Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Scientists Pinpoint Gene Variant That Puts Nonsmokers At Higher Risk For Lung Cancer
Stat: Rare Gene Variant Raises Lung Cancer Risk 25-Fold In Non-Smokers
For years, researchers have known that, among people diagnosed with lung cancer, the prevalence of nonsmokers has been increasing. But they have been trying to determine what factors — whether genetic, environmental, or something else — might put these “never-smokers” at heightened risk. (Joseph, 9/17)
On dementia and aging —
Newsweek: Scientists Uncover A Hidden Alzheimer’s Clue Deep Inside Brain Cells
Scientists have discovered that the three-dimensional shape of DNA inside brain cells is disrupted in Alzheimer's disease, uncovering a previously hidden layer of the illness that could point researchers toward new treatments. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Washington found that the way the genome folds differs in certain brain cells from people with Alzheimer's, changing which genes are switched on and off. (Fleur Afshar, 9/17)
Fox News: Osteoporosis Drugs Linked To Lower Alzheimer's Disease And Dementia Risk
Commonly used osteoporosis drugs were linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia in a large study of older adults. Among a group of 121,492 adults age 60 or older, the use of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (NBP) was associated with a 16% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias compared to those who did not take osteoporosis medications. The risk was 24% less compared to people taking other types of osteoporosis medications. (Rudy, 9/16)
FiercePharma: Lilly Boxes Up Fresh Produce To Cultivate Alzheimer’s Awareness
Eli Lilly is marking World Alzheimer’s Day with a partnership to distribute 13,500 boxes of brain-healthy fresh produce and educational materials to underserved senior populations across the U.S. Lilly, which sells the Alzheimer’s disease medicine Kisunla, has partnered with Planet Harvest and Thrive Global on the initiative. Together, the partners are shipping boxes containing 12 to 15 pounds of fruits and vegetables, chosen for their links to healthy aging and cognitive wellness, and a pouch of salmon to people. Recipients will also get recipes suggesting ways to quickly and easily turn the produce into meals. (Taylor, 9/17)
The Washington Post: The Age-Related Eye Disease That Leads To Hallucinations
Studies suggest that Charles Bonnet syndrome affects roughly one in six people with retinal disease or significant vision loss. (Hetherman, 9/18)
More health and wellness news —
The 19th: Violence Against Women And Trans People Is Worse Than Previously Thought, New Research Finds
Violence against women and trans people is worse than previously thought, according to new research released Wednesday from Tulane University and University of California, San Diego. (Mithani and Padilla, 9/16)
The 19th: Trans Kids Face Higher Risk Of Eating Disorders. This Therapist Knows What They’re Going Through.
Penny Gautreaux has spent her career helping people in crisis. But facing her own took a village. A licensed social worker and therapist, Gautreaux struggled with an eating disorder for 24 years. As a transgender woman, dysphoria tied to her gender made it worse. She was hospitalized twice for being undernourished. She was, as she puts it, gearing up for a third round of hospitalization when the people in her life stepped in. (Rummler, 9/17)
The Hill: Study Finds That Kids' Risk Of Anxiety, Behavioral Issues Rises When There's A Cat In The House
Got a cat and a toddler in the house? One study suggests that could lead to a purrrfect storm when it comes to your child’s emotional development. Researchers tracking nearly 1,900 families found kids who had a cat at home, specifically kids aged 4-5, were more likely to show signs of anxiety, withdrawal or emotional struggles by the time they turned 7 or 8. They were also somewhat more likely to act out, break rules or have other behavioral issues. The study also looked at dogs, birds, rodents, fish and reptiles, but none showed the same pattern. (Fischels, 9/15)
Medical Xpress: Children's Pupils May Reveal Shifting Attention In ADHD, Especially When Off Medication
The eyes are more than lenses to the outside world; they can also be windows that offer a glimpse into what's happening inside our bodies. What if the eyes could help us understand how attention shifts from one moment to the next? Scientists are now testing whether tiny changes in pupil size can serve as a physiological marker of these fluctuations in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). (Mondal, 9/17)
MedPage Today: Brain Disorder Due To Vitamin Deficiency Often Goes Unrecognized
Korsakoff syndrome -- a neurocognitive disorder resulting from thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency that often develops after untreated Wernicke encephalopathy -- was difficult to diagnose and frequently led to death, a retrospective study showed. (George, 9/17)
San Francisco Chronicle: Did The Brain Evolve From Two Origins? Stanford Study Suggests So
While the brain appears to be a single organ, a new study suggests that it begins developing from two distinct types of early cells. The results challenge a longstanding view that a common population of progenitor cells can give rise to the entire brain. The work was led by scientists at Stanford Medicine, with collaborators at other institutions, including UCSF. (Lee, 9/18)
