Investigators at Tel Aviv University in Israel have developed a method of musical tests and a portable instrument for measuring brain activity that detects cognitive decline in older individuals.

The method is based on a measurement of 15 minutes of electrical activity in the brain while performing simple tasks, according to the investigators.

They added that this could be easily implemented by staff in any clinic without requiring special training, they said.

“Our method enables routine monitoring and early detection of cognitive decline in order to provide treatment and prevent rapid, severe deterioration. Prophylactic tests of this kind are commonly accepted for a variety of physiological problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure or breast cancer,” investigators said in a statement.

“However, to date no method has yet been developed to enable routine, accessible monitoring of the brain for cognitive issues,” they said.

The investigators developed the method by combining a portable device for the measurement and analysis of electroencephalography (EEG), which was developed by Neurosteer, and a short musical test of about 12 to 15 minutes, which was developed by Neta Maimon, PhD, from Neurosteer.

As part of the test, the individual is connected to the portable EEG device with an adhesive band with 3 electrodes attached to the forehead. The individual performs a series of musical-cognitive tasks according to the audible instructions given through earphones.

The tasks include short melodies played by various instruments where the individual is instructed to perform various tasks with varying difficulty. One task includes the individual pressing a button each time any melody is playing, while another is pressing it when a violin plays.

Additionally, the test has several minutes of musically guided meditation to bring the brain into a resting state, which can indicate cerebral functioning in various situations.

Music influences different centers in the brain by being a quick mood stimulant, particularly related to positive emotions, Maimon said.

Music can also be cognitively challenging, activating the frontal part of the brain.

By combining these capabilities, the cognitive tests can be complex but are still easy to perform, she said.

In the study, investigators included 50 elderly individuals who were hospitalized at Dorot-Netanya Geriatric Medical Center and scored 18 to 30 on the mini-mental test, which is a standard test to evaluate cognitive condition as part of the intake process. A higher score shows normal cognition.

The individuals performed the musical-cognitive tasks, and the EEG devices measured the electrical activity in the brain. Investigators analyzed the results using machine learning technology.

The investigators found that the mathematical indices could be correlated with the mini-mental test scores, which showed that the investigators discovered new brain markers that could stand alone as indices of an individual’s cognitive status.

“We have actually succeeded in illustrating that music is indeed an effective tool for measuring brain activity. The brain activity and response times to tasks correlated to the [individuals’] cerebral conditions, correlating to the mini-mental score assigned to them,” Maimon said.

“More importantly, all those who underwent the experiment reported that, on the one hand, it challenged the brain, but on the other it was very pleasant to perform,” she said.

Musical tests can detect mental deterioration in old age. News release. Science Daily. August 17, 2022. Accessed August 23, 2022. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220817104010.htm

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The method is based on a measurement of 15 minutes of electrical activity in the brain while performing simple tasks.

Musical Tests Detect Mental Deterioration in Older Individuals

A new study led by University of California San Francisco (UCSF) showed that screening for depression at the primary care level could dramatically increase the likelihood of treatment for those who are traditionally undertreated, such as among racial and ethnic minority individuals, older adults, those with limited English proficiency, and men.

Depression tends to go unrecognized in more than half of patients presenting with symptoms in primary care, although data show that an approximate 60% of patients receive their depression care from the primary care setting.

Over a period of 2 years, the electronic health data of 52,944 adult patients seen at 6 UCSF primary care facilities was tracked by researchers. It was reported that after a routine screening policy was implemented, depression screening rates more than doubled, from 40.5% in 2017 to 88.8% in 2019.

In 2018, the research team found that for every 100 patients between the ages of 18 and 30 years screened for depression, 75 patients aged 75 years and older were likely to be screened for depression. Further, for every 100 English-speaking White patients screened for depression, there were 59 non-English-speaking patients likely to be screened for depression.

However, statistically significant disparities seemed to virtually disappear among older patients, African Americans, other English-speaking patients, and patients with language barriers by 2019. Screening for men remained relatively low, and for every 100 women screened for depression, 87 men were likely to be screened for depression.

