An experimental treatment happens to be the solution to delay Alzheimer's symptoms in some people. These people are the ones who are genetically destined to get the disease in their 40s or 50s. These new findings form ongoing research has now been caught up in Trump administration funding delas. The early results of the study has been published on Wednesday and the participants too are worried that politics could cut their access to a possible lifeline.

One of the participants had said, "It is still a study but it has given me an extension to my life that I never banked on having." The participant is named Jake Henrichs, form New York City, who is 50 years old. He is one of them to be treated in that study for more than a decade now and has remained symptom-free despite inheriting an Alzheimer's-causing gene that had killed his father and brother around the same age.

Slowing Down The Symptoms

Two drugs which can modestly slow down early-stage Alzheimer's are sold in the United States. These drugs clear the brain of one of its hallmarks, a sticky gunk-like part called the amyloid. However, there have not been any hints that removing amyloid far earlier, way many years before the first symptoms appear, may postpone the disease.

How Was The Research Conducted?

The research is led by Washington University in St Louis, which involved families that passed down rare gene mutation as participants. This meant it was almost guaranteed that they will develop symptoms at the same age their affected relatives did.

The new findings is based on a subset of 22 participants who received amyloid-removing drugs the longest, on average eight years. Long-term amyloid removal cut in half their risk of symptom onset. The study is published in the journal Lancet Neurology.

Washington University's Dr Randall Bateman, who directs the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer's Network of studies involving families with these rare genes says, "What we want to determine over the next five years is how strong is the protection. Will they ever get the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease if we keep treating them?”

The researchers before though did not know what exactly caused Alzheimer's which affects nearly 7 million Americans, most of them in their later life. However, it is clear that these silent changes occur in the brain at least two decades before the first symptom shows up. The big contributor. At some point amyloid buildup can trigger a protein named tau that then starts to kill neurons, which can lead to cognitive decline.

Researchers are now thus studying the Tau-fighting drugs and are looking into other factors, like inflammation, brain's immune cells and certain virus.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) has expanded its focus as researchers have found more reasons for Alzheimer's. In 2013, the NIH's National Institute on Aging funded 14 trials of possible Alzheimer's drugs over a third targeting amyloid. By last fall, there were 68 drugs and 18% of them target amyloid. However, there are scientists too who think that amyloid is not everything and their is way more in the brain tissue, immune cells, and more which can be studied.

Nipah virus outbreak in India has triggered screenings across Asian airports. However, the health authorities of the Kolkata hospital where two nurses were admitted confirmed that one of the two nurses has been discharged from hospital. While this may be a good sign, there is still need to be cautious of the virus.

Nipah Virus Outbreak In India: How Does It Work?

Experts and doctors are still telling people to be cautious of what they eat, as the fatality rates are from 40 per cent to as high as 75 per cent. It is a zoonotic infections that infects vital organs like brain and lungs. However, the virus is also able to manipulate body's immune system.

Nipah Virus In India: How Does It Affect Immune System?

Nipah virus is lethal because it can outpace, suppress and misdirect immune responses. Speaking to NDTV, Dr Dip Narayan Mukherjee, Consultant, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at CK Birla Hospitals said, Nipah virus leaves the body unable to clear the infection in time. "Understanding this immune disruption is critical to explaining why Nipah causes severe encephalitis, multi-organ failure and high mortality, and why early detection and containment remain the most effective tools against it."

This immune disruption begins early in the infection. The body’s first line of defense against viruses is the innate immune system, which relies heavily on interferons. These signalling proteins alert neighboring cells to the threat and trigger antiviral mechanisms that slow viral replication.

“One of the earliest ways Nipah evades immunity is by interfering with the innate immune response,” Dr Mukherjee says. “The virus suppresses interferon activity, allowing it to multiply rapidly before the immune system can respond adequately.”

Research published by the World Health Organization and other virology institutes shows that specific Nipah virus proteins block interferon signalling pathways. This gives the virus a crucial head start, enabling widespread infection before the immune system is fully activated.

Read: Australia Is Monitoring Nipah Virus Outbreak In India

Nipah Virus Outbreak In India: Inflammation And Low Immunity

As the infection progresses, Nipah targets the cells lining blood vessels, a feature that sets it apart from many other respiratory viruses. Damage to these vessels allows the virus to spread to multiple organs, including the brain, while also triggering widespread inflammation.

