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Lifestyle Choices Significantly Impact Brain Health and Alzheimer's Risk, UTSA Researchers Find

Lifestyle Choices Significantly Impact Brain Health and Alzheimer's Risk, UTSA Researchers Find

Researchers at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and UT Health San Antonio are highlighting the critical role of midlife lifestyle choices in shaping long-term cognitive health and influencing the risk of Alzheimer's disease. With approximately 7.4 million Americans aged 65 and older currently living with Alzheimer's, a number projected to nearly double in the next 25 years, understanding preventable factors is crucial. Dr. Claudia Suemoto, a physician-scientist and professor at the Kate Marmion School of Public Health and the Biggs Institute, emphasizes that the period between ages 35 and 65 is a particularly important window for prevention. Uncontrolled cardiovascular conditions during these years can lead to brain changes that may increase dementia risk 10 to 30 years later. A study involving 402 San Antonio residents found that physical activity and controlled blood sugar in midlife were associated with slower cognitive decline later in life. UTSA researchers are also exploring beyond tradi...

US FDA advisers endorse Grail cancer test's benefits in key vote

US FDA advisers endorse Grail cancer test's benefits in key vote

By Padmanabhan Ananthan and Kamal Choudhury Sept 23 (Reuters) - A panel of outside experts advising the US FDA said on Wednesday the benefits of Grail's blood-based cancer detection test outweigh its risks, paving the way for a potential landmark approval in cancer screening.

Pharmacogenomic Testing Offers Insights for Psychiatric Medication Management

Pharmacogenomic Testing Offers Insights for Psychiatric Medication Management

Pharmacogenomic testing, also known as psychiatric genetic testing, is emerging as a tool to help understand how an individual's genetic makeup influences their response to certain medications. These tests analyze genetic differences that can affect how the body metabolizes or reacts to specific drugs. While the FDA recognizes pharmacogenomic biomarkers for a number of psychiatric medications, it is crucial to understand that this testing is not a definitive predictor of medication efficacy. It provides additional information that can assist healthcare providers in making more informed decisions regarding medication selection and dosing, particularly when patients have struggled with multiple medications or experienced significant side effects. The National Institute of Mental Health highlights that individuals respond differently to psychiatric medications, and finding the right treatment often involves careful assessment, evidence-based prescribing, monitoring, and adjustments based on individual respons...

Cleveland Clinic Florida Advances Alzheimer's Diagnosis with Blood Test Study

Cleveland Clinic Florida Advances Alzheimer's Diagnosis with Blood Test Study

Cleveland Clinic in Florida is conducting a study to evaluate the effectiveness of blood-based biomarkers (BBMs) in streamlining the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The study aims to make the diagnostic pathway more reliable and efficient, potentially leading to earlier identification and more timely treatment for older adults experiencing cognitive changes. Currently, diagnosing Alzheimer's can be a lengthy and complex process, often involving referrals to specialists and confirmatory tests like cerebrospinal fluid testing or brain positron emission tomography (PET). The study focuses on the Elecsys Phospho-Tau (217P) Plasma BBM, which measures phosphorylated tau 217 (pTau-217) in plasma, with pTau-181 also being measured for secondary analysis. This research builds upon Cleveland Clinic's existing systematic approach to identifying cognitive impairment in primary care, where patients are screened using the Mini-Cog instrument during annual wellness visits. Those with concerning results are then referre...

Breakthrough T1D and Medical Organizations Establish Global Type 1 Diabetes Screening Schedule for Children

Breakthrough T1D and Medical Organizations Establish Global Type 1 Diabetes Screening Schedule for Children

Breakthrough T1D, in collaboration with 20 major diabetes and medical organizations worldwide, has established a new clinical framework for integrating general population screening for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) into routine pediatric healthcare. Published in Diabetologia, the official journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), this International Consensus Guidance outlines a simple blood test to detect islet autoantibodies in the early stages of T1D. The recommended screening schedule involves three age windows: the first screen between ages 2 and 4, a second screen between ages 6 and 8 if the first is negative, and a final routine screen between ages 10 and 15. A 'catch-up' screening is also recommended for children not previously tested, and a one-time screening after age 15 is advised for adolescents and adults. This initiative aims to identify T1D before symptoms appear, allowing for proactive treatment and management.

U.S. Healthcare Workers Report Persistent Long COVID Symptoms, Raising Workforce Strain Concerns

U.S. Healthcare Workers Report Persistent Long COVID Symptoms, Raising Workforce Strain Concerns

More than one in ten U.S. healthcare personnel (HCP) have reported experiencing persistent moderate or severe long COVID symptoms at both three and six months following infection, according to a study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine. The study, led by a team from the University of Iowa Health Care, involved HCP from 17 states who tested positive for COVID-19 between August 2022 and May 2024. Participants completed surveys at three and six months, detailing symptoms such as fatigue, respiratory issues, dizziness, joint pain, loss of taste or smell, abdominal pain, cognitive problems, and mood changes. Fatigue was the most frequently reported symptom. The findings indicate that 11.3% of the 1,496 participants who completed both surveys reported at least one persistent symptom at both time points. Factors associated with higher odds of persistent symptoms included older age, female sex, multiple underlying health conditions, and previous COVID-19 infections. Interestingly, recent COVI...