“Our study is the largest since 2016, when the US Preventive Services Task Force recommended that adult patients be screened for depression, and the first to investigate patient predictors of screening,” said first study author Maria E. Garcia, MD, MPH, MAS, assistant professor in the UCSF Division of General Internal Medicine and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, in a press release. “Because depression impacts so many other chronic diseases, implementation of routine depression screening could also improve patient outcomes for complications from other conditions.”

The data showed that the average age of the patients was 49 years. Additionally, 59% of the patients were female, 43% English-speaking and White, 25% English-speaking and Asian, 9% Latino, 7% Black, 1.4% Pacific Islander, 0.3% American Indian/Alaskan Native, and 5.5% were patients with language barriers. There was missing or unknown data for race and ethnicity for 9% of the English-speaking patients.

“Our study shows that a systems-based approach can increase depression screening and address screening disparities,” senior author Leah S. Karliner, MD, professor in the UCSF Division of General Internal Medicine, said in the press release.

The study authors noted that several factors contributed to achieving high, more equitable screening rates. During the study, depression screening was a priority as part of a larger focus on quality improvement metrics across safety net systems in California tied to state funds. In addition, the health care system created a task force with representation from all primary care practices focused on detecting screening disparities in clinical settings.

“Depression screening is necessary, but not sufficient, to decrease care disparities,” Garcia said in the press release. “Screening may help with poor physician recognition of depressive symptoms, but it must be followed by clinical action.

According to Garcia, future investigations will be focused on whether screening is associated with increases in depression diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, and remission.

Routine Depression Screening May Capture Underdiagnosed Patient Populations. UCSF. August 18, 2022. Accessed August 23, 2022. 

https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2022/08/423496/routine-depression-screening-may-capture-underdiagnosed-patient-populations

Study Finds Routine Depression Screening May Address Underdiagnosed Patient Populations

A flexible e-learning program may help to improve nurses’ knowledge and skills for better neonatal pain management after 4 weeks, according to investigators conducting research on the subject at Hiroshima University. However, the team of investigators was not able to conclude whether an e-learning program is superior to other training methods.

"Continuing education is essential to maintain and increase nurses' proficiency in neonatal pain assessment and treatment," said study lead Mio Ozawa, associate professor in the Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science at Hiroshima University, in a press release.

Only recently did investigators discover that neonates, or newborns, experience pain like adults and children. However, they cannot express their level pain by pointing to a happy or sad face or using a numerical scale.

Ozawa explained that research has demonstrated that nurses are not currently trained in neonatal pain management, yet newborn intensive care unit (NICU) nurses have been shown to stay at the bedside of newborns for longer than other health care professionals to provide care.

This study was inspired by a previous one that analyzed the results of the e-learning program among 52 nurses. While their test scores generally improved during the training, there was no control group to show if the program was effective.

To expand beyond the limits of the first trial, this randomized control trial investigated the effects of e-learning for certified nurses to improve skills in newborn pain management across NICUs nationwide. Conducted in Japan, researchers performed the study by randomly dividing certified NICU nurses into 2 groups. One group participated in the e-Pain Management of Neonates program, which included 4 weeks of online training in pain measurement for pre-term newborns. During the 4 week program, the training consisted of 4 modules, each about 15 minutes long, which could be done any time, or any place. The other group received no training.

Before the first group began training, both groups took a pre-test. The researchers found that participants in both groups did not differ in knowledge or skills on neonatal pain management during the pre-test. After 4 weeks, both groups completed a post-test. The results of this final test showed that the group in the e-Learning 4-week program scored higher in both factors.

"Our results showed that e-learning programs were more effective as compared to no training,” Ozawa said in the press release.

However, although this study cannot accurately compare the efficacy of e-learning to in-person training, it showed that the program did improve knowledge and skill in neonatal pain management among NICUs.

"Learning in this program would allow nurses to acquire knowledge and skills concerning newborn pain, which is preferred over no education," Ozawa said in the press release. "Further research is needed to determine how nurses' training through e-learning programs is related to patient outcomes, such as more frequent pain assessment of infants by nurses and improved pain management."

