USA Today, ‘Highly fit’ middle-age women nearly 90% less likely to develop dementia decades later, study finds by Karen Weintraub — Maintaining a healthy lifestyle in mid-life, decades before disease sets in, makes sense, said David Knopman, a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, who was not involved in the study. “I suspect it’s a dose,” said Knopman, also associate director of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. “Starting in late life is better than not starting at all, but starting in mid-life seems to confer a larger benefit.”  Although it is not entirely clear why exercise helps put off or prevent Alzheimer’s, Knopman said it’s likely that exercise maintains good blood flow to the brain. “(When) the brain is healthier from a vascular point of view, it can absorb more Alzheimer’s pathology before people become symptomatic,” he said. Additional coverage: KING5

TIME, Are Essential Oils Safe? by Alexandra Sifferlin — Dr. Brent Bauer, director of the Department of Internal Medicine’s Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program at Mayo Clinic, writes that essential oils are shown to be safe when they are used as directed. They may have side effects for the skin, like irritability or reactions. “Further research is needed to determine how essential oils might affect children and how the oils might affect women who are pregnant or breast-feeding, as well as how the oils might interact with medications and other treatments,” Bauer writes, adding that people considering using oils and aromatherapy should consult with their doctor.

ABC News, Mom launching toy store for kids with autism, special needs by Nicole Pelletiere — Dr. Andrea Huebner, co-director of the Dana Neurodevelopmental Disorders Program at the Mayo Clinic Children's Center, said that individuals with autism spectrum disorder often experience the sensory world differently than others. "From a tactile standpoint, there are certain materials like denim, socks, sock seams--these kind of things people might wear them and while [others] get use their restrictions, people on the spectrum can feel bombarded by this stimuli," Huebner explained.

Chicago Tribune, 5 simple ways to jump-start fitness goals — Fitness is central to your well-being and ability to enjoy life to the fullest, however it's easy to get stuck in a rut. How do you find new interest and motivation so you're ready to maximize the warm weather months? Dan Gaz, physical activity and assessment program manager at the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program, says there are many things people can do to get a jump-start on their health and wellness. Additional coverage: Los Angeles Times, Mountain Grove News-Journal

CNBC, The Mayo Clinic on the importance of getting enough sleep — "Chronic sleep deprivation is what smoking was 10 years ago," says Melissa C. Lipford of the Mayo Clinic. Additional coverage: MSN

US News & World Report, This 5-Minute Test Accurately Predicts Your Risk of Death by K. Aleisha Fetters — During your annual physical, your doctor likely tests your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels. But new research published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings suggests that another test, requiring just a treadmill and a heart rate monitor, could predict your risk of death even more accurately than these traditional tests, in just five minutes.

Fortune, Tech's Next Big Wave: Big Data Meets Biology by Erika Fry and Sy Mukherjee — …That, indeed, is an area where IBM Watson has already found some success. In March, the Mayo Clinic reported that using Big Blue’s advanced cognitive computing system increased enrollment in clinical trials for breast cancer by 80%. “Watson is able to give us faster, better matching of patients to potential clinical trials that our oncologists wouldn’t have otherwise been able to see,” Mayo Clinic CIO Christopher Ross told the trade publication MobiHealthNews.

Post-Bulletin, Mayo Clinic puts out urgent call for blood donors by Jeff Kiger — Mayo Clinic put out a call to all of its Rochester area staff members for blood donations on Thursday. "We try to keep a two-week supply of blood products, on hand, at any given time," said Dr. Justin Kreuter, the medical director of Mayo Clinic's Blood Donor Center. "We had a surge in need and used about a week's worth of blood in 24 hours." That surge left the Blood Donor Center with depleted A-positive and O-negative blood as well as platelets.

Post-Bulletin, Public service? Entertainment? Maybe both by Tom Weber — A public service announcement masquerading as a comedy show. That’s how one reviewer described Ed Asner’s one-man play, “A Man and his Prostate.” Asner will present the play at 7 p.m. March 27-28 at Rochester Civic Theatre...Both performances of “A Man and His Prostate” will be followed by a question-and-answer session including physicians from Mayo Clinic’s urology department.

