Grace Wyshak

Last updated
Grace Wyshak
EducationSmith College
Harvard University
Yale University
Scientific career
FieldsBiostatistics

Grace G. Wyshak is an American biostatistician known for her work on twins and heritability of genetic information and in defining the factors impacting girls as they develop into young women. She holds a position at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Contents

Education and career

Wyshak graduated from Smith College in 1949, [1] and from Harvard University in 1956. [2] She earned her Ph.D. in public health (biometry) from Yale University. [3] From 1975, Wyshak was an associate professor in public health at Yale University. [4] [5] At Harvard University she served in the Department of Social Medicine and Health Policy. [6] She was also a corresponding member of the Faculty of Psychiatry in the Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard-affiliated teaching hospital in Cambridge. [7] From 2022, Wyshak was a senior scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. [8]

Research

Wyshak's epidemiological research helped clarify observed relationships between physical activity (exercise) and reduced breast cancer and depression risks. [9] While at Yale, Wyshak used twins as a model to examine survival statistics for twins [10] and to examine inheritance of genes. [11] She also investigated people's willingness to engage in risky behavior, a topic she examined based on a comparison between doctors and lawyers. [12]

Wyshak and Rose Frisch's collaborative work determined that exercise reduced risk of certain cancers, [13] and that drinking carbonated beverages increased the likelihood of bone fractures in young girls. [14] [15] Wyshak went on to investigate the link between soda consumption by adolescent girls and bone fractures, [16] research that was broadly covered by the media. [17] [18] Her research also demonstrated that female athletes have a reduced risk of breast cancer in their later years, [19] she uncovered historical shifts in the age of menstruation for girls, [20] [21] and examined delayed menstruation in young ballerinas. [22] [23]

Selected publications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osteoporosis</span> Skeletal disorder

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mass, micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue leading to more porous bone, and consequent increase in fracture risk. It is the most common reason for a broken bone among the elderly. Bones that commonly break include the vertebrae in the spine, the bones of the forearm, the wrist, and the hip. Until a broken bone occurs there are typically no symptoms. Bones may weaken to such a degree that a break may occur with minor stress or spontaneously. After the broken bone heals, the person may have chronic pain and a decreased ability to carry out normal activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soft drink</span> Sweetened non-alcoholic drink, often carbonated

A soft drink is any water-based flavored drink, usually but not necessarily carbonated, and typically including added sweetener. Flavors used can be natural or artificial. The sweetener may be a sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, fruit juice, a sugar substitute, or some combination of these. Soft drinks may also contain caffeine, colorings, preservatives and other ingredients.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diet soda</span> Type of sugar-free or artificially sweetened soda

Diet or light beverages are generally sugar-free, artificially sweetened beverages with few or no calories. They are marketed for diabetics and other people who want to reduce their sugar and/or caloric intake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plant-based diet</span> Diet consisting mostly or entirely of plant-based foods

A plant-based diet is a diet consisting mostly or entirely of plant-based foods. Plant-based diets encompass a wide range of dietary patterns that contain low amounts of animal products and high amounts of fiber-rich plant products such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. They do not need to be vegan or vegetarian, but are defined in terms of low frequency of animal food consumption.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alendronic acid</span> Chemical compound

Alendronic acid, sold under the brand name Fosamax among others, is a bisphosphonate medication used to treat osteoporosis and Paget's disease of bone. It is taken by mouth. Use is often recommended together with vitamin D, calcium supplementation, and lifestyle changes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osgood–Schlatter disease</span> Inflammation of the patellar ligament

Osgood–Schlatter disease (OSD) is inflammation of the patellar ligament at the tibial tuberosity (apophysitis) usually affecting adolescents during growth spurts. It is characterized by a painful bump just below the knee that is worse with activity and better with rest. Episodes of pain typically last a few weeks to months. One or both knees may be affected and flares may recur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zoledronic acid</span> Chemical compound

Zoledronic acid, also known as zoledronate and sold under the brand name Zometa by Novartis among others, is a medication used to treat a number of bone diseases. These include osteoporosis, high blood calcium due to cancer, bone breakdown due to cancer, Paget's disease of bone and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). It is given by injection into a vein.

