? Bipolar disorder is an illness that causes extreme mood swings. This condition is also called manic-depressive illness. It may be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Bipolar disorder sometimes runs in
Bipolar disorder most commonly is diagnosed in persons between 18 and 24 years of age. The clinical presentations of this disorder are broad and include mania, hypomania and psychosis. Frequently associated comorbid conditions include substance abuse
Natural supplements are widely used by the American public but, while claims of their therapeutic effects abound, medical research does not always support their effectiveness. Clinical trials using Q10 for the management of congestive heart failure ha
Dietary antioxidants and folic acid may play a role in the pathophysiology of coronary disease and stroke. We review patient-oriented evidence on the effectiveness of supplementation with antioxidants and/or folic acid in the prevention of myocardial
This feature is part of a year-long series of excerpts and special commentaries celebrating AFP's 50th year of publication. Excerpts from the two 1950 volumes of GP, AFP's predecessor, appear along with highlights of 50 years of family medicine.
The Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued a policy statement on the role of the physician in childhood bereavement. The AAP policy statement appears in the February 2000 iss
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved rivastigmine tartrate (Exelon) for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Rivastigmine has been found to improve a patient's daily functioning, behavior and cognition. Ac
Author: Anne D. Walling
Date: Feb 15, 1997
Iron deficiency is a common condition that is believed to impair physical endurance, growth and development, and aspects of cognitive function. Bruner and colleagues evaluated the effects of iron supplementation on attention, memory and learning abilities in nonanemic adolescent girls attending urban high schools.
Nonanemic iron deficiency was defined as a serum ferritin concentration of less than 12 ng per mL (12 [Mu]g per L) with normal levels of hemoglobin (adjusted for age and race). A total of 78 girls completed eight weeks of treatment with either oral ferrous sulfate (650 mg twice daily) or identical placebo. Baseline cognitive function was measured before treatment, using standardized tests. Compliance was closely monitored throughout the trial. Research assistants either gave or reminded participants to take medication, and small prizes were given for compliance.
At the end of the study, mean serum ferritin and mean hemoglobin levels had risen significantly in the treatment group. Although no difference could be documented in measures of attention between the two groups, the girls who received iron showed improvement in assessments of recall, verbal learning and memory. Both groups reported similar rates of side effects: abdominal pain (26 percent), headache (20 percent), nausea (19 percent), diarrhea (6 percent) and constipation (4 percent).
The authors conclude that iron supplementation may improve verbal learning and memory in nonanemic young women. They note that this age group remains vulnerable to subclinical iron deficiency.
Bruner AB, et al. Randomised study of cognitive effects of iron supplementation in non-anaemic iron-deficient adolescent girls. Lancet 1996; 348:992-6.
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