Health & Medicine: 1)Flu season arrives early with cases rising in Simcoe Muskoka; 2)On the Subject of Dementia; 3) Number of people starting ADHD meds is up 157% in Ontario: study; 4)RVH among world’s best for surgical excellence

1) Flu season arrives early with cases rising in Simcoe Muskoka

Courtesy Barrie360.com and News Release

By Newsroom, December 12, 2025

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) is sounding the alarm as influenza cases spike dramatically across the region. With flu season arriving earlier than usual, reported cases are already more than four times higher than the same period in the last two years, accompanied by increased hospitalizations and outbreaks.

“This year’s main influenza strain changed over the summer, which is one of the reasons so many people, especially children, are getting sick,” the health unit stated. “Getting the flu shot is still the best way to protect yourself from influenza.”

Vaccination Strongly Recommended

SMDHU is urging residents who haven’t yet received their flu shot to do so immediately. The vaccine remains effective at preventing serious illness, even with the strain change, and significantly reduces the risk of hospitalization.

Flu vaccines are available at participating local pharmacies and health care providers for individuals aged two and older. Children aged six months to two years can receive their shot from a doctor, nurse, or health unit clinic by appointment.

Holiday Gatherings Could Fuel Spread
As families and communities prepare to gather for the holidays, health officials warn that flu cases are expected to rise further in the coming weeks. Preventive measures remain critical:
Stay home if you’re sick or showing symptoms
Keep children home from school or daycare if ill
Wash hands frequently and disinfect high-touch surfaces
Wear a well-fitted mask in indoor public spaces, especially if at higher risk

COVID-19 and RSV Also Circulating
In addition to influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) continue to spread. The same precautions used to prevent flu can help reduce transmission of these viruses. COVID-19 vaccines are available free of charge for individuals aged six months and older at local pharmacies and health care providers.

Stay Informed and Take Precautions
The health unit encourages residents to consult the Weekly Respiratory Virus Update and consider personal risk factors when deciding on protective measures.

For more information about influenza and immunization, visit the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Uni

2) On the Subject of Dementia:

By Patricia Dent, December 12, 2025

Is someone in your family suffering from dementia? (Or perhaps you are concerned about your own risk to developing this disease?

Hi everyone – this is my own story based on the research I am undertaking to prevent dementia. I am offering my findings in the hope that if your family is affected by dementia – that there may be answers for you.

My mother died at the age of 92 – a long lifespan, but one in which only 75 or 80 years counted after dementia became untreatable (according to her gerontolgist).

Courtesy of a colleague who is helping me teach a class on Exiting your business (this is the complement to Startup classes) I learned that there was such a thing as “Vascular Dementia”. My mother’s symptoms and condition produced no answers – she was cleared of stroke and heart disease, but there was no diagnosis. However, what I have learned about vascular dementia, is consistent with her symptoms.

Recently, a thorough review of my health has uncovered the possibility of my inheriting this disease. So I’m on a mission to clarify what is happening – and preventing this awful disease. I would like to share my experience and my findings of the investigation into my health in case it may help others. If you are making discoveries – please contact me so that they can be shared as well.

I am grateful to my colleagues and friends who are sharing information with me. Here is what I have found out so far (and the tests that I am undergoing):

Any comments? Please email me at patricia@growvantage.com

3) Number of people starting ADHD meds is up 157% in Ontario: study

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By Hannah Alberga,December 11, 2025

Researchers say there’s been a dramatic rise in the number of people going on medications to treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in Ontario, suggesting factors such as more time spent online and the rise of private assessments for the mental condition could be behind the increase.

A study published Thursday in JAMA Network Open looked at all prescriptions for stimulant drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall dispensed in the province between 2015 and 2023.

By 2023, data shows overall annual new stimulant prescriptions were up by 157 per cent compared to 2015.

The report says prescriptions for ADHD treatment rose throughout the study period and accelerated in 2020, coinciding with the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic. That year prescriptions started increasing 28 per cent per year, compared to only seven per cent from 2015 to 2019.

Researchers at ICES, North York General, and The Hospital for Sick Children say that sharp increase could be due to several factors: social and environmental changes such as a surge in screen time, increased public awareness and acceptance of ADHD symptoms, and the recognition of people who were previously undiagnosed.

However, while they acknowledge there is a lack of data on whether the medication was being prescribed appropriately, they also say there may have been some people who were misdiagnosed – when a condition that causes similar symptoms is incorrectly deemed ADHD – or overdiagnosed – when milder symptoms are incorrectly diagnosed as ADHD.