Bone pain is pain coming from a bone, and is caused by damaging stimuli. It occurs as a result of a wide range of diseases or physical conditions or both, and may severely impair the quality of life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osteopenia</span> Medical condition

Osteopenia, known as "low bone mass" or "low bone density", is a condition in which bone mineral density is low. Because their bones are weaker, people with osteopenia may have a higher risk of fractures, and some people may go on to develop osteoporosis. In 2010, 43 million older adults in the US had osteopenia. Unlike osteoporosis, osteopenia does not usually cause symptoms, and losing bone density in itself does not cause pain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bone density</span> Amount of bone mineral in bone tissue

Bone density, or bone mineral density, is the amount of bone mineral in bone tissue. The concept is of mass of mineral per volume of bone, although clinically it is measured by proxy according to optical density per square centimetre of bone surface upon imaging. Bone density measurement is used in clinical medicine as an indirect indicator of osteoporosis and fracture risk. It is measured by a procedure called densitometry, often performed in the radiology or nuclear medicine departments of hospitals or clinics. The measurement is painless and non-invasive and involves low radiation exposure. Measurements are most commonly made over the lumbar spine and over the upper part of the hip. The forearm may be scanned if the hip and lumbar spine are not accessible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Relative energy deficiency in sport</span> Syndrome of disordered eating, oligomenorrhoea and osteopenia

Relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) is a syndrome in which disordered eating, amenorrhoea/oligomenorrhoea, and decreased bone mineral density are present. It is caused by eating too little food to support the amount of energy being expended by an athlete, often at the urging of a coach or other authority figure who believes that athletes are more likely to win competitions when they have an extremely lean body type. RED-S is a serious illness with lifelong health consequences and can potentially be fatal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denosumab</span> Human monoclonal antibody

Denosumab, sold under the brand names Prolia and Xgeva among others, is a human monoclonal antibody used for the treatment of osteoporosis, treatment-induced bone loss, metastases to bone, and giant cell tumor of bone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugary drink tax</span> Tax or surcharge on soft drinks

A sugary drink tax, soda tax, or sweetened beverage tax (SBT) is a tax or surcharge designed to reduce consumption of sweetened beverages. Drinks covered under a soda tax often include carbonated soft drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks. This policy intervention is an effort to decrease obesity and the health impacts related to being overweight. The tax is a matter of public debate in many countries and beverage producers like Coca-Cola often oppose it. Advocates such as national medical associations and the World Health Organization promote the tax as an example of a Pigouvian tax, aimed to discourage unhealthy diets and offset the growing economic costs of obesity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vitamin D</span> Group of fat-soluble secosteroids

Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids responsible for increasing intestinal absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, and for many other biological effects. In humans, the most important compounds in this group are vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol).

Puberty blockers are medicines used to postpone puberty in children. The most commonly used puberty blockers are gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, which suppress the natural production of sex hormones, such as androgens and estrogens. Puberty blockers are used to delay the development of unwanted secondary sex characteristics in transgender children, so as to allow transgender youth more time to explore their gender identity. The same drugs are also used to treat other conditions, such as precocious puberty in young children and some hormone-sensitive cancers in adults.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Childhood cancer</span> Medical condition

Childhood cancer is cancer in a child. About 80% of childhood cancer cases in high-income countries can be successfully treated via modern medical treatments and optimal patient care. However, only about 10% of children diagnosed with cancer reside in high-income countries where the necessary treatments and care is available. Childhood cancer represents only about 1% of all types of cancers diagnosed in children and adults, It is often more complex than adult cancers with unique biological characteristics and research and treatment is yet very challenging and limited. For this reason, childhood cancer is often ignored in control planning, contributing to the burden of missed opportunities for its diagnoses and management in countries that are low- and mid-income.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweetened beverage</span> Type of beverage

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) are any beverage with added sugar. They have been described as "liquid candy". Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages have been linked to weight gain and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease mortality. According to the CDC, consumption of sweetened beverages is also associated with unhealthy behaviors like smoking, not getting enough sleep and exercise, and eating fast food often and not enough fruits regularly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rose Frisch</span> American fertility. researcher (1918–2015)

Rose Epstein Frisch was a pioneering American scientist in fertility and human development whose work was instrumental in the discovery of leptin. She researched infertility and discovered that low body fat is a contributing factor to infertility.

