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Graphic on Glaucoma Awareness Month from NIH
Glaucoma Awareness Month (National Eye Institute)

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, a good time to take a look at recently published research from the field. A forthcoming study in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease uses data from a prospective cohort study called Adult Changes in Thought (ACT), which follows cognitively normal older adults until Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia development. Those included in the group were study participants with a diagnosis of glaucoma who filled prescriptions for glaucoma medications (including alpha-adrenergic agonists, beta-adrenergic antagonists, miotics, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, and prostaglandins) for at least ten years.

Davidson et al. cite sensory impairment as one modifiable potential source of dementia risk. Glaucoma is a common cause of visual impairment in older adults, and several past studies have suggested glaucoma may be associated with a higher risk of dementia, although this is not yet proven. Additionally, glaucoma and dementia may potentially share molecular pathways and clinical features which are associated with neurodegeneration.

Treatment of glaucoma focuses on reduction of intraocular pressure through daily use of topical eye drops. Because both glaucoma and dementia are highly prevalent in older adults, therefore Davidson et al. feel it is important to study the potential connections between the two.

Patients included in this study are older adults at risk of dementia from Kaiser Permanente Washington (state). Participants are followed by ACT until they develop Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. The study looked at age and dementia risk, first glaucoma medication fill, in addition to other factors. 521 participants in the ACT study were ultimately included in this analysis. 62% were female, and beta-adrenergic antagonists were the most frequently prescribed type of medication. The mean exposure time for each study participant to beta-adrenergic antagonists was 1.4 years.

The study concluded that with each year of alpha-adrenergic agonists (AAA), there was a 33% higher risk of dementia (but not Alzheimer ’s-type dementia). The findings of Davidson et al showed that beyond AAA, there was no other glaucoma medication class associated with dementia or Alzheimer’s-type dementia. This constitutes a new finding, because exposure to glaucoma medication use has not been studied extensively, nor has use of AAA previously been linked to an increased risk of dementia. It is important to note that some studies have also pointed to adrenergic dysregulation as playing a role in cognitive decline. Topical use of AAA drops induces central adrenergic activity in some patients, which the authors hypothesize could be a mechanism leading to adrenergic dysregulation.

The authors note that their findings were unexpected, and they cannot fully rule out that the association between AAA glaucoma medication and dementia is related to patients who have more severe glaucoma. (Data on the severity of the glaucoma was unavailable to researchers.) AAA was not a first-line medication, but rather one prescribed to patients after beta blockers or prostaglandins are unsuccessful. In the cohort being studied, AAA was the third most prescribed medication for glaucoma.

While Davidson et al. acknowledge study limitations, this finding indicates an important area for future research, to look at medication exposure time and other factors such as other drugs patients have been taking concurrently with glaucoma medications.

References

Davidson, O., Lee, M. L., Kam, J. P., Brush, M., Rajesh, A., Blazes, M., Arterburn, D. E., Duerr, E., Gibbons, L. E., Crane, P. K., Lee, C. S., & Eye ACT study group (2025). Associations between dementia and exposure to topical glaucoma medications. Journal of Alzheimer's disease: JAD, 13872877241305745. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/13872877241305745

Black and white image of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Himmelfarb Library has honored Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with numerous blog posts, and as we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. again today, we wanted to take a look back at some of our previous posts. These posts can serve as an opportunity to reflect on Dr. King’s life and legacy, celebrate the progress made toward continuing Dr. King’s work, and recommit to the work that still needs to be done. 

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Health Equity

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is well known for his passionate and thoughtful speeches that examined racial discrimination in the United States, the negative impacts of poverty, and the need for communities to rally behind and support vulnerable populations. His iconic “I Have a Dream” speech focused on education, access to housing, racial desegregation, and building an equitable country. Dr. King also fought to end racial inequities in healthcare. 

On March 25, 1966, Dr. King spoke at a meeting of the Medical Committee for Human Rights. While the full transcript of this speech has not been discovered, fragments were printed in newspapers. This speech addressed the harsh realities that people of color, particularly Black Americans, faced in America and urged listeners to educate themselves on these inequities and work to dismantle systemic oppression. It was during a press conference documented by the Associated Press before this speech that Dr. King is thought to have spoken one of his most famous quotes about health according to Professor Charlene Galarneau:

“We are concerned about the constant use of federal funds to support this most notorious expression of segregation. Of all forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman because it often results in physical death” (Galarneau, 2018, p.5). 

