“About 25% of your ability to live to 90 is determined by genetics, says Dr. Thomas Perls, a professor of medicine at Boston University who leads the New England Centenarian Study, which has followed centenarians and their family members since 1995. By age 100, it’s roughly 50% genetic, he estimates, and by around 106, it’s 75%”
https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/living-longer-genes-science-4df3c203
Scientists say new tests and treatments are “a game changer” – Newsweek
The big potential benefit, say Alzheimer’s experts, lies in using these drugs, or others soon to come, in conjunction with a second recent development in the field: diagnostic blood tests that can identify the presence of Alzheimer’s-associated proteins. With more than a dozen different blood tests currently undergoing clinical trials, scientists believe that in a few years clinicians may be able to use them to make quick, early diagnoses cheaply, even before patients show any outward symptoms of dementia
Migraine management continues to evolve with innovative medical devices leading the way. Among them, Relivion MG has showcased remarkable efficacy, especially evident in the RIME Pivotal Study. The study findings indicate that patients could achieve Complete Migraine Freedom (pain and MBS) at 2-hours post-treatment.
A key factor behind these results is Relivion MG’s distinctive engineering design that uniquely targets both the trigeminal and occipital pathways, offering a comprehensive approach to migraine relief. Relivion is the only neuromodulation device available that offers this concurrent stimulation.
The neuropeptides calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) have emerged as mediators of migraine pathogenesis. Both are vasodilatory peptides that can cause migraine-like attacks when infused into people and migraine-like symptoms when injected into rodents.
A notable clinical difference is that PACAP, but not CGRP, causes premonitory-like symptoms in patients. Both peptides are found in distinct, but overlapping areas relevant to migraine, most notably with the prevalence of CGRP in trigeminal ganglia and PACAP in sphenopalatine ganglia.
https://thejournalofheadacheandpain.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s10194-023-01569-2
Dr Varipapa is now using a new, non-medicine treatment for migraine called Relivion. It is a wearable headset for the acute and prevention of migraine. Contact Dr. Varipapa’s Team if your interested in this treatment.
https://www.relivion.com/meet-relivion/
“Relivion is a non-drug, wearable neuromodulation therapy that stimulates the six branches of the occipital and trigeminal nerves, which are responsible for migraines.
The therapy has demonstrated high clinical efficiency, previously only possible with invasive procedures.
The device is comfortably placed around the head, and the electrodes are accurately positioned above the target nerves for efficient stimulation. The treatment intensity level is adjustable for patient comfort.”
Are there foods that could help prevent Alzheimer’s? What about foods that can damage your brain health? Tony
In recent years, there has actually been a lot of interest in this very question.
A healthy diet, of course, is a critical tool in warding off nearly all of the diseases of aging. Your body just functions better when you’re feeding it all those good nutrients it needs.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-07-30/can-a-diet-ward-off-alzeheimer-s
Diet Review: MIND Diet
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-weight/diet-reviews/mind-diet/
“The long-awaited era of disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer’s disease has finally arrived and will substantially impact how the disease is perceived and managed, although these new treatments will pose challenges for equitable access. The drugs closest to widespread clinical implementation are lecanemab and donanemab—intravenous monoclonal antibodies that remove β-amyloid plaques from the brain and can slow cognitive and functional decline.”
Donanemab appears to be the ‘easier’ choice. MMSE 20-28, Monthly Infusion (vs q2Wk), Stop when Amyloid PET is negative. Probably need to get APOE on these patients.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(23)00274-0
Contact Dr. Varipapa’s office if you are interested in exploring this option.
This was a sobering story on CPR in the elderly (NPR)
A ‘natural death’ may be preferable for many to enduring CPR
A frightening issue discussed in this article was the concept of ‘CPR-Induced Consciousness’, where chest compressions circulate enough blood to the brain to awaken the patient during cardiac arrest, who may then literally experience hell, with ribs popping, needles entering their skin or a breathing tube passing through their larynx.
TL:DR
Survival
The overall survival rate from CPR ranges from 7.6% out-of-hospital and only 17% in-hospital.
These numbers are worse in the elderly (6.7% in the 70’s to 2.4% in those over 90.)
Less than 2% of patients with cancer, heart, lung or liver disease survive more that 6 months.
Harm?
Fractured/cracked ribs common (and very painful.)
Pulmonary hemorrhage, liver lacerations and broken sternums also occur
CPR-Induced Consciousness
Chest compressions circulate enough blood to the brain to awaken the patient during cardiac arrest, who may then experience ribs popping, needles entering their skin, a breathing tube passing through their larynx.
Brain Injury
30% of survivors of in-hospital cardiac arrest have significant neurologic disability
Only 2% of survivors over 85 escape significant brain damage
Quality of Life
The traumatic nature of CPR may be why as many as half of patients who survive wish they hadn’t received it, even though they lived. It’s not just a matter of life or death, if you survive, but quality of life.
CNMRI: Neurology, Sleep Medicine, MRI 