Pope Francis injured his right arm after suffering a fall earlier this week. According to the Vatican, while the 88-year-old pontiff did not break his arm, a sling was put on as a precaution. This incident comes just weeks after another fall on December 7, where he hit his chin on a nightstand, resulting in another, visible bruise. The pope's health has been a topic of ongoing speculation due to his age and medical history, which includes long bouts of bronchitis and mobility challenges. Often seen using a wheelchair or a cane, Francis also uses a walker within the Vatican's Santa Marta hotel, where he resides. Notably, his frailty has brought renewed attention to the risks of falls among elderly individuals and the steps one must follow to mitigate such falls.

Preventive Measures For Bone Health

A study published in Frontiers in Aging Neurosciences people get older, the bone density in the lower back and thigh bone decreases significantly. This raises the risk of osteoporosis (OP). Therefore it becomes pivotal to pay early attention to nutrition, exercise ability, vitamin D levels, and uric acid levels in older individuals to prevent Ostreopsis and mitigate fall risks. The risk of falls and bone injuries among elderly individuals underscores the importance of preventive measures for maintaining bone health and minimizing fall risks.

Elderly, particularly menopausal women, require a daily calcium intake of 1,200 mg, divided into two or more doses. This can be achieved through dietary sources such as dairy and non-dairy products or through supplements like calcium carbonate and calcium citrate. However, total daily calcium intake should not exceed 2,500 mg to avoid potential health risks.

Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and bone mineralization. While sunlight exposure helps synthesize vitamin D, older individuals often require supplements due to reduced skin synthesis and the limited availability of foods. Fortified milk and supplements containing 200–600 IU of vitamin D daily are recommended, with higher doses required for those with deficiencies. Severe cases may necessitate high-dose treatments, such as 50,000 IU weekly for up to three months, along with regular monitoring of calcium and vitamin D levels.

Regular exercise is vital for preserving bone mass and reducing fall risk. Weight-bearing activities, strength training, and balance exercises like brisk walking or skipping can enhance bone density and improve coordination. Experts recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week, supplemented by strength training twice weekly. For individuals unable to engage in standard exercise routines, alternatives like vibrating platforms may help maintain bone health.

Falls remain a leading cause of fractures among individuals over 60. Addressing contributing factors such as balance issues, vision problems, and environmental hazards can significantly reduce risks. Preventive measures include regular vision checks, minimizing medications causing dizziness, improving home safety (e.g., installing railings and removing loose rugs), and wearing rubber-soled footwear. Hip protectors may also help mitigate the impact of falls.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared another blood test designed to help doctors evaluate Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of memory and cognitive decline. The approval marks an important step toward quicker and less invasive diagnosis of the condition.

Roche Diagnostics announced on Monday that the FDA has authorized its Alzheimer’s blood test, developed in partnership with Eli Lilly. The new test aims to assist doctors in the early assessment of patients who may be showing signs of dementia. This approval comes soon after the FDA gave the green light to Fujirebio Diagnostics’ Lumipulse test in May 2025, the first blood test ever approved to identify the degenerative brain condition.

As this new test gains attention, here’s a closer look at how it works, what sets it apart, and what other blood tests have been approved for Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Lilly’s Test Approved for Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

Roche Diagnostics confirmed that the FDA has granted clearance for Elecsys, its blood test co-developed with Eli Lilly, as a tool to help assess Alzheimer’s disease. The test measures pTau181, a protein strongly linked to Alzheimer’s and brain degeneration. It is designed for people aged 55 and older who are showing signs or symptoms of cognitive decline.

This approval follows the earlier FDA authorization of ‘Fujirebio’s Lumipulse G pTau217/ß-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio’ test in May. Together, these tests represent major progress in early detection, which could make it easier for patients to begin treatment with drugs such as Biogen and Eisai’s Leqembi or Eli Lilly’s Kisunla. Traditional diagnostic options, such as spinal taps or PET brain scans, are either invasive or costly and not always covered by insurance.

As per CNN, Roche reported that in a clinical trial involving 312 people, Elecsys demonstrated a 97.9% success rate in ruling out Alzheimer’s. The company also highlighted that over 4,500 diagnostic machines are already operating in U.S. laboratories, making it easier to integrate this new test into existing systems.

What Is the Elecsys pTau181 Test?

The Elecsys pTau181 test is now the second blood-based biomarker test cleared by the FDA this year for Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Unlike the Lumipulse test, which measures a ratio of two proteins (pTau217 and beta-amyloid 1-42), Elecsys focuses on detecting the levels of a single protein—pTau181—in a person’s blood plasma. Elevated levels of this protein are often associated with Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Although several laboratory-developed and experimental tests are under study, blood-based testing remains an emerging yet promising tool in dementia research.

“The ability to diagnose Alzheimer’s earlier with a simple blood test—similar to how we test for cholesterol—is a real breakthrough,” said Dr. Howard Fillit, co-founder and chief science officer of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. He explained that such advancements can help identify the disease sooner, giving patients better access to treatments that might slow or even prevent its progression.

With Roche’s Elecsys test now approved, experts like Dr. Richard Isaacson say the development is encouraging. Still, they advise cautious optimism as scientists continue refining blood-based diagnostics for Alzheimer’s.

After Coldrif was linked to children's death in India, regulators have now advised against the use of two more cough syrups including Respifresh TR and ReLife. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also warned of the potential risks of the unregulated channels through which these cough syrups could be exported, however, as of now, these have not been exported.

Health alerts from Gujarat and other states describe both Respifresh and ReLife as containing DEG, “a toxic chemical that can cause serious poisoning, including kidney failure, neurological complications, and even death, particularly in children.”

