From Straight Arrow · · 1m 50s
Can brain surgery reverse Alzheimer's? Plus, new clues about long COVID and the future of health data
Experimental brain surgery shows promise for Alzheimer's but long COVID research reveals microbiome links.
In brief
Experimental brain surgery shows promise for Alzheimer's but long COVID research reveals microbiome links. An experimental brain surgery may improve Alzheimer's symptoms, while bacteria in mouths and lungs could explain long COVID severity. Originally reported by Straight Arrow.
Alzheimer's brain surgery trial
Chinese researchers developed experimental brain surgery to improve waste clearance in Alzheimer's patients.
“The procedure is based on an intriguing, but unproven idea: What if Alzheimer’s is partly a problem with the brain’s ability to clear waste?”
Long COVID microbiome study
U.K. researchers found less bacterial diversity in mouths of severe long COVID patients.
“People with the most severe ongoing symptoms had less bacterial diversity in their mouths than those with milder symptoms”
Census health data changes
Proposed 2030 Census changes could distort health statistics by excluding non-citizens and race data.
“The Trump administration has proposed three significant changes: excluding people who aren’t U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents from certain population counts”
Measles outbreak update
Pennsylvania reported sixth suspected measles-associated death with 4,000 U.S. cases this year.
“Pennsylvania reported a sixth suspected measles-associated death, after a 39-year-old woman with underlying health conditions passed”
Ebola import case
Kenyan citizen died of Ebola in Nairobi marking Kenya’s first imported case since May.
“A Kenyan citizen who traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo died of Ebola in Nairobi on Oct. 5”
Microbiome and long COVID
Bacterial patterns linked to impaired lung function and brain fog in long COVID patients.
“Certain bacterial patterns were also associated with impaired lung function, brain fog and gastrointestinal problems”
Alzheimer's surgery risks
Videos of improved cognition after surgery may be AI-generated or manipulated.
“Questions have also emerged about whether some of these videos could be AI-generated or otherwise manipulated”
Census health impact
Changing where people are counted could distort local health statistics for resource allocation.
“Counting college students at their parents’ homes instead of where they attend school could make some college communities appear smaller”
Microbiome study limitations
Study didn’t establish cause-effect relationship between microbiome changes and long COVID.
“The study was observational, meaning it did not establish cause and effect”
Alzheimer's research progress
Researchers moving toward clinical trials to determine surgery benefits for Alzheimer's.
“Researchers are now moving toward more rigorous clinical trials to determine whether the procedure improves cognition”
Census public comment period
Public comment period extended to November 2 for census changes proposals.
“The public comment period has been extended to Nov. 2”
Ebola response in Kenya
Kenyan authorities quarantined 122 contacts after Ebola case in Nairobi.
“Kenyan authorities quarantined 122 contacts and tested 293 samples”
Measles death details
39-year-old woman with health conditions died from measles in Pennsylvania.
“Pennsylvania reported a sixth suspected measles-associated death, after a 39-year-old woman with underlying health conditions passed”
Census health data concerns
Eliminating race and ethnicity questions could worsen health disparities tracking.
“Eliminating race and ethnicity questions raises another concern. Those data help researchers identify differences in health outcomes among populations”
Long COVID microbiome findings
Overabundance of lactic acid bacteria linked to inflammation in long COVID patients.
“Researchers also identified an overabundance of bacteria that produce lactic acid among some people with persistent symptoms”
At a glance
An experimental brain surgery may improve Alzheimer's symptoms, while bacteria in mouths and lungs could explain long COVID severity.
