VitalityHouse Health Articles

New Study on Word Memory Testing

I have written several times in the past on the validity of Word Memory Testing in diagnosing and treating traumatic brain injuries. A new study calls into question statements continuously made by Paul Green that the SVT measures on the Word Memory Test requires minimal to no cognitive effort.  Reporting in this month’s issue of the Journal International Neuropsychological Society (2008), 14, 1074-1080, Batt et al., from the Department of Psychology McQuarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, measures the effect of distraction on the Word Memory Test (WMT) and Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) performance in patients with a severe brain injury. 

According to the paper, the “research compares the performance of a sample of non-litigating participants with severe brain injury on both the WMT and TOMM under conditions of (1) full effort, (2) distraction, or (3) simulated malingering.”  The study included sixty participants with a severe brain injury.  The study revealed that while both tests demonstrated excellent sensitivity, the false positive rates for the WMT were significantly greater than those for the TOMM.  It was concluded that the so-called “effort” components of the WMT required more cognitive capacity than was previously believed.
 
In the discussion portion of the paper, the authors noted that the findings of those participants who failed the WMT had significantly lower estimated pre-morbid intelligence than those who passed, which further supported the notion that the WMT results are influenced by cognitive ability.  The authors also noted:  "In addition to this, false positives on the WMT were unacceptably high, which decreased the specificity of the test to unacceptable level."
 
The authors noted that this unacceptably high rate of false positives may not satisfy Daubert standards.

Pascrell Praises VA Decision to Expand Compensation for People with Traumatic Brain Injury

United States Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. of New Jersey, the co-founder and co-chairman of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, applauded the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for increasing disability payments for veterans diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The VA estimates that compensation for mTBI victims will increase from about $117 per month to as much as $600 per month. The VA states that these changes will help roughly 3,500 to 5,000 veterans each year.

A recent study estimates that up to 320,000 troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan have suffered from a traumatic brain injury. “I’m pleased that the VA has finally opened its eyes, and more importantly its wallet, to the thousands of veterans and their families who have silently suffered from traumatic brain injury,” stated Representative Pascrell.  “This decision was a long time coming, but marks significant progress.  Unfortunately, there is still long way to go before I am fully satisfied with the services available to America’s brain injured veterans.”

Representative Pascrell is awaiting a response to his September 19, 2008 request for the Department of Defense Secretary Robert Gates to expand TRICARE to cover cognitive rehabilitation therapy for TBI victims.  The letter was supported by a bipartisan coalition of 67 House of Representatives members.

Weight Loss Diet: 10 Ways the Credit Crunch can Help

Of all the bad things about the credit crunch, there has to be some good - and one of them is that it can help you lose weight.

How so?

Well, if you need to reduce your spending you can do so in all the following ways and help yourself drop some pounds too

1. Stop buying junk food - you don't need any of that stuff and what you don't buy you can't eat
2. Stop buying soft drinks and drink more water
3. Reduce your alcohol intake
4. Eat less meat and bulk out your meals with veggies 
5. Eat smaller portions all round
6. Stop over-buying food (and throwing it away at the end of the week). Plan healthy meals and snacks and only buy what is on your list.
7. Stop over-cooking food or cook double and make sure that half the food is put away before you serve the meal so that you can't be tempted to overeat on the first night.
8. Eat healthy home-cooked meals instead of eating out. Give up fast food and take-aways
9. Meet friends for a walk, a swim or a game of tennis etc instead of for a meal (or just go out for coffee)
10. Walk all short journeys instead of taking your car

If you have more tips to add, please leave a comment

Doubt Is Their Product: How Industry’s Assault on Science Threatens Your Health

In previous blog entries, I have discussed the recent exposé regarding industry’s payment of money to scientists to publish "research" that is supportive in industry’s defense of defective products.  I just finished an outstanding book entitled "Doubt Is Their Product: How Industry’s Assault on Science Threatens Your Health" by David Michaels.  Dr. Michaels is an epidemiologist and Director of the project on scientific knowledge and public policy at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.  He previously served as Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environment, Safety and Health under the Clinton administration.

Dr. Michaels illuminating book documents "the way in which product defense consultants have shaped and skewed the scientific literature, manufactured and magnified scientific uncertainty, and influenced policy decisions to the advantage of polluters and the manufacturers of dangerous products."

This book follows product after product, toxin after toxin and how the manufactures of these chemicals, drugs and products have deceived, hidden and misrepresented the known dangers of their products.  For all concerned about the public health and how industry has subverted the legal and regulatory systems, this book is a must.  You can purchase the book online here.

Best Diet Tips (Part 5) : Do You Want to Lose Weight?

The difference between those who want to lose weight and those who actually lose weight is one thing and one thing only.

Actually taking action!

It's alright imagining yourself slimmer, plotting what you'll wear (or eat?) once you're slim but unless you actually get your finger out and change what you eat NOW and/or increase your activity levels you are not going to achieve your goal.

• You can buy a diet book and not lose weight. You have to follow that plan.
• You can take a diet pill and not lose weight. You inevitably have to follow the diet plan they give you and don't mention.
• You can join a gym and not lose weight. You actually have to go and do the exercises  - regularly not just once or twice.

I quite often hear from clients "I have tried everything to lose weight" and it will be true. They have TRIED everything (or so it seems) but what is also always true is that they have never stuck with anything.

Losing weight is not going to happen on a wish no matter how much you want it. It happens when you take action day after day after day.

You might have the odd "off day" even the odd "off week" but you have to get right back on board and get on with your weight loss program straight away.

And the great thing is - it's entirely under your own control whether you lose weight or not. You just have to decide whether you want to lose weight (a wish) or whether you are actually going to stick to a plan and lose it.