Until law, GLP-1 drugs were used to treat diabetes, obesity and even the recent evidences suggest that it could as well be used to treat chronic kidney problems. There is yet another research, published in JAMA Psychiatry on February 25, titled Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults With Alcohol Use Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial that explores if GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide reduce alcohol consumption and cravings in adults with alcohol use disorder.

What Do Studies Say?

The research was conducted over a period of 9 weeks, where in the randomized clinical trial, the participants who were administered semaglutide, it led to reductions in some but not all measures of weekly consumptions. It also reduced weekly alcohol and craving related to placebo, and also led to a greater relative reduction in cigarettes per day.

The research also found that weekly injections of semaglutide, which is the active ingredient in weight loss drugs like Wegovy also helped reduce cravings in people with alcohol use disorder.

The lead author Christian Hendershot said that these findings will help in developing new approaches to treat alcoholism. "Two drugs currently approved to reduce alcohol consumption aren't widely used. The popularity of Ozempic and other GLP-1 receptor agonists increases the chances of broad adoption of these treatments for alcohol use disorder," said Hendershot in news release by the University of Southern California's Institute for Addiction Research, where he is the director.

The study is government-funded research and was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, part of the National Institutes of Health.

How Was The Study Conducted?

The study was small, and took in account for only 48 adults over two months, thus experts say that it is not yet clear how safe these drugs are for people who do not need to lose weight. Though the results do add up with the evidence form animal studies on drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy on how it helps manage cravings, not just for food, but also for tobacco and alcohol. Scientists are also studying these drugs on smokers, people with opioid addiction and cocaine users.

Co-author Dr Klara Klein of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who treats people with obesity and diabetes said, "This is such promising data. And we need more of it. We frequently will hear that once people start these medications that their desire to drink is very reduced, if not completely abolished."

Why Does It Work So Well Against Alcoholism?

The GLP-1 receptor agonists work by mimicking hormones GLP-1 in the gut and brain that regulates appetite and feelings of fullness. This response is what helps one lose weight, and what helps one curb their craving for alcohol. These drugs that mimic the functioning of your brain, which is responsible to tell your body when to stop consuming, are the same hormones that tell your body about other kinds of consumptions, including alcohol. Therefore by consuming the weight loss drugs one can treat alcohol use disorder.

However, the researchers have pointed out on the limited data on the research and have suggested to continue using the three approved drugs by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, namely, Disulfiram, Naltrexone, and Acamprosate to treat alcohol use disorder until large studies confirm these findings.

In a major policy shift, schools and colleges across India are set to introduce comprehensive sex education after the Centre informed the Supreme Court that a nationwide programme on health, safety, relationships and reproductive awareness will soon be rolled out.

The move comes nearly two years after the apex court directed the government to create a structured national framework to improve awareness about sexuality, reproductive health, consent, personal safety and child sexual abuse prevention.

Appearing before a bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati said the Centre has accepted the recommendations of a 26-member national expert committee. The government plans to implement the curriculum nationwide after the Supreme Court grants its formal approval.

The bench also observed that "sex education is not a Western concept incompatible with Indian societal values," noting that misconceptions have led some states to oppose or ban such programmes despite their public health importance.

What Will Be Taught?

The expert panel has recommended making comprehensive sex education a mandatory part of the school curriculum under NEP 2020. Specially trained teachers would conduct brief 15–20 minute sessions twice a week, with lessons tailored to each age group.

Primary school: Personal hygiene, body awareness, and safe and unsafe touch.

Middle and higher classes: Puberty, hormonal changes, consent, personal boundaries, recognising unsafe situations, seeking help, and reproductive and sexual health.

Experts Call It A Long-Overdue Reform

Health experts lauded the move and reiterated that comprehensive sex education is not about encouraging sexual activity. Instead, it equips children with the knowledge and life skills needed to stay safe, make informed decisions and build healthy relationships.

Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr. Ishwar Gilada, the President Emeritus of the AIDS Society of India (ASI) and a Governing Council member of the International AIDS Society (IAS), called the apex Court's directions a landmark moment after decades of advocating for scientific sex education.

He noted that "early sex education can help prevent child sexual abuse among both girls and boys", and also prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV.

A key myth about sex education is that it will encourage sexual activity. Busting the myth, Dr. Arti Anand, Senior Consultant, Clinical Psychology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said that "comprehensive sex education is about providing children with the right information at the right age, not encouraging sexual activity".

The experts noted that in the absence of accurate information, children often rely on friends or the internet, where myths and misinformation are common.

Instead, Dr Arti said that a good sex education can:

• Protect children from abuse
• Reduce bullying
• Prevent unhealthy relationships
• Build confidence
• Encourage respect and responsible decision-making
• Help children grow into emotionally healthy, safe and well-informed adults

Studies have proven that comprehensive sexuality education can:

• Reduce risky behaviors
• Lower unintended pregnancies
• Reduce sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Help prevent sexual abuse by enabling children to recognise inappropriate behaviour and seek help
• Promote gender equality and mutual respect.

Dr. Amit Prakash Singh, Consultant – Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, described comprehensive sex education as an essential life-skills programme that goes beyond reproductive health.

Dr. Singh told HealthandMe that the curriculum will help children understand:

• Puberty
• Consent
• Healthy relationships
• Personal safety
• Gender respect
• Digital safety.