Endocrine & Metabolism Research Institute (EMRI) is one of Tehran University of Medical Sciences research institute with a mission to combine clinical care, research, and education in diabetes, endocrine and metabolic diseases.

Catherine Mason Gordon is an American pediatrician who is the Clinical Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health.

References

  1. ↑ Harvard School of Public Health (1955). Harvard School of Public Health Yearbook. Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine. p. 55.
  2. ↑ "John Crayton Snyder". Harvard Public Health Review; 75 Anniversary Issue. 1989. p. 82.
  3. ↑ Harvard School of Public Health (2000). Catalog. Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine. Cambridge, Mass. : Harvard University.
  4. ↑ Proceedings of the International Conference on Women in Health, June 16-18, 1975, Washington, D.C. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Services, Health Resources Administration, Bureau of Health Manpower, Division of Medicine. 1976.
  5. ↑ Yale Medicine : Alumni Bulletin of the School of Medicine, 1968-1969 Yale University. School of Medicine. Grace Wyshak, Ph.D., public health (biometry), promoted to rank of Associate Professor
  6. ↑ Wyshak, G., Lawrence, R.S. Health-promoting behavior among lawyers and judges. J Community Health 8, 174–181 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01666452
  7. ↑ Harvard Catalyst profile for Grace Wyshak
  8. ↑ "Grace Wyshak | Academic Profile | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health". 2022-06-28. Archived from the original on 2022-06-28. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  9. ↑ Cromie, William J. (2000-05-11). "Exercise reduces cancer risk". Harvard Gazette. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  10. ↑ "Second born twin more likely to die". The Daily Herald. 1963-12-13. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  11. ↑ "Theory of twins reversed". Oakland Tribune. 1964-11-12. p. 14. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  12. ↑ "Doctors vs. Lawyers On Healthful Living". The New York Times. August 28, 1980. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  13. ↑ Failes, Janice McCall (1998). Living longer, feeling better : hundreds of ways to defeat old age. Internet Archive. Uhrichsville, Ohio : Barbour Pub. p. 73. ISBN   978-1-57748-201-7.
  14. ↑ Tara, Sylvia (2017). The secret life of fat : the science behind the body's least understood organ and what it means for you. Internet Archive. New York : W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN   978-0-393-24483-0.
  15. ↑ Michaud, Ellen (2002). The truth about hormone replacement therapy : how to break free from the medical myths of menopause. Internet Archive. Roseville, Calif. : Prima Pub. p. 251. ISBN   978-0-7615-3478-5.
  16. ↑ Wyshak, Grace (2000-06-01). "Teenaged Girls, Carbonated Beverage Consumption, and Bone Fractures". Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 154 (6): 610–613. doi:10.1001/archpedi.154.6.610. ISSN   1072-4710. PMID   10850510.
  17. ↑ Nagourney, Eric (2000-06-20). "VITAL SIGNS: SIDE EFFECTS; Cola Is No Boon for Bones, Study Says". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  18. ↑ "Girl Bone Breaks Linked to Cola". www.newson6.com. June 15, 2000. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  19. ↑ "Exercise and breast cancer risk: lacking consensus". Journal of the National Cancer Institute. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health. 1999.
  20. ↑ Newell G. Bringhurst; Craig L. Foster (2010-11-01). The Persistence of Polygamy: Joseph Smith and the Origins of Mormon Polygamy. Internet Archive. John Whitmer Books. pp. 165–166. ISBN   978-1-934901-13-7.
  21. ↑ "Onset of menses studied". Transcript-Telegram. 1982-06-04. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  22. ↑ Lichtendorf, Susan S. (1982). Eve's journey : the physical experience of being female. Internet Archive. New York : Putnam. p. 59. ISBN   978-0-399-12712-0.
  23. ↑ Vincent, Lawrence M. (1979). Competing with the sylph : the quest for the perfect dance body. Internet Archive. Princeton, NJ : Princeton Book Co. pp. 111–112. ISBN   978-0-916622-83-1.
  24. ↑ Reviews of Cardiacs and diabetics in industry


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