Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Anthropic's AI Just Made Its First Scientific Discovery: A New Enzyme System
The New York Times: Anthropic’s A.I. Is Teaching Itself Biology. Now It’s Made Its First Discovery
Biologists at Anthropic announced on Wednesday that they had used artificial intelligence to identify genes in viruses that produce enzymes that work in a new way, the first discovery emanating from a research lab the company opened this spring. “We have chosen biology and medicine as the primary way that we believe the benefits from A.I. can come about,” said Eric Kauderer-Abrams, the head of life sciences at Anthropic. (Zimmer, 9/24)
MedPage Today: Is AI Flooding Medical Journals With 'Meaningless' Research?
As artificial intelligence (AI) grows more sophisticated, its use in medical research is becoming both more prominent and harder to detect, leading to what some describe as a flood of mediocre science being published in journals. Even just 6 months ago, AI hallucinations like fabricated references were a big concern. But it's now relatively easy to prompt AI to double-check these things and churn out research with no obvious errors, experts said. (Robertson, 9/24)
On breast cancer, dementia, and frontotemporal degeneration —
Inside Climate News: Chemicals Linked To Breast Cancer Are ‘Ubiquitous,’ Study Shows
The more scientists look for chemicals that can increase breast cancer risk, the more they find. Hundreds of potential breast carcinogens lurk in consumer goods, food, drinking water, pesticides, drugs and building materials, scientists reported in a peer-reviewed study published Wednesday in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Exposure to these chemicals is ubiquitous, the authors warn, yet biomonitoring efforts are failing to measure people’s exposures to most chemicals or assess risks from compound exposures. (Gross, 9/23)
The Washington Post: Some Dementia Patients Grow Lucid Near The End. Scientists Hope It’s A Clue.
Accounts raise tantalizing questions about what happens inside a brain afflicted by dementia and whether cognitive abilities could possibly be restored. (Hetherman, 9/25)
WP Intelligence: How The Growing Cost Of Alzheimer’s Is Spurring A Push For Drug Innovation
New Alzheimer's tests and treatments offer business opportunities and hope for improving outcomes for patients. (Adams, 9/23)
ABC News: What To Know About Frontotemporal Degeneration After NASCAR Hall Of Famer Darrell Waltrip's Diagnosis
NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip's family revealed over the weekend he has been diagnosed with frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) complicated by possible chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). In a statement, Waltrip's family said the possible CTE may be related to injuries sustained during his racing career. They said his symptoms are currently minor, but that he will step further away from public life as the disease progresses. It remains unclear what symptoms Waltrip may have at this time. (Chang and Tsapatsaris, 9/24)
Also —
Undark: Engineering Animals to Grow Human Organs — But Not Human Minds
Research into human-animal chimeras could have a therapeutic payoff, but the work brings up thorny ethical questions. (Schmidt, 9/25)
