Is one type of alcohol better for you? Not really; depression may foreshadow physical pain later in life; an MRI scan can now diagnose MS without spinal tap – Morning Medical Update

Author(s):

Austin Littrell

Fact checked by:

Keith A. Reynolds

Key Takeaways

Ethanol in all alcoholic drinks is the main health risk, increasing cancer risk and causing DNA damage and other health issues.
Reducing alcohol intake is the safest strategy, though low-ABV drinks and avoiding certain mixers can reduce some negative effects.
Depression and loneliness may precede chronic pain, suggesting mental health as a preventive target for future physical pain.
A new MRI technique can diagnose multiple sclerosis without a spinal tap, using the "rule of six" vein-centered lesions.

The top news stories in medicine today.

Morning Medical Update © Андрей К - stock.adobe.com

Is one type of alcohol better for you? Not really, experts say

If you’re sipping on vodka instead of whiskey hoping for a health edge, you might want to think again. According to experts interviewed in a New York Times piece released Tuesday, ethanol is the common villain in all alcoholic drinks, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s coming from wine, beer or spirits. Alcohol increases cancer risk, messes with your DNA and contributes to heart, liver and mental health complications. While lower-alcohol options and smaller quantities may reduce harm, the safest strategy is to drink less overall.

That said, for those who do indulge, experts recommend sticking with low-ABV drinks, skipping sugary mixers and caffeine combos and avoiding high-congener options like bourbon, if you’d prefer to skip the hangover. Read more from The New York Times.

Depression may foreshadow chronic pain later in life

Middle-aged and older adults who report chronic pain may have experienced worsening depression and loneliness years before their physical symptoms appeared, according to a 21-year study from University College London (UCL). Published in eClinicalMedicine, the research found that depressive symptoms and feelings of loneliness spiked up to eight years before the onset of moderate to severe pain and remained elevated afterward — suggesting mental health may be a key early target for preventing or reducing future physical pain.

Fast, painless MRI scan can now diagnose MS without a spinal tap

Diagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS) no longer needs to involve the dreaded spinal tap, according to a news study from the University of Nottingham. Researchers found that a quick, 8-minute MRI scan can accurately diagnose MS using a special imaging technique that detects telltale lesions in the brain’s white matter. Published in Neurology Open Access, the study confirms that finding six vein-centered lesions — dubbed the “rule of six” — is enough to diagnose MS, eliminating the need for painful lumbar punctures, which often cause complications and hospital stays.