‘I’m Now Independent’: Parkinson’s Patient Says Implant ‘Changed My Life’
Two years ago, Marc Gauthier of France volunteered to be the first person to receive a spinal cord stimulator designed to treat Parkinson's disease. In an update this week, Gauthier, 63, reported that his walking has improved enough that he goes to the store alone and can also climb stairs.
USA Today:
Parkinson's Disease Patient Reports Progress From Spinal Cord Implant
Marc Gauthier had trouble getting up from a chair. His steps were small and shaky and he would fall five or six times a day. His Parkinson's disease had gotten so bad he couldn't be left alone. The former architect and small-town mayor had been "reborn" once, two decades earlier, when he received an implant that stimulated his brain and stabilized his trembling hands. He was ready for another rebirth. ... Now, he's the subject of a study, published Monday, reporting his success. (Weintraub, 11/6)
Reuters:
Swiss-Designed Technology Helps Parkinson's Patient Walk Again
A long-term Parkinson's disease patient, Marc Gauthier had essentially been confined to his home until he became the first person to receive a new Swiss-designed implant that dramatically improved his ability to walk. Gauthier, 63, received a neuroprosthetic at Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), comprising an electrode field placed against his spinal cord. Combined with an electrical impulse generator under the skin of his abdomen, the device stimulates his spinal cord to activate his leg muscles. (Mantovani and Tetrault-Farber, 11/6)
More health and wellness news —
The Washington Post:
Fruit Pouch Recall Expands After More Illnesses Linked To Lead
Three companies have issued recalls for applesauce pouches marketed for children because they may contain elevated levels of lead. At least seven illnesses in five states have been linked to tainted puree, regulators say. Schnuck Markets Inc. of St. Louis announced a recall of certain applesauce pouches because of “elevated levels of lead found in the cinnamon raw material” used by Austrofood SAS, which manufactures the pouches. WanaBana and the Weis supermarket chain took similar action. (Gregg, 11/6)
CBS News:
Heavy Lead X-Ray Aprons At Dentist May Do More Harm Than Good, Experts Say
The protective aprons used during dental X-rays may be doing more harm than good. Experts, including at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, say that's no longer necessary. Older-generation radiology equipment could scatter radiation beyond the teeth and jaw, but modern technology has reduced that risk significantly such that lead aprons don't provide any additional benefit. (Marshall, 11/6)
CBS News:
Adding Too Much Salt To Food Could Increase Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes, Study Says
Researchers at Tulane University studied more than 400,000 adults in the United Kingdom over 12 years and found that compared to people who "never or rarely" added salt to foods, those who "sometimes" added salt had a 13% higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Those who "usually" added salt had a 20% higher risk; and those who "always" added salt had a 39% higher risk of becoming diabetic. (Marshall, 11/6)
Fox News:
New Tech Has Spooky Ability To Detect Future Heart Attack: Study
A new study found that artificial intelligence could be used to help detect risk signs and possibly even prevent sudden cardiac death. The American Health Association found that AI was able to identify people who were at more than a 90% risk of sudden death, according to a report on the study in Medical Xpress. (Lee, 11/7)
CBS News:
What Is Bone Smashing? The Dangerous TikTok Beauty Trend Surgeons Are Warning Against
The latest TikTok beauty trend encourages young people to strike themselves in the face with a blunt object to cause fractures in their face, in hope of achieving a perfect jawline or a more physically attractive face. Plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Ben Schultz. from LifeBridge Health, said there is a false belief behind the increasingly controversial trend that when bones heal, they grow stronger. ...To anyone following this trend or thinking of trying it, Dr. Schultz has this to say. "The answer is don't. Don't do it." (Zizaza, 11/6)
