Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Neuralink, Elon Musk's Brain-Chip Startup, Readies To Start Human Trials
Reuters: Musk's Neuralink To Start Human Trial Of Brain Implant For Paralysis Patients
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's brain-chip startup Neuralink said on Tuesday it has received approval from an independent review board to begin recruitment for the first human trial of its brain implant for paralysis patients. Those with paralysis due to cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may qualify for the study, it said, but did not reveal how many participants would be enrolled in the trial, which will take about six years to complete. (9/20)
USA Today: Elon Musk's Neuralink Is Ready To Embark On Its First Clinical Trial. Here's How To Sign Up
The search for human participants is on as Neuralink embarks on its first clinical trial, the company announced Tuesday. Neuralink, a tech startup owned and co-founded by Elon Musk, received FDA approval in May to implant brain chips into humans. (Encinas and Snider, 9/20)
Wired: The Gruesome Story Of How Neuralink’s Monkeys Actually Died
Elon Musk says no primates died as a result of Neuralink’s implants. A WIRED investigation now reveals the grisly specifics of their deaths as US authorities have been asked to investigate Musk’s claims. (Mehrotra and Cameron, 9/20)
It's World Alzheimer's Day —
NPR: A Heartwarming Connection Among Music, Memory And Alzheimer's
After 18 years of living with Alzheimer's disease, Marti Kaye spends most of her time in a wheelchair, expressionless. That changes the minute her son Adam Kaye starts playing his guitar. (Jones, 9/21)
The Washington Post: Dental Health Can Affect Your Brain And Is Linked To Dementia, Alzheimer’s
Poor oral hygiene is associated with an increased risk for myriad health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and early death. The state of our teeth and gums, though, may be vital for our well-being beyond the mouth and body. Emerging evidence suggests that what goes on in our mouth can affect what goes on in our brain — and may even potentially affect our risk for dementia. (Sima, 9/21)
In other research news —
Stat: They Carry A Gene For ALS But Aren’t Sick. What Does Medical Research Owe Them?
A new movement is pushing the medical and research world to include people with genetic mutations for ALS for the first time. (Mast, 9/21)
