Study shows meditation can improve sleep for people with MS

DERBY - A recent study conducted by the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center and published in the July 2023 issue of BMC Neurology shows that mindfulness meditation improves sleep and the quality of life in individuals diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

The study was a collaboration between the PRC, Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Center at Griffin Hospital, and the Yale Stress Center. It compared two groups of people with MS who met standard criteria for chronic insomnia. One group underwent a single session of sleep hygiene instruction and the other group received a 10-week, sleep-targeted mindfulness medication course taught at the Yale Stress Center in New Haven.

All subjects wore identical devices to record their sleep efficiency percentage which was determined by measuring total sleep as a function of total time in bed. 

The subjects also completed regular self-reports, rating their sleep quality, quality of life and MS symptoms. Subjects who completed the sleep hygiene course had the option of taking the mindfulness course and that data was also used in the analysis.

While the measure of sleep efficiency was not different between the two groups on the sleep-tracking devices, the self-reports of insomnia severity were significantly better in the mindfulness meditation group than the sleep hygiene group at 10 weeks, but not 16 weeks. However, the mindfulness meditation group did show improvements in pre-intervention and post-intervention rating scales at both the 10-and 16-week reports in their insomnia severity ratings and sleep quality scale. Additionally, the mindfulness meditation group showed greater improvements in self-reported fatigue, mental health and cognitive function.

These results show that mindfulness meditation focused on chronic insomnia may be an effective way to improve sleep and other quality of life measures in persons diagnosed with MS.

“Our study showed that subjects who completed mindfulness training had better self-reported sleep outcomes and quality of life than those in the sleep hygiene group,” said Joseph B. Guarnaccia, MD, the principal investigator and lead author of the study, and director of the Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Center at Griffin Hospital. “It suggests that mindfulness practice is an option for some MS patients who suffer from insomnia and who wish to explore non-pharmaceutical options.”

Chronic insomnia is one of the most commonly diagnosed medical conditions in the country and can increase the risk for a number of other diseases, such as dementia, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack, and stroke. Insomnia is particularly detrimental for persons diagnosed with MS, Guarnaccia said, because lack of sleep saps energy reserves that are needed daily functioning. Medication treatment for insomnia is unsatisfying because of a number of potentially side effects, including drug dependence, drug interactions, increased risk for dementia, daytime sedation, and falls at night.

The study was funded by the Connecticut Department of Public Health Biomedical Research Trust Fund and recently published by Guarnaccia et al. BMC Neurology (2023) 23:263.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center study to examine eggs as part of DASH Diet

DERBY – The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center at Griffin Hospital has recently received funding for a study to examine how adding two daily eggs to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan will affect diet quality and heart health.

The DASH eating plan features fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, poultry, and low-fat dairy products. It is recommended by the American Heart Association for people at risk for cardiovascular disease.

The study team plans to enroll 45 adults with high blood cholesterol, including men 18 years or older and post-menopausal women who are not on hormone replacement therapy. Study participants will receive monetary compensation along with nutrition guidance to follow the DASH diet for 28 weeks and a supply of eggs to eat daily during eight of those weeks. 

The study team will examine the effects of adding eggs to the DASH eating plan on their diet quality, blood vessel function, blood lipid and glucose levels, and other measures of cardiovascular health.

This study is funded by the Egg Nutrition Center, the science and nutrition education division of the American Egg Board that sponsors health-related scientific research that is primarily focused on eggs.

For more information, please call Rocky at 203-732-1125.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center in Derby offers Healthy Me program

DERBY - The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center is partnering with Colorado-based digital health company incentaHEALTH to offer a free online diabetes prevention program to study volunteers from the Lower Naugatuck Valley as part of a research project to improve health in low-income communities.

The Healthy Me program is a year-long virtual lifestyle change program to help people reduce their risk for type 2 diabetes. It includes video sessions, exercise plans, meal ideas, and coaching from a certified Diabetes Lifestyle Coach. 

In addition, Community Health Workers will connect participants to local resources to help them meet their health goals.

