Credits: Canva
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.
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.
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.
Credit: Instagram
Millionaire longevity entrepreneur Bryan Johnson has launched a new $2.6 million women's health research project focused on his partner, Kate Tolo's menstrual blood.
Known for his unconventional longevity experiments, Johnson is now aiming to better understand women's reproductive health by preserving and studying Kate's menstrual blood.
“Kate’s period blood is in my -80 °C freezer. Around 10 mL,” he shared in a post on social media platform X.
He added that “menstrual blood is valuable and underutilized,” as it contains “endometrial cells, immune cells and stem cells.”
Calling both himself and Kate "science experiments," Johnson said the 100-day project aims to:
“It’s a non-invasive look into the uterus. This is great because you get the data without surgical biopsy, it can be repeated every single cycle, and it measures the uterine environment directly instead of inferring it from a standard blood draw,” Bryan said.
The project requires Kate to follow an intensive 24/7 routine designed to create what the couple says will be the most detailed dataset ever collected on the female menstrual cycle.
Her minute-by-minute schedule includes more than 100 daily tasks, 50 monitoring devices, and an experimental "techno tampon," generating an estimated 14 million data points under the supervision of a 12-person medical team.
"I am going to be the world's most measured women in this process," Kate shared in in a video posted on Instagram.
The project, backed by the couple's company Immortals, costs an estimated $2.6 million a year.
Kate will collect approximately 14 million data points on her menstrual cycle.
Kate has previously revealed that she has endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and adenomyosis—painful gynecological conditions that she hopes this ambitious research project will help better understand and eventually treat.
“I’m measuring 1,900 biomarkers over the next 100 days to better understand female biology,” she said.
“This will be the most quantified menstrual cycle ever. And this is just to collect baseline measurements. Once we’re done with the 100 days, we’ll start trying interventions. We’ll post all results, including the good, bad and ugly, in addition to sharing all the practical insights,” Bryan added on X.
Earlier, Bryan claimed his team diagnosed Kate's endometriosis “in 42 days… which is 57x faster than average.” The condition affects approximately 10% of women of reproductive age globally and takes an average of 10 years to diagnose.
According to Bryan, his team diagnosed her “without surgery. Via ultrasound, blood test, and MRI.”
Bryan, who has said he is living with the autoimmune condition autoimmune atrophic gastritis (AIG) and is undergoing treatment, believes advances in AI and biotechnology could help find treatments for both his condition and Kate's endometriosis.
“My sincere goal is to try and heal the sick. With AI and biotech, we no longer have to concede to disease. We don’t need to wait for big, billion-dollar companies to do it for us. I’ll cure my AIG, and we will cure Kate’s endo, and then make the same available to others.”
Credit: UKHSA
Amid as many as 45 states in the US battling Cyclospora parasite infections, the UK has now reported a sharp rise in watery diarrhea-causing infections among travelers returning from Mexico.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) clarified that cyclospora, caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, does not naturally occur in the UK and cannot spread from person to person.
The agency has advised travelers to take precautions while abroad, including maintaining good food and water hygiene to reduce their risk of infection.
According to the latest data, 67 cases were reported between April 30 and July 15, among returning travelers in
The agency noted that travel information was available for 52 of the 67 cases. Of these, 48 people had traveled to Mexico, with one also reporting travel to the US. One case involved travel only to the US, while another had traveled to Kenya.
Among those who visited Mexico, cases reported staying at various hotels in the Riviera Maya and Cancún regions and consuming a range of foods and drinks as part of all-inclusive holiday packages. Investigations into the source of the infections are ongoing, the UKHSA said.
"We have recently detected a rise in Cyclospora infections among travelers returning from Mexico. These infections are caused by a parasite and can affect the stomach and intestines," said Dr. Philip Veal, Consultant in Travel Health at UKHSA.
"If you develop symptoms after returning from travel, such as watery diarrhoea, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps or pain, bloating, increased wind, nausea, fatigue or other flu-like symptoms, please seek medical attention and inform your healthcare professional of your travel history," he added.