How nurses learn to assess pain levels in infants. Hiroshima University; August 19, 2022. Accessed on August 23, 2022. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220819142931.htm

A new e-learning program could enable nurses to better evaluate and manage pain in neonates, according to investigators at Hiroshima University.

Study: E-learning Program for Nurses Could Improve Infant Pain Management

Academic stress has a greater negative impact on the mental well-being of college students who are female, nonbinary, or in the second year of a 4-year program than other students, according to the results of a study from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

Although investigators found correlations between perceived academic stress and poor mental well-being for all students, those specific groups felt the effects the most.

“This study shows that college students are not uniformly impacted by academic stress or pandemic-related stress and that certain groups should be offered additional resources and support,” Xue Ming, PhD, MD, a professor of neurology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, said in a statement. “The findings support prior studies that have shown that nonbinary adults face adverse mental health outcomes when compared to male- and female-identifying adults.”

, aimed to determine if a relationship exists between academic stress and mental well-being, as well as to identify groups that could experience these effects most. Additionally, investigators explored how the perception of the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting stress levels.

Investigators included 843 individuals in the study from aged 18 and 30 years old in different academic years.

They surveyed individuals using questions from the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS), which measured mental well-being and positive mental health, and from the Perception of Academic Stress Scale (PAS), which assessed sources of perceived academic stress and measured 3 main stressors: academic expectations; academic self-perceptions; and exams and workload.

Investigators found that students who are nonbinary reported the highest levels of stress and worst psychological well-being, followed by females. Both groups also reported higher COVID-19 related stress than males.

Additionally, sophomores reported higher academic stress levels and worse mental well-being than those in other academic years.

Further, students who were in their first year scored the best on the PAS, including stress resulting from COVID-19.

Investigators thought that sophomores were the most affected group, because they explore different majors, manage heavier workloads, and start taking more advanced courses,. Other factors could include increased studying, fewer coping mechanisms, and less established social support groups than students who are further into their academic careers.

“Colleges should consider offering tailored mental health resources to these groups to improve students' stress levels and psychological well-being,” Ming said. “To raise awareness and destigmatize mental health, colleges can distribute confidential validated assessments, such as the PAS and SWEMWBS, in class and teach students to self-score so they can monitor their stress and mental well-being.”

Investigators also recommended that colleges provide stress management and coping strategies, such as cognitive behavioral therapies, mindfulness meditation, and stress-reduction peer support groups, to help students build resilience.

How college students perceive academic stress affects their mental well-being. News release. Science Daily. August 9, 2022. Accessed August 15, 2022. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220809194856.htm

Rutgers New Jersey Medical School analysis shows that not all groups are uniformly affected by the pressure, and those that are should be offered additional resources and support.

 Study: Academic Stress Hits Female, Nonbinary, or College Sophomore Students Hardest 

Racial and ethnic minorities bore a disproportionate mental health burden during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the authors of a study published in 

During the heights of the pandemic, research established that minority groups were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 when compared to non-Hispanic whites, including experiencing higher rates of infection, severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Following the pandemic, reports showing a 3-fold increase in the incidence of depression symptoms showed that the pandemic had a significant impact on mental health broadly, but the effects of COVID-19 on the mental health of minorities was not clear based on the data.

In the new study, investigators used data on 691,473 individuals in the United States and United Kingdom who responded to the smartphone-based COVID Symptom Study between January 23, 2021, and June 9, 2021. Recruited through social media, participants reported baseline information before logging daily information on their symptoms and COVID-19 testing results using an app called Zoe.

According to the study, after controlling for personal factors including prior mental health diagnoses and changes in leisure time activities, Black participants in the United States were 1.16 times more likely to screen positive for depression than White participants. Hispanic participants were also 1.23 times more likely to screen positive for depression and 1.23 times more likely to show signs of anxiety compared to White participants.