KAAL, Olmsted County Commits to Affordable Housing Initiative — Olmsted County is a member of the Coalition for Rochester Area Housing and has been since the coalition was formed four months ago. Now, the County is participating in more than policy. It is offering financial support.… Between the City of Rochester, Mayo Clinic, Olmsted County and personal donations, $4.6 million dollars has been pledged to affordable housing through this initiative.

KIMT, Impact of Arthritis on Americans by Amy Fleming — A new report from the CDC highlights for the first time the prevalence and health-related characteristics of arthritis across the U.S. and rheumatologist Mayo Clinic's Dr. Eric Matteson says one form of the chronic condition, rheumatoid arthritis, can affect much more than joints. "Deforming arthritis is one of the signs of rheumatoid arthritis," says Dr. Matteson. He says rheumatoid arthritis is quite different from the more common osteoarthritis.“

Rochester magazine, The 100-Foot Fall. The Long Climb Back. by Renee Berg — Nearly two years ago, Amber Kohnhorst fell 100 feet during a solo hike in northern Arizona. The fall broke her nose, her pelvis, her back. But, it turns out, not her spirit…It was abnormally windy the day Amber Kohnhorst nearly died. It’s one of those details that sticks out to the now-26-year-old Mayo Clinic hyperbaric nurse who departed on what she thought would be an uneventful, solo sunset hike to see some petroglyphs near her Airbnb—she’d just checked in an hour or so before—in Cane Beds, Ariz., 30 miles northwest of the Grand Canyon.

KTTC, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine moves up in latest rankings — Mayo Clinic School of Medicine is now ranked sixth for medical education research by U.S. News and World Report. The school's dean, Dr. Fredic Meyer, says research and the quest for new knowledge are integral components of the culture at Mayo Clinic. He credits part of the success to Mayo faculty members, most of whom are physician-scientists involved in clinical practice and research, for giving students insight into the latest advances in scientific discovery.

Star Tribune, Despite risks, some Minnesotans want their water 'raw' by Richard Chin — Dr. Donald Hensrud, medical director of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program in Rochester, said he’s unaware of any health benefits of untreated water. But there are some health risks, such as the potential presence of nitrates or giardia. “People have this idea that natural is better with regard to water,” Hensrud said. “It’s kind of analogous to the immunization issue.”

Twin Cities Business, Mayo Ups Stake In DIY Genetic Testing Startup Helix by Don Jacobson — The Mayo Clinic is continuing to make venture capital investments in direct-to-consumer genetic testing, which scholars from its own Center for Individualized Medicine recently determined could be “potentially beneficial” for the public under a new generation of products designed to improve protection of users’ personal information. The market potential of do-it-yourself genetic testing services, which don’t require the direct participation of a medical provider, is thought to be considerable, estimated by some observers to be set to grow from its current annual level of $117 million to around $600 million by 2026 – a nearly 20 percent annual growth rate. Additional coverage: TECHdotMN

Twin Cities Business, Mayo Clinic Spin-off Sonex Health Lands 2nd City Loan, Eyes Expansion in Rochester by Don Jacobson — Mayo Clinic spin-off company Sonex Health LLC, which makes a medical device to improve the treatment of carpel tunnel syndrome, continues to attract startup financing, this time from the city of Rochester’s economic development fund. Sonex landed a $150,000 loan convertible into equity from the fund in February after Rochester City Council members voted to approve the deal.

Albert Lea Tribune, Women’s health symposium planned — Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea will offer a Women’s Health and Well-Being Symposium on April 7 at Wedgewood Cove Golf Club in Albert Lea…Mayo Clinic experts will educate event-goers on topics related to work-life balance, gratitude, compassion and self-care, according to a press release.