Dr. King’s speech was a call to action encouraging people to educate themselves about the issues of racism and economic inequality and use this knowledge to establish and maintain inclusive communities. If you’d like to learn more about Dr. King’s speech to the Medical Committee for Human Rights, read the full post!

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy Through Self-Education

If we are to take up Dr. King’s call to action and educate ourselves on the issues of racism and economic inequality, last year’s post about honoring King’s legacy through self-education can be a great place to start! This post highlights resources that can help you learn about these topics so you can put that knowledge into action!

Himmelfarb’s Antiracism in Healthcare Guide is a fantastic starting point! You’ll find links to organizations, including the SMHS Anti-Racism Coalition (ARC), student associations, and professional healthcare organizations focused on diversity and health justice issues. The Journal Special Collections tab includes journal issues and health news on antiracism issues. The Antiracism Books at Himmelfarb tab includes books and ebooks available at Himmelfarb.

This guide also provides links to podcasts, tutorials, and videos including:

To learn more about these resources, read the full post!

References: Galarneau, C. (2018). Getting King’s Words Right. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 29(1), 5–8. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2018.0001

With Humanities Highlights, Himmelfarb staff aims to spotlight useful books from our Humanities collection. This week, we’re showcasing “The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic – and How it Changed Science, Cities and the Modern World,” by Steven Johnson. 

A copy of The Ghost Map is displayed on a shelf.

About the Book: A story of epidemiology in its infancy, Steven Johnson analyzes the cholera outbreak in 1854 and the key investigators unraveling the mystery of transmission. Balancing urban planning, biology, and politics, The Ghost Map explores the rise of ultra-dense urban communities and the trial-and-error discovery of basic civic needs, like waste management. It’s a book about ideas: both why we cling to bad ones and the consequences of doing so. 

Reasons to Read: If you enjoy medical detective stories, Johnson provides an excellent one, assembling information into an efficient and intelligible chain of cause and effect while commenting insightfully on the history of disease. The book has no shortage of Victorian horrors, as well, if you want to further your gratitude for 21st century life. 

Reasons to Avoid: well, it is fundamentally a book about poop (and ingesting it); "what cholera wants is an environment where people are eating other people's excrement” (Johnson, 2006, pg. 40). Scatological tolerances aside, it’s a book as much about urban planning and the competition of ideas as it is a straightforward disease narrative, compared to something like Pale Rider. 

Further Reading: 

References

Johnson, S. (2006). The Ghost Map. Penguin.

Sign with text that says "Welcome Back!" Star, smiley face, and heart icons.
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

We hope you had a restful and relaxing Winter Break! We’ve enjoyed having so many of you in the library again during the first week of Spring Semester classes! It’s always fun to feel the buzz of excitement in the library at the start of a new semester! 

We’d like to take a minute to remind you that Himmelfarb Library is here to support you as you pursue your goals this term, so let’s review some ways Himmelfarb can help you make the most of the Spring Semester.

Library Hours 

Himmelfarb’s regular operating hours are:

Himmelfarb LibraryReference ServicesConsultation
Monday - Friday6:00 am - Midnight8:00 am - 8:00 pm8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday8:00 am - MidnightNot staffedNot staffed
Sunday8:00 am - Midnight4:00 pm - 8:00 pmNot staffed

Visit our Hours page to view any exceptions to our normal hours, such as holiday closures. 

Study Zones

Himmelfarb is also a great place to study with numerous options to meet your needs and preferences. 

  • Social Zone - 1st Floor: Our first floor is not quiet and is the perfect place to study with your friends, hang out, and be social, or take a study break with a game of chess, our current puzzle, coloring books, board games, or hula hoops! 
  • Silent Zone - 2nd Floor: Our second floor is a silent floor reserved for graduate and advanced degree students. Silence is golden on this floor - it’s the perfect place to study if you need pristine silence to focus while you study. Don’t let the 4-person tables tempt you to be social - even whispering can disturb your fellow silence seekers. 
  • Quiet Zone - 3rd Floor: Our third floor is a quiet study area, where whispering is acceptable, but please be respectful to others and keep things quiet.
  • Group Study Rooms: Our study rooms are located on the second and third floors and are great for studying with friends! Reserve your study room in advance to secure a room. These rooms aren’t noise-proof, so please keep conversations quiet so you don’t disturb others in the Silent and Quiet Zones!