Additionally, study volunteers can receive cash incentives for achieving a healthy weight with the support from coaching and at-home progress tracking.

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in three American adults has pre-diabetes, and 90% don’t know it. People with pre-diabetes have blood sugar levels that are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Pre-diabetes can lead to serious health conditions such as heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle changes that focus on healthful eating and physical activity can often prevent pre-diabetes from progressing to type 2 diabetes and its complications.

People who would like to enroll in this no-cost program will be screened to meet the following criteria: (1) be at risk for developing type 2 diabetes; (2) be a resident of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck Oxford, Seymour, or Shelton; and (3) meet income requirements. For example, someone who qualifies for public assistance such as food stamps, SNAP benefits, unemployment benefits, welfare, or Medicaid (also known as HUSKY Health) will most likely qualify for this program.

For more information or to see if you qualify, please contact Rockiy Ayettey, Project Coordinator, at 203-732-1125. There are a limited number of available spots. 

More information about the Healthy Me program is available at https://healthyme.incentahealth.com/

About the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center
The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center was established in 1998 through funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One of 26 Prevention Research Centers nationwide representing academic-community partnerships, the PRC is engaged in interdisciplinary applied prevention research designed to develop innovative approaches to health promotion and disease prevention that will directly benefit the public’s health. The Center has been researching the role of nutrition in chronic diseases for more than 20 years.

About incentaHEALTH
Since 2003, incentaHEALTH has been reimagining how to make health rewarding by creating long-term, sustainable behavior changes that result in cost savings and improved health outcomes. It offers lasting weight management and diabetes prevention solution to individuals, employers, physician groups, and health systems. IncentaHEALTH programs provide daily, personalized health coaching, along with grocery shopping lists, customized meal plans, and easy-to-follow video exercise plans. 

This approach engages members through skill building, social accountability, and reinforcement. A patented Smart Scale delivers full body photographs and validated weight measurements to track members’ progress.

This is a press release from Griffin Health.

Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center offers online diabetes prevention program

DERBY - The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center is partnering with Colorado-based digital health company incentaHEALTH to offer a free online diabetes prevention program to study volunteers from Lower Naugatuck Valley as part of a research project to improve health in low-income communities.

The Healthy Me program is a year-long virtual lifestyle change program to help people reduce their risk for type 2 diabetes. 

It includes video sessions, exercise plans, meal ideas, and coaching from a certified Diabetes Lifestyle Coach. In addition, Community Health Workers will connect participants to local resources to help them meet their health goals.

Additionally, study volunteers can receive cash incentives for achieving a healthy weight with the support from coaching and at-home progress tracking.

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in three American adults has pre-diabetes, and 90% don’t know it. People with pre-diabetes have blood sugar levels that are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. 

Pre-diabetes can lead to serious health conditions such as heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle changes that focus on healthful eating and physical activity can often prevent pre-diabetes from progressing to type 2 diabetes and its complications.

People who would like to enroll in this no-cost program will be screened to meet the following criteria: (1) be at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, (2) be a resident of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, and (3) meet income requirements. For example, someone who qualifies for public assistance such as food stamps, SNAP benefits, unemployment benefits, welfare, or Medicaid (also known as HUSKY Health) will most likely qualify for this program.

For more information or to see if you qualify, please contact Rockiy Ayettey, Project Coordinator, at 203-732-1125. There are a limited number of available spots. 

More information about the Healthy Me program is available at https://healthyme.incentahealth.com/.

About the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center
The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center was established in 1998 through funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

One of 26 Prevention Research Centers nationwide representing academic-community partnerships, the PRC is engaged in interdisciplinary applied prevention research designed to develop innovative approaches to health promotion and disease prevention that will directly benefit the public’s health. The Center has been researching the role of nutrition in chronic diseases for more than 20 years.

About incentaHEALTH:
Since 2003, incentaHEALTH has been reimagining how to make health rewarding by creating long-term, sustainable behavior changes that result in cost savings and improved health outcomes. 