“The early phase of [the] COVID-19 pandemic was incredibly disruptive to everyday life,” wrote the authors in the study. “We found that racial and ethnic minorities in the US and UK were more likely to screen positive for depression and anxiety.”

Similar results were found for Black and Asian participants in the United Kingdom, as well as those within other participant subgroups, including Black health care workers, who had higher rates of depression and anxiety than White health care workers.

Based on these findings, the authors concluded that minority communities in both the United States and the United Kingdom experience a mental health burden that was disproportionate to other communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. These problems could also last well beyond any presumed conclusion of the pandemic.

“[The findings] suggest a disproportionate impact and mental health burden on persons of color, which need to be considered as we reshape health care systems to prioritize the long-term consequences of this disease,” the authors wrote in the study.

Minorities bore disproportionate mental health impact of pandemic. News release. Science Daily; August 10, 2022. Accessed August 17, 2022. 

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220810161148.htm

Research found that Black health care workers had higher odds of depression and anxiety than White health care workers.

Study: COVID-19 Pandemic Disproportionately Impacted the Mental Health of Minority Populations

New research has found that tendencies toward impulsivity in early adolescence are connected to a variety of poor outcomes in later adolescence, including antisocial personality disorder (APD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD), according to data from hundreds of Philadelphia youth tracked for more than 6 years.

In past studies, the link between impulsivity and disorders such as APD and AUD were analyzed, but the value of intervention during adolescence was not evaluated. The new findings suggest that targeted support during early adolescence once individuals start to exhibit higher levels of impulsivity may help to stop a cascading chain of events that could lead to APD and AUD in late-adolescence.

“Kids with impulse control problems are at risk for a variety of adverse outcomes, such as drug use, acting-out behavior, and antisocial behavior,” said study co-author Dan Romer, PhD, research director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, in a press release. “What we’ve found is that you’ve got to start mitigating impulsivity before it starts influencing behaviors that lead to substance use and antisocial behavior disorders. Once adolescents are on a trajectory of engaging in those behaviors, it may become more difficult to prevent disorders later in adolescence than it is to treat impulsivity itself.”

The study is based on data from the Philadelphia Trajectory Study, which included 364 adolescents of diverse ethnic backgrounds. The study was conducted over 6 waves, during which participants between the ages of 10 and 12 years were interviewed annually starting from 2004 to 2010, with a final 2-year follow-up in 2012. The current study relies on 5 years of self-reported data pulled from waves 3 through 6; by the final wave, the participants were between the ages of 18 and 21 years.

During the study, the team found that from early to mid-adolescence, changes in impulsivity predicted changes in antisocial behavior and alcohol use. However, by the time the participants have reached mid- to late-adolescence, changes in impulsivity were no longer predicting those behaviors.

“It is also important to target antisocial behavior to interrupt the cascade that predicts both [AUD] and [APD],” lead study author Ivy Defoe, an assistant professor of social and behavioural sciences at the University of Amsterdam, said in the press release. “In fact, the study showed that increases in antisocial behavior in mid- to late-adolescence further predicted increases in impulsivity as well. This is consistent with labeling theory that suggests that individuals who show antisocial behavior are subsequently labeled as ‘antisocial’ or ‘rule-breakers,’ which causes them to further exhibit attributes that are associated with such behavior.”

The investigators noted that potential interventions for individuals exhibiting high levels of impulsivity in early adolescence is by alerting parents about the potential risks and ways of referring their children for treatment.

“Intervening early is critical to further avoid the consequences of impulsivity which are more difficult to reverse once psychopathology has developed,” said the research team in the press release. They added that such interventions could include mindfulness training and family-based interventions in which parents and caregivers work to help their child overcome harmful impulsive tendencies.

Significantly, the investigators also noted that the data showed that socioeconomic status was a significant predictor of impulsivity at each wave of the study.

“Future research could further investigate the mechanisms by which early exposure to socioeconomic disadvantage influences heightened impulsivity during adolescence, including impacts on child executive functioning and parenting behaviors,” the researchers said in the press release.