Our Collections

Himmelfarb has extensive collections that include more than 125 databases, 6,700 e-books, and 6,500 journals, available 24/7 from on and off campus! Our print book collection, located in the basement-level stacks, is available for checkout. Most books can be borrowed for three weeks, with two renewals available if you need an item longer. To renew your items, stop by the first-floor service desk, call us (202-994-2962), or log in to your library account and renew online.

If you can’t find what you need in our collection, we can get it through our Docs2Go (ILL) or Consortium Loan Service (CLS) programs. Learn which option is best for you on our Borrowing From Other Libraries page.

Technology Resources

While we pride ourselves on our books and collections, Himmelfarb offers a lot of things you might not expect from a library. Take some time this semester to explore some of the more unique things Himmelfarb has to offer!

  • Virtual Reality Headsets: Check out the awesome virtual anatomy and healthy living apps! 
  • 3D Printing: We proudly offer free 3D printing!
  • BodyViz: This interactive anatomy visualization tool is a fantastic way to explore and learn anatomy in a fun and exciting way!
  • Statistical Software: Some of our third-floor computers come equipped with statistical software including SPSS, Stata, SAS, NVivo, MATLAB, and Atlas.ti.
  • Tech Equipment: Our digital camcorders, digital voice recorders, and ring lights can be reserved in advance for your media-related projects.
  • Medical Gear: We have suture kits, an ultrasound machine, a blood pressure monitor, an ECG monitor, an iPhone otoscope, and a fitness tracker available for checkout!
  • Tech & Support: We have chargers for iPhones and MacBooks, USB-C to HDMI OUT and USB-C to USB-A IN adapters, HDMI cables, headphones, and dry-erase markers available for checkout. We also have free earplugs at the first-floor service desk!

Reference and Research Support

Himmelfarb is more than just a great space to study and fantastic resources! Our librarians and staff can help you find the resources you need for your studies and research. Whether you’re looking for the right book or journal article for an assignment, need help with a literature search or a systematic review, or want to learn how to organize your sources with RefWorks or Covidence, our reference librarians and staff can help! 

Stop by the first-floor service desk to get help from our knowledgeable and friendly reference librarians and staff in person, or use our Ask a Librarian service to chat virtually. Our Ask a Librarian service is staffed by real Himmelfarb librarians and staff, so you can be sure you’re getting the help you need! You can also email us a question, or schedule a consultation with a reference librarian at himmelfarb@gwu.edu.

Connect with Us!

Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube for the latest Himmelfarb news and updates! Subscribe to our blog to make sure you never miss a post!

We’re excited to help you do your best this semester! Here’s to a successful Spring Semester!

It’s early January, meaning Earth has completed yet another lap around the sun, and the time of resolution is upon us. 

Or . . . is it? 

By now, most of us have heard about “Quitter’s Day:” the second Friday in January where the already-weary masses shrug off their goals. The name has stuck, presumably, because we can relate to it - the fizzling resolve, our second chances degenerating rapidly into our first chances.  But, maybe the problem isn’t willpower; it’s in the way we structure (and think about) resolutions. 

There’s nothing really special about January 1st, other than it’s the collectively agreed-upon beginning of the year. But a circle (or, technically, an ellipse) can begin at any point. Cheesy as it is to say, any day could be worthy of a new beginning. 

Every revolution could be a revolution. 

A diagram of the earth's orbit around the sun in conjunction with the seasons.

Part of what makes “Quitter’s Friday” psychologically crushing is the 355 days until the slate wipes clean in the following year. 365 days, moreover, is far too long a timeframe for ideal measurement. Research suggests that motivation increases with proximity to a goal’s desired outcome (Hall et al., 2024). Intuition confirms this. Consider how much more motivation it takes to begin a jigsaw puzzle (or any creative project) than to complete it. 

But every goal - fitness, career, educational, or otherwise - will have its ups and downs, its booms and busts. A slackening of resolve should not lead to quitting, but reevaluating the goal and how to get there. 

How important is the goal to you? Current research on anhedonia posits that having too many goals, contrary to the cultural expectation of always accomplishing everything, decreases reward sensitivity and, therefore, decreases motivation (Hall et al., 2024). If the goal isn’t central to your life’s journey, it could be time to reevaluate it, or shift its place in the goal queue. 

