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Is the diet soda and stroke connection a weak link?
The Calorie Control Council (CCC), which represents the interests of the low calorie food and beverage industry, is refuting the association between drinking diet soda and the increased risk of ischemic stroke, saying the study was flawed.
The organization pointed out the study has not been peer reviewed for a scientific journal, which means that the study has not been accepted by a scientific journal.
The CCC also points out the reliability of the data collected for the study was questionable. The data was self-reported at a single time.
They claim the study did not prove any a causal relationship between diet soda and the increased risk of stroke. They also note the sample size who claimed they drank diet soda was small. And the study population was not representative of the U.S. population.
The Calorie Control Council says the study did not consider other risk factors, and the authors did not explain how diet soda could affect the risk of stroke.
(Editor's note: The logic goes like this, if you can't prove a product is linked with a risk, then the product should be safe. It is just like we assume a person's innocence until proven guilty.)
Stroke risk in Mexican Americans expected to increase 350 percent
At the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2011, scientists from the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, presented a study suggesting in the next 40 years Mexican-Americans will face up to a 350 percent increased risk of stroke.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Stroke Association and affects 795,000 people each year.
The researchers found the incidence of stroke will be 120,000 in 2050 among Mexican Americans compared with 26,000 in 2010.
In comparison, among non Hispanic whites the risk will increase to 500,000 in 2050 from 300,000 in 2010, an increase of 75 percent.
Experimental drug better than aspirin at preventing stroke
A new experimental anti-clotting drug seems to be better than aspirin at preventing stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation who can't take stronger drugs, according to a new study presented at the ASA's International Stroke Conference 2011.
The study led by Hans-Christoph Diener, M.D., of University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany and colleagues also found apixaban also works better in people with a history of stroke or who are at risk of stroke.
Specifically, 51 strokes or systemic embolism events were found among 2,808 patients taking apixaban whereas 113 strokes were found among 2791 patients on aspirin.
Diener said in a statement that apixaban was superior to aspirin at preventing stroke or systemic embolism (blood clotting) and was also very safe. The drug works to block factor Xa.
Young, uninsured or medicare part D survivors can't afford medicines
At the same conference, Deborah A. Levine, M.D., M.P.H. of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and colleagues reported that young, uninsured stroke survivors or those covered by Medicare Part D can't afford medicines, a finding that suggests these patients are at increase risk for future strokes and other cardiovascular events.
The researchers came to the conclusion after they analyzed data from 2,656 stroke survivors aged 45 years or older who used prescription drugs for a 12-month period between 2006 and 2009.
Levine et al. found 11 percent of stroke survivors reported cost-related non-adherence to their medications.
The conclusion was based on the assumption that taking prescription drugs can lower risk of stroke.
Cucumin may help prevent stroke
A compound derived from curcumin, an ingredient found in turmeric, could affect mechanisms that protect and help regenerate brain cells after a stroke.
The new molecule did not prevent clots, but instead help repair stroke damage caused to neurons.
"CNB-001 has many of the same benefits of curcumin but appears to be a better choice of compound for acute stroke because it crosses the blood-brain barrier, is quickly distributed in the brain, and moderates several critical mechanisms involved in neuronal survival," Lapchak said.
David Liu and editing by Aimee keenan-Greene
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