Eating fruits and vegetables may lower risk of dementia in older adults

Eating fruits and vegetables may lower risk of dementia in older adults A population-based observational study published February 10, 2017 in the journal Age and Ageing has yet again provided evidence for the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables. The study says that at eating least three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruits daily might help prevent dementia in older adults. Researchers examined the diet of more than 17,000 Chinese older adults who attended the Elderly Health Centres in Hong Kong who did not have at study baseline. Their cognitive status was followed up for 6 years. The cut-off for minimal intake of vegetables and fruits was defined as that recommended by the WHO as at least three and two servings per day, respectively Compared with adults who did not adhere to WHO recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake, adults who consumed three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruits daily were found to be at lower risk of dementia development over 6 years. Dementia risk was further reduced for adults who consumed an additional three portions of vegetables each day, the team reports. According to the authors, the study also highlights the importance of daily intake of fruits and vegetables for cognitive maintenance. (Source: Medical News Today) Dr KK Aggarwal National President IMA & HCFI

Updated ACIP Immunization Schedule for Adults

Updated ACIP Immunization Schedule for Adults The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has released updated immunization schedule for adults aged 19 years or older, United States, which have been published February 7, 2017 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. • ACIP recommends against live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) during the 2016–2017 influenza season. • Adults with a history of egg allergy who have only hives after exposure to egg should receive age-appropriate inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) or recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV). • Healthy adolescents who start their human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) series before age 15 years are recommended to receive 2 doses of HPV. But, for adults and adolescents who did not start their vaccination series before age 15 years, 3 doses are recommended. • Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for adults with chronic liver disease, including, but not limited to, hepatitis C virus infection, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis, and an alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level greater than twice the upper limit of normal. • A 2-dose primary series of serogroups A, C, W, and Y meningococcal conjugate vaccine is recommended for adults with HIV infection. • Three doses of MenB-FHbp are recommended for adults at increased risk for meningococcal disease and for use during serogroup B meningococcal disease outbreaks, while 2 doses have been recommended for healthy adolescents and young adults who are not at increased risk for meningococcal disease. (Source: Ann Intern Med. 2017;166(3):209-219)