In the new study, the p-tau217 test was combined with another blood biomarker for Alzheimer’s called the amyloid 42/40 ratio, which measures two types of amyloid proteins, another biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/28/health/alzheimer-blood-test-p-tau-217-wellness/index.html
Here is a look at where Ms. Harris stands on healthcare policy issues
1. Reproductive health rights are likely to be a cornerstone of Ms. Harris’ campaign, according to KFF Health News.
2. Mergers and Acquisitions: Ms. Harris strongly opposed healthcare consolidation and prosecuted numerous industry players for alleged fraud or antitrust violations, according to The New York Times.
3. Ms. Harris proposed her own “Medicare for All” plan. In a departure from Mr. Sanders, the proposal called for a 10-year phase-in period and would allow private insurers to compete with a government-led system.
4. Ms. Harris has advocated for student loan debt forgiveness during her time as California attorney general and as vice president, particularly for those working in public service sectors such as education, law enforcement and healthcare.
5. Ms. Harris has advocated for investments to address the nation’s maternal health crisis and reduce health inequities. In 2022, she unveiled the administration’s Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis.
6. In April, Ms. Harris announced two final rules that set minimum staffing requirements for long-term care facilities and at-home services, and require facilities to have a registered nurse on site 24/7.
For some, it marks a new beginning
Advocates are reframing the syndrome as a different way of being – one in which potential for growth and connection endures
They argue that dementia is not a hopeless affliction, and that post-diagnostic support should become more humane and scientific. Some are even calling for the condition to be completely reimagined.
One patient, quoted in the dementia expert John Zeisel’s book ‘I’m Still Here’ goes so far as to describe it as ‘a new stage in a wonderful life, no less challenging or interesting than all the earlier stages’.
https://psyche.co/ideas/dementia-is-not-a-death-for-some-it-marks-a-new-beginning
Snapshot on Insomnia Evaluation over 24 hour period
Key Elements in Assessment of Insomnia
Tools helpful in the Assessment of Insomnia
Psychological and Behavioral Therapies for Insomnia
Medications for treating insomnia
Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide for Weight Loss in Adults With Overweight or Obesity
After a full year of evaluation, patients taking Mounjaro lost 15.3% of their starting weight, compared to almost half of that — 8.3% — while taking Ozempic for 12 months.
“Individuals with overweight or obesity treated with tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) were significantly more likely to achieve clinically meaningful weight loss and larger reductions in body weight compared with those treated with semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy),” the authors wrote.
In this large clinical analysis of US adults with overweight or obesity who initiated tirzepatide or semaglutide treatment, those receiving tirzepatide were more likely to achieve 5% or greater, 10% or greater, and 15% or greater weight loss and experienced larger reductions in body weight at 3, 6, and 12 months. To our knowledge, this study represents the first clinical comparative effectiveness study of tirzepatide and semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2821080
Kelly Burch 2024-07-04
For the 11 years I was practicing general dentistry, about five patients came into my practice each year with severe temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders that were impacting their daily lives. This type of jaw pain was debilitating, but I hadn’t learned anything about treating it in dental school. I felt like the medical and dental communities had failed these patients.
I wanted to do better for them, so I asked to shadow a TMJ expert. I watched as he evaluated patients’ posture and leg length. He taught me how the jaw — along with the feet, hips, and spine — is essential for posture. His patients told me he had saved their lives because they had so much jaw pain before seeing him.
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By the end of the first day, I knew I wanted to take over his practice. I had a 2-year-old and a 2-month-old at the time, so he was skeptical. But I worked under him for three years and brought the practice when he retired in 2021. Now, he’s like a second dad to me.
Since then, I’ve learned a lot about jaw health — including that seemingly harmless things can really impact your jaw. Here are five common things you should avoid if you want to foster good jaw health in yourself and your kids.
Many people rest their heads against their fists when they’re looking at the computer during the day. This puts a lot of lateral pressure on the temporomandibular joint, which is designed mostly for back-and-forth movement. Even 20 minutes here and there adds up and can strain your jaw muscles or joints.