Targeting Impulsivity Early in Adolescence Could Prevent Later Behavioral Disorders. Annenberg Public Policy Center University of Pennsylvania. August 8, 2022. Accessed August 16, 2022. 

https://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/targeting-impulsivity-early-in-adolescence-could-prevent-later-behavioral-disorders/

Research showed that changes in impulsivity during early to mid-adolescence predicted changes in antisocial behavior and alcohol use. 

Study: Targeting Impulsivity Early in Adolescence Could Prevent Later Behavioral Disorders

Almost 30,000 people in the United States die from alcoholic liver diseases every year. Alcohol, especially in excess amounts, has a slew of negative adverse effects (AEs) on the liver, stomach, and the intestinal gut microbiome. The cause for the latter condition has not yet been identified, but new data suggest the liver may be the cause of the gut microbiome imbalance.

Investigators at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) recently proposed that alcohol negatively affects the gut microbiome because of acetate in particular. When drinking, acetate is produced by the liver then diffused into the intestines where it becomes a carbon source that supports growth of bacteria. However, not all of the resulting bacteria growth is beneficial.

"You can think of this a bit like dumping fertilizer on a garden," said co-corresponding author Karsten Zengler, PhD, professor in the departments of Pediatrics and Bioengineering at UCSD School of Medicine and Jacobs School of Engineering, in a press release. "The result is an explosion of imbalanced biological growth, benefitting some species but not others."

Known to regulate appetite, energy, and immune response, acetate can be health promoting by improving cardiac function, enhancing red blood cell production, and improving memory function. However, like many nutrients, an excess amount of acetate can create dysbiosis, which is associated with metabolic changes that can cause cancer.

To understand the issue further, Zengler and his colleagues conducted a study in mice. They fed the mice a molecule that the gut broke into 3 acetates, the third of which altered the rodents’ intestinal microbiome similarly to that of the effects of alcohol. However, it did not damage the rodents’ livers.

Following the experiment, Zengler explained that the intestines express fewer antimicrobial molecules by consuming alcohol frequently.

“Persons with alcohol-related liver disease commonly have bacterial overgrowth in their guts. These findings suggest that microbial ethanol metabolism does not contribute significantly to gut microbiome dysbiosis (imbalance) and that the microbiome altered by acetate does not play a major role in liver damage," Zengler said in the press release. "The situation is more complicated than previously assumed. It's not as simple as more ethanol equals microbiome changes and thus, microbiome dysbiosis equals more liver disease.”

The study authors noted that the findings do not provide a direction for new treatments for alcoholic liver disease. However, the authors explained that the results can guide future research toward the investigation of the effects of acetate on gut microbiota.

Zengler also noted that in future research that will be conducted among his colleagues at UCSD, the investigation of how ethanal consumption changes the gut microbiome is no longer necessary. Instead, Zengler and colleagues will begin to look to identify the bacteria that are causal for deleterious effects of alcohol consumption, rather than the AEs of consumption or disease.

University of California – San Diego. Alcohol use can alter gut microbes, but not in the way you might think. Science Daily. Aug 11, 2022. Accessed on Aug 15, 2022. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220811135321.htm

Although alcohol is not absorbed by the intestines, research has demonstrated that excessive drinking causes the liver to produce too much acetate which may lead to intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

Study: Excessive Alcohol Consumption Causes Gut Microbiome Imbalance 

When children get a sense of comfort from spending time with a parent or a caregiver, their experiencing a type of attachment termed a “secure attachment” with that individual. This secure attachment with a parental figure has been shown to play a significant part in socio-emotional development and mental health during an individual’s youth.

On the other end of the spectrum, a child’s insecure attachment with a parent or caregiver has been found to be associated with depression and anxiety, delinquency and substance use problems, and poorer social competence.

"When mothers struggle in their own interpersonal relationships, the passing on of secure attachment and healthy relationship functioning to adolescent offspring seem to be impeded," said Carla Sharp, PhD, professor of psychology and director of the University of Houston Developmental Psychopathology Lab, in the journal 

Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation

. "Maternal interpersonal problems were associated with higher levels of insecure attachment in adolescent offspring such that adolescents would either dismiss the need for attachment with their moms or show angry preoccupation with the relationship with their moms."

