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.

Public health officials in South Wales, UK, have issued an alert on a localized outbreak of hepatitis A, and have urged residents to maintain hygiene as well as vaccinate children.

Cases of hepatitis A involving the same strain have been identified in three separate households in Barry, according to Public Health Wales.

The health body, in a statement, said the strain’s characteristics “suggest the infection may be spreading locally.” Investigations into the “small number” of cases are ongoing.

To curb the outbreak, the officials have also issued an urgent appeal to parents to ensure their children remain “vigilant with their handwashing.”

Those infected are “receiving appropriate care and are recovering well,” Public Health Wales said. As a precaution, close contacts of the affected individuals have also been offered vaccination.

What Is Hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is a viral liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It spreads mainly through contaminated food or water, or through close personal contact with an infected person.

The infection can lead to liver inflammation, jaundice, extreme fatigue, and stomach pain. In most cases, it is a short-term illness that clears on its own without specific treatment, although severe cases can occur. Unlike hepatitis B or C, hepatitis A does not usually cause long-term liver damage.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent infection.

Also read: Hepatitis Infections Claims 1.3 Million Lives Worldwide, India Among Top Contributors: WHO

Symptoms of Hepatitis A

Symptoms usually appear a few weeks after exposure to the virus, although some people may not develop noticeable signs. According to the Cleveland Clinic, symptoms can include:

• Persistent fatigue and weakness
• Sudden nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Pain or discomfort in the upper right side of the abdomen near the liver
• Pale or clay-colored stools
• Reduced appetite
• Mild fever
• Dark-colored urine
• Joint pain
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Severe itching

Can Hepatitis A Be Prevented?

Read More: UK Parliament Bans Smoking For People Born After 2008: Know All About It

“The best way to prevent the spread of hepatitis A is to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. This is important after using the toilet, changing nappies, and before preparing or eating food,” said Susan Mably, Consultant in Health Protection for Public Health Wales.

Vaccination against hepatitis A is also highly effective in preventing the disease.

Doctors recommend the vaccine for:

• Children older than 12 months
• Adults at risk of exposure at home or work
• Travelers visiting regions where the virus is more common
• People with existing liver conditions

• drinking boiled or bottled water,
• avoiding food from unhygienic sources,
• peeling fruits at home and not getting pre-cut from stores.

If someone in the household is infected, cleanliness becomes even more important. Surfaces should be disinfected, food prepared carefully, and personal items not shared.

Safe sexual practices also matter, as the virus can spread through oral-anal contact. On a broader level, preventing future outbreaks requires more than short-term fixes. Improving water quality, repairing sewage systems, and strengthening public health surveillance are essential to stop the cycle from repeating.

Stroke is a medical emergency that can lead to long-term disabilities if not diagnosed in time. Yet, many do not realise that a high resting heart rate could be linked to a higher risk of stroke. Once a concern for the elderly, stroke can now occur in young people as well, and doctors say that this is a worrying trend. Now, findings from a large study indicate that a low resting heart rate could be just as bad when it comes to stroke risk, challenging the common perception that fewer heartbeats per minute guarantee good heart health. But how can you be certain of your heart rate?

Also Read: Hantavirus Outbreak Explained: WHO Confirms Evacuation of 3 Suspected Cases Amid Rising Death Toll

What do doctors say about stroke risk and heart rate?

The common idea, according to doctors, is that a higher heart rate is linked to a higher stroke risk. However, the relationship is not linear. Researchers presented the results at the European Stroke Organisation Conference. They stated that they had identified that people who were at a relatively lower risk of stroke had a heart rate between 60 and 70 beats per minute. Resting heart rate refers to the number of times the heart beats in a minute when the body is at rest, such as when sitting or lying down. The normal heart rate for adults is 60 to 100 beats per minute.

For this, researchers analysed 460,000 people in the UK Biobank, aged 40 to 69 years. Experts monitored participants for an average of 14 years and, during that time, recorded over 12,000 stroke cases. When compared with people whose heart rate was in the middle range, researchers noted that people with a heart rate of 90 had a 45 per cent higher risk of stroke. Surprisingly, people with a heart rate of less than 50 had a 25 per cent higher risk of stroke. This was even after scientists adjusted for other stroke risk factors, such as blood pressure, age, and atrial fibrillation.

Also Read: Just One Psilocybin Mushroom Use May Lead to Lasting Positive Brain Changes, Study Finds

Does low heart rate also spike stroke risk?

