Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Teen Reported Dead After Eating Extremely Spicy Tortilla Chip
The New York Times: Teenager’s Death Has Paqui Spicy ‘One Chip Challenge’ Under Scrutiny
One of the last things Harris Wolobah, 14, of Worcester, Mass., ate before he died was a single tortilla chip in a coffin-shaped box that bore an image of a skull with a snake coiled around it, his mother said. Lois Wolobah said her son’s school called last Friday to tell her he was sick and that she needed to come and get him. When she arrived, Harris was clutching his stomach in the nurse’s office, she said in an interview on Tuesday. He showed her a picture of what he had just consumed: a single Paqui chip, dusted with two of the hottest peppers in the world, the Carolina Reaper and the Naga Viper. (Carballo and Tumin, 9/6)
The Washington Post: What To Know About The ‘One Chip Challenge’ And Extremely Spicy Foods
Lois Wolobah got a call Friday from the nurse at her son’s high school in Worcester, Mass. Harris, a sophomore, had fainted after eating a tortilla chip. When Wolobah got to the high school, her son showed her an image on his phone of what made him sick — a single “extremely hot tortilla chip” encrusted with seasoning from some of the spiciest chile peppers in the world, packaged in a coffin-shaped box emblazoned with a snake slithering through the eye of a skull. A few hours later, Wolobah passed out at home, Lois and her husband, Amos, told WBZ. He was taken to an emergency room, where he died. (Edwards, 9/7)
On dementia —
The Washington Post: Traumatic Brain Injuries Linked To Cognitive Decline Later In Life
Traumatic brain injuries are associated with cognitive decline later in life, and a sharper drop in cognition as we age, a study of twins who served in World War II shows. (Amenabar, 9/6)
CNBC: Weight Loss Drugs Wegovy, Ozempic Tested To Treat Addiction, Dementia
Scientists have begun investigating whether so-called miracle obesity drugs could be used to treat conditions such as dementia and alcohol addiction after recent trials pointed to the drugs’ efficacy in treating serious health issues. (Gilchrist, 9/7)
In other health and wellness news —
AP: NBA Owner Putting Millions Toward Stroke Care, Health Research In Detroit
The family foundation of NBA team owner Dan Gilbert will give nearly $375 million for a 72-bed rehabilitation center for stroke patients in Detroit and a research institute that will focus on a genetic disease that afflicted his son, officials announced Wednesday. Gilbert, the billionaire owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and founder of Detroit-based Rocket Companies, had a stroke in 2019 and received extensive care in Chicago. He said his foundation would create a $10 million fund to help low-income residents who get care at the new Detroit rehab center. (9/6)
Stat: How To Prevent Cancer’s Breakthroughs From Increasing Disparities
Looking at the dizzying progress in cancer medicine over the last couple of decades, it’s easy to imagine that advances in synthetic biology or immunology will soon help cure or prevent more cancers. But without a strategy to connect “these miracles” to all communities, only some will benefit and others will be left behind, said Robert Winn, the director of the Massey Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University. (Chen, 9/6)
The Washington Post: A Hearty Breakfast Could Reduce Jet Lag In Older Adults, Study Finds
Many people, especially older adults, suffer from jet lag, the grueling fatigue and brain fog that accompanies long-distance travel. Breakfast may offer a simple and effective solution. Eating a hearty breakfast in the time zone of the final destination may help older adults recover more quickly from jet lag, researchers from Northwestern University and Santa Fe Institute wrote in a study published Tuesday. Avoiding a meal late in the night before, if possible, may also help. (Amenabar, 9/7)
CIDRAP: High Level Of Resistant Staph Bacteria Found In Chinese Food Products
A new study by researchers in China highlights the threat of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in packaged food. In the study, which was published last week in the journal Zoonoses, researchers with the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment analyzed 276 ready-to-eat (RTE) food-associated S aureus isolates collected from supermarkets, convenience stores, fast food restaurants, and farm-product markets in 25 provinces across China in 2018. The investigators assessed antimicrobial susceptibility, virulence factors, and molecular characteristics. (Dall, 9/6)