Instead of a controlled antiviral response, the body releases large amounts of inflammatory molecules. This excessive inflammation leads to tissue injury, swelling and organ dysfunction, contributing to respiratory failure, neurological symptoms and circulatory collapse in severe cases.

Another hallmark of Nipah infection is immune exhaustion. Although the virus does not directly infect most immune cells, the intense inflammatory environment causes them to become overactivated and eventually dysfunctional. Once these defense cells lose their ability to control viral replication, the infection accelerates, and supportive care becomes less effective in later stages.

When Nipah crosses into the brain, immune control becomes even more limited. The brain’s immune responses are naturally restrained to prevent damage, allowing the virus to persist. At the same time, inflammation causes swelling, seizures and encephalitis. Neurological complications remain the leading cause of death in Nipah outbreaks.

Nipah Virus Outbreak In India: Why Antibodies Against The Infection Arrive Late

The adaptive immune response, which includes antibody production and virus-specific T-cells, also struggles to keep pace with the rapid spread of Nipah. By the time neutralizing antibodies are produced, significant organ damage may have already occurred, particularly in the brain. This delayed response explains why severe encephalitis is common even in people without underlying health conditions.

Using artificial intelligence (AI) in breast cancer screening can reduce the number of cancers diagnosed in late stages by 12 percent, according to a major new study from Sweden.

The study found that fewer women in the AI group were diagnosed with breast cancer in the years after screening. There were 1.55 cancers per 1,000 women in the AI-supported group, compared with 1.76 per 1,000 in the standard screening group.

According to lead author Dr Kristina Lang of Lund University in Sweden, this indicates better early identification of clinically relevant cancers. She said of the results: “Our findings show that AI-supported screening improves the early detection of breast cancers that are more likely to become aggressive or advanced.

“This results in fewer serious cancers being diagnosed in the interval between screenings.”

She added that wider adoption of AI-supported mammography could ease workforce pressures on radiologists while improving early detection, including of aggressive cancer subtypes.

What Did The Study Find?

The study, published in The Lancet, involved around 100,000 women who took part in routine mammography screening between April 2021 and December 2022, making it the first large randomised trial to assess how AI performs in real-world breast cancer screening.

Women were randomly divided into two groups. One group received standard screening, where mammograms were read by two radiologists and the other group had AI-supported screening, where an AI system assessed the scans first.

Low-risk cases were read by one radiologist, while higher-risk cases were checked by two, with the AI also flagging suspicious areas.

The results showed that 81 percent of cancers in the AI-supported group were detected during screening, compared with 74 percent in the standard screening group—a nine percent increase. Importantly, false-positive rates remained similar, at 1.5 percent in the AI group and 1.4 percent in the control group.

Despite positive results, Dr Lang cautioned that introducing AI into healthcare must be done carefully, using validated tools and continuous monitoring to understand how performance may vary across regions and over time.

READ MORE: This 2 Hour Activity Can Reduce Your Breast Cancer Risk, Study Shows

Breast Cancer: A Rising Crisis

About 1.9 lakh Indian women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually, meaning that a new case is diagnosed every four minutes. On average, a woman in India dies of breast cancer every eight minutes, highlighting how urgently the country needs stronger awareness, early diagnosis and sustained care.

One factor that sets India apart is the age at which women are affected. Almost half of all breast cancer patients in the country are younger than 45. This is a much higher proportion than seen in many Western nations, where the disease is usually detected later in life.

Moreover, sedentary habits, excessive consumption of processed foods as well as alcohol and smoking promotes obesity and hormonal changes which pave the way for breast cancer development.

During today's Union Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced multiple initiatives and a staggering ₹1,62,671 crore to increase agricultural production in the country

Sitharaman, who was presenting her ninth consecutive budget, said the government will support the growth of high-value crops such as coconut, sandalwood, cocoa and cashew in coastal regions, agarwood in the North East and nuts,s including walnuts, almonds and pine nuts.

Dedicated programmes will focus on rejuvenating old orchards, expanding high-density cultivation and promoting value addition by engaging rural youth, while new coconut promotion schemes aimed at boosting productivity will be launched.