KEYC Mankato, "Stepping On" Program Aims to Prevent Falling Among Seniors by Temi Adeleye — Mayo Clinic Mankato created a new program called Stepping On, to help lessen falls among older residents. The seven week program kicked off on Monday. Mayo Clinic Health Systems' Trauma and Injury Prevention Coordinator Peggy Garber said falling is the most preventable, accidental death, for those 72 and up.  She hopes the program will help people of all ages, to keep their balance.  "We're focused on teaching them how to identify risk factors in their own home," said Garber. "And help them identify maybe other things that could be a source of having them fall at home or outside."

WKBT La Crosse, Colon cancer steadily decreasing, according to new reports by Ryan Hennessy — Doctors at the Mayo Clinic said that doesn't necessarily mean everyone should get tested earlier, but everyone should know the signs. "Young people are not exempt from having colon cancer and so we don't necessarily have to go and screen everybody at a younger age as of now, but we really have to pay attention to any changes in the clinical presentations of the patient so that we can act on it appropriately," said Mayo Clinic Health System's Dr. Daisy Batista. Batista said said some of the signs of colon cancer to watch for include blood in the stool and change in bowel habits.

WXOW La Crosse, Local high school senior makes donation to Mayo Clinic NICU by Alex Wasilenko — A local high school senior has partnered with Mayo Clinic Health Systems of La Crosse in order to spread love to babies and families in the neonatal intensive care unit while completing her senior exit project. Bailey Sevier, a senior at West Salem High School, has been working on her senior exit project since August. Sevier challenged herself by choosing academic and personal growth as her criteria…Bailey put together little care boxes that included a Walgreen's gift card, little crocheted octopi, and preemie project hearts. Additional coverage: WKBT La Crosse

HuffPost, The Beauty Items You Need To Get Rid Of RIGHT NOW by Julia Brucculieri — 4. Sunscreen: How long it lasts: Three years. When to toss it: Sunscreen shouldn’t be used for more than three years, according to the Mayo Clinic. It suggests getting rid of your sunscreen if you’ve noticed a change in the color or consistency, or if it’s been exposed to high temperatures.

Becker’s Hospital Review, 97% of patients comfortable with sexual orientation questions, Mayo Clinic study finds by Megan Knowles — Up to 97 percent of patients are comfortable with questions from their healthcare provider on their sexual orientation and gender identity. These questions significantly reduce disparities among LGBTI patients, according to a study conducted by researchers at Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic and published in Health Services Research. Despite a number of government reports encourage providers to ask these questions, there was little evidence about whether patients accept these questions, according to the researchers. "Our results should help ease the concerns of providers who want to deliver the highest-quality care for their patients but may not ask sexual orientation or gender identity questions for fear of distressing or offending their patients," said Joan Griffin, PhD, co-author and health services researcher at Mayo Clinic. Additional coverage: Rheumatology Advisor

Healthcare IT News, Mayo Clinic boosts clinical trials with IBM Watson artificial intelligence by Bernie Monegain — Mayo Clinic and IBM Watson Health have announced the results of a cutting-edge project putting the supercomputer to work for patient matching: Watson brought in more patients than before to participate in recent breast cancer clinical trials. Only 5 percent of patients with cancers participate in clinical trials nationwide, according to Mayo Clinic officials, who noted that that low enrollment makes for many clinical trials that are slow to finish or not completed. That delays advances in research and results in less access to better therapies.

Medical Design & Outsourcing, Mayo Clinic and Orbita forge partnership to expand health and wellness content reach by Danielle Kirsh — Mayo Clinic and Orbita recently announced that they have collaborated to deliver Mayo Clinic’s health and wellness content through digital voice assistants — with the goal of improving patient education, engagement and quality of care. Orbita’s digital experience management services include voice and conversational artificial intelligence technologies that work with chatbots, Amazon Alexa, Google Home and more. Mayo Clinic, meanwhile, has established itself as one of the top online providers of health and wellness content — with its content prominently featured on Google.

