Clinical trial data has demonstrated that the anti-obesity drug semaglutide, marketed for obesity and diabetes, could offer substantial protection against heart disease. The results could reshape treatment for obesity and preventive cardiology, indicating that this breakthrough drug holds potential beyond diabetes care and weight reduction.
Vaccine-Derived Polio: A Persistent Threat Amid Eradication Progress
The global effort to eradicate wild poliovirus has made significant strides. Type 2 was declared eradicated in 2015 and type 3 in 2019. Only type 1 of the wild polio virus remains. However, a new challenge has emerged in the form of vaccine-derived polio. Despite the success in reducing wild polio cases to only 30 …
This Is Your Brain on Menopause — How Hormonal Changes Affect Brain Health
The interaction between menopause and the brain has long been underestimated, but recent research is shedding light on the neurological changes occurring during this phase of life and paving the way for new treatments. “We think of menopause as being driven by changes in the ovary,” said Hadine Joffe, who leads research into women’s health …
Skin Cancer Risk Concerningly High in Millennials & Gen Xers
A recent scientific survey conducted by DermTech, Inc. identified a number of alarming trends concerning the sun exposure habits and skin health knowledge of millennials and Gen Xers. The survey’s findings emphasize the need for increased education on skin cancer risks and the importance of preventative measures. To address the need for further education in …
Hormone Could Be Key to Accelerated Sobering and Recovery from Alcohol Poisoning
For thousands of years, people have been searching for an antidote to consuming too much alcohol — an intervention that could accelerate the sobering process. Ancient Greeks drank from amethyst chalices because they believed it would help reduce drunkenness. People continue to use modern remedies, such as coffee, cold showers, and food. Although these may …
Can the Brain Heal the Body? Research Examines the Possibilities
Scientists have been exploring the mind-body connection for centuries. Current investigations are examining how the brain affects the body’s immune responses. Gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms at work could allow physicians to leverage the mind’s influence to improve healing. For example, this knowledge could be used to enhance the placebo effect, target cancers, …
Can Species-Spanning Studies Inform Women’s Health?
Can adaptations observed in female animals be used to inspire solutions to unmet women’s health challenges? Research suggests that this approach, known as bio-inspired medicine, may hold promise. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, cardiologist and professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, specializes in bio-inspired medicine and reported in Scientific American on how the emerging …
Do Obesogens Cause Obesity?
For years, obesity and weight gain have been blamed on the “calorie concept”: the idea that obesity is caused by taking in more calories (through diet) than one burns off (through exercise). But as the obesity epidemic across the globe continues to grow — even as caloric consumption has stayed flat and, in some cases, …
Can We Reverse Aging by Targeting Old Cells?
James Kirkland and Tamara Tchkonia, researchers at the Mayo Clinic, are at the forefront of a movement focused on stopping chronic disease by targeting aging cells. These so-called “senescent” cells are cells that stop dividing but don’t die. They can build up in tissues due to damage, stress, or — most commonly — aging. And …
Harnessing the Power of Monoclonal Antibodies in the Fight Against Malaria
Monoclonal antibodies have been deployed to treat a variety of diseases, from cancer to COVID-19. Now this treatment approach, which doesn’t depend on the body’s ability to build immunity like vaccines do, is targeting malaria. In a Phase II clinical trial, a monoclonal antibody known as CIS43LS was found to be 88 percent effective in …
