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Are antidepressants and bladder medications contributing to dementia?

Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied Healthcare

Dementia is the leading cause of dependence and disability. The number of people living with dementia worldwide is currently estimated at 47 million and is projected to increase to 75 million by 2030 and triple by 2050. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. Alzheimer's disease is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors that affect the brain over time. A new landmark study led by the University of East Anglia (UK) and funded by Alzheimer's Society, however, indicates that antidepressants and bladder medications may be linked to dementia.

New apps, services move smart business travel forward

Bambi Majumdar Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

Corporate travel is a necessity, but the cost associated with it has become a significant issue. The U.S. Travel Association's latest Travel Trends Index (TTI) shows that domestic business travel grew for a fourth consecutive month in April 2018 and will continue to do so at a brisk pace for the rest of the year. Those in charge of corporate pocketbooks, however, are looking at various ways to cut costs without undermining the comfort of their employees. Meanwhile, employees are looking for less complicated processes that will ease their travel woes.

Can you guess teens’ favorite social network?

Emma Fitzpatrick Marketing

When Facebook offered to buy Snapchat in 2013 for $3 billion in cash, everyone thought it was ludicrous. $3 billion for an app that made no money and had 33 million users? It shocked the industry – especially since that was nearly twice what Google paid to buy YouTube in 2006. In hindsight, it looks like Facebook may have had a crystal ball. Now, according to the latest Pew Research from 2018, Facebook is now the fourth most popular network with teens (down three spots in a list of seven).

Improvements in dental aligners may make them even more popular

Tammy Hinojos Oral & Dental Healthcare

More than 5 million Americans seek orthodontic treatment each year, according to the American Association of Orthodontists. Treatment plans often include traditional braces or aligners; a set of customized plastic pieces that shift improperly aligned teeth slightly over time. Most notably, aligners have a better aesthetic than traditional metal braces and can be removed for special events or when eating, making them easier to deal with.

IACP Technology Conference showcases the latest tools for law enforcement

Dr. Denise A. Valenti Law Enforcement, Defense & Security

Body armor and the increased use of seat belts have contributed to fewer fatalities among law enforcement professionals. Advances in practice and equipment are contributing to a safer work environment for officers. Learning about new technology during events like the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Technology Conference is key to making sure they are even safer.

How AI is changing the food and beverage industry

Bambi Majumdar Food & Beverage

An increasing number of food and beverage companies are using artificial intelligence (AI) to stay productive and profitable. It is impacting many aspects of the industry, such as production, distribution, marketing, consumption, packaging and storage. The increase in AI usage is such that the global AI market in food and beverage is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 42.18 percent through 2021.

Your stress, my brain: Communicating stress to others

Dorothy L. Tengler Mental Healthcare

Stress affects everyone. Whether it’s routine stress related to pressures at work, school or family, stress that occurs from a sudden negative change, such as job loss, divorce, illness or traumatic stress that occurs after a major accident, physical assault or natural disaster, our recovery depends on our coping skills. Recognizing the signs of stress, such as insomnia, increased alcohol consumption, anger, depression and low energy levels, is the first step in coping.

Are cannabinoid products causing preventable blindness?

Dr. Denise A. Valenti Pharmaceutical

Are users of cannabinoids slowly going blind and not knowing it? Cannabidiol has been shown to cause the transient glaucoma symptom of high eye pressure. Cannabidiol-CBD is the nonpsychoactive ingredient found in marijuana and hemp. There needs to be more research related to cannabinoids, including CBD. Not once, but twice, the media and the public have failed to notice research findings that CBD spikes the pressure of eyes in animals.

Nanoplastics consumed by marine life may be harmful to aquatic food chain

Scott E. Rupp Waste Management & Environmental

According to a new study by researchers from the National University of Singapore, plastic nanoparticles — extremely small plastic particles measuring less than 1 micrometer in size, the length of a typical bacterium — could pollute food chains and eventually affect human health. The research found that these particles are easily ingested by marine organisms, with a risk of being transferred up the food chain, threatening food safety and posing health risks. This news adds to the ever-growing problem of plastic pollution in the oceans.

Can creativity be taught — and untaught?

Sheilamary Koch Education

Recently, my husband and I held a toy-making workshop with recycled materials in a primary school. While everything the kids made was brilliant, we both couldn’t help but notice that the lower primary students attempted wilder and more imaginative creations than the upper primary group. The younger students were also more persistent in making seemingly impossible toys hold together—whatever it took. Interestingly, our casual observations align with research conducted 50 years ago by George Land.

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