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.

Michigan, the hardest-hit state in the ongoing nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak, has reported nearly 10,000 cases of the intestinal illness, which can cause severe, often "explosive," diarrhea, according to state health officials.

So far, the state has recorded 160 hospitalizations, with no deaths reported.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 6,707 laboratory-confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported since May 1.

The agency also said it is tracking more than 11,500 additional suspected cases that have not yet been laboratory confirmed or remain under investigation. Many of these reports have come from Michigan and Ohio.

What Did the FDA Probe Reveal?

A US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation has linked part of the outbreak to iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants and supplied through Taylor Farms operations in central Mexico.

The FDA is continuing to investigate other potential sources of contamination. Taco Bell has stopped serving the affected lettuce, while Taylor Farms has voluntarily recalled dozens of iceberg lettuce products distributed across 27 states. The company also said it will no longer source iceberg lettuce from central Mexico for the remainder of the growing season.

The recalled lettuce has been linked to illnesses in five states—Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. However, investigators have not yet determined how many illnesses are directly connected to the recalled products.

Separately, the FDA is investigating another Cyclospora outbreak that is unrelated to the lettuce-linked cases. The second outbreak has sickened 72 people and has been traced to an unidentified food item. The agency said the source has "not yet been identified."

Could It Be More Than Lettuce?

Former CDC Director Robert Redfield told media that the US government may consider ending produce sourcing from central Mexico. He also suggested the outbreak may involve more than lettuce.

Officials are also investigating whether parsley and cilantro, in addition to lettuce, could be associated with the outbreak. The investigation is ongoing.

How to Check If Your Lettuce Is Safe

The FDA advises consumers to check salad and lettuce products purchased during the past week to determine whether they were sourced from Taylor Farms de Mexico in Guanajuato, Mexico.

The recalled retail products include:

• 12-ounce and 24-ounce Iceberg Salad with best-by dates between July 18 and Aug. 3
• 8-ounce and 16-ounce Shredded Lettuce with best-by dates between July 18 and Aug. 3

Consumers who purchased these products should throw them away or return them to the store where they were bought.

An additional 33 recalled lettuce products were distributed to restaurants and other food-service businesses and are unlikely to be found in home refrigerators. A complete list of recalled products is available on the FDA website.

At this time, no other lettuce varieties—including romaine or butter lettuce—have been linked to the outbreak, even if distributed by Taylor Farms. The company told Newsweek that, aside from the recalled iceberg lettuce, "no other Taylor Fresh Foods products across the country are impacted."

How To Reduce Your Risk

Health officials recommend:

• Avoid eating shredded iceberg lettuce linked to the recall.
• Wash all fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly under clean running water, even if they are labeled pre-washed.
• Follow safe food-handling practices.
• Stay updated on food recalls and outbreak alerts.
• Contact a healthcare provider if symptoms develop.

The Donald Trump administration plans to end Medicare Part D premium subsidies after 2026, ending a program that has helped keep prescription drug plan premiums stable, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The decision could affect millions of Americans, particularly those aged 65 and older, who may face higher prescription drug costs beginning next year.

The CMS said its review of insurers' 2027 bids found that health plans now have sufficient experience to accurately price Medicare Part D plans without government support, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Subsidy Program to End After 2026

The program, to end after 2026, provides insurance companies with an estimated $3.6 billion in subsidies this year to limit premium increases for Part D plans.

"We are stabilizing the market so this bailout is no longer needed. Premiums will go up by less than $10 for most ⁠Medicare recipients, with many even seeing lower premiums," CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said in a post on X.

"Every Medicare beneficiary still has access to low-cost plans, and we will continue to lower prescription drug prices for every American patient, from more MFN deals to our policy giving seniors access to GLP-1s for $50 a month,” he added.

Who Could Be Affected?

Around 25 million Americans enrolled in traditional Medicare have stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans, paying an average monthly premium of $36, according to KFF.

Another 31 million beneficiaries receive prescription drug coverage through Medicare Advantage, the privately managed alternative for people aged 65 and older.

The previous Biden administration had introduced the subsidy program ahead of the 2024 presidential election to offset policy changes that would have sharply increased Medicare Part D premiums in 2025.

Dr Oz said that the Biden administration’s approach was “unacceptable” and that it “gave BILLIONS of taxpayer money DIRECTLY to Big Insurance Companies.”

Uncertainty Over Premium Increases

However, it remains unclear how many beneficiaries will pay more or how large those increases will be. Premiums vary by plan, and beneficiaries will have an opportunity to compare and switch coverage during this fall's enrollment period. CMS said premiums for individual plans will be released in September.