Although there has been an accumulation of data showing the presence of an association between a mothers' mental health issues and their child’s maladaptive attachment in close or romantic relationships in adulthood, the study published in 

 is the first to investigate adolescent relationships and their association with offspring attachment.

The study authors noted that after infancy and early childhood, the parent-child attachment during adolescence is considered to be the second most critical developmental window. Due to the importance of this period, the investigators wanted to assess this period in an individual’s development further to shed light on the impact of the parent-child attachment in adolescence to inform potential interventions that may prevent or reduce youth psychopathology and other adverse outcomes.

During the study, the investigators interviewed 351 adolescents who were inpatient at a psychiatric program or facility and those adolescents’ biological mothers. The adolescents interviewed had an average age of 15 years and 64% of them were female.

During the interviews, the adolescent participants were asked about distressing interpersonal behaviors that they find "hard to do," such as feeling close to other people, or behaviors that they "do too much," such as trying to please other people. Following the interviews, the participants were then assessed on their ability to describe their attachment experiences in a manner that was coherent and collaborative, as well as to reflect on these attachment experiences and how they have impacted the participants personally.

Additionally, the investigators interviewed the biological mothers of the adolescents and asked them to recall experiences from their relationships with their mothers. During these interviews, the investigators looked at whether the relationship dynamic that the mothers recalled having with their mothers helped to explain their present relationship with their children. The results showed a strong correlation between the two.

"The way that parents recalled their experiences with their caregivers is likely impacted by their own interpersonal functioning and may impact the relationship that they build with their children," first study author Sophie Kerr, a graduate student working with Sharp at the University of Houston Developmental Psychopathology Lab, said in a press release.

The authors further noted that these study results will help to drive research to examine the mechanisms of intergenerational risk to tailor interventions that can help to improve parent-child relationships and attachment.

"Findings highlight the mediating role of the mothers' recalled experiences with caregivers in the impact of their interpersonal problems on adolescents, suggesting interventions that enhance interpersonal function such as mentalization-based interventions may be helpful for mothers with interpersonal problems and personality pathology," said Sharp in the press release.

Moms' problems linked to adolescent attachment issues. Houston, TX: University of Houston; August 9, 2022. Accessed August 15, 2022. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220809141259.htm

Research found a strong correlation between a mother’s dynamic with their mother and whether or not their child is able to form secure attachments with others in adolescence.

Maternal Personality Disorder Symptoms May Lead to a Child’s Insecure Attachment in Adolescence

Men with early and curable stages of prostate cancer miss opportunities for cancer detection, because of media health campaigns and national guidelines that focus on urinary symptoms, experts at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom said.

Despite a lack of evidence that links prostate cancer and urinary symptoms, many continue to promote this link, according to investigators.

, investigators said that this link could deter men from coming forward for earlier testing and detection of potentially treatable cancer.

“When most people think of the symptoms of prostate cancer, they think of problems with peeing or needing to pee more frequently, particularly during the night,” Vincent Gnanapragasam, professor of urology at the University of Cambridge, said in a statement. “This misperception has lasted for decades, despite very little evidence, and it’s potentially preventing us picking up cases at an early stage.”

Screening programs can detect cancers at early stages. However, in the case of prostate cancer, some contend that these programs could potentially overwhelm health services and cause individuals to be treated for benign disease.

Testing includes a blood test that looks for a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) that is made only in the prostate gland, though this is not always accurate, according to investigators.

PSA density has been shown to be significantly more accurate than PSA alone.

Evidence shows that there is a misconception that prostate cancer is always symptomatic, with a previous study citing that 86% of the public associated prostate cancer with symptoms, and just 1% were aware that it could be asymptomatic, investigators said.

“We need to emphasize that prostate cancer can be a silent or asymptomatic disease, particularly in its curable stages. Waiting out for urinary symptoms may mean missing opportunities to catch the disease when it’s treatable,” Gnanapragasam said in the statement.