It offers lasting weight management and diabetes prevention solution to individuals, employers, physician groups, and health systems. IncentaHEALTH programs provide daily, personalized health coaching, along with grocery shopping lists, customized meal plans, and easy-to-follow video exercise plans. This approach engages members through skill building, social accountability, and reinforcement.

A patented Smart Scale delivers full body photographs and validated weight measurements to track members’ progress.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Yale- Griffin PRC in Derby seeks volunteers for study to test phototherapy product

The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center is looking for volunteers to take part in a study to test how well phototherapy can improve health./ Contributed photo 

DERBY - The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center’s cardiovascular laboratory at Griffin Hospital is looking for volunteers to take part in a study to test how well a phototherapy product can improve health.

The product uses two small patches worn on the skin that, when activated by body heat, reflect low levels of infrared and visible light to stimulate the skin’s surface. 

The patches don’t contain any drugs or herbal compounds, and don’t put any chemicals in the body.

The randomized controlled study will compare the effects of 12 weeks each of using the patch product vs. placebo patches on markers of cardio-metabolic risk (hemoglobin A1C, insulin sensitivity, serum lipids, C-reactive protein, endothelial function, and body composition) and sleep quality in adults at risk for type 2 diabetes.  

Volunteers for the 8-month study must be: 

• More than 40 years of age (if women, they must be postmenopausal)
• Non-smokers
• Overweight
• Have higher-than-normal blood glucose levels, but not diabetes

Volunteers must also be able to visit the PRC at Griffin Hospital five times for clinical tests, wear 2 small patches on their abdomen, and report their food and beverage intake on certain days.

Participants will receive $500 for completing this study. 

All tests and study products will be provided free of charge.

For more information, call Rocky at 203-732-1125. 

About the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center 

The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center (PRC) was established in 1998 through funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

One of 26 Prevention Research Centers nationwide representing academic-community partnerships, the PRC is engaged in interdisciplinary applied prevention research designed to develop innovative approaches to health promotion and disease prevention that will directly benefit the public’s health. 

The Center has been researching the role of nutrition in chronic diseases for more than 20 years.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center in Derby seeks volunteers for diabetes study

The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center at Griffin Hospital is offering a free online Diabetes Prevention Program to eligible adults as part of a research study./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center at Griffin Hospital is offering a free online Diabetes Prevention Program to eligible adults as part of a research study.

The study will measure the effects of eating healthy and improving activity.

 

Participants must be 18 years or older and meet income eligibility, residents of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, or Shelton, and willing to complete a year-long online program that runs weekly for 16 weeks, then every two weeks for the next four months, and then every month for the final four months.

Participants in this free program will receive a Fitbit activity monitor, wireless scale, and support from a health coach. 

They will also receive up to $200 for completing this study with the opportunity to earn additional money for losing weight.

For more information, please call 203-732-1125.

About the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center 

The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center was established in 1998 as a partnership between the Yale School of Public Health and Griffin Hospital located in Derby. 

It is one of 26 PRCs nationwide that are funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and work as a network to conduct health promotion and disease prevention research. 

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Yale-Griffin PRC study: Extra virgin olive oil improves cardiovascular health

A study conducted by the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center found that extra virgin olive oil improved cardiovascular health./ Contributed photo

DERBY - Research conducted by the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center in Derby found that extra virgin olive oil improved endothelial function, a marker of cardiovascular health, while refined olive oil did not.

In this study, recently published in The International Journal of Cardiology, researchers compared consumption of high polyphenol extra virgin olive oil to refined olive oil on measures of cardiovascular health in a group of 20 adults with pre-diabetes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 4.2 million Americans are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and another 88 million, or 1 in 3, with pre-diabetes. 

People with diabetes or at risk for diabetes are more likely to develop other chronic health problems such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and hypertension, and have a higher risk of dying prematurely.

The study team found that a single 50 milliliter dose (about 3 ½ tablespoons) of extra virgin olive oil, blended in a yogurt smoothie, led to improved endothelial function two hours after ingestion, while the refined oil did not. Endothelial function and blood pressure were measured before the meal, and two hours later. Endothelial function is a measure of blood vessel elasticity and how well blood vessels expand as blood flows through them, and is considered an independent predictor for risk of future cardiovascular events.