Billings Gazette, Being a physician is hard, but it doesn't have to result in burnout, Billings business shows with study by Susan Olp — …At the outset, all 20 completed the diagnostic tool, as well as the Mayo Well-Being Index and open-ended questions. Nicholas Pertuit, assistant professor of health and human performance at Rocky Mountain College, was brought in as an independent investigator to oversee the research. The Mayo Clinic Well-Being Index, which has been used by tens of thousands of physicians, has been proven to show a correlation between the risk of burnout and the score that participants get on that index, Pertuit said.

Alzforum, Does Daytime Drowsiness Foreshadow Aβ Accumulation? — Poor sleep and amyloid pathology have been linked, but how they influence each other over time remains a mystery. Now, researchers led by Prashanthi Vemuri at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, report that older healthy people who are sleepier during the day also accumulate Aβ in their brains more quickly. Published in the March 12 JAMA Neurology, the study found that the Aβ appeared primarily in the cingulate and precuneus regions, which accumulate plaques early in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Additional coverage: KPLC, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, KSLA, KPLC

Bustle, Should Dogs Sleep In Bed With You? A Study Found That It Might Not Be So Bad For You by James Loke Hale — Much to my parents' chagrin, I started letting our household dogs sleep with me when I was a little kid. When I moved out and adopted my own dog, I didn't think twice about letting her sleep in my bed. And thankfully, unlike the very sad (and much-debated) "dogs don't like hugs" study, a recently published study from the Mayo Clinic showed that letting our dogs sleep with us isn't actually a bad thing.

South Florida Reporter, Why Early Clinical Trial Results May Offer False Hope — When medical clinical trials show exciting early results, those with chronic illnesses seeking new treatment can easily have high hopes. Researchers say that’s a problem. And a recent Mayo Clinic study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings found early results may be grossly exaggerated in more than 1 in 3 clinical trials.

Chronicle of Philanthropy (log-in required), How Mayo Clinic Raised Nearly $3.8 Billion by Heather Joslyn — Mayo Clinic got into the campaign business late, but it’s made up for lost time. In February, the charity announced it had raised $3.76 billion during a drive whose quiet phase began in January 2010.

Men’s Health, 8 Foods You Should Eat Instead of Taking Probiotic Supplements by Kelsey Butler — A combination of probiotic foods and a fiber-rich diet can help keep your gut healthy, says Purna Kashyap, M.B.B.S., assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic and member of the board for the American Gastroenterological Association Center for Gut Microbiome Research and Education. Additionally, probiotic foods are a better choice than supplements, which may only contain one or two probiotic strains and may or may not contain what they claim. “None of the [supplements] are regulated, so anyone can put anything on the shelf,” says Kashyap.

Daily Mail, Which Positions Maximize the Chance of Female Orgasm? — Dr Jason Siegel, of Mayo Clinic, told Mail Online contrary to popular belief the best positions to ensure female orgasm involve front entry of the penis, rather than rear entry…Dr Siegel said: 'If a woman is trying to achieve a vaginal orgasm, it seems like it tends to be more successful if the front wall of the vagina is more stimulated.'

Weather Channel, 6 Tips To Allergy-Proof Your Home For Spring — Get Rid Of Clutter: Spring cleaning and allergy relief actually go hand-in-hand. Channel your inner interior decorator this spring and declutter your living spaces. According to the Mayo Clinic, consolidating items that collect dust, like knick-knacks, ornaments, books and magazines can do wonders for your allergies.

Medpage Today, Hunger Pangs Quashed With Percutaneous Nerve Freezing by Nicole Lou — Commenting to MedPage Today, Grant Schmit, MD, of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., said this was the first he'd heard of this type of weight-loss procedure and suggested that it remains up in the air whether it's truly safe or the results plausible.

Medscape, No Exercise Capacity Boost From Inhaled Nitrite in Preserved-EF Heart Failure: INDIE-HFpEF by Steve Stiles — "Alternative regimens which provide more consistent, higher levels of nitric oxide throughout the course of the day might achieve different results," proposed Barry Borlaug, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, when presenting the study here at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2018 Annual Scientific Sessions.