Read: Cough Syrup Row: Death Toll Rise To 22 As 2 More Children Succumb

The Jammu And Kashmir Cough Syrup Death Case

However, this is not the first case of cough syrup linked deaths of children from India. Earlier, between 2019 and 2020, at least 12 children under five died in Jammu and Kashmir, allegedly from cough syrup. The syrup has been manufactured in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district by pharmaceutical company Digital Vision. Scroll reported that Digital Vision has "not only gone to resume production, but found guilt of more drug quality violations."

The samples of the cough syrups were collected in Ramnagar and sent to lab for tests in Chandigarh. The tests found that "more 34% diethylene glycol", said Jammu and Kashmir drug controller Lotika Khajuria to BBC. The samples' findings were also corroborated by another Kolkata-based lab test, said Khajuria.

The BBC report mentioned that the toxins failed the children's kidneys, and in some cases, even multiple organs were affected, including brain, liver, and lungs. Some of the children were also to be put on ventilators, while some were left with major disabilities.

Also Read: What Does Trump's Latest Health Checkup Reveal About Him?

The Gambia Cough Syrup Death Case

In the September of 2022, reports BBC, a father in The Gambia, watched his young son slowly die in front of his eye. His son, 3-year-pld Lamin was among the 70 children, younger than five, who died in The Gambia of acute kidney injuries between July and October of 2022.

All these kids consumed one of the four cough syrups made by an Indian company called Maiden Pharmaceuticals. In fact, in October 2022, the WHO linked the deaths to the syrups and said that it found "unacceptable" levels of toxins in the medicines. A Gambian parliamentary panel also concluded after investigations that the deaths were the result of children ingesting the syrups.

However, the pharmaceutical company denied this and said that the cough syrups complied with quality standards when tested domestically. Though the then chairperson of the Gambian panel that investigated these deaths Amadou Camara strongly denied. He said, "We have evidence. We tested these drugs. [They] contained unacceptable amounts of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol, and these were directly imported from India, manufactured by Maiden."

Ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol are toxic to humans and could be fatal if consumed.

Uzbekistan Cough Syrup Death Case

After the trial of August 2023, an Uzbekistan court sentenced 23 people to prison over the deaths of 68 children linked to contaminated cough syrup. Among them were Singh Ragvendra Pratar, reports BBC, who was given the longest sentence of 20 years. He was the executive director at Quaramax Medical, who distributed the contaminated cough syrups manufactured by Marion Biotech in India.

WHO in January 2023, also said that the products manufactured by Marion Biotech were "substandard" and that the firm had failed to provide guarantees about their safety. After this, India's health ministry suspended production at the company. The authorities stated that they were "permanently" cancelling the company's license.

The popular weight-loss drug Ozempic, and similar GLP=1 medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro and known for a little more than fat loss jabs. They have a more complicate side to it. This is all about the sagging breasts, surprise pregnancies to confusing cancer scans, and many more such side effects. Of course due to its consequence of helping people use weight, have these drugs gained popularity, but also because these injections are producing ripple effects fat beyond the waistline.

Ozempic Breasts

If 'Ozempic Face' was not enough - a term used for facial sagging after rapid weight loss, then there is a new cosmetic concern: Ozempic breasts.

Also Read: Tramadol: Is It Time To Reconsider This Go-to Drug For Treating Chronic Pain?

Women using this weekly injection have reported dropping, deflated breasts after they have shred pounds quickly. Experts have also stressed that this is not a drug-specific effect and could happen to anyone who lost a significant amount of fat in a short time.

“In the breast area, rapid fat loss can leave the skin envelope empty, causing the breasts to look deflated and the nipples facing downward,” explained Dr. Ronald F. Rosso, medical director at Peninsula Plastic Surgery in California, as reported in Healthline. “It’s very similar to what we see after more traditional weight-loss surgeries such as gastric bypass.”

Women who have experienced pregnancy and breastfeeding may be at a greater risk, said Dr Walter J Joseph, a California-based aesthetic and reconstructive surgeon. For them, less cleavage and fullness, translates into a "sad looking" breast appearance.

The best measure? Experts suggest a well-fitted bra throughout the day. "It won't reverse the change, but it can help with comfort and prevent further sagging," said Dr Elie Levine, director of Plastic Surgery & Dermatology of NYC PLLC.

Plastic Surgery May Solve Your Problems

Not just Ozempic Breasts, but even Ozempic Butt, a droopy backside has made it to the list. For those seeking to restore firmness and shape, procedures like butt lifting and breast lifts for Ozempic breasts are available, including mastopexy.

What happens in this surgery is doctors remove the sagging skin, reshape the tissue and reposition the nipple to face forward rather than downward. The lift can also be paired with implants for added fullness.

“Patients should wait until they reach and maintain their goal weight before considering surgery,” advised Dr. Christopher Costa, as reported in the NY Post. Dr Costa is the founder of Platinum Plastic Surgery in Las Vegas. “Your body after Ozempic may be completely different, and it’s important to give it time to stabilize before making permanent changes.”

Dr Costa also noted in a 2022 study found two-thirds users regained the lost weight within a year of stopping GLP-1 drugs. Thus timing is the key to avoid repeating costly procedures. “If you’re not ready for surgery, embrace your new look,” he added. “Buy new clothes that flatter your shape, celebrate the healthier version of you.”

Ozempic Breast Is Not Just Sagging, It Is Also Swelling

Not all complaints are about sagging, some are also about sore and swollen breasts, especially in the early weeks of treatment.

"They feel bigger and tender, like the first trimester of pregnancy," shared a Reddit user. Experts suggest that it is due to the hormonal shifts that your body undergoes or due to the temporary inflammation.

What could work? Massaging, is what Dr Elie Levine recommends. This could boost circulation. Other than that, one can also use painkillers, or cool compresses for relief.