“I'm not great at the advice. Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?”

This is what ‘Friends’ actor Matthew Perry’s character Chandler Bing was known for. He was known for being funny. However, he had his own struggles in his personal life and those struggles were acute depression. He was treating it with ketamine infusion therapy which is legal in the US and the UK.

What is Ketamine infusion therapy?

Ketamine is an anaesthetic used to treat depression, anxiety and pain under supervised and controlled medical settings. However, it does have its side effects, which can lead to distortion of sight, sound and time. It can also produce calming and relaxing effects.

Ketamine increases a person’s heart rate and blood pressure. If overdosed, it can leave users confused and agitated and can cause them to hurt themselves without even realising it. It can also lead to liver damage and bladder problems.

However, when used in moderation and under the supervision of medical doctors, it can treat depression where traditional antidepressants have failed.

Prof Rupert McShane, a University of Oxford psychiatrist who runs an NHS ketamine treatment clinic told BBC that ketamine “probably turns off the area of the brain that is involved in disappointment.”

Can Ketamine Infusion Therapy Kill Someone?

In simple terms, it cannot, be if the dosage is given in a controlled setting and as prescribed. Ketamine infusion therapy uses drugs in small doses than those used for anaesthesia. It acts faster than traditional anti-depressants, but the effects also wear off way quickly. Which is why it is important to monitor patients’ mental state for relapsing back into depression and discouraging them from overdosing on it.

There are ways of giving people ketamine. One of the ways is through “infusing”, which means to use an IV drip. However, injections, nasal sprays and capsules are also methods used to give people ketamine.

Since the dosage of ketamine used in the infusion treatment is small, it being the reason of actor Perry’s death was ruled out. The medical examiner also noted that Perry’s last ketamine infusion therapy session happened more than a week before his death, which means by the time he had died, it must have worn off.

So, What Happened To Perry?

Though Perry’s last session was more than a week before, his post-mortem showed that his blood contained a high concentration of ketamine. He had died of the “acute effects” of ketamine.

If it was not his session, then how did he get ketamine?

Prosecutors alleged that his assistant gave him at least 27 shots of ketamine in four days before his death, reported BBC.

Perry has been open about his personal struggles and this is what the doctors and dealers used against him. Martin Estrada, the US attorney for California’s Central District told the BBC that people took advantage of his condition. They charged him 165 times more than what vials of ketamine cost.

Names that have come up include Dr Salvador Plasencia, drug dealers “Ketamine Queen” aka Jasveen Sangha and Eric Fleming, and Perry’s live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa.

Who Are These Names And What Did They Do?

Ketamine Queen or Sangha supplied drugs that led to Perry’s death. Her home was a “drug-selling emporium,” said Estrada. More than 80 vials of ketamine, and thousands of pills including methamphetamine, cocaine and Xanax were allegedly found in her house known as the “Sangha Stash House.”

Sangha is known to deal with high-end celebs and was a “major source of supply for ketamine to others as well as Perry,” said Estrada.

Dr Plasencia called Perry a “moron” while charging him $2,000 for vials that cost only $12. He sold Perry 20 vials of ketamine between September and October 2023, costing $55,000.

He was the one who taught Iwamasa, who had no medical knowledge to inject the drug. This is after he knew that “Perry’s ketamine addiction was spiralling out of control,” as per what the investigators told the BBC.

Another dealer Fleming was told by Sangha to “delete all our messages.” While Fleming pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute drugs unlawfully, he also allegedly messaged Sangha: “Please call...Got more info and want to bounce ideas off you. I’m 90% sure everyone is protected. I never dealt with [Perry] only his assistant. So the assistant was the enabler.”

The court documents also revealed that he asked Sangha on whether the ketamine stays in your system or “is it immediately flushed out.”

Dr Pepper, Bots, Cans

The people who allegedly exploited Perry used coded language for ketamine and called it “Dr Pepper”, “bots”, or “cans.”

Selling overpriced drugs, taking advantage of Perry’s mental condition and falsifying medical records to make the drugs given to him look legitimate by Dr Plasencia is what took Perry’s life.

Iwamasa is said to have administered more than 20 shots of ketamine and three on the day Perry died. Whereas ketamine is only administered by a physician. Authorities also found that weeks before Perry’s death, Dr Plasencia allegedly bought 10 vials of ketamine and intended to sell to Perry.

