“ We need systems in place to effectively identify those who are at greatest risk and connect them to services ,” Weinstock says . “ With the establishment of this new center , we aim to address the all-too-frequent problem in which vulnerable individuals find themselves falling through the cracks between the health and justice systems , and to connect people to needed care .”
People who interact with the justice system account for a significant proportion of suicides annually , according to the researchers : one in three men and one in eight women who die by suicide have spent at least one night in jail in their lifetimes . They also have high rates of other suicide risk factors , including mental health problems , substance use , financial challenges , loss of housing , relationship struggles , exposure to violence , and access to lethal means such as firearms , vehicles , or drugs .
Unfortunately , Weinstock says , justice and police settings have limited ability to connect people with mental health services , while health systems are typically unaware of their patients ’ justice involvement . That ’ s why linking data between the health care and justice systems can allow health care professionals to intervene at critical moments in patient care .
The new center , called the National Center for Health and Justice Integration for Suicide Prevention , which received $ 15 million in funding , will include investigators from 15 institutions across the US to examine the effectiveness , cost , and scalability of suicide prevention efforts . While the center will focus on justice-involved populations , its ultimate goal is to help all people at risk of suicide , the researchers say .
Hypothyroidism May Boost Dementia Risk
The condition may be more likely to develop in older people with underactive thyroid .
BY CORRIE PIKUL
Older people with hypothyroidism , also called underactive thyroid , may be at increased risk of developing dementia , research shows — and the risk of developing dementia was even higher for people whose condition required thyroid hormone replacement medication .
Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland doesn ’ t make enough thyroid hormones , which can slow metabolism . Symptoms include fatigue , weight gain , and sensitivity to cold .
“ In some cases , thyroid disorders have been associated with dementia symptoms that can be reversible with treatment ,” says Chien-Hsiang Weng , MD , MPH , a clinical assistant professor of family medicine at Brown . “ While more studies are needed to confirm these findings , people should be aware of thyroid problems as a possible risk factor for dementia as well as of available therapies that could prevent or slow irreversible cognitive decline .”
Weng led a study of thousands of older adults in Taiwan newly diagnosed with dementia and compared them to the same number of people who did not have the condition . After adjusting for factors that could affect the risk of dementia — such as sex , age , high blood pressure , and diabetes — they found that people over age 65 with hypothyroidism were 80 percent more likely to develop dementia than people the same age who did not have thyroid problems .
When researchers looked only at people who took medication for hypothyroidism , they found they were three times more likely to develop dementia than those who did not take medication .
“ One explanation for this could be that these people are more likely to experience greater symptoms from hypothyroidism where treatment was needed ,” Weng says .
Weng noted that the observational study does not prove that hypothyroidism is a cause of dementia ; it only shows an association . One limitation of the study was that researchers did not factor in the severity of individual cases of hypothyroidism . HD
WINTER 2023 l HEALTH DISCOVERIES 9