When the data was broken down by stroke type, a low heart rate was linked to ischaemic stroke risk, a condition caused by blocked blood circulation to the brain. It is the most common type of stroke. A higher heart rate, on the other hand, was linked to both ischaemic and haemorrhagic strokes, the latter characterised by bleeding in the brain. A low heart rate can lengthen pauses between heartbeats, reducing steady blood flow to relatively smaller brain vessels and making blockages more likely. The symptoms are:

1. Shortness of breath
2. Dizziness
3. Chest pain
4. Fainting
5. Confusion
6. Light-headedness

A higher heart rate can also increase stress on blood vessel walls, making them more prone to bleeding. However, researchers say that most of this is still hypothetical — a low heart rate could still be indicative of fitness in people who work out regularly. Doctors say that a low heart rate is a good way to measure heart disease risk. While the findings are observational, it cannot be conclusively said that a high or low heart rate can directly lead to a stroke. More research is required in this area before a conclusion can be reached.

Countries across Europe, Africa, and South America are tracing contacts of passengers linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship hantavirus outbreak after multiple deaths and suspected human-to-human infections raised global concern. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) says the risk of a Covid-like global spread remains low.

The latest hantavirus outbreak has so far infected eight people, including three deaths, among the 150 people aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship.

The Andes strain of hantavirus, which can spread from person to person, has been identified in two people who disembarked from the cruise ship.

While hantavirus carries a mortality rate of up to 40 percent, the WHO stated that the overall global risk remains low.

More than two dozen passengers left the ship before learning they may have been exposed to the virus. Countries are now tracing them to prevent potential spread to the general public. The virus can spread through close contact, as seen in the MV Hondius cases.

According to WHO official Shenaaz El-Halabi, authorities are tracing passengers linked to an international flight and the cruise ship, involving 16 countries and dozens of contacts.

More than 60 percent of identified contacts have already been followed up on, while investigations continue using epidemiological and laboratory data.

Hantavirus: A Look At Countries Tracing Contacts

US

At least 23 passengers from the hantavirus-affected MV Hondius cruise ship returned home, including several to the United States — and one of them has already fallen ill.

The travelers reportedly did not know they had been exposed to the deadly virus when they disembarked during the ship’s stop at Saint Helena, a remote island in the South Atlantic, on April 23.

“There are 23 people wandering around there, and until three days ago, no one had contacted them,” a passenger still aboard the ship told the Spanish newspaper, El País.

“The Australian went back to Australia, the one from Taiwan to Taiwan, the Americans to all corners of North America. The Englishman to England, the Dutch to their homes… I don’t remember the rest,” the passenger added.

People in at least three US states — Georgia, Arizona, and California — are being monitored for possible hantavirus exposure after the outbreak aboard the MV Hondius, though none have shown symptoms, according to the New York Times.

The Georgia Department of Public Health said it is monitoring two residents who “are currently in good health and show no signs of infection.”

The Arizona Department of Health Services confirmed that one resident who traveled on the ship is being monitored and is not symptomatic.

“There is no information that California residents are ill or infected. At this time, the risk to public health in California is low,” Robert Barsanti, a spokesman for the California Department of Public Health, said.

According to Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Director of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), “Hantavirus is not spread by people without symptoms, transmission requires close contact, and the risk to the American public is very low.”

UK

According to Oceanwide Expeditions, the operator of MV Hondius, 19 passengers and four crew members aboard the ship were British nationals.

One of them, a 56-year-old British man, was among the three passengers evacuated from the ship on Wednesday and is reported to be in stable condition.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said two British nationals are self-isolating at home after potential exposure to hantavirus on the cruise ship. The pair had disembarked earlier in the voyage and currently shows no symptoms.

UKHSA said contacts linked to their return journey, including passengers on a flight from Johannesburg, are being traced. The agency added that the risk to the general public remains very low.

Switzerland

Swiss officials are tracing the contacts of a man hospitalized in Zurich with the Andes strain of hantavirus, according to reports.

The patient became ill after returning from a three-week April cruise that traveled from the southern tip of South America to the South Atlantic island of St. Helena.

The authorities said the patient’s wife has not shown symptoms but is self-isolating as a precaution.

Argentina

Health investigators in Argentina believe a Dutch couple may have brought the virus aboard after possibly contracting it through rodent exposure during a bird-watching tour near a landfill in Ushuaia days before the ship departed from Argentina on March 20. Both the husband and wife later died.

Argentina has one of the highest reported incidences of hantavirus in Latin America, according to the WHO. Authorities there are continuing efforts to trace the source of the outbreak.

The Argentine Health Ministry reported 101 hantavirus infections since June 2025 — roughly double the number reported during the previous year, according to The Guardian.