Differences in lifestyles between socioeconomic groups are pretty pronounced. And now scientists have found a depressing new marker. Hidden in the sewage lies a clear difference between wealthy areas and poorer ones.
No, it's not gold in sewage this time. It's the remnants of the food we eat and the drugs we take that can paint a broader picture of how we live.
The study took place in Australia, where, over the course of the week of the national census in 2016, samples were taken from 22 wastewater treatment plant catchments, and examined for 42 biomarkers of things such as drugs and dietary metabolites.
These were later compared with census data on metrics such as rent prices, employment and education levels for each area.
"We show the extent to which consumption of chemicals such as opioids and illicit drugs are associated with sociodemographics. We also examine chemicals that reflect individuals' consumption of food components in wastewater and show that disparities in diet are associated with educational level," the researchers write in their paper.
"Our study shows that chemicals in wastewater reflect the social, demographic, and economic properties of the respective populations and highlights the potential value of wastewater in studying the sociodemographic determinants of population health."
What they found is sobering.
In wealthier areas, biomarkers were consistent with a better diet. Metabolites produced by the dietary intake of B vitamins (not supplements) were significantly more abundant in areas with higher rents, in agreement with previous research that found socioeconomically disadvantaged groups are less likely to meet nutritional guidelines.
Wealthier and better educated areas also had much higher concentrations of the biomarkers associated with eating a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as grains. All of these are associated with a healthier overall diet.
Interestingly, wealthier areas also had higher caffeine consumption. Coffee consumption is pretty universal, but is higher among better-off socioeconomic groups, especially ground coffee and espresso as opposed to instant coffee.
"We suggest," the researchers wrote, "that increased caffeine consumption in socioeconomically advantaged groups may reflect 1) greater financial freedom to indulge in caffeinated beverages (i.e., coffee) and/or 2) cultural institutionalisation of regular coffee drinking among advantaged and/or educated populations."
In lower socioeconomic areas, there were significantly higher levels of prescription medication for treating depression (desvenlafaxine, amitriptyline and citalopram), chronic pain (opioids such as methadone, codeine, tramadol and oxycodone, as well as pregabalin, for neuropathy) and blood pressure (atenolol).
"We considered antidepressants as a proxy for psychological distress," the researchers noted.
They were even able to link demographics with specific types of antidepressants. A higher proportion of labourers were prescribed desvenlafaxine. Amitriptyline was most often prescribed to people who didn't finish high school. And people taking citalopram tended to live alone, and were often separated or divorced.
We don't have to take the sewage at face value, either. All of these results appear to be consistent with other studies into the lifestyles of demographic groups.
Wastewater-based epidemiology is relatively new, and to date has been used primarily to study and monitor the use of drugs, both legal and illegal.
This study, the researchers said, shows that it can also be used as a means of studying the general health of human populations, and identifying areas that aren't doing so well.
"Our study shows that chemicals in wastewater reflect the social, demographic, and economic properties of the respective populations and highlights the potential value of wastewater in studying the sociodemographic determinants of population health," the researchers wrote.
The research has been published in PNAS.
