Mixed Bag

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia can reduce health care utilization and costs
"Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is a highly effective treatment, and this study shows that a relatively brief intervention also may have a positive economic impact," said principal investigator Christina McCrae, PhD, associate professor of clinical and health psychology at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla. "Insomnia remains an undertreated disorder, and brief cognitive behavioral therapy can help to increase access to care and reduce the burden of insomnia." The study results appear in the Feb. 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, which is published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. MedicalXpress

People of color need sun protection to avoid skin cancer
Although skin cancer is less prevalent among people of color than in whites, sun protection and other preventive measures are essential components of skin care in these populations, according to research published online Jan. 30 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. MedicalXpress

Social norms strongly influence vaccination decisions and the spread of disease
In most of North America, pediatric vaccination is mandatory for children enrolled in public education. However, the number of parents applying for exemptions to pediatric vaccination is on the rise. According to Professor Bauch, as that trend continues Canadians will increasingly find themselves in a situation where vaccination coverage has declined and populations are once again susceptible to disease. University of Waterloo

Common Infections May Dull Mind
Mental sharpness appeared dulled with a history of exposure to five common pathogen, with a possible signal for faster cognitive decline as well, an observational study suggested.

Burden of exposure to Helicobacter pylori, cytomegalovirus, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and herpes simplex 1 and 2 was associated with poorer executive function and language skills among adults 55 and older (P=0.002 and P=0.04, respectively), Clinton Wright, MD, of the University of Miami Health System, and colleagues found.

Infectious burden index based on serum evidence of exposure to those pathogens showed the same direction of association with cognitive decline over 5 years, the group reported here at the International Stroke Conference. MedPage Today