The difference between the olive oils was statistically and clinically significant. No short-term effect on blood pressure was found with either type of olive oil.

“While research over the past few years has shown that olive oil can offer considerable benefits to cardiovascular health, results of those studies have not always been consistent,” said Valentine Njike, MD, MPH, principal investigator of the study. This may be due to the fact that the nutritional content of olive oil varies. 

For example, all olive oils are relatively high in monounsaturated fat, which is thought to be ‘heart-healthy,’ but extra virgin olive oil contains higher levels of biophenols, natural compounds that modulate oxidative stress, and thought to slow the progression of cardiovascular disease.”

Study co-investigator, David L. Katz, MD, MPH, noted the importance of the study’s findings.

“There is tremendous interest in, and lively debate about, the health effects of oils, including olive oil,” Katz said. “Such debates should be resolved with data, and this study makes an important contribution by highlighting the relevance of not just the type of oil, but also its quality. We have added to an impressive weight of evidence indicating diverse health benefits from genuine extra virgin olive oil.”

Njike emphasized the need for a larger study with a longer time frame to add to the findings of this study, as well as studies to help clarify how extra virgin olive oil influences cardiovascular health.

The study is entitled “Post-prandial Effects of High-polyphenolic Extra Virgin Olive Oil on Endothelial Function in Adults at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial.”

Funding was provided by Cobram Estate, a manufacturer of extra virgin olive oil, and supported by the CDC. Cobram Estate is based in California and Australia that uses state-of-the-art sustainable agriculture techniques.

The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center  was established in 1998 through funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

One of 26 Prevention Research Centers nationwide representing academic-community partnerships, the PRC is engaged in interdisciplinary applied prevention research designed to develop innovative approaches to health promotion and disease prevention that will directly benefit the public’s health. 

The Center has been researching the role of nutrition in chronic diseases for more than 20 years.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Volunteers with MS needed for study at Griffin Hospital in Derby

DERBY - The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, the Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Center at Griffin Hospital, and Yale University are teaming up to see if changing the bacteria in a person’s intestines can be an effective, safe, and tolerable strategy to slow the inflammatory process involved in multiple sclerosis.

MS is an auto-immune disease that affects the central nervous system. 

Some studies have found that an imbalance of intestinal bacteria can lead to inflammation in the immune system. 

This pilot investigational study at Griffin Hospital will involve providing oral capsules with fecal material from healthy donors in the hope that it will lead to favorable changes in the intestinal bacteria – or microbiome - of people with MS, which in turn might slow the inflammatory process involved in the progression of MS. 

The study team, led by neurologist Joseph Guarnaccia, M.D., of the Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Center at Griffin Hospital, will provide 30 oral capsules with this fecal material to patients with MS, and monitor these patients before and afterward to learn what effects the capsules might have. 

The study team is recruiting people with MS who are 18 - 40 years old, can walk with or without assistance, and are not on immunotherapy except for interferon beta or glatiramer acetate. 

They must be able to visit Griffin Hospital eight times over a four-month period. The visits will include a clinical screening, one visit to swallow 30 capsules on an empty stomach, and five other visits for physical exams, blood and stool samples, and surveys. 

Those who complete the study will receive $800, payable in installments. The capsules, procedures, and tests will be provided free of charge. 

The State of Connecticut Department of Public Health is providing funding for this study. 

To learn more about this study, contact Dr. Guarnaccia at 203-732-1290 or msteatmentcenters@griffinhealth.org.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

New online guide features information on active lifestyle resources in Valley

DERBY - The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center at Griffin Hospital is making it easier for Naugatuck Valley residents to get out and get healthier.

The Center recently launched Active Valley CT, an online guide that provides information on free or low-cost resources for people who are either just starting to be active, or are already active and looking for new ideas.

To view the guide, visit avct.griffinhealth.org.

