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 has triggered screenings at the airport. After two cases were reported in India's West Bengal, concerns have sparked in many parts of Asia, and measures at airports have been tightened.

Thailand has begun screening passengers at three airports that handle flights from West Bengal. Nepal has also stepped up checks, screening arrivals at Kathmandu airport as well as at several land border crossings with India.

In West Bengal, five healthcare workers were infected earlier this month, with one reported to be in critical condition. Around 110 people who came into contact with them have since been placed under quarantine.

Nipah virus spreads from animals to humans and carries a high fatality rate, estimated to be between 40 percent and 75 percent. At present, there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the infection.

What Is Nipah Virus?

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic illness that is transmitted to people from animals, and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly from person to person.

In infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers.

Although Nipah virus has caused only a few known outbreaks in Asia, it infects a wide range of animals and causes severe disease and death in people.

Read: Nipah Virus Outbreak In India: How Did It All Begin?

During the first recognized outbreak in Malaysia, which also affected Singapore, most human infections resulted from direct contact with sick pigs or their contaminated tissues. Transmission is thought to have occurred via unprotected exposure to secretions from the pigs, or unprotected contact with the tissue of a sick animal.

In subsequent outbreaks in Bangladesh and India, consumption of fruits or fruit products (such as raw date palm juice) contaminated with urine or saliva from infected fruit bats was the most likely source of infection.

Human-to-human transmission of Nipah virus has also been reported among family and care givers of infected patients.

Nipah Virus Symptoms

• Fever
• Headache
• Breathing difficulties
• Cough and sore throat
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Muscle pain and severe weakness

Nipah virus outbreak in India has led to nearly 100 people being quarantined. India is facing Nipah virus cases and contagion every year now. Experts are now cautioning people against the zoonotic nature of the viral infection. Rajeev Jayavedan, the former president of Indian Medical Association, Cochin, told The Independent, that infection among humans are rare and caused by the accidental spillover due to human-bat interface, which means consumption of fruits that may have been infected by bats. “This is more likely in rural and forest-adjacent areas where agricultural practices increase contact between humans and fruit bats searching for food,” he said.

Health and Me previously reported on how doctors are now advising people to be cautious while eating food. Speaking to TOI, Dr Aishwarya R, Consultant, Infectious Diseases at Aster RV Hospital advised people against eating certain food, including fruits fallen from trees, unpasteurized date palm sap and any other fruits without washing. The doctor explained that this infection can spread with infected animal who could bite fruits and spread the virus through their saliva.

In a podcast episode, Socialite Paris Hilton has revealed her struggle with Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) and described it as "almost like a demon in your mind that is like saying negative self-talk to you".

While on Dear Media's The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Show, Hilton said people living with RSD feel negative feelings 'on such a deep level' and have to learn to identify those feelings as 'the RSD kicking in.'

'I've been through so many things in my life and especially in the 2000s, just everything I was going through with the media,' the mother-of-two said.

The 44-year-old said that she was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and she "didn't even know what [RSD] was before," but after talking to "so many people" with ADHD, she learned that many of them feel the same way.

"No one was talking about it when I was a teenager - especially for girls and women. You know, everyone just would say, 'Oh, this is, like, something little boys have" ... and back then everyone always only said the negative parts about it," she said of her delayed diagnosis.

What Is Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria?

RSD is an intense, overwhelming emotional pain triggered by the perception—not just reality—of being rejected, criticized, or failing to meet high expectations. According to the Cleveland Clinic, while RSD isn’t an officially recognized symptom or diagnosis, it’s still a term that experts use in connection with recognized conditions such as ADHD>

While rejection is something people usually don’t like, the negative feelings that come with RSD are stronger and can be harder to manage or both. People with RSD are also more likely to interpret vague interactions as rejection and may find it difficult to control their reactions.

Commonly linked to ADHD, it causes severe, immediate emotional distress or rage, often leading to people-pleasing, perfectionism or social withdrawal to avoid further hurt.