AHIP, a major trade group representing health insurers, said it is reviewing the announcement, the New York Times reported.

“At a time of sharply rising prescription drug costs, health plans are focused on keeping Part D coverage and benefits as affordable as possible,” said Chris Bond, a spokesman, in a statement.

A Trump administration official told Bloomberg that the majority of older Americans will see no increase in premiums or may even pay less.

CMS Releases Preliminary 2027 Part D Details

CMS also released preliminary information on 2027 Medicare drug plan bids. The national average monthly bid amount, used to calculate government subsidies for plans, will be $296.05 in 2027.

The agency said the national base beneficiary premium for Medicare Part D will be $41.33 next year. Annual increases will remain capped at 6% through 2029 under provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act.

More than six years after the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the world, newly released personal journals of former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci are giving a raw glimpse into the behind-the-scenes discussions, scientific uncertainty, and political tensions that clouded United States' pandemic response.

The 1,141-page collection, released by Senator Rand Paul ahead of Fauci's scheduled Senate testimony, chronicles events from December 2019 through December 2022.

Announcing the release of Fauci's journals, Sen. Rand Paul said, "The American people deserve the truth about what happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Fauci's own contemporaneous writings provide an unprecedented window into the decisions, discussions, and uncertainties that shaped the federal response."

The journals have reignited debate over the origins of SARS-CoV-2 and Fauci's role during one of the most challenging public health crises of recent times.

However, experts say that the diaries represent Fauci's personal contemporaneous notes and do not conclusively establish the origin of COVID-19.

Major COVID-related Revelations From Dr Anthony Fauci's Diary

Uncertainty About COVID-19's Origin

One of the biggest revelations is that Anthony Fauci recorded discussions in late January 2020 in which several scientists raised questions about whether SARS-CoV-2 could have originated from a laboratory because of certain genetic features.

The diary shows these possibilities were discussed internally before scientists later concluded that natural spillover was the more likely. The diary does not provide proof that the virus leaked from a lab.

Fauci wrote, "The first infection was in early December and was not connected to the market... Now we know the market was not the source, it was the amplifier. Having said that, somewhere the virus jumped from animals to humans."

Also read: Trump Should Take A Month Off For His Health, Says Bill O'Reilly

The Lab Leak

The entries reveal Fauci continued receiving updates about the virus's origin while publicly emphasizing the available scientific evidence supporting natural emergence.

After a conference call with leading virologists, Fauci wrote that several experts discussed whether part of the virus genome could have evolved naturally. He listed the participants and summarized the debate over the possibility of a laboratory origin.

COVID-19 Initially Viewed As Severe Influenza

Early diary entries describe the outbreak as looking similar to "bad influenza" before severe complications became clear. This reflects the limited knowledge available in January and early February 2020.

School Closures

Fauci's notes reportedly show he was conflicted about balancing infection control against the educational and mental health consequences of prolonged school closures, highlighting the uncertainty policymakers faced.

Also read: Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo Nears 3,000 Cases, 1,300 Deaths as UN Warns Virus Is 'Spreading Like Wildfire'

Internal Frustration

The diary documents Fauci's concerns about bureaucratic delays, operational problems, and disagreements within the federal government during the early COVID-19 response, suggesting these challenges complicated public health decision-making.

Overshadowing President Donald Trump

The entries describe Fauci's dynamic with President Donald Trump, disagreements over masks, hydroxychloroquine, and public messaging, and concerns about how politics affected science.

He wrote, "AMAZING interaction with POTUS... It was a disturbingly rambling discussion since he kept talking about TV ratings, and HC (Hydroxychloroquine), and influenza and virtually everything else as I was trying to keep him on track."

He also wrote about outshining President Trump. "Apparently the WH is very upset that I am being profiled and it looks like I am putting down the POTUS and becoming a star that outshines him. ... Very stressful!!"

He also wrote that Trump praised him. "As usual, POTUS was very warm and friendly with me... 'I love you, Tony. I feel like giving you a big hug.'"

Media Attention

The journals reveal Fauci's obsession with his fame due to widespread media coverage and his efforts to maintain public trust. He wrote, "For better or worse, I am becoming an international celebrity. Calls from all over the world."

He added, "WH press conference picked up by many outlets. Many print profiles and features on me. Ridiculous, too numerous to count! ... Press is going wild with me."

Fauci's diary sparked a lot of responses from politicians and health experts.

He said, "He lied about masks. He lied about social distancing. He lied about transmission. He lied about natural immunity. He lied about the vaccine's capacity to prevent infection."

He added. "Dr. Fauci did incalculable damage to public health and to the public's trust in government. "He prioritized getting on TV over protecting public health."