She noted: "India is the world’s largest producer of coconuts. About 30 million people, including nearly 10 million farmers, depend on coconuts for their livelihood. To further enhance competitiveness in coconut production, I propose a Coconut Promotion Scheme to increase production and enhance productivity through various interventions 16 including replacing old and non-productive trees with new saplings/plants/varieties in major coconut growing states.”

And health experts across the country say that an increase in consumption of these food items can significantly help improve your health.

Dr Sunil Kutty, Director and Consultant Brain and Spine Surgeon, NewEra Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, exclusively told Healthandme: "The Union Budget emphasises improving national nutrition and food security, recognising that better diets are foundational to health and well‑being.

"By strengthening food systems, supporting high‑value crops and enhancing access to nutrient‑rich foods, the government aims to reduce malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and diet‑linked diseases like Type-2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. Integrating nutrition‑focused initiatives with healthcare can lower the overall burden of non‑communicable conditions and improve immunity, especially among children, women and vulnerable groups.

"These measures also support rural livelihoods, increasing access to affordable, healthy food across socio‑economic groups, contributing to long‑term health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs."

Coconut: Prevents Cell Damage And Packed With Essential Minerals

When eaten in moderation, coconuts offer healthy fats (MCTs), fibre, manganese, copper, iron, potassium as well as ample of antioxidants. Potassium helps balance sodium levels in the body and potentially lowers blood pressure, while the fruit's high fibre content supports bowel health and prevents constipation.

Coconuts are also especially high in manganese, which is essential for bone health and the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and cholesterol. Along with this, they’re also rich in copper and iron, which help form red blood cells, as well as selenium, an important antioxidant that protects your cells and reduces cell damage which can prevent future cancer development.

A 2020 case study found that supplementing with coconut oil helped lower blood sugar levels in a person with diabetes, a condition characterized by unstable blood sugar levels. The researchers suggest that these effects may be due to the coconut’s anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidant content.

A 2024 animal study also found that consuming coconut water after eating could help manage blood sugar levels. This could be due to bioactive compounds like ellagic acid, butin, and quercetin, among others.

Sandalwood: Skin Benefits and Anxiety Reduction

Sandalwood offers benefits for skin health (acne, ageing, brightening), mental well-being, aid sleep, and possesses anti-inflammatory, antiseptic as well as antibacterial properties, making it useful for skin irritations, respiratory issues, and even potentially lowering blood pressure.

A 2017 Sigma study suggests that lavender, sandalwood, and orange-peppermint aromatherapy helped reduce self-reported feelings in anxiety of 87 women undergoing a breast biopsy.

In a 2016 pilot study published in NPC of 32 people in Vienna, Austria, participants inhaled lavender and sandalwood oil. The study found that the participants’ blood pressure levels were lower and that the cortisol levels in their saliva were lower after the aromatherapy.

Cocoa: Boosts Heart Health

While cocoa is most famous for its role in chocolate production, it is also packed with polyphenols and reduces high blood pressure by improving nitric oxide levels.

Researchers have previously linked polyphenols to numerous health benefits, including reduced inflammation, lower blood pressure and better heart health. It also contains flavanols, which have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

The flavanols in cocoa also improve nitric oxide levels in the blood, which can enhance the function of the blood vessels and reduce blood pressure.

Nuts: Improve Overall Health

Over time, this can improve artery health, lower bad LDL cholesterol, and reduced risk of blood clots, with varieties like almonds, walnuts, and pistachios providing unique nutrients like omega-3s, antioxidants and selenium.

Lastly, Pattabhi Rama Rao, Managing Director, Gourmet Popcornica also noted to Healthandme: "These measures, combined with stronger market linkages and local enterprise development, can make wholesome foods more affordable and accessible, directly supporting better nutrition and overall public health outcomes across the country. Not just this, farmers being able to access equitable income will enable them to access high-quality, nutritious food.

"By prioritising high-value and nutritious crops like coconut, cashew, cocoa, and walnuts, the government is not just enhancing farmers’ incomes but also ensuring that healthier, nutrient-rich foods are more widely available to the public.

"Diversifying production through fisheries, livestock, and region-specific crops, like maize in Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, will improve access to proteins, healthy fats, and essential micronutrients, which are vital for balanced diets.