People with RSD often show the following signs:

• It’s very easy for them to feel embarrassed or self-conscious.
• They show signs of low self-esteem and trouble believing in themselves.
• They have trouble containing emotions when they feel rejected especially children and teenagers with this condition
• Instead of losing control of their emotions outwardly, some people with RSD may turn their feelings inward
• Often, people pleasers' and become intensely focused on avoiding the disapproval of others.
• They may avoid starting projects, tasks or goals where there’s a chance of failure.
• They compensate for their fear of failure or rejection by going all-out or striving for perfectionism. However, the downside of this is that they often experience intense anxiety and may not easily make self-care or downtime a priority.

What Else Did Hilton Say?

She went on: 'I'm obsessed with learning more about it and spreading the message, because I want people to know that it doesn't have to be something that holds them back in life; it could be something that they can harness as a superpower, to really go for their dreams in life.'

The Simple Life star claimed that she was not diagnosed with ADHD as a child because society and the medical community were not focused on the ailment at the time, leading it to an impact on her education: 'I was always so confused, and in school, it was so difficult for me.'

'As hard as I would study, I could never remember anything. I was always failing my test. I was just always in detention, getting in trouble. And it was always just very difficult for me.'

Hilton said she feels she has properly refocused her mind to adapt to the conditions and thrive, which is why she 'really wanted to reframe' the public discourse on the topic in an effort to help people.

'I see this my superpower, and I wouldn't be entrepreneur I am today without it,' Hilton said. 'It was me, like, this drive, and always being in the future, and there's, like, hard parts about it to it - very overwhelming.'

Chinese officials are sounding the alarm over the outbreak of the highly fatal Nipah virus in West Bengal and demanding travel restrictions before the Lunar New Year on February 17.

Earlier this month, two hospital nurses at AIIMS, Kolkata, had tested positive for the infection and were quarantined, prompting widespread testing. As of January 24, five cases, including a doctor and a staff member, were confirmed and nearly 100 people have been quarantined.

While health officials state it is nearly impossible for the virus to transmit across countries and unlikely to cause an outbreak in China, a majority of the public remains concerned as the disease has a fatality rate of up to 75 percent and no effective treatment or vaccines are available.

Also Read: Nipah Virus Outbreak In India: How Did It All Begin?

“It’s so scary, especially with the Spring Festival coming up. I don’t want to experience another lockdown,” a Chinese citizen said online, referring to the Lunar New Year holiday. Another asked, “Can’t we temporarily shut the travel channel with India?”, according to the South China Morning Post.

As of late 2025, India has lifted major travel restrictions on Chinese nationals, with tourist e-visas, business visas and direct flights fully resumed after a five-year suspension due to the 2020 border clashes, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

The visa regime is fully functional, allowing Chinese citizens to apply for up to 5-year, multiple-entry e-TVs.

Nipah Virus: What Is It And What Are The Symptoms?

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic illness that is transmitted to people from animals and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly from person to person.

In infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers.

Although Nipah virus has caused only a few known outbreaks in Asia, it infects a wide range of animals and causes severe disease and death in people. Some of its common symptoms include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Breathing difficulties
• Cough and sore throat
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Muscle pain and severe weakness

In 2018, another outbreak occurred in Kerala, India, where 23 confirmed and suspected cases were reported. The virus spread across three hospitals, with both primary and secondary infections traced back to one initial patient.

Samples collected from the patient’s home and workplaces, including pets and partially eaten fruits dropped by bats, all tested negative for the virus, and the exact source of the infection could not be identified.

What Do Doctors Say?

Experts are now cautioning people against the zoonotic nature of the viral infection. Rajeev Jayavedan, the former president of the Indian Medical Association, Cochin, told The Independent, that infection among humans are rare and caused by the accidental spillover due to the human-bat interface, which means consumption of fruits that may have been infected by bats.

“This is more likely in rural and forest-adjacent areas where agricultural practices increase contact between humans and fruit bats searching for food,” he said.

Health and Me previously reported on how doctors are now advising people to be cautious while eating food. Speaking to TOI, Dr Aishwarya R, Consultant, Infectious Diseases at Aster RV Hospital advised people against eating certain food, including fruits fallen from trees, unpasteurized date palm sap and any other fruits without washing. The doctor explained that this infection can spread with an infected animal which could bite fruits and spread the virus through their saliva.