He also injected Perry with a large dose, two days later. This caused him to “freeze up” and spiked his blood pressure.

When I Die, I Want Helping Others To Be The First Thing That’s Mentioned

Perry had always been open about his drug addictions, struggles with alcohol and his depression. He said that his openness would help others who are also struggling and wanted to be remembered by his quote which also is on the homepage of the Mattew Perry Foundation that helps others struggling with the disease of addiction: “When I die, I want helping others to be the first thing that’s mentioned.”

Five arrests have been made in the case so far.

Content creator and model Nara Smith recently revealed that her two-year-old daughter, Whimsy Lou, was diagnosed with cancer late last year. She shared the emotionally difficult journey her family faced over the past several months.

Nara is a South African-German model and influencer based in the United States. She is known for her short cooking videos in which she prepares meals from scratch, wearing extravagant and elegant outfits.

Nara Smith's Daughter Whimsy Diagnosed With Cancer

Smith said she and her husband, Lucky Blue Smith, took their daughter to the emergency room when they noticed “something suspicious” on her.

She said that although doctors were initially unsure of the cause, a visit to the pediatrician led to an urgent referral to a children's hospital. After undergoing X-rays, ultrasounds, and a biopsy, Whimsy was diagnosed with cancer. The influencer did not disclose the type of cancer her daughter has.

According to Smith, doctors informed the family that the cancer had already spread and that chemotherapy needed to begin immediately.

At the time, Nara was postpartum after welcoming her youngest child, Fawnie. She said that the diagnosis is one of the most challenging experiences her family has faced as she was caring for her other children and balancing work commitments.

She said spending time with other families in the hospital and connecting with parents through online communities helped ease the sense of isolation that often accompanies a childhood cancer diagnosis.

Also read: Lethal Weapon Star Danny Glover Reveals Alzheimer’s Diagnosis; What Is It & Why Early Detection Matters?

Cancer In Young Children

Although cancer is relatively rare in children, it remains one of the leading causes of disease-related deaths among children worldwide.

Unlike many adult cancers, childhood cancers are usually not linked to lifestyle factors. Instead, they often develop because of genetic changes in cells that occur early in life.

The most common cancers diagnosed in children include:

• Leukemia (blood cancer)

• Brain and spinal cord tumors

• Lymphomas

• Neuroblastoma

• Wilms tumor (kidney cancer)

• Bone cancers

Early diagnosis can significantly improve treatment results, making it important for parents to seek medical evaluation as soon as possible.

Studies About Childhood Cancer

Although childhood cancer is uncommon, it remains a major global health concern. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 400,000 children and adolescents aged 0 to 19 years develop cancer every year, making it one of the leading causes of disease-related death among children and adolescents worldwide.

A large international study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2025 analysed 16,821 childhood cancer cases from 47 population-based cancer registries across 23 countries.

For leukemia, the most common childhood cancer, three-year survival ranged from just over 30% in some regions to nearly 90% in others.

The study also supports the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, which aims to increase the global survival rate for children with cancer to at least 60% by 2030.

Veteran actor Danny Glover recently shared that he has been living with Alzheimer’s disease for a few years now. The 79-year-old actor shared that he has been diagnosed for several years and is gradually adapting to the changes brought on by the progressive brain disorder.

Danny Glover Reveals Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

In an interview on The Today Show, which aired recently, the Emmy-winning star explained that he was diagnosed after receiving an honorary Oscar in 2022. He also spoke about his experience of living with the disease.

Sharing that his movements, speech and memory have slowed, Danny Glover said, “I could live with it, in a sense. I’m sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing. However, the support of his family, who he said, “have got my back”, was getting him through.

Glover also spoke about his diagnosis with People, in which he said he was still not able accept his new reality completely. He said that he was “still not accepting in my mind all parts of it”.

He said, “There are the moments that you keep remembering that validate the fact that you can remember stuff. And there are moments I’ll never forget.”

Even though Danny said that he has a hard time accepting the disease sometimes, he added, “I don’t feel like it’s the end of my life. There’s work to do. I still have my daughter, I have friends. I want to just say, your life continues.”