“Physical activity is not only fun - it has many health benefits as well,” said Judy Treu, Research Associate at the Center. 
“It can make people feel better, function better, and sleep better. It can reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and can often help manage other conditions like arthritis and high blood pressure.”

Active Valley CT users can search for places to walk, run, hike, bike, swim, paddle a boat, play sports, use open fields, or enjoy winter sports. Each resource includes a description and address, and (if available) a link to the official website, contact information, and an online map. 

The guide also includes information on playgrounds, state parks, nature centers, Parks and Recreation departments, and senior centers. 
Most resources are based in Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton.

“Being active doesn’t necessarily mean paying for a gym membership or buying special equipment,” Treu said. “It can simply mean finding activities that are enjoyable, and choosing a variety of those that get a person’s heart beating faster, strengthen bones, and build muscles.”

According to Treu, even short bouts of activity can help improve health. She recommends at least 2½ to 5 hours per week of moderate activity for adults, and at least an hour per day of moderate to vigorous activity for children.

Partners on this project include the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments, the Naugatuck Valley Health District, Jack Walsh, of the Naugatuck River Greenway Steering Committee, Griffin Hospital, and the Valley YMCA.

The Prevention Research Center is now working to promote awareness of this resource, and is inviting local governments, community Parks and Recreation departments, school districts, health care providers, health agencies, and nonprofit organizations to provide links to this online portal from their own websites, and to share other promotional materials with those they serve. 

For more information, visit avct.griffinhealth.org, or contact Judy Treu at judy.treu@yalegriffinprc.org.  

About the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center 

The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center was established in 1998 as a partnership between the Yale School of Public Health and Griffin Hospital in Derby. It is one of 26 PRCs nationwide that are funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and work as a network to conduct health promotion and disease prevention research. 

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin Hospital in Derby seeks volunteers for olive oil, diabetes study

DERBY - The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center at Griffin Hospital is seeking volunteers for a study on the effect of different types of olive oil on heart health and blood pressure in adults at risk for Type 2 Diabetes. 

Participants will eat food prepared with different types of olive oil and have testing done before and after each meal, and will come to the PRC for three tests between June and August. Participants will be paid $120. 

Volunteers must be non-smokers between the ages of 25-75 years. 

For more information, call Rocky, 203-732-1265 x300. The hospital is at 130 Division St.

About The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center
The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center is committed to research pertaining to the primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of chronic disease that is responsive to the priorities of the Lower Naugatuck Valley residents, the residents of Connecticut’s major cities, and other communities throughout the state. 

The center is dedicated to participatory research methods, to a robust research agenda inclusive of developmental/determinant, intervention, and translational research; to community involvement in public health; to the eradication of disparities in health and health care in the communities served; and to the dissemination of effective interventions in support of the national objectives of Healthy People 2010.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin Hospital in Derby seeks volunteers for retinal study

Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center is seeking volunteers for retinopathy study./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, located at Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St., is seeking volunteers for a study on retinopathy.

The study open to anyone over 18 years of age who has not had an eye exam for a year. Further eligibility will be assessed before the eye screening.

Participants will have a free eye exam in which images of their eyes are taken and an eye specialist reviews the images for any signs of diseases or conditions, specifically retinopathy, which usually does not have any symptoms. Retinopathy is a common eye disease in the United States and is a leading cause of blindness. 
People with certain conditions are at risk for developing retinopathy and should be screened every year.

To see if you qualify or for more information, contact Aisha Khan at 203-732-1265 ext: 223 or akhan@griffinhealth.org.

About The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center
The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center is committed to research pertaining to the primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of chronic disease that is responsive to the priorities of the Lower Naugatuck Valley residents, the residents of Connecticut’s major cities, and other communities throughout the state. 

The center is dedicated to participatory research methods, to a robust research agenda inclusive of developmental/determinant, intervention, and translational research; to community involvement in public health; to the eradication of disparities in health and health care in the communities served; and to the dissemination of effective interventions in support of the national objectives of Healthy People 2010.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.