The Trump administration has withdrawn its most far-reaching proposal to restrict gender-affirming care for transgender youth, stepping back from a rule that would have blocked federal Medicaid and Medicare funding for hospitals providing such care.

According to an official document obtained by NPR, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will not finalize a proposed rule introduced in December 2025 that sought to deny Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements to hospitals offering pediatric gender-affirming care.

The move to drop comes as the HHS received more than 30,000 public comments, including strong opposition from major medical organizations, such as the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Children's Hospital Association. They argued that evidence-based gender-affirming treatments—such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy—are safe and effective for appropriately selected transgender adolescents..

"CMS does not comment on future rulemaking or speculate on potential actions. The Trump Administration rejects ideologically driven surgical interventions on vulnerable children," the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) told NPR.

What Was the Proposed Rule?

In December 2025, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz, who oversees Medicare and Medicaid, announced plans that would have effectively ended federal funding for hospitals providing gender-affirming care to transgender minors, even in states where such care remains legal.

"So-called gender affirming care has inflicted lasting physical and psychological damage on vulnerable young people. This is not medicine. It is malpractice," Kennedy said at the time.

The administration's move aligns with President Donald Trump's broader policies on transgender healthcare. On his first day back in office, Trump signed an executive order stating that the United States "will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called 'transition' of a child from one sex to another."

Access to Care Still Varies Across the US

Although the federal funding proposal has been dropped, access to gender-affirming care remains uneven across the United States.

Twenty-seven states have enacted laws banning or restricting gender-affirming care for minors. In several other states, hospitals have reduced or discontinued these services amid ongoing legal and political challenges.

According to a CDC survey, about 3 per cent of US teens aged 13-17—roughly 700,000 adolescents—identify as transgender.

A survey by health policy organization KFF found that fewer than one-third of transgender people reported using medication related to their gender identity, while 16 per cent said they had undergone gender-affirming surgery.

For transgender adolescents, medical treatment most commonly includes puberty blockers and hormone therapy. Gender-affirming surgery for minors remains rare.

Medicaid Concerns For People Living With HIV

Separately, Medicaid is set to undergo major policy changes that could affect millions of Americans, including people living with HIV.

Beginning January 1, 2027, many adult Medicaid beneficiaries will be required to complete at least 80 hours per month of work, volunteering, education, or job training under a new community engagement requirement. Enrollees will also have to verify compliance twice a year to maintain their coverage.

Medicaid is the largest health insurer for people living with HIV in the United States, covering about 46 per cent of this population. Eligibility is primarily based on income, although age and disability status may also qualify individuals.

Health experts have warned that the new reporting requirements could create administrative hurdles, causing some eligible beneficiaries—including people living with HIV—to lose Medicaid coverage and potentially face interruptions in access to essential treatment and care. They added that the loss of Medicaid coverage will not only harm individuals but public health as a whole.

A new study has challenged long-held beliefs about dementia, suggesting that your location may have a significant impact on whether you may or may not develop neurodegenerative disease.

How Was The Study Conducted?

Researchers from the University of Southern California studied health data from more than 214,000 adults across 21 countries.

They found that while many well-known dementia risk factors are universal, their impact can vary significantly depending on a person's country.

The findings suggest that prevention strategies should be customised to local populations rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.

Also read: Healthy Lifestyle Changes Improve Memory, Thinking In Older Adults At Dementia Risk: The Lancet

What Did The Researchers Find?

The researchers discovered that factors like education, obesity, hearing loss, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, depression, and physical inactivity do not contribute equally to dementia risk across the globe.

In some countries, less education emerged proved to be a strong factor, while in others, cardiovascular health or mental health played a larger role.

"Our findings show that dementia prevention isn't one-size-fits-all," the researchers said, emphasizing that risk profiles differ substantially between countries and should inform future public health policies.

Despite these regional differences, the study also identified encouraging similarities. Several modifiable risk factors consistently influenced dementia risk across multiple countries, reinforcing the importance of maintaining healthy lifestyles while allowing governments to prioritize interventions based on local needs.

"Reducing dementia risk requires not only individual action but also supportive systems and policies that shape people's everyday lives," the WHO says.

Also read: Radio Broadcaster Paul Gambaccini Reveals Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis

The new research strengthens that message by suggesting that a country's healthcare system, education policies, environmental conditions, and socioeconomic circumstances may all influence how dementia develops within its population.

Experts say that these findings could help in designing effective prevention strategies.

For example, countries where hearing loss has a stronger association with dementia may benefit from expanding hearing screening and access to hearing aids, while others might achieve greater impact by improving cardiovascular care, promoting physical activity, or expanding mental health services.

Previous research has estimated that nearly 45% of dementia cases could potentially be delayed or prevented by addressing modifiable risk factors, including controlling blood pressure, managing diabetes, staying physically active, treating hearing loss, avoiding smoking, and maintaining social life.

What Is Dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a significant decline in mental function that is serious enough to affect everyday life.

It commonly impacts memory, thinking, and reasoning skills. Dementia itself is not a single disease, but a collection of symptoms caused by underlying conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia.

Common signs include:

• Memory problems
• Confusion
• Difficulty finding words
• Changes in mood or behavior
• Trouble completing familiar tasks

The findings come as dementia continues to pose a growing global health challenge. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dementia affects more than 55 million people worldwide, with nearly 10 million new cases diagnosed each year.

WHO also notes that factors like poverty, limited access to education, healthcare inequality, and employment opportunities can significantly shape an individual's dementia risk.