Moreover, it helps to differentiate the overall goal - like becoming a doctor - from the steps needed to get there, just like a star will tell you a direction but not the means of travel. 

A diagram of a ship navigating by following the north star.

The overall goal animates the boring steps and renders them meaningful, while the boring steps convert a goal into actual reality. Success becomes possible when we identify tangible, accomplishable steps. 

If you know these “boring steps,” then the task is to organize them, focus on the step at hand, and mentally frame them with the overall goal. If the steps aren’t known, paralysis may occur, but can be remedied by mentors who can help clarify and guide you.

As you can tell, this process simply can’t be relegated to once a year. It’s a constant charge to the self. A constant reevaluation and reconfiguration. 

So this year, instead of joining the quitters on Quitter’s Day, we should determine what we really value, chart the steps we need to take, and as the year progresses, continue working towards it.

References

Hall, A., Browning, M., & Huys, Q. (2024). The computational structure of consummatory anhedonia. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 28 (6), 541-553. https://www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/playContent/1-s2.0-S1364661324000068

Snow covered pine trees surrounding a snow covered path. Text: Himmelfarb is Closed! January 7, 2025"

Due to snow, the Himmelfarb Library's building will be closed on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. However, our electronic databases, e-books, and journals are still available through our website! You can also get reference help via our Ask Us chat reference service.

Winter Study Break Guide header image with snow, pinecones and other wintry images

Washington Botanical Garden

Date: November 28, 2024 – January 5, 2025

Location: 100 Maryland Avenue SW Washington, DC 20001

Cost: Free

Washington Botanical Garden dresses in lights to celebrate Christmas. It is one of the most beautiful places you can't miss during your visit to this city. In addition to seeing some 26,000 plants and numerous plant species, it has a special room dedicated to the deserts of the planet, where you can appreciate succulents, shrubs, and flowering plants characteristic of these regions. Also during this month, there are a series of festive concerts and an annual exhibition with the best plant species and miniature replicas of emblematic buildings, such as the Smithsonian National Museum of History

Planet Word

Date: Continuous at 10AM to 5PM on Monday and Wednesday through Friday, 10AM to 6PM on Saturday and Sunday, and Closed on Tuesday

Location: 925 13th Street, NW

Cost: Free

Planet Word is the only museum in the country dedicated to renewing and inspiring a love of words and language and includes immersive exhibits for all ages. Visitors can deliver a famous speech, watch a library book come to life, sing karaoke tunes, and more. The museum also offers a variety of virtual programs.

Ice Skate in DC

Date: Nov. 23 to March 2

Location: ice skating rinks at the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden, Washington Harbour in Georgetown, Canal Park in Capitol Riverfront, and The Wharf

Cost: Varied

Lace-up some skates and triple axel around the District at popular ice skating rinks.

Harry Benson Exhibit

Date: October 4 – April 13 from Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: 707-709 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004

Cost: Free

For the duration of the 2024-25 NBA and NHL seasons, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Ted and Lynn Leonsis, and Jeff Skoll present a landmark exhibit featuring more than 150 photographs by legendary photojournalist Harry Benson, renowned for his chronicles of culture, politics, music, movies, television, and sports. The free exhibit includes photographs of every President and First Lady since Dwight Eisenhower, iconic images of legendary athletes and musicians, a behind-the-scenes look at The Beatles' arrival to the United States, stunning moments from the Civil Rights Movement, and much more.

Kennedy Center Millennium Stage – Trio Sefardi

Date: Friday, January 3, 2025 at 6pm

Location: 2700 F St., NW, Washington DC 20566 Kennedy Center (In-Person and Livestream)

Cost: Free

Trio Sefardi, a Northern Virginia–based ensemble, performs traditional songs of the Sephardim, the descendants of Jews exiled from Spain in 1492. The Washington Post said the ensemble “gave lovely and luminous performances.”

ZooLights

Date: October 8 – January 4 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Location: 3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

Cost: $6

Zoolights is an event held at the National Zoo year after year. The brightest lights decorate the paths of the park and its resting areas, and everywhere you go you will come across brilliant animal sculptures. In addition to this light show, there are also some musical performances. Of course, the more than 500,000 LED lights that make up this annual spectacle are totally respectful of the environment and the zoo's species. This is one of the plans to do with children in Washington DC, but, no doubt, adults will also enjoy it in a big way.

