Medical Bulletin 18/September/2025 - Video

Chronic insomnia may accelerate brain aging and significantly increase the risk of developing cognitive impairments, including dementia. The findings, published in journal Neurology, suggest that sleep problems in older adults are not just disruptive but could have long-term consequences for brain health.

Chronic insomnia, defined as difficulty sleeping at least three days a week for three months or more was associated with a 40% higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment or dementia.

The study followed 2,750 cognitively healthy adults, with an average age of 70, for an average of 5.6 years. Of the participants, 16% had chronic insomnia. Each participant completed yearly thinking and memory assessments, and a subset underwent brain imaging to examine signs of small vessel disease and amyloid plaque buildup—both markers associated with Alzheimer’s disease. At the start of the study, participants were also asked whether they had been sleeping more or less than usual over the prior two weeks.

By the end of the study, 14% of participants with chronic insomnia had developed cognitive impairments, compared to 10% of those without insomnia. Notably, participants who reported getting less sleep than usual showed lower cognitive scores and more brain changes, including increased amyloid plaques, similar to changes seen in people with the APOE ε4 gene, a known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s. In contrast, those who reported more sleep than usual showed fewer white matter changes.

"This reinforces the importance of treating chronic insomnia -- not just to improve sleep quality but potentially to protect brain health as we age. Our results also add to a growing body of evidence that sleep isn't just about rest -- it's also about brain resilience," said study author Diego Z. Carvalho, MD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology.

While further research is needed, the findings emphasize the importance of diagnosing and treating chronic insomnia, not only for better sleep but also to potentially safeguard cognitive health.

Reference: Diego Z. Carvalho, Bhanu Prakash Kolla, Stuart J. McCarter, Erik K. St. Louis, Mary M. Machulda, Scott A. Przybelski, Angela J. Fought, Val J. Lowe, Virend K. Somers, Bradley F. Boeve, Ronald C. Petersen, Clifford R. Jack, Jonathan Graff-Radford, Andrew William Varga, Prashanthi Vemuri. Associations of Chronic Insomnia, Longitudinal Cognitive Outcomes, Amyloid-PET, and White Matter Changes in Cognitively Normal Older Adults. Neurology, 2025; 105 (7) DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000214155

AI Reads Mammograms to Predict Heart Disease Risk in Women: Study Finds

A novel artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm using only routine mammogram images and age can predict a woman’s risk of major cardiovascular disease as accurately as standard clinical tools, according to a new study published online in the journal Heart. The research suggests that mammography, traditionally used to detect breast cancer could serve as a cost-effective “two-for-one” screening tool to also assess heart disease risk in women.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains underdiagnosed and undertreated in women, in part because traditional risk assessment models often perform poorly in female populations. While newer algorithms have improved accuracy, they typically rely on detailed clinical data, which is not always readily available.

The study analyzed data from 49,196 women, with an average age of 59, who were part of the Lifepool cohort registry in Australia, between 2009 and 2020. At the time of enrollment, participants provided basic health data, including lifestyle factors, menopausal status, and medical history. Over an average follow-up period of nearly nine years, 3,392 women experienced a major cardiovascular event such as coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke, or heart failure.

The researchers developed an AI model that analyzed mammogram images alongside age to predict 10-year CVD risk. The algorithm performed as well as established clinical tools like the New Zealand PREDICT tool and the American Heart Association’s PREVENT calculator. Adding clinical factors to the AI model resulted in only a slight performance improvement.

“A key advantage of the mammography model we developed is that it did not require additional history taking or medical record data and leveraged an existing risk screening process widely used by women,” the researchers noted.

While challenges in implementation remain, the study presents a promising step toward more holistic preventive care through existing screening infrastructure.

Reference: Predicting cardiovascular events from routine mammograms using machine learning. Heart. doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2025-325705

Study Reveals Mediterranean Diet Reduces Gum Inflammation

People who closely follow a Mediterranean-style diet may enjoy healthier gums and reduced inflammation, according to new research from King’s College London. The study, published in the Journal of Periodontology, suggests that dietary choices, especially diets rich in plant-based foods—could play a vital role in preventing or reducing the severity of gum disease.

The Mediterranean diet, known for its emphasis on vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, olive oil, and lean proteins, has already been linked to reduced risks of heart disease, neurodegenerative conditions, and certain cancers. This latest study adds oral health to that list. Researchers found that individuals who did not follow a Mediterranean-style diet, particularly those who consumed red meat frequently, had more severe gum disease and higher levels of systemic inflammation.

The team evaluated 200 hospital patients who were enrolled in the King’s College London Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Biobank. Each participant underwent dental examinations, provided blood samples, and completed dietary questionnaires. The data revealed that those with plant-based diets typical of the Mediterranean style had lower levels of inflammatory markers such as Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP). In contrast, higher inflammation was observed in those who consumed more red meat and fewer plant-based foods.

Dr Giuseppe Mainas, the study’s first author and a postdoctoral researcher at King’s College London, highlighted the significance of these findings: “Our findings suggest that a balanced, Mediterranean-type diet could potentially reduce gum disease and systemic inflammation.”

He added, “We observed that there may be a connection between periodontal disease severity, diet, and inflammation. These aspects should be holistically considered when assessing the treatment for periodontitis in patients. Our research offers an important starting point that can lead to more research to better understand the relationship between foods intake and gum disease.”

While more studies are needed to explore this link further, the results underscore the growing evidence that what we eat may directly impact not just general health but also oral health and immune response.

Reference: Mainas G, Grosso G, Di Giorgio J, et al. Relationship between Mediterranean diet and periodontal inflammation in a UK population: A cross-sectional study. J Periodontol. 2025; 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1002/jper.70016