Medscape, First AHA Statement on Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection — "The statement was important since the learnings about SCAD occurring over the past 8 to 10 years are markedly different from what most cardiologists were taught in training," Sharonne N Hayes, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, chair of the statement writing group, told theheart.org | Medscape Cardiology. "We felt that enough new science had been published and that many of these research findings warrant rethinking how we've diagnosed and treated SCAD in the past," Hayes said.

Medscape, Panel Size Tied to Online Ratings, Study Suggests by Marcia Frellick — "There's always a challenge in knowing what the patients are actually reviewing us on," Kurt Angstman, MD, a family physician consultant at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, told Medscape Medical News. "They may have had a great or bad experience with the front desk staff or with the wait."

Healio, Experts debate merits of adrenal vein sampling in primary aldosteronism — Cross-sectional imaging via CT or MRI lacks the accuracy to direct surgical therapy, whereas lifelong medical management does not fully address one of the most important concerns among patients — quality of life, William F. Young, MD, MSc, chair of endocrinology and professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota, said during his portion of the debate on the utility of adrenal vein sampling at the Endocrine Society Annual Meeting. “The accurate localization of aldosterone-producing adenomas is essential for curative surgical intervention,” Young said. “Simply put, adrenal vein sampling carries high accuracy and cross-sectional imaging with CT or MRI does not.”

MD Magazine, Epic Streamlines Patient Care at Mayo Clinic by Caitlyn Bahrenburg — With the ongoing rollout of Mayo Clinic’s new electronic health record (EHR) system, Epic, the hospital continues to build on its commitment to integrated care that patients have come to expect. Known within the Mayo Clinic community as the Plummer Project—named for Henry Plummer, MD, a physician from Mayo Clinic who created the world’s first single-patient health record—Epic replaces the 3 EHR systems formerly in use at all Mayo Clinic campuses with a single, integrated EHR and billing system.

MD magazine, Menopausal Hormone Therapy May Benefit the Brain by Cecilia Pessoa Gingerich — A new study reveals that taking hormones soon after menopause may not only help alleviate unpleasant menopause symptoms, but also benefit the brain. Specifically, researchers looked at plaque build-up in the brain that is associated with Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss. "We found that one form of menopausal hormone therapy taken soon after menopause may preserve brain structure in the portion of the brain responsible for memory and thinking skills," said study author Kejal Kantarci, MD, MS, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology in a statement. "It may also reduce the development of amyloid plaques that can build up and lead to memory loss." Additional coverage: Medscape

SELF, 6 Things That Can Make Your Asthma Worse by Korin Miller — People with asthma can experience airway spasms after inhaling cold, dry air, the Mayo Clinic says. If you have asthma and you keep working out in chilly temps, you might be setting yourself up for an asthma attack…In addition, you may want to focus on breathing through your nose to warm and humidify the air before it reaches your lungs and cutting back on intense workouts when you have a cold or other respiratory infection, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Health Data Management, Mayo Clinic expands use of point-of-care 3D printing by Marla Durben Hirsch — The Mayo Clinic is using imaging on a regular basis, creating point-of-care 3D anatomical models to aid physicians so frequently that 3D printing has become a regular component of patient treatment. The Mayo Clinic has taken its use further, using it regularly and creating a state-of -the-art infrastructure to support it. 3D printing is part of the organization’s standard of care, IT operations, sterilization procedures and quality control process, says Jonathan Morris, MD, co-director of the Mayo Clinic radiology department’s 3D anatomic modeling lab in Rochester, Minn.