Kennedy Center Millennium Stage – Vienna Teng

Date: Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 6pm

Location: 2700 F St., NW Washington DC 20566 Kennedy Center (In-Person and Livestream)

Cost: Free

Songwriter Vienna Teng reemerges this fall with her We’ve Got You—her first new music in over a decade—but her fans have been here the whole time. Teng’s new mini-EP reflects the complexity of her life over the past decade: climate change work, community building, and parenthood.

Meditation and Mindfulness

Date: Friday, January 17, 2025 at 12pm

Location: Online

Cost: Free

Join the Asian Art Museum for a 30-minute midday meditation session! Friday sessions take inspiration from art in the museum’s collections.

GW MLK Day of Service and Leadership

Date: Saturday, January 18, 2025, 10am to 4pm

Location: University Student Center

Cost: Free

Registration: MLK Day of Service and Leadership Registration Page

Dr. King recognized the power of service. He famously said, "Everyone can be great because everybody can serve." GW’s MLK Day of Service and Leadership is a day to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through a day of service, workshops, and reflection.

This day of service is a unique opportunity for hundreds of GW students, faculty, staff, alumni, and DC community members to strengthen their service values, create positive and impactful contributions to our communities, and commit to continuing acts of service as exemplified by Dr. King. 

Fresh Start Yoga for the New Year

Date: Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 11am

Location: Anacostia Community Museum

Cost: Free (ticket required)

Join the Anacostia Community Museum to commit to a fresh start to your health goals for the year, in a motivational yoga session by Khepera Wellness.

Restaurant Week in DC

Date: Jan 27 to Feb 2

Location: All around DC

Cost: Varied

Here’s a chance to dine at your favorite DC restaurants, and save money while you do it! Multi-course dinner menus are available at $40, $55, and $65 per person, and lunch and brunch options are $25 or $35.

Beaded jewelry workshop with Sandy Hoar, January 7 from noon to 2 pm in Himmelfarb Library.

Healthy Living @ Himmelfarb invites you to a beaded jewelry workshop led by GW faculty member Sandy Hoar on Tuesday, January 14th at noon in Himmelfarb Library.  

Dr. Hoar is an experienced crafts teacher and has previously taught workshops in Himmelfarb on weaving and chain mail jewelry.  Dr. Hoar teaches crafts to both adults and children with a focus on Celtic crafts.  

Bring your creativity and learn a new skill. Materials are supplied. Registration for the event is FREE but space is limited. A wait list is available so if you are a latecomer, sign up anyway!

What: Beading Workshop

When: Tuesday,  January 14, 12-2p.m.

Where: Himmelfarb 1st Floor Alcove

Register (limited spaces)

Five blocks spell out "study" in front of some textbooks
Five cubes that spell out "study" are shown in front of some textbooks

Finals season getting to you? Feeling anxious about exams? Are you considering locking yourself in the library until you memorize your textbooks? Before you go to drastic measures, consider trying out some of the following tips and tricks to make studying for finals go smoothly. 

  1. Try making some practice exams: Reviewing class notes is a great way to study but after a second or third pass, it can feel like you’re just skimming through the information, rather than taking it in. If you want your studying method to be more active, consider making a practice exam to see if your notes are actually sticking in your memory. If you take questions from old exams, study guides, and assignments, you can make a practice exam that not only covers important concepts but forces you to review your notes as you make it more in-depth. Want to take this tip to the next level? Rope in a friend to make their own practice test and swap with one another. 
  2. Flip through some flashcards: Flashcards are a tried and tested method for a reason. If you don’t want to make your own flashcards, Access Medicine provides plenty of flashcards for all sorts of medical topics. 
  3. Review pre-printed textbooks and guides: Himmelfarb has plenty of study material in our collection, including guides on various medical topics. Materials are available both digitally and physically, so make sure to pick one that suits your preferred studying style.
  4. Find the right environment: Need a quiet place to study? Have trouble staying on task at home? Try the library! Study better as a group? Our first floor has plenty of space for folks to gather to discuss in teams. Need a quieter environment? If you’re one of our Graduate students, try Himmelfarb’s second floor is for silent study, and our third floor is for quiet study. If you want to go even quieter, feel free to take some of the complementary earplugs at the front desk. 

Finals can be stressful but hopefully, with these study tips, you’ll be ready for exams with as little stress as possible!