Go here to read the rest:
There's a Depressing Difference Between The Sewage of Wealthy Areas And Poorer Ones - ScienceAlert
- An update on Axon Therapy: A treatment used to relieve chronic neuropathy pain - Veterans Affairs - December 6th, 2024
- Hypothyroidism: Can it cause peripheral neuropathy? - December 6th, 2024
- A Case of Severe Advanced Diabetic Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy: Severe Orthostatic Hypotension Complicated With Episodes of Nocturnal Supine... - December 6th, 2024
- Peripheral neuropathy - Care at Mayo Clinic - November 27th, 2024
- Diabetic neuropathy - Symptoms & causes - Mayo Clinic - November 27th, 2024
- Peripheral nerve injuries - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic - November 27th, 2024
- Autonomic neuropathy - Symptoms & causes - Mayo Clinic - November 27th, 2024
- FDA clears IND application for epigenetic regulator to treat idiopathic neuropathy pain - Healio - November 27th, 2024
- Sponsored: Relieve Your Neuropathy with Advanced Nerve And Health Center - KHOU.com - November 27th, 2024
- Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Market size in the 7MM was approximately USD 2,740 million in 2022, estimated DelveInsight - The Globe and Mail - November 27th, 2024
- Peripheral neuropathy: Causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention - September 21st, 2024
- Sponsored: Say goodbye to neuropathy with help from NexGenEsis Healthcare - KHOU.com - September 21st, 2024
- Danish Study Reveals Connection Between Diabetic Neuropathy, Retinopathy, and Severe Periodontitis - Medical Dialogues - September 21st, 2024
- What Is Neuropathy? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment And ... - Forbes - July 30th, 2024
- Neuropathy | Duke Health - October 16th, 2023
- Peripheral Neuropathy | University Hospitals - May 9th, 2023
- Cranial Neuropathies | University Hospitals - May 9th, 2023
- Treatment for Peripheral Neuropathy & Other Nerve Damage | University ... - May 9th, 2023
- Neuromuscular Disease | Facts About Neuromuscular Disorders, Symptoms ... - May 9th, 2023
- Patrick McIntyre MD, JD Doctor Profile & Reviews | University Hospitals - May 9th, 2023
- Peripheral Neuropathy: What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment - Cleveland Clinic - May 1st, 2023
- Peripheral Neuropathy | National Institute of Neurological Disorders ... - May 1st, 2023
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals - Eplontersen halted ATTRv-PN disease progression and improved neuropathy impairment and quality of life in Phase 3 study... - May 1st, 2023
- Successfully Treating Diabetic Neuropathy at Vero Neuropathy | Paid Content - Local 5 - weareiowa.com - May 1st, 2023
- Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment at Advanced Nerve and Health Center - WFAA.com - May 1st, 2023
- Different Types of Peripheral Neuropathy | Paid Content - Local 5 - weareiowa.com - February 24th, 2023
- Peripheral neuropathy: Symptoms, causes, and treatment - Medical News Today - February 24th, 2023
- Natural Treatments for Peripheral Neuropathy - Healthline - December 28th, 2022
- Diabetic neuropathy types: Symptoms tell the story - Mayo Clinic - December 28th, 2022
- Supplements for Neuropathy: Vitamins and More - Healthline - December 28th, 2022
- The Effectiveness of Topical Cannabidiol Oil in Symptomatic ... - PubMed - December 28th, 2022
- Autonomic neuropathy - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic - December 28th, 2022
- Peripheral neuropathy - Causes - NHS - December 28th, 2022
- Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and ... - PubMed - December 28th, 2022
- What Is Auditory Neuropathy? Causes & Treatment | NIDCD - December 20th, 2022
- Vero Neuropathy and Their Patients Pain Free Success Stories | Paid Content - Local 5 - weareiowa.com - December 20th, 2022
- Neuropathy No More Reviews (Blue Heron Health News) Does It Work? - Outlook India - December 20th, 2022
- Neuropathy Pain Treatment Market Size to Grow by USD 3.81 Bn, Growing Focus on Emerging Economies to be a Key Trend - Technavio - Yahoo Finance - October 7th, 2022
- Pregabalin Market to Grow by USD 153.03 Mn from 2022 to 2026, Driven by Presence of Large Patient Pool Related To Neuropathic Pain - Technavio - Yahoo... - October 7th, 2022
- Anti-hyperalgesic effects of photobiomodulation therapy (904 nm) on streptozotocin-induced diabetic neuropathy imply MAPK pathway and calcium dynamics... - October 7th, 2022
- Side effects that may arise during breast cancer treatment The Hamburg Reporter - Hamburg Reporter - October 7th, 2022
- Neuropathy & the Truth About Alternative Care - North Forty News - June 16th, 2022
- Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: The Invisible Side Effect - Curetoday.com - June 16th, 2022