WBUR, Life With ALS by Kimberly Atkins — Interview with Mark Ross, neurologist who treats ALS patients at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

FOX 23 Tulsa, Billy Gillispie shocked by stranger's efforts to donate kidney by Jeff Kolb — Ericka Downey reached out to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN to try and become Gillispie’s donor. At first she called and was told he hadn’t been admitted onto the donor list, but she filled out paperwork and continued to call and check. Eventually she was told he’d been put on the list. At that point, the Mayo Clinic sent her a blood kit. She submitted her labs and on February 9th, found out she was a match. On Sunday, Ericka will fly up to the Mayo Clinic for three days of extensive testing to make sure she’s healthy enough to donate her kidney. If she is, they’ll plan a surgery. From the Mayo Clinic, Ericka will fly straight to San Antonio for the Final Four, where she plans to meet Billy for the first time.

Breast Cancer News, A.I. Platform Helped Enroll More Breast Cancer Patients in Clinical Trials at Mayo Clinic, Study Suggests by Carolina Henriques — The use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) in a clinical trial matching platform led to more patients being enrolled in breast cancer studies, a Mayo Clinic oncology practice suggests. The enrollment increase is a result of IBM Watson Health’s Watson for Clinical Trial Matching, an IBM A.I. cognitive computing system designed to match patients to the clinical trials for which they might be eligible. Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota, has been using the Clinical Trial Matching platform since 2016 in its breast cancer oncology practice. Other oncology disciplines also used the A.I. program.

TCTMD, No Increase in Long-term Cardiac Mortality After PCI for Women Compared With Men by L.A. McKeown — “Prior studies have suggested that the reasons women have higher mortality in the long term after PCI are undertreatment, underprescription of guideline-directed medical therapy, or other hormonal factors that were less well figured out,” said senior study author Rajiv Gulati, MD, PhD (Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN), in an interview with TCTMD. “I think this study shows that that doesn’t appear to be the cause, and that it really is noncardiac disease and sickness at baseline that’s driving the higher death rate.” He added that the findings are reassuring from both a PCI standpoint and a secondary prevention standpoint, but do not change the fact that short-term complications and presentation are still vastly different between women and men.

ASU, ASU sponsors Mayo Clinic physician diversity summit — Mayo Clinic School of Medicine recently held a national summit on innovations in physician diversity sponsored by Arizona State University. The two-day conference in February, “Pathways to Physician Diversity: A National Summit,” focused on encouraging a national conversation and exploring the current state of pathways for students traditionally underrepresented in medicine. The conference brought together stakeholders invested in improving the diversity of students entering medical school including physicians, public health officials, medical school administrators, undergraduate advising, community members and students.

EFE, Insuficiencia cardíaca ataca más a sobrevivientes de cáncer de mama y linfoma — "La insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva ocurre cuando el músculo cardíaco no bombea la sangre tan bien como debería. En el caso de los pacientes que superaron el cáncer, logramos detectar que al menos 7 % la padecían", dijo el profesor asociado de la Facultad de Medicina de la Clínica Mayo.

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Tags: 3D printing, A.L.S., affordable housing, allergies, alzheimer's disease, Amber Kohnhorst, arthritis, asthma, autism, Bailey Sevier, Billy Gillispie, blood donation, Breast Cancer, burnout, Christopher Ross, clinical trials, colon cancer, Dan Gaz, dementia, Dr. Andrea Huebner, Dr. Barry Borlaug, Dr. Brent Bauer, Dr. Daisy Batista, Dr. David Knopman, Dr. Donald Hensrud, Dr. Elvis Francois, Dr. Eric Matteson, Dr. Fredric Meyer, Dr. Grant Schmit, Dr. Jason Siegel, Dr. Joan Griffin, Dr. Jonathan Morris, Dr. Justin Kreuter, Dr. Kejal Kantarci, Dr. Kurt Angstman, Dr. Mark Ross, Dr. Melissa C. Lipford, Dr. Prashanthi Vemuri, Dr. Purna Kashyap, Dr. Rajiv Gulati, Dr. Sharonne Hayes, Dr. William F. Young, Dr. William Robinson, Epic, Essential Oils, fitness, gender identity, Genetic testing, IBM Watson, kidney donation, menopause, Orbita, Peggy Garber, Plummer Project, probiotics, prostate, raw water, SCAD, Sonex Health, Uncategorized, Women's Health