“Men shouldn't be afraid to speak to their [physicians] about getting tested and about the value of a PSA test, especially if they have a history of prostate cancer in their family or have other risk factors, such as being of Black or mixed Black ethnicity,” he said.

Individuals are not advocating for immediate screening programs, investigators said.

They also acknowledged that changes in messaging could mean more men approaching their physicians for a PSA test, which they said could potentially result in unnecessary treatment.

However, they also said there are ways to reduce the risk of this happening, including the use of algorithms to assess an individual’s risk and whether they need to be referred to a specialist and for those who are referred, MRI scans could help rule out mild disease or negative findings.

“If men were aware that just because they have no symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean they are cancer-free, then more might take up offers for tests. This could mean more tumors identified at an earlier stage and reduce the numbers of men experiencing late presentation with incurable disease,” Gnanapragasam said.

Prostate cancer cases risk being detected too late due to misleading focus on urinary problems. News release. ScienceDaily. August 3, 2022. Accessed August 10, 2022. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220803203926.htm

Men with early, curable stages of the disease are missing opportunities for detection, according to an analysis by investigators at the University of Cambridge.

Prostate Cancer Cases Risk Late Detection Because of Misguided Focus on Urinary Problems 

Retaining staff and facility administrators in long-term care facilities continues to be challenging after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the importance of care continuity for patients, according to researchers.

The pandemic exacerbated and drew attention to staffing challenges for nursing home residents, their families, and other health care workers in long-term care environments. Further, recruiting and retaining staff have become significant challenges in recent years.

Researchers from the Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Medicine noted that continuity of staff and leadership has been associated with improving quality of resident care in long-term care facilities, including onsite treatment, post-hospital care, assistance with basic care needs, and more. To discuss the issue further, researchers Jennifer L. Carnahan, MD, MPH, and Kathleen Unroe, MD, MHA, wrote an editorial published in the 

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

According to Carnahan and Unroe, building trust between patients, their families, and long-term care staff allows residents to feel comfortable with the very personal care that they receive. In addition to focusing on tasks, caregivers in such environments must know and interact personally with residents.

In addition to impacting the trust with patients, staff turnover can affects patients’ families as well. Family members rely on staff to care for their loved ones and keep them apprised of changes to their family members’ health and lifestyle. Changes in patients in long-term care can be subtle, including mood changes, loss of interest in activities, or inability to perform a task that they could previously accomplish, necessitating close attention from long-term care staff.

“Doctors and nurses are obviously important, but it should be recognized that frontline nursing home staff deliver 90% of care and thus are critical to creating a high-quality long-term care system,” Unroe said in a press release. “Everyone agrees we have a recruitment and retention problem. We need to devise incentives to attract and keep people in this workforce who enjoy working with older adults and are well trained, especially in the needs of people with dementia.”

Unroe, a geriatrician and past chair of the American Geriatrics Society Public Policy Committee, currently serves as a member of the technical expert panel of the Centers for the Medicare & Medicaid Services Five-Star Quality Rating System. In the editorial, Unroe said the tool provides more than 100 quality metrics divided into 5 categories: mortality, safety of care, readmission to hospitals, patient experience, and timely and effective care. These measurements allow patients, their families, social services, and others to compare quality of care at facilities.

“We need to prioritize nurturing and supporting staff so that they can deliver the hands-on care nursing home residents require,” Carnahan said in the press release. “Given the importance of continuity to quality of care for this vulnerable population and the current lack of viable solutions to improve staff and leadership recruitment and retention, researchers, in partnership with nursing home operators, must take the lead in developing and testing practical and reproduceable strategies to attract and keep a talented workforce and leadership.”

Staff and facility administrator retention has been challenging for long-term care facilities. News release. Regenstrief Institute; August 4, 2022. Accessed August 10, 2022. 

https://www.regenstrief.org/article/staff-retention-challenging-for-long-term-care-facilities/

Building trust between patients, their families, and long-term care staff allows residents to feel comfortable with the very personal care that they receive.



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