- Thermal gradient ring reveals thermosensory changes in diabetic peripheral neuropathy in mice | Scientific Reports - Nature.com - June 16th, 2022
- GenSight Biologics Announces Participation and Presentation of GS010 Clinical Data at EUNOS 2022 - Business Wire - June 16th, 2022
- Warning Signs of Diabetes, Says Physician Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That - June 16th, 2022
- Foot Disease: The Most Feared Of All The Consequences Of Diabetes - Pressat - June 16th, 2022
- How Mindfulness Meditation May Help Ease Stress and Anxiety in Cancer Survivors, and Where to Start - Curetoday.com - June 16th, 2022
- TYPES OF CANNABIS STRAINS AND THE TYPE OF PAIN THEY TREAT - GISuser.com - June 16th, 2022
- 5 Types of Neuropathy and What to Do About Them | Fort ... - April 26th, 2022
- Unilateral Compressive Optic Neuropathy As the Presenting Manifestation of Clival Chordoma: A Case Report - Cureus - April 26th, 2022
- A Case of Secondary Trigeminal Neuropathy Due to Local Malignant Invasion of the Maxillary and Mandibular Nerves at the Skull Base: A Case Report With... - April 26th, 2022
- Global Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy Drug Market 2022 to 2031 Analysis themobility.club - themobility.club - April 26th, 2022
- Risks of vitamin B12 deficiency and the symptoms to look out for - My London - April 26th, 2022
- NeuraLace announces two new patents for Axon neuropathic pain therapies - NeuroNews International - April 26th, 2022
- Neuropathic pain Market Overview By Share, Size, Industry Players, Revenue and Product Demand 2021-2030 The New York Irish Emgirant - The New York... - April 26th, 2022
- Find Help For Peripheral Neuropathy With Corrective Health - KXAN.com - November 21st, 2021
- AlgoTherapeutix Completes Phase I for Peripheral Neuropathy Program ATX01, Poised for Phase II Initiation in 2022 - Business Wire - November 21st, 2021
- Diabetic Neuropathy Treatment Industry Growth Forecast Analysis Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application to 2026 - Northwest Diamond Notes - November 21st, 2021
- Diabetes: The 'tingling' sensation that can be caused by long-term high blood sugar - Daily Express - November 21st, 2021
- Vaccinations urged against shingles, a viral infection that's on the rise - Yahoo News - November 21st, 2021
- Broadway Vascular Announces Top-Line Results of 12-Month Retrospective Analysis Evaluating Revascularization of the Lateral Plantar Artery in Diabetic... - October 26th, 2021
- Applied Therapeutics Reports Biomarker Data from Pilot Trial of AT-007 in SORD Deficiency - Yahoo Finance - October 26th, 2021
- Heres Why Alger Sold its Nevro Corp. (NVRO) Position - Yahoo Finance - October 26th, 2021
- Zika virus in UP: Symptoms, treatment and other things to know - Hindustan Times - October 26th, 2021
- Ask the GP: Why do my feet feel like they're on fire? - The Irish News - October 26th, 2021
- For veterans: VA prepares to tackle backlogged disability claims - The Herald-Times - October 26th, 2021
- Tri-State Neuropathy Centers continues to expand its peripheral neuropathy treatment practice in the tri-state area to continue its mission to help... - August 17th, 2021
- Out of Every Ten Diabetic Patient, At least Seven are Identified with Diabetic Neuropathy - BioSpace - August 17th, 2021
- CCM can identify nerve damage in patients with long COVID, new study finds - Mobihealth News - August 17th, 2021
- Spotlight on ultrasonography in the diagnosis of PND | IJGM - Dove Medical Press - August 17th, 2021
- Eye scan could determine whether COVID patients will be long haulers - WGNO New Orleans - August 17th, 2021
- Diabetic Neuropathy Treatment Market Trends and Forecast to 2027 Players are Abbott, Roche, Eli Lilly - The Manomet Current - August 17th, 2021
- The Feather and the Knife: Navigating Life With Chronic Pain - POZ - August 17th, 2021
- Taysha Gene Therapies Secures up to $100 Million Non-Dilutive Term Loan Financing - Yahoo Finance - August 17th, 2021
- Sonnet BioTherapeutics Provides Fiscal Year 2021 Third Quarter Business and Earnings Update - Yahoo Finance - August 17th, 2021
- Ugly Side Effects of Too Many Vitamins - Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That - August 17th, 2021
- Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Pipeline Analysis Shows Tremendous Growth Opportunities for the Coming Years in the Domain - Digital... - May 14th, 2021
- Osmol Therapeutics Initiates IND Enabling Studies to Develop First Therapy for Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy - BioSpace - May 14th, 2021
- Global Chronic Pain associated with Painful Diabetic Neuropathy Market to 2025 - Insight, Competitive Landscape and Forecasts - ResearchAndMarkets.com... - May 14th, 2021