Nutrition interventions for people with severe mental illness: do we need more dieticians?

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Elena Marcus considers a brand new systematic review, which evaluates the impact of nutrition interventions for people with severe mental illness.

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Breastfeeding and caries risk

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63 studies were included in the review of the association between breastfeeding and caries. The majority (73%) were cross-sectional. The findings suggest that breastfeeding up to 12 months of age is not associated with an increased risk of dental caries and in fact may offer some protection compared with formula.

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A fish a day keeps depression away?

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Mark Horowitz fires up the barbecue and slices some lemons as he summarises a recent meta-analysis which concludes that higher fish consumption was found to be associated with a reduced risk of depression.

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Motivational interviewing for paediatric oral health

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The review of motivational interviewing (MI) to improve parent-child health interventions included 25 studies in all with 4 dental studies. The dental studies demonstrated a positive effect on oral health and were suggestive of a benefit on dental caries.

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Inconsistent messages about healthy eating impact on choices made by people with learning disabilities in day services

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What do we know about what factors influencing food choice by people with learning disabilities in day services?

Here, we look at a qualitative study, which sets out to explore this in a day service in Scotland.

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Tooth erosion: carbonated drinks associated with higher risk

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This review of 13 observational studies found support for an association between the carbonated drinks, natural acidic fruit juices, and confectionery and snacks in addition to a higher risk of tooth erosion and a reduced risk in those with high consumption of milk and yogurt.

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Are changes in routine health behaviours the missing link between bereavement and poor physical and mental health?

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Olivia Maynard summarises a systematic review of changes in routine health behaviours following later life bereavement, which finds strong support for changes in nutrition, sleep quality and weight status after bereavement.

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Dementia risk factors in people with mild cognitive impairment

People with a learning disability and family carers are able to talk about end-of-life care and healthcare professionals need to acknowledge and respect this expertise

Akshay Nair summarises a recent systematic review and meta-analysis of modifiable predictors of dementia in mild cognitive impairment. The meta-analysis finds that diabetes and the presence of any neuropsychiatric symptoms significantly predicted the conversion of mild cognitive impairment to dementia.

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Pointing the FINGER at a multi-component intervention to prevent cognitive decline and dementia

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Caroline Struthers critically appraises a recent RCT of diet, exercise, cognitive training and vascular risk monitoring to prevent cognitive decline and dementia in at-risk Finnish women.

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Lifestyle changes for cognition and dementia: better than a new drug?

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Should all molecular research institutes looking at neurodegenerative diseases be replaced by parks, playgrounds and cycle paths? Mark Horowitz highlights a recent systematic review of modifiable risk factors associated with cognition and dementia, which suggests that from a public health perspective, there may be some sense in this idea.

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