Health

Doctors in New Brunswick, Canada, are grappling with a scientific conundrum: a group of patients with similar, unexplained neurological symptoms. This unfolding medical mystery has become a political firestorm. The story begins in late 2018 with Laurie Beatty, an 81-year-old who showed sudden behavioral changes. He became preoccupied with an old business, displaying confusion and disorientation. His condition rapidly worsened, leading to seizures and ultimately his death. Dozens of people affected by an unidentified disease Gabrielle Cormier, just 20 years old, is the youngest confirmed case in this cluster. Many others share her situation, suffering from a series of unexplained…

A major new study challenges the idea that moderate alcohol consumption offers heart health benefits for older adults. Researchers in Britain tracked more than 135,000 people ages 60 and older for 12 years. The study found that even light alcohol consumption was linked to an increased risk of cancer-related deaths, particularly among those with underlying health conditions or living in low-income areas. These findings support a growing trend toward more stringent alcohol consumption guidelines. Traditionally, light to moderate drinking has been thought to offer some protection against heart disease. This study, however, found no evidence of such benefits in older…

Millions of people rely on convenient mail-order prescriptions for essential medications. However, scorching summer temperatures pose a hidden threat. Excessive heat and humidity can degrade the effectiveness of various medications, putting patients' health at risk. The problem goes beyond seasonal fluctuations. Extreme temperatures, even at other times of the year, can affect the chemical composition of drugs, making them less potent or potentially harmful. This is especially concerning for drugs such as insulin, birth control pills, and life-saving liquid medications used by transplant patients. While mail-order companies often use "weatherproof" packaging, independent studies raise concerns that medications exceed safe temperature…

Three research papers exploring MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD have been retracted by the journal Psychopharmacology. This follows the recent rejection of MDMA for this use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The retracted studies, written by researchers affiliated with Lykos Therapeutics, the company behind the rejected treatment application, were found to involve unethical conduct at one of the research sites. Lykos, however, maintains that the retracted research was not part of their submission to the FDA. This development adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing debate over MDMA-assisted therapy. While some research suggests its potential in treating PTSD,…

A recent pilot study found that drinking a beverage containing erythritol (an artificial sweetener used to boost the content of stevia and monk fruit and to sweeten low-carb ketogenic products) more than doubled the risk of blood clots in 10 healthy individuals. Blood clots can break off from blood vessels and travel to the heart, triggering a heart attack, or the brain, causing a stroke. Previous research has linked erythritol to an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and death. Dr. Stanley Hazen, lead author of the study and director of the Cardiovascular Diagnostic and Prevention Center at the Cleveland…

Early detection of cancer is critical to saving lives and mitigating the financial burden associated with treating this disease, health officials say. Understanding the mechanisms underlying this diagnosis becomes increasingly crucial as the incidence of cancer shifts to younger age groups, as highlighted in a report released in January by the American Cancer Society. The report, published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, reveals a troubling trend: While the general population in the United States is aging, individuals under age 50 are experiencing an increase in overall cancer incidence from 1995 to 2020. This contrasts with older age groups,…

In a groundbreaking initiative, infants with peanut allergies across Australian hospitals will now have access to a life-changing treatment program aimed at building tolerance to this common allergy. The pioneering program, the first of its kind in the world, is a collaboration between the National Centre of Excellence in Allergy (NACE) and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI). Known as the ADAPT OIT Program, it is tailored for infants under 12 months who have been diagnosed with a peanut allergy and are under the care of allergy specialists at ten children’s hospitals in five states in Australia. The treatment, provided…

Countries with limited budgets typically choose to pay for what are considered more essential health services, such as vaccines, rather than reproductive health, said Dr Ayman Abdelmohsen, head of the family planning division of UNFPA's technical division, because they produce more immediate results. But a recent UNFPA initiative to get low-income countries to shoulder a greater share of the costs has led 44 governments to sign up to a new financing model that commits them to increasing their contributions to reproductive health each year. Despite this, last year saw a significant global shortfall of around $95 million in commodity purchases.…

For many Americans, the rising tide of prescription drug prices seems like an unstoppable force, threatening to drown household budgets and access to health care. While pharmaceutical companies often shoulder the brunt of the public blame, the web of influence on drug costs is far more intricate. Today, we shine a spotlight on a critical but usually hidden player in this system: pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. Rebecca Robbins, a leading investigative reporter specializing in pharmaceuticals for The New York Times, takes us on a deep dive into the world of PBMs. We explore their role as middlemen between drugmakers,…

Mosquito-borne dengue fever is spreading rapidly around the world, reaching record levels and even popping up in unexpected places. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning doctors in the United States to be on the lookout for cases, as the risk of infection has increased this year. Why the wave? Several factors are driving the rise of dengue. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits the virus, thrives in warm, humid environments. Climate change is creating ideal conditions for these mosquitoes to expand their range and become more numerous. Urbanization is also bringing people closer to mosquito breeding…