Humans aren’t meant to be chewing constantly. Chewing on items throughout the day — like pens, fingernails, or gum — means you’re overusing your jaw muscles. You wouldn’t do bicep curls all day, right? Chewing on gum or other items is like doing that for your jaw and can lead to overuse injuries.
Don’t even get me started on popular jaw strengtheners, which people chew on to try to get a more defined jawline. Those things scare me and I would recommend everyone steer clear.
Lots of people grind their teeth at night without realizing it, which can weaken the teeth. When you use your teeth to tear open a plastic package or anything else, it puts a lot of pressure on the teeth. Sometimes, it’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back, and your tooth can crack or chip.
Lots of TMJ problems happen because people clench or grind their jaws. When we’re emotionally stressed, we clench even more than normal. During the pandemic, referrals to my practice skyrocketed, and my mentor and I fully believed it was because of stress. If possible, try to find ways to reduce and manage your stress and relax your jaw.
Pacifiers and thumb sticking can cause the mouth, palette, and jaw to grow in all sorts of wrong directions. That’s why I like to see babies stop using pacifiers by 6 months. Pacifiers interrupt healthy tongue posture (in which the tongue is touching the roof of the mouth). That can lead to mouth breathing and other health concerns that could be avoided by kicking the pacifier early.
Jaw health and tongue position can play a huge role in overall health. Taking small actions to take care of your oral health now — and getting help if you experience issues like clicking, popping, or mouth breathing — can help you stay healthy.
https://www.businessinsider.com/jaw-expert-dentist-tmj-pain-reduction-tips-2024-7
I commonly recommend the Apple Watch, mostly for cardiac monitoring and for patients at risk of falling. Great for monitoring steps and physical activity too.
“Doctors are using the Apple Watch as part of how they diagnose and help their patients manage disease—whether or not it’s been specifically approved for such applications by the Food and Drug Administration or other regulatory bodies.
My own mother, who has a history of atrial fibrillation, a heart-rhythm disorder, is one such patient. The Apple Watch SE she bought on her doctor’s advice has been, by her account, a lifesaving intervention. It allows her to send data gathered by her watch directly to her doctor, as part of the continuing management of her lifestyle and medication.”
In this special episode, Peter addresses the common questions about starting or returning to an exercise routine over the age of 50. Individuals in this age group have frequently reached out with questions about whether it’s too late to start exercising and often express concern over a lack of prior training, a fear of injury, or uncertainty about where to begin.
Peter delves into the importance of fitness for older adults, examining all four pillars of exercise, and provides practical advice on how to start exercising safely, minimize injury risk, and maximize potential benefits. Although this conversation focuses on people in the “older” age category, it also applies to anyone of any age who is deconditioned and looking to ease into regular exercise.
#307 ‒ Exercise for aging people: where to begin, and how to minimize risk while maximizing potential | Peter Attia, M.D.
The general election campaign has commenced, spotlighting President Biden and former President Trump as the presumptive nominees for their respective parties and the currently viable contenders for the presidency. While this is not an election like in the past where health care reform is a central issue being debated, health care is an important issue for voters and Biden and Trump have sharply divergent records and positions. This side-by-side analysis serves as a quick resource for understanding each candidate’s record as president, positions, public statements, and proposed policies. It will be continuously updated as new information and policy details emerge throughout the campaign.
https://www.kff.org/compare-2024-candidates-health-care-policy/
A popular obesity drug may help treat a dangerous disorder in which people struggle to breathe while they sleep, a new study finds.
Tirzepatide, the medication in the weight-loss drug Zepbound and also the diabetes treatment Mounjaro, appeared to reduce the severity of sleep apnea along with reducing weight and improving blood pressure and other health measures in patients with obesity who took the drug for a year.
https://apnews.com/article/sleep-apnea-tirzepatide-obesity-cpap-3872cf70f3e3b385fe98f83afaadc91e
CNMRI: Neurology, Sleep Medicine, MRI 