First author Dr. Daniel Myran said his concern is that some people could be exposed to adverse side effects of the medication unnecessarily, and they might miss an opportunity to treat other mental health conditions.

The biggest change over the study period was in adult females, with increases of approximately 421 per cent and 369 per cent in ages 25 to 44 and 18 to 24, respectively.

“Their growth is so quick that in 2023 there are more females age 25 to 44 who’ve used a stimulant in the past year than males,” Myran, an Ottawa-based family and public health physician and scientist at North York General Hospital, said.

Historically, the diagnostic criteria for ADHD focused on hyperactivity, which is more common among males. More attention has recently been paid to women’s underdiagnosed inattentive symptoms, such as struggling to stay focused and establish priorities.

“This is part of catching up to that. But the flip side is that it may also be overdiagnosis,” Myran said.

There was also a large increase in the number of children starting to take medications for ADHD, though the jump wasn’t as drastic as the adult groups.

Girls also outpaced boys with new prescriptions. They were up by 191 per cent in girls aged 10 to 14, and by 67.5 per cent in boys of the same age group.

During the pandemic a number of private virtual care clinics opened offering ADHD assessments. Myran said these online options both lowered the barrier to diagnosis and potentially led to misdiagnosis or overdiagnosis. He said patients have come into his family practice with inaccurate diagnoses, which actually prompted him to start this study.

“If you have the wrong diagnosis and you pursue the wrong treatment for it, you may never get the right treatment for what you have,” he said.

Medication side effects include loss of appetite, sleep problems and anxiety. There are also long-term implications that can include increased blood pressure and risk of stroke and heart attacks.

“These are things where if you have bad symptoms of ADHD that are preventing you from engaging in education or work, the risk trade-off is clear.”

But as these medications become much more broadly used, Myran said, “I think that you start getting into groups of individuals who are being prescribed it where the risk-benefit base ratio may not be as favourable.”

Heather Palis, who was not involved in the Ontario study but did conduct one with similar findings out of British Columbia this year, said the rapid rise of new diagnoses also indicates that some of these patients have been underdiagnosed and managing their own symptoms without a health care provider.

Her study published in The Lancet saw the fastest growth in females diagnosed with ADHD, with an estimated rate of growth more than twice that of males during the pandemic.

“That signals to us a population that then needs services and treatment,” said Palis, a senior scientist at the BC Centre for Disease Control. That means having access to health care providers who can prescribe, communicate and monitor patients for adverse effects.

“I think it’s really meant to be a first step to now informing how we meet the service needs of people who have these new diagnoses and also work to engage the people that are potentially being left behind,” Palis said.

4) RVH among world’s best for surgical excellence

Courtesy Barrie360.com and News Release

By Newsroom, December 12, 2025

Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) has achieved global recognition for surgical excellence, earning a prestigious designation from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) for delivering outstanding patient outcomes.

RVH is one of just 76 hospitals worldwide—and only 13 in Canada—to be honoured through the ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP), placing it in the top 10 percent globally for surgical quality and patient safety.

ACS NSQIP is the world’s leading surgical quality program, using rigorous, risk-adjusted data to measure performance in eight clinical areas, including mortality, surgical site infection, and pneumonia. RVH’s recognition reflects excellence across the full continuum of care—from preoperative planning to postoperative recovery.

“This achievement is the result of incredible teamwork and commitment,” said Dr. Dorotea Mutabdzic, NSQIP Surgeon Champion at RVH. “Over the past three years, we’ve focused on reducing infections and improving recovery. Thanks to the dedication of our surgeons, nurses and the entire surgical team, patients are experiencing better outcomes than ever before.”

RVH performs approximately 15,000 surgeries annually in ten operating rooms, making it the busiest and most comprehensive surgical program in Simcoe-Muskoka. The hospital supports smaller partner sites and delivers advanced procedures locally, reducing the need for patients to travel for complex care.

Guided by its Vitally You strategic plan, RVH’s surgical program continues to drive innovation, evidence-based practices, and continuous improvement. Already a provincial leader in cancer surgery wait times and advanced interventions, RVH is setting the standard in orthopaedics, general surgery, and minimally invasive techniques.

This recognition marks another milestone on RVH’s journey to becoming an Academic Health Sciences Centre, reinforcing its commitment to attracting top surgical talent, creating exceptional learning opportunities, and ensuring every patient receives world-class care close to home.