We are starting a regular feature where we cut through the noise of the thousands of new, health-related papers. We will pick a few recent papers and summarize them in a practical and not anxiety-inducing way for people trying to cut through the chatter of fitness influencers.
Our main questions on each paper:
- In simple language, what does it say?
- Does it have good evidence?
- Should what it says matter to normal people?
- What simple thing, if anything, could a normal person do to take advantage of this finding?
This edition's papers:
- Blood pressure variability supersedes heart rate variability as a real-world measure of dementia risk | Scientific Reports
- Cardiorespiratory and metabolic consequences of detraining in endurance athletes | Frontiers
- Evidence for iatrogenic transmission of Alzheimer’s disease | Nature Medicine
Paper 1: Blood Pressure Variability
Summary
This paper examines the relationship between blood pressure variation and dementia risk. In particular, it compares the effect of blood pressure variability and heart rate variability on human health. It finds that the former is more consequential for overall health, in particular for dementia risk.
What does the paper claim?
- Blood pressure variability is a key indicator of dementia risk, more so than heart rate variability.
Does it have good evidence and methods?
- Yes, it uses detailed clinical data for its conclusions.
Does the claim matter to normal people?
- Yes, as dementia is a common concern, especially in older adults, and people don't pay much attention to blood pressure variability.
What simple thing could a normal person do to take advantage of knowing this?
- Regular (and even continuous) blood pressure monitoring to detect any patterns or unusual changes.
Paper 2: Detraining and its Health Consequences
Summary
The paper discusses the effects of detraining—training and then stopping for a while—on endurance athletes. It highlights the cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and hormonal changes that occur when athletes reduce or stop their training. Key findings include relatively rapid declines in maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), changes in blood volume and heart rate, and alterations in muscle and hormonal functions. These findings are crucial for understanding how breaks in training can impact performance and physical condition, even among non-athletes.
What does the paper claim?
- Detraining leads to rapid and significant cardiorespiratory and metabolic changes.
Does it have good evidence and methods?
- Yes, it's based on a systematic review of numerous studies.
Does the claim matter to normal people?
- Yes, given the connection between cardiovascular fitness and overall health, as well as given what we know about V02 max's relationship with all-cause mortality.
What simple thing could a normal person do to take advantage of knowing this?
- Avoid detraining, especially with increasing age. Maintain a steady exercise habit, and avoid doing things that might disrupt it overly, like injuries.
Paper 3: First Cases of Alzheimer's Transmission
Summary
This much-publicized new study reports the first known cases of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in individuals who received contaminated human growth hormone treatments decades ago. These cases, termed "iatrogenic Alzheimer's disease," suggest AD can be acquired medically and even transmitted. The paper emphasizes the importance of safety in medical procedures to prevent such transmissions and suggests a broader understanding of AD's etiology, including sporadic, inherited, and now, acquired forms.
What does the paper claim?
- AD can be acquired through contaminated medical treatments.
Does it have good evidence and methods?
- Yes, based on patient analysis and historical medical records.
Does the claim matter to normal people?
- It highlights the need for stringent safety in medical treatments.
What simple thing could a normal person do to take advantage of knowing this?
- Don't panic, but also don't go around getting contaminated blood therapies. And even then nothing is likely to happen.
We will be back with more papers next week. And if you see a paper that is getting a lot of attention, and you wonder if you should care, let us know.