Also read: Michigan Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Nears 10,000 Cases: Is Your Lettuce Safe?
The US is experiencing its largest Cyclospora outbreak, with infections reported across 45 states. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce grown by Taylor Farms in central Mexico, prompting the company to initiate a recall on July 17.
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) weekly update on July 28, there have been 6,707 laboratory-confirmed cases of the illness, recorded in 45 states, since May 1. In addition, more than 11,500 additional cases, primarily in Michigan and Ohio, have not yet been confirmed by laboratories, the CDC said.
There have been 423 hospitalizations and no deaths, per the agency.
Dr. Philip Veal advised travelers to Mexico to avoid foods that may be contaminated with Cyclospora, particularly:
Read More: UK, France Brace for Another Heatwave: How Hot Weather Can Affect Medicines
Further, to reduce the risk of infection, the UKHSA also recommended:
Cyclospora is a parasite that infects the stomach and intestines and is typically acquired by consuming contaminated food or water.
Symptoms include:
Most cases are mild and resolve within a few days without treatment. However, the illness can be more severe or prolonged in people with weakened immune systems, who may require antibiotic treatment.
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Vibrio vulnificus, a rare "flesh-eating" bacterium, has claimed its first life of 2026 in the US state of Florida, according to state health officials.
Florida health data show that, as of July 30, the state has reported 12 confirmed cases this year, including one death in an elderly person in Palm Beach County. In 2025, Florida recorded 33 Vibrio vulnificus infections and five deaths linked to the bacterium.
Vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring bacterium found in warm saltwater or brackish water, which is a mix of salt and freshwater. It thrives particularly well during the hotter months, which is why infections spike from May through October.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the bacterium is halophilic, meaning it needs salt to survive.
While rare, the infection can cause necrotizing fasciitis. It is a condition where flesh-eating bacteria could destroy the tissue under the skin and can lead to death in just a few days if left untreated.
The bacterium earned its "flesh-eating" moniker from its ability to cause an infection called vibriosis that damages or "eats away" at skin and tissue.
According to Dr. Norman Beatty, an infectious disease specialist and associate professor at the University of Florida, as reported by WUSF, there are two main ways people typically contract Vibrio vulnificus.
“We can consume it through contaminated shellfish, specifically oysters,” Beatty said. If ingested, the bacteria can cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.
But the more dangerous and more common route, he explains, is through open wounds. “If someone with a cut or scrape enters brackish or saltwater contaminated with Vibrio vulnificus, the bacteria can enter the body through the skin and cause serious infection,” he warned.
Also read: Rare Tick-Borne Bourbon Virus Case Detected In New York For The First Time
Symptoms often appear quickly; sometimes within hours of exposure. Early signs include redness, pain, and swelling around the wound. As the infection progresses, it can cause skin ulcers, blisters, and even tissue death. Systemic symptoms like fever, chills, and low blood pressure may also follow.
“A delay in treatment can lead to serious complications, including amputations or even death,” Dr. Beatty cautioned.
Who’s Most at Risk?
People with weakened immune systems, liver disease, or chronic health conditions are at greater risk of developing severe infections. But Dr. Beatty emphasized that even healthy individuals aren’t immune.
“I’ve seen otherwise healthy people who got a small cut while fishing or kayaking and ended up battling this infection,” he said.
With summer in full swing and more people spending time in and around water, doctors urge caution. If you have an open wound, avoid wading or swimming in warm seawater or brackish water. If exposure happens accidentally, clean the wound immediately with soap and bottled water. Covering healing wounds with waterproof bandages can also reduce the risk of infection.
If symptoms develop after being in such water or consuming raw seafood, particularly oysters, seek medical attention immediately and inform the doctor of your recent exposure.
An average of 100 to 200 cases of vibriosis caused by Vibrio vulnificus are reported in the United States each year, with most of them in Gulf Coast states, according to CDC data. “This is not a bacteria to take lightly. With increased awareness and a bit of caution, we can lower the risk and save lives,” Dr. Beatty said.
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