People with gingivitis-gum disease have worse mental function than their peers whose gums are in better shape, a new analysis of US data shows. The findings raise the possibility that system-wide inflammation due to gum disease could have harmful effects on brain function.  Dr. Robert Stewart of the Institute of Psychiatry in London says that it is known that older people with bad teeth are more likely to have dementia and cognitive impairment; this new analysis is to see whether a similar relationship is present in younger people.

People with gingivitis-gum disease have worse mental function than their peers whose gums are in better shape, a new analysis of US data shows. The findings raise the possibility that system-wide inflammation due to gum disease could have harmful effects on brain function.  Dr. Robert Stewart of the Institute of Psychiatry in London says that it is known that older people with bad teeth are more likely to have dementia and cognitive impairment; this new analysis is to see whether a similar relationship is present in younger people.

A team of national researchers have developed a rapid screening test to detect mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Three simple-little words, along with a simple drawing, can help diagnose mild cognitive impairment in three minutes. The new screening tool, called the Mini-Cog, was developed by researchers at Emory University’s Woodruff Health Sciences Center.

Johns Hopkins defines a mini stroke or more correctly a transient ischemic attack (TIA) as: short-lived and reversible symptoms of a stroke that are caused by a temporary reduction in blood flow to the brain. Most episodes subside within five to 20 minutes. For TIAs, under diagnosing can be hazardous because suffering with a TIA increases your risk of developing a full-blown stroke.

Nick Zenarosa, MD is the chairman and director of the department of emergency medicine at Baylor University Medical Center at Garland, Texas. He recently described on the Baylor Health Care System’s site how you may be able to tell the difference between a heart attack and just plain indigestion. In a situation like Thanksgiving large amounts of fatty foods, alcohol, and desert are consumed in a short amount of time often leading to heartburn.