Also read: Doctors Day: From Burnout To Work Anxiety, The Mental Health Struggle Doctors Rarely Talk About

What Is Alzheimer's?

Here are the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease:

The symptoms often develop slowly and become more noticeable over the years. Common early signs include:

• Frequent memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information

• Difficulty finding the right words during conversations

• Confusion about time or familiar places

• Trouble planning or solving routine problems

• Misplacing belongings and being unable to retrace steps

• Changes in mood, personality or behaviour

• Poor judgment and reduced decision-making ability

As the disease progresses, individuals may struggle to recognize loved ones, communicate effectively, and carry out daily activities independently.

There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease. However, several medications can help manage symptoms or slow the disease progression in some patients, particularly when treatment begins early.

Early Detection Matters

Public figures like Danny Glover speaking openly about Alzheimer's can help reduce stigma that comes with the disease. It can encourage people experiencing memory problems to seek medical evaluation sooner. Early diagnosis can help patients and families seek treatment, plan for future care, and receive emotional and practical support.

Glover's announcement has once again brought global attention to a disease that affects millions of people worldwide and underscores the need for greater awareness and caregiver support.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has once again claimed that US President Donald Trump is "suffering from dementia," an allegation the White House has strongly denied.

Speaking to CNN, Pritzker said Trump is "a different man" than he was a decade ago.

Pritzker Questions Trump's Mental Fitness

"Look, the man is continually suffering from dementia," Pritzker said. "I don't think he really understands what he's saying."

He added that Trump often makes statements without fully thinking them through.

"This is a man who has threatened to jail the mayor of Chicago, the governor of Illinois. He regularly threatens to go after people and, indeed, has used the Department of Justice to go after people," Pritzker said.

According to Pritzker, Trump has "concepts in his head" that he tends to blurt out without careful consideration.

He also urged people to compare Trump's public appearances from 2015 and 2016 with his recent speeches and press conferences.

Read: Dangerous Heat Dome To Grip Eastern US, Canada, Putting Over 220 Million Lives At Risk: How To Stay Safe

"I really think that there's something genuinely wrong with him," Pritzker said.

However, Pritzker acknowledged that he is not medically qualified to diagnose the president.

'I'm Not a Doctor,' Pritzker, while criticizing what he described as Trump's increasingly disjointed speech patterns.

He said the way Trump "puts words and sentences together... they are almost divergent in the same sentences."

Read More: ‘Sea Or See?’ Donald Trump's Remark Sparks Fresh Cognitive Health Speculation

Trump's Health Under Scrutiny

Trump, who became the oldest US president in history after turning 80 this year, has faced growing public scrutiny over his health.

Recent public appearances have prompted speculation after observers noted swollen ankles, bruising on his hands, verbal slips and occasional episodes in which he appeared drowsy during meetings and international summits.

Some physicians have also publicly expressed concerns about the president's physical and cognitive health, although none have diagnosed him with dementia.

Also read: Did Donald Trump Take Eli Lilly's Weight Loss Drug? What Did White House Say

New Book Makes Fresh Claims

A recently released book, Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, claims the president's medical condition is among the administration's most closely guarded subjects.

Written by The New York Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman and investigative reporter Jonathan Swan, the book is based on more than 1,000 interviews conducted over three years.

According to the authors, Trump now prefers shorter public appearances, seated events and staying close to the White House, unlike his extensive travel schedule during the 2024 presidential campaign.

The book also describes Trump as more of a "homebody" during his second term and claims staff members observed that he was sleeping less while spending early morning hours watching television, speaking on the phone and posting on Truth Social.

White House Rejects Allegations

The White House dismissed the claims made in the book.

"President Trump's sharpness, unmatched energy, and historic accessibility stand in stark contrast to what we saw during the last administration when Democrats and the legacy media intentionally covered up Joe Biden's serious mental and physical decline from the American people," White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told the Daily Mail.

"President Trump is the sharpest and most accessible President in American history who is working nonstop to solve problems and deliver on his promises."

Trump Says He Is in 'Excellent Health'

Meanwhile, Trump has also repeatedly rejected allegations of cognitive decline or other serious health issues.

His most recent annual physical examination concluded that he is "in excellent health."