Helix Seeks Head of Pharmacogenomics to Drive U.S. Market Growth and Product Development

Helix Seeks Head of Pharmacogenomics to Drive U.S. Market Growth and Product Development

Helix Seeks Head of Pharmacogenomics to Drive U.S. Market Growth and Product Development

FDA Advisory Panel Endorses Grail's DNA-Based Cancer Blood Test Amidst Efficacy Concerns

FDA Advisory Panel Endorses Grail's DNA-Based Cancer Blood Test Amidst Efficacy Concerns

A federal advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has endorsed Grail Inc.'s Galleri test, a DNA-based blood test designed to detect signs of various cancers in seemingly healthy individuals. The panel voted 7-2, with one abstention, concluding that the test offers more potential benefits than risks, despite significant questions regarding its efficacy. The Galleri test does not diagnose cancer directly but identifies signals that may indicate the presence of over 50 types of cancer, including those for which no routine screenings currently exist, such as liver and ovarian cancer. Individuals receiving a positive result would require further medical evaluation. This endorsement marks the first time a federal advisory group has supported such an experimental approach to multi-cancer detection. The FDA is expected to make a final decision on the test in the coming months, which could significantly broaden its availability in the U.S.

Primary Care Providers Integrate Mental Health Services to Improve Patient Outcomes

Primary Care Providers Integrate Mental Health Services to Improve Patient Outcomes

Primary care providers (PCPs) are increasingly integrating behavioral health services into their practices to address a wide range of patient concerns, including anxiety, depression, stress, and substance use. This integration acknowledges the strong link between mental and physical health, where issues like stress can worsen chronic conditions and ongoing medical problems can impact emotional well-being. Up to 75% of primary care visits involve a behavioral health concern. PCPs can screen for conditions, offer strategies for sleep and stress management, recommend self-help resources, prescribe medication, and refer to specialists. Some practices, like the Penn Integrated Care (Penn PIC) program, embed behavioral health professionals directly into primary care settings or use collaborative care models to coordinate treatment and monitor patient progress. This approach aims to make mental health support more accessible and coordinated for patients, identifying concerns early and connecting individuals with ...

Waist-to-Height Ratio Identified as Reliable Screening Tool for Pediatric Liver Disease Risk

Waist-to-Height Ratio Identified as Reliable Screening Tool for Pediatric Liver Disease Risk

A collaborative study led by researchers at Peking University in China, incorporating U.S. NHANES data, has found that the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) is a reliable and practical indicator for screening children at risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). MASLD is now the most common chronic liver disease in children and adolescents, correlating with the global rise in childhood obesity. The study, published in the World Journal of Pediatrics, demonstrated that a WHtR of ≥ 0.48 performed well across most ethnic groups, including non-Hispanic White, Black, and Asian participants, with the 'other Hispanic' group being a notable exception. Crucially, the research indicated that adding genetic risk scores provided little additional benefit for initial screening, suggesting that a simple tape measure can be sufficient to identify at-risk children.

High-Dose Flu Vaccine Shows Limited Additional Benefit for Healthier Seniors, Study Suggests

High-Dose Flu Vaccine Shows Limited Additional Benefit for Healthier Seniors, Study Suggests

A recent analysis of the DANFLU-2 trial, published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity, indicates that the high-dose flu vaccine offers minimal additional protection against hospitalization for flu or pneumonia in healthier individuals aged 65 and older compared to the standard flu shot. The study, which involved 332,438 Danish adults over three flu seasons, found that the high-dose vaccine's advantage over the standard shot increased with the degree of frailty. Specifically, in the least frail group, the high-dose vaccine provided no measurable benefit. The researchers noted that while frailty did modify the effect when treated as a sliding score, it did not when categorized into three prespecified groups. Serious side effects were comparable between both vaccine types across all frailty groups. This analysis suggests that for seniors who are generally healthy, the standard flu vaccine is sufficient, and there is little reason to seek out the high-dose version.

Pharmacies Expand Health Screening Services to Include Immunization Reviews and Chronic Disease Monitoring

Pharmacies Expand Health Screening Services to Include Immunization Reviews and Chronic Disease Monitoring

Pharmacies are increasingly offering a range of health screenings and preventive services beyond traditional medication dispensing. These services include blood pressure checks, blood sugar monitoring, cholesterol screenings, BMI and weight assessments, and immunization reviews. Pharmacists can assess an individual's immunization history and advise on routine vaccines such as flu, pneumonia, shingles, COVID-19, and tetanus boosters. Additionally, pharmacies provide Medication Therapy Management (MTM) to identify potential drug interactions, duplications, or ineffective treatment plans, and offer smoking cessation and lifestyle counseling. These screenings are designed for early detection of health conditions before symptoms appear, aiming to facilitate quicker intervention and better health outcomes. While these tests are for informational purposes, they serve as a convenient first step for patients to monitor their health and engage with healthcare professionals.